Category: Reading

the little book of humanism, by Andrew Copson and Alice Roberts: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, opinion, Reading, Review17 Comments

254 pages Science and Religion/Ethics and Morality/Practical and Motivational Self Help This book, subtitled, ‘Universal lessons on finding purpose, meaning and joy’ encapsulates ideas I’d already formed from life experience, wide reading, and a deep love of the natural world. Every religion has its individual text, presented as a guide for how to live your …

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Amazon Decoded, by David Gaughran: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Reading, Review5 Comments

326 Pages Authorship Reference/E-Commerce Web Marketing. I read this book after reading the author’s ‘Let’s Get Digital’. It’s a natural follow-on for those interested in marketing their e-books as indie writers/publishers. In fact, it also has a lot to say about, and to, mainstream and some small publishers, much of which might benefit the authors …

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Fated to Meet You, by Despoina Kemeridou: #BookReview.

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49 pages Time Travel Romance This short book has a gentle, naïve charm. It is, essentially, a fairy tale. But a fairy tale for adults. As a reader, I enjoyed the story. As a writer, I found some elements in need of editing, but that’s so often the case these days that it hardly merits …

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Let’s Get Digital, by David Gaughran: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Progress, Reading, Review4 Comments

220 pages Writing Reference. This is the 4th Edition. This manual guides writers through the process of publishing a book in digital form. But it’s so much more than that. David Gaughran has been writing about writing and publishing for some years. He bases his advice on personal experience combined with much research. He knows …

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The Fisherman and His Soul, by Oscar Wilde: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Literature, Reading, Review4 Comments

I read this short story by the famous playwright in the hope it would prove a better read than his ‘The Birthday of the Infanta’. My hope was based on ‘The Sphinx Without a Secret’ and ‘The Selfish Giant’, both of which I thoroughly enjoyed. Unfortunately, this moral tale is similar to the ‘Infanta’, in …

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Finding the Write #Words? Last in the Series.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Grammar, Reading, Review, Word Choice2 Comments

Some of the books on the list. Each week since October 2019 I’ve been posting ‘reviews’ of books on my shelves that deal with the English language, its use, and the opportunities to find and employ different words to express yourself in speech and/or writing. The complete list of books is listed below with link …

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The Birthday of the Infanta, by Oscar Wilde: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, Fiction, Literature, Reading, Review9 Comments

Very definitely a story of its time. It’s intended for children, but I seriously doubt many modern kids would read this. There are moral lessons buried here, but they are largely lost in the unnecessarily detailed descriptions of the riches of the royal family featured. Some of these are effectively lists of luxury items and …

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Finding the Write #Words? No. 38: Usage and Abusage

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Completing the description of books on words and the English language listed in the introductory post, which you’ll find here. Book 38: Usage and Abusage Paperback, 380 pages. Published in 1947 by Hamish Hamilton and reprinted many times. I own the 1978 Penguin edition, which I bought for the princely sum of £1.10. There’s a …

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The Upside-Down History of Down Under, by Alison Lloyd and Terry Denton: #BookReview.

On By stuartakenIn Author, Book, Creative Writer, politics, Reading, Review4 Comments

304 Pages Children’s Books (8-12) This book came to me as a ‘jokey’ present from my daughter, who lives in Australia. Whilst it’s clearly a book written for children, I suspect a lot of adults will find it informative, illuminating, and entertaining, as I did. I’d love to see it used by both UK and …

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Finding the Write #Words? No. 37: The Synonym Finder

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Continuing the description of books on words and the English language listed in the introductory post, which you’ll find here. Book 37: The Synonym Finder Hardback, 1355 pages. Published in 1979 by Rodale Press, which is the edition I own. I don’t recall what I paid for it, as it was part of a collection …

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