I read this on the recommendation of Teacher Jo, whose pupils have studied it. It has a lot in common with the Hunger Games: it’s set in an alternative world to teach the reader something about their own world, it’s a thrilling page-turner and the style is very obviously aimed at teenagers.

I enjoyed the book very much but it’s not without its shortcomings; I could see some plot developments coming a mile off (and I usually can’t predict anything in stories) however I didn’t predict the end, even though I really should have. I do prefer a more sophisticated writing style but, having said that, it was nice to be albe to whizz through a book without tripping up on long words. I absolutely loved the love story part of it; that was wonderful stuff, very real. I would definitely recommend this book and I’m excited about reading the rest of the trilogy.

Read this for the library book club. I enjoyed its light, humourous, affable style. There are some archaic words and phrases which were mildy annoying but that’s the only negative thing I can think of to say this book. There is a hidden, deeper level of meaning to this book. Hints are dropped and towards the end it’s pretty much given away, but I have to admit, I didn’t realise the significance of the other characters in the book (apart from Mr Golightly). I think I’d have got more out of the book if I’d had some Bibilcal knowledge, but luckily the book group discussion filled in the gaps for me.

I read this for the library book club. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to make the meeting due to work but, after reading the book, I did listen to the author talking about it for the BBC World Book Club, which gave me some much needed context.

This is a very unsettling book. I wouldn’t say I enjoyed it but it’s very successful at creating a tense atmosphere. I didn’t know much about apartheid in South Africa so I couldn’t imagine the novel being anchored in a time and place. Perhaps that’s why I didn’t feel sympathetic to any of the characters, although I’m more certain that it’s because they aren’t developed enough. The book is only 200 pages long. While plenty happens, I didn’t understand the motivations of the characters until I heard the talk. I’m not sure if Id recommend this as a good read but there is plenty to think about and it’s well written.

This book starts off slowly but luckily for me it picks up around p80 (I only give books a maximum of 100 pages to make an impression on me). The pace accelerates after that, hurtling with breakneck speed towards the unsettling ending. The Little Stranger is a beautifully crafted and extremely creepy novel. It definitely warrants a re-read as, after I listened to the Guardian book club podcast, there is a fair bit I missed the first time around.

Although I don’t drink anywhere near what Jill Stark used to put away, I related to most, if not all, of her feelings during her booze-free year. The book is easy to read. I’d definitely recommend it. The only thing that can get a little bit annoying is the constant barrage of statistics, but I suppose that is her job – she’s a health reporter.

Her honest writing has made me want to take a long, hard look at my own relationship with alcohol…

Sathnam Sanghera is the same age as I am, he’s Indian and grew up in the same part of Wolverhampton as I did. He went to the Boys Grammar, which means he had a very similar education to mine. Basically he could be me. There is so much I have identified with, both in his first book (The Boy With the Top Knot) and this, his first novel. It’s full of so many insights too. I especially like those from the point of view of the first generation of Indians to be born in England. I wish that I had realised I wasn’t the only one who had those feelings as a young adult.

Some of the characters are a little cartoonish – Ranjit being a prime example – but this is a good tale and very well told. I’d recommend it.

I just finished this prequel to Luther the TV series. Neil Cross wrote it after he wrote the TV series so there aren’t any inconsistencies between book and TV. This is very pleasing to me. One of the reasons I will never watch the film of One Day is that Anne Hathaway could never be a convincing Northern girl in my eyes. But The Calling’s characters are partly built on their TV portrayals – NC says as much in the acknowledgements – so it’s all good.

The Calling is the story of Henry, the guy whom Luther lets fall in the brewery in the very first scene. I love how the book explains everything, letting the story unfold darkly to its climax. I’d forgotten that scene in the brewery so reading the ending was just as tense for me as if I hadn’t seen it. I had to watch those first few minutes again straight after I finished the book.

The book’s style is edgy and sharp, occasionally bordering on OTT, but certainly nowhere near as ridiculous as Dan Brown. There are some very tense passages and some very, very dark subject matter. We’re talking babies, kids, dogs, that kind of thing. I was shocked. It would be wrong to say I enjoyed the book, but it is an excellent, gripping read.

This is a very easy read, split into lots of short chapters and so easy to dip into whenever you have five minutes. GP seems to have crammed a lot into his younger life and it’s interesting to see how his experiences and thoughts have manifested themselves in his art. But I have to say I didn’t recognise some of the things he did with his friends as art; it seemed like a bunch of exhibitionists dressing up (or not) and indulging themselves in the name of being creative.

This biography will be enjoyed by those who are interested in Grayson Perry but it left me feeling a little flat. His recent Reith lectures are much more vibrant and entertaining.

The first section of this is compelling, with its lovely stream-of-consciousness style. I couldn’t connect with the second section quite as much but the plot is still interesting and kept me turning the pages. The third section was extremely hard work, with its many many numbered sections. They are obviously very clever, but a little cryptic. The penultimate section is fairly edgy and menacing. The final section contains some kind of resolution.

This is an unusual book, entertaining and real. There are definitely aspects of the female characters that I relate to and it feels very much of the present time. The only problem is that doesn’t hang together as a novel for me, although I suppose it didn’t help that I read the book over a long time. I’m not familiar with that part of London either, which is a shame as the setting is almost a character of its own.

In summary I would say that NW is thought-provoking but unsatisfying.

Guardian podcast: Zadie Smith on NW