Sniffer dogs and detective bees have never been the conventional formula for a bestseller, but it is perhaps a fitting tribute to Amber Marks’ distinct life that her debut book, Headspace, provides an absurdly unique insight into a relatively unknown human rights issue. Despite its classification as ‘non-fiction’, Marks tells a story which would befit the bookshelves of even the most diehard novel enthusiast. Her charismatic, charming tone delivers what would otherwise be a linear and frankly dull subject, in a light-hearted, entertaining way.

The book focuses on an issue which Marks herself became enveloped in, during her time as a criminal law barrister, when, at a drugs trial, a policeman delivered evidence procured by a regular sniffer dog. The essence of such evidence, which had in the past led to convictions, was difficult to reconcile and, sparking her prevalent inquisitive side, Amber Marks embarked on a journey which would see her unearth some Orwellian truths on police powers.

Focusing mainly on the role of sniffer dogs, the book plunders through a number of scientific and legal issues, balancing the elucidation of both between the amusing and the factual. Indeed, it is this compromise which puts Headspace on unparalleled footing, with the brilliant quotations introducing each chapter ranging from Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes, to a line from Myer’s Austin Powers.

Nevertheless, despite inducing several real ‘laugh out loud’ moments, the serious side of the book remains very prominent: Amber Marks is tackling an issue which has come to be considered a status quo in Western life, namely the use of animals in drug detection. Her very personal consideration of the topic allows the reader to consider the far-reaching implications of the process, and the regular real-life references to newspaper articles bring home the draconian nature of the so-called ‘science of smell’. Marks’ opinion on the subject is clear, yet she remains unimposing in her views, allowing the reader to draw their own conclusions to the legal and moral questions her account raises.

Potentially, this book could leave the authorities red-faced, and with a number of politically-charged queries to respond to. Until that time arrives, however, it is well worth a read, if not for its evaluation of today’s surveillance society, then for Marks’ energetic and droll take on the surrounding issues.

Read an interview with the author Amber Marks

In a world where the word ‘terrorism’ immediately concocts a vicious image of suicide bombers, or attacks against the innocent on a massive scale, Moazzam Begg’s book thoughtfully considers the effects which such widespread condemnation can have on the individual liberties of those deemed to be a cog in the terrorism network.

Begg, a former Guantanamo inmate, who spent years being detained until he was released without charge two years ago – without an apology – tells us of his experiences, from growing up in a racist Britain to being illegally detained under a charge which he knew little about. Described as a ‘war tourist’ by the naive, Begg travelled to a number of war torn countries, in order to provide aid, and unashamedly, to further his own understanding of the Muslim philosophy of Jihad.

His unique experiences not only demonstrate his courage and determination, which were to keep him sane in the latter stages of Guantanamo, but they also effect his understanding of his own plight and situation. In particular, on first reading of this book, an instant, and largely understandable reaction by the modern reader, will be one of scorn and disillusionment with the Western authorities for the manner in which they handled the aftermath of the September 11th attacks. Stark and revealing phrases, such as Begg’s initial arrestor’s claims that he was using handcuffs ‘…given to him by the wife of a victim of 9/11′ portray the extent to which the US acted with their hearts over their heads.

Despite this, Begg remains strangely calm, cool and ultimately at peace with his captors, drawing upon his own beliefs rather than using the book as a political tool, to criticise the Western democracies’ inability to excise rational control when the life of their nation is threatened.

In short, the book is nothing short of a must-read, for it allows the reader to consider the wider spectrum of the governments’ restrictions on civil liberties, and the effects which they have, not only on the person whose rights have been curtailed, but also their relatives and others closely connected.

Verdict: 4/5

‘Freedom.’ What does it mean? Everyone uses the word all the time. I use it. My friends use it. George Bush uses it. But what exactly mean? An American soldier certainly thought he knew what it meant when he screamed to an elderly Iraqi man ‘We’re here for your f*****g freedom!’ on the news a couple of years ago. I suspect he shares the same vision of freedom as his President. Noam Chomsky on the other hand quite clearly has a completely different notion of freedom, possibly along the lines of what the Iraqi man was thinking at the time whilst staring down the barrel of a US Army issue M16A2 rifle.

This is one issue among others along the same lines addressed by Chomsky in his most recently publication, Interventions. It is a collection of over thirty short-essays on some of the most burning topics primarily concerning modern-day US Imperialism. It first appeared as a syndicated column in various national and regional newspapers in the USA (including the New York Times and the earnestly named The Knoxville Voice).

The book’s contents span from 9/11 and the war in Iraq, to Palestine and South America. Chomsky’s modus operandi is plain, simple and unbiased; this is not a book of jumbled conspiracy theories, neither is it one of unfounded accusations. Reality is Chomsky’s yardstick. Indeed it is surprising, given the amount of dissent all over the world, that his appears to be the first coherent analysis of the subject matter. He simply examines what is being said by the people in power, wherever they may be, and then puts that under scrutiny by verifying it against how they are acting. It really is as simple as that and the results of his investigations are spectacular as powerful men and women are denounced by the very facts disseminated by their own organisations.

So if you find yourself asking the pertinent questions but not quite able articulate the answers, you need not look elsewhere. In his lucid and concise style, Chomsky puts the pieces of this complex jigsaw puzzle together with apparent ease. Interventions is the perfect accompaniment to anyone who has the courage to ask the questions that matter.

Verdict: 4/5

A book that changed my life; it is one of those things that can easily morph into a sickening procession of a cliché, with pathetic paragraphs where there is A LOT of gushing!!! Or it could be an intellectual analysis of the themes and matter of this extremely rich book. I’m going to do neither; I’ll simply convey to you why I love Alex Garland’s ‘The Beach’ in the hope that you might, god knows, understand? Relate? Enjoy? Whatever, as long as it makes you want to read it.

Insanity of human nature (don’t worry, not going all deep and meaningful on you, relax). Despite being an eternal pessimist I recognise the infinite good in man as a creature; but I’m not alone in preferring the exploration of the dark matrix that is spun by the same human mind; art created by the misfired neurone, a minute imbalance of essential hormones causing a cascade climaxing to the disaster of madness. And the beauty of it is that no matter how we intellectualize, analyse or reduce it to core principals of science we cannot understand it as a whole, not without sinking, if briefly into it. Without experience we are crippled and empathy is the best we can do.

Garland sinks you into the madness of his main character, Richard. You are immersed in the world of his pretty normal existence and are invited to watch with intrigue the unfolding of his insanity. Understand that this is not the theme; everyone takes what they want from it, whether it is the simile between Richard’s story and the Vietnam war or the way one culture is seen through the eyes of a foreigner. Please banish ALL thoughts of the movie (I should have said that first)…because the movie has NO RIGHT to carry the same title as the book. I am tempted to rant on about the dissimilarity of characters and actual plot (the film lacking one) but I’ll restrain myself.

The book is basically about Richard, who arrives in Thailand, not really looking for adventure as such, just chilling and going over familiar ground. Normality is crushed as he comes into possession of a map following the death of a fellow explorer. It shows him the way to ‘Eden’, a traveller’s paradise free of the ‘cancer’ of tourism. The book follows his journey to and arrival at ‘The Beach’ in the company of three friends. It also traces the ultimate destruction of paradise, the fall of ‘Eden’; inevitable with the presence of man. And did I not mention the madness? One of his companions is dead, and since ‘The Beach’ is no fantasy, there are no fairies, magic pixies or preternatural creatures. We can only assume that ghosts don’t exist and it is a manifestation of Richards’ fast declining mental state. Or can we? Because the way Garland writes the book you are left questioning rational beliefs core to our way of life.

So basically, do you want a challenging read that throws you before stunning scenery, zips you into the space occupied by a pretty cool, deep, worryingly normal character and batters you with fantastic metaphors of life? Or just want a really nice story that spins in your head for days? Heavy or light this book will satiate your appetite for a good read.

Verdict: 5/5

‘The Game’, the number one best selling novel by Neil Strauss, is under development for a movie adaptation which is scheduled to be released in 2008. The Game recounts the adventures of the writer Neil Strauss who joins a community of pick-up artists and transforms himself from a shy, nerdy writer into the world’s number one pick-up artist while simultaneously creating his own alter ego, Style, a character irresistible to women. The movie will be produced by Andrew Milano (In Good Company) and Columbia Pictures will be the distributor. No actor has been cast officially but there are rumors that Johnny Depp and Cillian Murphy (Batman Returns, Cold Mountain) will be in the movie. Paul and Chris Weitz (American Pie, About a Boy, In Good Company) will also be producing and Paul Weitz is set to adapt the novel and he may be directing.

The movie will explore in depth and expose the pick-up artist community and it will cause controversy in the subject of man and woman relationships.

Verdict: 4/5

Course it is studied in: ‘Civil War in France’ (AHH2665), History Department

The Dark Years is a thorough account of France during the Nazi occupation, and definitely the first book to be read in order to have an overview of these dark and complex four years of French history. Jackson’s book is a synthesis of the many French publications dedicated to this topic, and he gives both detailed facts and the indispensable tools to grasp the current historiographical debates. It starts out by stressing the significance of the intellectual climate in France in the 1930s, and concludes on the memory of the Occupation after the war. The Dark Years is a good book to start with, but does certainly not replace the publications that have altered the debates, notably Robert Paxton’s seminal Vichy France: Old Guard and New Order (New York, 1973), the must-read on this period.

Verdict: 4/5

Whilst even the thought of reading this classic may take time to digest, some people ‘plan’ to read it their entire lives, once you get into it Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’ is guaranteed to win you over. With epic battles, tragic love stories and twists in the plot that keep you guessing until the last page, Tolstoy delivers a satirical masterpiece full of drama and made all the more enjoyable due to his mockery of Napoleon.

‘War and Peace’ is a rare gem amongst the classics so take it off your bookshelf and find another paper weight. It has the added advantage of being a good holiday read if only because you know it will last you the entire trip!

Verdict: 4/5