Category Archives: Book Reviews

Henry V by William Shakespeare

I’d had a copy of this play for sometime, and recently I finally got around to reading it. Although I was aware of the Henry IV plays that preceded it, I didn’t really realise that they (and also Richard II) … Continue reading

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Goosebumps: Welcome to Dead House by R. L. Stine

Other than having a few very vague (but fond) memories of the Goosebumps TV series, it was a franchise I’d never really gotten into that much. Recently, I finally decided to start reading the books, starting with the first in … Continue reading

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The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

This is probably the best ghost story I have ever read, and quite possibly even the best horror (though there are some other strong contenders). What helps this short novel by Shirley Jackson really stand out (and send shivers down … Continue reading

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The Old Curiosity Shop by Charles Dickens

A classic Dickens novel that tells a sympathetic story of people living in poverty in Victorian society. In this particular novel, you’ve got an old man who is trying desperately to look after his granddaughter, Nell, but who ends up … Continue reading

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The Valley of Fear by Arthur Conan Doyle

This is the fourth full-length Sherlock Holmes novel (and the seventh in the series, counting the short story anthologies) and I have to say that it’s potentially my favourite one. This might be a somewhat unexpected perspective though, as while … Continue reading

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Doctor Who: Twice Upon a Time by Paul Cornell

Twice Upon a Time is possibly my favourite Doctor Who Christmas special, and I think it’s one of the best episodes overall. I was quite surprised to see it get a novelisation, when it is so heavily tied to the … Continue reading

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The Muppet Christmas Carol by Brooke Vitale

The Muppet Christmas Carol is one of my favourite adaptations of my one of favourite books, and with this illustrated picture book, things have come full circle because the adaptation the novel has itself been novelised – or indeed, picture … Continue reading

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Planet of the Apes by Pierre Boulle

This novel tells what is probably one of the most iconic sci-fi stories of the twentieth century which is a good indicator of its quality – although the downside of this is the fact that I don’t imagine there are … Continue reading

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Winter’s Heart by Robert Jordan

Winter’s Heart is a very appropriate title for the ninth Wheel of Time novel, as it’s a very wintery novel. I’ll admit, by this point, I’m feeling much less invested than I once was in the series, but I also … Continue reading

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The Happiness Hypothesis by Jonathan Haidt

How come some people are happy and others aren’t? That’s pretty much the question that Jonathan Haidt sets out to answer with this book. It explores the ideas of what exactly makes a person happy and looks at some commonly … Continue reading

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