The Eye sees everything, or at least, half of everything that two eyes see. Click on the links for full reviews at Amazon of books I’ve read recently.

FICTION

The Wave by Rhue Morton Based on a real life story about the lessons Nazism has taught us, this book deals with a complex and sophisticated subject in a slightly dumbed down manner.

The Knife of Never Letting Go by Patrick Ness  Full of characeters I cared about and villains I loathed, this is a great book - but also a long one.

Gentlemen Of The Road by Michael Chabon Everything fits in the tapestry the author weaves - even the elephants - but the rich language is a little distracting at times.

A Long Way Down by Nick Hornby: A look at “postphoning suicide pacts.” Written in a split first person narrative, the book follows four characters as they attempt to find meaning and purpose to their lives. A little too slow for my tastes, but uplifting in a gentle way.

Perdido Street Station by China Mieville: A richly detailed labour of love of a Steampunk tale where the location takes a prime role in the cast list. Clearly influenced by Mervyn Peake, with a dash of Dickens, it’s a long - long - read that might have benefited from a good cut.

Assumed Identity by David Morrell: This is a great book that showcases many of David Morrell’s strengths - a tortured hero up against powerful institutions - but it’s undermined by it’s great length. At almost 600 pages, it feels a bit too long.

Outbreak by Chris Ryan: I approached Outbreak with some trepidation, expecting a formulaic, painting by numbers sort of plot. And I got it. Yet I sort of enjoyed it, all the same. Its setting, the Democratic Republic of Congo, is unusual enough to make the story interesting, almost like an extra character whose ultimate allegiance you’re never sure of.

NON-FICTION

It’s Not What You Think by Chris Evans: Chris Evans writes just the way he speaks on the radio. At times, you can almost hear his voice as you’re reading. His story is a testimony to the virtues of hard work and bloody-minded determination. But I’m disappointed he’s split his autobiography into separate volumes.

Jungle Soldier by Brian Moynihan: A harrowing biography of an undervalued hero. If you’re interested in jungle warfare, Malaysia during WW2, or British adventurers in the first half of the 20th Century, this is the book for you!