City Travel Guides > Books > Favourites in Books

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.The Snail and the Whale
City Travel Guides > Books > Favourites in Books
by: Julia Donaldson

August 04, 2006
Another crowd pleaser from the author and illustrator of The Gruffalo and Room on a Broom. My kids love these books. They don't ever get tired of hearing them, which is why this gets four stars. It doesn't get five because I don't like it at all. If you're looking for funny rhyming books with great illustrations I highly recommend the work of Lynley Dodd whose prolific output includes Hairy Maclary from Donaldson's Dairy and Slinky Malinky.

What I find most annoying about reading this book out loud is the fact that the words are squeezed to fit the fact that this is a rhyming story. The sentences just don't work, and yet the rhyme is so appealing for children that it is both memorable and immensely popular. The illustrations ... Read More:
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.The Man in the Picture: A Ghost Story
City Travel Guides > Books > Favourites in Books
by: Susan Hill

October 11, 2007
Not as good as the "Woman in Black". It starts (very) well but the plot loses direction at the middle and the becomes downright silly in the end. A good ghost story requires suspension of disbelief. It is an indictement of the plot that the disbelief occurs at the final actions of the protagonists rather than the manifestation of the supernatural.


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.Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, the Complete Radio Series
City Travel Guides > Books > Favourites in Books
by: Douglas Adams

October 03, 2005
As with previous releases on vinyl etc, this is NOT the original radio show. Episodes 1-4 sound like they have been re-recorded, from the voices and the technical sound I'm guessing this was done at the time of the third series. The script, the sound effects and music all contain differences - I've compared it to my original (very old) cassette recordings off the radio and the CD version is definitely different - cleaner maybe but somehow rather "flat".

Maybe the BBC lost the original recordings as they did with so many other radio and TV shows? Maybe the quality was thought to not be good enough? Maybe they thought they could improve the original sound effects with newer technology? Whatever the reason, claiming this as the original ... Read More:
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.Your 15th Club: The Inner Secret to Great Golf
City Travel Guides > Books > Favourites in Books
by: Bob Rotella

July 07, 2008
As with previous releases on vinyl etc, this is NOT the original radio show. Episodes 1-4 sound like they have been re-recorded, from the voices and the technical sound I'm guessing this was done at the time of the third series. The script, the sound effects and music all contain differences - I've compared it to my original (very old) cassette recordings off the radio and the CD version is definitely different - cleaner maybe but somehow rather "flat".

Maybe the BBC lost the original recordings as they did with so many other radio and TV shows? Maybe the quality was thought to not be good enough? Maybe they thought they could improve the original sound effects with newer technology? Whatever the reason, claiming this as the original ... Read More:
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.Dry Store Room No. 1: The Secret Life of the Natural History Museum
City Travel Guides > Books > Favourites in Books
by: Richard Fortey

January 07, 2008
Dry Store Room No.1 is a wonderful book that allows the reader an insight into the fascinating world of the Natural History Museum, London. In this book Mr Fortey tells us; not only about the exhibits, but also about the work behind them and the men and women who carried out this work. We learn about all sorts of things from the ghastly stenches of the pit where Whale carcasses are stripped of flesh to the curator who obsessively categorized everything including "string too short for further use".

The science parts can occasionally be a bit hard to understand but like another reviewer I see that as my lack of understanding not Mr Fortey's lack of clarity and besides what would life be if we didn't stretch ourselves once in a while.

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.A History of Modern Britain
City Travel Guides > Books > Favourites in Books
by: Andrew Marr

May 17, 2007
This book was updated for its paperback release and having read it carefully I suspect that many of the errors referred to by other reviewers were removed at that point. Having lived out of Britain for a sizeable chunk of my adult life, I found that I had much to learn from the pages - several large gaps in my knowledge were filled in.

I found it difficult to detect any signs of bias, and Andrew Marr's easy writing style made it a pleasure to read. This is almost as far removed from the dry history textbook that I wrestled with as a young student as it is possible to be. For anyone wanting a crash course on British modern history, this could not be bettered. Well researched and referenced, this deserves to become a standard.
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.The Killing Ground (Warhammer 40, 000)
City Travel Guides > Books > Favourites in Books
by: Graham McNeill

June 02, 2008
i thought it was bloody boring.the unfleshed did nothing but eat.you could tell where the heros were going with this story,no surprises.And if i want read about ghosts i'll get a book about the spirit world.the only decent battle was the ambush by the rebels/population.this could have been a lot better,i'am really let down by this book.Should do better.
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.Ladies of Letters Go Green: Series 9 (BBC Audio)
City Travel Guides > Books > Favourites in Books
by: Lou Wakefield, Carole Hayman

April 07, 2008
i thought it was bloody boring.the unfleshed did nothing but eat.you could tell where the heros were going with this story,no surprises.And if i want read about ghosts i'll get a book about the spirit world.the only decent battle was the ambush by the rebels/population.this could have been a lot better,i'am really let down by this book.Should do better.
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.Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs: Official Companion Book to the Exhibition
City Travel Guides > Books > Favourites in Books
by: Zahi A. Hawass

September 01, 2005
If you have been to or going to the exhibition at the 02 this is basically the identical book (same ISBN) as they are selling in the gift shop for £35.00. The only difference is that the Amazon one does not have the Omar Sharif audio disk included and it has a different slipcover. In my opinion the audio is great when you are actually walking round the exhibition but standalone it is of no great shakes. This book is a great souvenir of the exhibition, maybe not the most educational but beautifully photographed, would grace any coffee table! Save your cash go to the exhibition and buy the book on line!
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.I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue: v. 9 (Radio Collection)
City Travel Guides > Books > Favourites in Books
by: I'm Sorry I Haven't a Clue

September 05, 2005
I listen to this driving in to work. It makes me laugh, even on a Monday morning.

Trouble is, other drivers think I'm insane or laughing at them and give me grief, glowering at me from their cars. That makes me laugh even more.

Give up on Wogan and The Today Programme and get this instead.

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Used Price: £8.92