Reading Maze For Book Reviews

Reading for the Young & Old

Dream Cruises of the World

This magnificently illustrated hardback book on cruises would be an excellent addition to any bookshelf or coffee table.  With 256 pages covering 18 cruise routes, the book explores most of the classic cruises, including the famous Northwest Passage route, island cruises, exciting explorations of the Caribbean or Antarctic; together with river cruises along the Mississippi or the Nile.

The descriptions of the destinations are concise, making this an easy book to browse through, with all key information simple to find.  The stunning photography captures the locations beautifully, and is bound to inspire novice cruise travellers.

One of the best things about this book is that it caters for all tastes and pockets.  It includes luxury ship cruises, river cruises and budget cruises, as well as being a great reference guide for armchair traveller. Each route is described in details, giving information on the history and the culture of the area. The book also includes suggestions for excursions in the local vicinity of each of the destinations. 

There are handy travel information panels for for each of the cruises, detailing costs and weather conditions at different times of year, so readers can make an informed choice when selecting a potential cruise and choosing when to travel. These panels also include useful contact details such as addresses and telephone numbers.

Seasoned cruisers will find this book charming and well-researched, but equally, this book is a great guide for anyone considering taking a cruise for the very first time.

DIY: Bathroom Tips and Advice

It can be very fulfilling to carry your own DIY or renovation work, but too often overhauling the bathroom is considered to be a project too daunting for non-professionals to tackle.  This handy book helps to dispel the nerves of the DIYer in undertaking bathroom renovations or repairs by breaking individual projects down into easy to follow steps.  While it does advise that major plumbing works should be carried out by professionals, it provides clear instructions for the type of projects that amateur bathroom renovators can successfully complete.

Bathroom flooring options and wall tiling ideas are explored, as well as painting tips, choosing the best kind of lighting, and installing vanity units.  Carrying out bathroom repairs is also well covered in this book.  There are step by step instructions on fixing a leaky tap, combatting water damage and damp, replacing a sink, and repairing chipped or broken tiles.

The book also includes a useful guide to choosing accessories for your bathroom to get the mood you are looking for, and has suggestions for candles, shower curtains, mats and mirrors.

The chapters are clearly laid out in sensible sections, and the book is written in an easy to read yet professional tone.

If you are looking for a great all-round source of information on DIY bathroom renovation and repair, then this book of tips and advice is a wonderful addition to the bookshelf.

Spread Betting the Forex Markets: An expert guide to spread betting the foreign exchange markets

The financial trend of spread betting and foreign exchange trading is a hot topic for the financially astute.  Although both have been around for several years, the development in online financial technology has led to a number of people choosing this as a viable option for making some serious money.  This book guides readers through what can be a very complex subject in a clear and easy to understand way.

The book begins by talking about the basics of spread betting, as well as detailing the reasons why trading in a large range of markets has become so popular. The book then moves on to explain all there is to know about the forex markets, including information on what makes currency prices move throughout the day, as well as how you can trade forex using spread betting.

The book provides some effective yet simple strategies for trading, which can be used to start out in spread betting at a level of risk that is acceptable to you. Potential pitfalls and what to look out for when considering whether to move money are also thoroughly explored.

If you have ever considered entering into the world of forex spread betting, then you will find this book extremely helpful.  As one financial professional, Jeremy Prescott of SIGnet said in his review: “This is a clearly written short introduction to trading FX by a technical analyst who cut his teeth in foreign exchange trading.”

Soulmates: True Stories from the World of Online Dating

This feel-good book is proof that romance isn’t dead – it’s just gone online.  The amount of people dating via the internet is rising with every passing year and this book, which was put together by The Guardian’s dating service Soulmates, provides some great anecdotes from the interesting world of online dating.  As the book reports, 7.8 million people in the UK signed up for online dating in 2007 alone, so that means there are plenty to tales to tell.

From the strange to the eye-opening, from the cringeworthy to the romantic and sometimes the downright rude, this book is likely to make you laugh and cry in equal measures, whether or not you are an online dater.  In addition to the real dating stories that make up the bulk of the book, there is also good advice on online dating, such as how to make your profile more appealing, how to look for the right match for you, what to know in terms of online dating etiquette, and the pitfalls to avoid.  Although the book focuses mainly on the Soulmates website, the information provided is applicable to many other dating scenarios, whether online or not.

This book is highly recommended if you are thinking about venturing into the world of online dating, or if you have had an online romance. It is also a riveting read for anyone who enjoys a good human interest story.

Seychelles Travellers Guide (Thomas Cook Travellers Guide. Seychelles)

I bought this book a couple of weeks before I went on Holiday in hope to get up to date and in the know about the various activities and the attractions of the island.

The book was concise and full of useful information. It contained all that I needed to know about Seychelles holidays and how to get the best out of your time on the island. I loved the way the guide was laid out with interesting images and an easy-to-read layout. The guide was also useful for stating leisure activities and local facilities such as spas and swimming pools to ensure all Seychelles holidays are luxury holidays.

Another particularly useful feature to the guidebook was the use of the maps; they helped me when trying to navigate and locate my way around the island as well as point out useful stops and attractions. The book was split into clear chapters making it easier to allocate the information that you were wanting and to skip straight to it.

The book comes from a series (122 travellers guides in total) and is written clearly and professionally by a popular travel company that is easy to trust. This guide is pocket-size and is easily portable, making it convenient to use. This is a necessary item when packing your suitcases for a holiday in Seychelles!

Factoring Small Receivables: How to Make Money in Little Deals the Big Guys Brush Off

This is the second book in finance expert Jeff Callender’s series.  It is a great how-to manual for those interested in finance and making money through creative means. It is also easy to read, particularly considering that factoring can be a rather daunting subject.

The book, which is over 400 pages long, guides you through starting up your own factoring business, including how to initially go about choosing the right accounts receivable method, how to manage clients and perform well in the market. There is also advice on tracking profitability. If readers have read Jeff Callender’s first book, this new guide will complement already-learnt tips, techniques and strategies.  If not, then all the concepts are adequately explained in this volume.

Designed for those who are just starting out in the field, the guide provides all the information a new factoring company or private investor should know if they want to set up in business as the accounts receivable department of small companies.  There are lists of useful resources, as well as a jargon guide and, perhaps most importantly, the type of client to avoid.

It is a niche book for those interested in entering the factoring business, but very clearly structured and it is no wonder it has been dubbed ‘The Bible for Small Factors’.

Casino Gambling For Dummies

There is a great deal of satisfaction to be had in mastering casino games.  It is even more satisfying to have some great tips up your sleeve should you ever find yourself in Las Vegas.  This book is not only invaluable for the amateur casino-goer, but it is a really useful reference guide too.  The chapters are laid out very clearly in the familiar friendly and simple ‘… For Dummies’ reading style.

It is an extensive hands-on guide to help those who enjoy casino gambling to avoid big losses and even better, win big money.  There are insider secrets and great hints and tips to advise you on winning at the most popular casino games, such as poker, blackjack, roulette, craps and even the slot machines.  It lists game rules, game pitfalls, and includes a useful guide to the correct jargon.

Some of the most important things it teaches are how to understand the odds, how to manage your money once you have (hopefully) won it, and how to avoid getting caught up in gimmicks.  Keeping up with the times, there is a good section on how to gamble in online casinos and which types of sites to avoid.

Essentially, unless you already know all there is to know about casino gambling, reading this book will give you some great knowledge and valuable tips when playing in casinos.  At 384 pages, it is a very complete guide but there is no need to read it all in one go – the thorough index ensures readers can easily find the specific information they need.

Figure Drawing for Men’s Fashion (Fashion & Textiles)

This book would be extremely useful for fashion students, illustrators or anyone interested in drawing for men’s fashion as a hobby. It has 400 pages of topic-by-topic guides on how to design clothing and accessories for the male form.

Assuming no prior knowledge, it aims to teach the reader how to perfect the skills that are needed to design men’s clothing so that the designer’s creative vision can be accurately realised. Measuring correctly, getting lines precisely right, and designing and dressing for different shapes are all addressed.

The book covers contemporary clothing design as well as more traditional tailoring. It also looks in depth at men’s accessory design, and there is a section specifically on designing male headwear.

The book was written by fashion industry experts who convey their knowledge in a detailed but approachable way.  The illustrations and photographs also help to bring the text to life for artists, designers and illustrators.  This guide is not text heavy; making it easy for the reader to gain the fundamental skills they need and, from there, build on those skills by practicing their drawing technique and following the clearly outlined stages.  There is also a sister publication – The Female Figure Drawing for Fashion Design – which is a great addition for those who want to enter the world of women’s design and fashion.

Students, illustrators or anyone interested in fashion will love this cleverly designed, well-illustrated book.

Deals on Wheels: Guide to Buying a Second Hand Car

This book was published following a Channel 4 series that was screened in 1999, so some of the information on prices as well as that on new models on the market may be a little outdated. Having said that, it includes a great deal of general information on choosing and buying a second hand car, making this book well worth a read, as much of the content is still relevant today.

Just as the series did, this book looks at the pitfalls of buying a second hand car in a market that is notorious for dubious deals and sharp practices.  It gives invaluable advice on how to look for really solid deals, the best way in which to negotiate prices, and the pros and cons of different types of car.

The main focus is on twenty of the most popular types of car, including all sizes of family car, general run around models, and the high end of the market, including luxury and sports cars.  The book explores the full technical specification for each of the different vehicles, as well as common problems, weaknesses and, of course, strong points for the models it features.

It is a well-illustrated publication, with good photographs and a clear text which is easy to follow.  This would be a useful read for anyone looking to buy a second hand car, as well as a good general interest book for car hobbyists.

Blinds Curtains and Cushions: Design and Make Style Treatments for Your Home

I bought this book the other week and decided to have a good read through with the aim of perhaps making some of my own curtains and blinds.

It was a very interesting book, but I found some of the methods use to create blinds quite complicated and a bit fiddly, plus I found a really good online shop for purchasing made to measure blinds, a company called tuiss does them for a really good price.

 

I think I’ll still design some cushions – I quite like the thought of creating my own funky cushions to brighten up the room. Hopefully it won’t take me too long to learn how to make them! Anyways, I’ve got to go now, I want to go measure up my lounge windows for some roman blinds.