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.Gomorrah: Italy's Other Mafia

by: Roberto Saviano

January 18, 2008
I read this book before retiring to bed over several nights. I found it hard to put down, yet each time I turned the page I thought the narrative might pick up, become more personal and lead me somewhere more satisfying. Is it me? Do I lack that bit of inside information that would help me digest and put more clarity to the situation? The information came at you wholesale, floods of it...names, places, so many names and places, complicated by my lack of knowledge of places and probably politics, background and pronunciation. So many killings...don't get me wrong, I loved it and recommend it ...yet it left me wanting just that little bit more explanation. All the while I was reading the book I was constantly nagged by the question...what was ... Read More:
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.Miracles of Life: Shanghai to Shepperton : an Autobiography

by: J.G. Ballard

September 01, 2008
I won't give a synopsis since this has already been done ably by other reviewers. Why this autobiography 'worked' for me is that Mr Ballard has reflected his past experiences to his present situation so movingly, and with characteristic modesty. As a young man he considered his unusual childhood to be of little interest to anyone; only late on in his life has it provided him with explicit material for fiction - and now, with this account - for fact - only latterly has he recognised that he had unconsciously used his childhood experiences as literary motifs.

Judging by his enthusiasm that came through in the middle part of the book, I suspect that Mr Ballard derived most satisfaction in his life from raising his three children on his own ... Read More:
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.Death In Venice [1971]

starring: Dirk Bogarde, Bjorn Andresen, Silvana Mangano, Mark Burns, Marisa Berenson
directed by: Luchino Visconti

June 01, 2006
A proper film made the proper way, by not caring too much what the mass market might think of it. That's right, it's almost completely uncommercial in my opinion, and that's one of the main reasons for liking it. Photography, direction, filmscore, Bogarde, all superb. Will send you into artistic raptures or send you to sleep...or even both.
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.Byzantium: The Surprising Life of a Medieval Empire

by: Judith Herrin

April 03, 2008
Let me begin by saying that I really, really want to like this book. I am a Late Roman/Byzantine history enthusiast and have read no end of books on the subject over the last couple of decades. Any book attempting to bring this sadly neglected area of history into the wider public consciousness, as Herrin is trying to do with this account, is to be applauded. However for me this falls way short of the mark due to problems ranging from numerous annoyances through to inaccurate impressions given through to complete howlers.

I am only 30-odd pages in so far as I write this, but am moved to review already because of these problems. To mention already a few off the top of my head:

- The last Western emperor was NOT replaced by "half-Vandal, ... Read More:
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.The Leopard [1963]

starring: Burt Lancaster, Claudia Cardinale, Alain Delon, Paolo Stoppa, Rina Morelli
directed by: Luchino Visconti

September 27, 2004
If i had to chose one movie as representing the greatest western movie of all times this will definitely be my unanimous choice .
it discusses state,religion and the ordinary people in the guise of the Garribaldi rebellion in Sicily but is a very true account of the human existence since beginning of time.
The essence of the theme is that something has to change for nothing to change in entirety ,in this case it is the aristrocratic order being disguised as a political regime by the italian intervention .
Burt Lancaster is the wise prince who represents the aristocracy and the state with Alain Delon as his impoverished nephew who is obliged to marry the daughter of an upstart politician who represents the nouveau rich new order.
Claudia Cardinale ... Read More:
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.Cristo Si E Fermato a Eboli (Tascabili - Scrittori)

by: Carlo Levi

2005-10
If i had to chose one movie as representing the greatest western movie of all times this will definitely be my unanimous choice .
it discusses state,religion and the ordinary people in the guise of the Garribaldi rebellion in Sicily but is a very true account of the human existence since beginning of time.
The essence of the theme is that something has to change for nothing to change in entirety ,in this case it is the aristrocratic order being disguised as a political regime by the italian intervention .
Burt Lancaster is the wise prince who represents the aristocracy and the state with Alain Delon as his impoverished nephew who is obliged to marry the daughter of an upstart politician who represents the nouveau rich new order.
Claudia Cardinale ... Read More:
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.Predictably Irrational: The Hidden Forces That Shape Our Decisions

by: Dan Ariely

March 03, 2008
Dan Ariely has written an interesting and thought-provoking book on the behaviour of human beings in the field of money and commerce. There are some fascinating insights here that we already "knew" from our own behaviour but had maybe put it down to a personal oddity. Now we know, from the experiments of Dan and his colleagues, that we are not alone in our irrationality!

I like the style with which the book is written: it is extrememly readable and Professor Ariely's humanity and humour come through in large doses, which is refreshing for an academic/business book. The chapters that I found particularly interesting and pertinent were those on social and market norms (why is a gift for your neighbour helping with your house move OK but paying him is not?) and how our ... Read More:
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.The Bottom Billion: Why the Poorest Countries Are Failing and What Can Be Done About It

by: Paul Collier

May 24, 2007
In my work over the last few years, struggling with the issues of development and poverty reduction, and I read a lot of books on the issues. Recently, I read one of the best books in the form of Paul Collier's The Bottom Billion.
Just as Mr. Collier says at the end of his book, discussions on poverty and development have over the last few years been dominated by two extremes: On the one extreme Mr. Jeffrey Sachs call for more aid to "end poverty", and on the other side, William Easterly's negativity that nothing really works (in the books The End of Poverty and The White Man's Burden, respectively).
Mr. Collier strikes a marvelous and necessary balance between these two. On one side, he says about Mr. Sachs:
"At present the clarion call for the left is Jeffrey Sach's ... Read More:
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.On Chesil Beach

by: Ian McEwan

March 23, 2007
A very sad and sensitively written story, a young woman's innocence and naivety was to change the course of a couple's life irretrievably; when all it had needed was a little reassurance from her lover.

Edward and Florence young well educated and both virgins when they married are the protagonists of this emotional novel. It is the early sixties and they were both very much products of the era with all the inhibitions of that time. The swinging sixties had yet to arrive, had it been just a few years later this episode in their lives may have caused life to turn out very out very differently for them.
Younger readers may find it difficult to empathise with the characters as life in the C21st is rather different.

With Chesil Beach Ian McEwan has shown us once again what a talented ... Read More:
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.The Intelligent Investor

by: Benjamin Graham

October 23, 2003
The language may be a bit dated but the advice is still good, proving there is little new in the world of investing. If you follow Graham's practical advice on valuing companies, assessing risk and investing for the long term you will make money.
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