David M. Brown's Blog, page 65
March 12, 2013
App Review: Bardowl
Top titles streamed on demand with unlimited listening time
As many books as you like at no extra cost
Bestsellers, Business Books, Childrens Books and more
A library of huge titles from the best publishers for just £9.99 a month
Device: iPhone, iPad
Review: Bardowl
I’m pretty much a shameless audiobook addict. Last year I got through 126 books and I’d say at least 50 were audiobooks. It doesn’t always come cheap. One of the favourite services is Audible (£14.99/mth for two titles) but I quickly burn through my two credits. Therefore, I’m always on the lookout for other audio services.
I stumbled on Bardowl quite randomly in the Appstore, looking for something completely unrelated. I was intrigued. To me, after paying £15 a month for several years now, £9.99 for unlimited listening seemed too good to be true. There had to be a catch surely? Rubbish titles? Or hardly any titles? Hidden extra charges? So I signed up for the seven day trial, during which you can listen to up to 5 hours. I quickly found five titles I’d definitely want to listen to so I decided to continue.
So far, I’ve heard The Psychopath Test, Buyology and Boomerang, all titles that were previously on my wishlist. Excited, I’d already had a more thorough look through the titles and found several more I wanted to read. In short, this will keep me listening happily at £9.99 a month and I can’t see me running out of interesting titles any time soon.
So, if there aren’t any catches, are there any quibbles? Just a couple. I’d like to be able to store a larger number of favorites or a wish list so it’s easy to remember which titles I want to read. I couldn’t really tell if the catalogue was fixed or if additional titles would be added. If the latter (which I assume is the case given the high number of recent titles) it’d be great to have some way to easily spot new titles.
These, however, are minor quibbles. I can’t fault a service that not only provides books that I hoped to read anyway but does it at such an incredibly reasonable price. I would happily pay £20 a month so long as I knew there were books I wanted to read.
It’s no exaggeration to say this is going to make my indulgent audiobook habit a lot less guilt inducing. I haven’t cancelled Audible but perhaps I can say goodbye to the days of burning through my credits in two weeks and then checking the calendar constantly until the next ones arrive. Thank you Bardowl!
Verdict: 5/5
Source: Reviewer’s own copy
**Interested in trying Bardowl? When Bardowl heard we were reviewing the app, they made us a great offer for readers: want a month to explore Bardowl’s app instead of 7 days? Just send an email to support@bardowl.com and let them know that the “Tweedlers” sent you in the subject or body.**
App Review: Bardowl | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
#BlogFlash2013: Day Eight – Chocolate
Thank you to Terri Giuliano Long for hosting another BlogFlash event. To see Terri’s post for the day (and find links for others’ pieces) visit Terri’s blog. Follow along on Twitter (@tglong and #BlogFlash2013) or Facebook.
Day Eight – Chocolate
[image error]As I sit here with a bag of Peanut M&Ms, I’m struggling to put into words how much I like chocolate.
I like the smile on my Mum’s face when I buy her chocolates for no reason other than that she’s lovely
I love the coziness of curling up in a chair with a hot chocolate and a good book
I laugh when I see how pleased my husband is that I’ve bought white chocolate cookies home
I chuckle when I think that my step-mum still has the £2 chocolate coloured cardigan I bought her a decade ago
I blush when someone catches me playing with the toy from a Kinder chocolate egg
I curse when I get covered in Cadbury’s Creme Egg trying to eat it slowly – but do it again next time
I grin foolishly when I get an Easter egg, even though I’m almost 33
Chocolate is lovely. My chocolate memories are even lovelier.
#BlogFlash2013: Day Eight – Chocolate | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
March 11, 2013
Book Review: The Darlings – Cristina Alger
Now that he’s married to Merrill Darling, daughter of billionaire financier Carter Darling, attorney Paul Ross has grown accustomed to New York society and all of its luxuries: a Park Avenue apartment, weekends in the Hamptons, bespoke suits. When Paul loses his job, Carter offers him the chance to head the legal team at his hedge fund. Thrilled with his good fortune in the midst of the worst financial downturn since the Great Depression, Paul accepts the position.
But Paul’s luck is about to shift: a tragic event catapults the Darling family into the media spotlight, a regulatory investigation, and a red-hot scandal with enormous implications for everyone involved. Suddenly, Paul must decide where his loyalties lie-will he save himself while betraying his wife and in-laws or protect the family business at all costs?
Cristina Alger’s glittering debut novel interweaves the narratives of the Darling family, two eager SEC attorneys, and a team of journalists all racing to uncover-or cover up-the truth. With echoes of a fictional Too Big to Fail and the novels of Dominick Dunne, The Darlings offers an irresistible glimpse into the highest echelons of New York society-a world seldom seen by outsiders-and a fast-paced thriller of epic proportions.
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Review: The Darlings
The Darlings sees high flying family the Darlings – who also happen to be the ‘darlings’ of the financial industry – go from riches to… well, not exactly rags but perhaps a few less luxury holidays and world class restaurants. Paul Ross seems a decent enough guy, who didn’t try to game the financial system too much – unless you count turning a blind eye to the practices of others. Still, there’s a big difference between seeing and doing and Paul has managed to make a new life for himself working for his wife’s father.
When a family suicide throws both the family and the company into turmoil, Paul knows he’s not going to get away with see-no-evil, hear-no-evil this time around and has to make some very difficult decisions about family, loyalty and integrity.
I did enjoy The Darlings. Paul certainly seemed the most down-to-earth of the characters, slightly out of his depth in a world of wealth and schmoozing. Many of the remaining characters seemed frustrating vacuous, which I’m sure was deliberate. It certainly meant it made more of an impact when they did feel something.
My biggest issue with The Darlings was the ending. It felt laboured and drawn out. There was a twist, but I had seen it coming. That possibly added to my sense that it was just words filling space for a few of the later pages. Disappointingly, the drama and edginess built up throughout the novel, dribbled away as the hand was slightly overplayed.
That said, I would still recommend this book. Entertaining and well-paced throughout the majority of the book, Alger weaves a good story of high society fallen low and the impact a culture of greed has. Alger is certainly one to watch.
Verdict: 3/5
(Book Source: Netgalley)
Book Review: The Darlings – Cristina Alger | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
#BlogFlash2013: Day 6 – Island
Thank you to Terri Giuliano Long for hosting another BlogFlash event. To see Terri’s post for the day (and find links for others’ pieces) visit Terri’s blog. Follow along on Twitter (@tglong and#BlogFlash2013) or Facebook.
Day Six – Island
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I know this was due on on Friday. Bleh. I’m only averaging 4 hours of sleep a night right now and couldn’t bring myself to write about an island when all I wanted to do was go to sleep on one! Come to think of it, sometimes insomnia feels like its own island. Everywhere is quiet, your husband – even your cats – are asleep. The world is at peace.
“Why can’t I have some of that?” you think. Instead, you lie back and watch the light seep through the curtains.
I’ve tried many things over the years: milk, hot baths, lukewarm baths, not eating after a certain time etc. It comes and it goes. So this month I’m lying in bed at 4 a.m. listening to an audiobook so I don’t wake my husband – even my cats – with the light? There are certainly worse afflictions in life.
I’ll remind myself of that the next time I’m feeling shipwrecked.
#BlogFlash2013: Day 6 – Island | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
March 10, 2013
Film Review: The Big Chill
Starring: Tom Berenger, Glenn Close, Jeff Goldblum, William Hurt, Kevin Kline
Directed by: Lawrence Kasdan
Runtime: 101 minutes
Studio: UCA
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Review: The Big Chill
Lawrence Kasdan’s Oscar-nominated drama boasts a fabulous cast who portray a group of college friends reunited in their thirties following a tragic death. Harold (Kevin Kline) and his wife Sarah (Glenn Close) receive the unwelcome news that their friend Alex has committed suicide in their guest house in South Carolina. At Alex’s funeral a group of college friends gather – Sam (Tom Berenger) who is a famous actor; Michael (Jeff Goldblum) who is a journalist; Nick (William Hurt), a Vietnam veteran and former radio presenter; Meg (Mary Kay Place), a real estate attorney; Karen (JoBeth Williams), an unhappy housewife; and then there is Chloe (Meg Tilly) who is the younger girlfriend of Alex and is somewhat out of place amongst the group. After Alex’s funeral, the friends spend a weekend together, facing up to their loss, assessing their lives and trying to focus on the future.
The cast in The Big Chill is a director’s dream with some memorable names from the eighties with some still thriving today. With so many characters there are a lot of personal issues to deal with. Sam is the big star on TV but from the start it seems he and Karen clearly have history, though rekindling any desires looks difficult with Karen arriving with her husband, Richard (Don Galloway). Harold and Sarah have a marriage that has survived a lot including Sarah having an affair with Alex but his death hits them both hard. Meg confides in Sarah that she wants a child and intends for one of her friends to help father a child. Michael is amusing, veering between the search for his next story and finding the next woman to seduce with Chloe top of his list. Nick is a troubled character, having sustained a delicate injury in Vietnam and struggled through life. Chloe is lost without Alex and although Michael is eager to comfort her, Chloe finds herself drawn to Nick and the two grow closer as the weekend progresses. There are a lot of ill-feelings for the characters to express and grieving for Alex proves to be something they each find hard to begin. There are good times too though, their first reunion since college though clearly some have fared better than others.
The Big Chill reminded me of the likes of St Elmo’s Fire with a group of friends reminiscing about their youth and not really finding life to be as enjoyable as they might have hoped. The group here are in their thirties, the carefree days of college long since gone, but reunited they seem to quickly fall back into their old ways. The loss of Alex casts a dark shadow over the weekend though and there is a lot of tension and personal issues to resolve.
The Big Chill is a decent drama with a great cast of characters coming together through tragedy rather than through a planned reunion. It’s interesting that although they’ve had different degrees of success in their lives there is a collective feeling of disappointment amongst them. Though uniting eases many of the problems there are no quick fixes here, which is a more apt way to end the story.
Verdict: 4/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: The Big Chill | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: The Special Relationship
Starring: Michael Sheen, Dennis Quaid, Hope Davis, Helen McCrory
Directed by: Richard Loncraine
Runtime: 88 minutes
Studio: HBO
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Review: The Special Relationship
I’m not an expert on politics but do like to keep an eye on current affairs. The end of the Labour government in the UK last year and the emergence of the coalition suggested not everyone was keen for the last of Labour and there just wasn’t enough support for the Conservatives alone. Tony Blair’s time in power (1997-2007) wasn’t without its controversies and the consensus view of him in the UK, at least I believe so, is a negative one. Richard Loncraine’s The Special Relationship follows The Deal (2003) and The Queen (2006) in depicting different stages of Blair’s career. This time we gain an insight into foreign politics and the UK’s continued friendship with the US.
The film is very much an account of the contrasting fortunes of Tony Blair (Michael Sheen) and Bill Clinton (Dennis Quaid). It chronicles Blair’s first encounter with Clinton in 1992 when he was inspired to reshape the Labour Party and would eventually lead them to a landslide victory in 1997. The film concludes with the end of Clinton’s reign of power and we briefly touch on the next “special relationship” for Tony Blair with George Bush, one which offered much promise but would end with both men’s name immersed in controversy following the war in Iraq (2003–).
The Special Relationship is very much a depiction of Tony Blair and Bill Clinton as the David and Goliath in politics at the time of their first meeting. Blair is in awe of Clinton’s government and his decision to reform Labour with inspiration from Clinton is one of many factors that leads to an early friendship for the two men. In 1994 Clinton predicts that Blair will one day be the Prime Minister and when he does rise to power in the UK the “special relationship” of the title continues for the US and UK. Clinton seems to hold all the advantages over his political ally. Blair is finding his feet as Prime Minister and Clinton is on hand to guide him especially when it comes to dealing with the situation in Northern Ireland.
US egotism is depicted in the film with Hilary Clinton (Hope Davis) looking down on Tony and Cherie (Helen McCrory) Blair though always willing to partake of social occasions especially for the benefit of the media. There is a surprising reversal of roles in the film when revelations of Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky come to the fore. At first dismissing the rumours, Clinton is later forced to back track and confess to Hilary of his infidelities. Worse follows for Clinton with the horrific ethnic cleansing in Kosovo which leaves the President with a difficult decision on whether to commit US forces to halt the atrocities. Blair takes the initiative as Clinton wavers and pressures the President to act. Although Clinton does commit US help in early 1999 the US press hail Blair as a hero for getting things moving. Clinton goes from politically superior and in control to resentful of Blair who takes over as the media darling while Clinton is portrayed as indecisive and with Lewinsky scandal casting an unwanted shadow over his presidency. It’s the end of the road for Blair and Clinton but while the President’s time in power heads to its conclusion in 2001 Blair remains prominent and adapts easily to a new relationship with the next President – George Bush.
The Special Relationship is quite a short film and although the acting was good (Sheen always makes a good Blair) I found the overall experience pretty limited. The Lewinsky scandal I felt could have been explored further but I appreciate this is about the relationship between Blair and Clinton. The film is more of a brief summary of events rather than an in-depth and involving insight that many audiences would have preferred. While not a bad film I think there are some areas that could be addressed to make this a more interesting 90 minutes.
The Special Relationship is a good summary of the relationship between Tony Blair and Bill Clinton but there is little in the way of detail and when the film is over you’ll feel you’ve only learned a little rather than gained many new insights into the continued friendship between the UK and the US. The decision was made not to explore Blair’s relationship with Bush so maybe that film is still to come but as for this one, we have Blair as a political hero rather than the controversial figure he is today.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: The Special Relationship | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week – Shades of Gray
One of the answers to The Beatles back in the sixties, The Monkees may not have enjoyed the same success as their illustrious rivals but how many groups really did come close to toppling the Fab Four? The Beach Boys maybe. The Monkees were responsible for some of the classic songs from this period and the one that resonates with me more than any other is Shades of Gray. This was one of many songs my mum played in her car when I was a kid and listening to it now I still get a feeling of nostalgia for those car journeys.
Shades of Gray seems to be a song of reflection, thinking back to the times when life was simple and how in the present nothing is clear and certain anymore. I can feel that in the song even more these days. Though I’m only in my thirties I already look back and recall when the days were much easier and carefree than they are now.
Tweedlers’ Jukebox Song of the Week – Shades of Gray | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
Film Review: Elizabeth
Starring: Cate Blanchett, Geoffrey Rush, Joseph Fiennes, Christopher Eccleston, John Gielgud
Directed by: Shekhar Kapur
Runtime: 124 minutes
Studio: Universal Studios
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Review: Elizabeth
Shekhar Kapur’s biographical piece of one of England’s greatest monarchs focuses on the early years of Elizabeth I’s reign. Having succeeded her Catholic sister, Mary (Kathy Burke), Elizabeth (Cate Blanchett) faces a man’s world at court, not only having to force herself forward as the ruler of England but also to avoid attempts on her life, especially from devout Catholics who do not take kindly to having a Protestant on the throne. Elizabeth cannot survive alone but who can she turn to and trust to secure her position?
The film begins with Elizabeth being imprisoned in the Tower of London in 1554. It’s not obvious that four years then elapse before her sister, Mary, dies suddenly following a phantom pregnancy. Elizabeth becomes the new queen and enters court where factions quickly grow and the main threat to her throne is from the Duke of Norfolk (Christopher Eccleston). Elizabeth is somewhat distracted with her romance with Robert Dudley (Joseph Fiennes) but she has friends watching out for her, most importantly the cunning spy master Francis Walsingham (Geoffrey Rush) who has returned to England from exile and slowly rises to favour as Elizabeth becomes more isolated. Elizabeth is in danger with the Pope wanting her dead, while Mary of Guise (Fanny Ardant) has sent French troops to Scotland, putting further pressure on the new queen. At the beginning, Elizabeth is sweet, innocent and romantic, by the end she is strong, ruthless and powerful. How she gets there is fascinating.
Elizabeth boasts a great cast with Blanchett putting in an accomplished performance as the queen while Rush is equally good as Walsingham. Eccleston leads a great supporting cast amidst the conspiracies and intrigues at court. Even Eric Cantona pops up at one point, minus a football, and he isn’t bad to be honest. Having studied the Tudors at school, college and university I was able to pick up on some historical inaccuracies, not least Elizabeth’s relationship with Dudley. Though the queen did have her favourites at court there was no evidence she slept with any of them. Elizabeth’s relationship with William Cecil (Richard Attenborough) is one that turns very sour in this film but in reality Cecil was arguably Elizabeth’s most trusted advisor, one she is said to have spoon fed soup to when he was seriously ill, that’s how important he was. There are many other inaccuracies which don’t stop this being a good film, but I do find it puzzling why history needs to be changed on the big screen when the true stories befit classic Hollywood storylines already.
Elizabeth is an accomplished survey of the Virgin Queen’s early reign with the story carried confidently by a fine array of acting talent. Despite some historical inaccuracies the film has some good moments though for me it falls narrowly short of being a 4 star feature. It’s a safe 3.5 but as I have to round down it will have to be 3 stars.
Verdict: 3/5
(Film source: reviewer’s own copy)
Film Review: Elizabeth | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
March 9, 2013
Guest Post: Alexander McNabb
We are delighted to welcome Alexander McNabb, author of Beirut. Alexander joins us to share the story behind writing his novel.
Guest Post
I started writing Beirut – An Explosive Thriller in late 2009, just after a British literary agent rejected my first novel, Olives – A Violent Romance after a ‘full read’ with the comment that it wasn’t dramatic enough. Right, I thought, yer bastard. If yer want dramatic…
I finished in June 2010, but it wasn’t until spring 2011 the book was picked up by literary agent Robin Wade, who signed me and shopped it to fourteen of London’s finest. Seven months later, to a man, they had rejected it. The rejection that hurt most praised the book’s qualities but noted the editor in question ‘couldn’t see it selling in supermarkets’.
“There are lots of elements to it that I like – there’s an austere, almost Le Carre feel which I like and the author can clearly write. The dialogue and plotting stood out for me in particular. I’m afraid though that it is – for my purposes – a bit too low-key; the ‘commercial’ bit of my job title requires me to pick out titles which are going to appeal directly to supermarkets and the mass-market, and I feel that this would be too difficult a sell in that context. “
It was that reaction pushed me over the edge into self-publishing. There was clearly a major change – and massive contraction – taking place in the world of ‘traditional’ publishing and it wasn’t favouring a new author writing hard-to-peg novels about the Middle East.
Some of the editorial feedback had mentioned the book as ‘Set in Beirut, that war-torn city’. This was even more infuriating than the supermarket stuff, as Beirut – An Explosive Thriller is set in contemporary Beirut, well over 20 years after the civil war ended. It either spoke to a lack of care on the part of the editor, who hadn’t bothered to read the material before rejecting it – or to the sheer power of the ‘looks like Beirut’ meme.
Beirut Today
Beirut today is a complex city, sexy and shabby, filled with promise and hopeless, vibrant and drab, it rarely fails to entertain and challenge. Plagued by power cuts, creaking infrastructure and endemic corruption, Beirut is full of life, creativity and celebration – even if that celebration sometimes takes on a brittle, desperate air.
Beirut still bears the scars of the war – although they’re fading with the years, the deep-rooted problems of sectarianism and vested interest frequently combine to frustrate attempts to make the most of Lebanon’s rich natural and human resources. All too often, both are squandered.
Lebanon itself remains a country of three parts – to paint it with an impossibly broad brush, Muslim in the south, Druze in the mountains and Christian to the north. It constantly teeters on the edge of a precipice of its own making. Israel to its south and Syria bordering inland are rarely helpful influences.
It’s the perfect place for Northern Irish spy Gerald Lynch, wilfully unconventional and wild as he is.
In Olives – A Violent Romance, the reader only saw Lynch through Paul Stokes’ eyes and that certainly wasn’t a sympathetic viewpoint. In Beirut we get to see Lynch in the round, including his own circle of friends and colleagues, from tired-eyed policeman Tony Chalhoub through to smouldering beauty (and cathouse madam) Marcelle Aboud. And then there’s fat Palmer from the embassy and the wily Brian Channing, deputy director for security and public affairs. We also start to uncover some of Lynch’s backstory, the kid on the Falls Road they called Gerry.
Research
One thing that has amazed me over the course of writing Beirut – An Explosive Thriller is that I haven’t been arrested. My Google life has been extraordinary and has mostly involved things like weapons, military assets, intelligence, police and other deeply dodgy stuff.
I can’t imagine how writers did this stuff before Google – they must have spent months in the library, ordering books and poring through piles of obsessive esoterica. Actually, come to think of it, I have ordered books and stuff – some of which (I didn’t realise until too late) had the potential to attract unwelcome attention down at Sharjah Post Office, too! Luckily the customs chaps there have long had me down as a harmless eccentric, so they don’t look too closely at the books I bring into the country. Living foreign, as I do, in the Arab World you tend to find people can cut up rough about books on Mossad operations, papers on intelligence and other dodgy doohickeys!
I’ve also depended on the expertise of a number of people as well as quite a lot of walking around that most glorious of cities in the company of various lovely colleagues or on my tod. There’s nothing quite like just walking around a great city and Beirut certainly rewards the experience with an enduring intensity.
Put it all together and you have a demonstrable track record of a deeply unhealthy interest in a lot of things that go bang and otherwise kill people. That includes an awful lot of phone calls and emails with people centering on military helicopters, missile systems and toxic substances and a nasty obsession with the military and intelligence services of a number of countries. As well as mooching around certain cities day and night taking photographs and generally just acting strangely.
Nobody’s batted an eyelid. I’m not sure whether I’m relieved or worried…
About Beirut (2012)[image error]Michel Freij is a powerful man. But he wants more. Two hundred kilotons more.
Michel Freij is poised to become the next president of Lebanon. The billionaire businessman’s calls for a new, strong regional role for the country take on a sinister note when European intelligence reveals Freij has bought two ageing Soviet nuclear warheads from a German arms dealer.
Maverick British intelligence officer Gerald Lynch has to find the warheads, believed to be on board super-yacht the Arabian Princess, before they can reach Lebanon. Joined by Nathalie Durand, the leader of a French online intelligence team, Lynch is pitched into a deadly clash with Freij and his violent militia as he pursues the Arabian Princess across the Mediterranean.
Beirut – An Explosive Thriller sweeps through Lebanon, Hamburg, Prague, Malta, Albania and the Greek Islands on its journey to a devastating climax.
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About Alexander McCall[image error]Alexander McNabb has been working in, living in and travelling around the Middle East for over 25 years. Formerly a journalist, editor and magazine publisher, today he spends his time advising companies on their communications strategies, with a particular focus on digital and online communications.
Alexander is a frequent conference speaker, chair and moderator, particularly on issues around online and digital communications. He co-hosts a weekly radio show and is a frequent commentator on developments in the technology and online spheres. When he’s not writing books, he’s posting half-thoughts and snippets on his blog, Fake Plastic Souks, which he started in 2007 during the Arab Media Forum. The title refers to the ‘new’ souks of Dubai, so much more convenient and classy than the real ones.
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Guest Post: Alexander McNabb | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
March 7, 2013
Book Review: City of Women – David Gillham
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Review: City of Women
City of Women caught my eye because I’ve been reading a great deal of non-fiction titles around this period of history and I was interested to see how a fictional account of World War II told from a German woman’s perspective squared up to the facts.
In City of Women, Sigrid Schroeder is more than just a German woman: she is the wife of a Nazi soldier and lives with his mother who is staunchly patriotic. Or rather, is willing to be staunchly patriotic if she thinks she’ll benefit in some way by treachery or betrayal. Therefore, Sigrid is taking an immense risk when she does two things. The first is that she has an affair. The second is that she agrees to help people who are hiding from the Nazis. Both require Sigrid to take immense risks, with no gain to her own life and with the very real risk of losing everything.
City of Women was a very good read for three reasons. First of all, it is well written, not overly sentimental, nor overly gritty, but balanced and steady. It draws you in, then pushes you back a little, over and over. You feel the distance from Sigrid that those around her must feel and that she herself feels. Next, the author portrays very well the dilemmas of many Germans during the Second World War, the fear of speaking up lest they be killed. However, the steps beyond that – where looking away, becomes looking at, becomes encouraging – remain a grim reality that this book does not shy away from. That said, this is not a witch hunt, nor an anti-German rant. It is just honest. Finally, Gillham cleverly captures the atmosphere of fear, suspicion, antagonism within a city in turmoil. There are no scenes within the concentration camps or outside of the city but the book still has a huge impact: the oppression, fear, confusion, guilt, anger and bitterness is felt with every page.
Sometimes a book is less about the story than the characters. Sometimes it’s less about the characters than the setting. In City of Women, Gillham has drawn together a dark time, a troubled soul, a beautiful city and the tragedy of millions. Through one woman’s tale he gives us a glimpse of the suffering and tragedy of those who lost their lives or freedom and the sickening day-to-day angst of those who retained theirs – but at what cost?
Verdict: 4/5
(Book Source: Netgalley)
Book Review: City of Women – David Gillham | Thank you for reading Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dave
