Book Addicts Anonymous

Take Tom Holt, Douglas Adams, Jasper Fforde, Terry Pratchett, Tom Sharpe, throw them in a mixing bowl, add a large helping of Stephen King, followed by a dollop of Anne Rice at her Vampire writing best, stir in Anonymous, (the one who wrote The Book with No Name,) add a sprinkling of Bram Stoker, followed by a dash of Michel Faber, at his "Under the Skin" best.  Mix well and you might end up with David Wong.
John Dies at the end is a book that is difficult to put down, with a first person narrator the story never loses pace for one minute. I certainly didn't anticipate some of the twists the tale takes,and suspect most readers wouldn't.
I'm not going to tell you about it, apart from the fact there are explosions, shootings, police chases, and "Scooby-Doo" type scenarios throughout the book. Inwardly you are yelling at them not to go into that room with no windows and only the one door, don't open that silvery container, but you know they will.  And you know they will come through the experience wiser and maybe still alive.
If you like books that are a little off the wall, I would say read this.
The bumph says soon to be a major movie, I found a link to it, here
I can only presume that it will eventually be released over here.

This story is about someone who has made a new life for himself, under a new name, in order to cover up his past "misdeeds".  When his past is threatened with exposure he flees the country, remembering hi past.
Mike Frame is now a respectable married man in a stable relationship, and is about to celebrate his 50th birthday.  A figure from the past appears and that is when Mike's, (previously Chris,) past looks likely to be exposed.  In the Sixties Mike, then Chris, became involved with a radical group who first started off demonstrating against the USA being in Vietnam, however the group became more and more radical, eventually turning into a terrorist group.  The reasoning behind their actions is argued out amongst the different members of the group, so that you could start to think perhaps they were right to do what they did, as they did at the time. (As with every argument it can be viewed from both sides.  It is actually quite frightening to think of)
Anyway, the book was engrossing, and an eye opener. Kunzru obviously did his research well.

I'd seen rave reviews about this book, about how good it was, how it was a MUST read book.
I wasn't disappointed, although none of the stuff I'd read had actually said what the book was about.
The Poisonwood Bible is told by five narrators. A mother and her four daughters, for most of the book.  You would think that wouldn't make for much variety, but it does.
Nathan Price, a Baptist preacher goes on a mission to the Belgian Congo in 1959.  Not so long ago, you probably think, but the conditions they encounter there pose challenges to the whole family.  The Poisonwood Bible follows them through the mission, and the following events, and how each of them copes with the life they now find themselves living, from the inwardly, and sometimes outwardly screaming narration of one daughter, to the "big adventure/loads of new opportunities" viewpoint of another.  This book is how going on the mission changes the life, for ever, of the Price family.
This description doesn't do it justice, if you love a good book, give it a try.

This is the fictional account of around 5 and half months in the life of an eccentric English aristocrat.  It is loosely based on a real life person.
You are lulled into the account as the Duke contemplates using his newly finished network of tunnels underneath his Nottinghamshire estate, but as the book progresses the reader is made more aware how eccentric the Duke is.  On p74 of the book the Duke's stomach pains, which he imagines are all kinds of life threatening illnesses, come to a head, and he description is humourous, with a fire being caused.
As I got towards the end of the book I was beginning to think eccentric was an understatement, and barking mad is a better description of the Duke, after all, what he does to himself on p243 and the ensuing pages is madness.
The book made me laugh and made me cringe, it certainly wasn't dull

Wow!!!
What a great book!
Most people are familiar with the "snow girl" fairy tale.
This story incorporates the tale.
You think you know what is going to happen next..and you don't!
I was in tears as the book ended for me.  I won't give anything away, but if you think you know the "snow girl" tale and can predict this story, you are WRONG!
The book is brilliantly crafted and well written
This is Eowyn Ivey's first book...I hope it isn't her only one!

This is omnibus number 6, comprising of Paint your Dragon and Open Sesame.
In Paint your Dragon a sculpture of George and the Dragon "comes alive" and mayhem ensues, in typical Holt fashion.
Open Sesame is based around "fairy tale" characters "crossing the line" and becoming real people.
Both stories are funny from start to finish. I just hope Tom Holt has been busy writing something new, as I've nearly read all his older books.

The Gargoyle By Andrew Davidson is one of those books that gets it's hooks into you and pulls you in. The start is pretty gruesome, and if you read past it you are in a for a very entertaining tale, where the un-named narrator recovers from a horrific car accident, leaving him with extensive bodily burns. He is helped through this by Marianne, a woman who might have mental health issues, or she might as she claims have lived several lives with the un-named narrator. Provided you can stomach some of the more graphic descriptions in this book, you are in for a very good read.

Scarlet by Stephen Lawhead tells a version of Will Scarlet's tale, of Robin Hood's band. It is a very well researched book, and an enjoyable read. As there is some dispute as to whether Robin Hood existed it is no small wonder that there are several stories springing up around him and his band. Scarlet is the second of a trilogy by Lawhead, but can be read as a stand alone novel, as I read it.