carnivorous_mower's reviews
543 reviews

The Boys Omnibus Vol. 3 by Garth Ennis

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dark funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

The Wind and the Willows by Kenneth Grahame

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adventurous funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

The Portable Atheist: Essential Readings for the Non-Believer by Christopher Hitchens, Nicolas Ball

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informative inspiring slow-paced

3.0

Sharpe's Escape: The Bussaco Campaign, 1810 by Bernard Cornwell

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adventurous fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

The Boys Omnibus Vol. 2 Tpb by Garth Ennis

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4.0

In at the Death by Harry Turtledove

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challenging dark informative tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

5.0

Our Man in Havana by Graham Greene

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funny lighthearted medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

Into the Black: The Inside Story of Metallica, 1991-2014 by Ian Winwood, Paul Brannigan

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informative medium-paced

3.5

Not quite as shit and a bit shorter than the first volume. Features more actual interview content due to both authors beginning their rock journo careers in 1992. Still a bit of padding and the odd tone of writing. All to get round not being official I suppose. Gave a slightly deeper insight into Metallica’s later years than Mick Wall, and also included LuLu and Through The Never, which happened after Wall's book. Still too much editorialising, although I agree with more of their opinions… It seems surprising Metallica are still going with the number of internal problems and financial fuck-ups made. Still, might be interesting to see what comes out next.

Will probably avoid any more biographies written by these two cos the style is just too damn grating.

Birth School Metallica Death, Volume 1: The Biography by Ian Winwood, Paul Brannigan

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informative medium-paced

3.0

An unauthorised biography of Metallica. Tried reading it initially when I got it for Christmas 2013, but the writing style was too annoying. Raced though it at second attempt though. I don’t really like unauthorised biographies much, especially after reading the Ozzy Osbourne one, which really lacked any substance whatsoever. Being unauthorised only skirts over the surfaces, and you never get in touch with the real person.

This book was created from interviews these two had conducted with Metallica over the years, along with a few of fringe characters in the band’s circle. Liked the interview with Flemming Rasmussen in particular. Learned a few facts and things (the tracklisting to No Life Til Leather), but overall, this was a bit light, and was padded like fuck. Somehow, these guys managed to stretch to a second volume, which I must get some time. However, the padding and editorialising just gets fucking ANNOYING! I’ll get the second book but will probably dislike it as much as this one. Mick Wall’s Enter Night is better, even though it’s still unauthorised. The biographies by both the Megadeth Daves, and all the Gunner biographies are better than this one.

More Fool Me by Stephen Fry

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emotional funny informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

Was Fry's usual entertaining read, but I had a bit of trouble connecting on such a personal level as the previous two. I suppose the drug use thing was the problem, cos I’ve never done drugs… A large chunk of the book was his diary from 1993. It was entertaining in its own right, but it used up a huge chunk of the book, where I would have liked some new stuff. Seemed a bit of a short cut, but Stephen Fry does so many things it’s excusable I suppose. Did like the insight into how the process of writing The Hippopotamus went though.