Arts & Music Books > Literary Criticism & Theory Arts & Music Books > C

Advantages: Suitable both for undergraduates and specialists, broad range of readings.
Disadvantages: None

Published by Harvester Wheatsheaf Price: I paid about £20 but cheaper second hand obviously! I bought this book when I was an undergraduate studying postcolonial theory as part of my degree in English Literature. I have since used it while working on my Masters and my Doctorate. It is an excellent source book for all levels of study. First published in 1993, the textbook is introduced and edited by Laura Chrisman and Patrick Williams, both of whom ...
...it is this experience that has led to the creation of such an accessible textbook. As lecturers they know what their students need. Contents: Introduction by Chrisman/Williams: The introduction provides a detailed overview of the main debates and theories to be explored in the body of the book. There is also a short introduction by Chrisman and Williams at the start of each section, detailing the historical and political context of the readings ... Read review

Advantages: excellent for people with little background to literary theory; covers a wide range of areas; excellent for people going on to study English at university
Disadvantages: extremely high register of language so you have to concentrate!

...all you prospective uni students of English - it will make you look very clever and impressive once you start literary theory! This book has inspired me to read up on this subject further and I believe it to be an essential part of the critical theory canon. No flaws! ... Read review

Advantages: hugely informative, overwhelming amounts of knowledge
Disadvantages: can be confusing at first, book is written in fragmented format

...the subject can change (by performing the change on you). Tricks Of The Mind is an incredibly enjoyable and informative education read and I recommend it to anyone who is interested in the world of the human mind, beliefs and expectation, hypnosis and NLP, body language and psychic abilities. ... Read review

Advantages: Everything you could ever want to know
Disadvantages: Slightly upsetting in places

This is quite a significant book to me. I grew up listening to Thin Lizzy and being Irish, my whole family was totally in love with their music. Phil Lynott was such a complex character I felt I owed it to him to read this book, just to prove that there was more to him than just the drugs. I learnt so much about him and the band that at points I felt I knew them. It was strange to think that if only Phil had stopped the drugs, he'd still be here. ...
...gives us all the gory details of his life, it tells tales of Phils hilariously flirtatious character, his obsession with music and showed us what a loving father he was and how much he loved being a father. Last year I had the privelige of meeting his son and I felt like I knew everything about his father and he knew so little (he had only just found otu Phil was his father due to Phil giving him away because of his religion). It was amazing, it ... Read review

Advantages: really interesting book, very inspirational
Disadvantages: may not suit young children and specific to certain intrests

This book is very inspirational and after reading it fills your mind with ideas and creation. I bought this book not long ago and since i haven't put it down. I call it a book but to me its more like a gallery. Banksy expresses very political views by doing stencil art in some of the main cities of the u.k such as London and Liverpool. This book simply takes you on a journey through his work. The book documents his work in gallery's and current projects ... Read review