Book clubs in Taunton

It has all the sarcastic and humanistic sensibilities of Terry Pratchett's language, but in scenarios you'd think were possible and people you can wholly imagine yourself wanting to meet. It's a wonderful thing to be able to have small snorts of laughter each page whilst still feeling terribly sad about the whole thing as the way Kurkov writes seems to make it clear that everything will end at some point.

Despite technically being a YA novel, the author manages to portray a surprisingly nuanced view on British imperialism and classism. Stroud also manages in the same book to create one of the most hilarious characters I've had the pleasure of reading, the djinn Bartimaeus. I particularly enjoyed the footnotes during the Bartimaeus sections of the book, as his wisecracks and japes also manage to sneak their way into those. In short, politicial intrigue + an easy to follow writing style + a hilariously sassy spirit = quite the book.

This is the book that got me into fantasy as a teenager. Pullman does a fantastic job at creating an alternate Earth that still feels fantastical, even though there are still many similarities with our own world. Despite many calling this children's literature, there are still some very heavy themes.

The Metamorphosis is a thought-provoking novella that explores themes of alienation, identity, and the human condition. Its surreal and symbolic narrative makes readers reflect on societal expectations and personal transformation.