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(UPDATED AND RESCHEDULED POST) The opening line of a book is vitally important for grabbing the reader by the throat and making them not want to let go. But what about the final line? Regardless of whether there is a sequel in the works, the final sentence – although not as important, still requires some … Continue reading 10 Books with the Best Closing Lines
It’s considered the first ever proper modern science fiction novel. 200 years after it was first published, it still manages to wow audiences. It’s been reinvented more times than Madonna but a resurgence a few years ago means we are once again craving the timeless tale. It all began when Danny Boyle adapted it for … Continue reading Frankenstein is 200 Years Old: What is it About?
Yes it is that time of year again, the time that lovers buy each other chocolates and flowers, go out for a meal and sip wine into the small hours and generally revel in how loved up they feel. Well, not for everyone. Want a bit of romance in your reading? Believe it or not, … Continue reading A Sci Fi Romance Story for Valentine’s Day
The TL;DR version of this review: This is the travel guide to Britain you never knew you needed 😀 I’m a Bill Bryson convert. Just as he has adopted the British (genetic?) predisposition for sarcasm and deadpan delivery, I’ve adopted his unique writing style. Like many Americans, Bryson always wanted to visit Britain.
I’ve gone off short story collections in recent years. I can’t help feeling that modern writers have lost the art of succinctness and good old-fashioned storytelling required of a short piece. Yet Uncanny Valley caught my eye thanks to the unique selling point. It claims to be a collection of short stories sent in to … Continue reading Book Review: Uncanny Valley by Gregory Miller
Self-published books can be hit or miss. I’ve read some superb examples and some truly awful examples through the likes of BookBub. Mostly, the quality has been fair to good. I usually judge my interest not by reviews but by how much the blurb appeals. This one certainly appealed so I gave it a shot.
This is the sequel that most King fans have awaited for years – a follow-up to the events of one of his most iconic and best-loved books. Set several decades after the events at the Overlook Hotel, Daniel Torrence is now in his 30s and desperately trying to escape his haunted past. Yet he has … Continue reading Book Review: Doctor Sleep by Stephen King
It’s around 18 months since I completed another book on North Korea – Nothing to Envy. I bought this around the same time. It’s one of the most famous accounts from anyone who lived inside the country and spent time at one of the many notorious gulags. Kang Chol-Hwan was just a boy when his … Continue reading Book Review: Aquariums of Pyongyang by Kang Chol-Hwan
What happened to the “unsinkable” RMS Titanic? Did it strike an iceberg and sink in the early hours of 15th April 1912? Did it actually go down in history as the worst maritime disaster ever? Yes, we know this is the case. But what happened in the hours leading up to that fateful night. Some … Continue reading Book Review: Deck Z by Chris Pauls & Matt Solomon
To the uninitiated, science fiction is about space battles and exploring planets full of strange and wonderful creatures. Yet science fiction has never “just” been about spaceships and alien planets. That is just one subgenre of our weird and wonderful genre. There are many more and you might be surprised at some books and films … Continue reading Science Fiction’s Sub-Genres in a Nutshell (Part 1)