Kelvin Fowler's Blog, page 31

Relief: A Christian Literary Expression

Volume 6, Issue 2
[Borrowed Kindle ebook]

Another excellent effort from the 'Relief team'. My highlight was the poem 'Scent of Magdalene's Hair', beautifully written by John Gosslee. I enjoyed David Holper's effort with his poem 'Heaven Comes Last David', Jae Newman's poem titled 'The Apple Seed' and the fiction of Matthew Gesicki with 'The Virgin Martyrs'.

I love that Relief was once again willing to tackle some of the more difficult subjects, such as ageing, sickness, breast implants and rape. Well done Relief for another excellent edition.

4/5

Resurrection Men

Ian Rankin
[Kindle ebook]

Perhaps the best 'DI Rebus' book that I have read. I love journeying through the darker sides of Edinburgh and following some of my favourite characters. I could not predict this finish and was kept glued all the way to the final page.

3/5

A Good Run

The Legend of Burt Munro
Tim Hanna
[Paper Back]

Perhaps not the best-presented or proof-read book, but Tim Hanna sure spun a lovely story. I really enjoyed this book and was glad that it was nothing like the film. I have a very limited understanding of motorcycles, but still managed to keep up with the details of this well-written story. Also thanks Tim for not dressing Burt up too much.

4/5

The Iron Lady

I enjoyed this film. It showed balance and respect to the life and prime-ministership of Margaret Thatcher. I thought Jim Broadbent did an excellent job as Dennis Thatcher and that Meryl Streep portrayed the elderly Margaret Thatcher with dignity, however I feel as if Meryl over-acted Prime Minister Thatcher and did not deserve her Oscar for this role.
3/5

The Zulu Lounge

366 Morningside Road
Edinburgh
EH10 4QN
Scotland

A delightful pokey cafe with both 'flat whites' and long blacks' on the menu. This buzzing cafe both felt and smelt good, with equally buzzing friendly staff. I sat for quite sometime uninterrupted  drinking in the words of my book and sucking on my coffee. As best as I can remember they sold Mathew Algie coffee alongside a popular selection of lunch-time food.

I will return to this cafe.

3.5/5

Papercup Coffee Company

603 Great Western Road
Glasgow
G12 8HX
Scotland


This was a wonderful little discovery on a lazy wet Glasgow day. These people seemed to care about their coffee, care how it is made, where it comes from and about who is growing it. The cafe itself was cosy and communal with large easily shared tables fighting for space amongst the aroma of freshly roasted coffee. The staff were friendly and understood what a 'long black' was.

Do not be put off by the name, they do have ceramic cups. This independent cafe is well worth visiting.

4/5

The Hut Builder

Laurence Fearnley
[kindle ebook]

This is one of my favourites. A well written, beautifully spun story based in New Zealand's rural Canterbury and on the slopes of Mount Cook. I love this story and could not put the book down.

The story covers the life of a Boden Black as he discovers nature, poetry and relationships. At times the beauty in the book was so totally awe-inspiring that I could smell the fresh snow on the slopes of Cook.

Definitely the best New Zealand book that I have read to date.
5/5

#Verses for the King

'Verses for the King' gets a mention at the 'BookCellar'.

May 11th, 2013

'Verses for the King' get a mention at the 'BookCellar'.

#Goodreads

It is only two days until I can chuck-the-towel-in and read a 'crime novel'. Hello Ian Rankin and hello Edinburgh.