The Great History of the Middle East

Advantages: Detailed, informative, essential reading
Disadvantages: Long, heavy, Fisk can go on a bit at times

...As a news correspondent covering the Middle East for the past thirty years and a long-time resident of Beirut, Robert Fisk is perhaps uniquely acquainted (at least amongst Western correspondents) with the region, its history and its issues. As someone who is known for calling a spade a spade, he has often aroused strong sentiments (which he takes pains to stress repeatedly throughout his book), particularly amongst those who strongly support Israeli. Scathing, unsparing in its criticism of folly (his own included), at times humorous and often heartbreaking, this book is a comprehensive and well-written guide to the recent history of the Middle East. Fisk's subject matter covers the first and second Afghan wars, the two Iraq wars, the Algerian civil war, the Iran-Iraq conflict, the Armenian genocide, and of course, the Palestinian...

mystikchick17 16.07.2007 · Read review
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Review of The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East - Robert Fisk

Making merry with cider and perry at Middle Farm

Advantages: -
Disadvantages: -

...I'm currently on another visit to my boyfriends home in sunny Eastbourne, and as has become my custom, I've been dragging him out of bed every day to go and show me the local sights, aided by a little yellow book that gains us free entry to a variety of attractions - his mum works in a local attraction herself and gets us these trade passes . On this occasion , we decided to go visit Middle Farm, nestled at the foot of Firle Beacon, just outside Lewes . As with many attractions in this area of East Sussex, the drive, for a city girl like me is an attraction in itself - driving past stunning sea views part of the way, and rolling Sussex Downland interrupted by small villages full of character filled old buildings and the occasional country pub. For someone whose normal travel in my home city of Nottingham generally involves taking a bus...

Thehonesttruth 06.08.2009 · Read review
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Review of Middle Farm, East Sussex

East Is East

Advantages: Performance. Story.
Disadvantages: None

...East Is East was released in 1999, and its a comedy movie. It is based on a play by Ayub Khan & directed by Damien 0'Donnell. The movie revolves around a Pakistani British Family. Cast: Om Puri (As George Khan) Linda Bassett (As Ella Khan) Jordan Routledge (As Sajid Khan) Raji James (As Abdul Khan) Chris Bisson (As Saleem Khan) Emil Marwah (As Maneer Khan) Jimi Mistry (As Tariq Khan) Ian Aspinall (As Nazir Khan) Archie Panjabi (Meenah Khan) Lesley Nicol (Aunt Annie) Plot : The movie is set in 1970's, George Khan who is settled in Salford near Manchester and is married to a British Woman Ella, they have seven children (Six Boys & One Girl), George & Ella runs a Fish & Chips shop near their house. Annie also helps Ella as she is her friend. George is very dominating & wants everyone to live the life as he wants them...

majeedkazi 19.05.2008 (22.05.2008) · Read review
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Review of East Is East (DVD)

Go East!

Advantages: somewhere a bit different
Disadvantages: city boys & girls doing coke in the toilets

...Normally this section paragraph is where I write some witty (hopefully) mood setting babble, but this time, luckily for all of you review readers out there, there is no mood to set. So let's just get on with it, I am going to be reviewing Village East, it is where Snarf and I go when we can't be bothered to cook, or just want a quick drink, it is our closest drinking hole. Where is Village East? Village East is located on the fashionable Bermondsey Street, which is a very short walk from London Bridge Underground & Mainline station & about 5 mins from my front door. I have attached a map to help you all out. Why Should I go? There are plenty of reasons to be in this particular area of London, Village East is within a stones throw of many popular London attractions, such as Borough Market, The Cutty Sark, Tower Bridge, Tower...

tazzywazzy 24.04.2007 · Read review
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Review of Village East, Bermondsey Street

East Midlands Airport

Advantages: Easily accessed, not too busy
Disadvantages: Not a huge range of destinations

...East Midlands Airport is a regional airport located in Castle Donington in Derbyshire. There are flights available to many European destinations, as well as Egypt, USA (Florida) and the Caribbean with charter airlines. I have flown from this airport many times and it is my favourite airport mainly due to it's location, ease of access and relaxed atmosphere. It is easily accessed by car from the M1 (Junction 23 and 23A) or the A50 which is the road I use when travelling from Staffordshire. I live around 50 miles from the airport but the A50 is a relatively quiet road so it's a nice 40 minute drive and I can start my holiday. I find it's easiest to travel to by car but there are local rail links and the airport can be reached from Loughborough, Derby and Nottingham railway stations, depending on where in the country you are...

tor0908 01.12.2009 · Read review
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Review of East Midlands Airport (EMA)

EAST IS EAST

Advantages: Funny, good direction, excellent cast, good story
Disadvantages: Some may find some scenes disturbing

...Introduction ~~ East is East is another good recent British film. And like the majority of other good recent British films East is East was made by Filmfour. East is East is set in Salford, near Bradford in the 70's and it focuses around the antics of the Khan family. George Khan, the father was born in Pakistan and by marrying Ella who is English he moves to England. Then him and his English wife Ella have seven children in Salford. But that's where the problems start; his children. They simply want to be English and do what English people their age do and choose who they marry. And with a big difference in opinions between George and the children big problems arise? Story ~~ If you read the script for East is East you would think of it as quite a serious and dark film and with the scenes of domestic violence it is quite dark...

Disillusioned 03.09.2001 · Read review
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Review of East Is East (DVD)

A Damning Critique of Neoconservatism and the West

Advantages: A unique and engaging approach, passionately written
Disadvantages: Length might put some off, rivals cover greater range of history

...The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East is, undoubtedly, one of the most intimate and moving portrayals of a region which has, over the past decade, become an unrivalled focus of global attention. Unsurprisingly, Fisk is in a unique position to offer such an account. Writing as a journalist who has made a career from reporting in the Middle East, from the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 right up to the current war in Iraq, and as a resident of Beirut, he turns what might have been a dry and detached analysis into a gripping and insightful journey that switches effortlessly and eloquently between historical account and autobiography. At over a thousand pages, this is a lengthy book, and it took me over a month to read at a reasonably fast pace. But Fisk's style, mixing important historical analysis, most...

smooth_criminal_ 27.01.2007 · Read review
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Review of The Great War for Civilisation: The Conquest of the Middle East - Robert Fisk

East Is East Is Excellent

Advantages: Funny, thought-provoking, well-acted and scripted
Disadvantages: Lots of swearing

...East Is East is one of my favourite films; one that I have seen countless times. As well as owning the DVD, I have watched it twice on TV and twice in school (once in Religious Studies and in Citizenship). It has been both criticised and commended in equal measure - some have described it as the best British film in years, others have said it's racist, anti-Islam and stereotypical. You'll hear my views on that later! THE STORYLINE Set in 1970's Salford, the Khan family make the Simpsons look perfectly well-adjusted. George Khan, a strict Pakistani Muslim who runs a chippy, rules over his household with an iron rod; feared by the rest of his family. He has seven children, and is married to the long-suffering Ella. Despite having an English mother and being of British nationality, he insists that his wayward children are...

JessL 25.01.2004 · Read review
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Review of East Is East (DVD)

East Infection

Advantages: Good little Ep
Disadvantages: Well it's an EP, so only 6 tracks!

...East Infection is a 6 track EP by Gogol Bordello that was released in January 2005, some 6 years after the band's first release. They obviously polished their sound during that time because there is a much more cleaner sound to this little EP. This little EP is incredibly experimental though, the 1st track East Infection is chaotic, quick and catchy with short parts of what seem to be jazz guitar, Ave B. without doing anything particularly special is a pleasant gypsy acoustic styled song to listen to, not too heavy this one, Mala Vida is upbeat and sung in spanish, it has a very latin feel to it whilst Copycat is a weird track that uses reggae vocals on top of Chemical Brothers or Prodigy style electronica and features very humorous lyrics. Strange Uncles from Abroad has a System of a Down feel to it but with some awesome strings...

dangaroo 25.08.2008 · Read review
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Review of East Infection - Gogol Bordello

Auditioning for East 15

Advantages: Probably the best school to offer an MA. Not at all pretentious.
Disadvantages: Rapidly improving reputation but doesn't have the prestige of some drama schools

...I had a different experience of auditioning for east 15 than lubbly jubbly. I admit I came to audition for East 15 with prejudice. I had first heard of East 15 back in the 80s when I studied Theatre and Performing Arts at a local college. East 15 was not particularly highly thought of at the time. I spent 15 years working in the real world before deciding to make a leap of faith and return to my first love, Acting. I auditioned for East 15 because of advice from my drama tutor who insisted East 15 was extremely up and coming and was now giving competition to schools such as Mountview, Rose Bruford, Central and LAMDA. He really rated it. In fact he knew people who chose to go to East 15 over these schools. I still attended with prejudice however. I was surprised to find I loved the place and thought the audition process was very...

adrianrelph 24.03.2008 (30.11.2009) · Read review
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Review of East 15 Acting School (London)