I enjoyed the story and the setting for Through the Nethergate as it had the intriguing plot of a teenage girl, Margaret, who has the ability to see sI enjoyed the story and the setting for Through the Nethergate as it had the intriguing plot of a teenage girl, Margaret, who has the ability to see supernatural beings and even imbue them with the properties of living beings through her presence. We are in an ancient haunted inn where the ghosts take on a certain amount of physicality and seem able to retain their sense of good or evil from their past experiences when they lived. The author has obviously researched in depth some of the historical events and incidents that befell the ghosts that Margaret meets and who are trapped between the Underworld and the Overworld. This was completely fascinating for me, although I wondered how many of the young readers targeted would find this amount of detail a little too much sometimes. Many of these characters and events had me reaching for history and reference books to discover more than my shady recollections told me; in particular about the Chartists of 1839. But this is a tale of good versus evil after all and so there are dastardly villains in the form of Lucifer and Hugh Bigod, each with designs upon world domination. I enjoyed Margaret’s interactions with her Grandfather and the various spirits and incarnates along the way, and we even have a little gentle romance hinted at with Henry. However, I have no wish to spoil the plot and young readers can find out more when they read this historical fantasy adventure themselves. While the story does romp along at a good pace most of the way I found the ending a little too slow at unfolding. It needed more of a sense of urgency with less detail from history and more description of sounds and smells, and maybe traumatic sights for the young fans of a historical novel that combines fantasy with horror. ...more
In this charming and often amusing book about cows, and other farm animals, the author is making the case for kindness and respect towards the creaturIn this charming and often amusing book about cows, and other farm animals, the author is making the case for kindness and respect towards the creatures that are kept by humans ultimately for feeding other humans. Leaving the animals to roam freely, following their herd instincts, seeking plants other than grass or the various supplements provided by commercial companies would appear to produce milk and beef of a better quality. This kind of treatment allows the ‘happier’ cows a natural way of living when compared to the industrial farming methods that are now so widespread. But what gave me some concerns as I read on was the considerable amount of anthropomorphism the author expected from the reader, while at the same time she did not discuss what has to be the ultimate fate of her herd. She claims that cows can play games, sulk if they’re offended, form long term friendships, and even have high opinions about themselves or others. But the unfortunate facts are they are either killed for meat or caused some considerable discomfort as dairy cows if they are left too long before being milked. So, despite all of the charming anecdotes about their individually named animals – including the sheep, pigs, and chickens – Rosamund Young is part of a business enterprise, Kite’s Nest Farm, that has to make a profit to survive. This does add a pertinent and pragmatic edge to her tales after all is said, smiled at, and done. However, aside from the delightful naming of her animals, and her stories of their individuality, when this method of farming is compared to the cruelty inflicted through much of the factory farming system, I have to applaud those like Rosamund Young and Isabella Tree. Farmers like them wish to allow their animals a certain natural freedom through respect and consideration of another sentient creature, and seek to prove that their methods provide a better ‘product’....more
Overall I quite enjoyed this story as it was intriguing with lots of twists and turns, and with some very strong, well-drawn characters, including GweOverall I quite enjoyed this story as it was intriguing with lots of twists and turns, and with some very strong, well-drawn characters, including Gwen the Queen, plus Nathaniel and Charles, her main romantic interests. Unfortunately, there were several things I found disappointing. The book is described as a historical fantasy and the only link that I could find with the past was the allegorical reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ and the spread of Christianity during Gwen’s conversations with the disgraced monk, Jakob. Considering the expected archaic times in which the tale is set I found most of the conversations jarring because they included too many modern words, phrases and idiomatic expressions. Perhaps it was intended, due to this novel being aimed at a young adult readership, but I prefer conversations in a historical novel to have some authenticity in the dialect and expressions used between the characters.
The plot and the method of telling it are excellent. A farm girl who suddenly discovers that her mother is the Queen of Rodasia and that she will be expected to soon take over quickly captures the reader’s attention. The story is told through two timelines, and uses Gwen’s memoirs as well as the third person narrative, which worked well much to my surprise. Her political and social discussions with her maids and advisers in the royal court are well done and believable. The biggest disappointments, for me however, were the number of required edits and the abrupt ‘ending’ to the book. The story was not rounded off properly and could not be called a stand-alone novel. It was so obviously a lead-in to the next novel in a series but not done well, which as I said made ‘The Hidden Queen’ an intriguing, captivating tale requiring some serious polishing. ...more
This coming of age story promised an interesting take on the usual background influences that often produce the final adult who emerges from a ‘human This coming of age story promised an interesting take on the usual background influences that often produce the final adult who emerges from a ‘human pupa’, but I found most of the book tedious to read. The amount of detail that we are given through the voices of Jackson, his mother, Annalise, and his girlfriend, Leah, was surplus to requirements for me. This may have been due to the fact that it is so obviously a novel aimed at young adults and I am certainly not that. As a grandfather I thought most of the teen angst experienced as a result of parental influence or ‘young love’ somewhat obvious, although most of the language and idiomatic expressions were novel to me, and occasionally surprising – even shocking! I felt there was often a loss of atmosphere, when a sense of time and place, sights, sounds and smells could have conveyed feelings better. The settings of the 1970s and 80s did not always ring true; the mention of a couple of bands was not enough.
The style of narrative with each of the three protagonists telling the tale from their own point of view would have been less confusing if they had each done it through their own chapter, but it often occurred within the same chapter, utilising a change of font to distinguish a different character speaking. This felt clumsy and unnecessary. Having got all the negative points out of the way there are a lot of positive things to talk about in Finding Jackson. The main characters are strong and well-written with plenty of believable dialogue, particularly between parents and their offspring. The rock-an’-roll attitude around Jackson and Ace, his father, contrasted well with that of Leah and her ambitious middle-class parents, even though it became a little predictable at times. I think it was this that had me rooting for the couple to the end. Fortunately there were emotional moments that had me empathising with them and made me keep turning the pages.
Overall, for me, the book could have been about a third shorter but I suspect that it has plenty of appeal for the YA readers it is aimed at, and will go down well with them. ...more
This is the third book by Laura Koerber that I have read and I enjoyed it just as much as the others. I imagine it was inspired by the recently createThis is the third book by Laura Koerber that I have read and I enjoyed it just as much as the others. I imagine it was inspired by the recently created ‘Me Too’ movement and the story takes the point of view of a young man, Ben, who is about to move on in his life when he goes to college or university. Koerber’s writing is as beautiful as ever, succinct but never boring, intriguing and even magical at times; she manages to get inside Ben’s head and convince the reader of his naiveté during a summer when he comes of age. The trials and tribulations that confront him, his encounters with Puppy and her hippy family, when he has his first teenage crush, and his determination to break with the odious Clint, are all totally convincing. It is also a tale of family dynamics and the confrontations and discussions between Ben and his ambitious, middle-class parents are particularly well-handled. I found the conversation that he has with his father, about not wanting an Ivy League ‘experience’ later in the tale, felt authentic and real. I found my emotions moving from horror and disgust, to wonder and wry humour, and then to hope and satisfaction at the denouement of the story. Normally I find books written in the first person confusing and unconvincing but Koeber’s narrative, written through Ben’s confusion about what sort of person he wants to become, despite (and because of!) the many influences and pressures that surround him, had me hooked. The characters and conversations are convincing, although I would have liked much more about the Native American culture behind the coyote ‘fairies’ and its mystique. Unfortunately, there were a few proofing issues that reduced my rating from 5 to 4.5 stars. Notwithstanding that, I can completely recommend this adventurous and brave attempt to bring to the fore the issue of, often ‘hidden’ or unspoken, sexual assault through the eyes of a gauche and bewildered witness, Ben O’Rourke. ...more
I began reading Owl Manor: The Dawning, a Gothic Romance, with some trepidation; not because this genre of novel makes me feel nervous or fearful abouI began reading Owl Manor: The Dawning, a Gothic Romance, with some trepidation; not because this genre of novel makes me feel nervous or fearful about its scary content, but because I grew out of this type of book long ago. When I was much younger I enjoyed Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, The Pit and the Pendulum and other similar novels, usually looking forward to a bit of madness and murder that would take place within the walls of an old castle or manor house. Notwithstanding this doubt I read on and found the first half of Zita Harrison’s book intriguing through her excellent portrayal of Eva, the main character, and the sorry domestic situation in which Eva found herself when she rushed into her marriage with Lewis. This was during the early years of the 19th century when the plight of women was to be much less than equal in status, et cetera, than men. We are completely sympathetic to this clever, attractive and strong-willed young mother who hates the poverty and struggle of her life. The desperate circumstances that she and her family are in when they move to the gold rush region of Denver, Colorado, change for the better when Eva becomes a servant at Owl Manor – enter the crazy madman, Mr. Bradstone.
From this point onwards Eva’s behaviour towards ‘the master’, and more seriously her intrinsic character, changes so much that I began to suspend my belief in the story. While I quite understand that some heroines, such as Elizabeth Bennet and Jane Eyre, in historical novels seem destined to fall for the flawed male character that shares the limelight with them in the novel, in this book I found it stretched the credibility too much. Apart from this I found the typos and edits throughout and the rushed final chapter also spoiled my enjoyment. There are very few ‘surreal’ novels of the ghostly, ghoulish, gothic or fantasy type that can dispel my overall feeling of “nonsense” when I read them. The books of Mervyn Peake, J.R.R. Tolkien and Dennis Wheatley will always, for me, take a lot of beating. ...more
This is the sort of historical fiction that I enjoy reading most of all. It is packed with all kinds of intriguing historical facts and figures from aThis is the sort of historical fiction that I enjoy reading most of all. It is packed with all kinds of intriguing historical facts and figures from a time and place of which I knew very little, Bulgaria and the Byzantine Empire in the 11th and 12th century. Most importantly it is very well written with plausible conversations between the main characters: Anna Komnena; her siblings; her mother, the Empress; her father, the Emperor; and various patriarchs of the Orthodox Church including, most significantly, Leo the Deacon. The reader is kept in suspense all the way in a book that could also be described as a romantic thriller. There is the political conflict between the Church and Alexios, the Emperor, which is half-expected; but the deeply felt disagreements that exist for Anna, simply because she is a woman, captured the heart and mind of this reader from the very beginning.
The story is told through the main characters involved with the imperial royalty and Constantinople, but in particular through Anna, a strong, intelligent but loyal woman. Her problems arise because she is a woman who finds it very difficult to obey the expectations of the mores of the court and the church. She wishes to be a physician and writer of history when all of the men around her, as well as her grandmother, demand that she marries and has children. Like all the rulers of the world for many centuries she is expected to supply a male successor to the crown. The author provides compelling and realistic romance in this dramatic tale, with beautiful and heart-warming complications that persist until the denouement.
My only criticism would be the odd word or phrase that jumped out at me because it was too contemporary, and a modern idiom like ‘okay’. Notwithstanding that Born in the Purple is a book I heartily recommend to lovers of the historical novel. ...more
When economics told the owners of the land at Knepp, in West Sussex, that their methods of intensive farming there were becoming no longer possible thWhen economics told the owners of the land at Knepp, in West Sussex, that their methods of intensive farming there were becoming no longer possible they made a brave and adventurous decision: leave it all to nature! Isabella Tree’s amazing book, ‘Wilding’, relates the story of what happened next over the following ten plus years. If you are interested, or concerned about the desperate situation in which the natural world finds itself due to the agriculture, industry, deforestation and population growth of the human species, then you will find this book inspirational. Even if you do not belong to those worried people, often despicably described as ‘tree-huggers’, but like to simply enjoy the natural environment, then reading ‘Wilding’ will cause you to think; to think that perhaps there is a better way that we humans may live alongside nature without destroying it. This destruction is often either deliberate, through the use of pesticides and herbicides, or unintentionally through our ever expanding towns and cities. It may cause to remind you that we no longer see as many insects, like butterflies and moths, bees, wasps and beetles, about as when we were children. All of which creatures are part of enormous food chains and food webs that include birds, amphibians, reptiles and mammals.
Isabella Tree and her husband, Charlie Burrell, left behind intensive farming and experimented with biodiversity, eventually achieving far more success than even they could have hoped. The list of creatures, plants and fungi that returned to their land when given the freedom to do so was incredible. They introduced breeds of cattle, pigs, deer and horses that would enjoy ranging across their land freely, much as the original wilder breeds would have done throughout Britain and Europe centuries ago. The book goes on to describe an amazing list of animals like nightingales, peregrine falcons, purple emperor butterflies, fish and even earthworms that began to recolonise there once the ecosystems were allowed to develop naturally and at their own pace. The book’s cover picture features the turtle dove as an eminently suitable example of a disappeared species from the British countryside, but which has returned in numbers to Knepp.
If we are to become truly serious about encouraging our young to save their planet, a la David Attenborough, Greta Thunberg et al, then this book alongside George Monbiot’s ‘Feral’ should be taught as part of required reading in schools and colleges. It is not, as might be claimed by some, merely an evangelical rant about the loss of wildlife and natural environment, since it pays detailed respect to academic studies about the difficulties involved in rewilding our ‘tamed’ lands; land drained, cleared of scrub etc, in order to support farming and the production of food for a growing human population. There is a lengthy discussion within these vitally important pages about whether Britain was ever covered throughout by closed canopy forest, and just how important in nature the oak trees would have been (and still are) before armadas and fleets of wooden sailing ships were needed for fighting wars. On another tack the book tells of older generations than the post war baby-boomers, such as mine, who could recall walking through countryside filled with hawthorn, hazel, wild roses and even, heaven forfend ragwort. While more recent farmers felt that if their ‘traditional’ methods were undone and the land was left uncultivated, it would appear neglected and not natural, there were those whose childhood included those elements of wildness that saw it as wonderful and therefore truly ‘natural’ – not at all repugnant as it was claimed. Their ideas of ‘natural’ included profusions of ‘weeds’ i.e. wildflowers and the sounds of insects and birds, most of which has become scarce in recent decades.
Isabella Tree’s book concludes with an in-depth look at what has become of soil on the majority of agricultural land; how it has become depleted of structure and humus, how it is easily run off during wet weather and usually contains too much of many harmful chemicals that find their way into groundwater, rivers and streams. Thus our many years of relatively cheap food has an extra cost that continues to be funded by our environment. She even writes challenging some of the more modern ideas of conservation, challenging what seems to be various wrong classifications of the many species of woodland creatures for example. Left to their own devices it could be that their habitat would not become adapted to fit in with how we have changed the land after all. These broader ideas had me thinking about my own acceptance of conservation projects, especially when we learn here that soil restored naturally will hold far more carbon than soil that is constantly replenished by man-made fertilisers. It is to be hoped that there are many decision makers within government, manufacturing and agriculture that find time to read this extremely compelling book. ...more
When I began reading the introduction to ‘Unnatural Separations’ I had difficulty in understanding what the book was about to tell me. It states in thWhen I began reading the introduction to ‘Unnatural Separations’ I had difficulty in understanding what the book was about to tell me. It states in the sub-title that it is a ‘brief memoir about spiritual transformation’ and so I was prepared for a narrative that would include, I assumed, the usual discourse of introspection by the author from time to time. However, after reading around half of the book I began to feel somewhat overwhelmed by the diarist approach to Clementz’s writing. It was interspersed with many chunks of philosophical terminology that had me reaching constantly for ‘The Oxford Companion to Philosophy’, and of course that took me off track with its own constant references to further explanations. This was not entirely unexpected as the author’s master’s degree includes philosophy. I was not entirely ungrateful to the author for pushing me into revising concepts like empiricism, epistemology, the soul and spirituality, and it did help me confirm a future aim to avoid books described as ‘memoires’ - noire or otherwise!
Confusingly, it was not until I had read the last page that I began to understand the introduction, and thus some of the theorising in the book, when I went back to read it again. When the author takes a refreshing vacation, and a new clarity about her suitability for her career enters her thinking, then a different self-awareness seems to come over her. Whether this was spiritual or supernatural in nature at all I found doubtful. It was more a case of allowing oneself time to rethink one’s life, so far! Significant decisions about her options had to be considered and resolved. The refreshing reminder about the wonders of the natural world that crept back into her consciousness, releasing a much needed peace, caused me to sigh with relief on Clementz’s behalf.
But then I was still left wondering what on earth were those two decades, previous eight chapters and scores of pages all about? The main saving grace for me was there was no attempt, using ill-informed pseudo-science, to justify the existence of some form of divine ‘unmoved mover’ in the outer heavens to whom confused and frightened humans may turn for guidance. ...more
While I have never been a particular fan of free verse poetry, there were some poems hidden within Balroop Singh’s collection that did appeal and speaWhile I have never been a particular fan of free verse poetry, there were some poems hidden within Balroop Singh’s collection that did appeal and speak to me. Perhaps it was the education I received, when a pupil of a boy’s grammar school in the 1950s/60s, that continues to influence my preference for poems with a particular meter and a recognisable rhyme and/or alliteration and assonance. That said I persisted throughout my reading of ‘Moments We Love’ looking for, and occasionally enjoying, poems that stirred either memories or moments. There were quite definitely several verses that I found profound and emotional. With an individual poet’s collection one tends to look for links between different poems and for many pages of the book ‘love’ was so very obvious. I realised the clue was in the name of the book!
Unfortunately, for about half the book I found so many references to love, in all its multifarious forms, rather tedious after a while. It was understandable for Ms Singh to include her heartfelt and skilful references to romantic love but I found my thoughts shouting out ‘OK, I get it! Love hurts and heals sometimes – but enough already!’ This, together with my past experience as both student and teacher, had my sensibilities crying out for punctuation. I want to know whether the creator of verses and stanzas, stories and even tomes, had paused or even stopped in their tracks, in the same parts as myself. Did their emotions chime or synchronise with mine? Admittedly, punctuation did appear sometimes but it produced surprise from this reader as it felt out of context when considered and compared to the overall ‘free’ tenor of the style of virtually all the poems. When Balroop Singh stepped outside of her intense concentration of the ‘self’ and considered the wonderful world of nature, I began to really appreciate the emotions of awe and wonder expressed in her own special way.
My particular favourites were: Memories and Moments; Moments that Glow; Drifting Apart; Redwoods; I Dived in to Discover; Nature Lover; Wishes; Fortitude and I Feel Most like Me. ...more
A Robot's Journey To Find A Heart is a simple but charming tale about what it takes to become happy. The robot, who could have been more appealing to A Robot's Journey To Find A Heart is a simple but charming tale about what it takes to become happy. The robot, who could have been more appealing to little ones if he had a name, visits different human situations on his/her search. The robot looks at school, a library, sports, music and a fairground for example, remarking that humans seem to be happy when they are involved in each of them. They enjoy helping others and being healthy and it finishes with a statement about what a human feels like when they are happy. Unfortunately, there is nothing about how the robot may get a heart of its own which would have made a very happy ending. The illustrations are excellent and the sentiments are important for small children to discover, but I was left thinking that my children and grandchildren would have liked a more obvious conclusion for the cute little robot in the story. ...more
This historical fiction by Edward Rickford had many of the things that I tend to look for in a novel that includes real characters and events from theThis historical fiction by Edward Rickford had many of the things that I tend to look for in a novel that includes real characters and events from the past. In addition it was interesting to discover much about the history of a war between Spain and Mexica, 1519 to 1521. I learned for example that Mexica refers to the people we generally call the Aztecs, and that several characters in the story who accompanied Cortes, such as Aguilar and Malintze, really existed. The author has to be applauded for the considerable research that has gone into the background of his novel.
I have to admit that my own interest in this story was captured initially through a memory of visiting a monument in Arizona known as Montezuma Castle. This was a few decades ago and I vaguely remembered that it had nothing to do with the Aztec emperor, more correctly named “Motecuhzoma” in this book. There are many such names contained within Rickford’s tale and I found it almost impossible to pronounce them out loud! However, it did not prevent me from becoming quite absorbed in the political intrigue and plotting involved through the machinations of Cortes and his cronies, as well as the intimate fears and hopes of some of the more minor characters in both camps. The author introduces a distinct code of conduct element as well as one that involves sexual desire and romance, neither of which are great enough to provide a distraction from the main plot: capturing land and gold while enforcing religious conversion. Notwithstanding these aims there is the ambition of Cortes achieving what became his notorious glory. I suspect most readers will wind up with their own like-hate relationship regarding Hernando Cortes. I can recommend The Serpent and the Eagle to all those readers who enjoy historical novels with a generous amount of authenticity. ...more
I enjoyed this contemporary fantasy story because of the strong characterisation of the main protagonist, Tracy Barnes. There are plenty of twists andI enjoyed this contemporary fantasy story because of the strong characterisation of the main protagonist, Tracy Barnes. There are plenty of twists and turns in the story and its emphasis upon the secrets of the ancient civilisation and culture of Turkey reminded me a little of a Dan Brown’s book, Inferno, which I read last year. Tracy discovers on her 17th birthday that she has the powers of an oracle, like her grandmother, who is also well-written by the author. When she goes to Turkey with her archaeologist father they discover an ancient flute, which has magical properties. From this point in the story Tracy’s adventures begin at an ever increasing pace. She has an evil adversary called Sabine, with equal powers to herself and who is intent upon murder. The plot holds up well throughout the book and I found myself turning the pages to find out what happened next, even though I rarely read books in the fantasy genre.
I expect there will be many younger fans of fantasy books who will really like this book, particularly because of the dialogue between the teenagers in it. The author has included lots of contemporary idiomatic terms and expressions that are most probably used by teenagers day-to-day. As a reader of a much more mature age I can only speculate upon this but I greatly admired Gradner’s heroic efforts. It added an authenticity to the tale that I found bewildering at times but which is probably expected! ...more
This was an extremely interesting autobiographical account of Samuel Bamford’s life from being a small boy up until he became a weaver. His descriptioThis was an extremely interesting autobiographical account of Samuel Bamford’s life from being a small boy up until he became a weaver. His description of the way he and others of a similar class lived is both fascinating and sometimes surprising; he covers the regular but simple mealtimes and the various jobs he had to take on. Bamford’s literary ability and his total captivation by the well-known authors and poets of the time are covered in detail in parts, explaining his later life to some extent when he became more acknowledged by publishers and readers. He mentions Gibbons and Robert Burns for example and his struggles when presenting his own efforts at ‘versifying’ to others. There is a time when Bamford becomes a sailor and his encounter with the press gangs of the times is quite revealing. By the end of the book the Middleton weaver is married and the events during the wedding ceremony, when there is a difficulty passing the ring over the finger joint of his wife, shows a spirit in him that suggests what is to come later, as a ‘radical reformer’. He is not easily intimidated by men of a higher position and class to himself, such as the pompous clergyman who is marrying them. On the other hand Samuel Bamford’s strong sense of right and wrong encourages him to support and defend an alderman who is being beaten by indignant riotous workers. He places his own body between the men and their victim, suffering blows and bruises to his own arms and back. Such riots were being put down regularly by the militia at those times. I can recommend this book to anyone who enjoys history ‘from the mouth of the witness’, particularly during Georgian and early Victorian times....more
When I started to read ‘Hamartia’ my initial reactions were: OK, here comes yet another dystopian novel, and then I thought, Oh no, it’s written in thWhen I started to read ‘Hamartia’ my initial reactions were: OK, here comes yet another dystopian novel, and then I thought, Oh no, it’s written in the first person about souls and it involves time travel! None of which I usually like or can believe in. But the plot appeared intriguing so I continued reading - and I was so pleased I did. The author’s ability to build realistic characters and dialogue kept my involvement and curiosity going from start to finish, although I found the abrupt ‘hook’ at the very end irksome. It always feels like a cheat if a reader needs to buy the sequel to get the ‘complete’ story.
The flawed character of the main protagonist, Grace, is so well drawn by Raquel Rich that I felt I knew her. Her feelings, confused thoughts and actions made painful sense and your sympathy can only lie with her. The inner battles she has in maintaining her friendship with Kay and her love for her estranged husband, Marc, came across well to me. Meanwhile, the nightmare of knowing that her son’s life can only be saved by her dubious, possibly homicidal, acts somewhere in a past decade is ever present. If the reader has any empathy at all they will inevitably understand Grace’s pain. The story gallops along at a breakneck speed and has you turning the pages to see what happens next, normally the sign of a well written book.
There were some problems for me in the timeline used for the to and fro of the time travelling. The ‘Metagenesis’ plague threatening all mankind should, logically, have been set much further into the future, whereas the setting of year 2000, for Grace’s and Kay’s adventures, was not accurate. Pagers, phone books and no mobile phones are things of the 1970s and 1980s or even earlier in time. However, putting those criticisms aside, I can still recommend ‘Hamartia’ as a gripping sci-fi tale, well-told by a talented new author. ...more
The word that immediately sprang to mind when I started to read From Elsewhere was ‘quaint’ because it was a very similar 1950’s plot about an alien sThe word that immediately sprang to mind when I started to read From Elsewhere was ‘quaint’ because it was a very similar 1950’s plot about an alien species that is stranded on Earth, and who looks very much like humans. There was a hint of excitement when this alien, a Sharill, has a device that extracts information from Sean’s brain so that the Sharill may speak and behave much like the other earthlings who live here. This slight thrill increased a little when another alien from a different planet, a Kisleem, arrives on Earth in pursuit of the Sharill, who is a rebel. This Sharill is also considered to be a criminal by the Kisleem, as he stole one of their spaceships. But then the excitement fizzled out and the story became very pedestrian and even quainter, since the characters who subsequently arrive on the novel’s stage spend page after page talking about what has happened. They do spend some time discussing what they might do about the incident and the effects upon Sean in various situations – again and again. They even get transported aboard a Kisleem spaceship that is orbiting Earth and we learn that there are other aliens, identical in many ways to homo sapiens, already present in numbers living undetected here on Earth. This scenario promises to be something that could be explored in endless ways for the rest of the book, but sadly it isn’t. The main problem with the story is that it is not exciting, which most sci-fi fans expect, or scientifically challenging through ‘new’ or imaginative concepts introduced by the author, also expected by most sci-fi fans. Many discussions become rather tedious after a while as they repeat what has been stated earlier – on the same page or very soon afterwards. Dialogue is mostly used here to ‘tell’ the story when ‘showing’ it through the characters’ actions usually makes the plot much more engaging. Unfortunately, the whole book needs re-editing or to be run through a spell-checker since numerous spelling and grammatical errors are present: e.g. ‘grown’ when it means ‘groan’ and missing speech marks after some of the dialogue. ...more
Dead Man Dreaming is a remarkable fiction that feels like an autobiography throughout. Written in the first person, David describes disturbing changesDead Man Dreaming is a remarkable fiction that feels like an autobiography throughout. Written in the first person, David describes disturbing changes in his future prospects in respect of his career ambition and his relationship with Chloe, the girl of his dreams, due to the discovery that he has Huntington’s Disease. Painfully aware of the mental and physical suffering his father went through before he died, and from whom he inherited the condition, the young doctor had been avoiding the possibility previously. Like a slap in the face David is stunned by the shock; his plans are ended, and for a while his emotions are wrenched back and forth. The way that he confronts the situation and attempts to build a future life is inspirational and believable. It promises to be fulfilling and rewarding in so many new ways and this is due in no small part to the help, faith, and indeed love, he finds through a chance meeting with Jessie, a fellow student from his high school days. But of course, for the reader to get something from a book, it also needs skilful writing of the plot and character development by the author. And it has that in spades! Not only was the concept of hereditary disease screening interesting and intriguing to me, but so was the developing relationship between David and Jessie. His journey from start to end within the novel’s narrative was fascinating and emotionally challenging. Dead Man Dreaming is ‘a good read’; recommended for anyone who enjoys contemporary literature. ...more
SAMUEL BAMFORD was an English weaver and poet, who was also known as a radical reformer. He was born in 1788 in Middleton, Manchester and lived to theSAMUEL BAMFORD was an English weaver and poet, who was also known as a radical reformer. He was born in 1788 in Middleton, Manchester and lived to the age of 84. In this book he tells the reader about his compassion and support for the working classes of England at that time. He explains in some detail the reasons behind his organisation of a large group of working men into files of marchers to St Peters Fields for the meeting there about the reform of Parliament and the abolition of the Corn Laws. Before they set off for Manchester, Bamford makes it clear to the hundreds of marching workers that they are to maintain a dignified passiveness and not bear arms, or to react to taunts and provocative acts by the authorities. This is a clear illustration of his opposition to any activism involving physical violence, but despite this he was arrested, charged with treason and jailed by the British government in 1819. The evidence clearly showed he was not involved in the violence during the Peterloo Massacre, notwithstanding this, the judgement of the court was overruled by Lord Sidmouth, the Home Secretary, and so Samuel Bamford was found guilty of inciting a riot and sentenced to a year in Lincoln Prison.
Bamford’s poetry and prose was in support of working men, and it was passionately followed amongst the mill workers of Britain. While his poetry was mostly in ‘uniform’ English there are some in the local dialect, which showed understanding of working class conditions, and became much admired. His book also goes on to record his journeys to and from jail or to London for sentencing hearings. Several of these treks, often on foot, show the range of attitudes amongst people when he is hungry, without money or footsore – kindness and harshness are heaped upon him in equal measure at times. The support and courage of his wife when charged and later in prison are well described and touching. His relationship with Orator Henry Hunt and his one-time companion, ‘Doctor’ Healey, seemed to oscillate between loyalty and disappointment, unfortunately even hinting at betrayal at times.
This book is a major political work, documenting the various phases of radical social reform from an educated and eloquent worker’s point of view, during the early nineteenth century, when government was most oppressive and obdurate. Highly recommended to anyone interested in history and the struggle for universal suffrage told from the ‘horse’s mouth!’...more
I really enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to listening again to the audiobook version later. The author covers so much ground from allI really enjoyed reading this book and am looking forward to listening again to the audiobook version later. The author covers so much ground from all kinds of direction that I wish to contemplate some of the more controversial points again. There are statements made sometimes where you need to check whether it is merely Harari’s opinion or if there are facts or research behind those statements. At the start of the book there was a rather novel classification of our world’s timeline into the three disciplines we call Physics, Chemistry and Biology. He then describes the development of human cultures as history, with three significant sub-divisions, or Revolutions, that shaped that history: the Cognitive; the Agricultural and the Scientific Revolutions in that order. And then in fairly plain and simple, layman’s language most of the time, the author enlarges upon all of those categories in his own fascinating and engaging fashion.
The result is an intriguing and extremely readable history book, covering times, essentially, from the Big Bang to bionic life and artificial intelligence. At the end of the book there are many pages of notes and references so that the reader may check out some of the statements. It has to be the most interesting history book that I have ever read, if only because I am encouraged to discover more about many of the topics Harari covers, such as economics, religions, politics and the ancient tribe of Numantians! This for me is a truly remarkable feat of writing, all be it somewhat questionable in parts. The narrative throughout the book is understandably (in more ways than one!) appealing to anyone interested in the saga of humankind. This book is not an academic tome, which is difficult to penetrate, but a captivating tale of progress and failure, of the highs and lows, of human survival and endeavour; which sharply focusses now and then on the inevitable mistakes along the way. ...more
What an amazing book! I really liked it but only after about 5 or 6 chapters - because there seemed to be too many personal musings and angry thoughtsWhat an amazing book! I really liked it but only after about 5 or 6 chapters - because there seemed to be too many personal musings and angry thoughts about the author's lost opportunities to catch (endangered?!) fish or become a member of an African tribe etc. There was even a chapter about people who thought they had seen a black panther on various moors in the UK. Quite interesting and amusing but its relevance escaped me. However, if you can get through those earlier bits then the author proceeds to provide a wealth of information about the loss of habitat, extinction of various species and theories about the causes. Inevitably homo sapiens figures as the main culprit over the many millennia in his quest for superiority over all other species on Earth. There is an impressive volume of research with pages and pages for reference at the end of the book. It is vexing for anyone interested in rewilding our planet to read about obvious things that can, or could, be done but ignored by most governments and organisations with vested interests in clearing forests, scrubland, peat moors etc, thus maintaining a damaging status quo! Not enough people it seems are aware of the real damage to the Earth and the loss our children and grandchildren will find later - too late! Monbiot's book was written several year ago and its importance cannot be overstated....more
I started reading this fascinating book about a year ago while on holiday in a cottage on the Isle of Skye. It was the usual thing; I picked it out frI started reading this fascinating book about a year ago while on holiday in a cottage on the Isle of Skye. It was the usual thing; I picked it out from the various genres on the shelf of books left for visitors who found the weather particularly 'unfair' one day and wanted something to read. I was unable to finish it before leaving but managed to obtain a used copy on returning home. Apparently otters are more common on the west coast of Scotland and we felt lucky to see them more than once swimming in the various bays around Skye. Thrilling for everyone in our party of four adults and two girls, and which increased my desire to find out more. I had previously read Gavin Maxwell's 'Ring of Bright Water' and 'The River People' also by Philip Wayre, the author of the book in Skye.
Wayre must have been one of the most expert people in the world on the subject of otters, and not just the European species. He and his wife established the first British Wildlife park in 1971 where they set up a very successful breeding project in order to re-introduce otters back into the wild. Both of his books include all sorts of details about otters: amusing tales about his own close-up experiences with those he kept; intricate details and measurements recorded for studying them further, and in this book, lots of amazing black and white photographs. The pictures may lack the amazing clarity and colour available to almost anyone in these digital times but the photos, taken in the late 1960s and early 70s, were so poignant and somehow underlined how terribly persecuted these wonderful animals once were - almost to extinction in the UK. There is advice for readers who wish to study otters further although Wayre and others have set up important otter trusts that will be far more efficient in my opinion. There is always the danger that well meaning individuals may do more harm than good, or even, unknowingly, cross the legal lines involved in caring for wild animals like otters, polecats, badgers etc. Notwithstanding all that this book is a Tour de Force! Highly recommended to lovers of wildlife....more
This is a fairly typical rags to ‘probable’ riches romantic story, set in 1860s Boston, USA. I say ‘probable’ because we are left wondering, at the raThis is a fairly typical rags to ‘probable’ riches romantic story, set in 1860s Boston, USA. I say ‘probable’ because we are left wondering, at the rather abrupt end of the book, whether the young couple concerned are ever going to drag themselves out of the mire in which they find themselves. While it has some intriguing historical points, that occur throughout the story, much of the plot could have been told in almost any more contemporary timeline. I have three main criticisms of this book: the first concerns the somewhat naïve style of writing used because it does not feel like a book aimed at an adult reader; the second is that many of the expressions used are too idiomatic of the modern world and felt out of place in the society of the late 19th century; and my third most important point is the glaring lack of editing all the way through the book. A simple word processor spell/grammar check could have solved many of the typos, lack of punctuation and editing problems. Plus, maybe a friendly beta reader for proof-reading later could have saved the day here? A few examples are needed to illustrate my critique: the confusion between the words ‘were’ and ‘where’; the use of contemporary slang terms like ‘gussy up’, ‘scooted’, and ‘fancy’ felt out of place in a so-called historical novel; some words like ‘ahold’ cannot be found in a dictionary; a ‘pub’ would probably have been a tavern or inn or even a bar back then; and there were several examples of verbosity which left a wry smile on this particular reader’s face. However, all of this criticism does not mean that I did not like the story, which says a lot as I usually avoid romantic novels of any genre or time period! Many of the exchanges between Serena and Everett, the main protagonists, are charming and clutch at the heart strings. You want them to succeed in their life together, with impoverished Serena coming across as the stronger of the two, while the rather hapless Everett has to learn some important lessons in the ‘real life out there’ away from the rich and privileged family he chooses to leave for true love, his heart’s desire. ‘We’ll Find A Way’ seems to be aimed at the very young adult but with a lot of tidying up there are many fans of romantic historical fiction who would enjoy this charming tale of young love. ...more
This story is both intriguing and shocking. I learned a lot about a situation that occurred in Hawaii just after World War 2, which, I would imagine, This story is both intriguing and shocking. I learned a lot about a situation that occurred in Hawaii just after World War 2, which, I would imagine, will surprise most people. The author uses George, a young teenage boy, as the messenger for readers to find out about Hansen’s Disease which is more commonly called leprosy. George is involved in a madcap dash between the Hawaiian islands of Molokai and Maui, when he is desperately trying to find his parents and his best friend Jonathan. The pace of the story is almost breath-taking and the number of different people he encounters, young and old, good and bad, can leave your head spinning. George rides a Tsunami and even learns how to cut sugar cane when he is desperate to earn money. All of this action is suitably gripping as are the conversations between characters for a story aimed at children who are around the same age as George, 13 years old. Having said that, the book is equally gripping for anyone unaware of the terrible restrictions that were imposed on the unfortunate population, and who had to live with the disease at that time. I particularly liked the meetings between George and Jonathan as the author’s skilful writing had the language and banter just about right. But while this adventure story is exciting it is also very sad, with some important educational points.
The story has a satisfying ending. It also includes some factual details about the disease and a historical context to add to the information in a kind of simple appendix. Unfortunately, there were a couple of glaring editing errors that should have been spotted before publication. One in particular was the wrong year on the Civil Arrest Warrant for Jonathan and Alice Napua: it wrongly said 1846 rather than 1946. Notwithstanding this I can highly recommend Escape to Molokai to youngsters who like a fast paced adventure story with lots of excitement. ...more
About a year ago I read a book by David Ross, ‘Wales: History of a Nation’, in which the Battle of Dyrham was briefly mentioned. There was very littleAbout a year ago I read a book by David Ross, ‘Wales: History of a Nation’, in which the Battle of Dyrham was briefly mentioned. There was very little said about the battle other than it occurred in 577 AD, near to Bath, and that it was significant at that time regarding the relentless advancement of the Saxons westward. Quite how significant this battle was became much more “real” and obvious to me through the reading of ‘Glass Island’, a novel by Gareth Griffith.
The Romans had gone from Britain and frequent invasions were to follow. Little factual history is known about the succeeding couple of centuries other than information found during the later archaeology of those times. The book tells the story of events that occurred around the time of the Battle of Dyrham, together with the effects that influenced several characters, such as Eleri Gwir, the daughter of a king, and Gwion a young man who was her life-long friend. The author skilfully involves the reader in Eleri’s complicated romantic and political relationships, as well as those between other kings and princes, and the inevitable internecine squabbling when tribes need to combine forces against the pressing Saxons. It takes patience and time for the reader to get their head around the many characters and places with their difficult Welsh names but a helpful list is provided at the start of the book. This is the kind of historical novel that is very true to its genre with much “real” history to back up the story and therefore more enjoyable for it. In addition there are constant discussions and objections expressed by the characters about their beliefs in their old gods and the ‘new’ monotheistic religion of Christianity - a nice touch.
The characters and their conversations are strong and generally believable, although I did find a couple of expressions a little too idiomatic of more recent times. For example: “According to Eleri’s father it was a lot of rubbish.” The descriptions of the battles, places, and the innermost feelings and thoughts of the main protagonists are sensitive and real, at times poetic. It was hard to believe that ‘Glass Island’ is Gareth Griffith’s first novel. Recommended to lovers of historical fiction. ...more
This was not the kind of book that I like to read. A succession of letters without some real interaction between characters seems unexciting and lackiThis was not the kind of book that I like to read. A succession of letters without some real interaction between characters seems unexciting and lacking in intrigue. But “Imagining Violet” was both surprising and full of incident with a main character who was engaging and beautifully written; a mark of the talented author. Violet’s charming approach to life, together with her undoubted ambition to become a concert violinist, in an age of Victorian expected “proper behaviour” led to this reader rooting for her from the beginning. We see her burgeoning growth from a mild mannered, young English rose into a sophisticated woman.
The author has imagined the late-Victorian life of her own grandmother, with family photographs throughout the book, and with a collection of letters written by Violet to her family and friends. There are charming descriptions of Violet learning to ice skate, and when she plays at her first concert. There is the hoped-for romance, both suspected and real, with holidays filled with friends and acquaintances, and the smells, sights and sounds of Germany before the Weimar Republican era. This series of letters, written by Violet, who was born in Ireland and raised in Edinburgh, and who travels to Germany to advance her studies, are a fine example of the epistolary novel. It will appeal to anyone who enjoys historical novels with a difference and as I will in future....more
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