In Review

09 January 2009 12:43 BST

Chosen by Jerry Ibbotson

Published by Media Mill, out now, paperback, £6.99.

In a nutshell...

Dull, uninspiring, unimaginative

What's it all about?

A fantasy story following similar ideas to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.

A typical office worker is shown the door to a mystery world full of magic, myths and unusual traditions. Packing his bags he leaves his family to embark on an adventure that changes his life forever.

Who's it by?

BBC adio journalist Jerry Ibbotson spent more than ten years in the industry, reading news for the likes of Radio One's John Peel and Chris Moyles. After leaving the BBC in 2000 he decided to try something different.

This is his first book which, according to Jerry, has been bouncing around in his head for years.

As an example...

"They had no time to marvel at the site of the vast walled city lying at the side of the sparkling River Arwent, no time to draw breath at the splendour at the delicate spires and steeples that rose from within or to enjoy the hundreds of flags that flapped in the breeze from every available window and ledge."

Likelihood of becoming a Hollywood blockbuster

If this makes it to Hollywood I will eat my hat. With the second instalment of The Chronicles of Narnia soon out on DVD I very much doubt that anyone would be wanting to convert an imitation of the same story that bores the most enthusiastic reader.

What the others say

"This is the first time I have read a fantasy book and so was surprised at how gripping a read Chosen is. It combines ordinary life with fantasy and draws the reader in from the first page. The plot is inventive and original, culminating in an extraordinary climax, and concluding in an unexpected twist." - K Colcutt, Amazon

So is it any good?

Everyone has heard of a book being described as so good that you couldn't put it down. Well, Chosen has the opposite effect.

The lack of description leaves the imagination to think about things outside of the book, such as what you are having for dinner later or your plans at the weekend. The idea behind the story has some imagination but lacks the sparkle that makes you want to read on and see what happens to the main character, Alex Preston.

There is no chance to build a relationship with Alex before he is abandoning his happy family and diving down a dark tunnel to another world. We all at some stage in our working day wish we can disappear to another place, but this book forgets to include the excitement in every written word.

3/10

Daniel Andrews