Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever by Jeff Kinney

Cabin Fever is the latest offering by Jeff Kinney in his hugely popular Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Aimed at kids aged 8 and above, children the world over cannot get enough of Jeff Kinney's books.

In Cabin Fever,  Greg Heffley, who has 'starred' in the whole Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, is in trouble.

He is the prime suspect after some school property got damaged, and it wasn't his fault, not really.

A blizzard strands his family inside their home, but he knows that when the thaw comes, he is going to have to face the music.

Meanwhile, he is trapped indoors with his family instead of being out playing, and it is the holidays.


Author Jeff Kinney is an online game designer and developer as well as being a New York Times best selling author.

The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes

Winner of the 2011 Man Booker Prize, Julian Barnes's The Sense of an Ending is a beautifully written slim volume about a man who, later in life, looks back with regret for things he did in his youth.

Each word is carefully crafted and not padded out like you see in so many books.

Tony Webster remembers in detail the many philosophical conversations he had with  his friends at a middle-class public school in the 1960s.

He needs to look back to make sense of events that have happened since.

The ending is totally unexpected and if you'd not fully understood the book as you were reading it, this will make you want to go back and read it again, as suddenly all the slots fall into place.

This book has invariably been described as "masterful", "imaginatively crafted", "elegant", "wonderful" and "beautifully written" to mention a few comments from the top book critics.

Buy it yourself and see what you think. You are sure to not be disappointed.

1Q84: Books 1 and 2 by Haruki Murakami

 If you have read any of Haruki Murakami's previous books, you might find it a lot easier to get the grips with the surrealism portrayed in 1Q84, which is a parody of George Orwell's 1984.

The letter 'Q' in Japanese sounds like the number 9, hence the title.

Haruki Murakami is a Japanese author who has successfully broken the East/West barrier, and is probably the most famous author ever to come out of Japan.

Even the staid Guardian has described him as "one of the world's greatest living novelists".

1Q84 is based around two main characters who are seemingly living on parallel universes within the same city.

He is a writer and teacher, and she is a female assassin.

Their lives are inextricably drawn towards each other, and while at the start of the book you may be perplexed as to their relationship, all will be revealed, slowly.

An amazing book. Highly recommended.

If you are new to Haruki Murakami, it is advised you read After The Quake first.

The Drop by Michael Connelly

The Drop is yet another fantastic Harry Bosch story by the one and only Michael Connelly.

Harry Bosch is just three years away from retirement and he has been placed in the Deferred Retirement Option Plan (DROP).

He is desperate for more cases, and he gets his wish, with two on the one day.

First, the Regional Crime Lab throws up a positive DNA match for an unsolved rape and murder that took place in 1989.

Only problem is the accused, who is currently locked up for a different rape, would only have been 8 years old at the time.

Has something gone wrong at the lab?

Then a councilman's son dies after falling from a hotel balcony. Did he jump or was he pushed?

Councilman Irving demands Bosch investigate his son's death, despite previous enmity between the two men.

Bosch discovers that a serial killer has been operating in the city for up to 30 years, and that there is a deep political conspiracy going on that involves the police department at political level.

Typical Michael Connelly. Just pure brilliant.

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes

It is hard to believe that The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes is once again a best seller, and in the 21st century too!

This collection of short stories about  the master of crime solving, Sherlock Holmes, by the one and only Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, is now wowing a brand new audience that are probably the great-great grandchildren of the people who first helped Sir Arthur Conan Doyle shoot to stardom.

Originally published in The Strand Magazine, each complete short story is a whodunnit murder/mystery that will keep you guessing right up until the end.

All 12 of the short stories are written from the viewpoint of Watson, Sherlock Holmes's trusted friend.

Set in Victorian Britain, the language used throughout is easily readable and highly absorbing. Having read those stories years ago, it's been a joy to re-visit them once more.

This is a must for every family home. Brilliant stuff. Classic yet timeless could best describe The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.

Available in Kindle, Hardcover, Audiobook, Audio download and Paperback.

One Day by David Nicholls

One Day by David Nicholls

One Day by David Nicholls follows the life of two people, Emma and Dexter, who meet on the night of their graduation on St Within's day in 1988, and agree to meet yearly afterwards.

With character plays between the people they become, One Day is easily readable and enjoyable as we learn about their lives, their personalities and how they interact with each other every 15th of July.

By the end of the book we have become so attached to these characters, we feel sad that the book has finished, and that in itself makes it very readable.

David Nicholls previous work include his huge bestseller, Starter for Ten

How to Be a Woman by Caitlin Moran

How to be a Woman by The Times columnist Caitlin Moran.
This book is a laugh out loud book about modern women and our role in today's society. While feminism is a bad word in many quarters, How to Be a Woman takes a light hearted look at the world through a teenager's eyes in 1980s and forward. This is sure to touch a chord whether you are male/female, old or young. Described as the funniest book for ages, it also has a deeper message that women today can identify with.
High recommended reading and well worth nipping over the Amazon to read the reviews before you buy the book.