Having read the three and four star reviews, I had second-thoughts about purchasing 'Stephen Fry in America'. But after purchasing the book on the back of watchin three episodes of the TV programme I was compelled to write a review and it is one of 5 stars, as I'm sure you may be aware of! I can tell you my friends, that this well put together travelogue of a quintessentially Englishman's journey through and into the heart of America is almost definitely a book everyone who 'views' this item on amazon should purchase.
I don't want to slate the former reviews (apart from the 5 star one, great outlook ol' chum) because they're entitled to create their own opinions but they are wrong! To quote Mike D of the Beastie Boys, "I don't speak what ... Read More:
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I bought this book on Saturday. It's Monday now and I've just finished it, which for me is very fast indeed, and a reflection on what a fascinating and well written book it is.
I heard the author talking about his travels and studies on BBC Radio 4 and thought his ideas about linguistics were interesting, but when I had a quick look at the book before I bought it I realised it was much more than an work about the theory of language. It's actually a rare combination of exciting adventure story, anthropology AND linguistics. The conclusions Everett reaches after 30 years of living amongst the Piraha people get right to the heart of what makes us who we are as human beings, and provide a fascinating insight into another way of life we would ... Read More:
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Brought this for alot more than for sale here, from high street store. Grrrr! Anyway got to say Bruce is a legend and its a perfect crimbo present!
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As soon as the leaves start to fall it's time to get the new copy of the Good Pub Guide. Other reviewers have complained not much changes, but for me it's the small changes from year to year which are the pleasure. Which pubs are newly inserted, which ones are out?
If a pub you like isn't in there then why not submit a review (you can now do this on the web). The GPG team do take notice and you might even see your name in print in the 2010 edition...
Quite simply I gave this book top marks because it gave such a clear and shocking insight into the DR Congo. Before reading this book I had not been aware of how depraved and destroyed this country is and has continued to be for so long. Whilst outside countries continue to pillage this wonderful country it will remain one of the most saddest stories of world history. The fact that most of the wildlife has now been destroyed across this country gives a good indication of how desperate the people's lives have become. Thank you Tim. Good luck people of DR Congo.
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I have had some wonderful days out with this book. It is highly recommended, an interesting often educational read with great photography.
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The book's characteristics are the elegant, rich in historical and cultural content, insightful but witty and light in touch text and the beautiful photographs of landscape, seascape, buildings, monuments, ruins and works of art which are inextricably interwoven and mutually reinforcing;the impact on the reader is not merely additive but truly synergistic.
We travel with the author from the city of his birth, Venice aboard the Black Swan, a renovated 1899 yawl along trading routes of the Venetian Empire visiting the coastline and islands of the Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean seas with Istanbul (formerly Constantinople)the final destination. Some of these lands were former colonies of 'La Serenissima' and we witness its legacy in the form of ... Read More:
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The book's characteristics are the elegant, rich in historical and cultural content, insightful but witty and light in touch text and the beautiful photographs of landscape, seascape, buildings, monuments, ruins and works of art which are inextricably interwoven and mutually reinforcing;the impact on the reader is not merely additive but truly synergistic.
We travel with the author from the city of his birth, Venice aboard the Black Swan, a renovated 1899 yawl along trading routes of the Venetian Empire visiting the coastline and islands of the Adriatic, Ionian and Aegean seas with Istanbul (formerly Constantinople)the final destination. Some of these lands were former colonies of 'La Serenissima' and we witness its legacy in the form of ... Read More:
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Along with G Meehan I find the errors irritating having found two more in the first 24 pages.
One is often repeated and may be considered trivial by many - the line from Gray's Elegy (page 18)
The lowing herd winds slowly o'er the lea,
True, several websites print this version but they may well be just
copies of other sites.
Reputable poetry sites and Oxford University's Gray archive print the version that also appears in the Oxford Book of English Verse:
The lowing herd wind slowly o'er the lea,
Yes, it does seem odd, but if that's what Gray wrote, that's what should appear.
The editors at the publishers, if not the author, should be capable of spotting this.
Pretty much disappointed with this one. Yes Man and Join Me were '5*' excellent and so I was quick to buy this latest offering but I'm pretty much disappointed. There's no doubt that there are a few gems hidden away in here but not enough to make me want to keep turning the pages. Like another review, I too was about to give up after a couple of hundred pages but continued on. Once I finished each chapter, I just wasn't interested in reading the next. It was a struggle with too many names of 'characters' thrown into the book to keep up with. I like a page turner and this isn't one of them. Saying that, if you just need a book to pick up and read when you have a little time to spare, then this could be just what you need.
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