A.M. Clevely

Advantages: Very useful and full of information
Disadvantages: nothing

...After the comments and ratings given on my review of "Grow Your Own Veg" (http://www.ciao.co.uk/GrowYourOwnVegCarolKleinReview5634527) went down so well I decided to tell you about another book I got about 8 months ago called "The Allotment Book". It's written by Andi Clevely and this review is about the hardback version. The books front covers shows someone sat down, looking at there allotment, and probably having a good think of what they are going to do next year to maybe improve things. The allotment people like myself are always looking on how to improve this the next year, Even today I have been down my allotment and planted a few fruit tress, and Sunday the Blueberry are being planted, a busy time for us allotment breed this time of year. The book itself is very easy on the eyes; full of very useful information... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Very funny and surprisingly thought-provoking
Disadvantages: A little too self-aware, some aspects could be improved

...as well as disadvantages (it's not always a bad thing for the reader to feel separate and it does make a valid point), but I would have preferred something slightly different. A.M Homes is known for her controversial stories, although I admit that I hadn't heard of her before all the media hype surrounding this book (it's another of Richard and Judy's reads). However, I have heard of The End of Alice, written in 1996, which is her most notable novel, according to Wikipedia. I'll certainly be looking out for it. She's also a journalist, with articles appearing in Vanity Fair (among others) and has written some stuff for television. She sounds like a fascinating writer and I look forward to discovering more of her work. A little too self-conscious in places, This Book Will Save Your Life both parodies and aspires to be the type of book... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: an entertaining read on a serious subject
Disadvantages: told in the present tense

...A 57-year-old man experiences a pain attack and when he's asked in hospital who he wants to call, he doesn't know what to answer. Existential angst sets in, "He didn't want to die. He couldn't die. He hadn't even lived yet." Nothing serious can be found, though, and when he's back home, he decides to change his life. So far, so unoriginal, tons of books must have been written in the western world about this subject (I doubt that Hindus and Buddhists bother what with their belief in rebirth), if an author uses this plot, they must wrap it into a captivating story to make readers want to read it. What has A. M. Homes made of it? The story is set in Los Angeles, aka la-la land, this is not just any setting because a story has to be set somewhere, LA and what it stands for play a vital part in the story, more of this later. Richard... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful