Perfume by Patrick Suskind

Advantages: Very atmospheric
Disadvantages: No disadvantages to a book, surely?!

...I think a lot of people will agree that this seems to have been a very popular book. Considering Patrick Suskind hasn't written very much yet people have really embraced "Perfume" as the thoroughly original and unusual read that it is. Set in eighteenth century France we follow the life of Suskind's fictional character Jean-Baptiste Grenouille. As Grenouille's character grows we become aware of his superlative sense of smell. His world seems to be utterly dominated by smell. So sensitive are his olfactory capabilities that he is disgusted by so many crudely manufactured scents worn by the rich French aristocracy. The catalyst for his maddening disgust of the smells that surround him comes when one day he smells the scent of pure unadulterated beauty. It comes in the form of an adolescent girl and, such is his hunger for this rich...

catrionagray 22.11.2005 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Perfume - Patrick Suskind

Review of "Master & Commander" by Patrick O'Brian

Advantages: A very good read, gives an insight into a sailors life at sea in the 1800's.
Disadvantages: This series of books is a little expensive

..."Master & Commander" is the first in a series of books by Patrick O'Brian. The story is set in the year 1800 and follows the story of recently promoted Captain Jack Aubery RN and his new acquintance Stephen Maturin. Captain Aubery takes command of the 'Sophie' and persuades his new friend - Stephen Maturin - to join as the new ships surgeon. Jack Aubery proves to be an able captain both in seamanship and in battle. We are told of gripping accounts of his battles - most especially against the Cacafuego where Capt. Aubaery gains the reputation of becoming Luck Jack Aubery. Stephen Maturin gains a reputation of a most learned surgeon, and in later books uses this to disguise his real brilliance as an intelligence officer causing mahem against the Napoleonic movement. This is a gripping book and along with a good plot line it...

sbenbow 12.07.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Master & Commander - Patrick O'Brian

Russian Revenge

Advantages: superb story, well written
Disadvantages: Conclusion not as dynamic as it could have been

...Background: I discovered this book while looking around a local charity shop the other week. I am a big reader and I was very impressed with both the variety and the quality of the books they had on sale. In the end I purchased three for just £3, which I thought was a great deal as the books looked practically new and all sounded on first glance interesting. About the author: Patrick Lennon was born in Cambridge in 1964. Following a successful career within a variety of Multi-National companies in different countries, he turned his attention to writing. He does this together with running his own business in Berkshire. It is his crime fiction writing that makes people sit up and take note of his name. So far he has written three highly acclaimed books with a new one due to be published in January 2010. Synopsis...

CPTDANIELS 29.11.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Corn Dolls - Patrick Lennon

The Honey Man

Advantages: Fabulous characters in superb story
Disadvantages: Nothing

...Background: All my family know I love reading, my particular favourites are either thrillers or adventure novels. So I was really pleased when I received this book for my Birthday from one of my Nieces. About the author: Patrick Lennon was born in 1964 and brought up in Cambridge. In his early working career he worked within Multi-National organisations, before turning his hand to writing. The book I am reviewing is his latest and third in a series that has Tom Fletcher as its lead character. Lennon combines writing with running his own business. Synopsis of the book: Tom Fletcher is a happy a contented man. After years working first as a Policeman and then a Private Investigator the 37 year old has now settled for a slower pace of life as a beekeeper. He and his wife Cathleen and twin three...

CPTDANIELS 16.12.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Cut Out - Patrick Lennon

  Cigarettes and Alcohol...and Rollerblading

Advantages: A quite unique hillwalking experience...
Disadvantages: ...which is both a blessing and a curse

...a disapproving eye across the multiple misdemeanours committed on the road network. Radio Kerry even does the death announcements immediately after the 9am news and weather...'well, we do love a good requiem mass' as my landlady put it. But indisputably the biggest symbol of the Catholic faith is the one that rears 2510ft into the air on the Mayo coast near the town of Westport: quite possibly the most brazen landmark on the whole Emerald Isle...Ireland's Holy Mountain, St Patrick's Stack. Native Irish speakers know it as Cruach Phádraig. The majority know it as Croagh Patrick. And to one expatriate Englishman (sorry Dave), it's 'that fecking Reek'. The First Golden Cleric You'd have thought that 'being Welsh' would constitute a crippling obstacle on the path to 'becoming patron saint of Ireland'. But Maewyn Succat was made of sterner stuff...

greenierexyboy 28.02.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Croagh Patrick, Westport, Ireland

A sweet and sometimes sad song, well played

Advantages: I enjoyed this, a good few hours of entertainment and an easy read
Disadvantages: Won't be to everyone's taste but it is in the end just a book about people

...I picked up another Patrick Gale ? called ?Notes From An Exhibition? ? and read it very quickly and with considerable pleasure. So when I noticed that I had another of his books on my shelf ? Rough Music ? I was pleased and was anticipating a pleasurable read. I was not disappointed. The two books are both largely set in west Cornwall which must be an area that the author knows and loves; the descriptions are too rich and emotive to be other than those of a long-term fan. Both books have a woman with a mental illness amongst the central characters; both revolve around family and the strains and stresses ? the family fault lines, as it were ? which from time to time emerge. Both have a gay man as one of the central characters too, but they are for all that very different stories. Other than also, in passing, recommending it, I shall...

andyk910 19.10.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Rough Music - Patrick Gale

The Steel Witches

Advantages: Fabulous story excellently told
Disadvantages: None

...Background: I had never heard of this author, he was recommended to me sometime ago by my Niece?s boyfriend. He was raving about what a fantastic author this chap was, so eventually I decided to give him a try as it was getting a bit embarrassing always saying no. I often find when a new author is recommended to me the work is not as good as you had hoped for, I suppose that?s because we all see different things and want different things as well from what we read. About the author: Patrick Lennon was born in 1964 and brought up in Cambridge. From there is moved around and has lived in Mexico, Thailand, Britain, France and Italy. He worked for a Multi-national companies in a variety of international roles, before writing his first novel in 2006. So far he had written three as we as running his own business. Synopsis...

CPTDANIELS 01.11.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of Steel Witches - Patrick Lennon

The Name of the Wind - Do You Know It?

Advantages: Well-written; humorous; enjoyable; escapist.
Disadvantages: Cliched; not entirely mind-blowing.

...any real magic powers of his own. Only a few authors have successfully pulled off the more traditional, clichéd storyline, for example Raymond Feist in his magnificent ?Magician? trilogy, or even in her own peculiar way J K Rowling, whose ?Harry Potter? stories are a refreshing, if juvenile, twist on the well-worn tale. Patrick Rothfuss is a new name that I can add to this list, and he comes as something of a surprise. ?The Name of the Wind? is his debut novel, and to date (June 2009), the only one that he has published. A 36 year old College lecturer, Rothfuss comes without any notable literary background or recommendation. In view of this, ?The Name of the Wind? has had remarkable success, appearing on the New York Times bestseller lists, winning the 2007 Quill Award for best sci-fi/fantasy and appearing in Publishing Weekly?s ?best...

MikeOCarroll 14.06.2009 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Review of The Name of the Wind - Patrick Rothfuss

He Comes From Senegal, He Plays For Arsenal

Advantages: A good solid defensive Midfielder
Disadvantages: His discipline problems

...For my second op in as many days on the premierships finest stars its now over to another club I have a bit of a disliking for but again who have a good midfielder. The club of course is Arsenal and the player is French defensive midfielder Patrick Viera. The Gunners captain has really made a name for himself since his move to North London and although the fiery temperament has got him into serious trouble at times he is seen by many Man Utd fans as a replacement for Roy Keane. Of course United aren?t the only team on his trail, Real Madrid also want him to join there International superstar squad. Although he gets in the papers for all the wrong reason it is Viera?s influence in the Arsenal midfield, which has seen them capture the Premiership title 2 times and win and retain the FA Cup for the last 2 seasons. He?s also been...

Andy.mack 05.01.2004 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Patrick Vieira

Patrick Swayze

Advantages: Great Story Involving Patrick Swayze
Disadvantages: None

...Oh yes - a movie with Patrick at his best, Jennifer Grey wasn't bad either ! An oldy fashioned kind of a movie set in the Butlins kind of holiday camp environment. The story is basically that Doctor's daughter meets travelling entertainer and falls in love. He is moody, sexy and has the most excellent moves, she is young, naive and totally out of her depth. They get together when his dance partner for the show is unable to make it and he has to teach Jennifer (baby) how to dance. There is a lot of touchie feelie in this movie and although I have seen it sooooo many times I could easily put it on tomorrow. The music is excellent and there are some great supporting roles. Both Patrick and Jennifer excel themselves ! If you like a good story and Patrick then you have to watch this movie......

bandoo 22.12.2000 · Read review
Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Review of Dirty Dancing (DVD)