Don't judge a book by its cover...

Well…why not?

Unless you’re supremely organised and spend precious free-time researching your next pleasure-reading experience, or you’re more nifty than I with your chosen internet-enabled portable device, then without actually reading the book, the cover is all you really have to go on to decide if the book you have in your hand is a literary diamond in the rough or just some crap waste of your time.

I’ve recently chosen, as this weeks reading experience, Slam by Nick Hornby. It looked like a bit of a boys book with skateboards and those doodles that appear in school notebooks when you’re waiting for your teacher to finally get to the point…but among those doodles was a name very similar to mine in an ornate script in the middle of a love-heart and I found myself curious. On further inspection I find out that it is a book about a guy who skate-boards and the mention of Tony Hawke brings back obscured memories of a podcast I listened to about 6 months ago. I remember that the author sounded pretty interesting and the section of the book that he read out was funny but touching at the same time.

I took the opportunity to borrow the book immediately and it is sitting on my desk next to me waiting for my lunch break so that I can get started on it. I’ve already flicked through it a little and the first page I stopped on made me laugh out loud so I have pretty high hopes for this one.

My next read. Chosen for its cover.

Have you ever chosen a book for an interesting cover? Throw us a comment with a link to the pic and tell me what made you choose it and how it turned out. Was the cover deceptive, making a dull book seem more interesting, or was it everything you had hoped and dreamed of?

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

The magical world of Harry Potter draws to an end at this book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Harry must destroy the remaining horcruxes and defeat Voldemort. But can he find them all and destroy them? And what are the deathly hallows?

Read the book and find out!!

–W4T guest review by Kartik, Aged 12

Book Review - All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque

An incredibly realistic prtrayal of war from a young German soldier’s point of view : be prepared to cry!

–W4T guest review by Trisha

Book Review - Fire by Kristin Cashore

Fire is the last of her kind; a human monster. Blessed with exceptional beauty, and with this comes influence and power. But Fire’s awareness of the potential of this, such as abuse of power, and her own moral compass has set her living away from people, not only to protect them, but to protect herself from their attention. But when the Dells faces war, Fire must face her doubts and conquer her fears in order to right the wrongs of the past and to help the kingdom. Fire, the prequel companion book to ‘Graceling’, is a fantastic book which had me excited and captivated by the unique story early into the novel. I would recommend this book to anyone wanting a good young adult read.

–W4T guest review by Stephanie

Book Review - How to Get Dumped by Pat Flynn

I thought it was a great book, and it’s funny and silly at times.

–W4T guest review by Harry