A Better World
To say I'm not normally a fan of series, I'm really getting into this one! Great read, very fast paced but also encourages a lot of 'what if' thinking.
One of Your Own: The Life and Death of Myra Hindley
A very difficult read but well researched and presented.
The Verdict
It didn't blow me away, though I did enjoy it and I am very very pleased to see more legal thrillers/mysteries hitting the shelves! Will certainly be looking out for future reads by Nick Stone.
The Night Stalker
At times a little overly dramatic in telling - the subject matter itself was more than dramatic enough - but well researched and certainly had me double-checking the locks before bed.
A Million Ways to Die in the West
A hypochondriac, hyper sensitive, climate/disease/germ/gun fearing cowboy? Yep, it was as funny as it sounded!
The One Plus One
I think I spent a good 70% of this book grinning inanely and I read it whenever I snatched a minute or two. Lovely reading and somehow perfect for this delightful spring!
May We Be Forgiven: A Novel
At its heart - and much like its predecessor - a book for the soul. It's a celebration of all that is good and all that is flawed in human nature. I would go so far as to call it beautifully tainted. Thank you to A M Homes for introducing flawed compassion and heroism so perfectly, not once but twice now.
Tweak It: Make What Matters to You Happen Every Day
A 3 for the book but a 5 for the concept. Does it work? Not sure yet but I'm approaching my 2014 goals in a whole new way.
Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us
Some extraordinary insights into motivation. A must read for managers and a brilliant read for psychology lovers.
SPOILER ALERT!
The Wasp Factory
Wow. Books that make you challenge your assumptions can often be hard hitting, but a book that leads you to challenge all the assumptions you built up while reading, in the final chapter? This blew my mind.
Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened
When I first discovered Hyperbole and a Half, I had been going through a little bit of a dark time. I found the Adventures in Depression post and the blog was like a huge mug of hot chocolate and some hot apple pie on a cold day. It was so comforting, warming and kicked a huge dent in my loneliness.Somebody, somewhere, understood. More than that, this person was immensely talented and they had a unique and incredible way to illustrate (in both the literal and figurative senses) things that were incredibly hard to explain.
I wasn't remotely surprised to find, when spending more time on Hyperbole and a Half, that it was full of amazing things. Funny things, inspiring things, heartwarming things. And I wasn't remotely surprised to find the book Hyperbole and a Half was the paper equivalent of a giant ball pool, made of marshmallows and filled with Skittles. It's a hug in book form, full of warmth and goodness but also wry humour, a healthy dose of fun-poking and wonderful wonderful illustrations.
Like The Oatmeal, Hyperbole and a Half is spreading colour and inspiration in a world that can seem unbearably heavy and drab at times. Buy this as a gift. Who for? Anyone. Everyone. Buy it and make a new friend purposefully to give them this book. Buy it and leave it as a Random Act of Kindness. Buy it for yourself. Buy it for your dog!
You can't buy happiness, but you can buy Hyperbole and a Half and a vanilla latte and - for a winter's afternoon - that's just about close enough.
Scotland's Jesus: The Only Officially Non-Racist Comedian
Frankie Boyle can be a comic genius. Sadly, this is far far beneath him, designed simply to be controversial, rather than controversially hilarious. I stopped halfway through. The utterly out of place, unfunny sex scene in the intro and the audiobook being narrated by someone else also add to the dispiriting mix. For the real genius of Boyle, go back to Mock the Week and My Shit Life So Far.
Alternative Movie Posters: Film Art from the Underground
I love films, although my husband Dave is the real movie buff in the household. The art of the movie poster has undergone a real transformation over the decades. The iconic posters of yesteryear still deserve pride of place. That's great, but it's sad too. The great movies of today also need great poster art. Sometimes the promotional art seems more of an afterthought.That's where Alternative Movie Posters comes in. Meet the designers with a passion for film and film artwork. From The Shining to Heathers, from Rushmore to A Clockwork Orange, this is a brilliant array of stunning artwork.
This will be the perfect Christmas gift for movie lovers, those who love art and graphic design, people who enjoy reading about pop culture and anyone who likes to see a different creative perspective. It's a beautiful, beautiful volume.
**I received this book via Netgalley in exchange for a fair and honest review. I did not receive any additional compensation and all views are my own.**
