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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
informative
medium-paced
This book has been extremely well researched and the writers style is easy to follow. It's chock full of interesting historical information about Wales. I would like to give it 5 stars but this type of book needs better design.
As a reference book it's surprisingly poor due to the fact that it's near impossible to find something that you earlier read if you didn't mark it yourself. The index is quite limited and there are multiple occasions when I have turned to the index in order to find something, only to discover that it doesn't list what I'm looking for. Secondly the book has no headings. The book has pages and pages of small text with only very broad chapters to break it up.
I really hope that the publisher or author reads my comment and thinks about releasing another version of the book that is more suitable for reference purposes. Right now it's a very interesting read but it would be a nightmare to use the book in any kind of study that would require me to reference what I read earlier. For such an insane amount of time, effort and research, I think it would be a good move to rethink the design of the book (in terms of reference).
As a reference book it's surprisingly poor due to the fact that it's near impossible to find something that you earlier read if you didn't mark it yourself. The index is quite limited and there are multiple occasions when I have turned to the index in order to find something, only to discover that it doesn't list what I'm looking for. Secondly the book has no headings. The book has pages and pages of small text with only very broad chapters to break it up.
I really hope that the publisher or author reads my comment and thinks about releasing another version of the book that is more suitable for reference purposes. Right now it's a very interesting read but it would be a nightmare to use the book in any kind of study that would require me to reference what I read earlier. For such an insane amount of time, effort and research, I think it would be a good move to rethink the design of the book (in terms of reference).
challenging
informative
slow-paced
While this took me over a month to get through I was kind of glad I persevered with it as it is well researched and very detailed and even I learned a thing or two about my native land that I didn't know. Having said that though it is a very dry read and it does focus on the political and religious side of things a bit too much for my liking, particularly given the diverse characters we have both past and present, not to mention the stories, folklore and tall tales that have been handed down through generations. This is a book I both enjoyed and hated as it captures the details but misses the point (the soul if you will) of Wales, if you're of an academic mind this is perfect for you but if you want to know about the land of song you're going to be disappointed.
Probably the single best national history I have ever read. I would recommend this book to anyone.
informative
slow-paced
informative
reflective
slow-paced
informative
slow-paced
Can be exceptionally dry in places. Some of the early chapters seem to boil down to a chronological list of names that seem to blend together, with little effort made to distinguish any character of these historical figures.
Lots of words are dedicated to religious changes in the history of Wales but it feels like too much additional knowledge is assumed. In fact, there are many passages that could have afforded a little more context or explanation. In other words, this book sometimes fails to stand alone.
For someone unfamiliar with the geography of Wales would struggle to follow much of this book.
Infrequent diagrams often provide little help or context to the text. Given the above notes, much more use could have been made of this space.
All of this said, there are interesting gems sprinkled throughout the book, with the latter half being particularly interesting. It's a shame that one has to work for these nuggets, though.
Lots of words are dedicated to religious changes in the history of Wales but it feels like too much additional knowledge is assumed. In fact, there are many passages that could have afforded a little more context or explanation. In other words, this book sometimes fails to stand alone.
For someone unfamiliar with the geography of Wales would struggle to follow much of this book.
Infrequent diagrams often provide little help or context to the text. Given the above notes, much more use could have been made of this space.
All of this said, there are interesting gems sprinkled throughout the book, with the latter half being particularly interesting. It's a shame that one has to work for these nuggets, though.
Took me over a year to finish because it was just so....economics focused and very much a slog. Was hoping to have more narrative history and storytelling.