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TWELVE BOOKS WHICH ARE THE BEST TEN IN THE WORLD -  The   Book   Review  - TWELVE BOOKS WHICH ARE THE BEST TEN IN THE WORLD Updated 5th June 2002

2. A PRAYER FOR OWEN MEANY
The story of two boys who grew up together in America, who turn out to be Owen Meany and the narrator.  Owen was the strange one. He was very small and had a strange voice. Young Owen was convinced he was going to die, and that he had been put on the earth for a purpose. The lads have many perculiar adventures as they grow up. Don't skip any pages though, because all the details have some kind of relevence. All is revealed in the last chapter.

3. THE THIRD POLICEMAN    ( ISBN 0 - 586 - 08749 - 4 )
A very peculiar tale, set in old Ireland, about some very strange folk. This timeless tale gives no clue as to when it is framed, and even less of a clue as to what it's all about. But it is full of strange concepts, puzzles and conundrums. It will not leave your brain for months after you put it down, and many-a  wonderful Irish turn of phrase, will work it's way into your vocabulary. For the rest of your life you will be finding people who have read this book, and you can always share a special bit of the old banter with them. (so you can!)
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4. CAPTAIN CORELLI'S MANDOLIN
Set in the picturesque Greek island of cephallonia, before the second world war, the first third of the book is all about the idiyllic courtship of a young couple. This part of the story goes a little slow, but it is where you get to know the characters. About half way the tale picks up speed and near the end you will not be able to put it down as the story grips at your emotions. This book has been so well recieved that people have opened bars and cafes themed on it. And the island has had an extra influx of tourists who have read about it, in the beautiful language of the book.

5. THE JESUS MYSTERIES ( Was The `Origional Jesus' A Pagan God? ) ( ISBN 0 - 7225 - 3676 - 3 )
This is a book that you must read if you have had any religious education or up-bringing. It shows various parts of the christian story in a completely new light. The authors are highly qualified historians, philosophers, spiritual and civilization experts. They are thorough in their research, even referring back to original hebrew. You will become more enlightened, cautious, enquiring and challenging to various established religious dogmas.
Question Such as:-
1) Why was Jesus (a Jew) given a Greek name?
2) why do the gospels point to completely different years for the birth of Christ?
3) which parts of the origional story have been changed or supressed by the church?
4) why is there no record of Christ in the extensive and detailed Roman archives?
5) what details of the Jesus story are now proved to have been lifted directly from older beliefs?
6) what were the purposes and motives for the early church?

6. GODS OF THE NEW MILLENNIUM ( The Shattering Truth Of Human Origins ) ( ISBN 0 - 340 - 69613 - 3 )
This book is the only one I have ever read, that comes up with a convincing purpose for the great pyramid of Giza. Thia  would be justification alone for reading the book's 600 pages. However, there are lots of pictures of impossibly large, ufeasasibly precise masonary, assembled in the south american continent and Lebanon, that we would struggle to replicate today. God only knows how they did it thousands of years ago. What's been going on? Who's been here? What really happened? Are we really about to come across our makers for the second time?
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7. THE LIAR
You can't help wondering just how autobiographical this first novel is. There are loads of juicy bits and loads of funny bits. There is an interesting insite into the life of an old fashioned public school, and also an academic career in an oxbridge university afterwards. The sexual parts of the book are very parculiar, but you've got to remember that Fry has had a successful career as an entertainer and comedic character of high quality. And this  book is from the top draw!

8. THE WEE ROCK DISCOGRAPHY   ( ISBN 0 - 86241 -  621 - 3 )
THE GREAT ROCK DISCOGRAPHY   ( ISBN 0 - 84195 -  017 - 3 )
A reference book that contains details of most of the greatest, and most famous rock and pop acts, since the fifties. The details run to who was in the band, birth dates and where born, where the band was formed. Also included for every band, are release dates and chart positions ( both us and uk  ) of all singles, albums and compilations. It provides other important trivia about each group such as the dates people left and joined.
Compulsive reading, Music officionados will not be able to put it down !

9. RETURN OF THE GODS
Erich, explains how his words have been taken out of context for the last 30 years. How all subsequent authors have lazily repeated mistruths about his views and his writings, instead of forming their own opinions after reading his books again.
    Then he knocks us out with some fantastic pictures of seemingly impossible origin, beyond the Nazca Lines. No one seems to have noticed, or recorded them for centuries. The excellent glossy pictures, which you will undoubtably examine with a fine toothed comb, are certain to make the little hairs on the back of your head stand up on end!

10. SOUL MUSIC
Another one of Pratchett's delightful novels. I've found that people either love them, and have a large collection, or they can't get on with any of his writing at all. In my opinion, all his "best" books ( like this one ) feature the witches, Granny Weatherwax, Nanny Ogg, and Magrat Garlick. They are the most charismatic, funny and also disgusting people resident in Discworld. And due to the amount of books in the series, have all developed into complex and very distinct individuals, which makes them ever more interesting...
 

11. A CLOCKWORK ORANGE   ( ISBN 0 - 14 - 003219 - 3 )
Set in Manchester in the not too distant future, this is the story of Alex, and his droogs, who cause a lot of mayhem in Manchester, Stealing Raping and other crimes. Until he is caught and subjected to mind altering therapy, which leaves him unable to have violent feelings. The book was made into the famous film by Stanley Kubrick, which he later withdrew in Britain, because violent copycat gangs were starting to appear, and he feared for his safety. YOU WON'T UNDERSTAND THE FILM UNTIL YOU'VE READ THE BOOK, And when you have read the book then you will get a great deal more pleasure out of the film.
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12. THE SHEFFIELD GANG WARS   ( ISBN 0 - 9507645 - 0 - 7 )
The true story of the most violent place in Britain for gang warfare in the 1920's, Sheffield. An under powered police force led to various gangs controlling the illegal gambling scene, and the bar fights, stabbings and murders that went with it. Eventually on home office orders, a gang-busting squad was formed, called The Special Duties Squad. So efficient were they, that they quickly got the nickname "The Flying Squad". And to this day, the names of the original four large, hard hitting officers, who could take on three men apiece in a brawl, retain special status amongst criminal historians and knowledgeable Sheffielders alike.
 

13. 10 RILLINGTON PLACE Published 1961
This is a true story of a serial killer, and events which happened in an anonymous London rented house. Rather than a novel, this book is a sort of report which examines the supposed failings of the legal case and alleged police mistakes, in getting the wrong man hanged. The book is very absorbing and I read it in only one day. It includes maps of the area, which you can compare to a modern map of north London, which, since the 1960's has been dominated by the top left hand corner of the doomed inner london motorway "The London Box" also known variously as "Ringway One" and "The Motorway Box", which was abandoned after only 4 miles of it was made. The road was renamed, to expunge the memories of the tragic events which occured there.
    I am left with minor critisism, that the book starts with the conclusion, before wading into various aspects of the case, and when the end is reached, it sort of dies a slow death. The development of the book would be far better if it were reorganised somewhat.
    If you have a London A-Z then Rillington Place can be found renamed as St. Andrews Square, very close to the Ladbroke Grove tube station, and nestling under the massive A40(M) Westway motorway flyover.

14. THE KA OF GIFFORD HILLARY by Dennis Wheatley
Dennis Wheatley was a larger than life character who got into all sorts of scrapes. He was briefly involved with the secret service, and wrote a phenominal amount of novels. Most of his stories involved an element of black magic, and usually an army major, the PM or some such authority figure, and a great deal of chivalry, bravery, and all the heroes finish up meeting their wife/husband and living happily ever aft. In addition most of the characters speak fluent French, German, Arabic, Greek or German, and anyone who isn't bilingual is often derided as a fool.
    This book is the usual ripping yarn, and the pages turn so fast, you finish up with repetitive stain injury. The main character is a wealthy company owner, who finishes up leaving his body after a jolt which is intended to kill him by a jelous employee who has designs on his glamorous wife. The greater part of the novel deals with the frustration of being invisible and not able to communicate with people who are normally consious, and trying to return to his body, which has been buried in a tomb in the meantime.

15. ENIGMA by Robert Harris
A very interesting book which is based upon a real life wartime dilemma, and the famous Nazi Enigma Coding machine.
    The technical information in this book is truly first rate, the only critisism I have over this story is over the brilliant Mathmatician Lead in the story ( Darren I think he's called ) lays down and metaphorically dies at the close. The tale ends with all T's dotted and I's crossed, a world beating ruse like this should leave some questions open at the end, so the reader would be gagging for more. There was no anticipation left as I replaced the book, empty, on the shelf with all my stitches healed.

16. THE MAGUS by John Fowles
This story is very complicated. A long book, the reader is often enraged by the Psychological twists and turns of the tale. The author tells (us in the foreword) about how he went back and rewrote the ending, leaving no doubt a darker end to the story. Having read it 8 months ago, the story often comes back to haunt me. If you have the patience to read through until the end, this is a book which will grip you. Your emotions will be frayed, and titillated at the same time, and your guess about what happens on the next page is always completely wrong. The answer is always more brilliant and convoluted than you could ever imagine.
    A conspiracy, the lead in the story is often unsure as to which side he is on, and which side is which. When he's bravely got all matters sorted out, reality comes back, bites him on the arse and turns inside out. Set on an Idyllic Greek Island, the hot atmosphere of the setting certainly adds to the fire of the piece (or war as it often appears).
    Post Magus, I was very disappointed with the end, but still troubled with the story for a few weeks after. And now months later I hanker to read the whole thing again, though certainly, a re-read will reveal an altogether different story.

17. LEADVILLE - A BIOGRAPHY OF THE A40 by Edward Platt ( ISBN 0 - 330 - 39262 - X )
Anyone who has driven in London along Western Avenue, and noticed the large and once opulent houses which are all boarded up would enjoy this book.
       The book has many pictures and original architect's plans of the large suburban houses, and follows the last residents and squatters as they prepare for final eviction from their beloved (and sometimes hated) homes.
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18. OMERTÁ - By Mario Puzo (Author of The Godfather) ( ISBN 0 - 09 - 929680 - 2 )
This book is about the last days of the old Sicilian Mafia. A book about honour power and corruption, It's a page turner from the very start.
    Astorre Zeno is born to an 80 year old Sicilian Don Vincento Zeno. His young mother dies in childbirth, and his father dies when Astorre is only 2. But on his deathbed, Don Zeno tells his former lieutenants about the young boy's unusual gifts which point to him growing to be a formidable and powerful man. He arranges for Astorre's future to be taken care of, and makes provision for his grooming and upbringing under the tutelage of his closest associates.
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19. The Old Curiosity Shop - By Charles Dickens (1812-1870) published 1840-1842
This book was given to me by My Great Aunt Irene, about 10 years before she died, It is part of a set of leather bound volumes of Dickens books, which belonged to her Husband Jack, who died before I was born.
The story follows two characters, Little Nell and Kit, who live a very poor, hard Dickensian life, sometime in the middle 1800s. The tale starts with Kit as a devoted employee of Nell's Grandfather, who through addiction to gambling, causes Nell and Grandfather to flee in the middle of the night, and spend a time wandering and begging.
    Kit, who had no idea of the impending flit, is left with no income, and as he has to support his widowed mother, and two infant brothers, he walks the streets looking for some small work, and vaguely trying to descover the whereabouts of Nell.
    The landlord and villan Quilp, who is a very strange and cruel dwarf, Takes personal delight in the cause of much suffering to everyone he comes into contact with, including his own wife.

20. Bold As A Lion The Life Of Bendigo - Champion Of England by J.P.Bean ( ISBN 0 - 9507645 - 2 - 3 )
    The story of a victorian prize fighter who worked his way up from the slums and Poorhouse of Nottingham to National celebrity. This is a story of rough house characters from an age long past, when a prize fight meant the certain loss of teeth, broken bones, and an angry violent hoarde in a secret location, scaring the living daylights out to the match referee.
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TWELVE BOOKS WHICH ARE THE BEST TEN IN THE WORLD -  The   Book   Review  - TWELVE BOOKS WHICH ARE THE BEST TEN IN THE WORLD