The Way to Glory - David Drake

Advantages: Funny, well written, great read, nice characters
Disadvantages: Bad Language

...Every week when I do my big shop in Sainsburys, I can't resist a detour down the book aisle and it takes a great deal of willpower not to throw a few books in my trolley each week! I am often lured in by a particularly nice cover, and Lucy Ann Holmes' debut novel jumped out at me from the shelf due to its totally "chick-lit" look. After reading the blurb, I knew it was mine whether I liked it or not and so it ended up in my trolley and into my shopping bag in my car. I quickly set to reading it as soon as I got home, and it didn't take me too long to finish! Sarah Sargeant has been single for a while, and its beginning to worry everyone, even her mum and dad. So Sarah decides to embarke on a challenge to find 50 Ways to Find A Lover. With the help of her best friend Julia and flatmate Simon, she goes speed dating, blind dating... Read review

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Advantages: Some funny moments
Disadvantages: Irritating characters, stereotypical and tenuous relationships

...In recent years we have seen a flood of novels written by people better known as comedians and comic actors. While many of them write material for others as well as themselves it has become the "in thing" to turn novelist. Most successful is probably Ben Elton (but I find his books rather "preachy" and condescending) but others to have tried their hand include Pauline McLynn (Mrs Doyle, "Father Ted"), Charles Higson (writer and actor from the Fast Show), Hugh Laurie (take my advice "The Gun Seller" is awful!) and David Baddiel's one-time "partner in comedy" Rob Newman . So, should David Baddiel stick to the day job or does he pull it off? Allow me to investigate on your behalf.... "Whatever Love Means" is a contemporary tale of two couples who share a tenuous friendship. Joe and Emma are married with a toddler son, Jackson. Vic... Read review

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Advantages: An entertaining read
Disadvantages: May be a little dated and science fiction.

...jerk on the ground could sometimes get more help from the supposed enemy than his own superiors. This story follows the conventions, An ambassador who is very conscious of his position, His beautiful wife, a world weary CIA agent, ruthless KGB agents, a genius inventor who may not be all there. There follows an entertaining read as the agent plots the defection and makes his way across Europe with determined counter agents after him. The science fiction aspect comes from the nature of the particle beam weapons. In 1983 they were still in development and could be considered as very futuristic. Even today we still have problems with the power requirements of such weapons and a small handheld device is out of the question. Most need to have a dedicated power station to run them or to be hooked up to a national grid. Not really... Read review

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