Bernard Cornwell - Read October 2013
Next in the series following the trials and tribulations of Uhtred of Bebbanburg. Can he keep true to King Alfred. Will Christianity over whelm him? Will he find contentment?
Bernard weaves a compelling tale with some unexpected twists. A thoroughly good read.
Sunday, 3 November 2013
The Lords of the North
Bernard Cornwell - read October 2013
Another in the series following Uhterd of Bebbanberg. A confused young man living and loving fast but his responsilities are being to way on him. He has made oaths. Will circumstances allow him to keep them?
I found it a good read.Bernard strings a good tale. Lots of historical references and asides to life inthe those ages. Not Patrick O'Brian of the Saxon times but a good read.
Another in the series following Uhterd of Bebbanberg. A confused young man living and loving fast but his responsilities are being to way on him. He has made oaths. Will circumstances allow him to keep them?
I found it a good read.Bernard strings a good tale. Lots of historical references and asides to life inthe those ages. Not Patrick O'Brian of the Saxon times but a good read.
Friday, 18 October 2013
The 80 Minutes MBA
Richard Reeves & John Knell - Read October 2013
A quick read. More than the 80 minutes of the books title. It is a distillation of an MBA course mixed with input from other esteemed writers on business. There was not really anything new for me. There was a the acronyms and the buzz words. Topics were neatly explained in a light and compact manner.
Certain chapter chimed for me and I expect different passages would do the same for other readers. All in all a good read.
A quick read. More than the 80 minutes of the books title. It is a distillation of an MBA course mixed with input from other esteemed writers on business. There was not really anything new for me. There was a the acronyms and the buzz words. Topics were neatly explained in a light and compact manner.
Certain chapter chimed for me and I expect different passages would do the same for other readers. All in all a good read.
Tuesday, 15 October 2013
JLA Riddle of the Beast
Alan Grant - Read October 2013
A new genre for me. This a graphic novel i.e. a comic albeit very well rendered by artists. This a DC Comics publication where they take well known DC characters and write them into new stories. The stories are not one of the characters own genre but they are placed in new situations and not necessarily together. This one has Robin as the hero and Batman as the anti-hero.
Nicely drawn and painted. Easy to read. A few ideas for costume were drawn from the pages.
A new genre for me. This a graphic novel i.e. a comic albeit very well rendered by artists. This a DC Comics publication where they take well known DC characters and write them into new stories. The stories are not one of the characters own genre but they are placed in new situations and not necessarily together. This one has Robin as the hero and Batman as the anti-hero.
Nicely drawn and painted. Easy to read. A few ideas for costume were drawn from the pages.
Wheels of Terror
Sven Hassel - Read October 2013
Next book in the Hassel Series. Sven continues in the 27th Panzer Regiment. They fight, love, freeze, bicker in the Russian winter. The battles are confused and vicious. Russian commissars do not come out well from this book. Russian soldiers are in much the same boat as the men of the 27th. Later in the book civilian are caught up in the running battles. There is nowhere for anyone to hide. Death is all around, brutal, pitiless and senseless and yet there are lighter moments. Not many but they arises from the confusion of the battle and pockets of fleeting respite in the arms of his loves.
A bitter indictment of the men who run wars and force men to fight and to the many who enjoy wreaking devastation. There are many of these types on either side, made the worse for the treatment of civilians, young, old, man, woman or child.
Next book in the Hassel Series. Sven continues in the 27th Panzer Regiment. They fight, love, freeze, bicker in the Russian winter. The battles are confused and vicious. Russian commissars do not come out well from this book. Russian soldiers are in much the same boat as the men of the 27th. Later in the book civilian are caught up in the running battles. There is nowhere for anyone to hide. Death is all around, brutal, pitiless and senseless and yet there are lighter moments. Not many but they arises from the confusion of the battle and pockets of fleeting respite in the arms of his loves.
A bitter indictment of the men who run wars and force men to fight and to the many who enjoy wreaking devastation. There are many of these types on either side, made the worse for the treatment of civilians, young, old, man, woman or child.
The Legion of the Damned
Sven Hassel - Read October 2013
A World Wars two story from the perspective of a poor Danish worker chap caught in Germany at the outbreak of war. It is not an autobiography but is based on Sven's war time experiences and the tales of others. Sven is imprisoned for desertion then "rehabilitated" in a concentration camp. Germany is in need of soldiers so Sven is trained for tank duties.
It is a gritty story of the brutal Nazi regime, the horrors they inflicted on their own population and the realities of war under allied bombing and on battle field. Hunger, love, bullying, banter, comradeship, lust death and mutilation,. Brutal and poignant. Billed as an anti war story. It is certainly leaves the reader under no illusions of who ran the war and that most soldiers were just trying to survive.
A good read but relentlessly sad and sicking.
A World Wars two story from the perspective of a poor Danish worker chap caught in Germany at the outbreak of war. It is not an autobiography but is based on Sven's war time experiences and the tales of others. Sven is imprisoned for desertion then "rehabilitated" in a concentration camp. Germany is in need of soldiers so Sven is trained for tank duties.
It is a gritty story of the brutal Nazi regime, the horrors they inflicted on their own population and the realities of war under allied bombing and on battle field. Hunger, love, bullying, banter, comradeship, lust death and mutilation,. Brutal and poignant. Billed as an anti war story. It is certainly leaves the reader under no illusions of who ran the war and that most soldiers were just trying to survive.
A good read but relentlessly sad and sicking.
Wednesday, 2 October 2013
Star Wars - The Clone Wars
Adapted by Tracey West - Read October 2013.
So waht is to say about this book? The guidance rating is seen years plus [7+] so it is not hard to read. In fact I read it in an evening. I read it as research for some Star Wars character work I anm doing. At least I know al the characters and their relationships.
It is a simple story. Crazy mixed up grown up battleing with the past has young apprentice thrust upon him. The apprentice is young gifted, wise cracking and seeks approval. Baddies kid nap a warlord's child. Schemeing takes places as baddie try to kill the goodies. Goodies are misunderstood by the warloard when child is returned. Everyone nearly dies. Then they don't. It works out in the end. It is Star Wars and for 7 year olds.
So waht is to say about this book? The guidance rating is seen years plus [7+] so it is not hard to read. In fact I read it in an evening. I read it as research for some Star Wars character work I anm doing. At least I know al the characters and their relationships.
It is a simple story. Crazy mixed up grown up battleing with the past has young apprentice thrust upon him. The apprentice is young gifted, wise cracking and seeks approval. Baddies kid nap a warlord's child. Schemeing takes places as baddie try to kill the goodies. Goodies are misunderstood by the warloard when child is returned. Everyone nearly dies. Then they don't. It works out in the end. It is Star Wars and for 7 year olds.
Wednesday, 25 September 2013
Imperium
Robert Harris - Read September 2013
This story relates the story of the early years of Cicero up to the point where attains Consul of Rome. It is written and narrarted by Tiro, Cicero's slave secretary. It is based on true events with the drama, intrigue, sights and smalls of Rome provided by Harris.
It was a good read. Having read the story it is no wonder Rome fell.
This story relates the story of the early years of Cicero up to the point where attains Consul of Rome. It is written and narrarted by Tiro, Cicero's slave secretary. It is based on true events with the drama, intrigue, sights and smalls of Rome provided by Harris.
It was a good read. Having read the story it is no wonder Rome fell.
Monday, 5 August 2013
The Pale Horseman
Bernard Cornwell - read August 2013
Cornwell is probably better known for his "Sharpe" series. The Pale Horseman is set in the turbulent times of Alfred the Great. The hero of the story is again the lowly but honourable outsider that is council to Kings. It is a good tale based on historical events and deals with the political intrigue as well as the fate of lesser people. As with Shape, the hero gets the girl.
Cornwell is probably better known for his "Sharpe" series. The Pale Horseman is set in the turbulent times of Alfred the Great. The hero of the story is again the lowly but honourable outsider that is council to Kings. It is a good tale based on historical events and deals with the political intrigue as well as the fate of lesser people. As with Shape, the hero gets the girl.
Saturday, 29 June 2013
A World Without Bees
Alison Benjamin & Brian McCallum - Read June 2103
This book pulls together all the information and supposition on the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder [CCD] since it was first reported in november 2007. The book was written in May 2008. The book also looks back to reference in ancient Greece and neolithic cave painting to examine the relationship between Man and honey bees. The first couple of chapters are a very good and concise explanation of the lifecycle and statistics on the activity of bees.
The story mainly relates to the migratory beekeeping in America but covers the experiences in Europe, The Far East and China. Given what we see reported in the press today and the position as related by the book in 2008 the outcome of the story is a bit depressing. However it has spurred me on to try to do something about it.
Follow me on www.justbeeing.co.uk to keep up with my beekeeping adventures and misadventures.
This book pulls together all the information and supposition on the causes of Colony Collapse Disorder [CCD] since it was first reported in november 2007. The book was written in May 2008. The book also looks back to reference in ancient Greece and neolithic cave painting to examine the relationship between Man and honey bees. The first couple of chapters are a very good and concise explanation of the lifecycle and statistics on the activity of bees.
The story mainly relates to the migratory beekeeping in America but covers the experiences in Europe, The Far East and China. Given what we see reported in the press today and the position as related by the book in 2008 the outcome of the story is a bit depressing. However it has spurred me on to try to do something about it.
Follow me on www.justbeeing.co.uk to keep up with my beekeeping adventures and misadventures.
Wednesday, 12 June 2013
Two Degrees West
Nicholas Crane - Read June 2013
Nick Crane, before he came to our notice on the TV series "Coast", did long and strange walks for a living and wrote about them. I read one of his other books Clear Waters Rising. In this book Nick walks the length of the prime meridian of British Isles. The meridian is two degrees west of the Greenwich meridian. He walks from the Berwick upon Tweed by the North Sea to the English Channel near Poole in seven weeks. He never uses road vehicles in all that time and more surprisingly walks the 400+ miles never deviating more than 100 meters either side the the meridian. Again we meet his unique father and the folks the walk throws up.
My kind of book. Essentially a diary with anecdotes, wit, anger and ways of dealing with aggressive people. Very easy to read.
Thursday, 17 January 2013
Shakespear's Local
Pete Brown. Read January 2013
Pete Brown doing what do does best. He takes his favourite topic, Beer, and tells a story intertwining a history of a trade, a building, an area, of the people both near and far.
Easy to read and very enjoyable. Almost as good as "A Man Walks into a Pub"
It made me think I would go the The George the next time I in London. The oddest thing happened. I was chatting to the missus about the book when the chap who was on the TV programme, that was on in the background, started talking about The George, walked into the Inn yard shook hands to Pete Brown and went for a beer inside. The programme was about railways and the The George was saved, partly, by the railway company.
Pete Brown doing what do does best. He takes his favourite topic, Beer, and tells a story intertwining a history of a trade, a building, an area, of the people both near and far.
Easy to read and very enjoyable. Almost as good as "A Man Walks into a Pub"
It made me think I would go the The George the next time I in London. The oddest thing happened. I was chatting to the missus about the book when the chap who was on the TV programme, that was on in the background, started talking about The George, walked into the Inn yard shook hands to Pete Brown and went for a beer inside. The programme was about railways and the The George was saved, partly, by the railway company.
Wednesday, 9 January 2013
Aubrey-Maturin Series
Patrick O'Brian - Reread books 1 to 9 over the summer 2012.
Fantastic stories. Full of layers, naval, historical details, sub plots, adventure and intrigue. I urge you to read this series. Start with Master and Commander
Fantastic stories. Full of layers, naval, historical details, sub plots, adventure and intrigue. I urge you to read this series. Start with Master and Commander
A Time of Gifts
Patrick Leigh Fermor - read December 2012
A travelogue of a nineteen year old Patrick Leigh Fermor and the first part of his walk from Rotterdam to Constantinople. This book takes us up to Hungary. The walk was in 1933. He has a family with connections and he gets to stay with the old families of the ruling classes as well as sleeping in barns and being looked after by local town and country folks. It is vaguely interesting when he talks about the old families and the changes they are seeing.
He does like the sound of his own voice and waxes lyrical about writers, philosophers and Germanic folklore when he is not talking about them he is prattling on in flowery descriptions of the landscapes and the folks he meets at great length. He started off a self indulgent nineteen your old and ends up that way.
I am not interested in reading about next part of the walk. He survived the walk and WWII and went on the publish more books. I shall not be seeking them out.
A travelogue of a nineteen year old Patrick Leigh Fermor and the first part of his walk from Rotterdam to Constantinople. This book takes us up to Hungary. The walk was in 1933. He has a family with connections and he gets to stay with the old families of the ruling classes as well as sleeping in barns and being looked after by local town and country folks. It is vaguely interesting when he talks about the old families and the changes they are seeing.
He does like the sound of his own voice and waxes lyrical about writers, philosophers and Germanic folklore when he is not talking about them he is prattling on in flowery descriptions of the landscapes and the folks he meets at great length. He started off a self indulgent nineteen your old and ends up that way.
I am not interested in reading about next part of the walk. He survived the walk and WWII and went on the publish more books. I shall not be seeking them out.
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