Lovereading.co.uk

Lovereading.co.uk Top 10

1		The Sleepyhead’s Bedside Companion Sean Coughlan   Everything you ever wanted to know about sleep or things to do with bedtime. Some fascinating facts and revelations. Just don’t get in to bed with this or you won’t want to go to sleep, … Download free opening extract
2		The Golden Pig Mark Penny, Jonathan Penny   This is one of those titles we love to discover on Lovereading and pass the word on about. A brilliantly funny detective novel from two new authors -The Penny Brothers. They have written each part … Download free opening extract
3		My Secret Diary Jacqueline Wilson   In her second memoir the wonderful Jacqueline Wilson recounts her teenage years. A highly enjoyable read, the book also includes extracts from her real ‘secret’ teenage diaries.       … Download free opening extract
4		East of the Sun Julia Gregson  Winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year 2009. This is an utterly captivating story of three young British women in search of freedom and love in 1920s India, but it also provides a wonderful insight into a now vanished world. …Download free opening extract
5		Leaving the World Douglas Kennedy   Douglas Kennedy’s  superb new novel deals with themes of fate and how the choices we make play out in our lives.  It charts the story of Jane Howard and … Download free opening extract
6		The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher Kate Summerscale Reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 28 January.Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 4 December 2008.   This reads like a first rate crime novel but is in fact an analysis of real life events. It’s … Download free opening extract
7		Child 44 Tom Rob Smith   February 2009 Book of the Month.   Winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2008.   Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2008.Costa Book Awards 2008 Judges’ comment: “This gripping, unputdownable thriller is an exciting new addition to the genre.” Download free opening extract
8		The Secret Scripture Sebastian Barry   Winner of the Costa Book of the Year Award 2008.   Winner of the Costa Novel Award 2008.   Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2008.   Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 19 February 2009. Download free opening extract
9		My Driver Maggie Gee This is a very enoyable mix of comedy and danger. Through a series of errors, an accident-prone writer attending a writers’ conference in Uganda finds herself caught up in …Download free opening extract
10		The Business Martina Cole      Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 13 November 2008. Another gem from the queen of gritty East End crime novels. Set at the end of the 70’s and moving up to the present day following the Dooley family. … Download free opening extract

KIDS SITE TOP 10

1		Shadow Forest Matt Haig Winner of the overall Blue Peter Book of the Year 2009 and category winner of ‘the book I couldn’t put down’.   A dramatic adventure story set in an enchanted magical world. Samuel Blink’s life changes forever when a giant log … Download free opening extract
2		If You’re Reading This, it’s too Late Pseudonymous Bosch This is the quirky, original and deliciously dark sequel to the hilarious The Name of This Book is Secret.  Bursting with inventive characters and laugh-out-loud moments, readers will be instantly hooked once more by the stylish storytelling of Pseudonymous Bosch.    Download free opening extract
3		Gone Michael Grant    Gripping from the first moment on, this is a scary, an unputdownable and a brilliantly plotted fantasy. First the teachers start to disappear from school; soon all the adults are gone. Only the children remain and they are trapped, cut … Download free opening extract
4		My Sister Jodie Jacqueline Wilson A fantastic book from Jacqueline Wilson. Pearl and Jodie are sisters who are very different. Jodie is noisy, brash, insensitive and bold. Pearl is only ten, little and shy and anxious all the time. When their parents both get jobs … Download free opening extract
5		The Magic Thief Sarah Prineas This is an absolutely captivating debut fantasy adventure. Full of magic and trickery, this is the story of a wizard and his new apprentice trying to discover why the magic in their city is fading and how they must stop it from disappearing … Download free opening extract
6		The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish Neil Gaiman Visually dramatic, this is a hugely entertaining adventure perfectly tinged with an alarming subtext.  Desperate to have his friend’s two goldfish, a boy swaps his father for them – despite the warning from his sister. Predictably, Mum is not pleased … Download free opening extract
7		The Book of a Thousand Days Shannon Hale Recorded as a highly readable diary, this is an original retelling of a fairy tale that gives a taste of the traditional while adding original and unexpected elements to make it anything but an ordinary fairytale and you certainly won’t … Download free opening extract
8		Mr Gum And The Dancing Bear Andy Stanton Winner of The Blue Peter book award 2009 ’most funny book with pictures’ category – Mr Gum is off on his fifth best-selling adventure. And it is as zany and ridiculous as any that have gone before. This time, a gigantic … Download free opening extract
9		Wallace And Gromit Grand Adventures And Glorious Inventions Penny Worms Suitable for discerning Wallace and Gromit fans, this all-singing, all-dancing book sets out as Wallace’s secret invention scrapbook, with snippets of information and personal memorabilia about his cracking contraptions and his madcap capers with his dog, Gromit. With lots of … Download free opening extract
10		The Wolves In The Walls Neil Gaiman Prepared to be scared by this utterly brilliant romp of a story which is powerfully told in words and pictures. Lucy can hear all kinds of noises coming from the walls of the house. They are creeping, sneaking and crumpling … Download free opening extract

Peter C :: Mar.30.2009 :: Most Popular Books :: No Comments »

Lovereading.co.uk Top 10

1		The Wedding Party Sophie King A multi-voiced novel with each chapter written from the point of view of the various main characters as the months before a wedding are fraught with personal problems.  It’s a second marriage so there are grown-up children in the mix … Download free opening extract
2		The Business Martina Cole Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 13 November 2008.  Another gem from the queen of gritty East End crime novels. Set at the end of the 70’s and moving up to the present day following the Dooley family. … Download free opening extract
3		Child 44 Tom Rob Smith February 2009 Book of the Month.  Winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2008.   Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2008.Costa Book Awards 2008 Judges’ comment: “This gripping, unputdownable thriller is an exciting new addition to the genre.”   Featured on The … Download free opening extract
4		My Secret Diary Jacqueline Wilson   Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 12 March 2009.     … Download free opening extract
5		The Golden Pig Mark Penny, Jonathan PennyFebruary 2009 Debut of the Month.    This is one of those titles we love to discover on Lovereading and pass the word on about. A brilliantly funny detective novel from two new authors -The Penny Brothers. They have written each part … Download free opening extract
6		Leaving the World Douglas Kennedy   Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 12 March 2009.     … Download free opening extract
7		East of the Sun Julia Gregson     Winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year 2009.   This is an utterly captivating story of three young British women in search of freedom and love in 1920s India, but it also provides a wonderful insight into a now vanished world. … Download free opening extract
8		Wildthorn Jane Eagland Set in Victorian England, this is a thought-provoking and shocking debut story for teenagers and adults of how a young woman with an ambition to become a doctor (at a time when it was frowned upon for women to have such thoughts) is … Download free opening extract
9		The Secret Scripture Sebastian Barry   Winner of the Costa Book of the Year Award 2008.   Winner of the Costa Novel Award 2008. Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2008.  Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 19 February 2009.   Costa Book Awards 2008 Judges’ comment: “A heartbreaking … Download free opening extract
10		The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher Kate Summerscale   Reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 28 January.   Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 4 December 2008.   This reads like a first rate crime novel but is in fact an analysis of real life events. It’s … Download free opening extract

Lovereading4kids.co.uk TOP 10

1		Gone Michael Grant   Gripping from the first moment on, this is a scary, an unputdownable and a brilliantly plotted fantasy. First the teachers start to disappear from school; soon all the adults are gone. Only the children remain and they are trapped, cut … Download free opening extract
2		The Day I Swapped My Dad For Two Goldfish Neil Gaiman Visually dramatic, this is a hugely entertaining adventure perfectly tinged with an alarming subtext.  Desperate to have his friend’s two goldfish, a boy swaps his father for them – despite the warning from his sister. Predictably, Mum is not pleased … Download free opening extract
3		Shadow Forest Matt Haig Winner of the overall Blue Peter Book of the Year 2009 and category winner of ‘the book I couldn’t put down’.   A dramatic adventure story set in an enchanted magical world. Samuel Blink’s life changes forever when a giant log … Download free opening extract
4		If You’re Reading This, it’s too Late Pseudonymous Bosch This is the quirky, original and deliciously dark sequel to the hilarious The Name of This Book is Secret.  Bursting with inventive characters and laugh-out-loud moments, readers will be instantly hooked once more by the stylish storytelling of Pseudonymous Bosch.     A … Download free opening extract
5		My Sister Jodie Jacqueline Wilson A fantastic book from Jacqueline Wilson. Pearl and Jodie are sisters who are very different. Jodie is noisy, brash, insensitive and bold. Pearl is only ten, little and shy and anxious all the time. When their parents both get jobs … Download free opening extract
6		Tumtum and Nutmeg: Pirates’ Treasure Emily Bearn The enchanting and delightful mice Tumtum and Nutmeg are back for a third adventure. This time the two home lovers are off on a camping trip but soon things begin to go very wrong as they get swept down the … Download free opening extract
7		The Magic Thief Sarah Prineas This is an absolutely captivating debut fantasy adventure. Full of magic and trickery, this is the story of a wizard and his new apprentice trying to discover why the magic in their city is fading and how they must stop it from disappearing … Download free opening extract
8		My Mum! Beth Shoshan From the same illustrator that brought us the charmingly funny My Dad! – we now have My Mum! – who is rather silly but simply lovely. Guarenteed to put a smile on your child’s face. … Download free opening extract
9		Tales From Outer Suburbia Shaun Tan This beautifully illustrated book takes a quirky look at some of the mysteries of urban life. Once you start reading it’s very hard to stop reading more of these short stories filled with darkness and delight. … Download free opening extract
10		The Ant Colony Jenny Valentine An irresistible new novel from Jenny Valentine, winner of the Guardian Children’s Book Prize with Finding Violet Park.  Written with a wonderful lightness of touch, the author manages to weave and interweave the very different lives of a disparate range … Download free opening extract

Peter C :: Mar.23.2009 :: Most Popular Books :: No Comments »

As Charles Dickens said – ‘It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade’. Lovereading’s moral to this tale: find a spot in the sun if you want to read outside in March!

Next some literary gems to discover before anyone else – with this month’s exclusive Pre-Publication corkers:

The Secret Speech – Tom Rob Smith His debut novel was one of ‘the’ books of 2008 and we think his 2nd is better. Again set in the Soviet Union this thriller will keep you spellbound.	The Wedding Party – Sophie King – Irresistibly funny, and brilliantly observed, this book is about a couple about to get married – told through the eyes of four other characters….	The Devils Bones – Jefferson Bass - A page-turning, nail-biting thriller about forensic anthropologist Bill Brockton –trying to solve a grizzly murder case after a charred body is found in a burnt-out car.
Close Up – Ester Verhoef - An impressive thriller about a 32-year-old woman trying to get over a divorce when she meets a mysterious and dangerous new man.	The Dare – Rachel Treasure -Tragedy and violence are never far away in this intriguing story about a dyed-in-the-wool country girl who goes off the rails – only destiny can stop her self-destructing.	The Cloud Maker – Patrick Woodhead – A brilliant novel about an ambitious rock-climber who leads his team into hot water with the Chinese secret police while persuing his dream to scale a peak in Tibet.

And don’t miss out on some highlights already on the site this month

Brand new cutting edge fiction for teenage readers

And finally, if you’ve got kids who are reaching an age where they need a more grown-up reading challenge, our ‘new gen’ category has dozens of books for young adults, tackling real-life issues through gripping stories:

I Am Not A Serial Killer Dan Wells – This is the first of a darkly comic new series about John, a teenager who works at the mortuary his family runs, and has to confront his own dark obsessions with death to save his town from a serial killer!               House of Night: Chosen - Zoe is up against dark forces at the House of Night school – her best friend is undead and she suddenly finds herself with three boyfriends…               My (not so) simple life – Joanna Nadin – The fourth instalment of the hilarious, best-selling diaries of Rachel Riley, who vows to give up men and concentrate on happiness instead.               Wildthorn – Jane Eagland – An incredible debut, set in late Victorian England, about a girl who is put into an asylum and tries to piece together the mystery of why.

And in these credit crunch days don’t miss out on our Free Prize Draws where you can win lots of exclusive book goodies every month.

Always read the book before seeing the film!

Finally the success of Slumdog Millionaire at this year’s Oscars got us debating in the office about films which have been created from books and, in our humble opinion, have been eclipsed by their brasher, stripped back commercial cousins. So we wanted to champion a few authors and books whose ideas Hollywood depends on. To start with you can find out more by reading our BLOG, and you never know it might even get its own category on the site.

Peter C :: Mar.17.2009 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

Until 28 Mar 2009 you can get the Opening Extracts of all the Richard & Judy titles direct to your mobile. Just text
LOVEREADING to 64888 (standard network charges apply but likely to be in the region of 5p).

In addition, with your chapter downloads, you’ll find details enabling you to vote for your favourite Richard and Judy title and in return you’ll be entered into a prize draw to win a ticket to the prestigious Galaxy British Book Awards dinner on 9th April 2009.

When Will There Be Good News?          Kate Atkinson Reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 11 February. When this literary author turned crime writer something very special happened to her work. The Guardian believes it has made her a better writer, I feel that her… Format: Paperback – Released: 02/01/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.99 – Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Brutal Art          Jesse Kellerman Reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesay 21 January. This is not a run of the mill police procedural more a thriller that slowly unravels a mystery. When Ethan Muller discovers a series of paintings he… Format: Paperback – Released: 02/04/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.99 – Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Gargoyle          Andrew Davidson Reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 4 February. A cleverly told debut novel. The narrator of the story is an attractive man who has been horrifically burned in a car crash. While in hospital a mysterious… Format: Paperback – Released: 01/01/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.99 – Saving £2.00 (25%)

The 19th Wife          David Ebershoff Reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 18 February. An intriguing look in to the world of the Mormons. Two intertwining stories, one a modern murder mystery, the other a story of the a wife in a polygamous… Format: Paperback – Released: 02/01/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.99 – Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Bolter          Frances Osborne Reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 25 February. Idina Sackville is the ‘exceedingly high spirited’ skeleton in Frances Osborne’s closet and her life reads better than alot of fiction. Twice divorced before she was 30 and five… Format: Paperback – Released: 29/12/2008 Lovereading Price: £6.74 – Saving £2.25 (25%)

Netherland          Joseph O’neill Due to be reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 4 March. We loved reading this book. It is the story about a Dutchman and New York and cricket. But don’t worry if you’re not interested in Dutchmen,… Format: Paperback – Released: 05/01/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.99 – Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite          Beatrice Colin Due to be reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 11 March. A fascinating read for anyone interested in cinema and especially the German cinema of the 1920’s and 30’s. Following the story of an orphaned child as… Format: Paperback – Released: 08/01/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.99 – Saving £2.00 (25%)

December          Elizabeth H Winthrop Due to be reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 18 March. A family struggling to cope with the self-imposed silence the eleven year old daughter has been keeping up for the last nine months. This has a… Format: Paperback – Released: 26/12/2008 Lovereading Price: £5.99 – Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Cellist of Sarajevo          Steven Galloway Due to be reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 25 March. This truly captures the sense of what it must be like to live in a war-torn city. Set in Sarajevo, at the time of the siege,… Format: Paperback – Released: 01/01/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.99 – Saving £2.00 (25%)

The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher          Kate Summerscale Reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 28 January. Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 4 December 2008. This reads like a first rate crime novel but is in fact an analysis of real life events. It’s… Format: Paperback – Released: 05/01/2009 Lovereading Price: £5.99 – Saving £2.00 (25%)

admin :: Mar.17.2009 :: General Book News :: No Comments »

Lovereading TOP 10

1		Child 44 Tom Rob Smith   February 2009 Book of the Month.   Winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2008.   Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2008.Costa Book Awards 2008 Judges’ comment: “This gripping, unputdownable thriller is an exciting new addition to the genre.”   Featured on The … Download free opening extract
2		What My Best Friend Did Lucy Dawson   March 2009 Book of the Month.As with her first novel, His Other Lover, this is chic-lit with a dark twist.  It’s about what happens when friendship turns sour.  She’s very good at putting a thumb on a bruise and pushing …  Download free opening extract
3		The Secret Scripture Sebastian Barry   Winner of the Costa Book of the Year Award 2008.   Winner of the Costa Novel Award 2008. Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2008.  Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 19 February 2009.   Costa Book Awards 2008 Judges’ comment: “A heartbreaking … Download free opening extract
4		I Am Not A Serial Killer Dan Wells   March 2009 Debut of the Month.   This is definitely not for the feint hearted,  but if your stomach is strong enough then this is an original debut from a terrific new voice in teenage fiction.  This is the first in a … Download free opening extract
5		Leaving the World Douglas Kennedy Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 12 March 2009.  Lovereading view to appear soon… … Download free opening extract
6		East of the Sun Julia Gregson   Winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year 2009.   This is an utterly captivating story of three young British women in search of freedom and love in 1920s India, but it also provides a wonderful insight into a now vanished world. … Download free opening extract
7		Borderlands Brian Mcgilloway Rejoice in the arrival of a great new Irish series featuring a very human, very likeable, moral Inspector Devlin.  The setting is bleak and atmospheric and the plot well structured and compelling, albeit a little full of twists at the … Download free opening extract
8		Skin and Bones Tom Bale January 2009 Debut of the Month.  With one of the best opening pages to a book you’ll ever read this electrifying debut thriller will leave you gasping for breath. Reminiscent to the writing of Harlan Coben but Tom Bale is British … Download free opening extract
9		Billie Jo Kimberley Chambers   March 2009 Debut of the Month.   This will certainly appeal to fans of Martina Cole and June Hampson. Billie Jo’s father has been a villain all his life but kept himself very much in the background, avoiding the long arm of … Download free opening extract
10		My Secret Diary Jacqueline Wilson Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 12 March 2009.  Lovereading view to appear soon… … Download free opening extract

Lovereading4kids TOP 10

1		Shadow Forest Matt Haig Winner of the overall Blue Peter Book of the Year 2009 and category winner of ‘the book I couldn’t put down’.   A dramatic adventure story set in an enchanted magical world. Samuel Blink’s life changes forever when a giant log … Download free opening extract
2		If You’re Reading This, it’s too Late Pseudonymous Bosch This is the quirky, original and deliciously dark sequel to the hilarious The Name of This Book is Secret.  Bursting with inventive characters and laugh-out-loud moments, readers will be instantly hooked once more by the stylish storytelling of Pseudonymous Bosch.A …  Download free opening extract
3		Mr Gum And The Dancing Bear Andy Stanton Winner of The Blue Peter book award 2009 ’most funny book with pictures’ category – Mr Gum is off on his fifth best-selling adventure. And it is as zany and ridiculous as any that have gone before. This time, a gigantic … Download free opening extract
4		The Book of a Thousand Days Shannon Hale Recorded as a highly readable diary, this is an original retelling of a fairy tale that gives a taste of the traditional while adding original and unexpected elements to make it anything but an ordinary fairytale and you certainly won’t … Download free opening extract
5		The Magic Thief Sarah Prineas This is an absolutely captivating debut fantasy adventure. Full of magic and trickery, this is the story of a wizard and his new apprentice trying to discover why the magic in their city is fading and how they must stop it from disappearing … Download free opening extract
6		Wallace And Gromit Grand Adventures And Glorious Inventions Penny Worms Suitable for discerning Wallace and Gromit fans, this all-singing, all-dancing book sets out as Wallace’s secret invention scrapbook, with snippets of information and personal memorabilia about his cracking contraptions and his madcap capers with his dog, Gromit. With lots of … Download free opening extract
7		Gone Michael Grant   Gripping from the first moment on, this is a scary, an unputdownable and a brilliantly plotted fantasy. First the teachers start to disappear from school; soon all the adults are gone. Only the children remain and they are trapped, cut … Download free opening extract
8		My Brilliant Book! Michael Broad Short of a good book to read, Sam decides that writing his own is the only way to really enjoy a story. Vibrantly illustrated, Sam’s flights of fancy – aliens, a world full of sweets, a trip to the wildwest … Download free opening extract
9		Minty And Tink Emma Chichester Clark The importance of a special toy is perfectly captured in this passionate story about how a toy can be ‘real’.  When searching for a birthday present for her baby brother, Minty finds a tiny toy bear who can talk. Instantly, … Download free opening extract
10		Ingo Helen Dunmore This is the first of the Ingo quartet. Helen Dunmore has done what few authors succeed in doing.  She’s created an absolutely believable mythical world alongside our own. One that makes you want to be there more than anything else, … Download free opening extract

Peter C :: Mar.16.2009 :: Most Popular Books :: No Comments »

We don’t know about you, but here at Lovereading we wish there were more hours in the day to read all of the wonderful titles being published each month. This month we’ve found some real corkers – spell-binding gritty noir, humour and pathos and heart-melting moments.

Keep up to date with the Prize Winning books  

One of the most prestigious book awards of the year is the Costa Prize, and the overall winner of the various category winners has just this week been announced as Sebastian Barry, with his love story, The Secret Scripture. But don’t forget that exclusively at Lovereading we also have features and extracts for the entire shortlist, and all the category winners, for you to feast your imaginations on. Rumour has it, it was a close run thing between Barry and Athill, who won the Biography category. The favourite in the Lovereading poll was Sadie Jones with The Outcast but the general consensus in the Lovereading office is that Athill was robbed! Another longstanding award, this time from The Romantic Novelists’ Association, has just announced its shortlist, and Lovereading’s Peter Crawshaw is on the judging panel! Download some heart-melting free opening extracts of the shortlisted books here. The winner will be announced on 10 February. Why not enter our poll to vote for your personal favourite.

Make the most out of 2009

Our New Year, New You category continues with the addition of one or two further titles that might just help you to achieve your ‘New Year, New You’ goals. We are all feeling the credit crunch so Spendsmart might be the perfect book to help you save some money in these belt-tightening times.

Romantic Fiction just got darker!

Next up, we have an intriguing new genre to make your heart glow ghostly white. ‘Paranormal Romance’ is big in the States and, undoubtedly, will be here too if the success of the film Twilight is anything to go by. Download some free Opening Extracts and find out what you get when you combine all the spookiness of the supernatural with romance and seduction. Sherrilyn Kenyon is one of the best in this genre and the next in her Dream Hunter series is out now – Dream Warrior.

Author of the Month – Graham Hurley

Author of the Month is crime writer Graham Hurley. His new book, The Price of Darkness is spellbinding, gritty noir that critics have likened to Ian Rankin. An award winning documentary maker, Hurley decided to turn his hand to writing and is now one of our best up and coming crime writers We rate him highly.  

February Books of the Month

We’ve got some incredible Books of the Month which are sure to keep the grey matter sharp and give your emotions a good workout.

Small World by Matt Beaumont – Humour and pathos abound in, a novel about how every person you come into contact with impacts the way your day goes.	Child 44 by Tom Rob Smith – the gripping first novel, is out in paperback. It’s an unputdownable thriller set in a bleak and skilfully realised Stalinist Russia.	The Lost Daughter by Diane Chamberlain – a darkly intriguing novel about an unsolved murder, a missing child, and a lifetime of deception…	The Lieutenant by Kate Grenville’s – Her stunning new novel follows an astronomer who arrives in New South Wales with the first British settlers, and finds his life changed by the local Aboriginal people.

Discover someone new from our Debuts of the Month

Dance with Wings by Amelia Carr – a heart-warming family drama spanning three generations with an unforgettable love story at its centre.	The Golden Pig by the Penny Brothers – an hilarious odyssey, who took it in turns to write the chapters unfolding this surreal, North London private detective story.	The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz – a Pulitzer prize winning literary treat about a ghetto nerd and his family’s uproarious journeys in the Dominican Republic and the USA.

The best new books for Teenagers and Young Adults

If you have children who’ve reached an age where they’re looking for more grown-up reading challenges, show them our ‘New Gen’ section of books written for young adults:

Weighing it Up by Ali Valenzuela – a teenager’s frank account of her successful battle to overcome life-threatening anorexia.	House of Night: Betrayed – the second book in the brilliant series by mother and daughter team P.C and Kristin Cast, set in a ‘vampyre finishing school’.	Bog Child by Siobhan Dowd – a powerful book, full of mystery, about a boy, a murder, and the troubles of Northern Ireland – for us it’s a must read!

So visit Lovereading, try out some free Opening Extracts from this marvellous mixture of books, and find a few to keep you turning pages into 2009.

Peter C :: Mar.12.2009 :: Newsletters :: No Comments »

The success of Slumdog Millionaire at this year’s Oscars got us debating in the Lovereading office about films which have been created from books and, in our humble opinion, have been eclipsed by their brasher, stripped back commercial cousins. 

So we decided we wanted to champion a few authors and books whose ideas Hollywood depends on. And for us this is just the start – let us have your favourites and we can add them to our  website…. 

Slumdog Millionaire Vikas Swarup A great slant on the phenomenon of “Who Wants to be a Millionaire” with a young boy from the streets of India winning a million rupees, only to be thrown in jail as a fraudster. However, there is no coughing… £5.99 Save 25%	The Reader Bernhard Schlink One of my favourite books of 1998, the sort that, on completion, leaves you stunned and really does stay with you for – well, in my case – years as it was 10 years ago that I read it but… £5.99 Save 25%	Twilight (Twilight Saga Book 1) Stephenie Meyer Deeply seductive and irresistibly compelling, this is an extraordinary love story that will stay with you long after you’ve finished it. This is the first in the Twilight series. £5.24 Save 25%	The Other Boleyn Girl Philippa Gregory This is an absolutely cracking read, gripping from the very start.  Gregory creates an intriguing story that’s historically true and she mixes fact with fiction seemlessly that you find the whole story completely believable.  £5.99 Save 25%
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? Philip K Dick The outstanding novel that became the cult classic film Blade Runner. Considered to be one of the great works of science fiction, it raises important questions about religion, technology and what defines us as human beings. £5.99 Save 25%	Schindler’s Ark Thomas Keneally Filmed as Schindler’s List starring Liam Neeson, this is the story of a German businessman who lived an ostentatious life driven by wealth.  A Nazi party member, he opened a factory in Poland producing supplies for the German army during… £5.99 Save 25%	The Kite Runner Khaled Hosseini Voted as the Penguin/Orange Reading Group Book of the Year 2006 and 2007.This review is provided by bookgroup.info.The Kite Runner is a powerful and moving novel set in Afghanistan and America. The narrator, Amir, is… £5.99 Save 25%	I Am Legend Richard Matheson I Am Legend was one of the first, and certainly the most brilliant, fusions of horror and science fiction. Its powerful and disturbing reworking of the vampire myth has made it a classic and enduring novel that has had a… £5.99 Save 25%

Peter C :: Mar.11.2009 :: Newsletters :: 5 Comments »

Lovereading.co.uk Top 10

1		What My Best Friend Did Lucy Dawson   March 2009 Book of the Month.   As with her first novel, His Other Lover, this is chic-lit with a dark twist.  It’s about what happens when friendship turns sour.  She’s very good at putting a thumb on a bruise and pushing … Download free opening extract
2		Skin and Bones Tom Bale With one of the best opening pages to a book you’ll ever read this electrifying debut thriller will leave you gasping for breath. Reminiscent to the writing of Harlan Coben but Tom Bale is British …Download free opening extract
3		The Secret Scripture Sebastian Barry   Winner of the Costa Book of the Year Award 2008.   Winner of the Costa Novel Award 2008.   Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2008.   Costa Book Awards 2008 Judges’ comment: “A heartbreaking …Download free opening extract
4		Sashenka Simon Montefiore   March 2009 Debut of the Month.   A big, sweeping, romantic adventure of half a century of turbulent Russian history beautifully told. It pulls at the heart strings while informing, it forces you through the pages and remains with you long after.  … Download free opening extract
5		The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher Kate Summerscale   Reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 28 January.Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 4 December 2008.     This reads like a first rate crime novel but is in fact an analysis of real life events. It’s … Download free opening extract
6		Child 44 Tom Rob Smith   February 2009 Book of the Month.   Winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2008.   Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2008.Costa Book Awards 2008 Judges’ comment: “This gripping, unputdownable thriller is an exciting new addition to the genre.”   Download free opening extract
7		I Am Not A Serial Killer Dan Wells     March 2009 Debut of the Month. This is definitely not for the feint hearted,  but if your stomach is strong enough then this is an original debut from a terrific new voice in teenage fiction.  This is the first in a … Download free opening extract
8		Catch a Fish from the Sea (Using the Internet) Nasreen Akhtar   March 2009 Debut of the Month.   Shortlisted for the World Book Day 2009 Book to Talk About.   If you have ever taken the plunge in to internet dating there is so much that will make you laugh in this book and also … Download free opening extract
9		The Blackstone Key Rose Melikan  March 2009 Debut of the Month.  All the style and ingredients of a classic tale with memorable characters and thrilling plot twists.  It begins a trilogy of smuggling, spying and skulduggery with a plucky, rather impulsive heroine.  Good fun. Comparison: Daphne du … Download free opening extract
10		East of the Sun Julia Gregson   Winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year 2009.   This is an utterly captivating story of three young British women in search of freedom and love in 1920s India, but it also provides a wonderful insight into a now vanished world. … Download free opening extract

KIDS SITE TOP 10

1		Shadow Forest Matt Haig Winner of the overall Blue Peter Book of the Year 2009 and category winner of ‘the book I couldn’t put down’.   A dramatic adventure story set in an enchanted magical world. Samuel Blink’s life changes forever when a giant log … Download free opening extract
2		If You’re Reading This, it’s too Late Pseudonymous Bosch This is the quirky, original and deliciously dark sequel to the hilarious The Name of This Book is Secret.  Bursting with inventive characters and laugh-out-loud moments, readers will be instantly hooked once more by the stylish storytelling of Pseudonymous Bosch.      A … Download free opening extract
3		My Mum! Beth Shoshan From the same author that brought us the charmingly funny My Dad! – we now have My Mum! – who is rather silly but simply lovely. Guarenteed to put a smile on your child’s face. … Download free opening extract
4		My Brilliant Book! Michael Broad Short of a good book to read, Sam decides that writing his own is the only way to really enjoy a story. Vibrantly illustrated, Sam’s flights of fancy – aliens, a world full of sweets, a trip to the wildwest … Download free opening extract
5		Ingo Helen Dunmore This is the first of the Ingo quartet. Helen Dunmore has done what few authors succeed in doing.  She’s created an absolutely believable mythical world alongside our own. One that makes you want to be there more than anything else, … Download free opening extract
6		My (not so) Simple Life Joanna Nadin The further escapades of the engaging and immensely funny Rachel Riley – an Adrian Mole style character of today’s teenage world.  Written in diary style, this book has all the necessary hallmarks to be a real page-turner.  Not just funny but genuinely … Download free opening extract
7		The Magic Thief Sarah Prineas This is an absolutely captivating debut fantasy adventure. Full of magic and trickery, this is the story of a wizard and his new apprentice trying to discover why the magic in their city is fading and how they must stop it from disappearing … Download free opening extract
8		Wildthorn Jane Eagland Set in Victorian England, this is a thought-provoking and shocking debut story for teenagers and adults of how a young woman with an ambition to become a doctor (at a time when it was frowned upon for women to have … Download free opening extract
9		Minty And Tink Emma Chichester Clark The importance of a special toy is perfectly captured in this passionate story about how a toy can be ‘real’.  When searching for a birthday present for her baby brother, Minty finds a tiny toy bear who can talk. Instantly, … Download free opening extract
10		Revolting Rhymes Roald Dahl Age 6+ A brilliant collection of comic and often gory versions of popular fairy tales. … Download free opening extract

Peter C :: Mar.09.2009 :: Most Popular Books :: No Comments »

Lovereading Top 10

1		The Secret Scripture Sebastian Barry   Winner of the Costa Book of the Year Award 2008. Winner of the Costa Novel Award 2008. Shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2008.   Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 19 February 2009. Costa Book Awards 2008 Judges’ comment: “A heartbreaking … Download free opening extract
2		Choral Society Prue Leith  Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 19 February 2009.  Three single women join a choir all looking to find different things, a new challenge, friendship, a new man. What they do find is each other and come together … Download free opening extract
3		The Golden Pig Mark Penny, Jonathan Penny  February 2009 Debut of the Month. This is one of those titles we love to discover on Lovereading and pass the word on about. A brilliantly funny detective novel from two new authors -The Penny Brothers. They have written each part …Download free opening extract
4		The Suspicions of Mr. Whicher Kate Summerscale Reviewed on Richard & Judy’s Book Club 2009 on Wednesday 28 January.Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 4 December 2008. This reads like a first rate crime novel but is in fact an analysis  of real life events. It’s … Download free opening extract
5		East of the Sun Julia Gregson Winner of the Romantic Novel of the Year 2009.This is an utterly captivating story of three young British women in search of freedom and love in 1920s India, but it also provides a wonderful insight into a now vanished world. …  Download free opening extract
6		Child 44 Tom Rob Smith  February 2009 Book of the Month. Winner of the CWA Ian Fleming Steel Dagger 2008.Shortlisted for the Costa First Novel Award 2008.Costa Book Awards 2008 Judges’ comment: “This gripping, unputdownable thriller is an exciting new addition to the genre.” Controversially, and in … Download free opening extract
7		The Truth About Love Josephine Hart  Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 5 February 2009.  It has been a little while since we had a novel from this author but it has been worth the wait as she returns with an emotional and remarkable …Download free opening extract
8		One of Us Melissa Benn   Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 12 February 2009. …  Download free opening extract
9		Past Imperfect Julian Fellowes Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 29 January 2009.Snobs, his first novel, was brilliant and Past Imperfect is better and coming from ‘the bottom end of the gentry’ gives Julian’s a voyeuristic authenticity! In the late 60’s … Download free opening extract
10		We Need to Talk About Kevin Lionel Shriver Featured on The Book Show on Sky Arts on 29 January 2009.This review is provided by bookgroup.info.Drop everything! This spectacular book will grab you and will not put you down, keeping you guessing until the final pages. Eva’s words may …  Download free opening extract

Lovereading4kids.co.uk Top 10

1		Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules Jeff Kinney Take a peek into Greg’s diary and find out the story of his life – and especially about his relationship with his older brother Roderick. Wittily told in words and pictures, this diary charts the trials and tribulations of a … Download free opening extract
2		Foul Play Tom Palmer On the Blue Peter Award Shortlist – Football mad boys and girls will devour this all-action adventure novel, virtually in a sitting. Hopefully, even the most reluctant reader, just like the author himself was at school, will devour it too. … Download free opening extract
3		The Sandfather Linda Newbery This is a gripping, fast-paced and at times heart-stopping read about a 13 year old boy’s search for identity by the winner of the 2006 Costa Children’s Book Award. Hal’s exclusion from school leads him to a period of discovery … Download free opening extract
4		Malice Chris Wooding Enter this terrifying parallel world if you dare! From the dramatic 3-D cover onwards, everything about Malice is original and just a little bit different. Cleverly told as both a novel and a graphic novel, this is the scary story … Download free opening extract
5		Billy Bonkers 2: More Madness Giles Andreae Madcap adventures with huge naughty boy appeal featuring Billy and his family, and wittily illustrated by Nick Sharratt. At school there’s the great sports day fiasco, then there’s the Bonkers’ unfortunate holiday on the shores of Loch Ness and finally … Download free opening extract
6		The 13 Treasures Michelle Harrison Winner of the Waterstone’s Children’s Book Prize 2009.     This is an enchanting and at times terrifying debut that’s beautifully written. 13 year old Tanya and her mother have an uneasy relationship so for part of the summer she is despatched … Download free opening extract
7		Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland – Illustrated Edition Lewis Carroll Abundantly illustrated with warmth and humour by Helen Oxenbury, the memorable cast of characters are to be found in all their glory here in this edition, from Alice herself to the White Rabbit, the Mad Hatter and the Cheshire Cat.  … Download free opening extract
8		Running On The Cracks Julia Donaldson A thrilling corkscrew of a novel that twists and turns weaving several strands of story into one compelling narrative, and the first novel from an established and bestselling picture book author for younger readers. Orphaned after the death of her … Download free opening extract
9		Dogs Emily Gravett Prize-winning illustrator Emily Gravett delights with another wonderful new book. Apparently a celebration of dogs of all kind, this is also a book with a witty twist at the end. Gorgeous pictures of big dogs and small dogs, hairy dogs … Download free opening extract
10		Bog Child Siobhan Dowd   New and challenging book full of mystery and shadows from recently deceased author Siobhan Dowd. Both terrifying and fascinating from the start, Bog Child is a must-read for 2009. The plot follows Fergus a boy who finds the body of … Download free opening extract

Peter C :: Mar.02.2009 :: Most Popular Books :: No Comments »