THE TRUTH ABOUT BOOKS

Readers' Choice Competition

2011-09-22T14:08:00.002+01:00

Watch out for 1st October, when we launch the Readers' Choice competition once again...
We'll have THREE great titles for you to vote for and in doing so, enter our comp for your chance to win a free copy of the winning book!

Good luck!

Things That Make Writing Book Reviews Tough

2011-09-22T14:02:00.000+01:00

The author is amazing but the book isn't... it makes having an opinion hard.
The book is amazing, but the author isn't... easier to manage, but incredibly difficult to prevent personal opinions from sneaking in.
Writer's block (Yes, we're writers too!)
You can't just write: "I thought this was rubbish/great"... there's probably dozens of reasons why you finally came to that conclusion - but pinpointing them, or being able to articulate them is a whole other matter.
When you've spent hours perfecting your review only to have your Editor ask you to redo almost half of it! (I'm mentioning no names...!!)

Topsy and Tim First Numbers and First Writing

2011-05-17T19:40:00.000+01:00

Those amongst us who have young children got very excited at the prospect of reviewing these books as they seem to promise a fun way of educating your child; so it was hugely gratifying to discover that they really are as brilliant as we had hoped!
As sad as it may sound, the thing that most impressed us (apart from the beauty of wipe-clean pages so you can do the activities over and over and over again) was the sturdy pen with the funny looking, but incredibly useful eraser on the cap. The gasps and 'Oooo's that went around made the males wonder if some firemen had turned up outside (they hadn't, more's the pity)... Do not underestimate the convenience factor for parents. We also especially liked the fact that the pen can fit right back into its little compartment once you're done - making sure that its always there when you come back to it. Genius!

Read our book reviews of both new titles, out in June:

Reminder about this month's BOOK GIVEAWAY

2011-05-14T10:22:00.000+01:00

Just a quick reminder that our current book giveaway is now open! We've got THREE copies of The Girl Who Leapt Through Time to giveaway to our readers - absolutely FREE!!!!!!

It couldn't be easier to enter this fabulous competition...
All you have to do is follow this link: book giveaway, answer the question and hit 'submit' - simple!

You'll have to hurry, though... this competition is only open until 7th June 2011. So if you want to be in with a chance of winning this brilliant title from award winning author, Yasutaka Tsutsui, then get yourself over to our competitions page and get your entry in NOW. It's free and there is no limit to the number of times you can enter. Good luck!

The Tiger-Skin Rug by Gerald Rose

2011-05-14T10:13:00.001+01:00

An usual children's story centred around an extraordinarily ingenious tiger who is fed up of his hard life in the jungle. Near starvation, he decides on impulse to replace a tiger-skin rug hanging outside the Raja's palace. His mind full of the comfort, food and drink that will be available to him once inside. But as he becomes well-fed on all those scraps, he becomes worried that he will be discovered... what to do?

Although we perhaps don't quite approve of the use of such a controversial item (a tiger-skin rug) as subject matter, it would be ridiculous to be offended by such a cute story. In the end, the moral is clear: a live tiger is far better than a tiger-skin rug - so all's well that ends well, right?

Read the book review >>

Getting back into the blogging thing...

2011-05-07T16:09:00.000+01:00

So, for those of you who take the time out to come read this blog - I guess you will have noticed that it's been awfully quiet in here for the past few months... Thankfully, it's nothing serious (as you will have noted from our twitter feed, we're still reviewing books, still having cool comps), but we feel a little bad for leaving you hanging, so we thought we share some insider goss and get back in your good books (no pun intended!).

First up, we recently reviewed the compelling (and disturbing) "Pink Hotel" by Anna Stothard. It's a grim tale 99% of the time, made all the more grim because it's supposed to have a slightly autobiographical slant to it. We can-not-imagine-being-17-and-alone-in-LA!!! Read our review.

Apparently, the face of 'evil' is being changed... at least, in psychological/biological/medical terms. According to Simon Baron-Cohen (and yes, he is related to THE Sasha Baron-Cohen - go figure!), a world-renowned expert, evil doesn't actually exist, what we're calling evil is actually just 'human cruelty' - and would you believe it? The cause of cruelty is.... Empathy. Ehhh? My view exactly. It seems his editors failed to comprehend that he actually meant that it's the absence of empathy that causes cruelty. Minor quibble, we know... but still. Take a look at the enlightening review.

We're excited about reading the latest in the enthralling series by Paul Hoffman, so watch this space (or our twitter feed) for details of our review of "The Last Four Things".

That's all for now folks,

The Girl Who Leapt Through Time by Yasutaka Tsutsui

2011-05-07T15:46:00.002+01:00

This classic Japanese animé title is immediately recognisable and we couldn’t wait to see how the original text would differ from the animated version. The slenderness of the novella caused a slight ripple of apprehension – would this fail to live up to expectations? Read the whole book review >>

Anyone interested in Japanese animé should consider giving this the once over... and if that's not enough of any incentive, then perhaps a FREE copy would pique your interest?

We've got THREE copies to give away this month - Check out our Book Giveaway competition for further details.

NEW Book Giveaway!

2010-12-04T23:11:00.000Z

Well, it's already rolled around to that time of year again, when all that sentimental fluffiness covers everyone in a snugly down of giving, caring and sharing and general niceness... We, at TTAB, are not immune to such sentimentality and so we're going beyond any giveaway we have EVER done before: we are not giving away a few copies of the same book...NO... we are giving away

THREE WHOLE SETS

of the Monster Blood Tattoo trilogy! This fantasy series had us reeling when it first grabbed our attention a couple of years ago. Since the release of Book Two: Lamplighter, we were concerned that we might never see Book Three - but in October this year, the wait was finally over. We salute D M Cornish for the masterful creation of an entirely new world, replete with gloriously monstrous monsters; irrationally charming slang courtesy of Craumpalin and Fransitart and idiosyncratic characters as diverse as they are detailed.
For your chance to be one of our incredibly lucky three winners, all you have to do is follow this link and answer the question. Simple. It is free to enter, but you must be over 18 years old and a UK resident.

Good Luck!

Winners will be announced on the closing date of 22 Dec 2010.

Potentially a huge title for 2011: A Discovery of Witches by Deborah Harkness

2010-10-31T16:23:00.000Z

Our pals at Headline have given us a rare treat: a preview of a potentially huge new title for 2011. A Discovery of Witches was the 2009 Frankfurt Book Fair's hottest title and was consequently the source of a right old publisher ding-dong ( that means: fight, for the uninitiated).
Rolling up the respective worlds of witches, vampires and daemons (demons) into a single universe makes for some complicated reading; let alone creating a modern-day Romeo and Juliet to rival Bella and Edward (from the Twilight series). A Discovery of Witches is the first in this much fancied trilogy... due out in February 2011. But of course, you won't have to wait that long to find out if the book is really worthy of all that hype - we'll be publishing our review asap!

Lunamorte by Sam Young

2010-10-23T13:56:00.000+01:00

It’s not often that we come across a bright, young thing in the literary world that hasn’t already been discovered by the mainstream – and we have to admit, we probably never really expected to. Then, along came Sam Young with her debut teen novel: Lunamorte – and suddenly, we got ourselves all in a tizz. And here’s why: Ok, so the fantasy genre is burgeoning with vampires, werewolves and magical beings galore. So, yet another teen novel surrounding a teenage werewolf shouldn’t really get us going… but the thing is; Lunamorte is like taking your favourite wardrobe staple and vamping it up so it’s more than just utterly comfortable and familiar – it also sizzles with newness and above all – originality.

You see, Lunamorte’s “Caia” is not your average werewolf. And this isn’t your average war between good and evil. There is so much shading in between; it makes your head spin. We think this debut title from a young Scottish writer is a must read. If you want to know more, check out our full book review >>>

Secrets of the MoneyLab by Kay-Yut Chen & Marina Krakovsky

2010-10-15T16:54:00.000+01:00

In our opinion, publishers are often reluctant to offer review copies of business titles, perhaps this is because they feel books in this genre don't really need reviewing... but we think they couldn't be more wrong. Business titles are big business (apologies for the pun) - millions are spent on them every year, and they're not exactly cheap; many of them go for around £20 a pop. But with so many titles to choose from: how the heck are we meant to know which ones deliver?
So, it came as a pleasant and most welcome surprise when Penguin agreed to send us through their very latest titles in their new Portfolio list. And to kick things off, we reviewed the extravagantly titled: Secrets of the MoneyLab by Kay-Yut Chen and Marina Krakovsky:

Read our review of The Secrets of the MoneyLab >>>

Business heads: stay tuned, we've got more on the way...

Rebel Books LLP and "There's a Lion in my Bathroom" by Giles Paley-Phillips

2010-10-15T15:52:00.000+01:00

We're a huge fan of all things new when it comes to literature; so we were happy to be contact by an Giles Paley-Phillips in a bid for us to review his collection of short poems for children entitled: There's a Lion in my Bathroom. Now, we know what you're thinking: poetry? Really???
Well, we'd normally be with you on the dubiousness of poetry as entertainment - but we soon changed our tune when we gave There's a Lion in my Bathroom a shot. Our review will be loaded shortly on our main website, however, we just wanted to congratulate Rebel Books LLP for broadening our horizons and giving the world this little gem of a book.
Incidentally, Rebel Books LLP itself is a young, new thing. The above title only being their third publication - like - ever. But if their editorial team is this brilliant at picking our great new writers; we're sure they'll be around for some time to come.

Comin 2 gt U by Simon Packham

2010-09-30T20:27:00.000+01:00

We're a fan of Packham's gritty style. He's not afraid to get his hands dirty. There's no dancing around the issue with him - and despite writing for a completely different demographic than The Opposite Bastard - in Comin 2 gt U, Packham still delivers killer prose.

Never for the faint hearted, Packham's latest novel tells the tale of a young boy, Sam, who finds himself the target of some serious bullying. As if he didn't have enough to deal with, what with his psychiatrist mum who over-analyses everything, his AWOL dad following his 'Hardman' dream and a dying Grandfather with a heavy burden on his guilt-ridden shoulders...

Read our book review >>

Pop Goes the Weasel by Albert Jack

2010-09-30T20:20:00.000+01:00

Ever wondered what Jack and Jill were doing up that hill? Or how about what a Goosie Gander was doing wandering around a 'Lady's Chamber'? These and many other curiosities that have been driving us all mad these many years are finally answered by the inimitable Albert Jack.

The secret meanings behind our beloved nursery rhymes are laid bare - and some of them have a startling, occasionally lurid history. Read the review of Pop Goes the Weasel >>

Voice From the Planet (an anthology)

2010-09-23T15:57:00.000+01:00

Voice From the Planet is almost experimental in its nature. A collaboration of original works by authors from as diverse a range of countries and continents as you are ever likely to come across, is something that can be likened to setting of a spark in a box of fireworks: it not only blows your mind that this anthology came about through the determination of authors to tear down the physical barriers between them, but will also enlighten the reader to the presence of alternate styles of writing that are lacking in our niche Western literature.

This anthology of 30 short stories from across the globe comprises the many and varied works of authors who came together via the Internet to form a truly unique experience for the reader. From award winning authors to complete unknowns; just as the anthology does not discriminate geographically, is it not prohibitive to the unpublished author... Continue reading the book review >>

No Readers' Choice for September

2010-09-08T09:53:00.000+01:00

We really don't like not giving away books, it just goes against the grain - but the fact is that with us all being off, there isn't really a lot of reviewed books to choose from. It'll be back next month (October), so don't go having panic attacks on us... you'll be able to get your voting fix in just a few weeks.

Back to Business

2010-09-08T09:33:00.000+01:00

September has finally rolled around, and the office is buzzing with excitement... but that will probably wear off quickly once everyone has a chance to look at the INBOX. So much to catch up, so many emails to answer - how the heck did you manage without us for 6 weeks?!?
So, Autumn is upon us and with it comes the inevitable Halloween rush, followed closely by the Christmas seasonal releases. In fact, there is so much coming out in the next few months that it can leave you bewildered and overwhelmed with choice. This is (hopefully) where we come in: we'll be trawling through the masses, uncovering the great titles from the not-so-great.
Things to look forward to:

We'll be featuring a Halloween special RIGHT HERE during October
Our list of Christmas stocking titles

Happy reading !!

CLOSED FOR HOLIDAYS UNTIL SEPTEMBER

2010-07-21T21:49:00.000+01:00

As we're sure you are aware, it is that time of year again when schools are out and everyone dashes off to hotter climates and we're no exception!

The TTAB main website will not be updated from 22 July until 1st September 2010.
What this means to you is:

The winner of our current (July) Readers' Choice will not be notified until September and therefore will have a delay in getting their book,
No new reviews will be loaded onto the website,
The August Readers' Choice competition will go ahead as usual,
There will be NO Readers' Choice comp for September

And that's it really...

Wishing everyone and our members a happy summer! Oh, and remember, we have left you with our selection of tasty summer reads - because we're considerate like that!

The Kane Chronicles: The Red Pyramid by Rick Riordan

2010-07-03T15:26:00.000+01:00

As Percy Jackson and the Lightening Thief hit our cinema screens; Riordan had already moved on... done with capturing the excitement and exhilaration of being half human, half God - he's also opted out of the Greek stakes in favour of all things Egyptian.

In this, the first installment of The Kane Chronicles, Riordan blasts our senses with an incredible plot line, bags of action, tons of magic and a veritable feast of wonderfully memorable characters. If you liked Percy Jackson - you will love The Kane Chronicles!

Read the review of Rick Riordan's latest book >>

Starting Over by Sue Moorcroft

2010-06-25T13:35:00.000+01:00

If you love the thrill of a strung out chase, the emotional tumble of falling in love and the speculative dip into sumptuous (but not really THAT rude) sexiness - then maybe, just maybe, you have found a book to sprawl with by the poolside.

We'll be honest, we're not all that fussed about the genre of Chic Lit. A lot of it is same-old, same-old. Everyone is devastatingly handsome, or spectacularly stunning; which is great if your self esteem can handle it, not so great if it makes you look at your bulging love handles and that baby belly you still haven't quite shifted. But, and it's a BIG but - Moorcroft is just a genius at creating realistic, believable characters. Tess, in Starting Over, is quite frankly extremely messed up. Her fiance dumped her a couple of days before the wedding, she miscarried a child she didn't realise was there and if that wasn't enough, then the "Curse" as she calls it, would absolutely, one hundred percent make you weep inconsolably for yourself.

We weren't sure about naming the main man "Ratty", or "Rats" - but then, it's a damn sight better than being called "Miles"...

Read the review of Starting Over >>

Jake Ransom and the Skull Kings Shadow by James Rollins

2010-06-20T18:37:00.004+01:00

Rollins is better known for his adult thrillers (The Last Oracle, Black Order and others); but this is his first forray into the often trechorous Children's fiction genre.

Available in the UK from 1st July, this is one series that is sure to whizz off the shelves. Ok, so it's marketed as a "childrens'" title, but in reality, any adult who itches to indulge in original storytelling that is both captivating and intriguing, exciting and intelligent - will undoubtably find themselves sucked into the Jake Ransom series.

A sequel, Jake Ransom and the Howling Sphinx, is due out sometime in 2011.

Read our Book Review of Jake Ransom and the Skull Kings Shadow >>

NEW! Book Giveaway - 5 signed copies to be won!

2010-06-18T22:12:00.004+01:00

We loved the self-published title: Jakob Flint by Jonathan J Drake. Not only is it laugh-out-loud funny, but the magic is in the story itself. Yes, it's a bit childish. No, it's not really that complex. But you'd be hard pressed to find a novella that will keep adults amused as much as Jakob Flint does.

The 2nd Edition was recently released and lucky us, we managed to get our hands on 5 signed copies from the author. For your chance to win a signed copy of Jakob Flint, all you have to do is answer a easy question (we don't like to make it too hard for you!)

Enter this FREE Book Giveaway!

You'll have to HURRY though! This giveaway is only open until the 16th July 2010.

A Brief History of Lies by Daniel Nanavati

2010-06-18T21:22:00.002+01:00

This non-fiction title appears to promise a lot of things: a brief (breathe a sigh of relief) history of lies, a pinch of humour and some funny cartoons.

We want to like this book. In fact, we willed it to be good...

Read the Book Review >>

Moscow Sting by Alex Dryden

2010-06-18T21:12:00.003+01:00

If you enjoyed Dryden's Red to Black, then you will no doubt have been looking forward to the sequel - Moscow Sting. The premise is straight out of James Bond 007 territory, only with less overt shooting and no discernable car chases. But at least there is the beautiful Russian defector, ex-KGB Colonel, Anna. What would a spy novel be without one of those?

Anna's in a world of trouble. Not only has her lover, husband and father of her child, Finn, met an untimely death at the hands of the Russians; but she is now being hunted by nearly every major power in the world. Anna, it would seem, is the only one who can identify Mikhail, an extremely valuable asset. It's a plot that has plenty of scope, but can it deliver?

Read the Book Review >>

The Prince of Mist by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

2010-06-18T21:03:00.003+01:00

May 2010 saw the release of the much anticipated English translation of the phenomenon that is Carlos Ruiz Zafon.

Accomplishing something that few international authors do, Zafon has breeched our shores and made himself at home on our bookshelves - and not without reason (or considerable effort).

Prince of Mist was Zafon's debut novel. Essentially a children's title, he always envisaged it to be a book that would appeal to all ages willing to immerse themselves in a good old story.

Read the Book Review >>

Fetlock Hall: The Unicorn Princess by Babette Cole

2010-05-08T12:10:00.002+01:00

Babette Cole, author of brilliantly funny and entertaining children's book - A Dose of Dr Dog, has come out with a brand new series aimed at young girls. The Unicorn Princess is the introductory title in the Fetlock Hall series and features a young pony-mad girl called Penny as she discovers that sometimes boarding school can be fun, exciting and just a little bit magical!

Read the book review >>>

Apartment 16 by Adam Nevill

2010-05-04T10:44:00.003+01:00

For those of you looking for a scare-fest of the traditional variety: look no further...

Adam Nevill is a newcomer to the horror genre and is being loudly touted as the next big thing, as far as the Brits are concerned... In this his debut horror title; Nevill brings us a gruesome blend of artistry gone awry, the darkness of the "Void" and the terrifying prospect of what lies beyond death all wrapped up neatly with the requisite dumb American girl and a diverse cast of strange characters that never quite make it past the two-dimensional stage.

Read the book review >>>

Changes by Jim Butcher

2010-05-04T10:35:00.003+01:00

Our Book of the Month is a brilliantly conceived magical fantasy that will appeal to adults and teenagers alike. With Butcher's charming self-deprecation and wonderfully dry sense of humour, it is impossible not to fall in love with this book. Just one of a long list in the Dresden Files series, Changes brings Harry Dresden's escapades as a professional wizard to a dizzying crescendo... what we don't know is whether or not this is the last that we will see of Dresden for the foreseeable future. Indeed, the author's note at the back refers to Butcher's other series - perhaps this is a none too subtle hint?

In any event, we've concluded that the Dresden Files are a staple for those seeking a more grown-up version of Harry Potter. Read our book review >>>>

NEW! Book Giveaway!

2010-04-19T11:53:00.004+01:00

We know we're spoiling you this month, but we just can't seem to help it! Not only is there our regular Readers' Choice competition, but we have yet another book giveaway just for our readers & members.

Entangled by Graham Hancock is a fantasy/adventure that explores the nature of reality, time and space; alternate planes of existence and the story of two teenage girls from utterly different times in history who come together to battle against a demon determined to eradicate the human race as we know it.

We have 5 signed (by the author) copies of this gripping read to give away!

Enter the Book Competition >>> (scroll down the page to this giveaway)

Read the Book Review >>>

NEW! Book Giveaway!

2010-04-16T13:00:00.005+01:00

We have 5 author signed copies of

ANGELOLOGY by Danielle Trussoni to give away absolutely free! All you have to do to enter is answer a simple question... and have lady Luck on your side!

Enter this Book Competition >>>

Read our Book Review >>>

The Book of Human Skin by Michelle Lovric

2010-04-16T12:52:00.003+01:00

Insidious and tantalising in equal parts: The Book of Human Skin is a uniquely packaged novel coming as it does in its distinctive red covering and black tinted pages. It is not only the outward manifestation of this book that is eye-catching; the story itself captures the imagination and makes for compelling reading.

Read our book review >>>

Nurtureshock: Why Everything We Think About Raising Our Children is Wrong by Po Bronson & Ashley Merryman

2010-03-13T13:49:00.003Z

This controversial book aims to challenge our preconceived notions of child rearing - from querying the causal link between obesity and sleep deprivation, to why white parents are reluctant to talk to their children about racial difference - some of the ideas can make for extremely uncomfortable reading.

Written by award winning American journalists, Po Bronson and Ashley Merryman, it would be easy to disregard the substaive scientific evidence put forward as non-applicable to any non-US family; but that would be counterproductuve - besides, some of the suggestions make a strange kind of sense. Like our fetish for heavily praising our offspring for fear that any negative commentary may make they less confident in this harsh world - but in fact, in doing so, we are potentially making things worse, not better...

>>> Read the book review

IMPORTANT Change of address

2010-03-13T13:40:00.001Z

From 1st April 2010 our address is changing at The Truth About Books. Our new address is:

TTAB, PO Box 4732, Sheffield, S17 9BZ.

Any review copies or other correspondence should be sent to this address. However, to smooth this transitional period, items sent to our old PO Box address will still be delivered up to the END OF APRIL. After that date, no mail will be accessible by us and will be returned.If you have any queries regarding this change, please contact us using the links on the Contact Us page on our main website.

We apologise in advance for any inconvenience this may cause, but hope that any disruption will be kept to a minimum.

Regards,The TTAB Team

Sphinx by T.S Learner

2010-02-21T10:49:00.002Z

Not the best book we've read recently despite the potential for a great storyline...

Egypt, in the 1970’s and the country is in the throes of trying to find political stability under President Sadat. Not everyone is keen to see peace across the region; there are those whose political and personal ambitions would sooner see war and civil uprising – and the discovery of a long-lost artefact with legendary magical powers to influence events and even predict a person’s death date would be an extremely desirable object to have in one’s possession... >> read the book review

How you can support The Truth About Books

2010-02-15T17:10:00.003Z

It's true that The Truth About Books came about because of some silly notion that everyone deserved an insider's take: an honest take, on the veritable mountain of new literature that is churned out day after day. It's also true that everyone who works so hard on your behalf does so out of a passion for books and also because they share the vision that people are entitled to no-nonsense, accessible and above all - free - reviews of books.

We don't really ask for anything in return. Not a thing, in fact.

All we're going to say is: if you like what we do - pass it on. Tell your friends, neighbours, family, co-workers... and if you decide you rather fancy buying a book that we've reviewed - well then, tell us! Leave us your comments and views on any of the titles we've reviewed. And if you're inclined to help us just that little bit more - you might like to know that when you buy a book through the link on the review page, we earn a few pence in the process - at no additional cost to you.

So go on - take a look. And remember - you can always just drop us a line and tell us how you think we're doing. It's all good!

BOOK GIVEAWAY

2010-02-05T15:04:00.003Z

We have 10 copies of Jane Casey's debut novel: The Missing, to giveaway to our members. All you have to do to enter is answer a simple question from our interview with the author... it really is that easy! You'll have to hurry though - this competition closes on 1st March 2010.

Read the book review

Read the author interview (you will have to register as a member to do so - but since it's free, we figured you wouldn't mind...)

The Complaints by Ian Rankin

2010-02-05T14:58:00.003Z

Ian Rankin's first stand-alone novel since the Rebus days was always going to have an uphill struggle as people tend to stick to what they like - and most don't like change. However, in his creation of Malcolm Fox, we think Rankin has outdone himself - he's big, canny and beautifully flawed.

Unlike most crime novels, The Complaints focuses on that less than tasteful element of the police force - the Scottish version of Internal Affairs: The Complaints. Their job is to uncover the bad cops and hold them to count for their naughtiness - a job we can well imagine comes with a lot of grief and nastiness from the general policing population. You wouldn't be inviting Fox round to yours for a drink if you could help it...

Read the book review

Mortlock by Jon Mayhew

2010-02-01T18:14:00.004Z

Debut Children's author, Jon Mayhew brings us a universally accessible tale about a pair of twins with a mysterious and dangerous legacy. Josie and Alfie are thrown together after being separated at birth when events begin to spiral out of control - Josie's Guardian is brutally murdered and so are many others who get in the way of the unnatural 'Aunts'.

Mortlock is set to the beginning of a series of books, although it appears at this stage that the books will each be stand-alone rather than, say, a trilogy featuring the twins. Not due out until April 2010, our review offers you a sneak preview of what is sure to be the start of a budding career for Jon Mayhew.

Read our book review.

February's Readers' Choice competition

2010-02-01T18:04:00.004Z

February's Readers' Choice competition is now open. Choose from the following fantastic titles: Pursued by Love, Bequest or Whispers of the Dead and enter for free for your chance to win a review copy that is signed, lined, dated and numbered by our very own infamous Words URTH Worm (he's a bookworm and our editor).

Enter the competition.

Please note: The Ripley's Believe It Or Not competition is now CLOSED. Any entries will not be counted. We will endeavour to get this section removed to avoid confusion as soon as possible.

Dark Origins: Level 26 Bk 1 by Anthony E. Zuiker

2010-02-01T17:54:00.003Z

From the creator of C.S.I comes a debut novel that plays to his strengths - enter all things macabre, creepy and gruesomely gory...

But as with most Americans, he just had to go one better than any other debut novelist - he didn't just produce a cracking book, but he also made it interactive. You can chose to take a break from the written word and login to a dedicated website that features footage and other online material to further enhance your reading experience. Of course, you have to buy the book in order to obtain the passwords, although we suspect that some will get leaked at some stage...

You can read our book review.

The Returners by Gemma Malley

2010-01-29T20:02:00.003Z

The Returners is sure to win critical acclaim - and not just from us. Malley is a master at creating deeply thoughtful, provocative novels and her latest offering is no exception.

Aimed firmly at the Young Adult market due to its profoundly abstract philosophical concepts and ideas; The Returners is just as likely to appeal to an adult audience. It isn't comfortable reading; dealing as it does with racism, bigotry, over-zealous nationalists and the deplorable acts that we humans have commited against each other... but that's the point.

A resounding triumph for Malley and a modern classic that could do worse than finding its way into the curriculum.

You can read our review and use our handy widget for finding the best price for this book on our main website.

House of Night Series by P.C & Kristin Cast

2010-01-19T21:05:00.004Z

We've been indulging ourselves recently with some light, entertaining reading in the form of the hugely addictive Vamp series - House Of Night. Essentially, the story of a teenager, Zoey's, transformation from ordinary teen to Vampyre fledgling - and all that that implies - which, as it turns out, is a hell of a lot! With her highly unusual extending markings, Zoey finds herself thrust into the politics of Vamp life and in doing so, discovers that not everything that goes on at Tulsa's House of Night is what it seems.

The series comprises 6 books: Marked, Betrayed, Chosen, Untamed, Hunted and Tempted. You can read all our book reviews as well as reading the latest book review in this series on our main website. It is worth mentioning that the series is not really for younger teenagers as the language and sexual content is very adult in nature.

Burned (Book 7) is due out in April 2010, which frankly cannot come soon enough - although we do know that the book isn't quite finished yet. We hope the authors get their skates on and provide us with our House of Night fix!

Other cool news is that the series appears to have sold its film rights, which could mean the novels being transformed into a major new film! We'll be keeping our beady eyes open for further developments...

We're on Twitter

2010-01-07T16:13:00.001Z

For those of you who like their technological advancements and especially like fast, uncomplicated updates - you can now keep bang up to date with all our latest book reviews and links to competitions via our Twitter page. Simply click to follow us and bob's your uncle (as they say) - you will receive all our Tweets! Tidy!

http://twitter.com/bookreviews

Pursued by Love - Georgia Hill

2010-01-07T16:06:00.005Z

This modern-day romance novel hangs itself loosely around Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice; in the sense that its main characters are actors caught up in a remake of that gloriously and hopelessly romantic story.

If you like your romance passionate, predictable (not necessarily a bad thing) and brimming over with devastatingly handsome men and dazzlingly gorgeous women; then Pursued by Love will be just the ticket.... Read the full book review

A Chance To WIN 10 Family Tickets to the London Museum

2009-12-22T10:08:00.002Z

In association with Ripley's Believe It or Not! 2010, TTAB is proud to announce that it has an incredible Christmas giveaway!

Entering the competition couldn't be easier - you can see full details here. And just to make it that little bit easier; here's a quick hint: the answer is on your face.

You need to hurry though - the competition closes on 1st January 2010!

Some legal bits n pieces: Entrants must be over 18. Multiple entries are permissable. Family tickets are for up to 2 adults and 2 children (worth £63 each). Prize excludes any additional costs incurred such as travel, accommodation and any incidental costs. Tickets will be sent out to winners by Strike Media Ltd. TTAB is not responsible for any delay, loss of or failure of Strike Media Ltd to provide tickets.

It's been quiet around here lately...

2009-12-08T16:19:00.003Z

There's not been much happening in recent months due to some unfortunate internal issues, which have now, luckily, been resolved. We know we've been missed by the sheer volume of emails from our members and the general public asking what's going on... We're touched by your concern and can only apologise to those that we weren't able to reply to personally.

It did make us realise how much you guys value honest, independent book reviews - rather than relying solely on booksellers' often-times b.s or the extremity of user reviews. We're just pleased that we are still able to offer you this great service for free!

So, anyway - thank you to everyone who showed support to us and know that we are back and raring to go!

The TTAB Team

Revenants by Ryan Sherwood is OUT NOW!

2009-07-17T10:28:00.004+01:00

We don't doubt that it was frustrating for readers to learn about this great new paranormal/ supernatural thriller by self-published author, Ryan Sherwood. We also know that having read our interview with the author can only have whetted your appetite for this book more...

So, we are pleased to announce that this book has now been published for public consumption! Out on 3rd July (as is his previous novel: Hold the Light), all we can say is: it's about time!!!!

Read the book review

Read the author interview

Interview with Stephen Woodworth

2009-07-17T10:21:00.004+01:00

The author of Through Violet Eyes agreed to our interview, which was certainly an eye-opener. If you haven't read Through Violet Eyes, then you might want to think about it! The first in his Violets series is a absolute stunner:full to the brim with originality and with just the right amount of conspiracy theory and paranoia to make it a helluva ride.

Read the author interview

Read the book review

Photograph : Prasad Associates

The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canavan

2009-07-17T10:16:00.003+01:00

We knew we had invariable missed some corkers that were published before we got The Truth About Books going, but we were pleasantly surprised by Trudi Canavan's series, which was published back in 2004. We we, in fact, so impressed with The Magician's Guild (Book 1), that we simply had to read the entire series - so we did! You can read our reviews of The Novice and The High Lord as well as book 1. We're also delving into her recently released The Magician's Apprentice - link to follow.

Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant

2009-07-01T17:19:00.002+01:00

This is our latest Unmissable Read - set in 1570, Sacred Hearts is the story of a young girl's struggle to come to terms with her new life in Santa Caterina - a convent. It is so much more than that however, it is as provacative as it is pensive. Boys might want to skip over it, but we're willing to bet that girl out there will find something to empathise with in this gorgeously written book... Read the book review

Readers' Choice Winner: Envy the Dead

2009-07-01T17:13:00.002+01:00

June's Readers' Choice competition saw us receive over 5700 votes! All we can say is: wow! You guys really love your books - especially if they're free ;-)

In the end, it came down to lord of the midlands crime novels - Iain Mcdowall - to scoop the prize! Envy the Dead is his latest offering. Not only can you read our review but you can also take a peek into the author's inner workings through our interview.

Finally - congrats to our winner: Neil Bramble.

We've updated the link so it takes you straight through to July's Readers' Choice, which is already up and running... we know, we know, we are too generous!! Get your votes in - who knows, it could be you that wins next time!

Douglas Jackson does Roman History

2009-06-27T20:19:00.003+01:00

We've just finished reviewing the two-part series about Roman history written by Douglas Jackson; Caligula and Claudius. Both as not emphatically based on their namesakes, but rather focus on a single slave's importance on both Emperors. Obviously, this is pure fiction, but Jackson does manage to shock with Caligula - something that we thought was almost an impossibility with historical roman novels. After Gladiator (the film), it seemed like nothing could shock us about what the Romans got up to... anyway, check out the reviews and if Roman history is your thing, then you can always share your comments on the site.

Author Interview with Iain McDowall

2009-06-12T22:04:00.003+01:00

We thought you'd waited long enough - so here is our recent interview with crime author, Iain McDowall.

You will have to register to to read the review (we know, pooh to beaurocracy!), but it is free and pretty painless... plus it means you get extra access to the site's features, so go on - take a look.

We've interviewed Iain McDowall!

2009-06-09T14:16:00.002+01:00

Ok. So Iain McDowall is a huge name in crime fiction in the UK - and we just got an interview with him! One of the girls in the office is positively squealing with delight and sending gushing emails left right and centre! Poor thing! Still, it is a big deal for us, so I can't exactly blame her...

The interview should be loaded on the main website shortly, but in case you've been on a different planet recently, you'll know that all (well, most) hands on deck are involved in the dramatic redesign of the TTAB website. Of course, we'll let you know once it's there.

In the meantime, perhaps you might want to enjoy the interview with Sally Gardner, author of The Red Necklace and The Silver Blade (and no, she isn't a man - we're going to sort out the horrid silhouette as soon as possible!). You will have to register to view the interview, but hey - we've made that easy now and it's still free!

Design Update

2009-06-07T15:24:00.003+01:00

Those of you who have visited our main site recently will have already started to notice the changes we are putting in place. You can now see the ten most popular book reviews on our site; we've added more categories to make it easier for you to find books in the genre of your choice; we also have an 'About Us' section so you can find out a little bit more about us (obviously!); an updated Privacy Policy and we've added 'Summer Reads' just in time for summer! There will be loads more being adding in the coming weeks and months and we hope you find the site easier to navigate, more informative and more user-friendly.

We're keen to get some feedback on how the new design is going so far - so if you have any questions, suggestions or comments - just let us know on here!

PRESS RELEASE: The Truth About Books is getting a design overhaul

2009-06-03T18:14:00.003+01:00

The Truth About Books is an independent online book review resource dedicated to providing consumers with an honest appraisal of any and all books.

Unlike many other book review websites, The Truth About Books is not a bookseller and therefore can maintain its unbiased view of the books it reviews. It also boasts quality book reviews provided by a dedicated team of experienced book critics; thereby ensuring its reviews are written to a high standard.

But did you know that The Truth About Books also provides author interviews, author biographies and regular competitions for its users? Well, after several months of design work,

The Truth About Books is pleased to announce official development work on an improved design and layout for its website is now underway. The new-look website is not due to be completed until the end of 2009, but visitors will be able to expect many new features especially tailored towards encouraging customer interaction and improved accessibility to all the sites’ features such as: quick submit book review / author interview suggestions; author snippets; book price comparison and much, much more.

For our members: please bear with us during this transitional period, we hope there will be minimal disruption or inconvenience.

Flabby Cat & Slobby Dog by Jeanne Willis

2009-06-02T19:52:00.001+01:00

A wonderful book illustrating the wonders of getting off that sofa!

In a climate where child obesity is such a huge social issue; it was inevitable that a children’s book would be written about it. What I wasn’t expecting was Flabby Cat and Slobby Dog. Despite the fact that book never once mentions the word “fat”, it is by no means politically correct – your child will start pointing to your belly and pronounce you a “flabby cat” or a “slobby dog” - which is all rather wonderful! We need it! Willis also takes a round-about route to educating your child about obesity; instead of simply telling your child that eating too much is not healthy – she shows them. Instead of telling your child that exercising is good for their bodies and their general health – she shows them. The story is much more than the simple words; it is in the (very amusing) illustrations and the good humour and wit. Read our online book reviews>>>

Nights of Villjamur by Mark Charan Newton

2009-06-02T19:48:00.002+01:00

Hugely intelligent, hypnotic new fantasy...

Fantasy is like Bovril. There are those who will suffer an immediate aversion and yet others who will experience instant bliss; but unlike Marmite – it can be for everyone, in the right doses. With three main plot strands, Nights of Villjamur is a highly complex and intricate plot and hence takes it time in building up sufficient back-story and ensuring adequate depth of characterisation and geographical depiction is created before launching into the real meatiness of the story.... Read full book review>>>>

May Competition Closed & Winner Announcement

2009-06-02T19:26:00.003+01:00

Thanks to the thousands of individuals who voted in May's competition - it has proven to be our most popular so far! It was a close call, but The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner won out! You can read our book review or register for free to read our interview with the author (coming soon).

Congratulations to Jennifer Bell - our winning entrant for May's Readers' Choice.

If you would like to win a free book - you simply must enter our monthly competition! It's free to enter, you don't even have to register and unlike some other online competitions, we don't slap you with hidden charges (such as p&p) - when we say it's free - it really is FREE!

PLEASE USE THE UPDATED LINKS ON OUR BLOG OR FROM OUR MAIN SITE'S HOMEPAGE TO ENTER THE CORRECT MONTH'S COMPETITION! We are still receiving votes for closed competitions, which must be very frustrating for you.

Envy the Dead by Iain McDowall

2009-05-27T20:09:00.003+01:00

Sixth in the series featuring police duo Jacobson and Kerr...
Envy the Dead plants you in the troubled era of the Miner’s Strike. It’s 1984 and nineteen-year-old Martin Grove has found himself back near his hometown after hitchhiking away from London. When a beautiful woman stops her MG and offers him a lift – and the prospect of a party and a free place to crash – Martin is only too happy to accept. Claire Oldham is a small-time leader of a local group of activists, intent on promoting their anti-nuclear message via fly poster and protest. Myrtle Cottage is their “base of operations”. A love triangle ensues, a protest goes awry, Claire is unceremoniously murdered and Martin Grove is fitted up by the local plod.....Read the review >>>

The Shark in the Dark by Peter Bently

2009-05-21T15:35:00.001+01:00

Pandemonium has broken out on the sea floor as crabs, cod, mackerel and lots of other fish are swimming for their very lives – away from the nasty, terrifying, toothy jaws of a great white shark! It isn’t until they come across a clever squid that makes them work together and put on a united front that the fishes are safe. Funny how even the scariest shark in the whole sea isn’t so big and bold when faced with something bigger than he is.... Read full book review >>>

Stone's Fall by Iain Pears

2009-05-21T10:00:00.002+01:00

Stone’s fall is a story of such girth that it is entirely conceivable that its readers are open to numerous interpretations of what lies within its pages. Some will believe it to be a parody; a pastiche of current events that have conspired to up heave the delicate balance of global high finance. Some will consider it a rather humorous and benign account of the industrial age, with rose tinted spectacles firmly in place. Others will contemplate the politico stance of the author as one who is astutely observing the sad decent of the British Government to that of being a mere pawn of financial institutions; for instead of telling the City it must put its own house in order, today’s Government has risked billions in a rather fuddled attempt to bolster a failing banking industry that had grown disproportionately due to its all consuming greed and avarice. Yet others will be assuaged by the deeply moving humanitarian elements of Pears’ tale; that of a young woman of some disrepute having the wherewithal and fortitude to recreate herself into someone of considerable wealth and desirability; or perhaps that of a young man whose actions have far reaching consequences that culminate the death and ruin of many poor souls; then again, maybe it is a unique love story, mixed with reproachable behaviour, unscrupulous decisions and having a disastrous and devastating consequence that one will simply not see coming.... Read full book review >>>

The Sign by Raymond Khoury

2009-05-16T19:31:00.001+01:00

The best thriller of 2009... probably...

It should have been your standard five minutes about the ice shelf in the Arctic breaking off; it should have been a the usual spiel about the effects of global warming on our polar ice caps and its severe consequences for a large portion of the developed world. Reporter, Grace Logan and her small crew did not anticipate the graveness of the situation – Gracie being a self proclaimed cynic where anything remotely passing for hysterical fervour was concerned and there was nothing more fervent than the posturings of environmentalists. It wasn’t the enormity of the piece of ice that was breaking off that stole the show. Something unspeakable, unimaginable and inexplicable appeared in the skies above them – a cloud of light that seemed to swivel and contort, pulsing with energy and life – a sign. Read more of the book review >>>>

Curse the Dawn by Karen Chance

2009-05-14T16:15:00.003+01:00

Eye-wateringly fast action and heart-stopping moments of seduction await...

Curse the Dawn in the fourth in the ever popular Cassie Palmer series by Karen Chance. Cassie Palmer is an irrepressible and trenchant young woman whose life has been propelled into the limelight of the entire magical world; being the Chief Clairvoyant is not a position to sniff at, nor is becoming the Pythia (an office of extreme political importance that is a lifetime deal). Unfortunately for Cassie, neither the Silver Circle nor its darker counterpart, the Black Circle, seem all that keen on her filling either position and both are hell bent on dislodging her – permanently... Read more of the book review >>>>

At The City's Edge by Marcus Sakey

2009-05-12T15:25:00.001+01:00

Immediately fogettable police thriller...

Described as “nothing short of brilliant”, Sakey’s latest police thriller clearly aspires to impress its audience, none more so than myself who has a clear penchant for crime novels. It was to my utter despair and incomprehension that At The City’s Edge failed to deliver on many levels.... Read more of the book review >>>>

Education, Edukation, Edukashun by James Rainsford

2009-05-12T15:21:00.002+01:00

Parents usually reside in one of two groupings; those that are perceive their children’s education to be of paramount importance and those that see schooling as approximately a six-hour break from their children’s constant demands for attention, money and food. Recognising this, there are also schools that appear to run along similar themes: those that reward academic achievement and good behaviour versus those that babysit their pupils with thinly veiled disdain and dislike. It is almost certain that the more humour set up of the two would be the latter (in both cases) – and so it is that Dave Falconer, nearing retirement age and having the distinctly unrewarding task of attempting to teach unashamedly academically adverse pupils at the welsh secondary school, Gruffud ap Cynan.... Read the full book review >>>>

Flood and Fang by Marcus Sedgwick

2009-05-09T15:39:00.001+01:00

First in the new 'Raven Mysteries'...

It is an unlikely coincidence that Sedgwick chose to name his narrator ‘Edgar’, given that the voice of this children’s book is that of a Raven. And perhaps, the author deemed it fitting that the Raven whose voice of doom is cawed throughout Flood and Fang is named after the illustrious author of an equally doom and gloom poem; that said, Flood and Fang is not all gloom – for there is a certain levity to the dire straits that the Overhand family find themselves in. A peculiar joviality despite the incalculably inhumane explosions of bullfrogs, the gorging on maid servants and the impending drowning of all the inhabitants of the Overhand Castle.... Read the full book review >>>

Problem with Votes

2009-05-04T15:08:00.002+01:00

It seems that there are a few old links to our competition lying around the web as we're still getting votes for April's Readers' Choice (and who can blame them, really?!).

It's always best to either come back to this blog and click on the link to the current monthly competition - or indeed - go to the homepage of The Truth About Books first. We don't want people getting annoyed because they aren't entering the right month's competition, nor do we want people wasting their time.

Please make sure you are voting for the current month's competition!

The Littlest Dinosaur's Big Adventure by Michael Foreman

2009-05-04T15:05:00.001+01:00

Foreman brings back the Littlest Dinosaur in a new ‘Big Adventure’.

Now that the Littlest Dinosaur is content with his small size, he is happy to play by himself sometimes and take in his exciting surroundings. Despite his small stature, he is open to exploration and discovering new things – and so when a playful frog grabs his attention, he is off! Flipping and flopping, jumping and hopping across the lily pads. On reaching the other side, his adventure continues as he discovers a field full of wild flowers and gorgeous flying insects – butterflies! ... Read the full book review >>>

The Selected Works of T S Spivet by Reif Larsen

2009-05-02T21:38:00.001+01:00

The Selected Works of T. S. Spivet is the brainchild of previously unpublished and complete unknown, Reif Larsen and is an elaborately told, illustrated and imagined story of a 12-year-old boy raised on a ranch in Montana who has a phenomenal skill in cartography. With the normal dysfunctional family around him, perhaps what sets him apart is the fact that his brother, Layton, died at a tender age – and in his presence – with a Winchester shot gun. How this affects T. S is a bit of mystery as he refers to the incident almost offhandedly, even going so far as to say that he felt Layton would have liked being drawn by the Coroner as a face with a bullet hole through his forehead. Suffice it to say that T. S is no ordinary 12-year-old boy.... Read full book review >>>>

A Perfect Death by Kate Ellis

2009-05-01T19:40:00.001+01:00

A Wesley Peterson murder mystery...

A Perfect Death is set on the premise that the recent brutal killing of a woman in the same field where a Jeanne de Minerve (a thirteenth century Cathar) was transformed into the legendary ‘Burning Bride’ is in some way, connected. Perhaps, the fact that the victim in question was also burnt alive may have been a coincidence too far... Read the rest of the book review >>>

The Red Necklace by Sally Gardner

2009-05-01T19:32:00.002+01:00

The Red Necklace kicks off the latest children's series from Sally Gardner. Set around the time of French Revolution, there is plenty of history, mystery and not a little magic... read the full book review >>>>

Its sequel, The Silver Blade has also been reviewed on our site. Check out that and all our other book reviews!! It might be worth mentioning that if you can't find a review of a particular book - we'd love for you to let us know and we'll see what we can do. Just drop us an email and we'll do our best.

Readers' Choice Winner: Too Close To Home

2009-05-01T19:16:00.003+01:00

Congratulations to April's winner: Anna-Marie Donnelly, she has won a copy of Linwood Barclay's latest thriller - Too Close To Home. You can read the book reviews, or if you're more interested in getting your hands on a free book; try entering our monthly book competition (Readers' Choice)!

Midnight by Lene Kaaberbol

2009-04-22T18:34:00.005+01:00

The sequel to the amazing Silverhorse is finally here and we couldn't wait to get our hands on it! Here's a quick peek at the review:

Over a year has passed, and our heroine from Silverhorse, Kat, is back in the saddle as apprentice Bredinari. Owing to her notoriety after the capture and death of the ‘fake maestra’ (Ermine), Kat has been afforded some slack and is now even closer to obtaining her own coveted Hellhorse – but before she can enter the primanotte (the bonding session), she simply has to keep her nose clean – nothing to snort at and certainly not guaranteed as far as Kat is concerned... especially after she breaks one of the most fundamental rules of being a Bredinari courier: you do not, under any circumstances, read the sealed messages you carry. Under duress from the recipient on one such message (Raven), Kat agrees to bend the rules only to instantly regret it as she cannot forget its contents. A wanted list.... read more of the book review >>>

If you can't remember what happened in Silverhorse - brush up with our book review.

Little Gods by Anna Richards

2009-04-22T18:26:00.001+01:00

Love can make us all little Gods...

Little Gods is what one would call a fictional autobiography – a synopsis of a fictional character’s lifetime – a literary depository of main events, loves and losses; the centre of which, is Jean. Jean exists despite the precautions of her mother and the dilapidation of her father. She exists despite the wanton destructiveness of the era in which she was born; and in particular and of special note – despite being seen as something grotesque and fearsome. Jean is not deformed per say, nor is she consumed by any apparent mental condition, no, she is merely large... MORE>

Revenants by Ryan Sherwood

2009-04-22T18:20:00.001+01:00

Two brothers divided in life will lead the undead into an everlasting war...

From the dawn of time, two brothers were destined for greatness. Their triumphant unification of dissident lands heralded a time of peace and prosperity and yet, each brother yearned to see one another again in the flesh. Such a meeting had to be momentous, but neither brother could have imagined what secret treachery would make them become.... MORE>

TTAB now reviews Little Brown books

2009-04-10T16:17:00.006+01:00

From the beginning of April 2009, The Truth About Books is pleased to announce that it will be working in collaboration with Little Brown Book Group to bring even more reviews of some great titles.

Little Brown is twice winner of KPMG publisher of the year award and with good reason - it is home to the likes of: Stephenie Meyer (Twilight series) amongst many other talented authors.

Look out for our reviews of: The Magician's Apprentice by Trudi Canavan, Hand of Isis by Jo Graham and Glasgow Kiss by Alex Gray... plus many more...

Record number of votes in our monthly competition!

2009-04-10T15:51:00.004+01:00

We'd just like to thank everyone who voted in our World Book Day competition extraordinaire - we received thousands of votes from our members and the general public! It just goes to show that the nation's love of books is still alive and well.

Also, a general reminder for those of you who did not win last month; there is still the chance to win this and every month - through our monthly competition, you have the opportunity to vote for your favourite title from our shortlist and by doing so you are entered for free into our monthly draw. The winner is picked at random and receives a copy of the winning title.

Keep Voting and Keep Reading!

Surge in great new literature!

2009-02-24T10:20:00.004Z

We're not being funny, but there have been moments when we've despaired of the literary efforts being put on our bookshelves - but just recently, we've had to pinch ourselves (a few times, and some of us got bruises!) - is it just us, or are there some really cool books out there at the moment???

Think: Who is Charlie Keeper? or how about Eon: Rise of the Dragoneye?
For the more grown-up readers, there's the likes of: When will there be good news? then there's the second in the intriguing Shadows of the Apt series; Dragonfly Falls or perhaps the brusque gangster-thriller Beat the Reaper?

If you're a parent - we've found the ultimate new children's book in Bottoms Up! - and if the title doesn't make you realise what you're in for, you're kids will. Not just funny, but also celebrating the human body in all it's naked glory - especially bums!

We're sure that this month there is a book out there that will appeal to everyone, no matter what it is you're looking for.

Keep on reading!

The Opposite Bastard by Simon Packham

2009-02-04T13:02:00.002Z

It's not what any of us were expecting, to be honest. I got to write the review and as such, it might not be to everyone's refined tastes or expectations either, but to me, the review had to mirror the humour and nonsense of the book itself. It's rare to find a book that is genuinely funny, without it coming from some Comedian who is selling off parts of his soul for the latest 'autobiography' (and most of them aren't actually that funny anyway). I pushed hard to for it to be our book of the month - I really think this one is worth a read. Push yourself - challenge yourself - dare to do something different today.

For a quick peek - read our book review.

COMING SOON: We hope to have an interview with the author on the main site soon. Check back regularly!

Is there a book out that better than Harry Potter?

2009-02-04T12:51:00.002Z

The answer in our opinion is: yes!

Who is Charlie Keeper? Read the book review. Finally, we found ourselves a work of fiction that surpasses our expectations and incredibly is not published by one of the mainstream publishing houses! How has this happened?!?

More importantly for us though is the question of Who is Marcus Alexander? We'll let you know if we manage to get hold of him for an interview... we have soooo much we want to ask him!

January's Competition is now GO!!

2009-01-16T16:36:00.003Z

Thanks to those of you who pointed out that this month's competition wasn't functioning properly - preventing you lot from entering our free draw to win a book. It was a technicality that has now been sorted - phew!

This month you can choose from:-

- The Smiting Texts by Roy Lester Pond (Thriller featuring Egyptology, murder and intrigue)

- The Road by Cormac McCarthy (Award winning drama about the end of the world as we know it from the perspective of a father and son)

- Heir to Sevenwaters by Juliet Marillier (Fantastic fantasy with lashings of love, magical battles and odd creatures)

We're not sure HOW you are going to make your mind up as to which one should win this month's Reader's Choice - but we're sure you'll have fun deciding!!

A Case of Wild Justice by Yvonne Jerrold

2009-01-14T16:00:00.005Z

We just couldn't pass up the opportunity to review A Case of Wild Justice by Yvonne Jerrold - the highly original take on how to tackle crime in these modern times of limited police intervention and ever increasing support for perpetrators - had us hooked before we'd even started. And the concept of the Silver Bees is both extraordinary and entirely believeable - why couldn't the elderly population take matters into their own hands in order to feel safer?

To read the full review and for details of the book - see our book review

NEW Feature available on website!

2009-01-12T12:38:00.002Z

We've been listening to some of your feedback and we understand that sometimes you just want to have your say on a book, which is fine by us! So, we've added a NEW feature that enables registered users to leave their own comments or feelings about a book - how good of us is that?!?!

As always, if you have a suggestion or a comment to make about The Truth About Books in general, you can always contact us via this blog or via our main website.

All comments are subject to approval prior to being added to the website.

The Boy in the Dress by David Walliams

2008-10-30T20:45:00.003Z

We recently reviewed this title on our website and much to our surprise discovered that it wasn't as controversial as we were expecting... in fact, Walliams managed to make the notion of a boy dressing up in girl's dresses seem normal - and maybe that is as it should be.

Let us know your thoughts (especially if you are parents) on how you feel about a book that highlights cross-dressing.

Meanwhile, you can read the book review

Belching Out the Devil by Mark Thomas

2008-10-15T20:10:00.004+01:00

Does the image of a young child struggling in sugercane fields and that of Coca Cola seem at odds to you? How about the fact that 7-8 trade unionists were murdered in Columbia, more have been kidnapped, tortured or falsely imprisoned - and they all worked at a Coca Cola bottling plant.

Belching Out the Devil starts out as a rueful look at how the corporate giant achieved its global domination; from the Coca Cola museum in Atlanta (I've been - it IS a rip off), to the eye-catching snuggly fuzziness of their adverts. But the tone quickly sours as journalist, Mark Thomas, details horror after horror.

If, like us, you feel that corporations as big as Coke have a moral and social obligation to ensure that they not only talk the talk but walk the walk, you can do a few things:

1 - Read this book for yourself (although unfortunately, I don't think any proceeds go towards any given campaign)

2- Visit Killer Coke and give a donation

3 - Stop buying Coke (and all its derivatives)

4 - Pass the message on

Don't Forget About Our MONTHLY Competition!

2008-10-15T20:04:00.002+01:00

All you have to do is click on the 'Current Competition' and then select one of the three available titles that you'd like to see WIN our Readers' Choice for the month - then sit back and see if you are our lucky winner!

You can vote as many times as you like, for any title that you want. It's free to enter the competition and you won't have to pay a thing to get your book if you are our winner. FREE BOOK ANYONE?

Go on - enter our competition NOW

Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity - article by the author of No Complaining Rule - Jon Gordon

2008-07-22T20:57:00.005+01:00

We're going to be reviewing this book on our website in the not too distant future - in the meantime, enjoy a short article by the author as a kind of taster - it will probably resonate with you no matter where you live... and be sure to let us know what you think!

Positive Ways to Deal with Negativity

With the mortgage meltdown, floods in the Midwest, $4 a gallon for gas, food prices, the economy, famine, war in Iraq, etc., many would agree that there is a lot of negativity in the world and certainly a lot to complain about. And yet, while traveling the country this past month, ironically for the No Complaining Rule Tour, I met a number of people who inspired me with the positive ways they were dealing with the negativity in their life. In spite of their circumstances they chose to view their situation with a positive perspective… which so often makes all the difference. Since we all could benefit from their example, here are 5 positive ways to deal with negativity.

1. Find the Gift - Richard Bach said every problem has a gift for you in its hands. One woman came up to me and said that because of the cost of gas her family is driving less and as a result they are spending more time at home and having dinner together more often. She said this “negative” situation has been very “positive” for her family. Another person said he is taking the bus to work instead of driving and as a result he has met a lot of interesting people.

2. Look at the Bright Side - One gentlemen joked that because of the cost of gas he now has a great excuse to not drive and see his negative relatives.

3. Zoom Focus - It doesn’t matter what the pundits say on television. It doesn’t matter what Joe and Sally in your office are doing. It doesn’t matter who is playing office politics. All that matters is what you do every day to grow yourself and your business. Focus on being positive and taking positive action every day. Be like the real estate agent who told me that he doesn’t focus on what the news and newspapers say. He focuses on what he can do every day to be successful. He focuses on marketing his business, taking care of his clients, and building loyal relationships. What things do you need to Zoom Focus on?

4. Focus on the Opportunity Not the Challenge - Behind every innovation and solution is a story about someone who said there has to be a better way. I bet Henry Ford was walking behind a horse when he had the idea for his automobile. History shows us that a lot of people and a lot of companies make a lot of money during recessions. The key is to find the opportunity. Where is the market heading? What do people want and need? What will they want in the future? Now is a great time to build a positive team with great talent. Now is the time to gain market share while so many give up. Now is a great time to determine who is on your bus and who is off your bus. Now is the time to be indispensable to your company and demonstrate how valuable you are.

5. Be a Positive Influence on Others - I received an email from Ruthanne in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. She wrote: “As you are probably aware, we were recently hit with a 500 year flood. My neighborhood was impacted the worst and most of our homes, mine included, are a total loss. People tell me I have been the most positive person they know who was directly impacted by the flood. I don’t have a lot of time today (first day back at work in 2 wks) to tell you all the positive things that have been going on in our city and in my life, but I will be writing an article when this is all over with. I did want to say though that I have not complained throughout all the devastating catastrophe because of the knowledge I learned both from your seminar, books and newsletters.” Ruthanne could have chosen to wallow in self pity and negativity but instead she chose to deal with her negative situation by being a positive influence on others. Think about how many people she is positively impacting in her community. Now think about the positive influence you can have on people at work, in your community and at home.

Every day simply ask yourself “How can I be a positive influence where I am, right now?”
Stay Positive!

-Jon

For more information about Jon, please visit www.JonGordon.com or www.NoComplainingRule.com.

Now everyone can read our book reviews!

2008-07-09T16:20:00.002+01:00

From today, our book reviews are accessible to everyone, whether you're a registered member or not. You will still need to be a member to gain access to our exclusive author interviews and to enter some of competitions... but since it's free (and we have a strict policy of no spamming) we figured the few minutes it takes to do so shouldn't be so bad... and we're sure you'll let us know if it is!

New COMPETITION coming soon...

2008-07-03T19:15:00.002+01:00

We will be launching another competition soon.

This time, members can enter for the chance to win one of 5 free copies of a brilliant new crime/thriller novel by Robert Gregory Browne - Whisper in the Dark.

Competition entry is free and each winner will receive a free copy of Whisper in the Dark. For your chance to win, make sure you are a registered member (it's free to join) and check out our main website regularly for this amazing competition... not to be missed!!

You can also read our interview with the author (Robert Gregory Browne) and our book review to satiate your appetite in the meantime...

New COMPETITION coming soon...

2008-07-02T19:53:00.003+01:00

We are extremely pleased to let you know that we are planning a new competition whereby members can enter for free for a chance to win a signed first edition copy of The Enemy's Son by James Johnson.

This is a must have collector's item - especially for you SF fans out there!

The competition is not yet open, so keep your eyes peeled on our main website http://www.thetruthaboutbooks.com/ and of course, we'll let you know here FIRST!

Problem with main website

2008-07-02T19:50:00.002+01:00

We're aware that some books on the website (we think we've found all affected titles) have been wrongly assigned the author Adrian Tchaikovsky. This is a minor database error, which we are hoping to rectify as soon as possible.
Apologies to any authors who are affected.

Did You Know....?

2008-07-01T18:53:00.002+01:00

Every month, The Truth About Books runs a competition where readers are given the opportunity to win a free book.

We call this our 'Readers' Choice' competition - and all you have to do is select one of the three titles that you'd like to see win (or you would just like a free copy of), enter your name, email address (which we promise we won't spam or give out to anyone else) and if you're a UK resident you're eligible to win! Even if you're not in the UK, you can still vote.

So, if you quite fancy the idea of a free book - enter our competition and start voting today!

Book of the Month - July 2008

2008-07-01T18:32:00.003+01:00

Silk by Penny Jordan is primarily a love story; one that has a sweeping and gratuitous dialogue that exposes high society in the early 1900's of the Britain.
Not being overly keen on the romance novels that seem to fill our bookshelves, we were nonchalant about Silk - but we simply couldn't put it down and the story sticks in your head like gum on the underside of a table...
check out the book review!

Flanimals: The Day of the Bletchling by Ricky Gervais (ISBN 978-0-571-23851-4)

2008-01-02T20:33:00.000Z

Not being funny – I don’t really get Flanimals. I wish I had that sense of humour, but then, that would make me Ricky Gervais – which I’m not. I’m a little worm, but that still doesn’t make me Ricky Gervais.

More >>

The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer (ISBN 978-0-14-131741-0)

2008-01-02T20:30:00.000Z

I can appreciate that this is not a latest release, being first published back in 2004, but still, with all the furore surrounding the series Artemis Fowl, I was keen to establish whether or not the author had considerable talent in writing creative pieces or was merely the conduit of unearthly inspiration when it came to Artemis... so I stumbled across The Supernaturalist, and with my curiosity piqued, I reasoned that now was as good a time as any to review an alternative works by Colfer. Why this title – well, simply put – because a review stated bolded that it was “like The Matrix crossed with Oliver Twist” [1].

More >>

Chronicles of Darkness: Outcast by Michelle Paver (ISBN 978-1-84255-173-8)

2008-01-02T20:25:00.000Z

A quick, but not the easiest of reads. Let me explain myself (although the author and huge fans may not like it much) – the beginning starts well and I was gratefully carried along (I was having a bad wriggle day)... until around page 45, at that point it got a little cumbersome and heavy – like wading through treacle, which, I’m ready to admit is probably quite an appealing pastime to some...

More >>

Bad Monkeys by Matt Ruff (ISBN 978-0-7475-9171-8)

2007-12-06T21:26:00.000Z

This is a difficult novel to pin down. That it is a suspense thriller, there is no doubt. That it is captivating and engrossing, there is no question. But is it a work of art or just another run-of-the-mill conspiracy-theorist book?
I notice little things about books sometimes, perhaps that has something to do with my own personal perspective – possibly... but what I noticed about this title first – was the title. It is exactly what caught my eye and made me wonder about the content of such an oddly named book. A top secret organisation authorised to assassinate ‘bad monkeys’ fits perfectly, and we are straight off onto the psychological rollercoaster ride as in the opening sentences we realise that Jane Charlotte is handcuffed and a delusional psychopath who’s been caught after bumping off some random guy. Brilliant!
Equally brilliant is the deftness of Ruff as he pits each twist and turn against our preconceptions and notions of what is fact and fiction. Only Ruff holds the answers and he offers them out begrudgingly throughout, only to show his true hand right at the end... the end, which I will not ruin for you is sheer genius. This has all the hallmarks of a blockbuster movie. The film rights to this are going to be snapped up, if they haven’t – I’ll have them... I could do so much with a few million in the bank...

Read Author Interview >>

Starcross, by Philip Reeve (ISBN ...)

2007-12-04T23:49:00.000Z

My immediate impression is that I like the illustrated front, which may seem a little odd at first - except once you come to terms with the awful reality that the cover counts.

David Wyatt is responsible for that and all the other sumptuous images lavished throughout this book, which lend it that little bit extra oomph. Next, I notice that unlike most other books, this one offers up tantalising little snatches of what each chapter contains, which I found terribly, awfully droll. In fact, droll pretty much sums up this extraordinarily charming tale, whose narration is wonderfully effected by the Queen’s English and written as though from a bygone era.
A dry, British humour assures us that Reeve does not take his creations too seriously and rather gives the opinion that we are being reminded by the author that it is, after all, just a pretty little story. It may well be, but it so delightfully written, so engaging and alluring in an almost innocent way, that I am compelled to ask when Mr Reeve will be releasing us from the agony of awaiting the next instalment?
I simply could not review this book without mentioning my absolute favourite bit. I am indeed grateful that Myrtle did not “spend too much time going on about frocks”, although I can understand the allure… all those delectable textures, bewitching patterns and never-ending selection of colours… err, yes, indeed. Frocks are a fascinating topic of discussion and debate, but I must say that I rather enjoyed the telling of this tall tale more.

The Name of the Wind, by Patrick Rothfuss (ISBN ...)

2007-12-04T23:46:00.000Z

For a lowly mortal, I have the great fortune of having an incredibly vivid imagination (having seen so much in my time helps). So much so, it has often disadvantaged me when reading fantasy or science fiction novels, in the sense that one can see the ending before the author at times, or so it seems to me. Mostly, I am inevitably disappointed with the lack of novelty, originality and passion in books of this genre and such has been my struggle with fantasy; that the machinations of even best-selling titles (which I shan’t name for legal reasons) seemed to me, dull and lacking in fired inspiration. That is, until Rothfuss.

Ah, Rothfuss… What a preposterously competent name… I swell with jealousy at your literary deftness and skill (or perhaps that’s water retention, one never knows).
The grandiose surrounding him on the launching of his debut novel has been staggering, but where the fever-pitched ferocity of praise for this first volume could be conceivably discarded as clever public relations at work – Rothfuss is undoubtedly a significant talent. Not least with his manner and style of writing that makes me feel close to weeping at the graceful and haunting beauty of it… Simply put – The Name of the Wind is absolutely stunning. Immeasurably better than 99% of any other fantasy author in current years; Rothfuss is a literary genius.
I cannot express the gratitude I feel towards this remarkable new author – my faith in this genre is restored.

Rothfuss, for me, is fantasy.

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