It’s all news to me - Jeremy Vine
The old adage is Truth is stranger than fiction and with 25 years of experience under his belt in the BBC, JeremyVine has had a few encounters that are simply more unbelievable than what you would find in “Yes Minister” or “The Thick of It”. For example, local yobs high jacking a double decker bus, driving around Littleborough with the faces of New Labour slapped on side of it, during a by election. Journalistic gold!
Vine, a man of sophisticated charm and wit, displayed immensely throughout his memoir. Jeremy has a successful career (youngest presenter of the Today show, Sony Award winner for exposing Gordon Brown during ‘bigotgate’ and reaching the envious status of foreign correspondent in Africa); this is all down to hard work, stalking the best and a bit of luck!
Snippets of wisdom litter the book. One being, “Truth is often eclipsed but not extinguished”, how apt when Jeremy lays out his run-ins with the power triumvirate of Blair, Mandelson and Campbell. Vine provides evidence throughout, highlighting ill planned publicity stunts as well as downright lies.
While reading “It’s all news to me” I was drawn into the fact that journalism seems to be a game, albeit a serious game, where the story is champion and the correspondent comes second.
Vine delivers a warts and all narrative, centred on the BBC, however he delves into the death cry of Major’s Conservatives, New Labour with all its pomp and spin plus the wild world of reporting.
Jeremy includes everything from interviewing tyrant Robert Mugabe, an embarrassing toilet moment, bullets flying overhead in Eastern Europe and even a hilarious run in with the enigmatic Russell Brand.
An enjoyable read, full of gossip, perfectly written by a reflective and well-grounded man, even at the altitude of his fruitful career 5/5
Reviews from my book review column in Sorted Magazine available online, WHS and Sainsburys.
Monday 29 October 2012
Wednesday 24 October 2012
Tubes: Behind the Scenes at the Internet by Andrew Bloom and World War II: The Definitive Visual Guide - Richard Holmes
Tubes: Behind the Scenes at the Internet by Andrew Bloom
Flip open, turn on and straight to Google. All is well, until we get an “error” message. We try looking at settings, turning modems on and off or calling the family expert. This happened to Blum, author of Tubes. Blum discovered a problem with his internet connection and what turned out to be the culprit? A squirrel! This led Blum to answer the question, “What is the internet?” A (very) detailed odyssey of exploration. 3/5
World War II: The Definitive Visual Guide - Richard Holmes
It is years since I have opened a history textbook. Flashes of daunting “European History” lessons, chalk boards and overhead projectors come to mind. I wish I was given this book back then because it is astounding. Simply put, nearly every aspect of World War II has been noted with incredible facts, along with compelling photographs. Holmes’ book shows that “history repeating itself” can be a positive thing, if highlighted in this magnificent way 5/5.
Review taking from my column in Sorted Magazine available in all WHS, Sainsbury stores and online.
Flip open, turn on and straight to Google. All is well, until we get an “error” message. We try looking at settings, turning modems on and off or calling the family expert. This happened to Blum, author of Tubes. Blum discovered a problem with his internet connection and what turned out to be the culprit? A squirrel! This led Blum to answer the question, “What is the internet?” A (very) detailed odyssey of exploration. 3/5
World War II: The Definitive Visual Guide - Richard Holmes
It is years since I have opened a history textbook. Flashes of daunting “European History” lessons, chalk boards and overhead projectors come to mind. I wish I was given this book back then because it is astounding. Simply put, nearly every aspect of World War II has been noted with incredible facts, along with compelling photographs. Holmes’ book shows that “history repeating itself” can be a positive thing, if highlighted in this magnificent way 5/5.
Review taking from my column in Sorted Magazine available in all WHS, Sainsbury stores and online.
Thursday 18 October 2012
Book review: Philosophy of a Mad Man
The philosophy of a mad man.
Colbornes book is about a man who was disturbed mentally and unfortunately has not had an easy ride in life life, at a young age Colborne lost his mother and an old friend to cancer.
This seems to be the tipping point of a man who falls into a series of mental episodes that include running through London barefoot, stalking a young woman, believing that he has been accepted into the alumni of Oxford and wearing particularly dickens-esq clothing.
This book is humourous however it shows a paned man who struggles to find peace. It appears that he looks everywhere, eastern as well as western religious practices but has settled on looking into creation and how it is all connected. The book is divided into two sections; his journey and philosophy.
The first being a quick autobiography and the second section gives an interesting look into his belief system.
I hope Steven continues his journey and finds peace.
Witty, charming, dark as well as instances of humour
Colbornes book is about a man who was disturbed mentally and unfortunately has not had an easy ride in life life, at a young age Colborne lost his mother and an old friend to cancer.
This seems to be the tipping point of a man who falls into a series of mental episodes that include running through London barefoot, stalking a young woman, believing that he has been accepted into the alumni of Oxford and wearing particularly dickens-esq clothing.
This book is humourous however it shows a paned man who struggles to find peace. It appears that he looks everywhere, eastern as well as western religious practices but has settled on looking into creation and how it is all connected. The book is divided into two sections; his journey and philosophy.
The first being a quick autobiography and the second section gives an interesting look into his belief system.
I hope Steven continues his journey and finds peace.
Witty, charming, dark as well as instances of humour
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