Seeing as my Amazon reviews are spread over several countries, I'm posting them here for everyone to see in one place.
5.0 out of 5 stars An amazing read!, April 26, 2010
James M. Turner's book, Beyond The Comfort Zone, tells Mr. Turner's extraordinary story of going to great lengths (at great personal risk) in Thailand and Burma (now Myanmar) to try to help stop the illegal selling of Burmese children into the sex trade in Thailand. Mr. Turner's courage and determination are only eclipsed by his uncanny writing ability. I could not put the book down, and neither will you. You'll read it in 24 hours because you won't be able to put it down either. If you like non-fiction that reads like a novel, this is the book for you. It will both thrill and scare you. Great summer beach read, by the way. Order yours right now. You won't be sorry!!!
A fantastic read.,
7 July 2010 This review is from: Beyond the Comfort Zone (Paperback)
Beyond The Comfort Zone is among the best, and certainly the most engrossing, non-fiction books I have read in a long time. One of the strongest compliments I can pay is that while being entirely believable and hyperbole-free, it reads like fiction, and tightly written, exciting fiction at that. Fundamentally, the passages, one-liners, stories and reflections, are so carefully interwoven that the end result is just a superb read. Despite the sometimes harrowing nature of some of the subject matter his obvious love of the region really shines through and some of the descriptive passages are truly evocative and beautifully written. Sometimes incredibly funny at others desperately heartbreaking, I could not put it down. Highly recommended.
Great book,
20 April 2010 This review is from: Beyond the Comfort Zone (Paperback)
I am an avid and quite varied reader and I couldn't wait to get my hands on what a friend described as "an amazing story". I wasn't let down. This is a great book written absolutely magnificently. It reads like a work of believable fiction and I had to keep reminding myself that it was a true story. On the whole I read far more fiction than biography, because I find most `real' stories less exciting and absorbing. If more factual writing was like this, that might change. I think the author really has a way with words and has created some beautiful imagery for the reader. I have no base of reference as I have never visited Thailand. However, I got so caught up in picturing the places that were described and the descriptions of the people that I could have been following characters in a good novel rather than real people. I was gripped to the end and disappointed when it finished. Roll on a sequel!
| A very moving book, 3 April 2010 This review is from: Beyond the Comfort Zone (Paperback) Not a book I would ordinarily read, but I am a huge Take That fan and knew the author had featured in the video A Million Love Songs. Once I got into BEYOND THE COMFORT ZONE, however, I loved it and could not put it down. It was an emotional roller coster throughout and I did not know what was coming next. There are a lot of sad parts, though, and I had to get the tissues out, but this is balanced out by some very funny bits and one liners. Some of the descriptions were incredibly beautiful and poetic, and made me feel I was there. The best thing about BEYOND THE COMFORT ZONE is that it highlighted the need for better child protection throughout the world, a subject thats too often swept under the carpet. A great all rounder, you wont be disappointed.
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| Five stars all the way!!, 2 April 2010 This review is from: Beyond the Comfort Zone (Paperback) In Beyond The Comfort Zone, the author Jim Turner sets out to right a troubled upbringing, learns to play the saxophone and subsequently ends up touring the world with the pop group Bros (this at a time when they were truly huge), and other notable acts, such as Lisa Stansfield. "This is my life, I thought, this is how it's going to be forever", he says after playing to 70,000 people at Wembley Stadium. It seems odd then that there is a massive jump to what comes next -- one-sixth into the book he abandons the music industry and ends up attempting to infiltrate and put a stop to child trafficking in the jungles of S.E. Asia. It seems odd, but it isn't. Without wishing to give the story away, I will just say that this is a superbly crafted book and awesome memoir that will take your nerves right to the wire. Five stars all the way.
Read more at James M Turner.com |
