Barry Albin-Dyer

Advantages: Funny, modern and different
Disadvantages: A bit egotistical and lacking in morals

...Geoff Dyer is definitely an author with a personality. In 'Yoga for people who cant be bothered to do it' he narrates his rather random travels around the world with a cynical and witty (depending on your opinion) voice. He seems to spend most of his time either high on drugs or drink, complaining about the local culture and sleeping with girls. I suppose he could be seen as the epitomy of the modern traveller! The thing with Dyer is that he doesnt do justice to the countries he is visiting. Whilst you get some interesting snippets of information, I expect accidently, he revels in telling of his innermost ponderings and experiences with people, and that is really what this book is about. I wouldnt buy this book as a travel book. To be fair, you're not going to learn an awful lot about the countries he visited, in fact I'm struggling... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Intriguing, cleverly written
Disadvantages: Confusing ending, pretentious in places

...In the eighteenth century, Nicholas Dyer, an apprentice of Sir Christopher Wren, is responsible for the building of six churches across London. But Mr Dyer is not all he seems. He practices the Dark Arts and wants to introduce his religion into the bodies of the churches that he is building. This means he is forced to lead a double life and when someone gets in his way, he gets rid of them as only he can. Two hundred and fifty years later, a detective called Hawksmoor is brought in to solve a selection of murders, all with the same modus operandi, committed in the grounds of different churches across London. Each time, there is no forensic evidence remaining to be able to link the murder to anyone. The dead are also very different, including children and the down and out. Is there a connection between the murders and Nicholas Dyer... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Very witty, plot twists
Disadvantages: So funny it will hurt

...The title of this humorous spin-off of the Harry Potter books is called ‘Barry Trotter and the shameless parody’ and is written by the author with a great sense of humour Michael Gerber. The genre of this book (for those who don’t know!) is a fictional parody based on the fictional Harry Potter books. The main plot of this hilarious book is that Barry Trotter is so important to Hogwash’s bottom-line that he is allowed to stay there for as long as he likes, It has been announced that a film is being made of J.G Rollins’ books and Bumblemore sends Barry and his friends on a mission to stop the film and it’s cheap merchandise being made. This may all sound incredibly unusual, and it is, as there is many plot-twists and you have to read carefully to find out what is actually happening in the story as the plot changes dramatically as the book... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful