Review: Bernard Who?: 75 Years of Doing Just About Everything

Bernard Who?: 75 Years of Doing Just About Everything by Bernard Cribbins
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The words "national treasure" are banded about a lot these days but Cribbins is certainly deserving of the label - the book's tagline is certainly accurate; he really has done everything (from being paratrooper, playing a serious role a Hitchcock film, to narrating the Wombles).

Most of all, he seems to be a genuinely nice man. He rarely has a bad word to say about any of the seemingly countless number of "names" he has worked with. Despite acknowledging Peter Sellars became "a prick" after becoming famous in Hollywood, Cribbins highlights that Sellars was good to him and was "a genius".

The book loses its way a little bit towards the end. Wasn't that interested in Cribbins' charity golf or cricket matches with his famous chums to be honest (to be fair, Cribbins does make a point of keeping it brief because he knows that people won't be that interested).

All in all an interesting read of man who is quite happy to take on whatever work came his way.

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Review: Lethal White

Lethal White by Robert Galbraith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another highly accomplished Strike novel. Once again, just as she did with the Harry Potter series, Rowling excels at writing characters. Not one of the characters feel false or one dimensional - even the less likeable ones have depth.

There were a few times that the story dragged but, overall, Strike and Robin are so compelling, you are willing to overlook the odd duff chapter or two.

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Review: The Life and Loves of a He Devil

The Life and Loves of a He Devil by Graham Norton
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think this is best "read" as an audio book as Norton narrates it. As the late Northern Irish comic Frank Carson used to say "it's the way you tell them". Norton's gift for story telling is absolutely how he says thing rather than what he says. He doesn't say anything thing profound in this book in which outlines his passions (hence the title) but narrates in such a way, you find yourself laughing out aloud at tales that in other hands would be mundane.

To be honest, it's like a lengthy version of his radio show without the celebrities or Maria McErlane (though, both are frequently referenced). Not a bad thing at all if you're an avid fan of the show (which I am).

Probably wouldn't have bought it if there hadn't been a e-book/audiobook deal, but still really enjoyed it.

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Review: The Colour of Time: A New History of the World, 1850-1960

The Colour of Time: A New History of the World, 1850-1960 by Dan Jones
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

A stunning work of art - illustrator Marina Amaral has painstakingly brought colour (and life) to black & white photos of iconic moments in history. The detail is just amazing; so amazing that you sometimes forget that the image didn't always have colour.

Jones' historical blurbs that accompany the photos are just the right mix of information and accessibility. You actually feel you're learning something but, at the same, are not overwhelmed by fact.

This is definitely a book I will keep on my shelves and re-read multiple times.




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Review: The Light Years

The Light Years by Elizabeth Jane Howard
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An absorbing family saga. Howard's skill is to have numerous characters and make you care about all of them. Though, I could have done without a fourth set of cousins being introduced in the second part. While they were all individually interesting, they meant I started to lose track of who was who - I did have to keep flipping back to the family tree at the start of the book to remind myself who was a sibling, who was a cousin, and how old they they were.

However, there is a disturbing incident that happens early on in the secondary part. While Howard clearly indicates this incident is wrong, she doesn't mention it again. An underlying theme of the book is the sacrifices and compromises we make for our families. But this particular incident shouldn't be seen as something that someone has to put up with for the sake of familial harmony. Therefore, I was concerned that it wasn't addressed further. (In fairness to Howard, she may deal with it later in the series.)

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Review: We Should All Be Feminists

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

An interesting essay on why feminism is needed and why it benefits people of all genders to be feminism. I think a few of things that Ngozi Adichie covers probably wouldn't apply to the UK - though, perhaps, it's better to say that sexism in Nigeria is more blatant than it is in the UK. Just because a waiter wouldn't completely ignore a woman, as they apparently do in Nigeria, in the UK doesn't mean they won't give the wine to the man to taste (I have no clue about wine, but it would be nice if waiters didn't just assume that).

I think this is the perfect read for anyone wondering why feminism is such a thing at the moment and why, whether they are a woman or a man, they should become involved with it.

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Review: Five Children on the Western Front

Five Children on the Western Front by Kate Saunders
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I randomly came across this when I was helping out at a mobile library for homeless people - it was among the books being given away for free and, as no one else appeared to want it, I decided to pick it up.

I don't think it's absolutely necessary to have read Five Children and It (or its two sequels) to understand this book, but it probably helps as there are several allusions to events that occurred in that story.

Ultimately, this is a story about how the First World War affected everyone - regardless of how rich or poor they were - and how everyone came to realise that it wasn't the jolly adventure they initially thought it was as the fighting dragged on.

There is a subplot about the Psammead finding redemption for past misdeads that occasionally feels a bit contrived but does have moments of real poignancy.

Given the book has some serious themes, it is definitely best reserved for older children/teenagers. I think nostalgic adults (such as myself) have a lot of gain from it as well.

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