The Skull by medically-diagnosed mildly-psychotic writer Shaun Hutson is a book with content that I have never come across in the past. Although I've read Stephen King's work The Skull is no match for the gruesome and gory aspects/concepts of the story. A skull that breeds from a drop of human or animal blood? A 7 foot monster with a skull full of large incisors and a lust for blood? It's quite obvious here that Mr. Hutson is indeed a psycho.
The book tells of an architect who finds a strange skull, too big to be human yet nothing animal like. Whilst being carried around a lab it seems to come alive and bite a professor. This small event creates a story of rampage, gore, death, sex and bad weather all because Mr. Architect decided to get this skull inspected on. However, this mistake does indeed make for a good story and one which is gripping fast and interesting enough to make you want to find out what happens next.
The Skull is well written with the aforementioned gripping storyline and a constant curiosity of what will happen next or thoughts of "You bloody idiot, have you not seen the films?". The prose is written in a style of going from one the location and events of one person straight to another at that time-space so we know what's happing both ways rather than left wondering and curious.
Those who have read anything by Hutson in the past are probably aware of his writing and it would that his Psychosis adds to the intensity of the story. The Skull is written in a way that makes you think the writer could possibly be some serial killer or person who shows signs of becoming such.
If you can get your hands on this book (it's now out of print so charity shops are the best bet) do so and have a good read. However it's not a book that can be put down for more than 3 days and not matter that you've forgotten half of what you've already read.
Total rating: 4.5/5
Tuesday 29 June 2010
Sunday 27 June 2010
Overexposure by Hugo Rifkind
"Overexposure" by Times journalist Hugo Rifkind is a satirical story of a journalist who does very little other than get drunk, argue with his boss, party, write columns and try and get as much sex as possible. However, Overexposure is a book which some might consider a "holiday" or "park" read - the type of book you grab from an airport bookshop or something you take to Hyde Park on a sunny day. The latter I am guilty of doing, although it sadly wasn't Hyde Park.
The book tells the story of Macaulay Lewis, a journalist who hates his job until suddenly, celebrities' items go missing replaced wil a note from "Fingers", a thief. Over time the story grows, Mac begins to like his job until, suddenly, it all goes wrong for him - his "girlfriend" has disappeared, he gets put into a lower position in work and, worst of all, everyone thinks Mac knows the burglar. As Mac's life gets worse, the burglar seems to disappear until near the end when we find out who it really is.
Moving on, Rifkind has taken the front seat of someone who hates his job and clearly diplays this (none of my research has implied he hates his job). The book can sometimes be a bit slow but at others it is a past-paced journey in which we MUST know what happens next. Many people who have been in journalism or completely smashed will be able to "connect" with the narrator.
Overexposure is quite a light book and not too intellectual, however judging from some of the language I'm pretty sure it was aimed at adults (Read: Cunty) although young adults may still find some parts humourous but less so than adults.
I wouldn't say the book is amazingly written or edited as there are some very simple spelling mistakes of the type you see on Facebook but excluding that note it was indeed a good read but not something I'll pick up time and time again. Like I said: holiday reading.
The book was a good read and yet another good deal from Poundland of which I'm glad I picked up.
Total rating: 3.5/5
The book tells the story of Macaulay Lewis, a journalist who hates his job until suddenly, celebrities' items go missing replaced wil a note from "Fingers", a thief. Over time the story grows, Mac begins to like his job until, suddenly, it all goes wrong for him - his "girlfriend" has disappeared, he gets put into a lower position in work and, worst of all, everyone thinks Mac knows the burglar. As Mac's life gets worse, the burglar seems to disappear until near the end when we find out who it really is.
Moving on, Rifkind has taken the front seat of someone who hates his job and clearly diplays this (none of my research has implied he hates his job). The book can sometimes be a bit slow but at others it is a past-paced journey in which we MUST know what happens next. Many people who have been in journalism or completely smashed will be able to "connect" with the narrator.
Overexposure is quite a light book and not too intellectual, however judging from some of the language I'm pretty sure it was aimed at adults (Read: Cunty) although young adults may still find some parts humourous but less so than adults.
I wouldn't say the book is amazingly written or edited as there are some very simple spelling mistakes of the type you see on Facebook but excluding that note it was indeed a good read but not something I'll pick up time and time again. Like I said: holiday reading.
The book was a good read and yet another good deal from Poundland of which I'm glad I picked up.
Total rating: 3.5/5
Tuesday 22 June 2010
Deadline by Simon Kernick
With Simon Kernick being one of my favourite crime/thriller writers it was going to be obvious that I'd like this book as he makes much of it seem like a true crime tale with his knowledge and connections with the Anti-Terrorist Branch and Serious Organised Crime Agency (SOCA). Using this knowledge and connection he can incorporate many authentic operation tactics into his writing.
Deadline tells the story of an abduction of a child with a ransom of half a million pounds cash. Bringing in his main characters (whom appear in all of his books) Tina Boyd, Mike Bolt, Mo Kahn and "Big" Barry Freud Kernick creates a story that is gripping and page-turning with many twists and turns which we wouldn't have guessed would happen.
As the story goes on Mike Bolt takes control of the op. However, as with most of Kernick's novels, Bolt's actions go very wrong or the criminal gets the better of SOCA and Deadline is no exception.
Reading on Kernick drags us deeper into the criminal underground of London and how a place that many people adore can become a place in which serious crime and dangerous gangs are just around the corner. This novel really makes you realise how dangerous 'da streets, innit' can be and may make you take a double look over your shoulder at the quietest of sounds and with the knowledge which Kernick has this adds to the authenticity of the story.
Although the story is intended to be completely serious we can't elp but shake our heads at some of Bolt's actions i.e. Suspension from SOCA yet he chooses to undertake his own investigation thinking he has a lead.
There are many twists and turns throughout with a conclusion which will make anyone go from "Ooh" to "WTF?!".
I may be bias in saying this book is a good read but it is still one I'd recommend any fan of crime/thriller should pick up as rather than tip-toe round the edges he digs right in to the point. I can simply justify this by saying that I own all of his books and have now read all but two of the 10 he has written.
To conclude this review let's just say that Kernick has done it again and managed to write yet another gripping tale of crime, death, destruction, suspense and humour.
Overall rating 8.5/10
Deadline tells the story of an abduction of a child with a ransom of half a million pounds cash. Bringing in his main characters (whom appear in all of his books) Tina Boyd, Mike Bolt, Mo Kahn and "Big" Barry Freud Kernick creates a story that is gripping and page-turning with many twists and turns which we wouldn't have guessed would happen.
As the story goes on Mike Bolt takes control of the op. However, as with most of Kernick's novels, Bolt's actions go very wrong or the criminal gets the better of SOCA and Deadline is no exception.
Reading on Kernick drags us deeper into the criminal underground of London and how a place that many people adore can become a place in which serious crime and dangerous gangs are just around the corner. This novel really makes you realise how dangerous 'da streets, innit' can be and may make you take a double look over your shoulder at the quietest of sounds and with the knowledge which Kernick has this adds to the authenticity of the story.
Although the story is intended to be completely serious we can't elp but shake our heads at some of Bolt's actions i.e. Suspension from SOCA yet he chooses to undertake his own investigation thinking he has a lead.
There are many twists and turns throughout with a conclusion which will make anyone go from "Ooh" to "WTF?!".
I may be bias in saying this book is a good read but it is still one I'd recommend any fan of crime/thriller should pick up as rather than tip-toe round the edges he digs right in to the point. I can simply justify this by saying that I own all of his books and have now read all but two of the 10 he has written.
To conclude this review let's just say that Kernick has done it again and managed to write yet another gripping tale of crime, death, destruction, suspense and humour.
Overall rating 8.5/10
Saturday 19 June 2010
Not Necessariy Stoned, But Beautiful by Sean Eger
Full title: Not Necessarily Stoned, But Beautiful: The Making of Are You Experienced.
This book gives the full lowdown of how the Jimi Hendrix Experience wrote and recorded a landmark album of pure excellence. Are You Experienced (Correct title has no question mark) was an album which placed a stamp on the way rock music really should be: loud, overdriven and passionate. We are given an in-depth inform of the troubles, the fun and the love they had in getting a band together, finding suitable recording studios, getting the right sound and the lenthy times a song took to perfect.
Not Necessarily Stoned begins with the telling of how and why James Marshall Hendrix came to England and his learning to play how he did. Before forming the Experience Hendrix had been in a bunch of other bands before but nothing had really gone far and he soon left.
Many people will say and notice that he played a right handed Strat upside down. Although Fender was making lefties at that time they were rare and, according to Hendrix, "Shit". By playing a reverse guitar he was also able to use the trem bar with ease, adding to the style of his music (listen to "Little Wing" for an example of his whammy use).
As the book goes on we find out how he got his crunchy sound, that some of his fans were the most famous musicians around (Jimmy Page, Clapton, the Stones et al), how, where and when songs were written and finally, the drug problems he had which did not cause his death.
Had I have had the time I could have finished this book in a day, however, I didn't so it took me a few days but it was worth the read and the £2.99 I paid for it. If you've not listened to Hendrix before I think it's safe to say that this book will make you search his name and "Fire" on youtube.
This book also gives first-hand accounts from managers, fellow musicians (Mitchell and Redding) and spouses. Well worth the read.
9/10
This book gives the full lowdown of how the Jimi Hendrix Experience wrote and recorded a landmark album of pure excellence. Are You Experienced (Correct title has no question mark) was an album which placed a stamp on the way rock music really should be: loud, overdriven and passionate. We are given an in-depth inform of the troubles, the fun and the love they had in getting a band together, finding suitable recording studios, getting the right sound and the lenthy times a song took to perfect.
Not Necessarily Stoned begins with the telling of how and why James Marshall Hendrix came to England and his learning to play how he did. Before forming the Experience Hendrix had been in a bunch of other bands before but nothing had really gone far and he soon left.
Many people will say and notice that he played a right handed Strat upside down. Although Fender was making lefties at that time they were rare and, according to Hendrix, "Shit". By playing a reverse guitar he was also able to use the trem bar with ease, adding to the style of his music (listen to "Little Wing" for an example of his whammy use).
As the book goes on we find out how he got his crunchy sound, that some of his fans were the most famous musicians around (Jimmy Page, Clapton, the Stones et al), how, where and when songs were written and finally, the drug problems he had which did not cause his death.
Had I have had the time I could have finished this book in a day, however, I didn't so it took me a few days but it was worth the read and the £2.99 I paid for it. If you've not listened to Hendrix before I think it's safe to say that this book will make you search his name and "Fire" on youtube.
This book also gives first-hand accounts from managers, fellow musicians (Mitchell and Redding) and spouses. Well worth the read.
9/10
Monday 7 June 2010
The Desperate Diary of a Country Housewife by Daisy Waugh
Firstly: apologies for not writing a review on months, college has been a bit crazy what with catching up on old essays etc but I finally managed to finish the book that's been opening and closing for the past 3 months.
Spoilers follow
Moving on, this book is exactly as I expected it to be with the woman moving away, her husband being elsewhere and a builder hitting the scene. As I said in an earlier post, I planned to read some sort of chick-lit and here it is.
I did actually quite enjoy the book myself with there being moments of becoming buried within the pages hoping that this would happen etc. However, it isn't a book I would pick up and read again (or maybe I will but that'll be a long time from now) unless I really had the urge to.
The story tells of a married mum-of-2 who thinks she'll find paradise in the countryside, surrounded by fields, country pubs and the smell of nature. However, from the day she moves into the house things go wrong - her husband is constantly away for longer periods at a time, the house gets "hexed" and the kitchen falls apart after just being built. And then there's the builder she has an eye for - not the best of things to do when the other half is away.
And so the story moves on and I'm sure we can guess what happens when attraction begins between Mr. Builder and mum-of-2 but I'll let you find out the full story for yourself. This book may give you second ideas of moving to the countryside so also treat it as a handbook.
I found that the story was written in a rather typical fashion similar to "Confessions of a Shopaholic" with the woman being oh so womanly and pregnant with a kid which could have belonged to either man.
If you're a woman (or man) who is into typical chicklit then I'd say pick this up if you can find it (I managed to find it in Poundland when the actual RRP was £6.99 - bargain!), if you can't then it's no big loss.
In a nutshell: 4.5/10
Spoilers follow
Moving on, this book is exactly as I expected it to be with the woman moving away, her husband being elsewhere and a builder hitting the scene. As I said in an earlier post, I planned to read some sort of chick-lit and here it is.
I did actually quite enjoy the book myself with there being moments of becoming buried within the pages hoping that this would happen etc. However, it isn't a book I would pick up and read again (or maybe I will but that'll be a long time from now) unless I really had the urge to.
The story tells of a married mum-of-2 who thinks she'll find paradise in the countryside, surrounded by fields, country pubs and the smell of nature. However, from the day she moves into the house things go wrong - her husband is constantly away for longer periods at a time, the house gets "hexed" and the kitchen falls apart after just being built. And then there's the builder she has an eye for - not the best of things to do when the other half is away.
And so the story moves on and I'm sure we can guess what happens when attraction begins between Mr. Builder and mum-of-2 but I'll let you find out the full story for yourself. This book may give you second ideas of moving to the countryside so also treat it as a handbook.
I found that the story was written in a rather typical fashion similar to "Confessions of a Shopaholic" with the woman being oh so womanly and pregnant with a kid which could have belonged to either man.
If you're a woman (or man) who is into typical chicklit then I'd say pick this up if you can find it (I managed to find it in Poundland when the actual RRP was £6.99 - bargain!), if you can't then it's no big loss.
In a nutshell: 4.5/10
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