A lot of this book makes sense and talks about some large problems about women and their relationships with themselves, each other and men.

But the male conspiracy stuff is just stupid and the bullshit logic is just silly. I note she is a mate of Goleman – the emotional intelligence pretend scientist, and her writings follow this nonsense quite closely.

Naomi certainly opens your mind to some interesting ideas – but her logic culdesacs and extreme extrapolations just hurt her arguments.

I hope that serious sociologists and feminists can use it as a launching pad for some real research and writing on a very interesting social issue: why is beauty such a big deal?

This book starts terribly. The first section is a chore – you couldn’t care less about the characters. But then once Part One ends and you get into the war – it gets better. Much more interesting. And from Part 3 onwards the book is excellent. I won’t give away the twist because it blew me away.

The only book I can think of that had a linear improvement throughout.

Give it a go – but don’t be afraid to speedread the first 100 or so pages.

I was always going to see it cos my better half’s a marky mark fan. We weren’t expecting much, and early in the film we thought we weren’t going to get much.

But it ended up being really good. Good action and special effects, conspiracy – but nothing laughable, and Michael Pena rocked!

The names killed me – I tried, but just couldn’t work out who was who. I really liked the gypsy stuff early on, but after that it was too laborious – a real battle to finish the book.

I only read it cos its on the bbc big read – its the second marquez book I’ve not enjoyed.

By focusing on the Queen / Tony Blair angle the film has a strong narrative – it really tells a good story. Everyone come off well in the movie: with the exception of the Queen Mum is a cow, Cherie Blair who is a lunatic and Blair’s Chief of Staff who represents everything that is wrong with politics.

The casting and acting is first class – the portrayals are very good: all the aussies, kiwis and of course poms would pick up on some of the mannerisms and in-jokes. I am sure however that the yanks and europeans who don’t know them that well could still get a lot out of the film.

My girlfriend and I watched this this afternoon and enjoyed it thoroughly. The storyline is simple and predictable – but wonderful! Very well written. Good acting from Dustin Hoffman who I’ve hated since he sold out with meet the parents. Will Ferrell is good – and Maggie Gyllenhall outstanding.

The film works because it doesn’t overdo it the way most studio films do. At many points the movie could have dropped into the usual cliches – but it holds a subtle and moving tone thruout.

I was very impressed and you should do yourself a favour and see it.