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 stated: "At the core of the book are three remarkable essays, concerning the Hatfield train crash of 2000; the sinking of the Titanic and the film Titanic (1997); and the vanished cinemas of Farnworth, Mr Jack's hometown, which is also a winding epitaph for a lost sibling.