Through And Through - John Spiers & Jon Boden

Advantages: fantastic british contemporary folk
Disadvantages: None!

...----The Band------ John Spiers and Jon Boden are two of England's finest folk musicians - wait! before you stop reading - I know folk isn't the most popular musical genre but these two have injected a young (they are both in their late 20s), fresh and fun element into traditional songs and written quite a few of their own to boot. John Spiers plays the melodian and Jon Boden sings and plays the fiddle and the pair met in 2000 in Oxford and instantly decided to work together. Since that fateful meeting the pair have toured the country with their unique brand of folk and have released, to date, four albums. Their website can be found at: http://www.squeezy.fsnet.co.uk/spiersboden Spiers and Boden won the Best Duo award at the 2004 Radio2 Folk Awards ---The Album---- This is the second album by Spiers & Boden which won... Read review

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Advantages: Good Conclusion
Disadvantages: Slow pace

...amusing and frequently makes me wonder how anything every gets done. Donna Leon for my money writes from the heart. She is very good at setting the scene and through intelligent writing is able to get the reader hooked on the story even if not much is happening!! I do not feel it is her best novel by any means but still a well constructed and thought provoking book. For me the book could have quite easily been a little longer in length. As everything seemed a little rushed towards the end. I would have liked to have considered the facts and had them spelt out a little more clearly. Conclusion: Well worth a read. Not the finest moment by Donna Leon but an interesting and enjoyable piece of fiction none the less. A must however for any Donna Leon fans. I can imagine this as a good book to read on holiday, not too deep or riveting... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Interesting
Disadvantages: Not enough of the "old" history of the East end

...East End Through The Ages is a Green Umbrella release. The video is a production by the famous and somewhat controversial actor, playwright, film star and director, Steven Berkoff. Why? Because Steven Berkoff is an east Ender and he returns to the place of his birth to tell its fascinating and exciting story. He describes the East End as the stomach of London, with the limbs of London, as it were, taking the "food" that is brought in from the stomach. It is a somewhat strained metaphor, but I think I can understand where Berkoff is coming from on that one. Though his attempt to explain that the East end has become tired of being the stomach and wants to grow into a head, is an analogy too far. As with many places, I would contend that the East End is changing not because it particularly wants to, but because other people are... Read review

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