The Economist wrote: "At the heart of the book are three magnificent essays, about the Hatfield train crash of 2000; the sinking of the Titanic and the film Titanic (1997); and the lost cinemas of Farnworth, Mr Jack's home town, which is also a circuitous epitaph for a lost brother.
The Economist highlighted: "At the core of this book are three remarkable essays, exploring the Hatfield train crash in 2000; the Titanic's tragic fate and its portrayal in the 1997 film Titanic; and the forgotten cinemas of Farnworth, Mr Jack's hometown, which also serves as a poignant reminder of a lost brother.