Applied Language Solutions,"The one that got away"

After reading the new Dragons Den book, I thought that like the programme it was extremely enjoyable. After watching the series, I was really interested in finding out more about the entrepreneurs and what happened next and the book helped me do exactly that.<br /><br />I was also pleasantly surprised to find a whole chapter dedicated to the company I work for, Applied Language Solutions and its founder, Gavin Wheeldon. The Dragons chose not to invest in Gavin's translation company but yet we have proved to be one of the most successful companies to appear before the dragons so far,"The one that got away." I thought it was commendable of the dragons to include both their successes and the investment opportunities they missed. It made the book a more interesting and believable read.<br /><br />I would definitely recommend this book. If you are a fan of the programme or looking for tips on how to be the next Duncan Bannatyne this is the book for you.<br />

A Must Read!

Simply gorgeous! John Barrowman is charming, witty, honest and fantastically entertaining.<br />One of the (many) things which makes this book a must read is John's unfailing honesty in every chapter. Unlike so many other autobiographies, I never read a false word.<br />Rarely does a non fiction book make me laugh or cry, but this did both, many times. My all time favourite!

I can't wait to leave work so I can go home and finish this book!

Laugh out loud funny in parts, lump-in-the-throat touching in others this book demonstrates the difference between a music lover and someone whose whole being is consumed with obsessive need for music (in a good way). It's made me go and look up some of the tracks I'm not familiar with and wonder how I've managed to escape them for so long. It's so easy to read, and Stuart comes across as a very genuine, likeable person whose passion for music is infectious. It's great for north west nostalgia, but I'm sure there's something for everyone in here.

An interesting and insightful text which I enjoyed studying

As a part of my A level studies I have concentrated on this text. I have found it most interesting and insightful if a little hard to comprehend at first. This edition is very good for the price but is by no means upto the standard of other texts which boast analysis and also the alternative ending. I have yet to find a good sudy guide to this text so it is perhaps worth investing in a more facilitative original text if your intention is for study.

Music Theory

This is an impressive book making a normally dry subject amusing and entertaining. It is fun to read and understand, explaining everything for the beginner and going into real detail for the more experienced.<br />The only word of criticism is that it is American and as a result doesn't consider that terminology such as semibreve, crotchet, quaver, semi-quaver even exist. Minim is mentioned but the others are not. Having said that the terms note, half-note, quarter-note etc. are more easily understood - however a little addendum would have helped even if in part of the history section.<br />It also comes with a CD that has a fantastic array of examples and concepts to listen to.<br />I have yet to work my way through the more complex parts of the book but I'm sure that it will provide me with the answers to questions that have puzzled me for years. I fully recommend buying it to anyone.

Patchy, like Eno

If you've never read much about Eno, then you'll probably enjoy this. But if you've read, say, More Dark Than Shark, or A Year With Swollen Appendices, you might find yourself disappointed by the amount of stuff you already know. I was also disappointed by the over-reverential tone, even whan the author is describing quite appaling behaviour by Eno. Nonetheless, Eno is always worth reading about so the book isn't bad. What is bad, though, is the number of typos and innacuracies - but if you're well up on Eno already, spotting the glitches makes the read a bit more worthwhile. I'm sure the author will happily honour his mistakes as a hidden intention. Me, I paid twenty quid for it and I don't think it's worthwhile. Get the paperback, if you must.

The funniest book I have ever read

This man's grasp of language, his misanthropy and his FURY make him the funniest non-fiction writer there is."Screen Burn" is an absolute masterpiece of bile, wit and (in fact) refusal to burp along with the"It's just a bit of fun, innit?" mentality that poisons so much modern TV. <br />His reviews also prove just what an assured judge of quality he is, as he comes out in favour of programmes which have since been hailed as classics. <br />He is compulsively readable and magnificently, blisteringly funny.

Don't judge a book by it's cover (or it's name)

I bought this book hoping that there would be some kind of psychological elements to it, along the Derren Brown style of tricks. I was out of luck. The book is just another magic book where every trick requires props that you wouldn't usually carry around. If that's what you want then it's probably not a bad book to get, but if you are looking for something a little bit different, you won't find it here.

A real step down in quality

Whilst I have been suitably impressed with previous volumes of Justin Richards' Doctor Who guides, I was left feeling that the new edition seemed like it was done by someone else, someone who didn't care quite as much about the content. Previous books have focused on various aliens and enemies of the Doctor, with a healthy mix of Classic foes and villains from the new series up to the point of publishing. So for example, last year's"Creatures and Demons" book featued old skool terrors like the Krynoid and the Wirrn, alongside monsters from the tail end of S2 (the Cult of Skaro) and first half of series 3 (Judoon, Sec Hybrid). Arranged in alphabetical fashion, with beautiful photos and design sketches, the first three books were great for fans wishing to complement their Classic guides with new Who info, and ideal for newcomers to both incarnations. Most importantly, the guides featured a detailed index at the back for referencing monsters and the episodes they feature in.<br /><br />The new book"Starships and Spacestations" is a real departure from the"a-z monsters" approach, and the book suffers as a result. One need only look at the contents page to see how haphazardly the guide has been assembled. Previous books have had around 30 entries to peruse, whilst the new volume has just 6 and tries to lump together categories of alien and Earth ships from across time and space and both versions of the show. <br /><br />It also tries to stick to the principle of mixing old and brand new with mentions for late S3 episodes and early S4, but these are randomly shoved in - who would honestly expect"The Fires of Pompeii" to crop up in a book on starships and spacestations? Similarly, the splendid two-parter of"Human Nature" and"The Family of Blood" is chucked in, but not in the detail it would be were the book a guide to MONSTERS rather than SHIPS, so there's no scarecrows, no John and Joan and no real detal on the family. <br /><br />Infact, it seems to me that even the field of spaceships isn't serviced very well as there are many many omissions and some entries at the back mention the alien races who have ships and don't even show a still of the ship itself, just the alien. And surely any guide to DW's vessels needs to devote more than a page at the back to the TARDIS?! <br /><br />Of course, like any Justin Richards and BBC production, the book is still lavish and detailed, but with no index, a poorly thought out structure and confusing one page pictures with no caption or relevance to the pages around them, this guide is a disappointment. And maybe Justin Richards was running out of suitable ingredients for titles (after"Monsters and Villains","Aliens and Enemies" and"Creatures and Demons") or maybe it seemed time for a guide to the technology of DW, but as volume 4 of this particular range, it was a real disappointment, and as a guide to spacecraft it was sorely lacking.<br /><br />2.5 stars

Routine and shallow

Ronnie obviously wrote the book himself rather than employing a ghost-writer. That sounds like a good idea for someone who's quite creative: but in my opinion the excessive name-dropping and routine style hamper the book's impact, and this could have been smoothed out by getting a more accomplished writer involved.<br />There are plenty of anecdotes along the way so it's quite entertaining, but to me it seems a rather shallow affair,just a quick run through a set of diaries, and I didn't feel that I understood Ronnie any better at the end. A lot of the sections come across as boastful: almost every star mentioned is his"great friend", and he can't resist mentioning exactly how his paintings get enthusiastic receptions from celebrities and politicians, and entry into famous galleries. I'm sure they're very good, but it must have occurred to him that it's the signature that really counts when a painting is the work of a member of one of the world's most famous rock bands!<br />Buy it for the insights into the shady world of rock music and mis-management, but don't expect great literature.

Emotion, Friendship juxtaposed with Pure Horror and Brutality

'Journey's End' opens in the bleak environment of the Western Front as a new arrival James Raleigh comes to join a group of soldiers in the trench system. The 'journey' on which the soldiers embark upon is contains two human attributes, the first being emotional attachment, the second being the power of perceiverance. <br /><br />Sherriff does not need to go into the graphic details of what happens when the men 'go over the top', however he builds up a number of passionate friendships that both move and endear the reader. The first of these relationships is between Commander Stanhope and Officer Osborne who is 'the only man who could understand me' as described by the company commander at the moment of Osborne's demise. Their relationship is one of two brothers as they look after each other on the Front line - 'what would I ever do without you old chap' exclaims Stanhope, 'I do not know' responds Osborne - inferring the loving relationship the two characters share. At the moment of Osborne's death I was shocked at the anger that welled up inside Stanhope as he responded to the comments from the survivors of the daylight raid on 'the Boche'. He shouts at Hibbert - 'What did you say!...Get out of my sight!' in anger at losing his 'most trusted friend' and the sense of loss is only solidified by the explosion of emotion that feels his dialogue whilst conversing with Raleigh (the soul commanding survivor of the raid). <br /><br />The audience can fully understand the sense of anger that is perpetuated by Stanhope at the loss of his comrade. The loss moves the reader as the emotional outpouring fills six pages of intense dialogue between the commanding officer and the other soldiers. <br /><br />The opposite reaction can be found at the climax of the performance. Stanhope must deal with another loss, this time of his school friend and new arrival Raleigh. The young officer's death is one of immense sadness and brutality as the 'young boy's' dignity is ripped from him as 'he cannot walk sir' - though the most sombre moment comes when Raleigh asks 'is there something on my legs, I cannot move them' unbeknown to him that he is in fact paralysed from shrapnel breaking his spine. This horrific brutality is finalised with the death of 'that fine soldier'. This moment is devoid of anger or confusion, but bears down to the horrific truth of war time conflict. Sherriff highlights the horrific truth with the final dialogue between another officer and Stanhope. Stanhope must leave his fallen friend, 'I'm coming now', as he is called to duty. The audience is left feeling immense for the soldier who thought 'it awful nice of you to bother' when Stanhope fetches him a blanket and a candle as his last dying wish. <br /><br />Sherriff allows two redeeming features to the two horrific deaths of the soldiers lie with the ignorance of Raleigh and the rapid death endured by Osborne whilst 'waiting for Raleigh on the Front line'. However this only adds to the brilliance of the play as a piece of anti war artwork. <br /><br />Sherriff is fantastic at delivering a dialogue that not only amuses in places and heartens the audience but also plunges them to the depths of dispair at the brutality and senselessness of war. Two young men die in the play, along with six nameless others, however Sherriff only touches the tip of the iceberg with the play, but my does this tip deliver a piercing cut to the audience. It is emotive and passionate in its description of the group of men in the trenches, but accompanying this is a forceful message that highlights the stupid senselessness of the war effort and pays remeberance to the young souls who fell throughou the Great War.

Official Guide!

I remmber back in college where I had to take this book out and borrow it to study them at home. But then I managed to take it with me when i finished college lOl... That's because this book is sooooooo great, it covers the most importances of animation. It demonstrate the in between drawings, the movements of a character, describing the weight of an objects and how to exagerate your character. But by saying this, there is much more to this. Buy this book. This is the only book you need!

Essential reading for pundits

I ordered this book for my son (aged 11½) - we really enjoy ISIHAC on BBC radio 4 and BBC 7. At first, he was confused. It looked like his school dictionary, but he couldn't understand the entries. We've discuss the definitions and his grasp of the English Language and his appreciation of the English sense of humour has led him to produce some excellent ideas for new contributions - it should be compulsory reading for all Key Stage 2 pupils.
I look forward to the 18th-ish edition.

Poignant

This is a great book for Eels fans and particularly anyone interested in E. At times sad and darkly humourous; the most interesting chapters are when he deals with the personal tragedies that have beset his life and in the stories behind the albums he has created.<br />E is a maverick and his music so incredibly original that this book may have wider scope. The only negative would be the tendancy for self indulgence, but hey- he is a rock star after all!

Disappointing

Too many irritating bad jokes and not enough substance.

A good introduction to magic

This book is great introduction for someone starting out in magic. The book is suitable for teens to adults, just bear in mind that good magic means"Practice", you will have to put time and effort in to learning the contents...but you will be rewarded for your efforts.<br /><br />This book has a little bit of everything but just enough of a taste to whet your appetite to learn more. It starts with" Auto Magic", tricks that basically work by themselves. As the book says" ...designed to ease readers into the world of magic by letting them concentrate on the performance". Next up" The Midas touch" concentrates on coin magic. Here the skill level goes up. This chapter shows basic sleights of hand and some tricks to perform with them. We then have a section called" Top Secret Gadgets"... exactly as it says on the tin. None of these are provided with the book, rather it gives an overview of some staple"gimmicks" that are used in magic. The next three chapters concentrate on card magic," Hands on Deck"," Shark Attack" then" Cruising". With each one the difficulty level goes up. But within those chapters you get a great pot pouri of tricks, sleights, flourishes and how to manipulate a deck of cards. The next chapter" Mind Magic" deals with mind reading and psychological types of tricks. Chapter eight is entitled" Street Scams", this is full of the type of classic trickery and flim flam that has relieved many a person from their money. The penultimate chapter is" Party Tricks" as the book says..." a selection of crowd pleasing classics for entertaining large groups of party people". The last chapter is just one trick billed as" probably the best card trick ever"...who am I to disagree, it certainly is an all time classic. <br /><br />Overall this is a smashing introduction to magic and good value for money. Yes, there are more comprehensive and detailed books and if the magic bug gets you, you will end up buying them as well. A main plus is it has clear easy to follow descriptions and nice colour photos taking you through each part of each trick. I like this book, it is the 1st book on magic I bought and recommend it to anyone, young, or like me, more mature, who is looking to take their first steps into performing magic. <br />

Original 1954 recording with Richard Burton, all-Welsh cast.

Written as a"play for voices" for the BBC, this historic audiotape features the all-Welsh cast of the original BBC production from 1954. Richard Burton is the First Voice, which connects all the characters, played by twenty-eight men, women, and children. With perfect diction and the sense of character which only a great actor can convey, Burton rolls his R's, modulates his voice in pitch and intensity, and makes Thomas's poetry come fully alive--full of alliteration and various kinds of rhyme, with nouns and adjectives used as verbs to convey action and sense impressions simultaneously, and always a wry humor and honesty of feeling.

Depicting one full day in the life of a small town in Wales, Thomas shows its motley residents as they awaken, perform their daily tasks, socialize, gossip, and daydream about the past that might have been and the future that may yet hold hope. When night falls and the residents retire, their losses and disappointments, along with their escapes into dreams, are given voice and poignancy. Polly Garter, with her numerous children by numerous fathers, dreams of Willie, a very small man who was the love of her life. Captain Cat, the blind bell-ringer, thinks of all the sailors he knew who died at sea. Mr. Pugh dreams of poisoning his wife, and young Gwenny, who has extorted pennies from the little boys who do NOT want to kiss her, plans for the next day and more pennies.

The sound effects provide context for the drama without overpowering the narrative--a cock's crow, the clip-clop of horses, the bark of dogs, footsteps, the sea, bell buoys--and simple songs add to the realism and the sense of character and place. A mournful tune performed by Polly Garter in a minor key, as she remembers Willie and compares him to her other lovers, is beautifully sung by Diana Maddox, her clear, bell-like voice and almost palpable sadness making her one of the most memorable of the characters. A humorous children's singing game, sung by local school children, gives added realism, and little Gwenny's song to three very young boys is delightfully cheeky. Both enchanting and historically important, this memorable recording is worth seeking through Used sites or through amazon.co.uk--the best recording ever made of this wonderful"play for voices." Mary Whipple

Stunning

This play is amazing! The techniques Churchill uses to keep your interest are interesting in themselves. A fantastic plot that keeps you engrossed. A brilliant play that combines the issues of class and gender in an unusual way. A joy to study, going to see this play is is a must.

How good this book is

This book is the best and I encorage you to read it too your children