E-books and audiobooks reviews: non-fiction
Already, an e-book on understanding Charlie Hebdo cartoons has come out, accompanying another on the chronology of the deadly terrorist attack on January 7 at the Paris headquarters of the magazine. Now a third, by Patricia Crouch, offers alternative views of the publication’s representations of Islam.
by Patricia Crouch
Amazon Digital Services
(e-book)
Already, an e-book on understanding Charlie Hebdo cartoons has come out, accompanying another on the chronology of the deadly terrorist attack on January 7 at the Paris headquarters of the magazine. Now a third, by Patricia Crouch, offers alternative views of the publication’s representations of Islam. There are many reminders that Je Suis Charlie in no way defends the actions of the al-Qaeda extremists who claimed responsibility for the atrocities. Crouch seeks to show how some consider the small publication as not so much a thought-provoking satirical rag as one with selfish, stupid and ultimately destructive motives. Crucially, in 2006 it reprinted the 12 infamous Danish cartoons from 2005 depicting the Prophet Mohammed in inflammatory ways. Showing the views of those who refused to stand with the paper and say “Je suis Charlie”, she reminds us that not everyone agrees with Charlie Hebdo’s way of championing free speech. While interesting, her book won’t change established opinion about right and wrong.
by Rebecca Harrington
Vintage Books
(e-book)
Many will find this book interesting even if they're not on a diet or have never had to lose weight. That's because Rebecca Harrington, who embarks on a slew of celebrity diets, engages the reader with real, practical research, succinctly explaining the quirks of each regimen and telling it the way it is, with lashings of humour mixed into every green health drink that she tries to keep down. She shows how beauties from a different age, among them Jackie Kennedy and Sophia Loren, kept trim. You learn that Madonna's macrobiotic menu is no fun, Victoria Beckham's five-hands-of-food-a-day regimen (of alkaline comestibles only) can be "disgusting", and Liz Taylor 's controlled pig-out lacked restraint. Of all the diets, Harrington finds Beyonce's post-pregnancy eating plan the most effective (also, the food was "not terrible"). However, after having tested the diets of 14 celebrities Harrington (the author of 2012's Penelope) acknowledges that she weighed exactly the same as when she started. Still, she had her favourites. Find out why.