One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

Funny and Smart, 10 Nov 2006
Funny and smart. A superb job capturing the quirkiness of human beings. The prefect gift for those moments needing a light touch.

One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

Funny and Smart, 10 Nov 2006
Funny and smart. A superb job capturing the quirkiness of human beings. The prefect gift for those moments needing a light touch.

Good coffee table book for CK fans but not really crafty, 09 Nov 2008
It looks like opinion is divided on this book so I've opted for an average rating. I actually really like the book for what it's worth. I paid £4.99 for my copy but did not get the free extras which was a bit disappointed. It's a good quality, colour coffee table book that's bright and cheery and nice to flick through the pages. However as already pointed out in several reviews, there is nothing to actually 'make' here, it's all embellish. I don't know how many of the projects I will undertake because given the choice I would rather BUY Cath Kidston products than customise them myself but you never know, they might make a nice rainy day craft project. What I do like about the book is the copyright free templates in the back and the patterns that you can use on any projects so I'm sure it will come in useful some day. Otherwise I just like to look at the colourful pictures.

Great book for the credit crunch!, 29 Oct 2008
I am a huge Cath Kidston enthusiast, so I jumped at the opportunity to get this book and make my own projects using Cath's own motifs, and with 16 motifs and 30 projects to choose, and a free tote bag to get started, I thought this was a pretty good deal.
The book is suitable for both beginner and the semi-pro crafters and includes a section at the back of basic sewing tips and techniques. With the current mood for make-do-and-mend, I think some personalised projects with the aid of this book would make good christmas presents on a budget.

brilliant, 17 Oct 2008
I think it's a smashing book. With different levels of skills it means it can be used for both adults and children and makes a great present for those cold wintery days when you want to stay in and be creative.
i love it

No "Making" involved!!, 15 Oct 2008
I was very misled by the title and the synopsis of this book. If you are looking for a book to "make" items from scratch this is definately not the book to buy. Each so-called "project" requires you to buy items ready-made and then just embellish them with designs in the book. For example, you have to buy a hot water bottle cover, a tea towel, a cushion cover, rather than make these from scratch. It would be far more fulfilling to make things from scratch and then embellish them. Very disappointing and would not recommend.

make what exactly?, 15 Oct 2008
I've been eagerly awaiting Caths latest book but this one should have been called 'embelish' or 'adorn' rather than 'make'.
As always a nicely laid out book and typically colourful, the finished items just don't appeal to me at all,there could have been far more projects using the enclosed templates that were not only sewn,a small painted cupboard maybe? I'm a great fan of Ms Kidston but this isn't one of her better books,possibly aimed at 10 year old girls.I don't know anyone over 10 that would wear the pink college cardigan with felt initials or a cowboy appliqued skirt, but hey, I may be wrong. Nice vintage blanket with the cars on and the needle case is pretty and you do get the free bag but sorry that's about it for me. Not worth the rrp,so if you buy it on Amazon for £7.49, I suppose it's not that bad really!
Mine will be for sale on ebay shortly. Very disappointing.

One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

Funny and Smart, 10 Nov 2006
Funny and smart. A superb job capturing the quirkiness of human beings. The prefect gift for those moments needing a light touch.

Good coffee table book for CK fans but not really crafty, 09 Nov 2008
It looks like opinion is divided on this book so I've opted for an average rating. I actually really like the book for what it's worth. I paid £4.99 for my copy but did not get the free extras which was a bit disappointed. It's a good quality, colour coffee table book that's bright and cheery and nice to flick through the pages. However as already pointed out in several reviews, there is nothing to actually 'make' here, it's all embellish. I don't know how many of the projects I will undertake because given the choice I would rather BUY Cath Kidston products than customise them myself but you never know, they might make a nice rainy day craft project. What I do like about the book is the copyright free templates in the back and the patterns that you can use on any projects so I'm sure it will come in useful some day. Otherwise I just like to look at the colourful pictures.

Great book for the credit crunch!, 29 Oct 2008
I am a huge Cath Kidston enthusiast, so I jumped at the opportunity to get this book and make my own projects using Cath's own motifs, and with 16 motifs and 30 projects to choose, and a free tote bag to get started, I thought this was a pretty good deal.
The book is suitable for both beginner and the semi-pro crafters and includes a section at the back of basic sewing tips and techniques. With the current mood for make-do-and-mend, I think some personalised projects with the aid of this book would make good christmas presents on a budget.

brilliant, 17 Oct 2008
I think it's a smashing book. With different levels of skills it means it can be used for both adults and children and makes a great present for those cold wintery days when you want to stay in and be creative.
i love it

No "Making" involved!!, 15 Oct 2008
I was very misled by the title and the synopsis of this book. If you are looking for a book to "make" items from scratch this is definately not the book to buy. Each so-called "project" requires you to buy items ready-made and then just embellish them with designs in the book. For example, you have to buy a hot water bottle cover, a tea towel, a cushion cover, rather than make these from scratch. It would be far more fulfilling to make things from scratch and then embellish them. Very disappointing and would not recommend.

make what exactly?, 15 Oct 2008
I've been eagerly awaiting Caths latest book but this one should have been called 'embelish' or 'adorn' rather than 'make'.
As always a nicely laid out book and typically colourful, the finished items just don't appeal to me at all,there could have been far more projects using the enclosed templates that were not only sewn,a small painted cupboard maybe? I'm a great fan of Ms Kidston but this isn't one of her better books,possibly aimed at 10 year old girls.I don't know anyone over 10 that would wear the pink college cardigan with felt initials or a cowboy appliqued skirt, but hey, I may be wrong. Nice vintage blanket with the cars on and the needle case is pretty and you do get the free bag but sorry that's about it for me. Not worth the rrp,so if you buy it on Amazon for £7.49, I suppose it's not that bad really!
Mine will be for sale on ebay shortly. Very disappointing.

Fascinating, 12 Nov 2008
While I was never a fan of the Science of Discworld series, I picked this one up since it seemed to approach things from an interesting new angle. I'm certainly not disappointed - there is a whole gamut of folklore covered within, showing the links and relationships between Discworld and the Earth. It's very well written, and flows like fine honey!

However...

There isn't an awful lot of 'meat' to a lot of the content. It's very much a case of 'Here's a thing from Discworld, and here's it's real world equivalent.', and then after a paragraph or so it moved on to the next thing. I would have liked it to be a bit more in-depth, but there is a bibliography provided at the end that helps flesh out the detail.

I wholeheartedly recommend it, though.

worthy of the discworld series, 05 Nov 2008
There have been a number of books recently that have tried to be guides to the discworld series, most of which have been truly awful. This and the "unauthorised" Turtle Moves are two of the best I have seen.

As suggested by the title the books looks at the lore and legend which are used in the discworld stories and their links to earth lore and legend.

I found it gripping from beginning to end, and there were points that I really wished the author had expanded on further. If I have one problem with the book it is that it is far too short. Maybe it should have been in 2 volumes rather than the one book.

This is a book that has been produced for the growing US market, and it shows. Every chapter has a beautifully drawn interpretation at the beginning. It only goes to show that when something is produced for the US market they put a little more effort and thought into it.

Outstanding book, a must for Discworld fans everywhere.

Nineteen versions??, 20 Oct 2008
Folklore, ancient or modern, is one of the major foundation stones of the Discworld books. Human nature being another, one assumes. Discworld folklore is a trivia test among Discworld fans who will slyly ask one another [generally over a pint], if they can identify the origins of a certain figure or idea. With some slight discrepancies between UK and North American versions, such exchanges can become, well, spirited. "Elves or elfs?" is always good for starting an evening.

Pratchett and Simpson sort all this out - and much else besides - in this delightful work on matters folklorish. Typically, the prompt for the book was Pratchett chanting as he signed a previous release: "How many versions of the Magpie Song do you know?" A distinguished-looking lady gave the query a moment's thought and responded "about nineteen" Thus began the wonderful collaboration leading to FoD. It's typical also of the theme of the book. Discworld and Roundworld [Earth] are linked by the universal presence of narrativium, which Dimitri Mendeleev inexplicably omitted from the Periodic Table. Pratchett knows all about narrativium, carefully explaining how it drifts between universes, carrying ideas or stimulating new ones. Folklore on the Discworld compared to that of Earth may demonstrate strong similarities, or just vague likenesses that have been severely modified. The process is unhelpful, the authors note, in determining which world is the source of the story, which is sometimes a let-down.

The book's organisation is appropriate for what it must cover - it begins with the entire universe. From there it works its way through Dwarfs and Elves, giving us an interesting account of how the Elves, feared and despised on Discworld for their dark and evil ways, have somehow become transformed in modern times into charming little creatures who make toys for children. Drifting through space, narrativium must form some bizarre isotopes. The two witch types - those from Lancre and the Witches of the Chalk Downs are described. The Nac Mac Feegle are given a full chapter, which might be viewed as insufficient as you read it. Granny Aching truly deserves a book of her own. The chapter on Heroes is extensive, justifiably, when you discover the variety of Heroes Pratchett has introduced to us. Finally, almost as icing on a delicious cake, the authors provide a "Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading". Plan your book budget carefully.

For those in North America who think this book might be too limited in scope to be worth the investment, think carefully of your own family ancestry. While much of the material is limited to the British Isles, no small part is derived from the rest of Europe and elsewhere. Those tales and legends your ancestors took on board ship to cross the Atlantic didn't go over the rail with breakfast at the first roll of the vessels on the high seas. Those stories survived to take root here and sprout new versions of themselves in the new environment. Go through this book and see if you can't find a few you recognise. Besides the bloody elves and the obese bloke with the demented laugh. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A comprehensive overview of the stories and traditions that helped create Discworld, 06 Oct 2008
This is a great well of knowledge of the sources that helped inspire many of the Discworld characters, motifs and situations. It's really wonderful to have so much secondary information on the series in one book, an encyclopedia-esque store of the kind of cultural tidbits that are fascinating in their own right as well as in relation to to Discworld. However the writing style, while clear, is a bit dull and sometimes the line between human mythology and its Discworld counterpart is not exactly clear all the time, at least to me. I was also disappointed by a reference made to the Robin of Sherwood TV series in which the author dismisses a great reimagining of the classic folktale with some pedantic complaints about its apparently archaic use of the Herne the Hunted story. Nevertheless Ms Simpson is very knowledgeable and the book is comprehensive and very informative. A great way to dip one's toes in the pools of folklore. I can't wait to read some of the texts she and Terry have listed in the references.

A great read , 05 Oct 2008
Since buying this book I couldn't put it down. Its a great addition to my discworld collection.

I would recommend it to any Terry Pratchett fan. It an easy read that is broken down into different chapters covering the many facets of Discworld, using examples for the books to illustrate the point being made. The book explains why certain things occur in the discworld books like why there has to be 3 witches.

An example of Pratchett at his best.

Alan Fletcher's The Art of Looking Sideways is an absolutely extraordinary and inexhaustible "guide to visual awareness", a virtually indescribable concoction of anecdotes, quotes, images and bizarre facts that offers a wonderfully twisted vision of the chaos of modern life. Fletcher is a renowned designer and art director and the joy of The Art of Looking Sideways lies in its beautiful design. Loosely arranged in 72 chapters with titles like "Colour", "Noise", "Chance", "Camouflage" and "Handedness", Fletcher's book, which he describes as "a journey without a destination", is "a collection of shards" that captures the sensory overload of a world that simply contains too much information. In one typical section, entitled "Civilization", the reader encounters six Polish flags designed to represent the world, a photograph of an anthropomorphic hand bag, Buzz Aldrin's bootprint on the moon, drawings of Stone Age pebbles, a painting of "Ireland--as seen from Wales" and a dizzying array of quotations and snippets of information, including the wise words of Marcus Aurelius, Stephen Jay and Gandhi's comment, "Western civilization? I think it would be a good idea". Fletcher's mastery of design mixes type, space, fonts, alphabets, colour and layout combined with a "jackdaw" eye for the strange and profound to produce a stunning book that cannot be read, but only experienced. --Jerry Brotton

One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

Funny and Smart, 10 Nov 2006
Funny and smart. A superb job capturing the quirkiness of human beings. The prefect gift for those moments needing a light touch.

Good coffee table book for CK fans but not really crafty, 09 Nov 2008
It looks like opinion is divided on this book so I've opted for an average rating. I actually really like the book for what it's worth. I paid £4.99 for my copy but did not get the free extras which was a bit disappointed. It's a good quality, colour coffee table book that's bright and cheery and nice to flick through the pages. However as already pointed out in several reviews, there is nothing to actually 'make' here, it's all embellish. I don't know how many of the projects I will undertake because given the choice I would rather BUY Cath Kidston products than customise them myself but you never know, they might make a nice rainy day craft project. What I do like about the book is the copyright free templates in the back and the patterns that you can use on any projects so I'm sure it will come in useful some day. Otherwise I just like to look at the colourful pictures.

Great book for the credit crunch!, 29 Oct 2008
I am a huge Cath Kidston enthusiast, so I jumped at the opportunity to get this book and make my own projects using Cath's own motifs, and with 16 motifs and 30 projects to choose, and a free tote bag to get started, I thought this was a pretty good deal.
The book is suitable for both beginner and the semi-pro crafters and includes a section at the back of basic sewing tips and techniques. With the current mood for make-do-and-mend, I think some personalised projects with the aid of this book would make good christmas presents on a budget.

brilliant, 17 Oct 2008
I think it's a smashing book. With different levels of skills it means it can be used for both adults and children and makes a great present for those cold wintery days when you want to stay in and be creative.
i love it

No "Making" involved!!, 15 Oct 2008
I was very misled by the title and the synopsis of this book. If you are looking for a book to "make" items from scratch this is definately not the book to buy. Each so-called "project" requires you to buy items ready-made and then just embellish them with designs in the book. For example, you have to buy a hot water bottle cover, a tea towel, a cushion cover, rather than make these from scratch. It would be far more fulfilling to make things from scratch and then embellish them. Very disappointing and would not recommend.

make what exactly?, 15 Oct 2008
I've been eagerly awaiting Caths latest book but this one should have been called 'embelish' or 'adorn' rather than 'make'.
As always a nicely laid out book and typically colourful, the finished items just don't appeal to me at all,there could have been far more projects using the enclosed templates that were not only sewn,a small painted cupboard maybe? I'm a great fan of Ms Kidston but this isn't one of her better books,possibly aimed at 10 year old girls.I don't know anyone over 10 that would wear the pink college cardigan with felt initials or a cowboy appliqued skirt, but hey, I may be wrong. Nice vintage blanket with the cars on and the needle case is pretty and you do get the free bag but sorry that's about it for me. Not worth the rrp,so if you buy it on Amazon for £7.49, I suppose it's not that bad really!
Mine will be for sale on ebay shortly. Very disappointing.

Fascinating, 12 Nov 2008
While I was never a fan of the Science of Discworld series, I picked this one up since it seemed to approach things from an interesting new angle. I'm certainly not disappointed - there is a whole gamut of folklore covered within, showing the links and relationships between Discworld and the Earth. It's very well written, and flows like fine honey!

However...

There isn't an awful lot of 'meat' to a lot of the content. It's very much a case of 'Here's a thing from Discworld, and here's it's real world equivalent.', and then after a paragraph or so it moved on to the next thing. I would have liked it to be a bit more in-depth, but there is a bibliography provided at the end that helps flesh out the detail.

I wholeheartedly recommend it, though.

worthy of the discworld series, 05 Nov 2008
There have been a number of books recently that have tried to be guides to the discworld series, most of which have been truly awful. This and the "unauthorised" Turtle Moves are two of the best I have seen.

As suggested by the title the books looks at the lore and legend which are used in the discworld stories and their links to earth lore and legend.

I found it gripping from beginning to end, and there were points that I really wished the author had expanded on further. If I have one problem with the book it is that it is far too short. Maybe it should have been in 2 volumes rather than the one book.

This is a book that has been produced for the growing US market, and it shows. Every chapter has a beautifully drawn interpretation at the beginning. It only goes to show that when something is produced for the US market they put a little more effort and thought into it.

Outstanding book, a must for Discworld fans everywhere.

Nineteen versions??, 20 Oct 2008
Folklore, ancient or modern, is one of the major foundation stones of the Discworld books. Human nature being another, one assumes. Discworld folklore is a trivia test among Discworld fans who will slyly ask one another [generally over a pint], if they can identify the origins of a certain figure or idea. With some slight discrepancies between UK and North American versions, such exchanges can become, well, spirited. "Elves or elfs?" is always good for starting an evening.

Pratchett and Simpson sort all this out - and much else besides - in this delightful work on matters folklorish. Typically, the prompt for the book was Pratchett chanting as he signed a previous release: "How many versions of the Magpie Song do you know?" A distinguished-looking lady gave the query a moment's thought and responded "about nineteen" Thus began the wonderful collaboration leading to FoD. It's typical also of the theme of the book. Discworld and Roundworld [Earth] are linked by the universal presence of narrativium, which Dimitri Mendeleev inexplicably omitted from the Periodic Table. Pratchett knows all about narrativium, carefully explaining how it drifts between universes, carrying ideas or stimulating new ones. Folklore on the Discworld compared to that of Earth may demonstrate strong similarities, or just vague likenesses that have been severely modified. The process is unhelpful, the authors note, in determining which world is the source of the story, which is sometimes a let-down.

The book's organisation is appropriate for what it must cover - it begins with the entire universe. From there it works its way through Dwarfs and Elves, giving us an interesting account of how the Elves, feared and despised on Discworld for their dark and evil ways, have somehow become transformed in modern times into charming little creatures who make toys for children. Drifting through space, narrativium must form some bizarre isotopes. The two witch types - those from Lancre and the Witches of the Chalk Downs are described. The Nac Mac Feegle are given a full chapter, which might be viewed as insufficient as you read it. Granny Aching truly deserves a book of her own. The chapter on Heroes is extensive, justifiably, when you discover the variety of Heroes Pratchett has introduced to us. Finally, almost as icing on a delicious cake, the authors provide a "Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading". Plan your book budget carefully.

For those in North America who think this book might be too limited in scope to be worth the investment, think carefully of your own family ancestry. While much of the material is limited to the British Isles, no small part is derived from the rest of Europe and elsewhere. Those tales and legends your ancestors took on board ship to cross the Atlantic didn't go over the rail with breakfast at the first roll of the vessels on the high seas. Those stories survived to take root here and sprout new versions of themselves in the new environment. Go through this book and see if you can't find a few you recognise. Besides the bloody elves and the obese bloke with the demented laugh. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A comprehensive overview of the stories and traditions that helped create Discworld, 06 Oct 2008
This is a great well of knowledge of the sources that helped inspire many of the Discworld characters, motifs and situations. It's really wonderful to have so much secondary information on the series in one book, an encyclopedia-esque store of the kind of cultural tidbits that are fascinating in their own right as well as in relation to to Discworld. However the writing style, while clear, is a bit dull and sometimes the line between human mythology and its Discworld counterpart is not exactly clear all the time, at least to me. I was also disappointed by a reference made to the Robin of Sherwood TV series in which the author dismisses a great reimagining of the classic folktale with some pedantic complaints about its apparently archaic use of the Herne the Hunted story. Nevertheless Ms Simpson is very knowledgeable and the book is comprehensive and very informative. A great way to dip one's toes in the pools of folklore. I can't wait to read some of the texts she and Terry have listed in the references.

A great read , 05 Oct 2008
Since buying this book I couldn't put it down. Its a great addition to my discworld collection.

I would recommend it to any Terry Pratchett fan. It an easy read that is broken down into different chapters covering the many facets of Discworld, using examples for the books to illustrate the point being made. The book explains why certain things occur in the discworld books like why there has to be 3 witches.

An example of Pratchett at his best.


"Your phd for living", 23 Sep 2008
If you search on youtube for "the art of looking sideways" you'll come across a 10 minute interview with the late Alan Fletcher. The man was clearly a visionary and apparently loved his Mac ;-)

If you're not into graphic design that much (like me) yet you're into philosophy or psychology, marketing or coaching, leadership or teaching or any other field where the human condition is front & center you'll still find lots of wonderful things in this book, if only by reading the quotes and the stories.

This book has been created by a discovering man, a collecting man and especially a listening and thinking man. He supposedly worked 18! years on this book. No wonder it's such a source of inspiration and insight.

I adore the 'chapters' on creativity and meanings. There are 72 'chapters' in total in this book, each covering a certain 'topic'. I prefer to call them 'mentalities'. Fletcher calls them '72 slices of life' and '72 slices of your brain'.

The two most genius properties of this book are:

- no two pages have similar layout
- you don't know what to expect when turning any page

Only buy this book if you want to discover. Fletcher was a designer but before one can design one has to discover. This book is a discovery by itself and it's filled with thousands of discoveries.

Stuck for an idea? Dive in here..., 24 Mar 2008
Alan Fletcher was one of the creative powerhouses of design from the 1960s on, and this book puts together some of his musings on life, the Universe and everything. The book is designed to spark ideas and thought, so even the paper used changes from page to page.

In typically quirky fashion, only the left hand pages are given a number so if you buy this book you actually get over a thousand pages of inspiring graphics, calligraphy, typography and photographs collected over the course of a long and illustrious career: he founded Pentagram; he designed logos for Reuters and the Victoria and Albert museum. The book gives a glimpse of the thought processes that went in to that work. For the money it's an astonishing bargain.

A homage to concept-driven design and thinking, 27 May 2007
This book provides so many examples of both the mechanics of a good concept and the power of lateral thinking. A great feat to have documented and communicated such an eclectic range of thoughts and ideas.

Inspirational, 27 Jan 2007
This is the book to have next to your desk: dip into it, when you need escape or inspiration. Or start from the beginning and work your way through it: whichever way you do it: I defy you not to find something interesting on virtually every page!!

Rowland Jones

A fantastic collection of interesting "factlets" and a good dose of self-indulgence by the author, 31 Dec 2006
What a wonderful title for this book of more than 530 pages. The target is visual awareness and it has 72 chapters devoted to themes such as "ideas", "thinking", "seeing", "camouflage" and "handedness". The author claims it is "a journey without a destination", and he is probably right, the implication being that it is the voyage that counts in life. It is truly a massive collection of bits and pieces collected by the author, thrown on to a basic structure, and presented "shaken not stirred" (to misuse a common quote from James Bond). Her lies the books major asset and its major defect. It is full of interesting images and text bites, yet at the same time it is full of bits of useless or uninteresting trivia. There are times when you get the impression that the author has been overly self-indulgent, but it is certainly a lesson to us all - collect every little bit of dross since it could become a book one day. Yet it also a fantastic collection of interesting "factlets" and for the price it is certainly worth having on your shelves. I suspect it is also a book that I will go back to occasionally just to skim through the odd 100 pages. I was planning to give this extravagantly over-indulgent book only 3-stars, but in writing this review I've convinced myself to give it a solid 4-stars for its fun content and the gall of the author in thinking his lifetime collection of "odds and bods" would interest others. It did.

One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

Funny and Smart, 10 Nov 2006
Funny and smart. A superb job capturing the quirkiness of human beings. The prefect gift for those moments needing a light touch.

Good coffee table book for CK fans but not really crafty, 09 Nov 2008
It looks like opinion is divided on this book so I've opted for an average rating. I actually really like the book for what it's worth. I paid £4.99 for my copy but did not get the free extras which was a bit disappointed. It's a good quality, colour coffee table book that's bright and cheery and nice to flick through the pages. However as already pointed out in several reviews, there is nothing to actually 'make' here, it's all embellish. I don't know how many of the projects I will undertake because given the choice I would rather BUY Cath Kidston products than customise them myself but you never know, they might make a nice rainy day craft project. What I do like about the book is the copyright free templates in the back and the patterns that you can use on any projects so I'm sure it will come in useful some day. Otherwise I just like to look at the colourful pictures.

Great book for the credit crunch!, 29 Oct 2008
I am a huge Cath Kidston enthusiast, so I jumped at the opportunity to get this book and make my own projects using Cath's own motifs, and with 16 motifs and 30 projects to choose, and a free tote bag to get started, I thought this was a pretty good deal.
The book is suitable for both beginner and the semi-pro crafters and includes a section at the back of basic sewing tips and techniques. With the current mood for make-do-and-mend, I think some personalised projects with the aid of this book would make good christmas presents on a budget.

brilliant, 17 Oct 2008
I think it's a smashing book. With different levels of skills it means it can be used for both adults and children and makes a great present for those cold wintery days when you want to stay in and be creative.
i love it

No "Making" involved!!, 15 Oct 2008
I was very misled by the title and the synopsis of this book. If you are looking for a book to "make" items from scratch this is definately not the book to buy. Each so-called "project" requires you to buy items ready-made and then just embellish them with designs in the book. For example, you have to buy a hot water bottle cover, a tea towel, a cushion cover, rather than make these from scratch. It would be far more fulfilling to make things from scratch and then embellish them. Very disappointing and would not recommend.

make what exactly?, 15 Oct 2008
I've been eagerly awaiting Caths latest book but this one should have been called 'embelish' or 'adorn' rather than 'make'.
As always a nicely laid out book and typically colourful, the finished items just don't appeal to me at all,there could have been far more projects using the enclosed templates that were not only sewn,a small painted cupboard maybe? I'm a great fan of Ms Kidston but this isn't one of her better books,possibly aimed at 10 year old girls.I don't know anyone over 10 that would wear the pink college cardigan with felt initials or a cowboy appliqued skirt, but hey, I may be wrong. Nice vintage blanket with the cars on and the needle case is pretty and you do get the free bag but sorry that's about it for me. Not worth the rrp,so if you buy it on Amazon for £7.49, I suppose it's not that bad really!
Mine will be for sale on ebay shortly. Very disappointing.

Fascinating, 12 Nov 2008
While I was never a fan of the Science of Discworld series, I picked this one up since it seemed to approach things from an interesting new angle. I'm certainly not disappointed - there is a whole gamut of folklore covered within, showing the links and relationships between Discworld and the Earth. It's very well written, and flows like fine honey!

However...

There isn't an awful lot of 'meat' to a lot of the content. It's very much a case of 'Here's a thing from Discworld, and here's it's real world equivalent.', and then after a paragraph or so it moved on to the next thing. I would have liked it to be a bit more in-depth, but there is a bibliography provided at the end that helps flesh out the detail.

I wholeheartedly recommend it, though.

worthy of the discworld series, 05 Nov 2008
There have been a number of books recently that have tried to be guides to the discworld series, most of which have been truly awful. This and the "unauthorised" Turtle Moves are two of the best I have seen.

As suggested by the title the books looks at the lore and legend which are used in the discworld stories and their links to earth lore and legend.

I found it gripping from beginning to end, and there were points that I really wished the author had expanded on further. If I have one problem with the book it is that it is far too short. Maybe it should have been in 2 volumes rather than the one book.

This is a book that has been produced for the growing US market, and it shows. Every chapter has a beautifully drawn interpretation at the beginning. It only goes to show that when something is produced for the US market they put a little more effort and thought into it.

Outstanding book, a must for Discworld fans everywhere.

Nineteen versions??, 20 Oct 2008
Folklore, ancient or modern, is one of the major foundation stones of the Discworld books. Human nature being another, one assumes. Discworld folklore is a trivia test among Discworld fans who will slyly ask one another [generally over a pint], if they can identify the origins of a certain figure or idea. With some slight discrepancies between UK and North American versions, such exchanges can become, well, spirited. "Elves or elfs?" is always good for starting an evening.

Pratchett and Simpson sort all this out - and much else besides - in this delightful work on matters folklorish. Typically, the prompt for the book was Pratchett chanting as he signed a previous release: "How many versions of the Magpie Song do you know?" A distinguished-looking lady gave the query a moment's thought and responded "about nineteen" Thus began the wonderful collaboration leading to FoD. It's typical also of the theme of the book. Discworld and Roundworld [Earth] are linked by the universal presence of narrativium, which Dimitri Mendeleev inexplicably omitted from the Periodic Table. Pratchett knows all about narrativium, carefully explaining how it drifts between universes, carrying ideas or stimulating new ones. Folklore on the Discworld compared to that of Earth may demonstrate strong similarities, or just vague likenesses that have been severely modified. The process is unhelpful, the authors note, in determining which world is the source of the story, which is sometimes a let-down.

The book's organisation is appropriate for what it must cover - it begins with the entire universe. From there it works its way through Dwarfs and Elves, giving us an interesting account of how the Elves, feared and despised on Discworld for their dark and evil ways, have somehow become transformed in modern times into charming little creatures who make toys for children. Drifting through space, narrativium must form some bizarre isotopes. The two witch types - those from Lancre and the Witches of the Chalk Downs are described. The Nac Mac Feegle are given a full chapter, which might be viewed as insufficient as you read it. Granny Aching truly deserves a book of her own. The chapter on Heroes is extensive, justifiably, when you discover the variety of Heroes Pratchett has introduced to us. Finally, almost as icing on a delicious cake, the authors provide a "Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading". Plan your book budget carefully.

For those in North America who think this book might be too limited in scope to be worth the investment, think carefully of your own family ancestry. While much of the material is limited to the British Isles, no small part is derived from the rest of Europe and elsewhere. Those tales and legends your ancestors took on board ship to cross the Atlantic didn't go over the rail with breakfast at the first roll of the vessels on the high seas. Those stories survived to take root here and sprout new versions of themselves in the new environment. Go through this book and see if you can't find a few you recognise. Besides the bloody elves and the obese bloke with the demented laugh. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A comprehensive overview of the stories and traditions that helped create Discworld, 06 Oct 2008
This is a great well of knowledge of the sources that helped inspire many of the Discworld characters, motifs and situations. It's really wonderful to have so much secondary information on the series in one book, an encyclopedia-esque store of the kind of cultural tidbits that are fascinating in their own right as well as in relation to to Discworld. However the writing style, while clear, is a bit dull and sometimes the line between human mythology and its Discworld counterpart is not exactly clear all the time, at least to me. I was also disappointed by a reference made to the Robin of Sherwood TV series in which the author dismisses a great reimagining of the classic folktale with some pedantic complaints about its apparently archaic use of the Herne the Hunted story. Nevertheless Ms Simpson is very knowledgeable and the book is comprehensive and very informative. A great way to dip one's toes in the pools of folklore. I can't wait to read some of the texts she and Terry have listed in the references.

A great read , 05 Oct 2008
Since buying this book I couldn't put it down. Its a great addition to my discworld collection.

I would recommend it to any Terry Pratchett fan. It an easy read that is broken down into different chapters covering the many facets of Discworld, using examples for the books to illustrate the point being made. The book explains why certain things occur in the discworld books like why there has to be 3 witches.

An example of Pratchett at his best.


"Your phd for living", 23 Sep 2008
If you search on youtube for "the art of looking sideways" you'll come across a 10 minute interview with the late Alan Fletcher. The man was clearly a visionary and apparently loved his Mac ;-)

If you're not into graphic design that much (like me) yet you're into philosophy or psychology, marketing or coaching, leadership or teaching or any other field where the human condition is front & center you'll still find lots of wonderful things in this book, if only by reading the quotes and the stories.

This book has been created by a discovering man, a collecting man and especially a listening and thinking man. He supposedly worked 18! years on this book. No wonder it's such a source of inspiration and insight.

I adore the 'chapters' on creativity and meanings. There are 72 'chapters' in total in this book, each covering a certain 'topic'. I prefer to call them 'mentalities'. Fletcher calls them '72 slices of life' and '72 slices of your brain'.

The two most genius properties of this book are:

- no two pages have similar layout
- you don't know what to expect when turning any page

Only buy this book if you want to discover. Fletcher was a designer but before one can design one has to discover. This book is a discovery by itself and it's filled with thousands of discoveries.

Stuck for an idea? Dive in here..., 24 Mar 2008
Alan Fletcher was one of the creative powerhouses of design from the 1960s on, and this book puts together some of his musings on life, the Universe and everything. The book is designed to spark ideas and thought, so even the paper used changes from page to page.

In typically quirky fashion, only the left hand pages are given a number so if you buy this book you actually get over a thousand pages of inspiring graphics, calligraphy, typography and photographs collected over the course of a long and illustrious career: he founded Pentagram; he designed logos for Reuters and the Victoria and Albert museum. The book gives a glimpse of the thought processes that went in to that work. For the money it's an astonishing bargain.

A homage to concept-driven design and thinking, 27 May 2007
This book provides so many examples of both the mechanics of a good concept and the power of lateral thinking. A great feat to have documented and communicated such an eclectic range of thoughts and ideas.

Inspirational, 27 Jan 2007
This is the book to have next to your desk: dip into it, when you need escape or inspiration. Or start from the beginning and work your way through it: whichever way you do it: I defy you not to find something interesting on virtually every page!!

Rowland Jones

A fantastic collection of interesting "factlets" and a good dose of self-indulgence by the author, 31 Dec 2006
What a wonderful title for this book of more than 530 pages. The target is visual awareness and it has 72 chapters devoted to themes such as "ideas", "thinking", "seeing", "camouflage" and "handedness". The author claims it is "a journey without a destination", and he is probably right, the implication being that it is the voyage that counts in life. It is truly a massive collection of bits and pieces collected by the author, thrown on to a basic structure, and presented "shaken not stirred" (to misuse a common quote from James Bond). Her lies the books major asset and its major defect. It is full of interesting images and text bites, yet at the same time it is full of bits of useless or uninteresting trivia. There are times when you get the impression that the author has been overly self-indulgent, but it is certainly a lesson to us all - collect every little bit of dross since it could become a book one day. Yet it also a fantastic collection of interesting "factlets" and for the price it is certainly worth having on your shelves. I suspect it is also a book that I will go back to occasionally just to skim through the odd 100 pages. I was planning to give this extravagantly over-indulgent book only 3-stars, but in writing this review I've convinced myself to give it a solid 4-stars for its fun content and the gall of the author in thinking his lifetime collection of "odds and bods" would interest others. It did.

Heart-rending and bittersweet, 05 Nov 2008
I enjoyed this book, even though the subject matter is dark and the overall tone of the book is rather melancholy. He writes extremely well; the only mild irritant is his tendency to waffle on and on, making a sentence extremely long and sometimes a little boring and you begin to wonder when he will finally place a full stop.A little like that!
On the whole though, highly recommended and can be read as a ' stand alone ' book, although it is beneficial to have read The Smoking Diaries.

One of the six truly great Dickens novels, 25 Mar 2008
Long neglected, this has become deservedly popular after the brilliant TV adaptation. A panoramic picture of Victorian society, showing how poverty gives rise to riches and riches give way to integrity.

Great History and Insights...a tale of two societies., 13 May 2004
Little Dorritt was born at Marshalsea-the debtors prison. Her father is something of an informal mayor ('father') of the place, and everyone imprisoned there pays him homage-and alms- for his long suffering good nature and the 'tone' he sets for the experience of being thrown in jail Indeed, Mr. Dorritt has raised self pity to an art form. Little Dorritt is small and wan. People continually ask her if she 'has strength and can endure things.' She reminds them she was born in the poor house. Through the kind offices of 'a friend,' Arthur Clennam, midway through the book the family is released from prison, debts paid and they live the genteel life that Mr. Dorritt always assumed was his birthright. In a classic case of projection, Mr. Dorritt prattles to Amy (Little) Dorritt how she should not be morose, and she should forget life in the poor house. 'Put on airs for the sake of the servants so they would remember 'their place.' Mr Dorritt assures Amy 'he has completely wiped the sad episode of living in debtors prison' from his mind. In order to secure his place in society, Mr. Dorritt seeks favor from an unseen Mr. Myrtle who it seems has the economy of the entire world in the palm of his hand. Indeed, Fanny Dorritt, Amy's sister is also smitten with the Myrtle clan and seeks the favor of Edmund Myrtle, just so she can put on even more superior airs than Mrs. Myrtle does. The circumlocutions of speech, especially those Mr. Dorritt and Mrs. Myrtle use, when these characters talk to one other in itself is worth the price of admission. Amy is devoted to her father and shows little interest in social activities. She does however manage, through her needlework, to make the acquaintance of Mrs. Clemmens, Arthurs mother- that's how Arthur comes to learn of Mr. Dorritt's legal plight and thanks to Arthur they got away from Marshalsea, the debtor's prison. In time, Mr. Dorritt falls sick. He stands up at a dinner party to give his 'welcome to Marshallsea speech, much to the embarrassment of all the high society types there present. Hence the contrast between the two societies, the debtors and the wealthy. Mr. Dorritt's disease in terminal and inevitably, we meet Mr. Myrtle when he comes to commiserate with the Fanny, his son Edmund and the other mourners. The mighty economic dynamo does not put on many airs at all, but he does ask if he might have a pen knife...one of the wedding tokens from Edmund and Fanny's wedding. Mr. Myrtle then privately kills himself. All his financial wheelings and dealings were false and the family is busted. Arthur Clemmens is busted too, and Amy goes to find him at Marshalsea in her families old lodgings. She insists on helping him and he is ashamed as he believes he was not only instrumental in their release from Marshalsea but also in connecting the family with the notorious Myrtles. Amy will have nothing to do with this theory. She goes to plead Arthur's case with his mother who has money locked up in a vault. She has been paralyzed for a very long time and is unable to walk. The steward is furious that the family fortune should be spent to pay Arthur's debts as the steward believes and has tried to convince Mother that Arthur is a spendthrift playboy. Mother rises from her chair and with assistance from Amy and her maid, descends the stairs and sees the steward open the safe, at which point the house collapses. Amy takes the money, frees Arthur and the two are married.

Well, I hope this quick sketch does justice to the characterizations in this book. What can be said? It is truly Dickensian! Debtors prison is the Victorian answer to welfare and the novel does serviceable duty in presenting the life style of both down and outers as well as the worst elements of snobbery in the genteel set. As such, the story is illuminating as history and as a study in character. It is a story that stuck with me. As to whether it could be classified as a 'fun read,' well on that score, the book does fall somewhat short. Little Dorritt is big and heady stuff.

A great work long unnoticed, 24 Jun 1999
"Bleak House" may have been masterfully managed, but I preferred this tense tale of poverty, riches and the parasitic class that breeds both. It is as cautionary a tale as the former: the role of the machinery of government and capitalist class on the lives of all under them has never been so powerfully depicted. Mr Merdle was based on a real person, a Sadlier who killed himself in Hyde Park when he caused the Tipperary Bank to fail. Amy Dorrit is to be preferred to Esther Summerson as a heroine in not being so off-puttingly and impossibly sweet. Dickens' mastery of plot is such to create an exciting mystery and a rich interweaving of character and plot that kept me up all night unravelling the puzzle.

Funny and Smart, 10 Nov 2006
Funny and smart. A superb job capturing the quirkiness of human beings. The prefect gift for those moments needing a light touch.

Good coffee table book for CK fans but not really crafty, 09 Nov 2008
It looks like opinion is divided on this book so I've opted for an average rating. I actually really like the book for what it's worth. I paid £4.99 for my copy but did not get the free extras which was a bit disappointed. It's a good quality, colour coffee table book that's bright and cheery and nice to flick through the pages. However as already pointed out in several reviews, there is nothing to actually 'make' here, it's all embellish. I don't know how many of the projects I will undertake because given the choice I would rather BUY Cath Kidston products than customise them myself but you never know, they might make a nice rainy day craft project. What I do like about the book is the copyright free templates in the back and the patterns that you can use on any projects so I'm sure it will come in useful some day. Otherwise I just like to look at the colourful pictures.

Great book for the credit crunch!, 29 Oct 2008
I am a huge Cath Kidston enthusiast, so I jumped at the opportunity to get this book and make my own projects using Cath's own motifs, and with 16 motifs and 30 projects to choose, and a free tote bag to get started, I thought this was a pretty good deal.
The book is suitable for both beginner and the semi-pro crafters and includes a section at the back of basic sewing tips and techniques. With the current mood for make-do-and-mend, I think some personalised projects with the aid of this book would make good christmas presents on a budget.

brilliant, 17 Oct 2008
I think it's a smashing book. With different levels of skills it means it can be used for both adults and children and makes a great present for those cold wintery days when you want to stay in and be creative.
i love it

No "Making" involved!!, 15 Oct 2008
I was very misled by the title and the synopsis of this book. If you are looking for a book to "make" items from scratch this is definately not the book to buy. Each so-called "project" requires you to buy items ready-made and then just embellish them with designs in the book. For example, you have to buy a hot water bottle cover, a tea towel, a cushion cover, rather than make these from scratch. It would be far more fulfilling to make things from scratch and then embellish them. Very disappointing and would not recommend.

make what exactly?, 15 Oct 2008
I've been eagerly awaiting Caths latest book but this one should have been called 'embelish' or 'adorn' rather than 'make'.
As always a nicely laid out book and typically colourful, the finished items just don't appeal to me at all,there could have been far more projects using the enclosed templates that were not only sewn,a small painted cupboard maybe? I'm a great fan of Ms Kidston but this isn't one of her better books,possibly aimed at 10 year old girls.I don't know anyone over 10 that would wear the pink college cardigan with felt initials or a cowboy appliqued skirt, but hey, I may be wrong. Nice vintage blanket with the cars on and the needle case is pretty and you do get the free bag but sorry that's about it for me. Not worth the rrp,so if you buy it on Amazon for £7.49, I suppose it's not that bad really!
Mine will be for sale on ebay shortly. Very disappointing.

Fascinating, 12 Nov 2008
While I was never a fan of the Science of Discworld series, I picked this one up since it seemed to approach things from an interesting new angle. I'm certainly not disappointed - there is a whole gamut of folklore covered within, showing the links and relationships between Discworld and the Earth. It's very well written, and flows like fine honey!

However...

There isn't an awful lot of 'meat' to a lot of the content. It's very much a case of 'Here's a thing from Discworld, and here's it's real world equivalent.', and then after a paragraph or so it moved on to the next thing. I would have liked it to be a bit more in-depth, but there is a bibliography provided at the end that helps flesh out the detail.

I wholeheartedly recommend it, though.

worthy of the discworld series, 05 Nov 2008
There have been a number of books recently that have tried to be guides to the discworld series, most of which have been truly awful. This and the "unauthorised" Turtle Moves are two of the best I have seen.

As suggested by the title the books looks at the lore and legend which are used in the discworld stories and their links to earth lore and legend.

I found it gripping from beginning to end, and there were points that I really wished the author had expanded on further. If I have one problem with the book it is that it is far too short. Maybe it should have been in 2 volumes rather than the one book.

This is a book that has been produced for the growing US market, and it shows. Every chapter has a beautifully drawn interpretation at the beginning. It only goes to show that when something is produced for the US market they put a little more effort and thought into it.

Outstanding book, a must for Discworld fans everywhere.

Nineteen versions??, 20 Oct 2008
Folklore, ancient or modern, is one of the major foundation stones of the Discworld books. Human nature being another, one assumes. Discworld folklore is a trivia test among Discworld fans who will slyly ask one another [generally over a pint], if they can identify the origins of a certain figure or idea. With some slight discrepancies between UK and North American versions, such exchanges can become, well, spirited. "Elves or elfs?" is always good for starting an evening.

Pratchett and Simpson sort all this out - and much else besides - in this delightful work on matters folklorish. Typically, the prompt for the book was Pratchett chanting as he signed a previous release: "How many versions of the Magpie Song do you know?" A distinguished-looking lady gave the query a moment's thought and responded "about nineteen" Thus began the wonderful collaboration leading to FoD. It's typical also of the theme of the book. Discworld and Roundworld [Earth] are linked by the universal presence of narrativium, which Dimitri Mendeleev inexplicably omitted from the Periodic Table. Pratchett knows all about narrativium, carefully explaining how it drifts between universes, carrying ideas or stimulating new ones. Folklore on the Discworld compared to that of Earth may demonstrate strong similarities, or just vague likenesses that have been severely modified. The process is unhelpful, the authors note, in determining which world is the source of the story, which is sometimes a let-down.

The book's organisation is appropriate for what it must cover - it begins with the entire universe. From there it works its way through Dwarfs and Elves, giving us an interesting account of how the Elves, feared and despised on Discworld for their dark and evil ways, have somehow become transformed in modern times into charming little creatures who make toys for children. Drifting through space, narrativium must form some bizarre isotopes. The two witch types - those from Lancre and the Witches of the Chalk Downs are described. The Nac Mac Feegle are given a full chapter, which might be viewed as insufficient as you read it. Granny Aching truly deserves a book of her own. The chapter on Heroes is extensive, justifiably, when you discover the variety of Heroes Pratchett has introduced to us. Finally, almost as icing on a delicious cake, the authors provide a "Bibliography and Suggestions for Further Reading". Plan your book budget carefully.

For those in North America who think this book might be too limited in scope to be worth the investment, think carefully of your own family ancestry. While much of the material is limited to the British Isles, no small part is derived from the rest of Europe and elsewhere. Those tales and legends your ancestors took on board ship to cross the Atlantic didn't go over the rail with breakfast at the first roll of the vessels on the high seas. Those stories survived to take root here and sprout new versions of themselves in the new environment. Go through this book and see if you can't find a few you recognise. Besides the bloody elves and the obese bloke with the demented laugh. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]

A comprehensive overview of the stories and traditions that helped create Discworld, 06 Oct 2008
This is a great well of knowledge of the sources that helped inspire many of the Discworld characters, motifs and situations. It's really wonderful to have so much secondary information on the series in one book, an encyclopedia-esque store of the kind of cultural tidbits that are fascinating in their own right as well as in relation to to Discworld. However the writing style, while clear, is a bit dull and sometimes the line between human mythology and its Discworld counterpart is not exactly clear all the time, at least to me. I was also disappointed by a reference made to the Robin of Sherwood TV series in which the author dismisses a great reimagining of the classic folktale with some pedantic complaints about its apparently archaic use of the Herne the Hunted story. Nevertheless Ms Simpson is very knowledgeable and the book is comprehensive and very informative. A great way to dip one's toes in the pools of folklore. I can't wait to read some of the texts she and Terry have listed in the references.

A great read , 05 Oct 2008
Since buying this book I couldn't put it down. Its a great addition to my discworld collection.

I would recommend it to any Terry Pratchett fan. It an easy read that is broken down into different chapters covering the many facets of Discworld, using examples for the books to illustrate the point being made. The book explains why certain things occur in the discworld books like why there has to be 3 witches.

An example of Pratchett at his best.


"Your phd for living", 23 Sep 2008
If you search on youtube for "the art of looking sideways" you'll come across a 10 minute interview with the late Alan Fletcher. The man was clearly a visionary and apparently loved his Mac ;-)

If you're not into graphic design that much (like me) yet you're into philosophy or psychology, marketing or coaching, leadership or teaching or any other field where the human condition is front & center you'll still find lots of wonderful things in this book, if only by reading the quotes and the stories.

This book has been created by a discovering man, a collecting man and especially a listening and thinking man. He supposedly worked 18! years on this book. No wonder it's such a source of inspiration and insight.

I adore the 'chapters' on creativity and meanings. There are 72 'chapters' in total in this book, each covering a certain 'topic'. I prefer to call them 'mentalities'. Fletcher calls them '72 slices of life' and '72 slices of your brain'.

The two most genius properties of this book are:

- no two pages have similar layout
- you don't know what to expect when turning any page

Only buy this book if you want to discover. Fletcher was a designer but before one can design one has to discover. This book is a discovery by itself and it's filled with thousands of discoveries.

Stuck for an idea? Dive in here..., 24 Mar 2008
Alan Fletcher was one of the creative powerhouses of design from the 1960s on, and this book puts together some of his musings on life, the Universe and everything. The book is designed to spark ideas and thought, so even the paper used changes from page to page.

In typically quirky fashion, only the left hand pages are given a number so if you buy this book you actually get over a thousand pages of inspiring graphics, calligraphy, typography and photographs collected over the course of a long and illustrious career: he founded Pentagram; he designed logos for Reuters and the Victoria and Albert museum. The book gives a glimpse of the thought processes that went in to that work. For the money it's an astonishing bargain.

A homage to concept-driven design and thinking, 27 May 2007
This book provides so many examples of both the mechanics of a good concept and the power of latera