I have read chapters 1, 14 and 22. What a strange and interesting book. It begins comically - the concept of God chatting through his problems in a Diner with an ordinary mortal is excellent, and extremely well written. It won't please many Christians, but I suspect this isn't something that concerns. I also really like the idea of all gods existing in fractious harmony, and interacting with each other as a disfunctional family might. Chapter 22 is a different beast altogether. Whilst there is surface humour, there is also a great deal of horror, and some nice intellectual points made about worship and the history of early Christianity. I don't mean this to sound dry, because it isn't at all - the book is well worth reading, and also a spin on my shelf. Ben view book

I have read the first and fifth chapter of this, and can really see this appealing to 10 to 14 year olds. The language is simple and the premise intriguing. There is a nice mix of detail (the description of the wall) and absence (the mother's death as a throwaway paragraph), which balances well to keep the reader reading. Liam comes across as a believable boy - in his actions, interests and dialogue. And the friendship between him and Amber is also convincing. You are good at dealing with the mundane (details of sweeping, for example) without it becoming boring - it is important to give the action some space to develop, and this seems like a 'Slow Burn' story. You are crediting your reader with intelligence, having confidence that they will stick with you. Are we looking at yet another gold medal? I hope so. view book

I am not familiar with The Iliad, but what you are doing here is very clever. I read the first and seventeenth chapter, and believe you write well. The voices are true and subtly different (could they be a little more so?) and you do dialogue believably. The action zips along, but in an interesting way - the reader gets a partial picture, having to rely on the narrator. So you make your reader work, but that is a Good Thing. Too many authors underestimate their audience. This is confidently done and impressive, and though you have labelled it 'Young Adult', I reckon it has a broader appeal than that. view book

I have read the first chapter and will try to come back for more. This is engaging, full of unforced humour, good character and dialogue. There is much to enjoy - the reference to the motorway fiasco, just plonked in the first paragraph immediately grips the reader's attention, Brick's spiky interchanges with both the bus driver and Spiritwind, and the explanations for the unusual names - all are excellent. I'm not sure about ending the chapter with the paragraph about the shower. Whilst quirky and funny, it seems a little added on, and the chapter may be better ending with Brick heading upstairs. view book

I have read the introduction and chapter 17. You write extremely well. The introduction is scholarly, and makes me wonder whether you are an academic. Chapter 17, of course, moves into the memoir - because that is what this book is about. You use repetition effectively (rather than clunkily - a difficult trick to pull off). Even though I have only read two chapters, the book as a whole looks like it will be a convincing argument against the pharma industry and for alternative methods of healing. I am slightly dubious about amazing claims made (not in your book - just in general) on behalf of Alternative Medicine, having read 'Bad Science' by Ben Goldacre, but I suspect that for mental health issues the alternative model is valid in many cases. view book

Having read chapters 1, 8, 13 and 14, I can definitely see this working for children: there is adventure and information, with some nice humour too. I imagine large, colourful illustrations to go alongside the text. The language is suitably straightforward for the age group, and there is some good description within. And perhaps there are possibilities for a series: this looks like it deals with clouds - how about a book about hail, or snow, or drought? Ben view book

Ceeds turned me on to this, and it is an excellent recommendation. I have only dipped in and out of it, but you have an arch turn of phrase that is immediately appealing. I see from your profile that you haven't been on Authonomy for an age, but I hope that you will return. I am willing to lay a bet that you would be a wonderful dinner-party guest. Ben view book

Louise has her own, clear voice in this: observing and commenting wryly. I haven't read any chick lit before (apart from Bridget Jones) but I imagine that this is a good example: fiesty female characters, and plenty of humour. The recurrent theme of tampons and sanitary towels is good - always bringing the reader back to the mundaneness (if that is a word) of Louise's life. There are some tidying issues, but I shall send you a message about these. Best of luck with it all. Ben view book

I have read chapters 1 and 11. What attracted me was the twelfth century setting (having recently finished an MA in this period). And so far, I have enjoyed what I have read. The first chapter is strong: you open with a 'bang' which captures the reader, and then make an about turn, introducing a strong character - giving sufficient background without any hint of dullness. The research seems impeccable, though I wonder if the Latin headings were perhaps overdoing things. Chapter 11 was obviously read out of context, so I have no idea of the story. But it looks like it has move on apace. Perhaps there was a little too much slightly stilted conversation - it read a little like a script in places - but that might be because I did not read it very closely or carefully. Still, you have a good voice, and you write well - and I see that this is already doing well on Authonomy. Ben view book

I know you are pretty much inactive on this site, but in chapter 10, which is chilling, get rid of "She twigged what that meant at the same moment". This way it makes the chapter more surprising, and just that little bit nastier. view book

I was getting a little bored with Authonomy, and you may have just brought it back to life for me. Your first chapter is terrific. I can certainly imagine reading this in a published book. The characters, particularly your narrator, are engaging and believable. There is a huge amount of humour, but nothing forced. You do the right amount of showing/telling (though I wince as I type that, as I dislike the concept). The dialogue reads well. This has to be a winner. Send it out to publishers and agents - don't wait for them to discover you here. (And I don't usually gush this much). Ben view book

I have read chapters 1, 17 and 26. Your narrator has a distinctive voice, and is believable in her hesitations and lack of confidence. The set up is particularly intriguing: the narrator's feelings going beyond empathy, and searching into another's emotions. Your dialogue is realistic, as is the narrator's response to conversation. This is an interesting book. Ben view book

I have read chapters 1 and 13. This is a raw examination of emotional pain, but written in a readable style which doesn't put the reader off. You are good at creating an atmosphere of desolation, but one that turns to acceptance and understanding. This is an interesting insight in a world which, thankfully, I have not encountered. Ben view book

This is tremendously ribald. I have read chapters 6 and 7, and love the easy humour, and the pure farce-like sexiness of it all. The drinkers in the pub reacting to noises from upstairs is a delight, and your publican is well drawn. This is the sort of book I would have hidden from my parents when I was 14 or 15, and I still find it a joy. Ben view book

I have read chapters 1 and 8, and believe you have an individual and lyrical voice. There is a good deal of eroticism bubbling away here, threatening to burst out at any moment, but at the same time, there is a definite subtlety to it all. Your descriptions of the bread, and then later, the vegetarian meal in chapter 8 were excellent and an interesting contrast. This is a slow read, but one that benefits from its leisurely pace - you give the narrator breathing space, making him believable and human. Ben view book

Bubbity recommended this book to me and I have read chapters 1 and 8. Very unusual, in an entirely good way. You have captured the narrator's voice, which is unique and unsettling. You are brave putting this in the present active tense, but it works, and is all the more exciting because of it. This is not a comfortable read, but I suspect you were not aiming for comfortable. There is something hellish about this man's perceptions, and I found myself both thorougly engrossed and wanting to run away. Ben view book

Absolutely charming. You have an excellent idea, and have used it well. I like the structure: each chapter (I presume - I have only read two) around one of the mottos the mice use. And you have a graceful humour which has cross-appeal: so parents reading this story to their children will not be bored. Ben view book

I am on my lunch hour, so a perfect time to be reading about zombies and brains. It means, though, I have only got to the end of chapter three. I love this - it is hilarious. You have got the tone of each of the three authors absolutely right so far - to the extent that I would need to read the books you pastiche just to make sure that you haven't copied them, until the zombies appear. Even if you have, you have done so in such a way that the zombies are nearly seemless. I particularly liked the Tigger chapter - classic. More please - the possibilites are endless: Just William? Alice in Wonderland? The Hobbit? The Very Hungry Caterpillar? Ben view book

I have read the first and seventh chapter, and both are really promising. I liked the humour of the first chapter - you have drawn an arresting image - but also there is something black in your main character's make-up, and this is intriguing. This complexity again shows itself in the seventh chapter - his reaction to the promotion is somehow muted, looking for trouble that may be just round the corner. There are no typos at all that I have come across, and you have an easy style of writing. Ben view book

Apart from 'Shaun of the Dead', zombies aren't really my sort of thing. However, this is lots of fun. I like the first chapter zombie view point - and that this zombie has some recognition of his situation is bizarre and intriguing. I then tried chapter nine, which is more usual 'human viewpoint', but which still rattles along on in an off-kilter manner. And recent events have made me more likely to back 'I've Been Deader'. Ben view book