Charlie Magri book - could anyone review it?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 19 Feb 2008, 10:19

If anyone who has read the Charlie Magri book hear, do me a 'personal' favour, and put a review on amazong if you have the time.

I am not asking for any favours in the actual review, just that anyone who has either received or bought a copy put an honest and fair review up, as the reviews are a little bit light.

I would appreciate it very much if any of you could take the time out just to do a short review of the book.

john2345 · Post by **john2345** » 19 Feb 2008, 12:44

I haven't bought it but it got a very positive review in Boxing News a few weeks ago. The reviewer in BN is usually quite critical (e.g. pretty poor review for book on James J Braddock in last week's mag, and some similarly scathing ones on other works in the past) so I'm taking his review as a VERY positive recommendation and plan to buy Charlie's book.

I realise this isn't quite what you're after and that you may well have read the BN review.

Regards, J

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 19 Feb 2008, 19:22

Yeah, knew about the review in BN.

The review on amazon is a different matter, anyway, just thought I'd ask people, as I said, not asking for any favours like, just helps if there are reviews on there.

Wales · Post by **Wales** » 20 Feb 2008, 05:40

I'll be picking up a copy next Friday, ill review it once im done. Do I need to buy form Amazon to put a review on there?

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 20 Feb 2008, 05:51

Yep I'll post a review there James, really enjoyed the book, very well written.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 20 Feb 2008, 06:08

James, been meaning to get this for the train soon. Is there a preferable place to buy it to make sure Charlie gets the most from the book?

Also guys, might be worth putting a review on play.com as well.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 20 Feb 2008, 06:50

If you want to put coin directly in Charlie's pocket, then it's best to go along to one of his book signings, then he's getting half the cover price.

Thanks MW, appreciated mate.

With regard to reviews on Amazon, so long as you have bought anything from amazon before, it will let you put a review up there, you don't have to have bought the actual book there.

I was going to sell some copies myself at mates rates, but with postage and packing, it's more grief than it's worth, especially as I have to buy the books up front.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 20 Feb 2008, 06:52

One other thing, if you enjoyed the book please feel free to say so, but I really don't want people going mental and making out the book is anything it isn't. It just ends up looking snide, and as I said, I'd rather people were just honest about what they thought, I know the book isn't perfect, but there's aspects of it I'm proud of.

Anyway, cheers lads

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 20 Feb 2008, 07:38

Will there be any book signings near Soton or Basingstoke?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 20 Feb 2008, 07:40

I will ask Charlie Today, I think it unlikely to be honest, but I'll find out. The best way to be honest is to go to one of those at Charlie's Boozer, that way you can meet the geezer and get a signed copy as well. I'll see if there is any more publicity events, not sure what's on the calendar.

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 20 Feb 2008, 07:42

jamesmcdonnell wrote:One other thing, if you enjoyed the book please feel free to say so, but I really don't want people going mental and making out the book is anything it isn't.

Should I not have compared it to James Joyce's Ulysses then?

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 20 Feb 2008, 07:46

Oh no, not ANOTHER comparison to Ulysses. If anything, it's more on the level of Ulysses 31 the cartoon.

I have noticed a lot of snide reviews on Amazon, by people who have only reviewed one book, and given it ridiculously glowing praise, and then seen comments from others on the same book saying how shit it is, and then how they thought the other comments were snide. It can give a very bad impression. However, in this case, there aren't any bad reviews 'yet.'

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 20 Feb 2008, 07:50

I heard it's on a par with Homer's Odyssey.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 20 Feb 2008, 08:23

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:I heard it's on a par with Homer's Odyssey.

Homer Simpson's perhaps.

harrygreb · Post by **harrygreb** » 21 Feb 2008, 18:15

aww, i was gonna make that crack!
why dont you copy the review from BN and post it in the amazon review section? cite the reviewers name of course. theres nothing wrong in doing that.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 22 Feb 2008, 06:26

Doesn't work like that. You have to be a former amazon customer to create reviews, and I wouldn't feel good about appropriating other material in any case.

Cheers for the kind words Rob...

King Tubby · Post by **King Tubby** » 22 Feb 2008, 07:56

How's the sales going? (If you don't mind me asking).

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 22 Feb 2008, 07:58

I've really no idea to be honest with you. That's my publisher's area. It seems to be doing alright on amazon, but I've noticed that it's position in sales rankings fluctuates a lot, it was 3rd in boxing books after christmas, went down to 38th, and is now back up again in the top 10 I think. I figure that means boxing books don't sell that well on amazon, so even a few sales changes your ranking a lot.

I know Charlie Personally has sold probably 500-600 copies, and I think the initial print run was probably 5000. Would like to know myself to be honest.

telboy66 · Post by **telboy66** » 22 Feb 2008, 08:55

Yeah iIhave just finnished reading it, it's a good read I will put a review on amason right now

john2345 · Post by **john2345** » 22 Feb 2008, 13:07

My copy from Amazon arrived this morning and I started looking thru it....quickly got hooked, and have read big chunks here and there. Looks like a great read.... will finish over next few days and put words on Amazon.

Just a question, James....where (roughly) on Grove Road is Charlie's pub...on multi-map it looks like a long(ish) road and i wondered if it was near say Mile End Hospital...??

J

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 22 Feb 2008, 14:16

It's not far from the station actually, get off at mile end, and it's about a five or so minute walk.

Charlie is there most days, but he isn't always behind the bar, it's good to go there when there's a book signing on or something like that.

jamesmcdonnell · Post by **jamesmcdonnell** » 22 Feb 2008, 14:24

Just spoke to Charlie. He's having his 25th anniversary of winning the world title at his boozer on the 15th of March, I may well go there myself as it's my birthday the same day. So if anyone wants to get a copy signed or owt like that, then go along to grove road. All the old boys from back in the day will be there, so should be a crowd of ex boxers there.

Alternatively, Charlie said if anyone wants to get a signed copy, they can phone the pub and see if he's there and pop down and he'll sort them a signed copy then and there. Unfortunately he won't have the boozer that much longer as he's giving it up in April, so last chance to go down there.

You can phone the victoria. 0208 980 6609

john2345 · Post by **john2345** » 22 Feb 2008, 14:51

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Just spoke to Charlie. He's having his 25th anniversary of winning the world title at his boozer on the 15th of March, I may well go there myself as it's my birthday the same day. So if anyone wants to get a copy signed or owt like that, then go along to grove road. All the old boys from back in the day will be there, so should be a crowd of ex boxers there.

Alternatively, Charlie said if anyone wants to get a signed copy, they can phone the pub and see if he's there and pop down and he'll sort them a signed copy then and there. Unfortunately he won't have the boozer that much longer as he's giving it up in April, so last chance to go down there.

You can phone the victoria. 0208 980 6609

Thanks James.. the birthday bash sounds good!

J

harrygreb · Post by **harrygreb** » 22 Feb 2008, 17:22

i shouldnt worry about using the BN review, james. i use reviews from anywhere and everywhere to pump up my work for the theatre. its legit to take selected quotes from even bad reviews. the author has no rights to the words used in a review. everybody does it. its only dodgy if you make the whole thing up and use a ficticious name.

i'll try to get down to the pub for the 15th. why is he selling up, james?
whats he going to do? i heard he wants to manage fighters.

for the bloke who wants to know how to get there; you come out of the station - just one exit - cross the road in front of you (mile end road) and keep going straight up. past the prince of wales i think it is, past the little parade of kebab houses and such, under the bridge and there you are.

john2345 · Post by **john2345** » 23 Feb 2008, 09:11

harrygreb wrote: for the bloke who wants to know how to get there; you come out of the station - just one exit - cross the road in front of you (mile end road) and keep going straight up. past the prince of wales i think it is, past the little parade of kebab houses and such, under the bridge and there you are.

Thanks for that, appreciated...j