Best Served Cold?

What's best served cold? No, no it's not custard. I'm talking about revenge. The subject of the novel Best Served Cold by Joe Abercrombie. The last few posts I've been talking about books I've just read and enjoyed. And here's another. I've heard all kinds of good things about Mr Abercrombie's books so I thought I'd give one a go. Best Served Cold is a stand alone set in his world, so I began here. Why? Because normally I find fantasty really hard to read, so I wanted to dip my toes in, just to see. I'm glad I did. I find the book is easy to read and follow. There are lots of details but not too many that you get overly confsed. There are quite a few characters but they have their own traits and are easy to remember. No Gloin-son-of-gloin-brother-of-Golin introductions. So that's good. Another main point is that the book is extremely bloodthirsy. The language too is the sort of thing you might hear in a rough pub. Lots of F-word swearing and 'rustic' language. It fits with the novel's tone well. It's not 'high' fantasy but it is enjoyable all the same. I suggest you give it a try. I really liked it and I'll be reading the original triology soon.

Ian xxx

Next Thursday

Hot on the heels of the fantastic Bad Sceince book I've discovered another wonderful book. The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde. It's the first book in a series and I cannot wait to read the next ones. Not only is it easy and fun to read but it's chock full of fantastic ideas. Basically it's a detective novel about a woman called Thursday Next. She works for SO27, the literary crime division. Throw in time travel, airships, the continuation of the Crimean War and you end up with something wonderfully unique. What makes it so good is just how well the ideas fit together, and like I said, it's really easy to read. Try it, you might like it. Although to be fair I think this sort of thing is the same as Marmite. Funnily enough I have the taste for both.

Ian xx

Bad Science

I discovered this book, Bad Science by Ben Goldacre by chance. Just found it on a shelf and thought it might be good. It was the non-fiction book of the year 2009 for very good reason. Basically he discusses fads in science and the fact that health foods, brain gym and other scientific breakthoughs are nonsense. He creates very clear, obvious and hilarious arguements to prove this. I can't put it down and suggest you pick it up so you won't either!

Ian xxx