I've had this book for years, and I know I've read it before - but I picked it up in between novels and sort of got reading.
Unfortunately it's rather dated, but the ideas and information it puts forward are sound.
Written in 'graphic' form the book introduces the history and ideas behind Environmental Politics, who the main thinkers are (although written before Al Gore, George Monbiot and the more recent political green thinkers), and what might be done about some of the issues.
There doesn't seem to be an updated version available, which is a shame as this is a big, fast moving topic, and certainly an 'Introduction' book for the subject is well worth reading for anyone who gets lost in all the politics, compeating ideas and bad science out there.
But, don't turn to this book - 2000 is too long ago for the information to be of real value now.
Bought in Blackwells March 2003 (the receipt was still inside!)
22-23rd November 2009
Monday, 23 November 2009
Sunday, 22 November 2009
Dead until Dark - Charlaine Harris
I wasn't going to bother, I had a feeling that these books would not live up to the hype (or compare favourably with Twilight or the Anne Rice books) - and I was right!
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it - in a sort of sugar rush, silliness, non-brain taxing way. But I found it very difficult to get over the writing style. I'm not sure if it's just written very badly, or if it's not been edited properly, but some of the sentences were so 'clunky' and their meaning so difficult to understand, even with rereading a couple of times it was very distracting.
I know it's a bit rich to say this, but I found the whole thing so damn 'unbelieveable' - bearing in mind that you first have to get over the idea that the lead characters are a mind-reading waitress and a vampire!
Some of the things that the characters did (particularly Sookie, the main character) were just weird - why would a waitress go into a car park at night with a piece of chain to defend a vampire and expect to survive - if the vampire can be so easily overcome by the attackers what hope has she?
The main problem was that I just didn't care about the Sookie or Bill, or any of the other characters - the writer brings no dimension to them, there is nothing to make me want to know what they are going to do next or even if they survived to the end of the book - I just went on reading as there was nothing else to read at the time.
I'm going to give the series a second chance, I've ordered the second book - but to be honest I'm not holding out much hope. Maybe I've been spoilt by Twilight (which I'll be the first to admit is not a piece of great literature, but is well written and engaging nonetheless) and Anne Rice (again, not stunning literature), when it comes to my vampire reading choices?
Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed it - in a sort of sugar rush, silliness, non-brain taxing way. But I found it very difficult to get over the writing style. I'm not sure if it's just written very badly, or if it's not been edited properly, but some of the sentences were so 'clunky' and their meaning so difficult to understand, even with rereading a couple of times it was very distracting.
I know it's a bit rich to say this, but I found the whole thing so damn 'unbelieveable' - bearing in mind that you first have to get over the idea that the lead characters are a mind-reading waitress and a vampire!
Some of the things that the characters did (particularly Sookie, the main character) were just weird - why would a waitress go into a car park at night with a piece of chain to defend a vampire and expect to survive - if the vampire can be so easily overcome by the attackers what hope has she?
The main problem was that I just didn't care about the Sookie or Bill, or any of the other characters - the writer brings no dimension to them, there is nothing to make me want to know what they are going to do next or even if they survived to the end of the book - I just went on reading as there was nothing else to read at the time.
I'm going to give the series a second chance, I've ordered the second book - but to be honest I'm not holding out much hope. Maybe I've been spoilt by Twilight (which I'll be the first to admit is not a piece of great literature, but is well written and engaging nonetheless) and Anne Rice (again, not stunning literature), when it comes to my vampire reading choices?
Bought on Green Metropolis
20th -22nd November 2009
Thursday, 19 November 2009
:59 Seconds, think a little change a lot - Richard Wiseman
Another book by Richard Wiseman, this time exposing modern day mind myths, debunking many of the things trotted out in 1000s of self-help books published each year.
Each chapter takes a different topic, such as 'happiness', 'motivation', 'relationships' and 'parenting', and looks at the myths that are often put forward for achieving a 'better life'.
Professor Wiseman reviews the scientific work that has been done over the years looking at ideas such as 'brainstorming', 'positive thinking', 'body language' and how to encourage your child to achieve - he looks at what has been proved to work, and what is complete rubbish - and I guarantee you'll be surprised at some of the findings.
Each chapter is rounded off with a short explanation of the relevant findings, hence the '59 seconds' - the idea is to distill the scientific data into a minute (or just under!) of easy to understand instruction or information.
Wiseman's writing style is easy to read and enjoyable, and some of the work he has done (not to mention other scientists) is truly fascinating.
Bought in Waterstones
8th - 19th November 2009
Friday, 6 November 2009
Blood, Sweat and Tea - Tom Reynolds
It's taken me a while to read this book, but since it's a collection of blog entries it's easy to 'dip in and out' without losing the plot.
Tom Reynolds is an Emergency Mediecal Technician (Ambulance crew to you and me!), who lives and blogs in London.
I've been reading his blog for sometime thanks to the recommendation of Liz, and he writes extremely well; often about difficult or sensitive situations that he's had to deal with.
Pulling no punches, Tom describes his working days (or nights); the frequent flyers (often alcoholics), the false alarms, calls for colds, headaches and other non-emergency patients - along side the descriptions of real emergencies, the frustrations of working for a 'failing' NHS, the politics and the crazy pedestrians who think nothing of trying to 'make a dash for it' in front of his speeding vehicle!
I've really enjoyed this book, but then I knew I would as I still follow his blog!
Visit the blog here - http://randomreality.blogware.com/
Bought on Green Metropolis
19th January - 6th November 2009
Tom Reynolds is an Emergency Mediecal Technician (Ambulance crew to you and me!), who lives and blogs in London.
I've been reading his blog for sometime thanks to the recommendation of Liz, and he writes extremely well; often about difficult or sensitive situations that he's had to deal with.
Pulling no punches, Tom describes his working days (or nights); the frequent flyers (often alcoholics), the false alarms, calls for colds, headaches and other non-emergency patients - along side the descriptions of real emergencies, the frustrations of working for a 'failing' NHS, the politics and the crazy pedestrians who think nothing of trying to 'make a dash for it' in front of his speeding vehicle!
I've really enjoyed this book, but then I knew I would as I still follow his blog!
Visit the blog here - http://randomreality.blogware.com/
Bought on Green Metropolis
19th January - 6th November 2009
Sunday, 1 November 2009
Sum - David Eagleman
What happens after we die? I can't believe that there is any 'semi' intelligent person on the planet who hasn't wondered about this at least once in their lives?
David Eagleman seems to have thought about it a lot! Sum, which is subtitled 'Forty tales from the afterlives', is a collection of short essays telling about different afterlives that could possibly be.
Maybe you become part of the background cast in someone else's dream? The characters who populate dreams, but who we never meet or see clearly. Sometimes you take centre stage, but most of the time you'll be waiting in the wings.
Or perhaps death is a three part process; firstly the body ceases to function, then the body is consigned to the grave, and then the final death is when you are forgotten by those who remember you. So, until that happens you wait in a sort of 'lobby area'. For those who have no family or friends the wait might be short, but for those who have achieved much, done great deeds, or have large families, the wait can be long and extremely boring!
How about getting the chance to live your life again - but you can change one single thing? What would you choose?
Or maybe you get the chance to met God - but what or who is he or she - there are so many different possibilities.
This little book is so thought provoking - each story sets you off thinking in a different direction. Don't try to read it in one sitting, each essay is worth taking the time to think over afterwards. It's got to be one of the most original books I've read - and I have a feeling I'll be going back to it again and again.
Bought on Green Metropolis (although John was going to buy it for me for Christmas!)
14th - 25th October 2009
David Eagleman seems to have thought about it a lot! Sum, which is subtitled 'Forty tales from the afterlives', is a collection of short essays telling about different afterlives that could possibly be.
Maybe you become part of the background cast in someone else's dream? The characters who populate dreams, but who we never meet or see clearly. Sometimes you take centre stage, but most of the time you'll be waiting in the wings.
Or perhaps death is a three part process; firstly the body ceases to function, then the body is consigned to the grave, and then the final death is when you are forgotten by those who remember you. So, until that happens you wait in a sort of 'lobby area'. For those who have no family or friends the wait might be short, but for those who have achieved much, done great deeds, or have large families, the wait can be long and extremely boring!
How about getting the chance to live your life again - but you can change one single thing? What would you choose?
Or maybe you get the chance to met God - but what or who is he or she - there are so many different possibilities.
This little book is so thought provoking - each story sets you off thinking in a different direction. Don't try to read it in one sitting, each essay is worth taking the time to think over afterwards. It's got to be one of the most original books I've read - and I have a feeling I'll be going back to it again and again.
Bought on Green Metropolis (although John was going to buy it for me for Christmas!)
Wednesday, 21 October 2009
The Host - Stephanie Meyer
I can't get over how much I enjoyed this book! It seems a shame that it will probably be overlooked by many people because of it's connection with the Twilight series - which it is very different to.
Although not an avid science fiction reader, I have read my fair share (Asimov, Heinlein, Harrison, Clarke....and others) - so I was looking forward to this book, hoping it would be as well written as the Twilight series, but also hoping it would be very different.
I wasn't disappointed. It did take me a while to get into the story, and it is perhaps a bit over long - but it's an excellent story, well set up, well written, which can't fail to drag you in.
Melanie is one of the last humans on Earth, the majority of humanity has been taken over by the 'souls', aliens you use other lifeforms as 'hosts'. When she's captured and a 'soul' is given her body, the hope is that she will lead the aliens to other remaining humans - but it doesn't quite work out like that.
Melanie is strong, she refuses to give in to the invasion of her body, still yearning for the man she loves, Jared, who is still in hiding. Wanderer begins to realise that she too loves the human - and so their journey together begins.
I've seen fan made film trailers for this book on Youtube that make it seem like a horror, but to me it's a love story - both Melanie and Wanderer are fighting to find the man they love. It's a story about the resilience of human spirit, and the need for friendship and companionship.
It's a great book, even if you weren't interested in the Twilight novels, or you don't like science fiction, I'd still recommend that you try this book - it's worth the effort.
Although not an avid science fiction reader, I have read my fair share (Asimov, Heinlein, Harrison, Clarke....and others) - so I was looking forward to this book, hoping it would be as well written as the Twilight series, but also hoping it would be very different.
I wasn't disappointed. It did take me a while to get into the story, and it is perhaps a bit over long - but it's an excellent story, well set up, well written, which can't fail to drag you in.
Melanie is one of the last humans on Earth, the majority of humanity has been taken over by the 'souls', aliens you use other lifeforms as 'hosts'. When she's captured and a 'soul' is given her body, the hope is that she will lead the aliens to other remaining humans - but it doesn't quite work out like that.
Melanie is strong, she refuses to give in to the invasion of her body, still yearning for the man she loves, Jared, who is still in hiding. Wanderer begins to realise that she too loves the human - and so their journey together begins.
I've seen fan made film trailers for this book on Youtube that make it seem like a horror, but to me it's a love story - both Melanie and Wanderer are fighting to find the man they love. It's a story about the resilience of human spirit, and the need for friendship and companionship.
It's a great book, even if you weren't interested in the Twilight novels, or you don't like science fiction, I'd still recommend that you try this book - it's worth the effort.
Bought on Green Metropolis.
30th September - 21st October 2009
Saturday, 10 October 2009
Dear Fatty – Dawn French
The only problem with reading an autobiography is that afterwards you are left with the feeling that you know the person really really well. Bob forbid I ever bump into Dawn French when shopping in the Co-op, I’d have so much I wanted to discuss.
Although it’s not very likely, as the sleeve notes, she lives in Cornwall with a bloke called Len and a daughter called Bill. Despite the fact that this is an autobiography – very little ‘detail’ is given about her life now, or the people in it.
The whole book takes the form of a series of letters to various people who have some meaning to her; ex-boyfriends, the BF (best friend, whose name is never revealed), Lenny Henry (the letter to her husband is truly a love letter), Fatty (Jennifer Saunders) and of course her family.
Through reminiscences we hear about her early life, with the suicide of her father when she was a teenager, her boarding school, college (learning to be a teacher), and the various people she met and worked with along the way.
Throughout the book it was obvious how much she misses her father, but also how she’s been lucky enough to have been surrounded by some wonderful friends and family. Many of the letters are hilarious retellings of incidents, some are even jokes themselves, many more are extremely moving – particularly the letter to ‘Scotty’ telling the story of his death from AIDS and the subsequent ‘scattering’ of his ashes in New York – this one had me howling with laughter and crying at the same time!
I’ve never been a follower of ‘celebrity’, so for me this was just a book about someone who is living an interesting life. I’ve not read many other autobiographies or biographies – but maybe I will do now, but only if they are as engaging and entertaining as this one – it will be a hard act to follow.
Bought on Green Metropolis
29th August - 10th October 2009
Although it’s not very likely, as the sleeve notes, she lives in Cornwall with a bloke called Len and a daughter called Bill. Despite the fact that this is an autobiography – very little ‘detail’ is given about her life now, or the people in it.
The whole book takes the form of a series of letters to various people who have some meaning to her; ex-boyfriends, the BF (best friend, whose name is never revealed), Lenny Henry (the letter to her husband is truly a love letter), Fatty (Jennifer Saunders) and of course her family.
Through reminiscences we hear about her early life, with the suicide of her father when she was a teenager, her boarding school, college (learning to be a teacher), and the various people she met and worked with along the way.
Throughout the book it was obvious how much she misses her father, but also how she’s been lucky enough to have been surrounded by some wonderful friends and family. Many of the letters are hilarious retellings of incidents, some are even jokes themselves, many more are extremely moving – particularly the letter to ‘Scotty’ telling the story of his death from AIDS and the subsequent ‘scattering’ of his ashes in New York – this one had me howling with laughter and crying at the same time!
I’ve never been a follower of ‘celebrity’, so for me this was just a book about someone who is living an interesting life. I’ve not read many other autobiographies or biographies – but maybe I will do now, but only if they are as engaging and entertaining as this one – it will be a hard act to follow.
Bought on Green Metropolis
29th August - 10th October 2009
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