Life in a Fishbowl by Len Vlahos

A poignant, gently humourous tale of life with an aggressive brain tumour and the effects on its host, his family and the world.  An original story of hope, love, teamwork, dying with dignity and exploitation, which is beautifully and cleverly told.  Jared, Dierdre, Jackie and Megan are engaging and easily recognisable characters who have to deal with the unthinkable and find themselves prey to greed from many quarters.  I was gripped, I was moved, and was given plenty of food for thought.

The Course of Love by Alain de Botton

Such an unusual novel: it reads rather like a single case study in social psychology or a fly on the wall television documentary, which sees a couple through stages in their relationship with a running commentary to consider what is going on at deeper levels.  It is wry, wise, funny and tender but also oddly objective and interpretative.  It is easy to forget that it is a novel.  It makes for interesting and entertaining reading.