Advantages: A fascinating accessible read
Disadvantages: Strads are there to be HEARD!

...1644 until 1737, that's quite an achievement for anyone. Will our ephemeral music stars of today who so often proclaim their iconic status (hallo - or should I say goodbye(?) Spice Girls!) still have that pull in the year 2279? So what's the allure and mystery behind this enigmatic maker and his renowned instruments? First time author Toby Faber sets out in this book to try and unravel some of the secrets and explore the unending fascination violinists, instrument dealers and music lovers have had for these instruments throughout their history. As well as encounters with music and musicians, there are tales of deceit, fraud and downright skulduggery motivated by the pure greed of longing to possess these unique musical works of art. Along the way Mr Faber also considers the historical development of the violin itself in western... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful

Advantages: Three or four very good stories
Disadvantages: Three or four truly terrible stories

...The author Michel Faber was born in Holland but brought up in Australia and now lives in Scotland. He has now published six books including the long and successful Victorian novel "The Crimson Petal and The White", the Whitbread Prize short-listed "Under the Skin" and the short novel, or novella, "The Courage Consort". "The Fahrenheit Twins" is his second collection of short stories. In reviewing a collection of short stories it is important to note that some collections have stories which are linked, whether thematically by character or other link; others are simply that, a collection of short stories with no intended or discernible link. This collection has a series of disparate characters involved in unrelated stories spread out over a number of locations in the United Kingdom and elsewhere. If there is a link... Read review

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Advantages: Macabre, compelling, thrilling, evocative, original
Disadvantages: Nasty, stomach-churning, distasteful in parts

...“Under the Skin” is quite simply one of the oddest books I’ve read for a long while. In fact I’ve read it twice now and even read it the second time in one (very long!) sitting, completely absorbed until the very last sentence. Yet to say I liked it wouldn’t be quite right either…I suppose the best summation would be to say that it’s not just odd, it’s compulsively odd. I think compulsively odd is rather an achievement myself so I am more than happy to recommend this first novel by Michel Faber to anyone and everyone. It’s about Isserley. She’s a woman of indeterminate middle ag