A comedy. A fantasy. A love story. With quite a lot of foreign food. Set in a world borrowed from John Milton's Paradise Lost but populated with...
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generation-Xers, underperforming evil spirits and a snake with a personality disorder. A disorderly romp through life, death, heaven, hell, Afghan food and redemption.Editorial reviewsSomething different A comic novel (the author's own words), but with a depth to it, so that the reader gets to laugh and to think, often at the same time. Shades of Kurt Vonnegut, which is high praise if you like Kurt Vonnegut! It's a book which needs to be re-read. The writer uses words well, and it's easy to miss a few gems the first time around. It takes a few pages to get into it, but sticking with it pays off. Whatever genre you favour, you can enjoy this. Review by DCO on Amazon.co.uk The scene is set... This first novel explores some classic (and neo-classic) themes and sets the scene for what could turn out to be a Discworld-challenging series. You will find the Karpman drama triangle of victim/persecutor/rescuer, alongside cultural collision and metaphysical conjecture. Which all sounds terribly serious for a book which also includes a barrel of laughs and an intriguing race against time, with a heartwarming denouement making you wonder what's coming in the sequel(s). Just a couple of caveats for the potential reader. The first chapter throws you in at the deep end, and you have to get used to the author's style and sense of humour, and a whole new dimension of existence, at the same time. However, the trip is worth it (like for our hero and heroine), and the book becomes more readable as you go on. Also, don't be put off by the amalgam (mostly in the first chapter) of rather unsubtle references to some of author's favourite works (with recognisable nods in the direction of Vanity Fair, sapient luggage, Narnian creatures, Slartibartfast's creative gifts and the restaurant at the end of the universe). Stick with it, and enjoy! Review by A Water Shedder on Amazon.co.uk Something different This was not my usual genre so it took a little while to get into. However, once in, I really enjoyed the characters and found it highly amusing. It's the sort of thing I'd quite happily read a whole series of, so I'm looking out for the sequel! Review by Tony on Amazon.co.uk Intriguing and unexpected Mirror writing on the cover grabbed my attention and set the tone for the book. (Unlike some cover designs it accurately reflected the story.) I can't say that I found Paradise laugh-out-loud funny, but it was both entertaining and intriguing. I would classify it as a must read twice novel because so many things are not what they seem first time round. I look forward to the sequel to see what the characters get up to next. Will there be constant creation of chocolate? Review by Jean on Amazon.co.uk A pleasant surprise! I read this book because I know the author and thought it might be a half decent read. In spite of not really being my kind of genre I found Paradise to be a compelling and thought-provoking book. The characters were well drawn and developed, the plot was intriguing and well paced and at times it was extremely funny! Well worth a read if you fancy something a bit different. My only sadness is that I never had the chance to sample the delights of Osama's, the restaurant Myers refers so fondly to in the book. Michael D Bigg on Amazon.co.uk
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