Advantages: Superb novel.
Disadvantages: You'll either love it or hate.

...'The Wasp Factory' by Iain Banks made me fall in love with reading books. Y'know those kind of books that you just don't want to put down? Well, this sums up 'The Wasp Factory'. I have a pretty dry sense of humour so I love Banks' style of writing. It's one of the most amusing books I have ever read...in fact, it's probably the best. Banks' psychological approach of an insecure young boy is a rather complex piece of writing, but is very well done and will leave you wondering which of the characters is the most psychotic. A word of warning though...If you're easily disturbed I'd steer clear of reading 'The Wasp Factory'.... Read review

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Advantages: Young, exciting, english talent.
Disadvantages:

...I strongly feel that the national press and the sporting public should take more notice of the game's club setup. Wasps is a prime example of how the game has entered a new era; with professionalism has come increased levels of excitement and skill. Wasps is a breeding ground for young english talent and is always looking to the future; it should be congratulated and supported for not being lured by the temptations of signing has-beens from overseas with massive wage packets. At Loftus Road there is a good atmosphere, friendly people and entertainment which is certainly value for money.... Read review

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Advantages: great sport and team
Disadvantages: World Cup and 6 Nations - Made the start of the season terrible

...It was 4 years ago i got given some tickets for a Lonodon wasps game and i have been a great follower since. I never thought that i would follow rugby, i used to watch the world cup but that was just because it was country. Now after i have been to Twickenham to see England play twice i am hooked. After the rocky start to the season with most of the London wasp players being called away for the Rugby World Cup unfortunatley for them all of the 2nd team were called to play to replace the likes of Simon Shaw, Phil Vickery, Paul Sackey, Raphel Ibanez are but to name a few. Then as if matters could not then get any worse once again some of the players were called up again by their country for the 6 nations. Luckily for Wasps they still battle through in High Wycombe at Adams Park to try to hold, then over the past five games they have... Read review

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Advantages: A really interesting and obscure read.
Disadvantages: 'Sick' in parts and thus unsuitable for some.

...The Wasp Factory. ********************* I spotted Iain Bank's the Wasp Factory on a friend's bookshelf at the end of last year. It was the title that intrigued me more than anything. The book is described on the front as a 'gothic horror novel' and the back page reads: Enter - if you can bear it - the extraordinary private world of Frank, just sixteen, and unconventional, to say the least. 'Two years after I killed Blyth I murdered my young brother Paul, for quite different and more fundamental reasons than I'd disposed of Blyth, and then a year after that I did for my young cousin Esmerelda, more or less on a whim. That's my score to date. Three. I haven't killed anybody for years, and don't intend to ever again.' 'It was just a stage I was going through.' I borrowed the book and I just finished it last week. Here's what I... Read review

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Advantages: Good Read
Disadvantages: Has nasty bits in it

...The Wasp Factory is only for those who enjoy a bit of gore, insanity and weirdness. I discovered it when for my A-level English class I was told to chose from a variety of books that came under the horror genre. The Wasp Factory was one of the books we were given and I automatically felt it would be a good read because the title sounded quite bizarre and little did I know how amazing, yet tragic, this novel would be. As you read through you may get a little confused with the main character, Frank, and his life and why he acts in such a strange way. However, I found I could not put this book down and ended up reading it within a day. The way he acts so crazily in his everyday life and the way he addresses you as a reader makes you really want to know why he is so different. As the story unfolds it reveals to you why he has turned out... Read review

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Advantages: My doggie is now ok
Disadvantages: Stupid wasp

...This is the second poem I have ever written and it is about a wasp stinging my puppy girl. A wasp was the cause of the sting and I could not help worrying I decided to look on the net It said on there I should take her the vet To take my puppy dog to be seen I don't care if it costs a million beans I love my dog very very much Her little foot was sore to touch She is the best thing in the world to me rather a wasp than a bee. Bee stings are more nasty as they seem to last and last I wish I could have prevented the sting She's never been stung by one in the past I could see my puppy girl was in pain but all I could do was stroke her mane I put on some antiseptic cream at this point I felt so mean I knew her foot was in pain there's nothing there to be drained I think the cream did some good I wanted to neutralise the crud I... Read review

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Advantages: Good bars
Disadvantages: Dirty beach & streets

...I didnt expect luxury from a cheap package holiday to Kavos. I knew it would be young and lively - but I didnt expect it to be so rundown and dirty. It is no wonder the locals wont live in the town. We arrived very late at night so our first impressions were good. It was lined with bars and looked like a fun place to stay. However, the next morning we sauntered down a rubbish covered street, lined with bins that attracted hoards of wasps. We then met our rep at a bar - with hoards of wasps. I've been abroad many times but never been to anywhere with so many wasps. The hotel was clean and comfortable, but the hot water was limited. We went a week without hot water, before our electricity failed all together and the manager had to fix it. The beach was a disgrace - covered in litter and broken beer bottles, as well as the local wasps... Read review

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Advantages: scary, well written
Disadvantages: animal abuse

...I first read “The Wasp factory” after a teacher recommended it, initially I had high expectations as I had already read many of the writers science fiction novels where he writes as Iain M Banks. The story follows a sixteen year old called Frank who, during the book reveals three murders he committed in the past. Whilst this takes place we also learn the deeper and much darker secrets he possesses. The sub plots of the book are really the most shocking aspect of this gory novel where the writer clearly set out to disturb. But far from being another meaningless blood bath with little talent being displayed, ”The Wasp factory” comes under a different heading altogether. The writer uses his story telling skills and word power to the furthest extent and combines them with his fearsome imagination to produce... Read review

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Advantages: The best things about this book are the strange, intelligent ideas and the twist at the end.
Disadvantages: The only disappointment about this book is the fact that it ends

...In this excellent gothic horror, Iain M. Banks excels himself in this writing, with non-stop action. The main character "Frank" is a schizophrenic and so can hear voices in his mind leading him to do some very scary and disturbing things. These ideas are told in a surprisingly chatty tone, making his ideas all the more disturbing, but at the same time drawing the reader in and intriguing him/her so they don’t want to put this wonderful book down. A few ideas from the book that I don’t think will ruin it for you are how, surprisingly, Frank’s life revolves around death, revenge, his brother (who escaped from a mental institute where he was put away for causing havoc and setting alight to dogs) and.... religion?! This almost religion comes from this mysterious object known only by Frank as The Wasp Factory... Read review

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Advantages: Kills wasps and other insects
Disadvantages: Strong Smell

...Ok I have to tell you I am afraid of bees, wasps and all other creepy crawleys, a wasp only needs to fly past me and I'm off on one, I can scream for Great Britain when there is a wasp nearby. So can you imagine what I go through during the summer months. People tell me to give them a good whack with a rolled up newspaper or something but I cant go that close to them as the minute the fly off it petrifies me. So when I was left in the house on my own one day and a wasp came in that was the last straw I needed to do something, so along to the corner shop I went and practically screamed HELP at the shop keeper, he pointed me in the direction of Raid. It cost me £1.90 a can but remember that was from a corner shop, it can be purchased far much cheaper from the likes of Tesco etc. Raid is another product from the Johnson's Family Company... Read review

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