Elizabeth I by Anne Somerset   This is an excellent biography and I would strongly recommend it to anyone looking for a balanced, well written, and interesting biography of Elizabeth I. This is not an interpretation, but a story of the life of a queen. Enough general historical background is included to present events in context, but this account does not dwell on details of the religious settlement or the development of parliamentary procedure. While covering a lengthy and complex period of history, the book nevertheless reads much like a novel; it is after all the story of a life. What I appreciated most was how Elizabeth's dual nature was covered. This biography discusses Elizabeth I in her official capacity as well as examining her private life and personality. Where appropriate, supporting historical facts and arguments are included, but while excellent footnotes are included this is not an academic treatise, but an excellent narrative. My only disappointment is that Anne Somerset has not yet written a biography of Henry VIII.

The Final Act by Gregor Dallas.  This is the story of the Congress of Vienna, the Hundred Days and the Battle of Waterloo. This excellent book paints a vivid picture of the Congress and related events. Rather than being a dry account of territorial settlements this work describes the goals and personalities of the people involved as well as the results of diplomatic discussions. Excellent background information is provided for those events that are key to the story but whose origins lie before the beginning of the text. I would recommend this book to anyone interested in the Congress itself or in the Napoleonic Wars in general.

Standing Naked in the Wings Edited and compiled by Lynda Mason Green and Tedde Moore.  This is a collection of anecdotes from Canadian actors of stage and screen. Anyone who has ever been involved in a theatrical production will be able to relate to the stories found in this excellent collection. The book is divided into different sections such as "Props" and "Animals" which makes it easy to locate your favourite contributions. The index and contributor profiles are invaluable, both as a tool for finding stories from your favourite actors and actresses, and for learning more about those you had not come across before. While the contributors are Canadian, many of them have worked abroad and bring home tales from Hollywood to London and everywhere in between. Don't read this book in a library or on the bus, because like me you won't be able to stop laughing out loud!

The Chunnel by Drew Fetherston  This is an excellent account of the construction of one of the world's major engineering feats.  I particularly enjoyed the detailed discussion of the geology of the English Channel and the history of previous tunnelling attempts.  This book is as easy to read as a novel and impossible to put down.  The only possible weakness of this book is the absence of a table to illustrate the very complex relationships between the corporations and individuals involved.  Nevertheless this book is a must read for anyone interested in construction, engineering or transportation.

The Faded Sun Trilogy by C. J. Cherryh  C. J. Cherryh has been one of my favourite science fiction authors for some time, but I was truly surprised by this trilogy.  I can't remember being so totally immersed in a work of fiction (with the exception of Harry Potter).  I couldn't put these books down.