One man's blackly funny quest for love, self-knowledge and the solution to the impenetrable mysteries of the opposite sex. Daniel Savage's marriage and career have failed and his love life is a disaster. All he has left is a grimy bedsit and his six-year-old daughter. Who does he blame for his life? Himself. Men in general. And women, of course. Because Daniel thinks women are a nightmare from which there's no waking up. Is he right? He's determined to find out - firstly by trawling through the history of every relationship he's had, and secondly, by dating every woman he can find... Views: 143
Strato Nyman couldn't be more of an odd-one-out. He's the only black kid in Hedgecombe-upon-Dray, he knows more about particle physics than his teacher, and he's constantly picked on by school bully Lloyd Archibald Turnbull. It's only at home that he blends in to the background – his parents are too busy arguing to notice he exists. But one day, Strato picks up a dusty old book in a mysterious bookshop and learns how to become invisible. He soon discovers that people aren't always what they seem ... and realizes standing out isn't so bad after all. Views: 134
Dr Alex Seymour seems to have it all - with a solid marriage of twenty years, two teenage children, a new baby and an unblemished career as a London GP, his life seems perfect - but then a simple trip to the local supermarket changes things irrevocably. As he witnesses a shoplifter foiled by a combination of the owner's beady eye and the surveillance camera under the counter, Alex Seymour starts thinking about the reality and the fragility of his own seemingly perfect domestic situation, and what he does not see. With a son he suspects is stealing, a daughter whose first boyfriend may be going too far, and a wife he thinks is being unfaithful, Alex needs something to help him find out the truth and put him back in control. Enter Sherry Thomas, the mysterious Managing Director of Cyclops, a surveillance shop, and the catalyst for Alex Seymour's descent into a world ruled by cameras, tapes, lies and deceit, with devastating consequences. A gripping story of suspense that mirrors modern preoccupations with surveillance, tabloid voyeurism and morality. Views: 133
Tim Lott's parents, Jack and Jean, met at the Empire Snooker Hall, Ealing, in 1951, in a world that to him now seems 'as strange as China'. In this extraordinarily moving exploration of his parents' lives, his mother's inexplicable suicide in her late fifties and his own bouts of depression, Tim Lott conjures up the pebble-dashed home of his childhood and the rapidly changing landscape of postwar suburban England. It is a story of grief, loss and dislocation, yet also of the power of memory and the bonds of family love. Views: 130
Homeland meets Marie Lu's Legend in the explosive sequel to Blackout, which #1 New York Times bestselling author Ally Condie called "a thrilling combination of Wells's trademark twists and terror. Fantastic!"It began with a virus. Then a series of attacks erupted across the nation. Now America is at war—and a handful of teens with impossible powers are its only defense.In Dead Zone, Robison Wells delivers his most nail-bitingly tense read yet—and an electrifying conclusion to a two-book series that's perfect for fans of The Maze Runner and I Am Number Four. Views: 127
Award-winning author Tim Lott's inspirational tale of a girl who risks everything in pursuit of justice.The smartly painted exterior of the City Community Faith School hides a disturbing secret. Behind its walls, one thousand girls are forced to labour in the city's laundry, separated from their families and deprived of their freedom. One of these girls is Little Fearless, a courageous spirit who never gives up hope that one day they will be rescued. Unafraid of the punishment she will face, Little Fearless escapes the institute to tell her story to the world. But why does nobody believe she's telling the truth? Views: 93
A captivating 1970s-set novel that is both a coming-of-age and an End-of-an-Age story: about love, the lure of idealism, innocence and decadence. Adam is seventeen, the only son of straitlaced, cautious Ray and Evie. Life is slow, unbearably routine, in their low-rise council block in the London suburbs, until tragedy strikes, leaving Adam unhinged with grief. Rejecting any consolation at home, Adam is sent to spend the long hot 1970s summer with Ray's unlikely brother, the enigmatic Dr Henry Templeton - guru and spiritual teacher. With few possessions and even fewer ambitions for his future, Adam arrives at his uncle's houseboat in the West Country. Henry is charismatic, unfamiliar, full of eccentric ideas and projects. As the summer unspools, Adam meets first Strawberry, an ethereal American girl living in a shack in the woods; and then Ashley, whose father, the local vicar, is locked in conflict with Henry and his circle's 'alternative' way of life. While Adam falls... Views: 82
The Love Secrets of Don Juan sees self-pitying ad executive Daniel "Spike" Savage midway through a messy divorce at 45. His soon-to-be ex-wife, Beth, has the house in Hammersmith and custody of their daughter, Poppy. Daniel has been left with a bedsit in perpetually unfashionable Acton and a burning desire to understand why all his relationships with women end in miserable failure.
A few words of wisdom come from old friend Carol, best mate Martin and his therapist Terence but with a blind-ish date looming, Daniel takes more drastic action. He embarks on refining his identity or "brand statement" in the forlorn hope that he'll stand a better chance with the opposite sex--as he quips: "Interesting that 'opposite'. As in diametrically opposed. Not the different sex. The opposite sex." With his trusty flip chart and black marker pens he starts to analyse the lessons he has learned from each love affair--a project he dubs, ironically, The Love Secrets of Don Juan.
To begin with, Tim Lott's third novel seems to mine a furrow of laddishness all but exhausted in the late 90s by Nick Hornby and numerous stand-up comedians, invariably called Jeff. Daniel's "Women, oh they're different, aren't they?" shtick hardly appears original; while Lott's take on the ostracised "Good Dad" is pure Parsons. But Lott is a significantly better novelist than the above would suggest. His plotting can be hackneyed but this is a book full of acute humour and observations--one recurring and insistent theme is the contrast of male literalness and feminine symbolism. Daniel is richly drawn and as he negotiates the modern dating (and parenting) game, his articulate, first person narrative, peppered with brand names and marketing argot, really captures a man struggling to understand his life, love and the infuriating nuances of gender. --Travis Elborough Views: 77
In this fast-paced dystopian thrill ride, a seventeen-year-old girl rises from the dead as a Reboot and is trained as an elite crime-fighting soldier . . . until she is given an order she refuses to obey.Five years ago, Wren Connolly was shot three times in the chest. After 178 minutes, she came back to life as a Reboot—stronger, faster, able to heal, but less emotional. The longer Reboots are dead, the less human they are when they return, making Wren 178 the deadliest Reboot in the Republic of Texas.Callum 22, on the other hand, is practically still human. He's the worst trainee Wren has ever had—his reflexes are too slow, he's always asking pesky questions, and his ever-present smile is freaking her out. Yet he's still her newbie. When Callum fails to measure up to Reboot standards, Wren is told to eliminate him. Wren has never disobeyed before, but she'll do whatever it takes to save Callum's life.The perfect soldier is done taking orders.Wren's captivating voice and unlikely romance with Callum will keep readers glued to the page in Amy Tintera's high-stakes alternate reality ideal for fans of The Hunger Games, Legend, and Divergent.Amazon.com ReviewIn this Amazon exclusive list, author Amy Tintera shares the popular TV shows that inspired Reboot.I learned so much about writing from watching television. I know that sounds a bit odd, but TV shows have to be well-plotted, fast-paced, and feature characters you love (or love to hate) in order to be successful. There are a few in particular that inspired Reboot and influenced my writing recently: Battlestar Galactica – This show asks you to think about what it means to be human. Are the Cylons lesser because they started out as a machine made by humans? How do we decide who has a soul and who has humanity?The Walking Dead – Over the course of the show, different characters question just how far gone the Walkers are. They still have some brain activity left, so as I watched I always wondered – how much of the person was actually left in there? Dexter – Is it ok to kill people if they’re bad? Where do we draw the line? Being inside the head of a man who loved to kill, who needed to kill in order to feel alive, is both fascinating and horrifying. Friday Night Lights - This show captures small-town Texas life perfectly, and featured some of the most complex, interesting character relationships on television. 5.Buffy the Vampire Slayer – There is a lot to be learned from watching any Joss Whedon show, but Buffy taught me how to set terrible choices for characters. Do you save the world or save your boyfriend? Do you let a loved one die or sacrifice yourself? The characters in Buffy often had to make the worst, most heart-wrenching choices, and it made for riveting television.Review“Fast paced and thrilling...I devoured this book!” (Veronica Rossi, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of UNDER THE NEVER SKY )“I don’t know what left me more breathless—the breakneck pace or the heart—stopping romance! I loved it!” (Sophie Jordan, NEW YORK TIMES bestselling author of FIRELIGHT )“A bone–breaking heroine fights for her life, her love, and what remains of her humanity in this fresh take on a world gone wrong.” (Lissa Price, international bestselling author of STARTERS )“Riveting, fast–paced, and full of heart—I simply couldn’t put it down.” (C. J. Redwine, author of DEFIANCE )“Compulsively readable...Superb concepts and plotting will hook readers from the start.” (Kirkus Reviews )“A fascinating premise, delivered in gory and glorious cinematic detail—and with a healthy dose of romance...The quick pace, familiar yet altered setting, and strong humanitarian message will draw Hunger Games fans.” (ALA Booklist ) Views: 69
