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An Utterly Impartial History of Britain: (or 2000 Years of Upper Class Idiots in Charge)
John O'Farrell
Black Swan, 2008
Makes history readable
Well researched, very funny book which was a joy as holiday reading. Frequently laugh-out-loud. Highly enjoyable.
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The House of God (Black Swan)
Samuel Shem
Black Swan, 1998
The medical hierarchy of "The House of God" is like a pyramid - a lot at the bottom and one at the top. Roy Basch, a Rhodes scholar, thinks differently, until he meets Hyper Hooper, out to win the most post-mortems of the year award, or Molly, the nurse with the crash helmet.
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Knowledge of Angels
Jill Paton Walsh
Black Swan, 1998
Tour de Force
This book cries out for a different rating system - perhaps a 1-10 scale. Even then one would have to reward an "11" for this magnificent tome. I could not find a single flaw in the entire reading - character development and portrayal was realistic yet unforgettable, ...
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A Short History of Nearly Everything
Bill Bryson
Black Swan, 2004
Very Interesting and Entertaining
This is an excellent book and is very entertaining to read. It starts by explaining the beginning of time (big bang), and then goes chronologically from there explaining pretty much every aspect of the history of the universe and the Earth.
Of course to fit this all ...
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Freedom Next Time
John Pilger
Black Swan, 2007
Amazing
A great book from a great man; this is a must-read for anyone truly concerned with some of today's "global" issues. Moreover, it also serves as a crash course in what truly constitutes Western media and government. Propaganda and willful ignorance are not allowed in ...
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The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid
Bill Bryson
Black Swan, 2007
a book to savor, but...
this book chokes me up. I seem to recall some rich times in my childhood, only I find it hard to think about my childhood because of the many violent episodes visited upon me by my hard-drinking parents. I guess I've spent the last 40 years forgetting the first ten. It ...
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Chocolat
Joanne Harris
Black Swan, 2000
Magically Delicious!
Years after seeing Chocolat the movie, I have finally read Chocolat the book. As usual, the book was way better than the movie. While Chocolat the movie implies that Vianne is a witch, the book makes it abundantly clear that Vianne has magical powers. She turns the ...
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Down Under
Bill Bryson
Black Swan, 2001
This is not a travel book.
Bryson's dry wit and way of looking at himself and the world are inspiring and if you get the humor laugh out loud funny, so if you are planning a trip to Australia by all means read this book first, but understand that it's not really a book about traveling in ...
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Merde Actually
Stephen Clarke
Black Swan, 2006
Je l'aime!
I love every one of Stephen Clarke's books. I have never laughed so hard reading. Looking forward to getting his newest. I wish these books would also go to the big screen. Hugh Grant?
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A Walk in the Woods
Bill Bryson
Black Swan, 1998
A Walk in the Woods
Having spent many nights on the AT and the surrounding towns I found this book delightful. It's full of great snapshots of life under the canopy, trudging up and down the muddy trail, encountering people who seems equally strange to you as you do to them. Bryson ...
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Brother of the More Famous Jack (Black Swan)
Barbara Trapido
Black Swan, 1983
"Of course there's sex in 'Emma'!"
And with that line, the heroine captures the interest and heart of her University advisor -- and the reader. Thus my most favorite book, ever, begins! In Katherine, Barbara Trapido created a beautiful, funny, neurotic character who is only ever capable of speaking ...
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The Tennis Party
Madeline Wickham
Black Swan, 1996
Tennis with the Macbeths
If Shakespeare's Macbeths had held a tennis party, it would have been just as Madeleine Wickham describes it in her wonderful novel, The Tennis Party. This is a book about the haves, the have-nots and the just plain obnoxious. Caroline and Patrick Chance invite three ...
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Notes from a Big Country
Bill Bryson
Black Swan, 1999
A good laugh
If you are able to laugh at your own faults and mistakes - this is a great book. Otherwise stay away because it'll just get you frustrated (as one of the reviewers mentioned, this book may only be a bestseller in the Middle East or a favourite of illegal immigrants).
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One Night @t the Call Centre
Chetan Bhagat
Black Swan, 2007
one night at the call centre
i picked up this book in Hong Kong, i had time and wanted to read something different. I could not put it down! It was very funny and filled with great conversations between the characters. It was a great read. I enjoyed the author so much i just bought another book by ...
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Peace Like a River
Leif Enger
Black Swan, 2002
Peace Like a River
Peace Like a River is a fantastic, uplifting, and thought-provoking book. It is a perfect winter read. I loved every moment of this book.
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