Pierke
A breeze, but a very entertaining one. Some real gems that made me laugh out loud and some sound advice that's also applicable to us lesser mortals not in the film industry. After reading I have the urge to re-acquaint myself with a few of his films. I started with the Ipcress File, which is still enjoyable after seeing it for the umpteenth time.
It's a crossover between a travelogue, a memoir and a biography of St. Cuthbert. Not religious myself and in the same age group as the author, I liked his ruminations on how to best live the last decade(s) of your life and prepare for death. But the book gives also an interesting glimpse into the life of St. Cuthbert and into the history of the Kingdom of Northumbria and the Borders in the 7th century. It has the same engaging writing style of his other books and really shouldn't be missed.
I can strongly recommend the audiobook read by David Rintoul. I wished NAXOS or Audible would publish all Alistair Moffat's older books, or at least The Hidden Way, in audio format as well, preferably read by David Rintoul (or some of the other excellent narrators with Scotts accents, or narrators that know how to pronounce Gaelic words and phrases).
A thought-provoking compilation of articles on Pentecostal and charismatic movements in China. Together they give an almost comprehensive overview of the present day state of affairs.
An excellent concise overview of Irish history. Well written and easy to read. It cleared up I few questions I had—a good beginning for any journey into Irish history.
If you are interested in film music, this is a must-read. All Bond movies, also the unofficial ones, are dealt with very extensively, up till Quantum of Solace. With a structure of one movie per chapter it also invites to keep the book close at hand when viewing a Bond movie. Especially the inserts that give the score highlights, by minutes into the film, are very helpful while watching. The book has a wealth of pictures, as well. It is amazing how much information Jon Burlingame was able to unearth, a real treasure-trove. The book merits a re-reading, as remembering all the fact in one reading is nigh on impossible.
About the audio version. This was my first encounter with Tom Parks and I didn't like it very much. I am sure that his enthusiastic rendition can be a bonus for certain books, but it distracted me from the story
A beautifully told, clear explanation of how the European empires slowly descended into World War I, with Vienna and the Habsburg Empire as its point of departure. The book gives a sparkling impression of Vienna and the people who inhabited the city at this moment in time. This gave the bigger picture a wonderful full-bodied context. I also liked the balanced portrayal of Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his morganatic wife Countess Sophie. They are so often overlooked or characterized as borish and uninspiring.
I listen to the audio book, which was beautifully read by Arthur Morey (only his German was sometimes unintelligible) and simultaneous read the paperback. The index was very comprehensive.
Thanks to Netgalley who provided me with an advance digital copy.
Salad in a Jar by Anna Helm Baxter is another book that tries to cash in on the Mason-Jar-salad-hype. But even if there is a plethora of books to choose from, Baxter's book stands out because of the hands-on, simple, inspiring recipes and the beautiful pictures, always a feature of Ten Speed Press. As a vegan I was glad most recipes didn't use any meat or cheese, besides Baxter gives ample inspiration for combining your favorite ingredients into your own favorite salad.
This is not a novel. It a memoir told without wasting words. Very moving and deeply troubling
A history of information management and knowledge transfer employed by the teachers of the Lectorium at the Zurich Grossmünster in midst of the 16th century. Very readable and informative. The first time I indexed the word index.
Wonderful book about art and storytelling on Bali and a real pleasure to index. It's out now!!
The book describes the geometric method for analyzing ethical issues in the technological field, while making use of five moral principles. The Cost-Benefit Principle, the Precautionary Principle, the Sustainability Principle, the Autonomy Principle and the Fairness Principle. It uses the outcome of three experimental studies to clarify the method, besides giving reasons for preferring this method over other methods. Well written, concise, a nice piece of expertise.
A monograph about life and work of Fou Lei. Making use of hitherto unexplored material, which generated some remarkable assumptions. Written in expressive English; with love and respect for her subject. Highly recommended.
Interesting book about the origins of the Mandaeans and their religion. Well written and researched. It was a pleasure to index!!
Always a bit apprehensive when sequels are concerned, but this one's even better than the first one. Wished I could give 5½ star!
An illuminating biography of Ibrahim-i Gulshani and the Sufi order he established. The book gives an idea of the political and religious power wielded by Gulshani during his lifetime and how the order fared after his demise. It was a nice challenge to write the index the book deserves.
When the Sidney Chamber books were made into a TV-series in 2014, I was thrilled as it seemed to exude the same atmosphere as the books. The second season, however, had a much grimmer atmosphere and deviated from the books in storyline as well. So I was glad to return to the real stuff in this fifth instalment of the Grantchester mystery series. As usual it did live up to my expectations.Sidney is a bit older now and has been appointed Archdeacon of Ely. Nevertheless, he still struggles with his own frailties. His tries to be a good husband to his beloved Hildegard, a good father to his daughter Anna and of course a good shepherd to his flock. Dickens, the beloved black Labrador is replaced by Byron. The six interrelated stories in the volume are set in the 60's, with allusions to Pink Floyd, the moon landing and free love. The stories explore the dangers of temptation, the power of hatred, the act of revenge, homosexuality and the changing class system. It is not the “whodunit” aspect of the stories, that make the reading captivating. Like in the Alexander McCall Smith books in [b:The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency 7061 The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, #1) Alexander McCall Smith https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1459953654s/7061.jpg 826298] series, it is how the protagonist handles the problems that are put before him, that make the tales memorable. Sidney's charm, compassion, humility and believe in the innate goodness of men, are as constant as in his previous investigations.
This was the third in the Nigel Barnes series and I have enjoyed all three tremendously, only a pity this last one wasn't published as an audiobook is well, as I loved Colin Mace's narration. I do hope the author finds time and energy to write a sequel or two. I have picked this book up on Amazon for $3.37 and find this almost an insult to the author.
This is the second Ghote book I've read, but although I tried hard it's not my cup of tea. I just don't find Ghote very likable. A pity, for I was looking forward to a nice long series.
Wonderfully atmospheric, full of humor and an intricate plot with twists and turns. Even better than the first one, already hoping for a third installment!
Nice to be reacquainted after so many years. I think it's the third time I read it and it hasn't lost any of its charms. It is still as dark and brooding as I remembered. I listened to the audiobook version read by Amy Molloy. She did a good job, but I found the pace a bit too slow and for the first time used the button in the Audible app to speed it up a notch.
This is my all-time favourite of all the Mary Stewart novels. Although I must have read this several time in the 70s, it was as fresh and enthralling as the first time. Although the reading of Emilia Fox was very pleasant, the speed was awfully slow.
