Quite simply, this is one of the best books of the decade!

Already, Syjuco has been compared to writers like Salman Rushdie & David Mitchell and it is easy to see why; he challenges our concept of what a novel can be. As another review has stated, this is a difficult book to review. Using disparate sources (jokes, traditional linear narratives, interviews, diary entries and book excerpts), Syjuco fashions a tale of a young writer's search to find the missing manuscript of his mentor and friend, Crispin Salvador, and to uncover the truth behind the death of the Philippines' greatest writer. Along the way, we learn much about our protagonist (Miguel Syjuco), his mentor (Salvador) and the tumultuous history of the Philippines.

This is not a quick (or easy) read, but the rewards are well worth the investment. Like all great books, Ilustrado asks as many questions as it answers, and it leaves you wanting/needing to reread it immediately. Luckily, thanks to Syjuco's beautiful prose, that is sheer pleasure!

Having been a real fan of Steve Augarde's "The Touchstone Trilogy", I couldn't wait for the North American release of this book and purchased a copy from Amazon.co.uk as soon as it was released in Britain. I was impressed by the brilliance of "X-Isle", and devoured it in two days. Like the previous books, "X-Isle" offers the reader a fantastically gripping narrative, but with a darker, edgier feel. Gone are the fairy tribes (even if they were warring fairies) and in their place are boys - boys who, in a world crippled by floods, must fight for survival on X-Isle. There is nothing comfortable about this tale, and it may not appeal to very young readers. But it is a book worth reading. Augarde has created a credible, complex and terrifying world populated with richly-imagined characters whose stories resonate with us and whose journeys (and each has a very different journey) we believe. Something of a modern-day Lord of the Flies, it is an obvious choice for boys, but I would not hesitate to offer this book to girls, as well. A book for all ages.

I picked up "Help Me Jacques Cousteau" after falling in love with Gil's book, "The Outlander". I was not disappointed with this wonderful collection of (linked) short stories. At times poetic, funny, and sad, this book held me captive until the very last page. Adamson is brilliant at capturing humanity - something evident in both this book and "The Outlander" - with a directness and simplicity that touches the reader. I highly recommend this little gem.

Okay, I realise (judging from some of the other reviews) that this novel will NOT appeal to everyone, but I thought it was brilliant. I loved the "manga" quality. And if anyone can hold such a wildly diverse novel together, it's David Mitchell. I think he's one of the world's outstanding young writers, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this eccentric, compelling work!

I picked up this book solely on the precis on the dust jacket. I was curious - could the author pull off this conceit, or would it simply turn out to be a clever gimmick that went horribly wrong? I must say I was MORE than impressed by this clever yet READABLE "novel". Its very form makes me question what constitutes a novel.

There is no linear plot, per se. Instead, the book is an anthology of short stories which chronicle the history of literature on the fictitious island of Sanjania. And yet, these short (fictional) stories by (fictitious) Sanjanian authors manage to evoke for the reader a believable history of the island while giving him a feel for the life and customs of its people. Extraordinary.

Mr. Marche easily changes stylistic hats - and the breadth of his writing style is truly astonishing. While it may be true that not ALL of the stories are first rate (perhaps intentional?) there are quite a number which have a freshness that I found quite appealing.

I cannot think of another book which has so pleasantly surprised me in recent memory. A truly delightful book.

I read this book last fall, when it came out in Canada, and I was ABSOLUTELY mesmerised by it. Adamson can write, there is no question! Not since Anne Michael's book, "Fugitive Pieces", have I been so completely enthralled by an author's use of the English language. Adamson has, until now, been a poet and that is evident in every sentence she writes. And yet, the book does not get bogged down in flowery description. Instead, one is drawn into a beautifully crafted world; a world populated with interesting, FEELING characters - characters which are fully formed and which deserve our interest.

There are a couple of moments in the novel that I particularly loved. The first is the moment when Mary dreams of her father fishing. At one moment, Adamson writes: "The sun was sharp on the corded water, dancing like pennies on a blanket." Simply beautiful.

The second, and possibly most powerful moment in the novel, occurs in Chapter 19 when Mary recalls the moment of her mother's death and her father's response to it. She writes: "Her father, too, was sleepless in those days. And staggering. Rum was his drink, and so a sweet reek followed him about the house, burnt toffee cut with piss, and his breath was rank. He would go whole days without responding to anyone; he would not even meet his daughter's eye, but stared dully ahead, too deep in the smoking ruin of his hear to see the world." The passage goes on and through it we see a husband and father torn apart and destroyed by grief. A grief which leaves a lasting effect on the daughter.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough. If you read only one book this season, make it "The Outlander."

When I started "The Various" (on the recommendation of a friend), I was a bit skeptical. Let's face it, there comes an age in MOST people's lives when fairies just don't make for interesting reading material anymore. That is until Steve Augarde took up their cause. After the first 50 pages of "The Various" I was hooked. And by the end of the book, I was dying to know what happened next. Well, rest assured; Augarde has done it again! "Celandine" is even MORE captivating than "The Various" (which I didn't think possible).This owes very much to the strength of Celandine herself. While I admired Midge's tenacity, Celandine's had me laughing out loud. Part historical fiction, part fairy story and - yes - part "The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie" (much of the book takes place in a girls' school), this book will keep your eyeballs busy! But be warned: the third book has not yet been written, so be certain that you can survive the wait. I read "Celandine" over a year ago, and I'm almost a nervous wreck in anticipation of the final installment! Bravo, Mr. Augarde.