The Lost Lunar Baedeker - Mina Loy

Advantages: witty, dark and fast-paced
Disadvantages: need knowledge of author to fully appreciated

...Lunar Park is the latest novel by Bret Easton Ellis, the author of American Psycho - a story about a man who may or may not be a serial rapist and murderer. I mention this because Ellis has been defined by American Psycho since it was published in 1991- suffering more criticism than most because of the incredibly graphic and gratuitous descriptions of torture and sexual mutilation. I admittedly was one of those critics that felt so physically sick on reading American Psycho that I felt compelled to write to him immediately to firstly express my bewilderment at his choice of such a merciless narrator (Patrick Bateman) and secondly to enquire why had he felt obliged to share such horrific imagery with the rest of the world. I waited and waited for his reply- in fact years went by, and then, what do you know… I found the reply... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Well-written, thought-provoking
Disadvantages: Some of those thoughts aren't comfortable

...About the author Denise Mina is one of the group of talented Scottish crime writers to emerge in the last few years whose work has been tagged “Tartan Noir” by journalists. She lives in Glasgow, which is also the main setting for all of her books. Before becoming a full time writer her varied career ranged from cooking in a residential home to lecturing and research in criminology and women and the law. Many of her interests as an academic inform her crime novels and the issues that they explore. Mina’s first novel, Garnethill, won the John Creasey award for Best First Crime Novel, and comprises a trilogy with Exile and Resolution. Sanctum, a standalone with different characters, is her 4th novel. Review: Sanctum This is a serial killer novel with a difference – he’s the dead body. In Sanctum, Denise Mina had to take several risks... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: It a GOOD classic.
Disadvantages: a litte lenghty

...I am a self described horror, occult, vampire/werewolf fanatic. This book fits all of those categories and so much more. I first read this book when I was 10 years old. Ever since then this has been my number one favorite book ever made. Bram Stoker not only made this ghoulish classic terribly horrific but at the same time a beautifully tragic romance novel. If you don't believe that this book is truely a romance read it. The characters of Mina and Jonathan are the newest lovebirds being Jonathan being driven insane by Dracula, Mina is being seduced by Dracula; also there is one dead "turned Vampire" friend, three overly zelous boyfriends, a determined doctor gone dectective, and a insane servant of Dracula, there is a very interesting dialog. However, no matter how wonderfully written every good book has it's downfall. This book... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful