'''Read [[Features|new features]].'''
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{{newreview
|author=Geert Mak
|title=An Island in Time: The Biography of a Village
|rating=4
|genre=History
|summary=In the mid 1990s journalist and author Geert Mak returned to his native Friesland and took up residence in the village of Jorwert. His aim was to investigate the quiet revolution going on in the agrarian communities not just of Holland but of the whole of Europe.
This wasn't going to be an outsider's view. Mak grew up in the northern Dutch province; he spoke the language; he knew the games and understood the people. In a very real sense Mak was going home… and finding that it scarcely existed any more.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099546868</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Zarir Suntook
|summary=''Blameless'' opens with Alexia back in the family home. She hopes that this is a temporary situation. Not to put too fine a point on it, she has absolutely nothing in common with her parents or her silly half-sisters. Her mother is outraged. Why? Well, because no married woman in proper Victorian society leaves her husband. It's simply not done. Alexia's just done it and would probably say to her mama that she couldn't give a rat's arse either - except her mother would no doubt have a fainting fit. But scandal is looming. And Alexia is forced at some point to re-assess her situation. Underneath all those ridiculous ruffles and lace she is a little put-out and concerned - especially in her present condition.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1841499730</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Irene Nemirovsky
|title=The Dogs and the Wolves
|rating=5
|genre=Literary Fiction
|summary=Ada was part of the Sinner family. They lived in the sort of Ukrainian city which was rigorously divided by wealth and status. At the bottom of the hill lived the people who scratched a living; at the top were the wealthy whose businesses provided most of the livings and in between were those who struggled for a better existence. Ada's mother died when she was a child and her father did his best, but he was frequently hampered by having to take Ada with him as he worked. The arrival of Ada's widowed aunt and two young children in the household meant three more mouths to feed, but there was at least some care for the motherless child.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099507781</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=James Mayhew
|title=Ella Bella Ballerina and Cinderella
|rating=3.5
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=Ella Bella Ballerina's back! Before she was dancing to [[Ella Bella Ballerina and The Sleeping Beauty by James Mayhew|Sleeping Beauty]], and this time it's Sergei Prokofiev's Cinderella. The music washes over here, and suddenly she's whisked away to the fairy tale, with the prince, fairy godmother and all the magic that every reader knows and loves.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846169275</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Iain M Banks
|title=Surface Detail
|rating=5
|genre=Science Fiction
|summary=It is perhaps appropriate for a book that centres around the battle for the afterlife to begin this review with a confession: this was my first encounter with Iain M Banks' Culture series of science fiction novels. At first, I worried that this put me at a significant disadvantage as for the first 100 or so pages, I spend most of the time being completely confused about what was going on. However, as the strands started to come together, it became apparent that this is partly Banks' style and indeed it's one he uses in his non-science fiction books too. Keep going, it does come together.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1841498939</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Alice de Smith
|title=Welcome to Life
|rating=3.5
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=It's the 80s. Freya is 14 and an only child. She lives with her parents in Cambridge. So far, so normal. Except... Freya's home life is slightly a-typical. She's on first name terms with the parental figures (no affectionate ''Mum'' or ''Daddy'' here) and is under the distinct impression that they spend their days imagining life without her. Her best friend is a middle aged housewife on whose son she has a rather too obvious crush. Her mother communicates with her through lists and shows her affection in the oddest ways. Her father has just moved his business associate in, but he's not just sleeping in the spare room.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1843549840</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Simon Cheshire
|title=Saxby Smart: Private Detective: The Secrets of the Skull
|rating=4.5
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=Saxby Smart solves mysteries brought to his office in the garden shed by friends and neighbours. So far so good, but nothing really new. What is so attractive about this series of stories is the fact that it is the reader who acts as Saxby's side-kick, playing the role of sounding-board for the young detective. Add to this exciting, complex plots and a protagonist who is warm and funny and you have a winning formula.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848120559</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Alex Dryden
|title=The Blind Spy
|rating=4
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=The author writes under a pseudonym and he has worked in intelligence, so he should know what he's talking - and writing about. He concentrates on the battle for supremacy (and we've been here before) as Russia and the USA clash. The story itself is an intricate one. Full of agents/counter-agents, spies/double spies and the like and appearances by members of the CIA and MI6 amongst others. If you like spy thrillers, then this novel will suit you down to the ground. Lots of furtive and secretive missions all over the place to keep the reader guessing and interested.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755373332</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=David Melling
|title=Hugless Douglas
|rating=4
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=Douglas the bear wants a hug. He remembers that some of his best hugs are with big things, so he tries hugging a boulder. That doesn't work so well. What about a tall tree? Nup. Hmm... Poor Douglas. He's going to have to keep hunting around if he wants to get his hug.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340950633</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Mick Inkpen
|title=This Is My Book
|rating=5
|genre=For Sharing
|summary=The Snapdragon has swooped down and eaten the ''k'' of ''Book''. He's also broken off a bit of the ''B'', so it looks like the Bookmouse is saying ''This is my Poo''. He's been eating the dots on top of the letter ''i'' wherever he can find it too, and spitting them out. What on earth can be done to stop the mean ol' Snapdragon?
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0340989637</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Daren King and David Roberts
|title=Frightfully Friendly Ghosties: Ghostly Holler-day
|rating=4
|genre=Confident Readers
|summary=After scaring all the still-alives from their house we're back with the frightfully friendly ghosties who, since it's winter, have decided that they need a holler-day. After an argument over their destination (will it be Frighten-on-Sea or Scare-borough?) they receive a postcard from their friend, Headless Leslie. He is in Frighten and has forgotten how to get back home! So, off they go to Frighten to enjoy the delights of a haunted pier and fun fair and to try and rescue Headless Leslie from whatever trouble he has landed himself in.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857380451</amazonuk>
}}
{{newreview
|author=Sheila O'Flanagan
|title=Stand by Me
|rating=4
|genre=Women's Fiction
|summary=Many of us would love to be married to a successful, wealthy and attractive businessman and for Dominique Delahaye it becomes a reality. Not only does she get to live in luxurious houses, go on expensive holidays and wear glamorous clothes, she also gets to organise and attend wonderful charity events and has her photo in nearly every magazine and newspaper. Once a spotty and unpopular school girl, she is now the centre of everyone's attention. Her husband, Brendan Delahaye, starts out as a builder but soon has his own construction business, Delahaye Developments. The couple become known as the "Dazzling Delahayes" and whilst their lives seem perfect to the outside world, it hasn't always been that way. Brendan and Dominique, who gets given the nickname 'Domino' from her husband, are quite literally forced to marry through unforeseen circumstances. Their marriage suffers a number of problems and as the title "Stand by Me" suggests, both of them are faced with the decision of whether to stay or leave. However, their greatest challenge comes when the perfect life they've built is destroyed. Domino must face an uncertain future and take control of her life but first she has to make some heartbreaking decisions.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0755343824</amazonuk>
}}
