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francesmthompson's Reviews (976)
A short but sweet introduction to growth hacking with a focus on the success stories of the past few years, I found Growth Hacker Marketing served up information quickly and concisely and left plenty of food for thought on how others can hack the growth of their own product. While it would have been more helpful to hear more unusual examples - not everybody has a product that has mass appeal - I found my mind ticking over with lots of new ideas after reading this, always a positive!
If I called this novella a "silly little book" it would do it a disservice because you'd be unable to hear the fondness in my voice. "Charming little book" would do little to convey the intelligence with which Bennett uses the Queen's new love of reading to make some astute observations about literature and life. And "sweet little book" would just sound too coy when it also tackles other societal issues and drew more than a few chuckles from my lips.
In short, read this to be reminded why you read. And to laugh at the upper echelons of British society.
In short, read this to be reminded why you read. And to laugh at the upper echelons of British society.
A strong 4.5 for this entertainingly written history of the London Underground by a Tube-enthusiast who's neither a native Londoner nor someone who has worked on the network. His interested sprouted from a boyhood fascination with the underground trains when he would visit from York for the day and it was many years later as a London-based journalist that his editing of the Tube Talk column in the London newspaper Evening Standard cemented some deep rooted love for the London Underground.
Beginning at a time when tunnelling underground seemed like fantasy and taking us all the way to proposed future developments, Martin digs deep into the social and political reasons - and perhaps more importantly the people - that pioneered the network that is now the London Underground. While the stories of the people behind the lines and their extensions, were fascinating it was Martin's ease with language and his plucky use of words to describe characters, decisions and developments involved in creating subterranean London that made the books such a joy to read.
Not wanting to give away any of the twists and turns of the London Underground's history, let it simply be said that it made the city of London what it is now. I have a new found respect for the tube. In fact, a conversation the author had with a woman working in the gift shop at the London Transport Museum very accurately describes how I, as a Londoner, now feel about the Underground.
"Let's face it, when you're train's late, you've got the hump. But when you stand back and look at the system it's something incredible isn't it?"
The missing 0.5 is just because I wanted a few more personal stories about using the London Underground over the last few centuries. Maybe that's the topic of his next book... I hope so!
Beginning at a time when tunnelling underground seemed like fantasy and taking us all the way to proposed future developments, Martin digs deep into the social and political reasons - and perhaps more importantly the people - that pioneered the network that is now the London Underground. While the stories of the people behind the lines and their extensions, were fascinating it was Martin's ease with language and his plucky use of words to describe characters, decisions and developments involved in creating subterranean London that made the books such a joy to read.
Not wanting to give away any of the twists and turns of the London Underground's history, let it simply be said that it made the city of London what it is now. I have a new found respect for the tube. In fact, a conversation the author had with a woman working in the gift shop at the London Transport Museum very accurately describes how I, as a Londoner, now feel about the Underground.
"Let's face it, when you're train's late, you've got the hump. But when you stand back and look at the system it's something incredible isn't it?"
The missing 0.5 is just because I wanted a few more personal stories about using the London Underground over the last few centuries. Maybe that's the topic of his next book... I hope so!
My first Alice Hoffman novel and much more engaging, evocative and emotive than I imagined the story to be. It's true that the central character isn't very likeable - she is The Ice Queen after all - but this novel does everything it' supposed to; the plot pulls you in, the characters feel human (even those who also don't) and the end of the book brought answers, satisfying my appetite.
While many will find the weight of Hoffman's words a little over-bearing - there is emotion loaded into every sentence - I am the kind of reader who every now and again enjoys escaping into a world where every breath feels heavy and words are the only thing that does this justice.
One criticism I did have, however, was that the title or the blurb didn't really do the book justice; there is so much more to this book and I learned a heck of a lot about lightning and its peculiarities.
It was a pleasure to discover another author I can rely on to deliver delicious stories that are well-researched and lovingly written.
While many will find the weight of Hoffman's words a little over-bearing - there is emotion loaded into every sentence - I am the kind of reader who every now and again enjoys escaping into a world where every breath feels heavy and words are the only thing that does this justice.
One criticism I did have, however, was that the title or the blurb didn't really do the book justice; there is so much more to this book and I learned a heck of a lot about lightning and its peculiarities.
It was a pleasure to discover another author I can rely on to deliver delicious stories that are well-researched and lovingly written.
If Daphne du Maurier was apparently weaker at short stories then gee whizz the rest of us are doomed. I enjoyed this collection of varied short fiction immensely, thanks mainly to all of them having the essential sting in the tail or twist in the plot that really makes short stories work for me.
I was pulled in with the not-so-straight forward "Whodunnit?" or rather "Why-she-dun-it?" No Motive and I was held throughout as Du Maurier explores family, love, lies, scandal and even magical realism in this collection that is compiled of stories written both before the likes of Rebecca and Frenchman's Creek and after her long and accomplished line of novels.
If you like Du Maurier's novels, do not overlook this collection and maybe other of her short stories. Her words flow free and the stories she tells are original and authentic.
I was pulled in with the not-so-straight forward "Whodunnit?" or rather "Why-she-dun-it?" No Motive and I was held throughout as Du Maurier explores family, love, lies, scandal and even magical realism in this collection that is compiled of stories written both before the likes of Rebecca and Frenchman's Creek and after her long and accomplished line of novels.
If you like Du Maurier's novels, do not overlook this collection and maybe other of her short stories. Her words flow free and the stories she tells are original and authentic.
The first few chapters of this book are brilliant. Upbeat, enlightening and informative about this crucial muscle. This is not the kind of book I normally read, but from a research perspective (writing character based fiction) I'm very interested in how the brain controls our thoughts and reactions.
However, I believe the editor may have tactically stepped in to pull the strongest chapters to the front as these seemed to be the chapters which held the most weight, offered the most insightful neuro-scientific explanations and firmly set the tone for this book which essentially aims to explain that the reason our brain distorts and deceives is because it's for our own good, i.e. primal survival. No good will come to a person who doesn't think the best of himself or fight off threats which come in the yukky forms of rejection, insult and self-doubt.
While the research is interesting, there are just too many, too similar examples to wade through and this left my brain aching and Fine's points over-laboured.
However, I believe the editor may have tactically stepped in to pull the strongest chapters to the front as these seemed to be the chapters which held the most weight, offered the most insightful neuro-scientific explanations and firmly set the tone for this book which essentially aims to explain that the reason our brain distorts and deceives is because it's for our own good, i.e. primal survival. No good will come to a person who doesn't think the best of himself or fight off threats which come in the yukky forms of rejection, insult and self-doubt.
While the research is interesting, there are just too many, too similar examples to wade through and this left my brain aching and Fine's points over-laboured.
I'm going to need a minute before I write a review.
And a bucket of ice cream and a family-sized box of tissues.
*sob*
Thanks.
UPDATE:
Okay. I'm ready. And yet, I'm not. Because I made the mistake of falling down the rabbit hole of reviews by folk who didn't like this book. Bordering on trollish hate, there were people who despised what made this book special; Death as a narrator (but not as you expect), a liberal, lairy use of language and no apologies-given-spoilers that magically didn't take away from the overall impact.
How I wish I hadn't seen those reviews, because it sort of tainted my opinion of this book. Not because I agree with them, but because I feel a bit silly for letting something move me so much when others couldn't even finish it.
But is that not the beautiful nature of this book-reading lark we all partake in? Not everyone is going to have the same experience, opinion or everlasting impression as you. And I'm sure there's a metaphor for life in there. I mustn't let that simple fact dilute what I gained from those hours I spent lost in Liesel's word nor must I forget how those tears I cried at the conclusion of The Book Thief were real, raw and ready tears; the kind that I like to cry; the kind I don't cry enough.
Don't read the reviews for this or book. Just read it for yourself. Form your own opinion, experience and possible everlasting impression.
And so what if he describes the sun as breakfast-coloured?
And a bucket of ice cream and a family-sized box of tissues.
*sob*
Thanks.
UPDATE:
Okay. I'm ready. And yet, I'm not. Because I made the mistake of falling down the rabbit hole of reviews by folk who didn't like this book. Bordering on trollish hate, there were people who despised what made this book special; Death as a narrator (but not as you expect), a liberal, lairy use of language and no apologies-given-spoilers that magically didn't take away from the overall impact.
How I wish I hadn't seen those reviews, because it sort of tainted my opinion of this book. Not because I agree with them, but because I feel a bit silly for letting something move me so much when others couldn't even finish it.
But is that not the beautiful nature of this book-reading lark we all partake in? Not everyone is going to have the same experience, opinion or everlasting impression as you. And I'm sure there's a metaphor for life in there. I mustn't let that simple fact dilute what I gained from those hours I spent lost in Liesel's word nor must I forget how those tears I cried at the conclusion of The Book Thief were real, raw and ready tears; the kind that I like to cry; the kind I don't cry enough.
Don't read the reviews for this or book. Just read it for yourself. Form your own opinion, experience and possible everlasting impression.
And so what if he describes the sun as breakfast-coloured?
Does exactly what it says on its eye-catching cover... tells short and sometimes bitter, sometimes sweet tales of change.
Much of the collection tells stories of family and relationships and as a collection they offer a great introduction to flash fiction. While some are simple tales of lessons learned, people lost, others loved, many stories stand out thanks to Young's use of magical realism (more, please!) and more than a few sting-in-the-tale style twists, which for me is the real secret weapon in this genre. I should also mention how funny many of the stories were; I found myself smiling to myself much of the way through.
My favourites were The Alchemy of Chocolate, Clean Linen and Time Out.
I hope this is the first of many collections!
Much of the collection tells stories of family and relationships and as a collection they offer a great introduction to flash fiction. While some are simple tales of lessons learned, people lost, others loved, many stories stand out thanks to Young's use of magical realism (more, please!) and more than a few sting-in-the-tale style twists, which for me is the real secret weapon in this genre. I should also mention how funny many of the stories were; I found myself smiling to myself much of the way through.
My favourites were The Alchemy of Chocolate, Clean Linen and Time Out.
I hope this is the first of many collections!
A collection of excerpts from across the last 2000 years documenting London's ups and downs, dramatic growth and life-altering events.
While I should be honest and say I skipped some of the lengthier, older texts, I did get great value out of reading this and learning lots about the city I have spent so much of my life in.
My favourite entries were the coroner's report from one of Jack the Ripper's victims (truly gruesome), the crime reports from Medieval London - specifically the fraudulent baker! - and first person accounts of the Blitz on London.
A must-read for anyone with interest in London and who wants to learn its history in an unusual and enlightening way.
While I should be honest and say I skipped some of the lengthier, older texts, I did get great value out of reading this and learning lots about the city I have spent so much of my life in.
My favourite entries were the coroner's report from one of Jack the Ripper's victims (truly gruesome), the crime reports from Medieval London - specifically the fraudulent baker! - and first person accounts of the Blitz on London.
A must-read for anyone with interest in London and who wants to learn its history in an unusual and enlightening way.