Making Money review

Posted : 1 month ago on 8 August 2008 02:58 (A review of Making Money)

Now this is a bloody intelligent book.

It may take a while to get in to but it is inevitably rewarding, you gain a real sense of satisfaction from reading it. Pratchett keeps to his outlandish examples of fantasy, that he does so well, but this time uses it to write a book which essentially describes the development of modern banking and the capitalist way.

Economics and Fantasy seem to be almost binary oppositions, however somehow, TP manages to intertwine them so well, that you don’t even realise you're being educated. When asked to take over the running of Ankh-Morpork bank, Moist von Lipwig introduces a radical form of bankers note, that sends the whole city into an unprecedented boon. All the while a range of hilariously funny, disgruntled creatures foil his plans, or fail to see his grand designs.

If you like Terry Pratchett purely for the fantasy, magic and wizards..this may come as a shock for you, you may not even like it. This is a whole new take on the discworld that I personally found refreshing; this is an economics/ political book in essentials. If like me, you read TP for his sarcastic comments, dry humour and witty asides, I have no doubt Making Money will find its place in your heart.




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Wilde put too much of himself in it.

Posted : 5 months, 3 weeks ago on 16 March 2008 10:01 (A review of The Picture of Dorian Gray (Penguin Classics))

This book is so good on so many levels. Not only is the novel a dark and interesting thriller, but Wilde weaves a moral code throughout which can’t help to change your outlook.

A portrait of a young man, 'Dorian Gray', is painted by artist 'Basil' who finds himself utterly obsessed and incaptivated by the beauty and innocence of Gray. All the while he worries he has put too much of his soul/self in to portriat. As Gray begins to become corrupted by society, his own vanity and the sycophantic behaviour of others, the portrait bares the brunt.

The portrait grows uglier and older with each of his sins, while Gray retains his beauty and youth. I won’t give away anymore, I can’t put it better that Wilde himself.

The obsessive love of Basil for Dorian is believed by many to be a portrayal of Wilde's own obsessive love for a young gentleman at the time. It is easy to draw comparison between this novel and the autobiographical film 'Wilde'. I'd suggest to watch this biographical film first if you can...it gives the novel yet another level.

Any fan of Wilde’s will gain more of an understanding of him through this novel than any biography. Those who are not fans shouldn’t start here though, you will require a good understanding of the British language and older literary works to effectively read and understand this book. Haunting yet uplifting, we all have our Dorian Grays, or see some of ourselves in him.

Regardless 'The Picture of Dorian Gray' is one of the cannon’s greatest yarns.


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No vice unexplored

Posted : 6 months ago on 8 March 2008 10:40 (A review of I Claudius)

I, Claudius is like a modern day soap, spent in Ancient Rome. Murder, adultery, perversion and corruption rule the day. This is a semi-ficticious book, in that it is based on many real sources (Suetonius' 12 Caesars, Plutarch and Tacitus), but it’s given a lot of creative licence by Graves.

The story is written like a hidden autobiography of the Emperor Claudius, describing the scandals and atrocities that surround him, as he survives throughout. Claudius plays upon his stutter and lameness in order to fire rumours of his stupidity, and decrease chances of his assassination. Graves takes a sympathetic view of Claudius, through the rule of Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and his own succession.

The character of Caligula is endlessly entertaining, driven mad by a brain disease...he believes he is a God and begins to impose a reign of terror, taking his sister as a wife. In Augustus' Reign, his wife Livia poisons, murders and frames every person of power who stands in the way of her son (Tiberius') succession.

Many historians have criticised Graves for his embellishments, he has also been criticised for borrowing too heavily on one source (Suetonius). But don't take this as a fact book, read it as a genuinely interesting story, full of all the greatest human vices that fascinate us so much.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

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No vice unexplored

Posted : 6 months ago on 8 March 2008 10:37 (A review of I, Claudius : From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius, Born 10 B.C., Murdered and Deified A.D. 5)

I, Claudius is like a modern day soap, spent in Ancient Rome. Murder, adultery, perversion and corruption rule the day. This is a semi-ficticious book, in that it is based on many real sources (Suetonius' 12 Caesars, Plutarch and Tacitus), but it’s given a lot of creative licence by Graves.

The story is written like a hidden autobiography of the Emperor Claudius, describing the scandals and atrocities that surround him, as he survives throughout. Claudius plays upon his stutter and lameness in order to fire rumours of his stupidity, and decrease chances of his assassination. Graves takes a sympathetic view of Claudius, through the rule of Augustus, Tiberius, Caligula and his own succession.

The character of Caligula is endlessly entertaining, driven mad by a brain disease...he believes he is a God and begins to impose a reign of terror, taking his sister as wife. In Augustus' Reign, his wife Livia poisons, murder and frames every person of power who stands in the way of her son (Tiberius') succession.

Many historians have criticised Graves for his embellishments, he has also been criticised for borrowing too heavily on one source (Suetonius). But don't take this as a fact book, read it as a genuinely interesting story, full of all the greatest human vices that fascinate us so much.


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Anglophile

Posted : 6 months ago on 7 March 2008 09:37 (A review of Notes from a Small Island)

I love reading what other people think of my country, especially when they're good thoughts.

Bryson's comment on a visit to the UK is funny and reassuring. He is a self confessed anglophile and it really makes you realise that our little Island isn't all bad.

This books is full of funny anecdotes that sum up the British sensibility, one particular character who he terms 'Mrs Smegma'; a stuffy old B&B owner is particularly hilarious.

While it is a travel book in essentials, I recommend this book to any Brit who's confidence in the Isles is waning. It'll give you a temporary boost.

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Tisn't

Posted : 8 months, 3 weeks ago on 20 December 2007 08:57 (A review of 'Tis)

I read this unabridge book from cover to cover, after the great piece of work that was 'Angelas Ashes', I owed McCourt the benefit of the doubt.

But Jesus, Mary and Joseph this was monotamous tripe. I can sum the entirity of this book up in two sentances, which can be repeated 40,000 times for the length of it. "I was stupid and poor and my shoes were made of mud. Me mam didn't love me, America is confusing, I'm so, so Irish". No other points were made in this bible length book. It is no more than the inane ravings of a mad man. I know I wont be popular in this opinion.

I also felt that the childish style of writing was concerning and out of place in the memoirs of his later life, what I thought was a stylistic approach to mirror his childhood, seemed actually to be a genuinely flawed and restricted method of storytelling.

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