Derailed by James Siegel
Members Choice: Darren
Date Reviewed: December 2008
Drunken Philosophers’ Score ?/5
Blind Faith by Ben Elton
Members Choice: Sara
Date Reviewed: November 2008
Wow, this book caused a real stir amongst the group during the review process and created some great discussions between men and women!! Overall people enjoyed the book.
Drunken Philosophers’ Score 2.5/5
Breakheart Pass by Alistair McLean
Members Choice: John E
Date Reviewed: October 2008
Just over half of the club read the book but those that did finish it agreed it was a short and easy read. Not the best novel by this author.
Drunken Philosophers’ Score 2.5/5
The Book With No Name by Anonymous
Members Choice: Chris
Date Reviewed: September 2008
A typical killfest book with memorable characters. The initial impression of people who read this book die soon after led some members of the club to be startled by noisy cats in the dark J - the book does leave its impression on the reader! Overall the book is punchy and witty but could have done with more detail, especially at the end.
Drunken Philosophers’ Score 3.5/5
The Apothecary Rose by Candace Robb
Members Choice: Ryan
Date Reviewed: August 2008
Majority of members agreed the book was an easy read as the book isn’t too big at 357 pages (paperback version). However, most of the members found the story dull/boring even though all but one finished the book. Main opinion of the club was that the main character was lacking, another opinion was that the Summoner’s death was unrealistic given his background.
Drunken Philosophers’ Score 2/5
Gold Diggers by Tasmina Perry
Members Choice: Zoe
Date Reviewed: June 2008
Mixed review from the club. Surprisingly enough the girls didn't really like it - she tried to copy other authors too much and didn't find her own writing style. The story was not well written and didn't have the flow needed for chick lits.
Drunken Philosophers’ Score 1.5/5
Deathworld 2 by Harry Harrison
Members Choice: John M
Date Reviewed: April 2008
Mixed reactions to this book although most members felt the book wasn’t really what we would call sci-fi these days. The book is a quick easy read and it’s quite short.
Drunken Philosophers’ Score 2/5
What Was Lost by Catherine O’Flynn
Members Choice: Yvonne
Date Reviewed: February/March 2008
Quite a mixed set of reactions for this book. Although all agreed that the first section about the child detective before she goes missing was enjoyed by all. Some found the final outcome of the child sequence at the end to be frustrating in that you wonder what happened right throughout the book. Some members found the book cleverly put together whereas others found the hopping between years irritating.
Drunken Philosophers’ Score 3/5
Broken Skin by Stuart MacBride
Members Choice: Darren
Date Reviewed: January/February 2008
Mixed reaction from the group to this book although the main character, DI Steele gained mostly positive reactions.
Drunken Philosophers’ Score 2.6/5
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards
Members Choice: Gemma
Date Reviewed: December/January 2008
Again, a mixed reaction from the group. Some felt the book was written very well, almost poetic where others felt the storyline was completely unrealistic.
Drunken Philosophers’ Score 2.5/5
Money: A Suicide Note by Martin Amis
Members Choice: Wilf
Date Reviewed: November/December 2007
A modern classic book set in the early 1980’s. A very hard going book set in a world of conspiracy, violence and egotistical characters. The main character was a male chauvinist who lived for the day in a hard, fast and dying world. Money is a means to an end until you don’t have any!
Drunken Philosophers’ Score 1.8/5
Time for the Stars by Robert A. Heinlein
Members Choice: John M
Date Reviewed: October/November 2007
Time for the Stars is literally on another planet! It doesn’t spend enough time on each planet, but moves between thepast and the future in a smooth, accelerated way! Telepathy plays a small part in this book which most people can relate to in the group. Who’s is the next round?
Drunken Philosophers’ Score 2.6/5
A Foreign Field by Ben Macintyre
Members Choice: Ryan
Date Reviewed: September/October 2007
Good story written by the wrong guy! Mixed emotions which caused the most debate we have had in all the books chosen. Didn't score highly but didn't make it a bad book!! Where is the man in the cupboard?
Drunken Philosophers' Score 1.5/5
Next by Michael Crichton
PR company (www.nakedpenguinboy.com) donation
Date Reviewed: August/September 2007
All loved the articles but didnt understand the threads at the end. Most readers found the content too scientific/technical. Short chapters helped the book to speed along.
Drunken Philosophers' Score 2.5/5
Retribution by Julianne Hoffman
Members Choice: Darren
Date Reviewed: August/September 2007
All members finished reading the book. Most people agreed the main character changed personality traits too dramatically as CJ. All members agreed the ending was a let down - a good twist to the plot would have raised the score.
Drunken Philosophers' Score 2.6/5
The Last Testament by Sam Bourne
Members Choice: John E
Date Reviewed: July/August 2007
Book full of middle eastern promise?! THose that finished it enjoyed the last 100 pages and the final twist in the book. Found the political aspects a little bit heavy going although some readers enjoyed the modernism. Book was similar to Turkish Delight/Marmite - you either loved it or hated it!!
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 2/5
More Than Love Letters by Rosy Thornton
Author Donation
Date Reviewed: June/July 2007
No one liked the format but everyone wanted to read the book due to the locality of the book content and the fact that the author is local. It did provide a few laugh out loud moments but overall generally very disappointed. This author does however write in this format better that Cecilia Ahern. It would have been nice to have more that love letters!
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 1/5
Swan Song by Robert McCammon
Members Choice: Sara
Date Reviewed: May/June/July 2007
Categorically this is everyone's favourite set book so far. Everyone fell in love with the characters, Sister, Josh, Swan & Co., wanted to know more about who they were, where they'd been, where they were going etc. It was very much a survival book and it was good old fashioned good v evil. The ending was extremely american and we all felt it let the book down. Chapters flowed well, the book was very informative and was well written. The ring/crown was felt by the female members of the group to be a symbol of hope, however male members found it a waste of time. We liked the path the book took the reader on - it was a journey bringing three different worlds together via the ring/crown. This was a dauntingly large book that was worth every page.
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 4/5
The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Members Choice: Zoe
Date Reviewed: April/May 2007
This book is not a credit to the shopaholics in the wrold. We are not all liars, we are simply obsessed by shoes and clothes! The book was a little fluffy but a very easy read, a little like a magazine where you can pick it up and put it down. Although most poeple found the book irritating/frustrating, some people wanted to know what happened next. Does anyone know where I can buy some cheap Jimmy Choo's?
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 2/5
When the Wind Blows by James Patterson
Members Choice: Chris
Date Reviewed: Mar/April 2007
This was Patterson's first book and inevitably probably not the most exciting or interesting. The book was easy to read, nice short chapters but very transparent and predicable throughout. The general opinion was not enough meat in the book and needed more depthness to make it less childish/american. This author shows potential to take off!!
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 3/5
Fistful of Charms by Kim Harrison
Members Choice: Yvonne
Date Reviewed: Feb/March 2007
Built a picture around the big scenes but never got to the point. 3 people had read books 1-3 in the series and felt this was a let down. The majority struggled to finish the book, 2 didn't finish the book as they were bored with it. Vague, not focused enough and disappointing. This book was literally away with the fairies.
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 2/5
Never Go Back by Robert Goddard
Members Choice: Ryan
Date Reviewed: Dec 2006/Feb 2007
Flowed quite well but could have been more killings and gore. Bit predicable but overall a good read.
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 3/5
A Short History of Tractors in Ukranian by Marina Lewycka
Members Choice: Chris
Date Reviewed: Oct/Dec 2006
Some found the tractor parts boring but some found the story parts boring. All the old man wanted to do was play with the boobies, pretty far fetched.
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 2/5
Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
Members Choice: Yvonne
Date Reviewed: Sept/Oct 2006
Paedophilia. Insight into a different world, racism in parts but some people enjoyed the book. On the whole the book didn’t rate very high.
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 1/5
Glory Road by Robert A. Heinlein
Members Choice: John
Date Reviewed: Aug/Sept 2006
Racist in parts but understanding because of the age of the book. Some people found it flowed quite well but the ending was very poor.
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 2/5
Not That Kind of Girl by Catherine Alliott
Members Choice: Zoe
Date Reviewed: Jul/Aug 2006
The majority of people quiet enjoyed this book and found it amusing, her brother and his partner being the absolute stars. Our only real complaints were that it did end up a bit predictable and seemed to lose it's way a little after the first third before it then picked up again. Some of us were looking for something a little bit deeper & felt that other titles by this author had flowed better. But overall if you a looking for a book that does not make you think to hard and is a light funny read then it can be enjoyable..
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 3/5
Labyrinth by Kate Mosse
Members Choice: Darren
Date Reviewed: Jun/Jul 2006
Dan Brown'd out!! Enjoyed old time sections of the book but some quite enjoyed overall. Some people were bored and not keeping up with the old/new stories.
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 2/5
The Last Templar by Raymond Khoury
Members Choice: Sara
Date Reviewed: May/Jun 2006
Boring, started good but finished badly. Would not have read had it not been a book club book.
Drunken Philosophers' Score: 1/5