Heads You Win by Jeffrey Archer
Recommended by Jonah Collett
Can you give a brief outline of the book?
It is about a boy called Alexander Karpenko living in a city called Leningrad in communist Russia whose father is a revered dock-worker whose plans to make a workers' union leads to his death. Unknown to Alexander, his friend Vladimir was behind it. He then flees the country with his mother, who is an expert cook, and his destination is decided by the flip of a coin. Then the book follows the story of his two alter egos. Alex goes to New York whereas Sasha goes to London. Each character’s fascinating rise from a 15 year old immigrant to a leading politician and extremely wealthy businessman leads their stories to intertwine and finally their finale occurs back in his homeland of Russia, with Vladimir involved.
It is about a boy called Alexander Karpenko living in a city called Leningrad in communist Russia whose father is a revered dock-worker whose plans to make a workers' union leads to his death. Unknown to Alexander, his friend Vladimir was behind it. He then flees the country with his mother, who is an expert cook, and his destination is decided by the flip of a coin. Then the book follows the story of his two alter egos. Alex goes to New York whereas Sasha goes to London. Each character’s fascinating rise from a 15 year old immigrant to a leading politician and extremely wealthy businessman leads their stories to intertwine and finally their finale occurs back in his homeland of Russia, with Vladimir involved.
Is it fiction/non-fiction?/what is the genre? who is the book for?
It is fiction in the genre of historical fiction and thriller and the book is aimed at older teenagers to adults.
Did you like the book?
I really enjoyed the book and it has made me really enjoy the author and has lead me to read some of his other books.
Why did you like it?
Because the characters were extremely developed and intriguing which led the reader to want to know more about what happens to them. Also Sasha, the version of Alexander in London, goes through many things similar to what I do and the author describes many things I know about, for example Hyde Park, Latymer Upper and Fulham High Street.
What did you like about the style?
It was quite rapidly changing from obstacle to obstacle and as it changed from Sasha to Alex every chapter so there would be many problems and exciting events going on at once.
What are your criticisms of the book?
The two versions of Alexander, Alex and Sasha, both exist in the same universe and as they look the same, they get mixed up occasionally by the other characters and it creates a sometimes confusing existence.
How could the book have been improved?
The plot should have been cleared up and although the ending is thrilling, it doesn’t resolve itself very effectively.
Would you recommend it?
Most definitely, especially for a boy growing up in London or New York.
Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel
Recommended by Paddy Barry
The novel depicts the swift upsurge in power experienced by Thomas Cromwell through the early 1500s, from his early years under the dominion of an abusive father to becoming one of the most influential people in the English court.
Is it fiction/non-fiction?/what is the genre? Who is the book for?
The novel is fictitious and I would describe it as a historical drama and has a vast target audience from teenagers to adults.
Did you like the book?
In simple terms, yes, the novel grapples with intricate ideas and manages to convey them in a nuanced, perhaps sometimes convoluted, way, whilst maintaining the constant attention of the reader.
Why did you like it?
This book is an extremely character driven narrative. This could prove to be the demise of many novels, however, Wolf Hall is an exquisitely crafted character study, not just of Cromwell, who acts as the analytical onlooker but of all the characters present, illustrating the hubris, ambition and narcissism of the people who catch Cromwell’s attentive eye. The tone of the novel is perfect, encapsulating the deep themes of corruption and the dire state of the English court. This leads to some surprisingly well initiated humour, adding a touch of levity to this otherwise sombre read, and incredible dramatic moments, such as Wolsey’s fall from grace. The handling of political tension and functions in this novel is also extremely well done, focusing on the dramatic potential and not the mundane.
What did you like about the style?
The novel is written in mostly the present tense (with the past being used for flashbacks) and is in the third person. These choices are effective as Mantel chooses to write from a very close perspective to Cromwell using a so-called third person person but enabling it to act as if present. This indirect style is incredibly efficacious as it enables us to have a heightened understanding of the psychology of the central character, essential to a compelling narrative.
How could the book have been improved?
The novel has certain principal flaws, the first of which is the fact that constant reference to historical context is needed to gain full understanding (such as the need to refer to family trees to understand the historical prominence of each character) and thus the enjoyment of the novel is diminished because no matter how much historical knowledge a person has, added reading is required, disrupting the flow of the narrative. The second flaw is the convoluted nature of the novel: the ideas (though ambitious and nuanced) are lost in the rambling explanation and a more concise structure was needed at times. Cromwell himself, though extremely captivating at most points has a point halfway through the novel where his motivations and ideals (mainly to do with the Reformation) become totally reversed simply to aid the plot and this does not provide the most compelling character arc for the main protagonist of the novel.
Would you recommend it?
I would recommend this novel to all people interested in this period of history and those who are interested in a very character driven narrative. The novel does have its flaws, however, these are outweighed by the depth of understanding we have for each of the characters and the ingenious way the novel is written.
Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury.
Recommended by Laurenz Orlando
It follows a fireman named Guy Montag in a dystopian future where books are not accepted in society and are burned if found by firemen.
Is it fiction/non-fiction?/what is the genre? Who is the book for?
It is a sci-fi fiction which would be perfect for any people who like prophetic novels such as 1984.
Did you like the book?
Yes, as I love science fiction, and enjoy these types of books greatly.
Why did you like it?
It was extremely interesting how Montag’s character changes throughout the book, as he realises the government's aim and the joy of reading.
What did you like about the style?
It was very similar to Brave New World, which I also enjoyed. It was very detailed which led to some cases where it seemed that time slowed down, adding to the dramatic effect and allowing the reader to take it all in.
What are your criticisms of the book?
I don't really have any apart from the fact that in some cases the monologues were too overwhelming, making them a bit boring. However, it was probably done on purpose to portray emotion and how overwhelmed Montag was, and how tyrannical the fire marshal was.
How could the book have been improved?
Not really, it was a great book with a great vision.
Would you recommend it?
Yes.
One of Us is Lying by Karen McManus.
Recommended by Jacob Bramwell
It is about the death of the student Simon Kelleher who died in a detention due to his severe peanut allergy after drinking a cup of 'water'. There were four others in that detention. All five supposedly had been put in there because of a phone in their bag which none of them claim to be theirs. The suspicion is put on those four who were there. And the book is about each of their journeys through this situation. Simon was the creator of a gossip app - his next post was going to be about the secrets of those four others in detention. So this puts even more suspicion on them.
Is it fiction/non-fiction?/what is the genre? Who is the book for?
It is a young adult mystery / suspense novel.
Did you like the book?
Did you like the book?
I found the book very interesting as well as being very hard to put down.
Why did you like it?
I found it very entertaining as well as suspenseful.
What did you like about the style?
It is told in the first person, switching between the perspectives of the four suspects. There is a lot of revenge and people turning their backs on their friends.
How could the book have been improved?
I think that sometimes the emotions are not clear, and some actions go unexplained, but apart from that it is a very good book.
Would you recommend it?
Yes. Also it has a sequel, One of us is Next.
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