Brian Bates

Advantages: great background to Tolkiens mind
Disadvantages: none

...Having long been a fan of Tolkiens fantasy creations as well as a avid reader of history, I was delighted to discover a fantastic book which goes some way to explaining the background to his world. Be warned though, this is not another Lord of the Rings related product, this is a pure history book, do not be fooled by the title. Tolkien freely admitted that the concept, culture and traditions of Middle Earth were not his creation, but were ideas borrowed from Norse and Anglo Saxon mythology. The book is about this historical concept of Middle Earth, but for those who want to know a bit more about Tolkiens sources, this is also a book for you. The Middle Earth of reality is as mysterious and dark as anything that flew from the pages of the great authors work. The author of this book, Proffesor Brian Bates is a leading authority on many... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Light, amusing tale
Disadvantages: Too short...I wanted more

...If you enjoyed the recent TV Series, 'The Darling Buds of May', you will enjoy reading the book written by H.E.Bates. All Bate's novels that I have read have that same under current of light humour and a special way of looking at the world. The Larkins (Darling Buds of May) were created by Bates. They seem to portray the kind of people Bates would like to have been associated with. Perhaps he saw himself as Pop Larkin, laid back, gentle and unhurried, yet always managing to support his family. The book is light and pleasant reading. I finished it in a few hours and it left me feeling amused and satisfied. It adds a lot to the TV series. If you read this and then watch reruns of the series you will find that the two combine very well. (This is often not the case where the original has been a book.)... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: A unique insight into the mind of a serial killer and the introduction of Hannibal 'the Cannibal' Lecter.
Disadvantages: None

...this, we are told how Hannibal was caught and after his meeting with Graham, Hannibal continues to write notes to him to taunt him with his superior knowledge of the actions that are taking place in the book. He even becomes the subject of a plan to catch the elusive 'Red Dragon'. The 'Red Dragon' himself is a shocking person and, as I have stated before, provides a lot of the thrills (he bites the lips off a reporter who writes lies about him). What Harris does is first introduce us to the 'Dragon' through scenes with him and when Graham discovers certain actions he has committed in his crimes. Then we learn about the killer's past, being born with a deformity and spending a hellish childhood with his grandmother. And if you know your films well, you can see a relation to the double personality of the killer and the mind of Norman Bates... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful