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The Invention of Murder - Judith Flanders
by slide_away_
I saw this in Waterstones and as somebody who is extremely interested in criminal law and criminology, well, I couldn't leave it. Throughout the book Judith Flanders looks into both famous, such as Jack the Ripper, and more obscure murderers such as Adelaide Bartlett, deemed a 'middle class poisoner'. As morbid as it sounds, it is a ... great read mainly for the fact that she describes these people's backgrounds, their motives, their murders and the consequences in great detail. I would say, however, that, since one of the reasons I bought this book was to learn more about Jack the Ripper from a reputable source, I was disappointed that such a small portion of the book was dedicated to them. Considering they were one of Britain's most notorious serial killers I was hoping for more information.
She also conveys the stories of these people with an interesting twist, in that she looks at them alongside Victorian culture, entertainment and the press. The book seems to pose the question: which came first, the murderer or the novel. I thought that this was one the best parts of the book; to see excerpts and plot outlines of penny-bloods, poems, novels etc all based on the 'popular' crimes of the time. I use the word popular because, as outlined in this book, Victorian culture was obsessed with murder as much as ours is obsessed with celebrity: Madame Tussands wasn't always waxworks of footballers.
The book is split into sections: Imagining Murder, Trial by Newspaper, Entertaining Murder, Policing Murder, Panic, Middle-Class Poisoners, Science, Technology and Law, Violence and Modernity - and focuses on each topic while looking through the whole of the 19th Century. I have to say I found the Policing Murder section fascinating as it talked about the history of the police force and how it developed over time to become what it is today. I would say that the only chapter that dragged a bit for me was Middle-Class Poisoners, since it was around 70 pages long, and also since there wasn't much variety in how the crimes were committed. It was still interesting though.
As a massive Sherlock Holmes fan I was excited to read about Authur Conan Doyle's inspiration for the character and also some of the murders the stories were inspired by: if you're a fan, you'll enjoy these little asides. An overarching theme throughout the book is the birth of detection and the detective as a character in a novel. Also, throughout the book there's plenty of pictures, including two sections of in colour photographs at thirds, which I feel added to the appeal of the book and made it more interesting to read than if it were just 500 pages of words.
It costs around £7 for the paperback and £6.50 for the e-book version in Waterstones: at 500 pages it is well worth the money. The length and content of the book also means that it isn't a light-hearted read: this isn't a book to dip in and out of due to the detail put into researching each of these people and their crimes. You can hardly read it from cover to cover in one sitting but it is an engrossing read, and the way that Judith Flanders links all of the murderers together makes you want to read on. Also, her tone throughout the book is chatty and funny, which for the subject matter, really makes it easier to read. For someone who enjoys reading about this sort of thing, even I can get a bit freaked out by what these people did.
Yes, I did get a few funny looks while reading this, possibly due to the front cover with the word 'murder' on it in massive red letters. This aside, it is a great and interesting read that takes an in depth journey through the invention of murder as an art form in Victorian society, along with its theme throughout of analysing the trends in society in regards to murder in literature and in the press.
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Molecular Biology of the Cell - Bruce Alberts
by ssillman
What can't you find in this textbook? It's a fantastic reference for those studying cell biology, biochemistry, immunology and oncology - everything you would need to know for an undergraduate course, especially your first year is covered in this book.
I've found it to be the one book i've used the most studying BSc ... Biochemistry. It's very clear, and the pictures and diagrams are very clear and helpful - so much so that lecturers often refer to it. Whenever I don't understand something I refer to this book as my first port of call. I haven't used any other book for my pathology or immunology units, and it has so far done the trick!
The version with the CD provides extra content which is accessible via your computer - helpful as this is a LOT of information!
I would definitely reccommend this to potential and existing undergraduate students alike, it is worth it.
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Cheryl: My Story - Cheryl Cole
by Dragonfairy
I borrowed this from a friend, and have to say while I enjoy her music, autobiographies aren't normally my thing as I'm just not that interested in celebrities' lives. My friend said she had got it as a christmas present (she had asked for it), and while she had enjoyed most of it she was pleased she hadn't spent the £20 on it, I think ... she only enjoyed the part about the affairs.
The story
The book is well written and tells us about her life from her early childhood until 2012, and covers all aspects of her life including her early fame, marriage and divorce, as well as her time on UK X Factor and USA X Factor. I learnt lots about her and those around her that I didn't already know, in particular how hounded she has been by the press, and what happened in the USA as well as her illness.
What did I think
On the whole I enjoyed this book and if you have an interest in Cheryl Cole or celebrities I would recommend it. The book is well written and Cheryl comes across as a woman who has survived a lot in her short life, and who has always had a belief that she would one day be a star. Her style is pretty up beat and while she tells all about childhood depression, her illness and her difficult marriage to Ashley she does so from a position of, she survived it and learned from it, rather then from a "look at how hard i've had it" point of view. The only thing to have really upset her (apart from the obvious) is how people treated her like an object when she was seriously ill, rather than a person. The parts I particularly enjoyed were her childhood, and her time with Simon Cowell on X Factor.
If I have one small criticism of the book it is, it felt like she has portrayed herself as always having been good, and for me it was not quite believable and too sugary, but then maybe I'm just a cynic. I have to say though my opinion of her has gone up, just because of how much she has survived in her short life, and how normal she still seems. I also felt sorry for her for how much she was hounded by the press, and feel pleased she's found a way to tell her own story in her own words.
In short I wouldn't buy the book, but I am pleased I borrowed it.
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