Tag: books

My latest book review!!

When Love Comes To Town, Tom Lennon

There are many fictional coming-out tales to choose from, so why this read Lennons?

Firstly, there aren’t that many set in contemporary Dublin. Secondly, there aren’t many told with the humour and compassion ofWhen Love Comes To Town. Finally, there are not that many that are such a good read.

Let me also be honest. There are few new takes on the coming-out dilemma, so don’t expect total originality.

Neil Byrne is a top-class student who has realised he isn’t like all his coupled-up (straight) friends. The story takes us through Neil’s tentative steps into Dublin’s gay nightlife and his introduction to the characters of The Scene. Neil’s first love and family’s reaction are all covered, and his confusion, pain, hopes & desires are well described.

The family’s response is not a model reaction, so don’t read this book if you are looking for a reassuring, positive take on the acceptance of loved ones to the news that one of their own is gay.

The book’s climax is certainly one of the more surprising aspects of the tale. In a dark moment, Neil realises what he needs to do to survive the next few years of his life in an intolerant community. This ending results in a fine piece of writing that conveys the emotion of the final scene remarkably well and, I suspect, brings a lump to the throat of many readers.

Given a less positive ending than many similar books, I found this to be a refreshingly honest story. It is certainly a welcome addition to the genre.

Click here to but it at Amazon | Click here to see this review at Amazon

I submitted another review to Amazon.co.uk today, and I was quite pleased with it. Having just finishedBoo Hoo(the story of online “active streetwear” retailer boo.com), I thought I would add another review to my small list. I was particularly fond of the last line:“Live hard, die young and leave a beautiful corpse” could almost have been written of Miss Boo.

I wait to see if it published as I wrote it.

My full review submitted to Amazon.co.uk earlier today:

What a fascinating book. Take two Swedes, a desire to be “cool”, and throw $135 million at them! Ernst Malmsten’s story of boo.com is a warning to all new enterprises everywhere: get some strong financial controls and make sure you stay in charge of your costs. Most of all, it tells us that there is no substitute for some experience when running a shop.

I was sceptical that Ernst et al. would hide behind others and not shoulder the blame. However, what comes through clearly is the founder’s vision, belief and desire to build a world-class product, as well as the management’s failings when developing that business. It is possible to read much by what is not said, as well as what story is directly told, and in that, an incredible tale unfolds before you.

The book is well written and highly addictive. As the inevitable end approaches, it becomes one of those books you pick up all the time, even just to read the next two paragraphs. As a story, it is thoroughly thought out, well-paced, and fascinating. As an insight into online business history, it may be one-sided and sometimes lacking, but it remains compulsive reading and a captivating look at a never-to-be-repeated economic boom (and bust) time.

Boo.com became synonymous with the “live the high life, party hard” culture that many cash-fuelled Internet start-ups went through (and spent). “Live hard, die young and leave a beautiful corpse” could almost have been written for Miss Boo.

—
Originally posted at musak.org | Wayback – original | Wayback