Flute Concertos - Michael Faust

Advantages: Funny (Pratchett-style), easy read
Disadvantages: More jokes, less plot? Bit too Pratchett-esque?

...Reading two novels in such a short space of time (a month) is pretty unusual. Normally I'm so busy studying that to pick up a book when I finish feels like a busman's holiday! However, as I'm currently on something of a summer break, and didn't feel like doing any work without confirmation of funding for next year, I remembered a book I'd bought previously. I bought Tom Holt's Faust Among Equals because I happened to see it for just £1 in Blackwells sale. (I notice they've since changed the cover, so perhaps this was clearing the last of old stock). I'd never read any of Holt's work before, but I knew my brother was something of a fan (having several books), and I'd heard him compared to Terry Pratchett, who I'm a big fan of, so I'd taken the chance to try it cheap. As I said, I'd never read Holt before, but this is a standalone... Read review

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Advantages: Good introduction to the Opera and Mozart
Disadvantages: Narrative breaks up the musical flow

...and clarity. The two classic lovers, Tamino and Tamina, are suitably serious and ardent. The other lover in the opera, Papageno and Papagena are contrastingly humourous and down-to-earth. The Queen of the Night is magnificent. She exudes evil in her double aria, performing vocal athletics to achieve the technically difficulties written by Mozart. The conductor Michael Halasz achieves excellence from both the Failoni Orchestra (pairs of flutes, oboes, clarinets, bassoons, horns, and trumpets, three trombones, timpani, and full strings) and the Hungarian Festival Chorus. The overture establishes the noble and solemn tone including in its instrumentation, parts for three trombones. Papageno?s fluttering and melodic theme provides a lightness with joyful and fun interludes to the seriousness. The text written by Thomson Smillie is entertaining... Read review

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Advantages: attractive edges
Disadvantages: fluted edges can be more dificult to clean

...The Pyrex dish that I am talking about today is the fluted flan. This is a circular flan dish it has a diameter of 26cm. Most households own some Pyrex dish I have several some with thanks to my mum as I had all her Pyrex dishes after she died. Pyrex is so good it lasts a long time. Has a 10 year gaurente. (mine are older) Pyrex is suitable for the freeze, oven up to 300c, fine in the dish washer. It is very tough does not stain, washes well. Pyrex is made of a toughened glass developed from the glass used in light bulbs. Pyrex has been produced since 1915 if you are interested in the history go to http://www.pyrexware.com This pyrex fluted flan dish has fluted sides making it attractive to serve in or make the sides of the flan you are baking attractive. The glass is thick the edges moulded to prevent them getting chipped... Read review

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