Unpeople by Mark Curtis
Reviewed by Matt S., Inventory Supervisor
A shocking account of Britain’s complicity in late 20th Century human rights abuses, this book shows the varied ways our governments have propped up dictatorships round the world. From supporting the murders that led to Saddam Hussein’s Ba’ath party taking power, to covertly overthrowing populist regimes in Indonesia, and even...

His Dark Materials trilogy by Philip Pullman
Reviewed by Stu Kane, General Manager
Initially I was as reluctant as ever to read these books, simply because they were written primarily for teens. It is also fantasy, which I tend to steer clear of and the mixed reviews for the film adaptation ‘The Golden Compass’ didn’t really help either. A friend emphatically...

The Diving-Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
Reviewed by Stu
Jean-Dominique Bauby was a writer, journalist and successful commander-in-chief of French magazine Elle, before suffering a stroke and awaking from a coma with ‘locked-in syndrome’. The condition left him unable to move his limbs; he could only breathe with the assistance of a machine and sustenance was provided through...

Superbad
Reviewed by Damien
Not to be written off as just another teen gross-out comedy in an already overfull genre, Superbad is a such a significant cut above similar films t almost deserves a genre of its own. Not since the first American Pie has a film pulled off such a perfect blend of...

Blood On The Tracks by Bob Dylan
Reviewed by Damien
Described simply but accurately by many as 'the ultimate break-up album', Dylan manages to convert raw emotion into 10 tracks of musical genius. Despite releasing a number of strong albums in the late 60s and early 70's, critics remained skeptical as to whether Dylan would ever reach the heights of...

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
Reviewed by Mel
This unusual story is told with delicacy and wonderfully lyrical language. Though the novel is narrated by Death, it is a sympathetic, touching tale of a young girl in Second World War Germany. The importance of books to the main characters will resonate with any book lover! Beautifully written, it...

The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier
Reviewed by Mel
The afterlife is a curious business, and this book is a well-executed exploration of it. Merged with the story of one woman's struggle to live is a picture of the city of the dead, masterfully woven together to create a book that is a pleasure to read. Definitely one to...

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See
Reviewed by Siobhan
One woman's struggles to build the best life she can for her family make up this extraordinary historical adventure. The lives of the narrator and her exciting best friend, Snow Flower, illustrate the difficulties and triumphs of a woman's life in 19th-century China....

Carter Beats The Devil by Glen David Gold
Reviewed by Simon
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The Book of Lost Things by John Connolly
Reviewed by Simon
Ever felt like now you have grown up that fairy tales and child hood magic are only there for the children. Well think again with a moving and chilling grown up read John Connolly delivers just that. Following the journey of a twelve year-old boy David who has just lost...

Best of by Bjork
Reviewed by Matt S., Inventory Supervisor
Not only does Bjork make great songs, she’s also mad. This is what sets her apart from other Icelandic female artists. Hyperballad, for example, is about her waking up early in the morning to throw things like "car parts" off a cliff. How many other songs can you name about...

Hunger by Knut Hamsun
Reviewed by Stu Kane, General Manager
Knut Hamsun is probably the best novelist you’ve never heard of and the greatest thing to come out of Norway since the Vikings. Hamsun is reminiscent of Kafka and Dostoevski, though his work is far more accessible. He inspired the writing of greats such as Charles Bukowski,...

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides
Reviewed by Stu Kane, General Manager
If I told you ‘Middlesex’ was about hermaphrodism and incest, you might think it’s not for you. Instead then, I’ll tell you it won a Pulitzer Prize, made the Oprah Winfrey Book Club and comes from the author of ‘The Virgin Suicides’. Got your attention? Eugenides’...

Vernon God Little by DBC Pierre
Reviewed by Stu Kane, General Manager
‘Vernon God Little’ is a fantastic read. It won the Booker Prize in 2003, has been compared by numerous critics to ‘Catcher in the Rye’ and is reportedly being made into a film by Pawel Pawlikowski. If you’re still unconvinced however, you should read this book simply because the author...

Entertainment! by Gang of Four
Reviewed by Matt S., Inventory Supervisor
My favourite neo-Marxist post-punk group are Gang of Four (not named after Mao’s crew, but some French philosophers.) You can hardly tell they made this album in the late 70’s, it sounds so fresh, and was a major influence on many later bands. You can here an element of Gang...