Product reviews for Magic of Modern Metaphor

I regard Magic of Modern Metaphor, Walking with the Stars, Written and illustrated by David Hodgson as having the following rankings on a number of important scales.
Ten out of ten on the enjoyable scale.
Ten out ten on the accessibility scale.
Ten out of ten on the light, can use it anywhere, in any situation scale. Yes, ten out of ten.

After reading the stories in the Saturday afternoon newspapers, I turned to read the stories in the Magic of Modern Metaphor, Walking with the Stars, written and illustrated by David Hodgson. The modern stories come from the affectionate and humorous relationship between a grandson and grandfather and granddad`s `friendships with celebrities`. To be perfectly precise, I found myself absorbed, engrossed and generally feeling better about myself and the world after reading just a few of the tales. I read many of the very short stories first. Some are as short as a half a page. Then as I became even more absorbed in the book, I went to longer stories, the longest being a page and a bit. The tales, which come from the warm and funny relationship between a grandson and grandfather, remind us about what`s important now to us. Spellbound by it all, I just immersed myself in the `make believe` yarns of Ant and Dec, Bruce Forsyth, the Angel of the North ,Victoria Beckham, Elvis and Marilyn, FA Cup final day, Paul Daniels, Gandhi and more. The Madonna story was the best for me!

Hodgson enchants by moving me through his charms. There are three of them. The first charm is the part of the book that offers methods that anyone can use to make the most of the book for themselves. The second charm is his `likeable` collection of stories. There are ninety eight actual stories which express the bulk of the book. Then the third charm is the part of the book which provides the reader with tools to help engage the possible interpretations that the stories have stimulated for the reader. Hodgson also invites the reader to be guided by and use his ten `useful assumptions`, whilst absorbing the stories. And finally, like any good educator, Hodgson generously invites you to continue your journey with offers for further reading.

I really feel Hodgson`s warmth and enjoyment of life percolating through all the narratives he has chosen to collect and share. Just for the feel good factor alone, I would recommend the book to any professional trainer, family man, celebrity, mother, consultant, social worker, lover, politician, father, pregnant teenager, media mogul, footballer, civil servant, weekend father, prisoner, entertainer, parent, solider, entrepreneur, scientist, teacher, friend, farmer, chef, partner, pastor, sibling, or coach to use. Personal wisdom is stimulated and attitudes change after reading any of the ninety eight stories.

We are richer for having this collection of charming everyday stories drawn, from the magic of the daily life. Stories drawn through from the telly come over. Stories extracted from the threads of ordinary family life are shared. It is these ordinary stories, which are so refreshingly recognisable, that provides the reader with a genuine foundation, for reinterpreting their own situation, filling them in with their own symbols of ordinary life which creates the personal magic. Again, attitudes change after reading any of the ninety eight stories. They definitely change when read with an intention to relate it to a situation you value.

Could this collection of stories be useful for the sombre, serious minded, austere Britain of 2010, I ask? Is this for those who may have been subdued by dull, dismal, gloomy stories of British life in 2010, I wonder? Is it the fact that Hodgson provides us with his most cherished treasure - the relationship between grandfather and grandson. And that the modern stories come from the affection and humour between a grandson and grandfather, as well as granddad`s `friendships with celebrities`. Only after a personal read of his work, can you decide how modern metaphors can let us feel the sparkle of walking with the stars.

Highly recommend for professionals and those involved in family life.