The Right to an Answer by Anthony Burgess

The Right to an Answer
Anthony Burgess

Front cover

Denham is used to travelling for his job, but he takes some time off and visits his father. He meets the locals in the pub. On his travels back from one trip he meets Mr. Raj, who seems innocent enough, if a little intense. How could anyone foretell the events that are to follow?

Copyright date is 1960, and it's quite apparent in the way race is talked about. Everyone is very much on edge when interacting with coloured people, and immigrants are people to be feared. It's quite strange to read.

The ending is a bit surprising! I had a feeling something wasn't right with Mr. Raj, so although I didn't expect it, I wasn't utterly gobsmacked either. I'm not going to spoil the ending, but it was a nice twist!

A nice short book that doesn't require much thought.

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The Wee Librocubicularist

Monstrous Regiment (Discworld #31) by Terry Pratchett

Monstrous Regiment
Discworld #31
Terry Pratchett

Front cover

Polly joins the army in an attempt to find her brother. Little does she know, all her squad are women! Among her is a vampire with a thirst for coffee, a troll and a few other fine young 'lads'. But will she find her brother? What will happen if her secret comes out?


It felt weird that this one wasn't centred around main areas like Ankh-Morpork and Klatch but it's good to explore other areas. And we weren't left completely without a familiar face; William de Worde made an appearance.

I liked the strong female presence in Monstrous Regiment. It makes me wonder just how many females disguised themselves as men in order to join the army in real life. Probably a lot more than are recorded, certainly.


Definitely worth a read.

Terry Pratchett

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The Wee Librocubicularist

The Sacred Art of Stealing (Angelique de Xavia #2) by Christopher Brookmyre

The Sacred Art of Stealing
Angelique de Xavia #2
Christopher Brookmyre

Front cover

After the events at the dam, Angelique is feeling a bit lost. That's until she gets put on the case of a bank robbery. There's something different about the lead criminal. Something sparks between them, and she agrees to meet him. She learns about some of his plans. A robber and a cop? This can't end well!


I loved Zal. He's definitely not your typical antihero. He's smart, cunning and charismatic. And not a psychopath or mentally deranged. In fact, antihero might not even be the right word. He's a criminal in that he breaks the law, yes, but he has his reasons, and they're pretty good.

I'm looking forward to the next one, but I'm hoping that Zal isn't forgotten. He's far too good a character to be left behind!

This trilogy has definitely been worth reading so far!

Christopher Brookmyre

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The Wee Librocubicularist

The Time of my Life by Cecelia Ahern

The Time of my Life
Cecelia Ahern

Front cover

Lucy Silchester has an appointment with her life. Ever since she was dumped 3 years ago, her life has been slowly going downhill. So it's up to Life (Cosmo) to make her happy again. With the mess she's made, is it possible?


Oh, I loved The Time of my Life! The story had me captivated from the word Go! I didn't much like Lucy at first, but you learn to like her. I think the probably the main reason I loved it so much is because I can relate. Full time job (with a commute of up to 1.5 hours each way), trying to have a social life and all the while feeling exhausted. It can feel like life if slipping away from you and there's nothing you can do to stop it.

There's a few little details which I liked. The appearance of Life changes throughout the story. It's directly linked to Lucy and how well she's doing. One time Life came out in a rash. Ew! The better Lucy feels, the better Life looks.

I wish there was more. I'd have liked it to be a series of Life stories. I would definitely read them!


You have to read this for yourself! I debated so much over the final rating for this one!

Cecelia Ahern

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The Wee Librocubicularist

The Wee Free Men (Discworld #30) by Terry Pratchett

The Wee Free Men
Discworld #30
Terry Pratchett

Front cover

Tiffany Aching lives on a farm where she tends to the animals and makes really good cheese. Her little brother is stolen by the Queen of Fairyland, but this isn't the Fairyland everyone imagines. With the help of the Nac Mac Feegle, her trusty frying pan and her Granny's magic book (Diseases of the Sheep) she sets off to get her sticky brother back. Can she defeat the Queen?


This is a very imaginative installment in the Discworld series. There's so much going on everywhere, and it's brilliant. I especially liked the dreamland states. Pratchett certainly doesn't hold anything back, and it shows in writing like this. I know this is 'for Younger Readers' but it's a refreshing change and chapters are still a novelty!

I loved the Nac Mac Feegle's! Little blue skinned, red haired pictsies (not pixies, oh no) who are absolutely fearless, ready to take on the world! I certainly hope to see more of them. And Tiffany, but I think that's a given.

Definitely worth a read, go on!




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The Wee Librocubicularist

A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away (Angelique de Xavia #1) by Christopher Brookmyre

A Big Boy Did It and Ran Away
Angelique de Xavia #1
Christopher Brookmyre 

Front cover

For Raymond Ash, everything is normal; mortgage, job, wife, a kid. Until one day he spots a familiar face at the airport. But that someone's meant to be dead. The next day he gets shot at. Then he gets kidnapped. What is going on?
Together with de Xavia, they try to stop the Black Spirit from blowing up a dam and killing thousands of people.


It was quite a hard book to get into as it's a bit jumpy at the start, but it's worth sticking with it until the end. Once you get into the main story it's very hard to put down! There's so much you just can't wait to find out!

I'm very much looking forward to the next two in the series, and I'm hoping to see more of de Xavia - she's badass!




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The Wee Librocubicularist

The Wise Woman by Philippa Gregory

The Wise Woman
Philippa Gregory

Alys, an escaped nun, is summoned to the castle to be the old Lord Hugh's clerk. The young Lord Hugo wants her, but she is determined to remain faithful, even resorting to 'witchcraft'. Over time her views change. Enthralled by Hugo, the two become lovers, despite his wife Lady Catherine. She becomes pregnant and thinks her position in the castle is safe. Is it?


I have mixed feelings about The Wise Woman. I didn't really like Alys. She thinks she's above everyone else, and that the castle can't do without her, whereas in reality they're just using her, but she's ignorant of this fact, living in her own little ideal world.

I also wasn't sure of the ending. I really wanted to find out what would happen to her baby; if it would have the same fate as Lady Catherine's. It was about the only thing keeping me going at the end, and I didn't get to find out!


Despite those annoyances, I thought the general story was okay. I like stories set in the past, and the way the people live there. It's always interesting to get a glimpse of what life might have been like.




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The Wee Librocubicularist