Burke's Royal Families of the World - Vol 2 - Africa & The Middle East - Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd

Advantages: Good Book
Disadvantages: Can't think of any worth mentioning

...Jason Burke gives a good account of the middle east, of Kurdish Iraq, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Algeria and the Muslim world of South East Asia. According to the Guardian: "From Algeria to Thailand, Burke, formerly The Observer's chief reporter in the region, moves through every quadrant of Islam, drawing out profound differences between the communities. This is no homogeneous surge of Muslims massing to rise as one against the West. His vivid contacts with Kurdish, Arab and Asian Muslims reveal complex issues, inter-communal and international, that far outstrip the 'war on terror's' capacity to provide analysis or answers." The book is well written, clear and easy to understand. Jason Burke is also the author of Al - Qaeda: The True Story of Radical Islam.... Read review

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Advantages: engaging and moreish,
Disadvantages: sometimes goes of track.

...The Vampire Lestat was written by Anne Rice and Is the second volume in the 'vampire chronicles'. After watching the interview with the vampire, I wanted to know what happened next, so I went out and bought the book. The book is about the journey of a a dissilusioned french lesser royal, from his initial mortal life to imortality. The book opens with Lestat in the present world, reflecting on his past and giving opinions on the modern world, from the perspective of an 18th century noble man. The book explores Lestats disfunctional family lifestyle 'pre vampire'. Where his father and brothers are jealous of his relationship with his mother. Eventually he is shuned by his family and seeks solice in his friend and theatre. It is here with his prowess and good looks, he attracts the attention of an ancient and bitter immortal. Lestat... Read review

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Advantages: A Good introduction to 20th Century Modernism
Disadvantages: Rambles a bit in places

...and illuminates this relationship in eight themes. The Chapters of the book are based on the episodes. The Mechanical Paradise - Episode 1 An exploration of the interaction between the art of the 20th century and significant events of recent world history, beginning with turn-of-the-century Europe when the term "modernism" first came into use. Here he shows how artistic movements such as cubism and futurism mirrored a rapidly changing, technologically - oriented world. The Powers that Be - Episode 2 The interplay between art and politics, how artists were affected by the development of mechanised warfare and ideologies like fascism and communism. Hughes examines the relationship between art and politics as exemplified by Dadaism, expressionism and constructivism, movements seen as reactions to World War I's mechanized warfare; and Guernica... Read review

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