Not Quite World's End: A Traveller's Tales

This was the first book chosen by our recently formed readers group. A bad choice in that not many of us finished it, but good in the way that it incited lots of discussion. Personally, I find autobiographies difficult anyway, and generally read fiction, but I have always thought that John Simpson must be an intersting man with compelling tales to tell of his journeys over the years. I was therefore quite pleased to be 'forced' to read his book for the book club.

I found it really hard to read. The style was poor and it seemed to dot about all over the place. He would start a tale and then get side tracked and I felt the end was never really reached. I was disappointed from the start as Chapters 1 and 2 failed to tell me anything that I could not have read in the papers at the time of Saddam's trial etc. I got the impression that the book was compiled from 'stories' Simpson had written at different times and then, at a later date, categorised them under chapter headings without re reading. Some accounts were repeated in more than one chapter, although not written any better or grabbing any more of my attention the second time around!

By chapter 4, I was sick fed up of hearing about his son, Rafe, only to turn the page and find that chapter 5 was entitled 'Rafe' - oh no, no more please! This, I was heartened to learn, was a view shared by all members of my readers group and not just me as a childless 40 something!

On the whole I felt the book was a wasted opportunity. It is rare for me not to finish a book, but having skipped pages in the early chapters, I finally skipped chapters 10 onwards altogether! I am sure that John Simpson's tales of his travels and obvious knowledge of worldly affairs would make a very interesting read, but I would suggest next time that he gets someone else to write it for him to draw out the interesting bits. He could also spend money on getting it proof read - there were various typing errors and ommissions which let down the quality of the book.

Does anyone want a 'hardly read' copy of 'Not Quite World's End'??

well written - poor proof reading (3/4 people found this helpful)

I really enjoyed the whole book. John Simpson writes very interesting stories and I found every chapter easy to read. However my problem with the book was the number of spelling errors in it - in one case the wrong word was used. Sometimes I had to re-read the sentence to get the correct meaning. I find it surprising that for such a fine writer as John Simpson, he should allow his book to be published with so many spelling errors. Never-the-less, a most enjoyable book.

Not Quite World's End: A Traveller's Tales

John Simpson

Reader Reviews:

It WAS the end of the world for me! (2/2 people found this helpful)

well written - poor proof reading (3/4 people found this helpful)

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