This autobiography is the story of Peter Godwin, who grew up in Rhodesia in the 1960s, aware, but only dimly, of the divisions that would lead to civil war. His childhood was spent... more
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This autobiography is the story of Peter Godwin, who grew up in Rhodesia in the 1960s, aware, but only dimly, of the divisions that would lead to civil war. His childhood was spent among African children who could never be his friends, and white adults who were beginning to perceive the anachronism that their late colonial lifestyle represented. Guerilla killings began, and Peter began to get used to violent death. Conscripted into the army at 17, he was commanding units of 100 Africans fighting guerillas in the bush. After a period studying law in England he returned to Zimbabwe and began to report for the "Sunday Times" on the tribal atrocities being inflicted in Matabeleland. He discovered an horrific campaign of malignity being visited by African upon African in the name of political rectitude and patriotism.
Advantages: Funny, unusual, interesting format Disadvantages: Stops just when the fun is starting....sequel, anyone?
...Joanna and Peter are two British journalists / authors who live in New York. Joanna writes on occasion for the Guardian and various glossies, and Peter writes books with scintillating titles such as 'A whiteboy in Africa'. They're also a 30 something un marries, childless couple as the book begins. And this book is a diary, written day by day by each of them in turn, of 9 months of their life in the late 90s. Why 9 months? Well maybe the first line of the book can help:
JOANNA: The test is negative. There is no pink line in the second box on the tester stick, but I'm sure I am pregnant.
The book is in fact a pregnancy diary, written by the couple as the months progress, but in true contemporary style, it's much more Bridget Jones than What To Expect When You're Expecting. And though the main theme is this new baby, the book...
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Advantages: Hard-hitting political drama. Disadvantages: A rather harrowing read.
...A cornerstone in English political history, 'Caleb WIlliams' (1794) is a political allegory dramatised by William Godwin portraying the compelling plight of Caleb to flee his persecutors.
'Caleb Williams' is generalised under the generic term of Gothic fiction, and the intensification of emotion and extreme situations conveyed within the genre means that the psychology of persecution and paranoia are fully engaged with.
At a time when principles from the French Revolution were rife, Godwin accordingly (much like his author-wife, Mary Wollstonecraft) took up these ideas. Thus the radical moral philosophy is implicit in the novel, and we can easily see that Godwin is arguing for the principles of justice and the individual, and very much against oppression and tyranny. Interestingly, these passionate principles seem to have been passed...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: Brings the past to life Disadvantages: Not all characters given equal treatment
...In the late 1700s, early 1800s Europe was gripped with interest of 'the romantics', a group of poets that could woo the hearts of women and incite envy into the chests of men. They were at the time what modern film and music stars are to us today. Amongst this class of celebrities were Byron, Shelley and Keats, the subjects of Jude Morgan's 'Passion'. To fully appreciate this novel you have to be aware how accurate Morgan writes and so I have included a brief history with regards to the novel on each of these poets.
Lord George Byron (1788-1824) was infamous for his relationships with young boys, married women and his half sister and famous for his work which included 'Don Juan' and 'Childe Harold'. He met and struck up an affair with Lady Caroline Lamb in the year 1812 yet this later ended in tragic heartbreak for Caroline when Byron...
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very helpful 14.03.2006
(15.03.2006)
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21.07.2004
14.03.2006
