Tag: reading challenge

Phantom Architecture by Philip Wilkinson

Although I started this several months ago I didn’t really start reading it properly until last week. I had previously dipped in and out of it. But once i devoted my time to it, what a very interesting and enthralling read, some very quirky, interesting and downright strange designs. It would have been interesting to see some of them come fruition like a giant pyramid crypt in London for 5 million bodies, or a giant elephant in Paris. If they had been built I wonder how they would be perceived today?

A great selection and quite interesting, not a difficult or dense read at all. A bit more details would be nice but a minor quibble. The book has some great illustrations and photographs from more modern times of the models and plans for the buildings and communities.

It does make me curious what contemporary designs are ongoing that will end up future phantoms. Perhaps the proposed Neom in Saudi Arabia will be a future Phantom or drastically different to how we are expecting it today.

Diary of A Nobody by George Grossmith

My first book of the year and to start the year with a fun, entertaining read. Given I am keeping a diary again this year The diary of A Nobody seemed a good start. Although dated the humour does shine through and having listened to a snippet of the audiobook read by Martin Jarvis, I likely will listen/read it again. I feel the book will be enriched with narration.


I don’t know if that was how the humour was in those days but the jokes are often at the main characters expense, Mr Pooter and his bad jokes like how with his friends Mr Cummings and Mr Gowing. He notes that “Cummings is always going, Gowing is always coming”. a lot of fun wordplay in the humour.

A more funny read this time around and as such I will bump it up to 5* on Goodreads.

So that’s one down for the year, not sure what to read next. I may post individual reviews here or maybe a few at a time, depends on my output I guess and what I’m reading.