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Books : Notes from the Hard Shoulder
Rating: 
- Whoever would have thought I'd love a book that spends four pages discussing cup-holders in cars?!
I'm a little reluctant to admit to watching Top Gear as a guilty pleasure, even though half the time I haven't the foggiest idea what they are talking about! It was on this basis that I bought this James May book, hoping that things would become a little clearer. James May seems like the perfect teacher, a lot less abrasive than Jeremy Clarkson and looking a bit more like a science boffin than Richard Hammond.
I found this book hugely enjoyable. The short articles mean that it is easy to pick up and put down and he covers a range of topics from haunted car parks to how to solve disputes with van drivers and from cup-holders in cars to camper van holidays.
There were times when I was still lost. For example; 'The BTCC A4 is geared at a mere 0.9 turns lock to lock' I don't have the first idea what this means, but I still had a great time reading anyway!
Rating: - Excellent!
James May's second compendium of motoring-related articles makes for an excellent read. Of particular note is the one about the camper-van holiday, which is almost worth the asking-price on its own. Definitely better - in terms of being both more amusing and less arrogant - than Jeremy Clarkson's books.
Rating:
- james may- notes from the hard shoulder
This is a great toilet book , to all the blokes out there .......James has a great way of writing what everyone is thinking about how this country/world is going !!!!!! loads of sort stories which is great.
congratulations james may
Rating: - Excellent - a good light read with a hint of Wodehouse
As an XX-chromosome carrier (i.e., not male) amongst the human species, I watch Top Gear for their humour and glorious refusal to bow to the PC idiots and enviro-mental scaremongers. I also read all three newspaper columns, which can make books like this seem deja vu, but I buy James May's because he reminds of an intelligent Bertie Wooster, or Rupert Psmith, that other great character by the master of comic prose, PG Wodehouse. On screen, May is often in the background, or the butt of Clarkson and Hammond's aggression, albeit this is why the trio work so well together - Clarkson's 'public persona' is the fact that he is an opinionated ranter, whilst Hammond's equally is that of the 'cheeky lovable chappie' - but May's quiet 'everyman' provides the balance, though this does mean he is underrated for his dry wit, intelligence and "affable irony". If you like reading gently sardonic opinions, ironic observations and you like your humour in the style of the superlative Plum Wodehouse (i.e., intelligent, well-crafted wordplay not obscene expletive laden drivel), then this is the book to reach for when you want to enjoy a pleasant afternoon or evening of intelligent but funny reading with a bottle of red or a good port.
Rating: - FANTASTIC!
I have not finished reading this book, because when I've had a bad day it cheers me up , James is Intellegent , charming , handsome , single and british with a sence of humor ...what more could a woman want to snuggle up in bed and read this ( its not just for men).
- Whoever would have thought I'd love a book that spends four pages discussing cup-holders in cars?!I'm a little reluctant to admit to watching Top Gear as a guilty pleasure, even though half the time I haven't the foggiest idea what they are talking about! It was on this basis that I bought this James May book, hoping that things would become a little clearer. James May seems like the perfect teacher, a lot less abrasive than Jeremy Clarkson and looking a bit more like a science boffin than Richard Hammond.
I found this book hugely enjoyable. The short articles mean that it is easy to pick up and put down and he covers a range of topics from haunted car parks to how to solve disputes with van drivers and from cup-holders in cars to camper van holidays.
There were times when I was still lost. For example; 'The BTCC A4 is geared at a mere 0.9 turns lock to lock' I don't have the first idea what this means, but I still had a great time reading anyway!
Rating:
- Excellent!James May's second compendium of motoring-related articles makes for an excellent read. Of particular note is the one about the camper-van holiday, which is almost worth the asking-price on its own. Definitely better - in terms of being both more amusing and less arrogant - than Jeremy Clarkson's books.
Rating:
- james may- notes from the hard shoulderThis is a great toilet book , to all the blokes out there .......James has a great way of writing what everyone is thinking about how this country/world is going !!!!!! loads of sort stories which is great.
congratulations james may
Rating:
- Excellent - a good light read with a hint of WodehouseAs an XX-chromosome carrier (i.e., not male) amongst the human species, I watch Top Gear for their humour and glorious refusal to bow to the PC idiots and enviro-mental scaremongers. I also read all three newspaper columns, which can make books like this seem deja vu, but I buy James May's because he reminds of an intelligent Bertie Wooster, or Rupert Psmith, that other great character by the master of comic prose, PG Wodehouse. On screen, May is often in the background, or the butt of Clarkson and Hammond's aggression, albeit this is why the trio work so well together - Clarkson's 'public persona' is the fact that he is an opinionated ranter, whilst Hammond's equally is that of the 'cheeky lovable chappie' - but May's quiet 'everyman' provides the balance, though this does mean he is underrated for his dry wit, intelligence and "affable irony". If you like reading gently sardonic opinions, ironic observations and you like your humour in the style of the superlative Plum Wodehouse (i.e., intelligent, well-crafted wordplay not obscene expletive laden drivel), then this is the book to reach for when you want to enjoy a pleasant afternoon or evening of intelligent but funny reading with a bottle of red or a good port.
Rating:
- FANTASTIC!I have not finished reading this book, because when I've had a bad day it cheers me up , James is Intellegent , charming , handsome , single and british with a sence of humor ...what more could a woman want to snuggle up in bed and read this ( its not just for men).