Modern Fiction Books > by Price

A classic for all ages

Advantages: Powerful message, easy to read
Disadvantages: None

I gave this book to my 14 year old daughter to read last Xmas and whenever I asked if she'd read it, she told me it was too difficult to read. I was very puzzled, until I finally discovered she had been reading the introduction! I love this book because it presents such an insightful perspective on himan nature, in a format and style that most high school students can enjoy. The narrative is straightforward and very well structured, ensuring the ...
...reminds me of famous psychological experiments of the 50s and 60s, where ordinary people off the street, students etc ... were persuaded to administer supposedly fatal electric shocks to each other, or to inflict extreme violence on each other in prison-prisoner scenarios. I first read 'Lord of the Flies' when I was about 12. I found it extraordinarily insightful then, and still do. ...

PaulLawrence 23.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful
Review of Lord of the flies - William Golding

Can Langdon find the Lost Symbol?

Advantages: Fast paced
Disadvantages: last 50 or so pages

'The Lost Symbol is the latest offering from Dan Brown featuring Harvard Symbologist Robert Langdon and like all avid readers of his work I was looking forward to reading the book. - At 6am on a Sunday morning Robert Langdon receives a message from his mentor and friend, prominent 33rd Degree Mason Peter Solomon, to conduct a lecture in Washington’s Capitol Building and not wanting to let his friend down Langdon agrees to go and sets off for ...
...However on arrival at the Rotunda area within the Capitol Building, something strikes Langdon as odd, there is nobody waiting there for the lecture. Believing he is in the wrong building Langdon is set to walk about but is interrupted by a commotion, on looking on what the problem is, it seems that somebody has left a strategically placed hand on the floor, however on closer looks Langdon receives a shock, he recognises the Masonic ring on a finger ...

paulpry118 09.11.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Lost Symbol - Dan Brown

Night Watch and Day Watch; two reviews in one!

Advantages: Two exceptional and highly original fantasy novels
Disadvantages: Not books for those looking for mindless entertainment; these are thinking fantasy novels

...Ciao not taking reviews for the Night Watch (which is the first book in the series of the same name, with Day Watch being the second) this is a review of the first two novels. If you just want to read a review The Day Watch, please skip to the second half. THE NIGHT WATCH The Night Watch is a science fiction novel written by Russian author Sergei Lukyanenko, and is the first book in the Night Watch trilogy. The book was originally written in ...
...the series as a whole has enjoyed fantastic success in Russia. It has also been critically acclaimed in other countries, including the UK, with The Daily Telegraph calling it "JK Rowling, Russian style". A bold claim indeed. THE WORLD The Night Watch is set in modern day Russia (Moscow, specifically) and follows The Others, beings who look exactly like humans, but who possess supernatural powers. Every Other is either a 'Light One' or a 'Dark ...

CrazyJamie 18.09.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of The Day Watch - Sergei Lukyanenko

Every man women and child must read "The Curious Incident..."

Advantages: Easy to read, facinating and funny
Disadvantages: Having dinner too late because you couldn't stop reading until you finish it!

...can roll of an all the countries of the world and their capitals as well as very prime number up to 7057 without a second thought. Christopher has a very strict regime, and stange habits, likes and dislikes. He loves maths, small spaces and the truth while detesting yellow, brown and being touched. Upon finding a neighbour's dog murdered in it's back yard, Christopher is determined to resolve the mystery, unaware what else he will unravel in the ...
...by the way he numbered the chapters- using only prime numbers (numbers only divisble by itself and one, eg. 2,3,5,7,11). Every second chapter digresses from the narrative, to seemingly unrelated topics such as what happens when you die (you rot) and fairies. However this digression lets the reader futher into the way Christopher's mind works, making the reader really warm to him as a person. The plot is very engaging, and I read it all in one sitting. ...

alk144 11.08.2009 · Read full review
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Review of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time - Mark Haddon

Moving and thought provoking

Advantages: Good characterisation. Interesting narrative.
Disadvantages: Weak ending

The Lovely Bones is narrated by 14 year old Susie Salmon. She narrates from heaven where she found herself after having been raped and murdered by her neighbour. She looks down on friends and family from heaven and watches how her death has affected them. As they grieve for her life so does she, finding herself unable to let go of her life on earth. The Lovely Bones is part murder mystery and part ghost story. The prose is creepy yet beautiful largely ...
...as the narrator. The analysis of death and grief in many different ways, through the different characters, creates a beautiful and though provoking novel. We see the break up of Susie’s family as her father becomes obsessed with his suspicion of the killer whilst her mother has an affair. Susie’s sister struggles to find a way to separate herself from the murder and thus to move on. She worries about always being defined by Susie’s murder. Susie’s ...

loobylou88 11.12.2009 · Read full review
Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of The Lovely Bones - Alice Sebold