With so much talk recently about another Tolkien movie potentially in the works, it’s a good time to highlight this book. As it states on the jacket, ‘a great jumping off point for fans of his works…’ this book gives a huge insight into the man, Tolkien, explaining his formative years, friends, and family.
What I would say about this book is that it’s both well-researched and easy to read. There are black and white photographs included too which always helps the reader get a better feel for the subject. There are also diagrams of the Elvin language.
The fact that Tolkien not only entered into world-building for The Lord of The Rings, but also created new languages that scholars still teach today, tells us how invested he was in the story and the characters.
If, like me, you were/are a fan of the movies and characters from Tolkien’s books, then allowing this one to sit on the shelf next to them would be entirely appropriate.
Recommended.
For the Love of Books
With so much talk recently about another Tolkien movie potentially in the works, it’s a good time to highlight this book. As it states on the jacket, ‘a great jumping off point for fans of his works…’ this book gives a huge insight into the man, Tolkien, explaining his formative years, friends, and family.
What I would say about this book is that it’s both well-researched and easy to read. There are black and white photographs included too which always helps the reader get a better feel for the subject. There are also diagrams of the Elvin language.
The fact that Tolkien not only entered into world-building for The Lord of The Rings, but also created new languages that scholars still teach today, tells us how invested he was in the story and the characters.
If, like me, you were/are a fan of the movies and characters from Tolkien’s books, then allowing this one to sit on the shelf next to them would be entirely appropriate.
Recommended.
For the Love of Books
[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars The Real Arthur Miller - The Playwright Who Cared by Andrew Norman is a stunning biography that delves deep into the inspiration behind this incredible playwright most famous for Death of a Salesman, but also The Crucible, A View from the Bridge and Misfits. Arthur Miller was the epitome of defying convention despite adversity. Miller and his family endured many, many hardships, including the Great Depression, the extensive Anti-Semitism of the far right in the US (which is also widely under-reported for the era prior to WWII and the holocaust) and McCarthyism, where innovators were considered part of the "red-wave" which was a construct of McCarthy's extensive fearmongering to try and ensure his election success. This type of adversity can either break a person or light a fire within them. In Miller, it was the latter. He refused to be cowed by hate and intolerance and instead, honed his skills, stayed true to his path and became one of the greatest playwrights.. Read more
NetGalley, Ink Reads
[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars The Real Arthur Miller - The Playwright Who Cared by Andrew Norman is a stunning biography that delves deep into the inspiration behind this incredible playwright most famous for Death of a Salesman, but also The Crucible, A View from the Bridge and Misfits. Arthur Miller was the epitome of defying convention despite adversity. Miller and his family endured many, many hardships, including the Great Depression, the extensive Anti-Semitism of the far right in the US (which is also widely under-reported for the era prior to WWII and the holocaust) and McCarthyism, where innovators were considered part of the "red-wave" which was a construct of McCarthy's extensive fearmongering to try and ensure his election success. This type of adversity can either break a person or light a fire within them. In Miller, it was the latter. He refused to be cowed by hate and intolerance and instead, honed his skills, stayed true to his path and became one of the greatest playwrights.. Read more
NetGalley, Ink Reads
As seen in
The Cardiff Times
As seen in
The Cardiff Times
[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars Fay Taylour is someone who deserves far greater recognition in the world of Motorsport. From shaking the male-dominated world of Speedway in its formative years of the 1920's and 1930's and later enjoying considerable success in several branches of motorsport on 4 wheels. Never a token presence Ms Taylour consistently broke records and beat the leading male riders and drivers in their fields. This excellent book by Dr Stephen M Cullen tells the full story of a fascinating woman, often in her own words from her diaries. A strong woman she held her ground, whether on the Motorsport track or under pressure from the authorities when her views got her into trouble during the Second World War, leading to her incarceration. Far from boring the part of the book detailing her political leanings is a fascinating insight into the quite surprising level of support for the Nazis in Britain during WW2,and even just afterwards. That support came at a cost for Ms Taylour.. Read more
NetGalley, Dave Blendell
[b]Rating[/b]: 5 out of 5 stars Fay Taylour is someone who deserves far greater recognition in the world of Motorsport. From shaking the male-dominated world of Speedway in its formative years of the 1920's and 1930's and later enjoying considerable success in several branches of motorsport on 4 wheels. Never a token presence Ms Taylour consistently broke records and beat the leading male riders and drivers in their fields. This excellent book by Dr Stephen M Cullen tells the full story of a fascinating woman, often in her own words from her diaries. A strong woman she held her ground, whether on the Motorsport track or under pressure from the authorities when her views got her into trouble during the Second World War, leading to her incarceration. Far from boring the part of the book detailing her political leanings is a fascinating insight into the quite surprising level of support for the Nazis in Britain during WW2,and even just afterwards. That support came at a cost for Ms Taylour.. Read more
NetGalley, Dave Blendell
‘a very fascinating picture of European society and its contradictions.’
Professor Antonio Trampus, Director of the Department of Comparative Linguistic and Cultural Studies, Ca'Foscari University of Venice.
‘a very fascinating picture of European society and its contradictions.’
Professor Antonio Trampus, Director of the Department of Comparative Linguistic and Cultural Studies, Ca'Foscari University of Venice.