Archives by Tag '1990′s'
Review: ‘Human Croquet’ by Kate Atkinson
The Oxfam shop in my old university town used to sell bundles of three books tied up with string for £1.99. I acquired Human Croquet by Kate Atkinson at some point in my final year as part of just such a bundle, along with Alan Hollinghurst’s The Line of Beauty and A. S. Byatt’s Possession [...]
Review: ‘Wild Swans’ by Jung Chang
When I was at secondary school we had a lovely chemistry teacher who would cunningly arrange school trips to places that she really wanted to visit herself. She organised skiing trips to Canada and America which I happily ignored, but then when I was fourteen a letter went home about a proposed trip to China. My [...]
Review: ‘Christmas Carols for Cats’ by Julie and John Hope
Title: Author: Julie and John Hope. Illustrated by Sue Hellard Published: Bantam Books, 1998, pp. 29. Originally published 1996 Genre: Humour poetry Blurb: A witty, charming treasury of traditional Christmas carols -rewritten by cats for cats – includes such classics as “The Twelve Days of Catmas,” “We Wish for the Fam’ly Goldfish,” and “Bark! The [...]
Review: ‘Quicksilver’ by Neal Stephenson
Title: : Book I of the Baroque Cycle Author: Neal Stephenson Published: Arrow, 2004, pp. 927. Originally published 2003 Genre: Alternative history Blurb: A novel of history, adventure, science, invention, sex, absurdity, piracy, madness, death and alchemy that sweeps across continents and decades, upending kings, armies, religious beliefs and all expectations. Bringing a remarkable age [...]
Review: ‘Child of the Phoenix’ by Barbara Erskine
Title: Author: Barbara Erskine Published: Harper Collins, 1994, pp. 1086. Originally published 1992 Genre: Historical fiction Blurb: In 1218 an extraordinary princess is born, whose mystical powers and unquenchable spirit will alter the course of history… Raised by her fiercely Welsh nurse to support the Celtic cause against the predatory English king, Princess Eleyne is [...]
Review: ‘The Red Tent’ by Anita Diamant
Title: Author: Anita Diamant Published: Pan Macmillan, 2002, pp. 386. Originally published 1997 Genre: Historical fiction Blurb: Her name is Dinah. In the Bible, her fate is merely hinted at in a brief and violent detour within the verses of the Book of Genesis that recount the life of Jacob and his infamous dozen sons. [...]
Review: ‘Stardust’ by Neil Gaiman
Title: Author: Neil Gaiman Published: Headline Review, 2005, pp. 214. Originally published 1999. Genre: Fantasy Blurb: In the sleepy English countryside at the dawn of the Victorian era, life moves at a leisurely pace in the tiny town of Wall. Young Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the beautiful Victoria Forester, but Victoria is [...]
Review: ‘Twist of Gold’ by Michael Morpurgo
Title: Author: Michael Morpurgo Published: Egmont, 2001, pp. 300 Genre: Young adult historical fiction Blurb: Sean and Annie have fled the potato famine in Ireland for America, leaving their dying mother behind. They are the only O’Brien children to have survived their family’s suffering. The worst is not over as they embark on a hard [...]
Review: ‘Elementals’ by A. S. Byatt
Title: Elementals: Stories of Fire and Ice Author: A. S. Byatt Published: Vintage, 1999, pp. 232 Genre: Short stories Blurb: A new volume of stories from A. S. Byatt is always a joy, and this one is rich and rare indeed. In the same distinctive format as The Matisse Stories and The Djinn in the [...]
Review: ‘Murder with Peacocks’ by Donna Andrews
Title: Murder with Peacocks Author: Donna Andrews Published: St Martin’s Paperbacks, 1999, pp. 311 Genre: Contemporary mystery Blurb:So far Meg Langslow’s summer is not going swimmingly. Down in her small Virginia hometown, she’s maid of honor at the nuptials of three loved ones — each of whom has dumped the planning in hercapable hands. One [...]