When Fat Charlie Nancy’s father drops down dead while singing Karaoke he discovers that his father is Anansi, the spider god. He discovers he has a brother called Spider, also a god, who seems to be taking over his life. In order to get his life back he enlists the help of friends of his father; four old ladies who practice voodoo. Neil Gaiman takes the traditional Anansi stories and uses them as a basis for his fascinating novel. It was a very absorbing read, which I loved, with many twists and turns and it isn’t quite as you expect it to be.

Reviewed by Juliet Wragge-Morley, Web and Information Manager

The title announces the book is about taste, whether it is shared or not. That is how the reader gets entangled in the character’s perception for his pleasure or horror.

It took me a while to enjoy On Beauty. I couldn’t empathise with the characters, and then there it was; a scene in the day-to-day life of a family and I felt part of it. Zadie Smith has a lovely way of rendering intimacy and it feels right.

It is about love, about art, it is about pride and misunderstanding. It is about beauty in its essence.

Reviewed by Adrienne Doyard, Assistant Programme Manager

The last time I read a book that talked about protons, neutrons and electrons, it was my GCSE Double Award Science textbook. It is certainly not a book I remember with any fondness; rather the thought of it brings back the feelings of sheer terror induced at failing to recall in the exam that FE actually stands for iron and not Forgotten Element. So it was with trepidation that I embarked on E=mc²: A Biography of the World’s Favourite Equation by David Bodanis. The introduction to the book immediately put me at ease: it tells of an interview with Cameron Diaz where she says she would like to know what E=mc² really means. This reassures me; if the book was written with Hollywood celebrities in mind (who, let’s face it, are not renowned for their scientific knowledge), surely I should be able to keep up.

And I could! Bodanis takes each of the equation elements in turn, and in his accessible, conversational tone explains its discovery. He offers interesting biographical details of each of the international scientists involved, including historical contexts from the French Revolution to the Second World War and beyond. At the same time he explains the practical applications of the theory: how the atom was finally split and why this lead to the development of the atomic bomb, and what the final moments of the earth will look like if anyone survives to see them. I found myself proudly holding the book at 180 degrees from my face so all my travelling companions could see that I was getting through a science book. And what’s more, understanding and enjoying it! David Bodanis has replaced my fear of science with a smug knowingness. I’m not sure my colleagues will thank him.

Reviewed by Sinéad Russell, Literature Programme Manager

An amusing and touching book based around a challenging marriage of convenience between Nikolai, a Ukrainian pensioner living in Peterborough and synthetic blonde Valentina, a 36-year-old gold-digger hoping to gain a UK visa. Written through the eyes of Nikolai’s youngest daughter Nadezhda, the story weaves through her dysfunctional family relationships, particularly the one with her elder sister, and she delves into the family secrets to find out why. Amongst the chaos it dawns on the sisters that they’re no match for the ruthless Valentina unless they work together. Meanwhile their father retreats into nostalgic dreams of his homeland, embarking on writing his life’s great work a Grand History of the Tractor. Although the trials of divorce and the tractor detail can occasionally become over-long, Marina Lewycka artfully combines comedy and pathos to create an enjoyable read.

Reviewed by Sophie Goodwin, Web Editor and Information Officer

The story is set Quito City in Ecuador. 14-year-old Fabiàn lives in the Old Town with his uncle while his English school friend Anti, lives with his parents in the perfectly manicured ex-pat community in the New Town. Both Anti and Fabiàn want to explore the Ecuador that stretches out towards the Pacific Ocean. They set out on a journey across the country to find an amnesia clinic.

Anti has conjured up the story of the clinic to restore his friendship with Fabiàn. Offering Fabiàn hope that his mother may not be dead but be suffering from amnesia and waiting for him there. Instead of strengthing their friendship, James Scudamore skillfully describes the growing tension between the pair, as it becomes painfully apparent that they have set out on their journey for very different reasons.

Scudamore makes you believe in his story completely but never lets you feel comfortable that he is telling the truth. A superbly gripping debut novel.

Reviewed by Kristina Hedderly, Web Editor and Information Officer