Bill Carter

Advantages: Well written, good stories and good characters
Disadvantages: A heavy paperback to carry around

...' villains all fit the bill and knowingly or not Gold has recreated the feel of these Victorian suspense filled story in a clever, distinctive way. As I mentioned before the story starts in the present but then goes back and forth in time by the use of character flashbacks, diary entries and newspaper articles, all fictitious of course but all having the hint of truth based as they are on real people. The layering of the story in this way just adds to the intrigue and mystery surrounding Carter and his associates. Carter is always the central character but we only get to know him slowly in the narrative in much the same way that Orson Wells does with his main character in the film Citizen Kane. While you could simply take the book as a rip-roaring read, plot lead in the old fashioned style, Gold also manages to enlighten us of the time in which... Read review

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Advantages: Fascinating glimpse into a moment in time, a first hand account
Disadvantages: Story about the war...or about U2?

..."A Dante's Inferno" for the MTV generation" - Bono's verdict on Bill Carter's "Fools Rush In". Not much of a recommendation for me; sounds like a load of pompous rubbish. For years my opinion of Bono has swayed from 'short-arsed rock singer' to 'head up his own arse rock singer' but for one positive interlude somewhere in the middle. This respite (for which Bono no doubt thanks me profusely!) is the subject of "Fools Rush In". When American Bill Carter found himself needing some excitement he managed to get himself a place on one of the volunteer aid convoys taking food and medical relief into the besieged town of Sarajevo during the bitter war in the former Yugoslavia. He knew little about the reasons behind the war but he realised that it didn't matter; people were suffering and he risked his own life to help others. Since they were... Read review

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Advantages: Easy read
Disadvantages: Leaves you hanging

...Sophie Kindella - The Undomestic Goddess ISBN - 0552772747 This is a light-hearted, slightly funny, romantic comedy. The Undomestic Goddess revolves around a character called Samantha Sweeting, who is a high powered top of the range London city lawyer. She has been working Carter Spink for years working as much overtime as possible; so far as to divide every hour into 6 minute intervals to bill her clients as much as possible and never waste a moment. Her life is hectic, her life a health hazard filled with fast food and little sleep in an attempt to gain partnership within Carter Spink. The day comes where Samantha is to finally to find out whether she has made partnership and a terrible mishap occurs that sends her into a spiral of confusion. Unsure how she could have made the simplest of errors she starts to walk and keeps... Read review

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