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Reynolds, Simon –
Rip it Up And Start Again
***
Reynolds’ book traces the “often
neglected” post-punk and new romantic musical eras of 1978-1984. Although
it is undeniably well researched and written, Rip It Up is very hard going at times, especially as it provides pages of coverage
on weird (and sometimes perverted) virtually unlistenable bands and musicians who don’t warrant such attention.
Furthermore Reynolds is inconsistent in his coverage – for example, there
are pages on Orange Juice but just a couple of sentences on their Postcard label-mates Aztec Camera whereas Elvis Costello
and other new wavers like XTC, Joe Jackson and Squeeze don’t get mentioned at all.
At times, it seems that to be included you had to be art rock with a capital F!
Having said this though, the second
part of the book covering the more accessible new-romantic major players of the early 80s was more personally interesting. Rip It Up is a worthwhile read for anyone who is interested in the more obscure and
underground music scenes of the period and the golden age of the highly politicised weekly music “inkies”. Others should treat it with much more caution and would probably prefer it to be an
A-Z encyclopaedia by artist and movement so that they can dip into their favourite bits and ignore the rest.
Read by me: 12.07-27.4.08
Rowling,
J K - Harry Potter And The Deathly Hallows
****1/2
The final instalment in the
Seven Books of Potter is the darkest with Harry, Ron and Hermione spending much of the story on the run from Voldermort and
the Dementors. The epic story works towards a final climactic battle at Hogwarts School but does good ultimately
succeed over Voldermort’s genocidal evil.
Despite its length and complexity, Deathly Hallows is still a real
page-turner. It also follows the general trend of the series in progressing into less and less of a children’s
book with its intricate series of plots and the deaths of several leading characters. Harry Potter’s
original readers have grown up as have the stories culminating in this fitting finale to a record-breaking series of novels.
Read
by me: 11.8.07-5.11.07
Rowling, J K - Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire
A-
Excellent 4th
book and school year in the Potter series where, instead of quidditch, Hogwarts' elected champion (and guess who?) are set
a series of challenges against the champions of 2 rival wizard schools. Very imaginative with lots of clever intricate
plots which piece together as the story develops. Although it's over 500 pages long, it retains interest and is a real "page
turner" - you never really know what is going to happen next. Brilliantly imaginative, it's the best book in the series so
far and I am looking forward to the 5th instalment which is coming out this summer (2003).
First published:
2000
Read be me: 5.2.03-31.3.03
Rowling, J
K – Harry Potter And The Half Blood Prince
****1/2
The sixth and
penultimate book in the Potter series where the now 17 year old Harry goes on further dangerous adventures, learns more about
his arch enemy Voldermort and once again, witnesses the death of a father figure in his life.
Like its predecessors, Half Blood Prince has a complex web of plots and sub-plots leaving the story poised for the
immense, final good-versus-evil battle between Harry and Voldermort in book seven. HBP
is very dark in places though this is thankfully countered by more sections of humour than the previous tomes – mainly
at the expense of Harry and Ron Weasley’s adolescent romantic fumblings.
It’s
probably not the best book in the series (I would nominate The Goblet Of Fire) but is still a real page-turner. Very imaginative and well worth reading.
Published: 2005
Read
by me: 7.05-end of 8.05
Rowling, J K - Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix
B+
It's difficult to review this
book objectively as it's not merely a novel - it's a phenomenon.! Having said that, Phoenix is once again a good, intricate,
imaginative adventure story with some strong new characters though not quite as good as the Goblet Of Fire book. Voldermort
has risen and the struggle between the good and dark forces of the wizard world become more pronounced as do the politics
at the Ministry of Magic. We also learn more about Neville's past and Harry changes rather too suddenly into an angry, stroppy
teenager. An excellent 5th instalment in the series.
First published: 2003
Read by me: 21.6.03-31.7.03
Rowling, J K - Harry Potter And The Prisoner Of Azkaban
B
The third book in the Harry Potter
series. A good imaginative story though not massively memorable or thought provoking. The children are a year older and their
characters more developed but none of the new characters introduced in this book have the same impact as Gilderoy Lockhart
in the Chamber Of Secrets book. Still very much worth reading but probably the least enjoyable of the Harry Potter books for
me so far.
First published: 1999
Read by me: 29.10.02-13.11.02.
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