Reviews In Ten Words: December 2008
December 31, 2008 | Filed under Reviews
Non-Fiction
- Ong Siew Chey – China Condensed (5000 Years of History & Culture): Light on the past century, good reference for earlier dynasties.
- Lorraine Clissold – Why The Chinese Don’t Count Calories: Highly simplified and misses intricacies, but promotes a healthy diet.
- Dennis Friedman – Ladies of the Bedchamber (The Role Of The Royal Mistress): Generalisations and attempts at psychoanalysis get in way of history.
- Fynn – Mister God, This is Anna: Pro-Christianity theological pontifications wrapped up in an easily-digestible memoir.
- Frank B. Gilbreth Jnr & Ernestine Gilbreth Casey – Cheaper By The Dozen: Luckily, no resemblance to Steve Martin film. Touching and humourous.
- Jan Korner, Jim Lyngvild and Vibeke Sybrandt – Mary, Princess of Style: Photos great for a fashionista, but light on textual detail.
- Brian J. Robb – Heath Ledger, Hollywood’s Dark Star: High on speculation, light on details, shameless monetisation of tragedy.
- Jean Sasson – Love In A Torn Land: Not so much with the love, more of the torn.
- Xinran – China Witness (Voices From a Silent Generation): Without precedence. Twentieth Century China by those who lived it.
Fiction
- Ilana Fox – The Making of Mia (From rags to bitches): The pervasive body consciousness disturbing despite late attempts of redemption.
Movies
- The Nanny Diaries (2007): Whimsically filmed, with strong performances. Faithful to the original novel.
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