I was so chuffed when I spotted this at the library. And my excitement was not displaced. This is a gripping next instalment in the Ben Hope trilogy, this time involving art thieves and much excitement. Well, the much excitement is pretty well a given in these books. Also, a brilliant side plot (but not resolved!), involving Ben's ongoing relationship with his girlfriend and issues therein.
Well written, gripping, and they feel authentic too (in spite of the fact that, as far as I can see, the author has no real experience in the military... Do correct me if that's wrong).
I'm not quite sure what else to say. It's worth keeping an eye out for certainly, and I'll probably get myself a copy as soon as I see it second hand (this is nothing against the book, I'm a student--there are only a handful of books I'd buy new as soon as they come out). Also, space limitations at home mean this is probably a pretty good indication. I'm not sure where I'd fit it if I got a copy... I'm sure I'll manage somehow. I'm going to have a college and a home collection of books I think. Being a fast reader, who enjoys rereading, has disadvantages.
To conclude: read it!
Sunday, 13 March 2011
Polar Quest
I am now more confused than ever about what sort of order (if any) Tom Grace's series is meant to go in. Certainly, they don't seem to have been published in anything vaguely resembling chronological order. That said...
It's brilliant. Quite similar to the Ben Hope series (temporarily forgotten author's name, but I've reviewed loads of them), though with more of a science/technology base rather than a more historical one. Lots of action, and a decent plot that's sufficient to support it without it seeming like gratuitous violence/action. There's not, perhaps, much character development in this book, but the supporting characters are well evoked, some familiar faces (Grin) return, and Nolan Kilkenny (the hero, if that's not too old-fashioned a word to use to describe him :) ) is convincing enough. There's just not a lot of inter-character relationship going on, but I guess that's somewhat inevitable if you want to have space for a tight, gripping thriller.
I have to recommend it. Don't bother reading the series in any order, since it hasn't been published, as far as I can tell, in any real order, but do read them whenever you spot 'em. Great fun, and I certainly hope there's more. At the moment, my mental classification scheme puts Tom Grace as: brilliant writer of small number of thrillers, and he fits next to Scott Mariani (Ben Hope series, just remembered!) and James Twinning (the ones about the ex-thief). I'd like to see more, from all those authors in fact, and most definitely from Tom Grace :)
It's brilliant. Quite similar to the Ben Hope series (temporarily forgotten author's name, but I've reviewed loads of them), though with more of a science/technology base rather than a more historical one. Lots of action, and a decent plot that's sufficient to support it without it seeming like gratuitous violence/action. There's not, perhaps, much character development in this book, but the supporting characters are well evoked, some familiar faces (Grin) return, and Nolan Kilkenny (the hero, if that's not too old-fashioned a word to use to describe him :) ) is convincing enough. There's just not a lot of inter-character relationship going on, but I guess that's somewhat inevitable if you want to have space for a tight, gripping thriller.
I have to recommend it. Don't bother reading the series in any order, since it hasn't been published, as far as I can tell, in any real order, but do read them whenever you spot 'em. Great fun, and I certainly hope there's more. At the moment, my mental classification scheme puts Tom Grace as: brilliant writer of small number of thrillers, and he fits next to Scott Mariani (Ben Hope series, just remembered!) and James Twinning (the ones about the ex-thief). I'd like to see more, from all those authors in fact, and most definitely from Tom Grace :)
Monday, 28 February 2011
A Great Deliverance
This is the first book in the Inspector Lynley series. I got into the series after discovering that the TV series which mum and I had been watching on DVD was actually based on a book. After a few that were great, and one that really wasn't great, I gave up on the series for a while, but I've returned to reading the ones they have in my current local library (I was starting to run out of ideas...). And actually, this first one is brilliant.
The conflict between Havers and Lynley is well, and sympathetically, set out. It also opens out a lot of the personal relationships that are mentioned briefly in later books, which helped explain a lot. And the case itself is fascinating--and frightening in many respects.
The atmosphere is great, and I love the two main characters (especially Barbara Havers, she's fantastic :) ). I thoroughly recommend this to any crime lovers. A great novel, and it sheds a whole new light on the later books.
The conflict between Havers and Lynley is well, and sympathetically, set out. It also opens out a lot of the personal relationships that are mentioned briefly in later books, which helped explain a lot. And the case itself is fascinating--and frightening in many respects.
The atmosphere is great, and I love the two main characters (especially Barbara Havers, she's fantastic :) ). I thoroughly recommend this to any crime lovers. A great novel, and it sheds a whole new light on the later books.
Doomwyte
It's ages since I last read a Redwall book, but I felt like being nostalgic yesterday and so when I went to the library I picked this one up. As one of the more recent ones, it's one I haven't read as often as some of the earlier ones (all the ones before Rakkety Tam I've probably read at least 6/7 times, and Taggerung and Outcast of Redwall I reckon I've read somewhere between 15 and 20 times...), I couldn't really remember what happens. I worried as I determined on this course that I would discover that Redwall just isn't as great as I remember it being, and that I would lose a piece of childhood nostalgia by realising it wasn't actually that great. But it was still great.
There's something uplifting about a good vs evil book, where you know that good will win but you don't know how yet--or whether those who are 'goodies' will all survive. With the Redwall series being about the inhabitants of a place, rather than a specific character Brian Jacques had (he sadly died a few weeks ago) the freedom to kill off characters without jeopardising the future of the series. Unlike books set around a single character/characters (like the Dirk Pitt books, for example), you can't be sure that the main characters will survive. Which has led, I might add, to a good deal of sobbing on my part. Especially in Martin the Warrior.
Riddles, feasts, fighting, and a wonderful cast of characters, including a brilliant hare, plus a whole host of mice, squirrels, and a new Gousim tribe, plus the Gonfellin tribe, makes this a brilliantly woven tale. I thoroughly enjoyed it--couldn't put it down. And that's despite having read it before :) It's inspired me to go read the rest of the Redwall books, and I can't wait to get my hands on the most recent one (just come out in paperback, so I think amazon is called for as they seem impossible to find in most bookshops). It might be a children's series, but it's uplifting and exciting in equal measures.
There's something uplifting about a good vs evil book, where you know that good will win but you don't know how yet--or whether those who are 'goodies' will all survive. With the Redwall series being about the inhabitants of a place, rather than a specific character Brian Jacques had (he sadly died a few weeks ago) the freedom to kill off characters without jeopardising the future of the series. Unlike books set around a single character/characters (like the Dirk Pitt books, for example), you can't be sure that the main characters will survive. Which has led, I might add, to a good deal of sobbing on my part. Especially in Martin the Warrior.
Riddles, feasts, fighting, and a wonderful cast of characters, including a brilliant hare, plus a whole host of mice, squirrels, and a new Gousim tribe, plus the Gonfellin tribe, makes this a brilliantly woven tale. I thoroughly enjoyed it--couldn't put it down. And that's despite having read it before :) It's inspired me to go read the rest of the Redwall books, and I can't wait to get my hands on the most recent one (just come out in paperback, so I think amazon is called for as they seem impossible to find in most bookshops). It might be a children's series, but it's uplifting and exciting in equal measures.
Metropolis
I really enjoyed this. It's a black and white, silent movie from 1927, and they recently found a few more bits of it and added them in (the new bits were lower quality in terms of the actual film, but added a lot to the story). I was surprised at how complex the plot was and the fact that it was comprehensible, and that despite the fact that there weren't all that many dialogue screens.
I suppose it's strictly speaking dystopian science fiction, and it's really good. The graphics still look good, and it was apparently the most expensive silent film ever made. There are some brilliant bits with the machinery, and it's intriguing to see one of the ways the future was envisaged in 1927.
Some bits were unintentionally amusing. There was a lot of clutching at hearts, and hugging, but most of it was excellent. I can well understand why Empire film magazine rated it 12th of 100 best films of world cinema last year. Well worth a watch. The soundtrack is also really good, and it gives a totally different viewing experience to a 'normal' film with words.
I suppose it's strictly speaking dystopian science fiction, and it's really good. The graphics still look good, and it was apparently the most expensive silent film ever made. There are some brilliant bits with the machinery, and it's intriguing to see one of the ways the future was envisaged in 1927.
Some bits were unintentionally amusing. There was a lot of clutching at hearts, and hugging, but most of it was excellent. I can well understand why Empire film magazine rated it 12th of 100 best films of world cinema last year. Well worth a watch. The soundtrack is also really good, and it gives a totally different viewing experience to a 'normal' film with words.
Somewhere
Well, it wasn't a total waste of time. The characters were, for the most part, really good. There just wasn't much substance. It had a lot of potential, but it felt like they'd cut a bunch of scenes out, realised they'd cut too much, and then decided to simply stretch the ones they had left. Not much really happens. And some bits are decidedly random--the beginning and the ending, mostly. By the fourth time the car went round the race track, everyone was giggling, and I was waiting for a car crash so that the main character could break his arm in an exciting way. But nothing happened. He eventually stopped driving round in circles, randomly got out the car, and then the scene faded. (He broke his arm falling down stairs instead). Also, at the end, he's driving off into the distance, stops for no apparent reason, and gets off to walk into the sunset. Hmm.
Like I said though, the characters were good, and there were one or two gems in there. They were just few and far between. It's a relaxing film though, doesn't take much effort or energy to watch, and was a pretty good film for me to watch whilst knackered. Although perhaps I should have saved my 4 film ticket for another one (Nowhere Boy this week, and The Tourist next week, both of which look very interesting).
If somebody sticks it on in front of your nose, and you're feeling not particularly energetic, it's a reasonable film. But don't go getting all excited about it.
Like I said though, the characters were good, and there were one or two gems in there. They were just few and far between. It's a relaxing film though, doesn't take much effort or energy to watch, and was a pretty good film for me to watch whilst knackered. Although perhaps I should have saved my 4 film ticket for another one (Nowhere Boy this week, and The Tourist next week, both of which look very interesting).
If somebody sticks it on in front of your nose, and you're feeling not particularly energetic, it's a reasonable film. But don't go getting all excited about it.
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Blue Gold
I recently traded in pretty much all my Clive Cussler books, but up til now had only read the Dirk Pitt ones and one of the Oregon files (was not that impressed with the Oregon files ones, the Dirk Pitt ones were good but I figured I probably wouldn't re-read them). Blue Gold was one that I picked up in Cambridge last term, didn't get round to reading, and so left here to enjoy when I got back. And I did enjoy it. I was quite surprised, in fact.
Blue Gold is one of the Kurt Austin books, set in the same world as the Dirk Pitt ones (indeed, in the other Kurt Austin book I've now read, Pitt makes a passing appearance). It's an adventure story, based loosely around the ocean, and it's certainly an entertaining enough way of passing the time. The character description sometimes felt a bit forced (particularly the bit about the jazz)--reminded me of my English Lit teachers rule of 'show, don't tell' when it comes to characters. But other than that, there was a reasonable amount of action, there was a reasonable plot, the science was, well, maybe a little exaggerated, but potentially plausible. Also, very amused by the giant woman.
In short, Blue Gold is pretty much what you'd expect from a Clive Cussler book. There's action, beautiful women, a hero and his sidekick... The Kurt Austin books could, in fact, almost be Dirk Pitt ones, save for a few little details about the two main characters. So if you're a fan, and you've run out of Dirk Pitt books (although to be fair, there are twenty-odd of them, so you'd have to be an obsessive reader like me for that to happen quickly...) these are just as good.
Blue Gold is one of the Kurt Austin books, set in the same world as the Dirk Pitt ones (indeed, in the other Kurt Austin book I've now read, Pitt makes a passing appearance). It's an adventure story, based loosely around the ocean, and it's certainly an entertaining enough way of passing the time. The character description sometimes felt a bit forced (particularly the bit about the jazz)--reminded me of my English Lit teachers rule of 'show, don't tell' when it comes to characters. But other than that, there was a reasonable amount of action, there was a reasonable plot, the science was, well, maybe a little exaggerated, but potentially plausible. Also, very amused by the giant woman.
In short, Blue Gold is pretty much what you'd expect from a Clive Cussler book. There's action, beautiful women, a hero and his sidekick... The Kurt Austin books could, in fact, almost be Dirk Pitt ones, save for a few little details about the two main characters. So if you're a fan, and you've run out of Dirk Pitt books (although to be fair, there are twenty-odd of them, so you'd have to be an obsessive reader like me for that to happen quickly...) these are just as good.
Final Theory
It says on the book something along the lines of 'The Da Vinci Code, but with science'. Actually, I've never read the Da Vinci Code, so I can't tell you how accurate that is, but from what I know of it I dare say it's pretty close to the mark. It's a science based thriller, it seemed pretty plausible to me, but I'll hold my hands up now and admit that while I have at least a passing interest in science I'm no expert. And the science was explained well enough that it's reasonably comprehensible.
The basic premise? Einstein came up with a unified theory of everything (this sort of idea also features in a book by Tom Grace, I believe it's the one called Quantum), which could prove even more dangerous to humanity than the nuclear bomb. An interesting enough main character, who's actually a professor of the history of science (is that the right way of putting it?) and a pretty good cast of supporting characters, including the 'bad guy'.
At any rate, I enjoyed it enough to have a look for other books by that author. Unfortunately, there aren't any. Ah, actually, take that back. I've just looked on Fantastic Fiction, and there is! And it follows on in the same series. Bonus :) I shall certainly be keeping my eye out for that at the library (I have to be seriously strict on myself in terms of actually buying books now I'm afraid. All my bookcases at home are crammed to bursting, and I have maybe a dozen books here in Cambridge as well, so how they're gonna fit when I go back is beyond me... And I seem to have a thing for still ending up with more books! Ah well. I'll be keeping an eye out at the library, as I said.)
Final Theory is worth a read. It's maybe not the greatest thriller of the year, but it's certainly a solid book that's by no stretch of the imagination a waste of time to read.
The basic premise? Einstein came up with a unified theory of everything (this sort of idea also features in a book by Tom Grace, I believe it's the one called Quantum), which could prove even more dangerous to humanity than the nuclear bomb. An interesting enough main character, who's actually a professor of the history of science (is that the right way of putting it?) and a pretty good cast of supporting characters, including the 'bad guy'.
At any rate, I enjoyed it enough to have a look for other books by that author. Unfortunately, there aren't any. Ah, actually, take that back. I've just looked on Fantastic Fiction, and there is! And it follows on in the same series. Bonus :) I shall certainly be keeping my eye out for that at the library (I have to be seriously strict on myself in terms of actually buying books now I'm afraid. All my bookcases at home are crammed to bursting, and I have maybe a dozen books here in Cambridge as well, so how they're gonna fit when I go back is beyond me... And I seem to have a thing for still ending up with more books! Ah well. I'll be keeping an eye out at the library, as I said.)
Final Theory is worth a read. It's maybe not the greatest thriller of the year, but it's certainly a solid book that's by no stretch of the imagination a waste of time to read.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Despicable Me
I decided to be cultured this term, and watch more films. Despicable Me perhaps doesn't fit the bill of 'high' culture, but it was certainly enjoyable. A superhero movie with a difference, Despicable Me is, strictly speaking I suppose, a supervillain movie.
Gru is a supervillain who's never quite made it to the big time. He and his army of minions have managed to steal the Statue of Liberty... The small one from Las Vegas. With a new villain on the scene, Gru is determined to regain some prestiege, and so hatches an audacious plot to steal the moon. Dogged every step of the way by his tenacious rival, he finds himself adopting three young girls who turn his life inside out, and make him question what's really the most important part of his life.
Brilliantly hilarious (I especially love the Bank of Evil... Formerly Lehman Brothers), with a heart-warming ending, this is definitely a film to watch. It might be animated, it might have a plot that borders on the utterly ridiculous at times with shrink rays, sharks, and squid guns, but it's a great film.
Gru is a supervillain who's never quite made it to the big time. He and his army of minions have managed to steal the Statue of Liberty... The small one from Las Vegas. With a new villain on the scene, Gru is determined to regain some prestiege, and so hatches an audacious plot to steal the moon. Dogged every step of the way by his tenacious rival, he finds himself adopting three young girls who turn his life inside out, and make him question what's really the most important part of his life.
Brilliantly hilarious (I especially love the Bank of Evil... Formerly Lehman Brothers), with a heart-warming ending, this is definitely a film to watch. It might be animated, it might have a plot that borders on the utterly ridiculous at times with shrink rays, sharks, and squid guns, but it's a great film.
Monday, 24 January 2011
The Social Network
I really enjoyed this film. I've decided to be a bit more 'cultural' this term and try to actually go to the extra stuff that's on, especially films as I don't watch many and my college has its own cinema (ish).
Anyway, The Social Network charts the development of Facebook, in a non-boring way. Geeks, parties, law suits and... um... geeks again? provide a great plot full of human interest. And lots of laughs. It's really interesting to see how Facebook developed, and to consider that there was a point in my life when I *gasp!* didn't have Facebook. Indeed, I remember dial up, the early days of the internet, the start of personal computers. It constantly amazes me when I stop to think about it how much technology has moved on. For example, when I was last babysitting, I had a go on my next door neighbour's Playstation 3 Kinnect thing (is that what it's called?), and while the game was actually very similar to one of the first ones I ever played on, it's a totally different experience in many respects, to be waving about the controller in thin air and watching things happen on the screen.
That digression on the progress of technology aside, the characters are (mostly) portrayed sympathetically, and interestingly. I found the scene with the contest to get a job as an intern at Facebook absolutely hilarious--particularly in the explanation. Every ten lines of code, you have to drink a shot. Every three minutes you have to drink a shot. Every... etc. Very amusing.
If you get the chance to see it, it's well worth a watch. Startling to think how recently and how small Facebook started, and how big it's become.
Anyway, The Social Network charts the development of Facebook, in a non-boring way. Geeks, parties, law suits and... um... geeks again? provide a great plot full of human interest. And lots of laughs. It's really interesting to see how Facebook developed, and to consider that there was a point in my life when I *gasp!* didn't have Facebook. Indeed, I remember dial up, the early days of the internet, the start of personal computers. It constantly amazes me when I stop to think about it how much technology has moved on. For example, when I was last babysitting, I had a go on my next door neighbour's Playstation 3 Kinnect thing (is that what it's called?), and while the game was actually very similar to one of the first ones I ever played on, it's a totally different experience in many respects, to be waving about the controller in thin air and watching things happen on the screen.
That digression on the progress of technology aside, the characters are (mostly) portrayed sympathetically, and interestingly. I found the scene with the contest to get a job as an intern at Facebook absolutely hilarious--particularly in the explanation. Every ten lines of code, you have to drink a shot. Every three minutes you have to drink a shot. Every... etc. Very amusing.
If you get the chance to see it, it's well worth a watch. Startling to think how recently and how small Facebook started, and how big it's become.
Friday, 21 January 2011
The Budapest Protocol
Wow. A gripping and just downright fantastic book, The Budapest Protocol revolves around a conspiracy at the heart of the EU--the continuation of the Nazi regime through peace, rather than war. A fascinating historical background (the Nazis did try and create a united Europe, and the document at the heart of the book is based off a real document included in the appendix) mingles with a gripping character-orientated narrative to create a book I struggled to put down for dinner (and subsequently read until about 11 in order to finish it off...).
Budapest is created convincingly--I confess I haven't been there so I can't say for certain how accurate it was but it felt good--and the characters were equally well crafted. I love the mingling snapshots of the past--both of the grandfather through the diary, and the main character's flashbacks to episodes in his career as war reporter.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't know, to be quite honest, what else there is to say. The concepts behind it, including the Gypsy holocaust, were plausible, the political struggles felt real, it's a great book.
Budapest is created convincingly--I confess I haven't been there so I can't say for certain how accurate it was but it felt good--and the characters were equally well crafted. I love the mingling snapshots of the past--both of the grandfather through the diary, and the main character's flashbacks to episodes in his career as war reporter.
In short, I thoroughly enjoyed it. I don't know, to be quite honest, what else there is to say. The concepts behind it, including the Gypsy holocaust, were plausible, the political struggles felt real, it's a great book.
Tuesday, 18 January 2011
Incompetence
The United States of Europe has arrived, and with it, dozens of new laws every day. Things are becoming illegal so quickly, the jails have to be constantly deepened as more and more of Europe's citizens become inadvertent criminals. Furthermore, it is now illegal to fire someone for incompetence--indeed, it seems like only the incompetent are ever promoted.
A brilliant thriller venturing across Europe, the investigator hampered by people and police who should probably be described as criminally insane. An amusing, engrossing read with scatterings of brilliant characters, from the 'large' main character, through to the constantly angry Italian police chief, a forensic scientist who rearranges the dead bodies he's given as a hobby, a young woman with Sexually Inappropriate Response syndrome, and a dozen other hilarious characters and places--such as the train station where no train has ever stopped.
In style, it's probably closest to G K Chesterton or Douglas Adams, permeated with the same slightly wacky, off-beat humour, though with more of a plot than any of the Hitchiker books seem to have mustered... There is a definite chase after a serial killer, on the trail of a dead agent. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, really glad I happened to pick it up in a charity shop :) Well worth keeping an eye out for--I hope there's more.
A brilliant thriller venturing across Europe, the investigator hampered by people and police who should probably be described as criminally insane. An amusing, engrossing read with scatterings of brilliant characters, from the 'large' main character, through to the constantly angry Italian police chief, a forensic scientist who rearranges the dead bodies he's given as a hobby, a young woman with Sexually Inappropriate Response syndrome, and a dozen other hilarious characters and places--such as the train station where no train has ever stopped.
In style, it's probably closest to G K Chesterton or Douglas Adams, permeated with the same slightly wacky, off-beat humour, though with more of a plot than any of the Hitchiker books seem to have mustered... There is a definite chase after a serial killer, on the trail of a dead agent. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, really glad I happened to pick it up in a charity shop :) Well worth keeping an eye out for--I hope there's more.
Monday, 17 January 2011
The First Great Air War
I probably shouldn't be fussy, since books about First World War aviation aren't always that easy to find (unless you happen to be near Cambridge University Library, in which case a little digging unearths a reasonable number). However, this book wasn't all that great to be honest. There was a lot about the pilots, and it was, in effect, a conglomeration of stories about individual pilots. There was a lot said about how the observers and the gunners and the pilots of reconnaisance aircraft deserved more recognition, but not a lot about those individuals. Most of the people followed were fighter pilots, generally aces (and often the more famous, high-scoring aces).
The first few chapters were very good, with some interesting stories about the early days of the Royal Flying Corps. Tortoise races, anyone? (Fly in a wind speed higher than your aircraft's top speed. The person who gets blown backwards the furthest is the winner!). However, the balance of the book wasn't great. 1916 and 1917 got the lions share of the book, with only two short chapters on 1918, despite the fact that there was a lot of fighting in 1918 and it was most of the year before the armistice was signed. There was a definite bias towards the Western Front and the RFC, with a handful of German pilots, a few French and American, an even smaller handful of Italian pilots (and the pilots of the RFC who went to Italy), and pretty much nothing about the Eastern Front, or the Austrian side of the fighting in Italy. In fact, it could probably have been improved by explicitly focussing on just the Western Front, rather than giving the lives of two or three Italian pilots, with a focus primarily on one of them. There were a lot of comparisons to the Second World War, and I'm not convinced they really helped explain anything.
That said, some of the personal stories were interesting. The Red Baron was described as a rabid dog who should've been shot, and there was a big emphasis on the fact that the war in the air wasn't chivalrous, but was really rather nasty and that even if they were knights of the air, knights weren't very nice when they were in battle. Wasn't entirely convinced by the description of the Red Baron to be perfectly honest, but there you go. There were some very amusing tales of various things that went on in the air, and some more poignant ones.
On the whole, it was pretty mediocre. If it weren't for the fact that it's quite difficult to find books on this topic, I'd probably say don't bother. It doesn't say anything particularly special, and you can probably find the amusing stories in just about any account of WWI aviation--there were some rather bizarre occurrences. I also felt that it was overly critical of Trenchard and his tactics. If you have an interest in the topic, it's reasonable. If you're not desperately interested, don't bother.
(Just realised: I should probably tell you who the author is. It's the one by Richard Townsend Bickers, published 1988)
The first few chapters were very good, with some interesting stories about the early days of the Royal Flying Corps. Tortoise races, anyone? (Fly in a wind speed higher than your aircraft's top speed. The person who gets blown backwards the furthest is the winner!). However, the balance of the book wasn't great. 1916 and 1917 got the lions share of the book, with only two short chapters on 1918, despite the fact that there was a lot of fighting in 1918 and it was most of the year before the armistice was signed. There was a definite bias towards the Western Front and the RFC, with a handful of German pilots, a few French and American, an even smaller handful of Italian pilots (and the pilots of the RFC who went to Italy), and pretty much nothing about the Eastern Front, or the Austrian side of the fighting in Italy. In fact, it could probably have been improved by explicitly focussing on just the Western Front, rather than giving the lives of two or three Italian pilots, with a focus primarily on one of them. There were a lot of comparisons to the Second World War, and I'm not convinced they really helped explain anything.
That said, some of the personal stories were interesting. The Red Baron was described as a rabid dog who should've been shot, and there was a big emphasis on the fact that the war in the air wasn't chivalrous, but was really rather nasty and that even if they were knights of the air, knights weren't very nice when they were in battle. Wasn't entirely convinced by the description of the Red Baron to be perfectly honest, but there you go. There were some very amusing tales of various things that went on in the air, and some more poignant ones.
On the whole, it was pretty mediocre. If it weren't for the fact that it's quite difficult to find books on this topic, I'd probably say don't bother. It doesn't say anything particularly special, and you can probably find the amusing stories in just about any account of WWI aviation--there were some rather bizarre occurrences. I also felt that it was overly critical of Trenchard and his tactics. If you have an interest in the topic, it's reasonable. If you're not desperately interested, don't bother.
(Just realised: I should probably tell you who the author is. It's the one by Richard Townsend Bickers, published 1988)
Saturday, 15 January 2011
Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
Up til, say, twenty years ago, if you'd heard of one historian, one history book, it would probably have been Edward Gibbon's Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire. Written over 200 years ago, it's remained pertinent to the topic it covers, and while aspects are superseded by modern research, apparently (I can't vouch for this personally--I've read books on the book) it remains influential. And nobody's managed to produce a newer work of comparable length and breadth.
The first thing is: this is not a book I have read from cover to cover. Indeed, I haven't even read the abridged version from cover to cover--I imagine it would take about a year to get through the whole thing. It's enormous! One of those big, square books that you could quite happily use as a doorstop, or to make yourself look impressive. It covers about 1,500 years of history, dancing about across the provinces, taking in primarily political/military history but encompassing high culture, manners, society, social structure, law, and any number of other things that Gibbon felt pertinent to his wide-ranging organising principle of how the Roman Empire came to an end.
Despite being rather outdated in years, and in some places in content, it's surprisingly readable. If only I could have carried it around with me, and it didn't take a great effort to simply pick it up to read, I probably would have read significantly more. There are these brilliant footnotes scattered about through the text which are cynical, witty, or just amusingly acerbic. The text itself offers all the drama you might expect from court intrigues, military takeovers, and a memorable passage upon the girraffe (a gentle and useless animal, which has been described but not delineated), alongside occaisional steps back from the world of day to day happenings and a more detailed analysis of some aspect of society.
Despite its age then, this remains a classic historical work. Actually, it's probably a classic because of its age--when it first came out it was a bestseller. I'm going to horrify scholarly folk with my essay on it by comparing it to, say, Stephan Ambrose, or some other 'populist' historian. Maybe Max Hastings is a better comparison... Hmm. Does anyone else love those books?
Anyway. If you've a lot of time, it's worth reading this book. If you've a little, somebody must surely have published a 'selected exciting bits of Edward Gibbon'. Surely.
The first thing is: this is not a book I have read from cover to cover. Indeed, I haven't even read the abridged version from cover to cover--I imagine it would take about a year to get through the whole thing. It's enormous! One of those big, square books that you could quite happily use as a doorstop, or to make yourself look impressive. It covers about 1,500 years of history, dancing about across the provinces, taking in primarily political/military history but encompassing high culture, manners, society, social structure, law, and any number of other things that Gibbon felt pertinent to his wide-ranging organising principle of how the Roman Empire came to an end.
Despite being rather outdated in years, and in some places in content, it's surprisingly readable. If only I could have carried it around with me, and it didn't take a great effort to simply pick it up to read, I probably would have read significantly more. There are these brilliant footnotes scattered about through the text which are cynical, witty, or just amusingly acerbic. The text itself offers all the drama you might expect from court intrigues, military takeovers, and a memorable passage upon the girraffe (a gentle and useless animal, which has been described but not delineated), alongside occaisional steps back from the world of day to day happenings and a more detailed analysis of some aspect of society.
Despite its age then, this remains a classic historical work. Actually, it's probably a classic because of its age--when it first came out it was a bestseller. I'm going to horrify scholarly folk with my essay on it by comparing it to, say, Stephan Ambrose, or some other 'populist' historian. Maybe Max Hastings is a better comparison... Hmm. Does anyone else love those books?
Anyway. If you've a lot of time, it's worth reading this book. If you've a little, somebody must surely have published a 'selected exciting bits of Edward Gibbon'. Surely.
Thursday, 13 January 2011
Robin Hood
I'm quite a fan of Robin Hood. I have three different varieties of the book (since the 'real' Robin Hood is in an epic poem--which I don't have--there are plenty of different versions of the story out there, some of them really rather different), and it's always been one of my favourite legends. So when I saw this in the library, I figured it was high time I watched the film version.
Was it any good? Well, I enjoyed it. But I was watching it with my brother (who gave up about 15/20 minutes in) and my mum (who gave up about half way through). So that's a one in three success rate. Most of it was really rather impressive. I liked the horses, I thought the acting was good, the plot seemed reasoanble enough although I spent quite some time trying to relate it to the book versions, until at the very end discovering that it takes place before pretty much anything in the books (depends which book you read as to whether Robin starts out as an outlaw or is made an outlaw in the first chapter or so). The reason for my confusion was simple: as far as I'm aware, Robin Hood is conventionally set whilst King Richard the Lionheart is still alive, but captured, hence the increasingly high burden of taxes upon the population to pay for the release of the true king, and Robin Hood is not really an outlaw, but rather fighting for the true king of England against his usurping brother. Instead, the film begins with the death of Richard and Robin and his men's return to England masquarading as knights, and the story instead revolves around the Magna Carter. Ish. It's historically somewhat dubious (although I confess my knowledge of the period is scanty).
Most of it, as I said, is good. The big battle at the end, however, made me laugh (for the wrong reasons...). Seriously. Somebody wanted to film Saving Private Ryan, exchanging bullets for arrows and chain mail for body armour and helmets... That part was painful, and somewhat undermined the credibility of the whole film. Landing craft? An all but identical sequence of shots to the opening of Saving Private Ryan? No thanks. The rest of the battle was actually pretty good--if only they hadn't done that stupid thing with the landing craft.
I won't be rushing out to buy a copy, and on the basis of the interest levels within my family, you probably won't be either (unless you're a major Robin Hood fan like me, in which case it is worth watching and I did enjoy it--some parts far more than others). However, if I happen to see it on TV I'll certainly watch it again, perhaps get it from a charity shop in a few years. There are some excellent bits, and for the most part the characters are well developed and believable--Robin Hood in particular.
Was it any good? Well, I enjoyed it. But I was watching it with my brother (who gave up about 15/20 minutes in) and my mum (who gave up about half way through). So that's a one in three success rate. Most of it was really rather impressive. I liked the horses, I thought the acting was good, the plot seemed reasoanble enough although I spent quite some time trying to relate it to the book versions, until at the very end discovering that it takes place before pretty much anything in the books (depends which book you read as to whether Robin starts out as an outlaw or is made an outlaw in the first chapter or so). The reason for my confusion was simple: as far as I'm aware, Robin Hood is conventionally set whilst King Richard the Lionheart is still alive, but captured, hence the increasingly high burden of taxes upon the population to pay for the release of the true king, and Robin Hood is not really an outlaw, but rather fighting for the true king of England against his usurping brother. Instead, the film begins with the death of Richard and Robin and his men's return to England masquarading as knights, and the story instead revolves around the Magna Carter. Ish. It's historically somewhat dubious (although I confess my knowledge of the period is scanty).
Most of it, as I said, is good. The big battle at the end, however, made me laugh (for the wrong reasons...). Seriously. Somebody wanted to film Saving Private Ryan, exchanging bullets for arrows and chain mail for body armour and helmets... That part was painful, and somewhat undermined the credibility of the whole film. Landing craft? An all but identical sequence of shots to the opening of Saving Private Ryan? No thanks. The rest of the battle was actually pretty good--if only they hadn't done that stupid thing with the landing craft.
I won't be rushing out to buy a copy, and on the basis of the interest levels within my family, you probably won't be either (unless you're a major Robin Hood fan like me, in which case it is worth watching and I did enjoy it--some parts far more than others). However, if I happen to see it on TV I'll certainly watch it again, perhaps get it from a charity shop in a few years. There are some excellent bits, and for the most part the characters are well developed and believable--Robin Hood in particular.
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