Scan barcode
speesh's reviews
416 reviews
Odinn's Child by Tim Severin
5.0
Really good book, thoroughly enjoyed it. Well researched and well written. Looking forward to picking up the others in the series.
Vikings in America by Graeme Davis
5.0
I've cobbled together a review of sorts here: http://speesh.wordpress.com/2010/07/31/vikings-in-america/
In short - excellent book, really readable and thought provoking.
In short - excellent book, really readable and thought provoking.
The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown
4.0
Ooh! How radical that this is in the list of worst books ever. Jealous that YOUR favourite book didn't sell by the truckload?
Face it, it's pretty good. Decently written in a Robert Ludlum style, keeps up a frenetic pace and holds your interest the whole way through. Having read most of the books he got his 'facts' from, I can vouch for its authenticity, and can recommend it's readability.
Oh, and grow up.
Face it, it's pretty good. Decently written in a Robert Ludlum style, keeps up a frenetic pace and holds your interest the whole way through. Having read most of the books he got his 'facts' from, I can vouch for its authenticity, and can recommend it's readability.
Oh, and grow up.
The Bourne Ultimatum by Robert Ludlum
3.0
It's good, not great. It's probably too long, all in all, and can't keep up the tension at a consistent level. Possibly would have been better to have condensed a couple of the possible endings into one almighty, cataclysmic ending.
I'd still recommend it and I look forward to reading others in the series.
I'd still recommend it and I look forward to reading others in the series.
The Foreign Correspondent by Alan Furst
2.0
The Foreign
Promised much, delivered little.
It felt a little like he was avoiding telling the story he should have, maybe even really wanted to. A huge missed opportunity, no matter how languid, evocative and well-written it was.
I'll give some of his others a go, but there's gonna have to be a dramatic improvement after this let-down.
Promised much, delivered little.
It felt a little like he was avoiding telling the story he should have, maybe even really wanted to. A huge missed opportunity, no matter how languid, evocative and well-written it was.
I'll give some of his others a go, but there's gonna have to be a dramatic improvement after this let-down.
The Paris Option by Robert Ludlum
3.0
A decent story, but could have been better.
And by 'better', I'm thinking better told. According to the cover, it's a collaboration, and I think it shows. It's a fair bit longer than it really should be (it follows the premise of the last 'Bourne' I read, by having the whole thing build to a climax in the middle, then go on again. You know you're only half way through, as you can see there's still a couple of inches of book to go, it can't possibly have the impact it really should), and a bit flabby. Robert Ludlum's originals are usually a lot more tightly-written and suspense-filled than this. It could be trimmed and streamlined and not lose anything.
Plus, the main concept of 'the problem' (without giving anything away) wasn't developed as deeply as it could have been. The results of its 'deployment' were just shown as tests, not full-blown attacks, and weren't described in deep enough detail, so didn't really carry the level of dread they really should have. That of course, affects the levels of suspense generated when they're trying to stop the bad guys. You really have to believe they're fighting to save civilisation from this 'problem', and here it's a little 'meh'. That's as good as I can put it.
A second 'plus...', the English secret agent - you can tell he's English (if you should forget his introductory section), because he calls people 'lad', says 'frightfully', and generally runs around in the background like James Bond. He doesn't actually say 'I say!', but only because it probably got edited out.
Still, a right rattlin' read - Harlev bibliotek scores again!
And by 'better', I'm thinking better told. According to the cover, it's a collaboration, and I think it shows. It's a fair bit longer than it really should be (it follows the premise of the last 'Bourne' I read, by having the whole thing build to a climax in the middle, then go on again. You know you're only half way through, as you can see there's still a couple of inches of book to go, it can't possibly have the impact it really should), and a bit flabby. Robert Ludlum's originals are usually a lot more tightly-written and suspense-filled than this. It could be trimmed and streamlined and not lose anything.
Plus, the main concept of 'the problem' (without giving anything away) wasn't developed as deeply as it could have been. The results of its 'deployment' were just shown as tests, not full-blown attacks, and weren't described in deep enough detail, so didn't really carry the level of dread they really should have. That of course, affects the levels of suspense generated when they're trying to stop the bad guys. You really have to believe they're fighting to save civilisation from this 'problem', and here it's a little 'meh'. That's as good as I can put it.
A second 'plus...', the English secret agent - you can tell he's English (if you should forget his introductory section), because he calls people 'lad', says 'frightfully', and generally runs around in the background like James Bond. He doesn't actually say 'I say!', but only because it probably got edited out.
Still, a right rattlin' read - Harlev bibliotek scores again!
The Last Testament by Sam Bourne
2.0
It wasn't great - even in Danish.
There was a distinct lack of tension, and it didn't grip me at all. Took practically an eternity to get through, and I only finished it 'cause the library sent me an email saying it'd gotta go back!
It's set in the Middle-Dast of course, and is connected with Middle-East peace talks. Given that we all know they'll never have peace down there, not while anyone from either side is alive/believes that their god gave them exclusive rights to the area; it can hardly be expected to generate any tension based on something potentially de-railling the latest round of talks/mud-casting.
So, it's gotta be better in other areas, in tension, in action, in personal relationships, and while it tries, it can't quite believe enough in itself to pull it off.
Then, the final revelation of what the whole thing turned on, that has been not quite revealled many times previously, was a bit ho-hum, as well. Especially, as it doesn't take a 5-year-old to tell you that no matter what it is, either side will denounce it as a fake anyway.
I read one of his previous books (in English); The Righteous Men, and as a Dan Brown photocopy, it wasn't half bad. But this...well, I won't be rushing to check out any more. Even free from the library.
There was a distinct lack of tension, and it didn't grip me at all. Took practically an eternity to get through, and I only finished it 'cause the library sent me an email saying it'd gotta go back!
It's set in the Middle-Dast of course, and is connected with Middle-East peace talks. Given that we all know they'll never have peace down there, not while anyone from either side is alive/believes that their god gave them exclusive rights to the area; it can hardly be expected to generate any tension based on something potentially de-railling the latest round of talks/mud-casting.
So, it's gotta be better in other areas, in tension, in action, in personal relationships, and while it tries, it can't quite believe enough in itself to pull it off.
Then, the final revelation of what the whole thing turned on, that has been not quite revealled many times previously, was a bit ho-hum, as well. Especially, as it doesn't take a 5-year-old to tell you that no matter what it is, either side will denounce it as a fake anyway.
I read one of his previous books (in English); The Righteous Men, and as a Dan Brown photocopy, it wasn't half bad. But this...well, I won't be rushing to check out any more. Even free from the library.
King of Kings by Harry Sidebottom
4.0
Number two in the trilogy (?) and a really enjoyable read. Sorry to have finished it, looking forward to ordering the third any time i have a birthday soon.
He certainly knows his Roman-period onions, does Harry. He's clearly done the research that will add to the enjoyment for the reader, without getting bogged down in detail and description.
It's a good story - there's more trouble in the east - well written and you don't need to have read the first to jump in here.
So, if you've got a few days to drift off away to Rome in, you can certainly do worse than have a go at his one.
He certainly knows his Roman-period onions, does Harry. He's clearly done the research that will add to the enjoyment for the reader, without getting bogged down in detail and description.
It's a good story - there's more trouble in the east - well written and you don't need to have read the first to jump in here.
So, if you've got a few days to drift off away to Rome in, you can certainly do worse than have a go at his one.
The Case for Working with Your Hands: Or Why Office Work is Bad for Us and Fixing Things Feels Good by Matthew B. Crawford
2.0
Disappointing.
The premise is a good one, and it began well, and interestingly. But as you read on, you realise, as he seems to do as well, that there isn't really a lot more to say, than he's already said in the book's title.
There are interesting little passages dotted about the book, and whilst arguing for the book's main premise, he manages to remain objectively detached. Perhaps a little too detached, because some irrational passion might have enlivened things somewhat.
As a book, it would be better suited as an essay (which it may well have begun life as), or as what I believe used to be called in the old days; 'a pamphlet'.
Someone must have told him 'that'd make a good book', but it doesn't. Not for me anyway.
The premise is a good one, and it began well, and interestingly. But as you read on, you realise, as he seems to do as well, that there isn't really a lot more to say, than he's already said in the book's title.
There are interesting little passages dotted about the book, and whilst arguing for the book's main premise, he manages to remain objectively detached. Perhaps a little too detached, because some irrational passion might have enlivened things somewhat.
As a book, it would be better suited as an essay (which it may well have begun life as), or as what I believe used to be called in the old days; 'a pamphlet'.
Someone must have told him 'that'd make a good book', but it doesn't. Not for me anyway.