Lindsay's Book Reviews
Skinny Legs and All by Tom Robbins
Review Date: 2012-06-13
Probably one of the most fantastic (truly in a magical sense) books I've ever read. Filled with seemingly incompatible mixes of whimsy and seriousness, sex and struggle it leads you down a path that feels not too different than the one Alice takes in her wonderland. At times I struggled to find my way down the path, but once I did I felt rewarded with beautiful insights and the desire to walk it once again. I highly recommend this book to those with an open mind and those willing to learn. Tom Robins reveals what man thinks is important in life is infact an illusion and he does this via a can of beans, a spoon, a vibrator and a belly dancing teenager amongst other characters. It's all there and is especially pertinant in 2012 when there seem to be more than a few individuals declaring the end of the world is nigh.
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
Review Date: 2012-07-08
I had heard of the film before I picked up this book but decided to read the book first, I'm so glad I did. The story follows the life of Clare a young girl who meets a naked time traveler in the field at the back of her house. The traveler is Henry and their lives become a deeply intertwined, a complex and heart warming love story interspersed magic and tragedy. The story sometimes feels fragmented and I often found the device of stating the age of the main protaganists at the start of each new location annoying I can understand that it was useful and perhaps neccesary but perhaps the author could have explored a more subtle technique.. That said I thoroughly enjoyed it and would reccomend it to others.
Prometheus Rising by Robert Anton Wilson
Review Date: 2012-06-13
an amazing book on how the human mind works and how you can make it work for you. The book explores the way in which we are all programmed from birth and how we experience life whilst still in the process of becoming which goes on to form our most deeply set sub-concious programs within the brain. Robert Anton Wilson looks at the programming in his own unique style with the science and psychology beautifully intermingled with humour and great anecdotes from his life. I wouldn't hesitate to reccomend this book to anyone interested in human behaviour, parenting, self improvement, mind control, sex, politics, religion -to be honest I reccomend it to anyone over 18 who can read!
The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson
Review Date: 2012-07-08
I think perhaps I quite fancy myself as some sort of closet psycotherapist or psychiatrist. I have training in neuroscience and I am fascinated by brain function, this book, from the man who wrote about men who spent a good proportion of time staring at goats, was always going to be right up my street. Jon Ronson tells a great story whilst at the same time exploring the nature of psychopathy, psychiatry, the criminally insane and corporate psychopaths. He starts the book with a mystery and ends by finding more questions than answers. He writes in an open and honest way exploring his own fears and frailties with comedy and wit. A highly thought provoking and well written book wich intoduces a range of topics yet still manages to be an easy read.
Love and Nausea by David Wilson
Review Date: 2012-07-08
A very conventionally unconventional love story that tells a tale where transformation of the main character is attempted using Satre's "Nausea" as some sort of a bible. The main protagonist is Robert who is wooden, not at all likeable and I find myself thinking it's no wonder he can't find love, the woman whm he eventually marries is equally awful and I have no sympathy for his predicament when he finds himself trapped in a marriage he no longer wants to be in. Eva, his first love, is slightly more three dimensional atleast, and perhaps develops a little as she matures. She is open and honest even if she is also selfish and neurotic to some extent, the books ends in a somewhat predictable happy ending but just had no real depth. I didn't actually care about any of the characters so was left feeling glad that it was over and that I could move onto something I might actually feel something about.
One Fine Day in the Middle of the Night by Christopher Brookmyre
Review Date: 2012-07-08
I love Brookmyres style, his mix of dark comedy, wit, subterfuge and great dialogue almost without exception has me reading long into the night as his tales are simply unput downable. I get the impression that he is not terribly famous as a writer outside his native country Scotland and I've never quite understood why. The title is taken from a rhyme of the same name. One fine day in the middle of the night, Two dead men got up to fight, Back to back they faced each other, Drew their swords and shot each other, One was blind and the other couldn't, see So they chose a dummy for a referee. A blind man went to see fair play, A dumb man went to shout "hooray!" A paralysed donkey passing by, Kicked the blind man in the eye, Knocked him through a nine inch wall, Into a dry ditch and drowned them all, A deaf policeman heard the noise, And came to arrest the two dead boys, If you don't believe this story’s true, Ask the blind man he saw it too! The fourth comedy thriller from Christopher Brookmyre tells the story of an ill-fated school-reunion, where old friends reacquaint themselves until some unexpected guests show up - with guns. The book is addictive. There are a large number of characters, but they are very believable all with their own quirks and motivations for attending. The best feature of this book as with much of Brookmyre's work is the timing.
The Sacred Art of Stealing by Christopher Brookmyre
Review Date: 2012-07-08
I just re-read this recently it was the first Brookmyre book I read and lost nothing second time round. It's a great read featuring "star crossed lovers" and leaves you desperately hoping that the baddies will win ...... pure magic!