Christopher Dyer

Advantages: a solid scholarly undertaking
Disadvantages: a long and detail read

...made to the newer text, but bear in mind that the above review is based on the earlier version of the book, though Im sure it is still applicable to the newer release as well. A summary of his books can be found at: http://www.summaryofabook.com/41184christopher-dyer.html He also has his own page at http://www.authorof.com/150452christopher-dyer1852851120everydaylifeinmedievalenglandbookscomputer.html... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

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... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Great characters, situations familiar to all of us
Disadvantages: Slightly unsatisfying ending

...I'm not a big fan of crime novels, but with Jasper Fforde and Christopher Brookmyre making such consistently brilliant efforts at subverting the genre, my resistance is being eroded fairly swiftly. Christopher Brookmyre has established a formidable reputation for Scottish crime thrillers. Full of bodily fluids and lurid characters, they're generally hilarious to read, but shot through with such extreme violence that there's no chance of them ever being left in the 'humour' section. A Tale Etched in Blood and Hard Black Pencil is told entirely in the present tense, and follows two linked story strands - the progress through school of a group of Scottish children from their first day right through to their leaving 'dance', and a murder investigation about twenty years later. Brookmyre's previous works have often made a big deal... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful