bookshow

Hallgrimer Helgason - The Hitman’s Guide to Housecleaning

2012-02-09T19:26:00.000Z

review on show by Ro Bennett 9th Feb 2012

I downloaded this from Kindle when I got an e mail from Amazon recommending it and selling it for only £1.99. I was intrigued by the title, and thought that for the price if it was awful it wasn’t the end of the world. Although in the middle of another book I started to browse through it as soon as it was downloaded - which took only a few seconds- I then got sucked in and read the whole book in a day and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is the product description:
With some 66 hits under his belt, Tomislav Bokšić, or Toxic, has a flawless record as hitman for the Croatian mafia in New York. That is, until he kills the wrong guy and is forced to flee the States, leaving behind the life he knows and loves. Suddenly, he finds himself on a plane hurtling toward Reykjavik, Iceland, borrowing the identity of an American televangelist named Father Friendly. With no means of escape from this island devoid of gun shops and contract killing, tragicomic hilarity ensues as he is forced to come to terms with his bloody past and reevaluate his future.

It’s a quick and easy read, very interesting and humorous, with suspense and lots of unexpected twists and turns as Toxic has to live on his wits. When he arrives in Iceland he’s met by this evangelical couple who think he is Father Friendly so he has to pretend to be a preacher. On top of that Father friendly is due to appear on a television show. It’s a real page turner and made me laugh frequently, but it was also thought provoking and heart wrenching in places. I certainly know more about Iceland now and the author’s light hearted, tongue in cheek descriptions of his home and the language are fascinating and interesting. The book also made me more aware of the awfulness of the Serbo-Croat conflict as Tomislav’s past life is gradually revealed.

As these events in his life are uncovered, despite the awful things he has done, I found myself beginning to feel sympathy for Tomislav, or Tommy as he is now known and hope his future would all work out well somehow. Can an ex hitman make a new life? Can he find love and happiness? I found myself rooting for him.

It’s an unusual, clever, funny and informative book with a serious undercurrent - well worth £1.99. It’s certainly a book I’ll remember. But beware - the language is pretty ripe.

The author has written other books which have been nominated for various Icelandic literature prizes. This is the only novel written in English. The author’s own translation was published in Iceland in 2008. If any more of his books are translated I would certainly like to read them.

Lee Everett - Celebrity Regressions

2012-02-09T19:05:00.000Z

review by Ro Bennett on show 9th Feb 2012

Lee Everett, the author of Celebrity Regressions was married to Kenny Everett and before that had a long relationship with the late Sixties rock 'n' roll singer Billy Fury. (Cor!) She is now married to John Alkin who used to be an actor in dramas like The Sweeney and
Z Cars. John Alkin retired from acting in the 1980‘s to set up a spiritual healing centre with Lee. This has developed into a teaching college affiliated to the Institute of Complementary Medicine which offers accredited qualifications to those seeking to work within the field of healing/counselling and other forms of complementary medicine.

This book was recommended to me and since I could buy it from Amazon for 1p plus postage, I decided to give it a go. The edition I got was published in 1987, so it’s like a blast from the past.

In the book Lee Everett describes how she cures psychological disorders by making her patients go through "therapeutic regression" which she claims is a very successful form of treatment for fears and phobias.

Her method is to bring her patients into a trance which she calls "deep meditation". There they re-visit one of their past lives and discover the reasons for their fears and phobias and other weaknesses they have never understood.

Because of her relationship with Billy Fury and marriage to Kenny Everett, Lee had many well known friends and acquaintances from the show biz world who she regressed. I found the book very interesting because it allegedly discloses past lives of people such as Elton John, Tony Blackburn, Fenella Fielding, Sharon Davies, Wayne Steep and Jimmy Tarbuck. In each case the discovery of his or her previous incarnation is claimed to solve immediate psychological problems.

Elton John for instance was regressed into three past lives. His memories are then used by Lee Everett to explain Elton's character traits: for instance, his involvement in music as a composer and singer, but also his fear of travelling.

There were some clients who she couldn’t successfully regress - one of whom was Spike Milligan - she describes his mind as like a butterfly, dashing here, there and everywhere, impossible to keep concentration. Apparently Spike Milligan had brain damage when he was injured by shrapnel and noise attack in the war. He was terribly apologetic about not being able to bring up a past life, although he really did want to succeed.

The author writes: I still think that his sitting gives a wonderful insight into the terrible suffering Spike and many other ex-soldiers still endure, being manic depressive from a wound like his cannot be treated in the same way as a normal depression would be, and even the specialists can’t really be of much help. My heart went out to him that day... a truly sensitive, loving and caring man, he has mass love from his fans, but still nothing can help him.

Lee Everett comes across as a very genuine, caring and compassionate person. who is totally committed to the well being of others, sincerely wanting to heal and help improve quality of life. I enjoyed the book. It was an interesting, informative and easy to read.

Debby Fowler - Letting Go

2012-02-09T19:03:00.001Z

review by Ro Bennett on show Jan 2012

This is the first book in the Felicity Paradise crime novels by Debby Fowler. Babs reviewed The Silver Sea which I bought after her recommendation and thoroughly enjoyed, but I wanted to start with the first book in the series, so I read Letting Go first.

The series starts when Felicity Paradise’s lawyer husband is killed by a hit and run driver in Oxford. Traumatised, she runs away to Cornwall to try to sort her head out. Though the verdict is ‘unlawful killing’ she is convinced that Charlie’s death was deliberate and is linked in some to the case on which he was working.

A chance encounter in a pub at St Ives leads her to uncover a trail of crime which begins in an Oxford College and ends in a famous Cornish garden.

I thought the name Debby Fowler was familiar and looked it up. I found that she has also written three non fiction books: Sprouting which is about sprouting seeds and beans, Nature’s Pharmacy and The Herb Book. The books are published by Truran which is based at Mount Hawke near Truro and printed and bound by R. Booth Ltd of Penryn near Falmouth - so a nice local Cornish product all round!

The books are pricey. Amazon often sell books at a discount but haven’t in this case, probably because it is a small publisher with a limited profit margin. Letting Go was £7.99. It was £6.17 on Kindle, but that is the only one of her six books currently in e book format. The rest are priced at £6.99.

I enjoyed both books although I did find them both rather implausible and far fetched. However it didn’t spoil my pleasure because they were light, easy and readable and I wasn’t expecting Patricia Cornwell. I loved reading about places in Cornwall and the continuation of the characters and their lives which I presume will carry on evolving throughout the series. I will certainly read her other books - they are the sort I like to pick while reading a more complex book

As I read it though, the Chief Inspector reminded me constantly of Jack Shepherd who played Wycliffe. I could picture him and hear his voice all through the books... Consequently I have just bought the first of the Wycliffe books to read for £4.49 from i books ...

Lee Everett - Celebrity Regressions

2012-02-08T20:03:00.001Z

review by Ro Bennett on show 9th Feb 2012

Lee Everett, the author of Celebrity Regressions was married to Kenny Everett and before that had a long relationship with the late Sixties rock 'n' roll singer Billy Fury. (Cor!) She is now married to John Alkin who used to be an actor in dramas like The Sweeney and Z Cars. John Alkin retired from acting in the 1980‘s to set up a spiritual healing centre with Lee. This has developed into a teaching college affiliated to the Institute of Complementary Medicine which offers accredited qualifications to those seeking to work within the field of healing/counselling and other forms of complementary medicine.

This book was recommended to me and since I could buy it from Amazon for 1p plus postage, I decided to give it a go. The edition I got was published in 1987, so it’s like a blast from the past.

In the book Lee Everett describes how she cures psychological disorders by making her patients go through "therapeutic regression" which she claims is a very successful form of treatment for fears and phobias.

Her method is to bring her patients into a trance which she calls "deep meditation". There they re-visit one of their past lives and discover the reasons for their fears and phobias and other weaknesses they have never understood.

Because of her relationship with Billy Fury and marriage to Kenny Everett, Lee had many well known friends and acquaintances from the show biz world who she regressed. I found the book very interesting because it allegedly discloses past lives of people such as Elton John, Tony Blackburn, Fenella Fielding, Sharon Davies, Wayne Steep and Jimmy Tarbuck. In each case the discovery of his or her previous incarnation is claimed to solve immediate psychological problems.
Elton John for instance was regressed into three past lives. His memories are then used by Lee Everett to explain Elton's character traits: for instance, his involvement in music as a composer and singer, but also his fear of travelling.

There were some clients who she couldn’t successfully regress - one of whom was Spike Milligan - she describes his mind as like a butterfly, dashing here, there and everywhere, impossible to keep concentration. Apparently Spike Milligan had brain damage when he was injured by shrapnel and noise attack in the war. He was terribly apologetic about not being able to bring up a past life, although he really did want to succeed.

The author writes: I still think that his sitting gives a wonderful insight into the terrible suffering Spike and many other ex-soldiers still endure, being manic depressive from a wound like his cannot be treated in the same way as a normal depression would be, and even the specialists can’t really be of much help. My heart went out to him that day... a truly sensitive, loving and caring man, he has mass love from his fans, but still nothing can help him.

Lee Everett comes across as a very genuine, caring and compassionate person. who is totally committed to the well being of others, sincerely wanting to heal and help improve quality of life. I enjoyed the book. It was an interesting, informative and easy to read.

Hallgrimer Helgason - The Hitman’s Guide to Housecleaning

2012-02-08T20:00:00.000Z

review by Ro Bennett on show 9th Feb 2012
I downloaded this from Kindle when I got an e mail from Amazon recommending it and selling it for only £1.99. I was intrigued by the title, and thought that for the price if it was awful it wasn’t the end of the world. Although in the middle of another book I started to browse through it as soon as it was downloaded - which took only a few seconds- I then got sucked in and read the whole book in a day and thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is the product description:
With some 66 hits under his belt, Tomislav Bokšić, or Toxic, has a flawless record as hitman for the Croatian mafia in New York. That is, until he kills the wrong guy and is forced to flee the States, leaving behind the life he knows and loves. Suddenly, he finds himself on a plane hurtling toward Reykjavik, Iceland, borrowing the identity of an American televangelist named Father Friendly. With no means of escape from this island devoid of gun shops and contract killing, tragicomic hilarity ensues as he is forced to come to terms with his bloody past and reevaluate his future.

It’s a quick and easy read, very interesting and humorous, with suspense and lots of unexpected twists and turns as Toxic has to live on his wits. When he arrives in Iceland he’s met by this evangelical couple who think he is Father Friendly so he has to pretend to be a preacher. On top of that Father friendly is due to appear on a television show. It’s a real page turner and made me laugh frequently, but it was also thought provoking and heart wrenching in places. I certainly know more about Iceland now and the author’s light hearted, tongue in cheek descriptions of his home and the language are fascinating and interesting. The book also made me more aware of the awfulness of the Serbo-Croat conflict as Tomislav’s past life is gradually revealed.

As these events in his life are uncovered, despite the awful things he has done, I found myself beginning to feel sympathy for Tomislav, or Tommy as he is now known and hope his future would all work out well somehow. Can an ex hitman make a new life? Can he find love and happiness? I found myself rooting for him.

It’s an unusual, clever, funny and informative book with a serious undercurrent - well worth £1.99. It’s certainly a book I’ll remember. But beware - the language is pretty ripe.

The author has written other books which have been nominated for various Icelandic literature prizes. This is the only novel written in English. The author’s own translation was published in Iceland in 2008. If any more of his books are translated I would certainly like to read them.

Alexander McCall Smith - The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency

2012-02-04T11:03:00.000Z

review by Brian Lowen on show 2nd Feb 2012
The book that provided the successful TV series.

A wonderful warm, easy to read story concerning Precious Ramotswe, who when her father dies is left a sum of money that enables her to set up her own business. Being an independent person with a warm, intuitive personality, she decides to set up as a private detective. Being the only lady detective in her country of Botswana she calls herself the No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency, which she has written in large letters on a board above her little office, which comprises two rooms, two tables, some chairs and a typewriter. She also employs a secretary to man the office when she is out on investigations and to type the letters.

Business is slow at first and they spend a lot of time drinking cups of tea, but then the cases start coming in and Mme Ramotswe is able to use her special skills of intuition, common sense and knowledge of the local people to solve the varied cases that are put before her. She also enlists the help of her very good friend Mr J L B Matekoni, the charming proprietor of the Tlokweng Road Speedy Motors.

If you like stories with happy endings then this is the book for you as there are lots of happy endings! Mme Ramotswe obviously loves her country of Botswana and deplores all the modern trends infiltrating their neighbourhood from the outside world.

I found it charming how her very good friend is always referred to as Mr J L B Matekoni, we never get to hear what his first name is! This is the sort of book that leaves you wanting more and I’m pleased to see that there are more – in fact another three books in the series. A delightful book – thoroughly recommended.

Clare Francis - A Death Divided

2012-02-04T11:00:00.001Z

review by Brian Lowen on show 2nd Feb 2012
What you might call a ‘find the girl’ type story. Rather disappointing for me as Clare has written some good books with a bit more action in them than this one, but I’m sure other readers will find it to their taste.

Joe, struggling to survive his job in a high-powered law firm, is faced with the challenge of finding his childhood friend, Jenna, who has been missing for four years. But has she disappeared through her own choice or is she under the influence of her husband, the restless, troubled Chetwood?

For Joe, the search is a matter of duty, but also of conscience, for he introduced them to each other, and he was enthralled by them both.

Helped by his prickly girl-friend, Sarah, Joe manages to find the beautiful, faded Jenna, only to realize too late that he has set some terrible events in motion.

Good character building of the people involved with good descriptive scenes, but a bit too tame for my liking.

Kathy Reichs - Fatal Voyage

2012-01-31T22:13:00.002Z

review by showhost
If you like Patricia Cornwell then will probably like Kathy Reichs. They are both forensic anthropologists and both have female characters who are.
I couldn't quite understand what was happening at the beginning of the story as it describes our main character Tempe Brennan looking at the half body up in the tree, like a figure head off a ship. I went back and re-read twice, then I got it! A plane crash! In the mountains of North Carolina. The plane was carrying young students and a police officer and his prisoner.
Temp Brennan is called to the crash site. Whilst investigating she finds a limb a severed leg in the posession of a pack of coyote. Once removed from them and analysed she realises that no-one on the plane fits the DNA of the limb.
Her questions and search lead her to a house in the middle of nowhere. The house isn't listed on any maps. Brennan is accused of misconduct and taken off the case. The local sherrif is her only ally.
What caused the plane crash, could it have been terrorists? And if the limb wasn't from the plane crash, who did it belong to?
It's a slow moving book, over 350 pages long. Theres lots of forensic information and explanation, lots of missing people and names. I struggled to finish it, found it often very tedious and the only really esciting bit was near the end.
Sorry not very impressed and not as good as the Cornwell I remember reading.

Frances Woodsford - Dear Mr Bigalow

2012-01-31T21:52:00.000Z

review by Babs Simpson on show feb 2012
This is a collection of letters written by Frances Woodsford to Mr Bigelow in the 1950s/60s and is an absolute joy from start to finish. Frances lives in Bournemouth with her mother and brother, is in her early thirties and is working for the Town Council in the Public Baths department. Mr Bigelow from Long Island, New |York, is an elderly, lonely widower
who lives in isolated splendour in a fine house overlooking the sea.

Their correspondence started almost by accident after Frances was sent some clothes from friends in the USA (Britain was still under war-time rationing and the more affluent Americans couldn't believe Frances wore blouses made from parachute silk, etc.) Amongst the donated clothes was a beautiful brand-new gabardine jacket and skirt in a box with an unknown woman's name and address on it, so of course Frances wrote immediately to thank her, they became friends, and when mention was made of the woman's lonely father, Mr Bigelow, Frances thought he might appreciate a letter from England.

The correspondence that followed is really brilliant. The only letters that survive are from Frances and from them the reader gets so much pleasure, enjoyment and humour, as well as a perfect picture of life here soon after the War, the trials and tribulations of working with her ghastly boss, Mr Bond, the hilarious weekly Civil Defence Classes as the Cold War advances, her home life with her mother and ne'er-do-well brother and various holidays she takes in England and France.

Letter-writing is an art which Frances Woodsford possesses in spades and one can only imagine the pleasure that Mr Bigelow must have got each week when an envelope from Bournemouth arrived. I laughed out loud many times and was really sorry when I got to the last page. A truly glorious read which I cannot recommend highly enough.

Kate Morton - The Distant Hours

2012-01-31T21:51:00.000Z

Review by Babs on show feb 2012
I really enjoyed Kate Morton's first two books - The House at Riverton and The Forgotten Garden -so was really looking forward to reading The Distant Hours. But, oh, what a disappointment it was! It is very long, 670 Pages, and although the story is interesting, it seemed to me to have been unnecessarily extended with page after page of not very much happening.

It tells the story of three sisters living in a run-down castle in Kent, all of whom are either eccentric or pretty loopy and veers between 1939, when they take in a young evacuee from London, and 1992 when, by coincidence, this evacuee's daughter is commissioned to write the forward for a new edition of a gothic hrror story writen by the sister's father in 1918. There are lots of twists and turns as the ghastliness of what happened before and during the war is revealed and which has left its mark on all of them.

But it is so long and contains so much waffle that I could hardly bring myself to care about any of it. I battled through to the last page but, oh how I wish an editor had done what editor's are there for - to cut down and weed out all irrelevant material that takes the reader's attention from a potentially very good story. So, very sorry, Kate Morton, please try to write a shorter one next time!

Peter James - Dead Mans Grip

2012-01-20T20:39:00.000Z

review by Brian Lowen on show 19th January.
The latest in a series of detective thrillers starring Detective Superintendent Roy Grace of the Brighton Police Force.

Once again all the action takes place in Brighton and Worthing and is accurate to the areas described. This book is as good as all the others in this series, all featuring the word ‘dead’ in the title. Peter James has managed to keep up a series of thrillers that continue to grip you from start to finish and he continues to be my favourite writer of detective thrillers.

The story features a young single mum, Carly Chase with a young son, who is involved in a serious traffic accident, which is not her fault, but as she was over the alcohol limit, she loses her licence.

An American student at Brighton College is late for class and hurtles down a hill on his bicycle. He takes the corner at a junction, and forgetting he is in England, rides round the corner on the wrong side of the road. Carly swerves her car to avoid him but he his hit by a white van and thrown under the wheels of an articulated lorry.

When his parents, who are senior figures in the American Mafia, are informed of his death they seek revenge by employing a hit man to take out the three people involved in the accident that killed their son.

The drivers of the other two vehicles are killed in a most sadistic and gruesome way and Roy Grace now realises that Carly is next on the list.

Peter James goes into great detail as the investigation continues, reaching it’s dramatic climax in Shoreham harbour. The detail only heightens the tension as the chase continues and you become thoroughly involved in the story. A real page turner this one.

Roy Grace also has to deal with the worry associated with his girl friend’s difficult pregnancy and has problems keeping focused on the case.

We also get another little snippet concerning his previous wife who disappeared without trace over ten years ago. She is apparently living in Germany and she is stunned to read a notice in her local paper seeking her whereabouts. Roy wants to have her listed as presumed dead so that he can marry Cleo, his new girl friend, and in each book in the series we get to know a little bit more about this mystery. I wonder what will happen in the next book, to which I am eagerly looking forward.

James Thompson - Snow Angels

2012-01-20T20:05:00.001Z

review by Brian Lowen on show 19th Jan
When a beautiful Somali immigrant film star is found dead – her body gruesomely mutilated – small town detective Kari Vaara fears that exposure to the media will send shockwaves through Finland.

Haunted by his past, the investigation begins to take its toll on Vaara and his American wife, Kate. Pregnant with their first child, she is struggling with the Finnish culture of silence and isolation.

Things get too close for comfort when the chief suspect turns out to be someone Vaara would rather forget – his first wife.

The investigation plods along in this small town in northern Finland where the sun doesn’t rise for six months of the year and people tend to become very insular – the extreme cold keeping people indoors, where we are given the impression that they remain in an alcoholic stupor most of the time.

You get some idea what it must be like living there when Vaara checking the thermometer one morning says “O good, it’s warming up, the temperature is only -32 degrees!”

The bodies keep piling up as Vaara struggles to solve the case which at times tends to get rather complicated, especially with all the unpronounceable Finnish names.
I found the ending rather unbelievable and not true to the character of Vaara who seems quite a ‘by the book’ type cop.

Interesting to learn about the way of life in this northern country but I did not enjoy it and was glad when I got to the end of the book.

Maureen Lee - Au Revoir Liverpool

2012-01-12T19:16:00.000Z

review by Maggie Perkovic on show 12th January.

This is an easy read, set in Liverpool just before world war two and ending just after.
Although the marriage of this liverpool housewife was rather humdrum she coped with the love for her children and with the romance she found in the films of that era plus listening to the crooners on the radio and records. However a chance encounter one afternoon turns her life upside down with the result she loses her children her house and all her security in one fell swoop. Her previously devoted husband now despises her and she has to make a new life away from all she has loved.
How she copes and how she jouneys to Paris just before the Germans invade before eventually finding happiness is very readable but, although the book is in the best seller paper backs it left me a bit cold, I read it on the train journey back from Manchester, which probably explains why I brought it!!!!
Christmas Magic by Cathy Kelly.
Another easy read, short stories, not all about Christmas, but nearly all with a happy ending!!! A bit
like Maeve Binchy with Irish Families and feel good factor, a read on a train I think would be best. no
need to concentrate to hard!!

Barbara Sinatra - Lady Blue Eyes My Life With Frank Sinatra

2012-01-12T19:14:00.001Z

review by Maggie on show 12th January.
In Lady Blue Eyes. Barbara Sinatra the fourth and last wife of Frank Sinatra we learn of how this lady who rose from humble beginnings in small town Missouri, becoming a model and founder of the Miss universe pageant and wife to Zeppo Marx on the way, finally becomes the best and most enduring love of a man who was both generous, jealous, witty, and sometimes wicked but at all times an icon with everyone who loves a good tune!!!
Although she enjoys the trappings of fame and fortune she also runs charities with skill and dedication tothe cause.Her description of Sinatra is of a man plagued by ghosts of his poor upbringing and sense of being an outsider in the American dream by virtue of his italian roots of which he was very proud.
A man who was devoted to his friends, always stuck up for the underdog yet behaved like a spoilt child if he could not have his own way!!!
A good read if you like the razamataz of Hollywood, other wise a bit too shallow for enjoyment!!!!

Susan Abulhawa - MORNINGS IN JENIN

2012-01-06T20:38:00.000Z

review by Corinna Christopher on show 5th Jan 2012

To quote from the back cover “this is a devastating novel of love and loss, war and oppression, heartbreak and hope, spanning five generations of one of the most intractable conflicts of our time”

Mornings in Jenin follows 4 generations of the Abulheja family through violence and upheaval in their homeland, The family have deep roots in Ein Hod, a tranquil village of olive farmers. It starts in 1948 when Israel is declared a state and the entire community of Ein Hod is forced to move to a refugee camp in Jenin. Dalia and Hasan have two sons and one of them is snatched away by an Israeli soldier who is filled with jealousy that his wife has no son. This Palestinian boy Ismael is brought up as David a Jewish son.

Later on Dalia and Hasan have a daughter Amal and most of the subsequent story is told through her eyes. In order to pursue her education she travels to America but loses almost everyone she loves in the Lebanon war. She has to raise her daughter Sara by herself far from her homeland. A visit from her long-lost brother David restores her identity and results in a return trip to the Middle East with disastrous consequences .

This is an excerpt from Amal’s thoughts on her return to Jenin. “The air was busy, everything seemed to move and scurry, even children played nervously. Young men washed clean of dreams, ran in the alleyways with rifles strapped to their bodies. They were preparing for the inevitable, stocking up on food, setting up defenses, booby traps, and sandbags against the coming storm. Suicide bombers locking their belts, lovers locking their arms, little girls locking their knees and mothers packing their children into the innermost, lower most rooms”.

This is a very moving and powerful story which resonates with authenticity and passion. The suffering of these people is emotionally affecting to the reader. The events related have happened in my lifetime and made me realise how little I have understood this complex situation. This book has certainly opened my eyes to the injustices that the Palestine people have endured and sadly at this moment in time there is still no solution to this endless retaliatory killing.

The author was born to refugees of the Six Day War of 1967, when her family’s land was seized and Israel captured what remained of Palestine, including Jerusalem. She moved to the U.S.A. as a teenager where she established a career in medical science. She is involved with an organisation to uphold Play for Palestine children This is her first novel and is being published in 19 countries. She lives in Pennsylvania with her daughter.

Helen Dunmore - COUNTING THE STARS

2012-01-06T20:36:00.000Z

review by Corinna Christopher on show 5th Jan 2012

Helen Dunmore has published ten novels and is an accomplished author with a wide range of different subject matter. She is also a poet and children’s novelist.

“Counting the stars” was first published in 2008 and is a fascinating story about the Roman poet Valerius Catullus born in 84 BC and a contemporary of Pompey, Crassus and Julius Caesar. 116 of his poems survive and the most famous are the 25 lyrics addressed to a married woman named Lesbia, known throughout the book as Clodia Metelli.

The Romans at that time lived life to the full and this meant sex, cruelty, murder, poisoning and much debauchery at all levels. Rome is a city of extremes with the slaves and poor packed into ramshackle hovels in crowded streets whilst the wealthy families dwelt in magnificent villas.

Catullus from a noble family disappoints his father by leaving his country home to live the life of a popular poet in Roman society. He mingles with those in power and his witty verses bring him success as he moves within the political hierarchy . He thus meets and is dazzled by Clodia Metelli, an older married noblewoman. He commences a passionate affair, seemingly oblivious to the consequences of decorum. Clodia is a fickle heartbreaker , always accompanied by her servant Aemilia and pet little bird. There have been rumours about her beautiful brother and herself in childhood and he is known as Pretty Boy, in fact a nasty individual.

In due course Clodia’s husband dies after in all probability being poisoned. After this Clodia changes and is embroiled in her family business. Catullus waits for the mourning to be over before he asks Clodia to marry him, but somehow she is vague in her response and Catullus senses that she is not the free loving spirit he used to know.
With his father and brother both now dead he decides to leave Rome and return to look after his family estate.

The author has delved deeply into the Roman society of the day and paints an authentic picture for the reader. There are many interesting details including an amazing description of a wonderful pool at one of the villas, complete with water jets and 400 yards of pipes with an adjustable flow !

This was an enjoyable read with plenty of historical facts from a period most of us have learnt about in school.

Ian Rankin - The Impossible Dead

2012-01-05T19:11:00.000Z

review by Malcolm Martland on show nov 2011

Product Description
Malcolm Fox and his team from Internal Affairs are back. They've been sent to Fife to investigate whether fellow cops covered up for a corrupt colleague, Detective Paul Carter….But what should be a simple job is soon complicated by intimations of conspiracy and cover-up - and a brutal murder, a murder committed with a weapon that should not even exist..etc.

My Review
I thought the first Malcolm Fox novel, The Complaints, was a bit lightweight compared to the Ian Rankin’s Rebus series. I though this one was going to go the same way with the rather lacklustre and teetotal DI Malcolm Fox getting nothing but derision, contempt and lack of cooperation from Kirkaldy CID as he attempts to investigate a complaint against a fellow officer. DC Paul Carter has been reported by his retired policeman uncle Alan, for allegedly offering young ladies leniency for their crimes in return for “favours”. DC Carter is found guilty in court but the sherriff commented that his fellow officers were either wilfully stupid or wilfully complicit.

Fox and his team are drafted in from Edinburgh and are offered a broom cupboard to work from. This is so inadequate that they tend to meet at the local café, The Pancake Place. Unlike Rebus’s passion for a pint of 80/- at the Oxford Bar, Fox has long given up alcohol and dinks mainly Big Tom (a spicy tomato juice). The team’s job is solely to discover whether Paul Carter’s colleagues have been complicit in his professional misconduct and not to be judge and jury on DC Carter. But it isn’t as simple as that as DI Fox soon discovers.

Fox sets off to interview the original complainant, Paul’s uncle Alan Carter. He finds him in a remote cottage, aptly named Gallowhill Cottage. They get on amiably enough and Fox notices that the place is piled high with newspapers and magazines from the mid 1980’s – one paper he picks up dated April 85 which Alan Carter laughs off as the time Dennis Taylor beat Steve Davis at snooker.

The next day Alan Carter is found shot in the head. Suspicion falls on his nephew, Paul, but things don’t add up to Fox. Ballistics reports on the bullet find it was shot from a gun that is recorded as having been destroyed 20 year previously. Telephone records and garage CCTV both implicate Paul, who of course denies he killed his uncle despite ample motive. Despite being on a complaints job the detective in Fox gets the better of him and he revisits the cottage finding that all the magazines and papers had been strewn across the floor, maybe to make it look like burglary. The police investigating take exception to him poking his nose in but he goes back later when they have gone, finds a key under plant pot and has a good snoop around himself. He soon discovers that most of the literature concerns not a snooker match but the death, apparently suicide, of an activist Scottish Nationalist, Francis Vernal. But again not all is clear, he apparently crashed into a tree late one night and then still conscious, shot himself. Police reports of the incident are suspiciously lightweight and Fox finds himself investigating the man’s possible murder. He uncovers that MI5 were tailing him at the time of the crash but, despicably, took no action to assist him. He tries to find what happened to the car but gets nowhere until he just happens to discover the wreckage of it in the locked garage at Gallowhill Cottage, curiouser and curiouser!

Coincidentally explosions are going off in woods around the area; it looks like the Scottish nationalists are getting active again. And Fox has his own domestic demons to contend with too, a sick father and a difficult sister.

So instead of just doing his job he becomes embroiled in an investigation to Scottish nationalist terrorism in the 1980’s and a real group called the Dark Harvest Commandos. He uncomfortably exposes some ruthless militant activists who have since risen to high rank in the new Scotland, a comparison with Northern Ireland which is remarked on in several places.
--
I thought it was a bit slow to get going and the plot overly complicated (there is a lot I’ve left out), some nice descriptions of the inhabitants Kirkaldy though “scroungers, walking wounded, coffin-dodgers, jakey’s and ASBO’s”…and worse! I had to look up quite a few Scottishisms to work it all out. By the end I was really quite hooked. There is some clever writing but to me still not as enjoyable as the best Rebus.

Malcolm Martland, broadcast on Radio Scilly 107.9FM, 24 November 2011

Julian Barnes - A sense of an ending

2012-01-05T19:09:00.001Z

reviewed on show by Malcolm Martland november 2011

From the Back Cover
Tony Webster and his clique first met Adrian Finn at school. Sex-hungry and book-hungry, they would navigate the girl-less sixth form together, trading in affectations, in-jokes, rumour and wit. Maybe Adrian was a little more serious than the others, certainly more intelligent, but they all swore to stay friends for life.

My Review
I first read of this book in the newspapers as the winner of this year’s Booker Prize for Fiction, apparently with some controversy that it was too readable to be considered and even suggestions that a literature prize for more serious writing should be set up. Well I think readability is usually a good thing in literature.

It is a story about friends, starting at school, Tony, Colin, Alex and Adrian. They take pleasure in rankling the teachers for fun. When asked what a particular poem was about one, Adrian, gives a serious answer “Eros and Thanatos” (love and death) while another thinks it was just a poem about a barn owl! Typical posh boys’ school stuff! One day at assembly the head informs them that Robson of the Science Sixth has died and rumours fly around that he had got his girlfriend pregnant and hanged himself leaving a poignant suicide note “Sorry, Mum”. The four boys far from showing compassion just think that Robson was damn lucky firstly for having a girlfriend at all and secondly for having had sex with her!

The boys leave school, Adrian to go to Cambridge, Tony (whose story it is) to Bristol, Colin to Sussex and Alex goes into his father’s business. They promise to stay in contact. Tony finds himself a girlfriend, the fiery Veronica, and we are informed for quite a few pages and in some detail of how frustrated he becomes with her sexual policy apparently being “as tightly guarded as a fisheries protection zone”. Clearly the author is referring to UK not Spanish agencies! He meets her parents and brother in an uncomfortable weekend and escapes almost unscathed. Tony takes her to meet his pals in London, it turns out Adrian and Veronica’s brothers are both studying the same subject – Moral Sciences (yawn!) at Cambridge! Predictably Tony and Veronica split up, Tony managing, just, not to throw himself off Clifton Suspension Bridge and hey what a surprise she starts going out with Adrian! News of Adrian’s suicide comes as a complete shock!

Many years pass, a career in arts administration (double yawn!), marriage, fatherhood, divorce. Then a letter comes for Tony from a solicitor. Veronica’s mother has left him £500 in her will, and his friend Adrian’s diary, the latter currently being held by Veronica who is unwilling to give it up. There follows an account of Tony’s attempts to find Veronica and the diary with considerable retrospectives on their lives.

A well written, thoughtful, humorous, tragic and very male orientated novel. There is a surprising ending, but you’ll have to read it yourself to find out what happens.

Malcolm Martland, broadcast on Radio Scilly 107.9FM, 24 November 2011

James Thompson - Snow Angel

2012-01-04T19:36:00.003Z

review by showhost
I just happened to see this book on the bookshelf in my brothers house and started to read it. What a find! It is a crime novel based in and around Finland.

Its called Kaamos, and its just before Christmas, the bleakest time of the year in Lapland. The sun does not rise, blending day into night. The perpetual darkness and extreme cold above the Arctic Circle drive nearly everyone to alcohol and a little insane. Inspector Kari Vaara, the lead detective of the small-town police force, is called to the scene of a violent murder. A beautiful Somali, now film star, immigrant, is found dead in a snow covered field, but she has been brutally mutilated and a racial message carved on her chest.
Inspector Kari is recently married to Kate, she is American and pregnant with their first child and is slightly homesick. She is struggling to adapt to the extreme temperature and the Finnish culture and language.
The investigation leads Kari to places he doesn't want to go, his ex-wife and her husband, and he finds himself being accused of trying to pin the murder on the husband for retribution for taking his wife. He should come off the case as it is too personal to him but he doesn't. Then when he does offer, his boss won't let him.
On top of this Kari has his own past remorse's to cope with, one being the death of his sister, for which he has always blamed himself and the fact that another body was found on the site where his sister died does not go unoticed. Within a short space of time Kari is also dealing with a suicide and a domestic killing. The possible suspects start piling up. There are plenty of clues and twists to come in this Nordic noir novel.

When I first started the book I was quite excited as I thought I had found an author who although not as good as 'Steig' would be a good third. There are many suspects and good forensics. The character Inspector Kari is nowhere as good as Lisbet Salander but I thought he had potential. In the beginning I kept rushing to pick it up and read more. I still wanted to read it at the end but it was starting to lose incredulity. I was trying to imagine someone playing the part of the inspector in my mind but there was nothing. He comments that the Finnish police are supposed to be the best in the world yet Kari seemed to jump at the first conclusion that came along and although looking at other suspects not letting go of it. I wasn't sure about the ending either, would a good cop go to such dicey extremes? Or was that the point that he had become slightly crazed or desperate? I don't know.
I did enjoy the book and enjoyed the info about Finland and their culture. I will definitely read another of his - in fact the next one kind of follows on from this but a year later.

P J Tracy - Want to Play

2012-01-03T19:32:00.003Z

Quote from front of book by Harlan Coben.: "Outrageously suspenseful ...Thriller debut of the year" Hmmm. This was the crime debut for the mother and daughter writing team of PJ & Traci Lambrechtin 2003.
It starts in present day Wisconsin where the bodies of a married couple, known parishioners, are found in the church of 'Father Newberry'. They had been shot in the head and the murderer personalised it by carving a cross on their bodies. During the investigation the sheriff and deputy discover that this elderly couple had an arsenal of weapons and set booby traps at their home.
In Minneapolis a group of 5 misfits, known as Monkeewrench are putting the finishing touches to their new computer game. They have only ever designed & made games for educational purposes before but Grace came up with the idea of a 'serial killer' game, 20 murders with staged graphics and clues. A kind of beefed up 'Cleudo' with more gruesome scenarios. The game has been available to try on line with only the first 5 murders available.
Also in Minneapolis, the sheriff & his deputies are attending the murder scene of a jogger, lying next to the riverbank. He had been shot in the head. Within 24 hours another murder. A young girl in a graveyard, the body has been draped over the statue of an angel. When one of the Monkeewrench sees the picture on the news they recognise it from their new game. They contact the police. The Monkeewrench become suspects and one, Grace, a possible victim.
It would seem that the two sheriffs murders are connected as is the secretive past of the Monkeewrench.
It is a cat & mouse thriller. There is quite a bit of dialogue (some of it detracts and some of it humorous(Harlan Coben-esq) Quote: "Halloran was fully awake now. "What? What did you find Father?" "Oh, didn't I mention that? Well its a shell casing if I'm not mistaken and since its been years since we've had target practice in the church, I was thinking it might be related to the murders".
What also detracted for me were the amount of names being tossed around - I was on the verge of writing them down. The americanised humour/words/wisecracks were sometimes lost on me and it almost seemed more like a script for a film (I did imagine film stars playing the characters like Danny De Vito for one of the deputies). But at times it was engrossing and towards the end I had to keep with it to see who the murderer was!
As I was boarding the plane on our return from holiday I was clutching the book - the air hostess looked to see what I was reading and commented that she didn't like it as much as their others. On that basis I will give another one a go.

Robert Goddard - Caught in the Light

2012-01-03T19:30:00.001Z

review by showhost
this book was published in 1998. I had read one by this author before but I can't remember what it was called or if I liked it or not. This was a complicated, first class, suspense novel.
Ian is married with a young teenage daughter. He is a photographer and doing a shoot in Vienna. Into the frame appears an attractive, young lady in a red coat, who is furious about him taking her picture. An affair ensues over the next few days. Ian falls in love and goes home to UK to tell his wife their marriage is over.
Ian waits for his lover, Marion, in England at their arranged rendezvous but she never shows. He worries that her jealous husband may have hurt her. He sets out to find her but the mysterious Marion, never existed.
His search takes him to a psychotherapist who was seeing a lady who fits Marions description. This lady has flashbacks to another era, the 1817's where she is another person, unhappily married to a cruel husband but with her scientific knowledge is one of the pioneers of early photography.
False leads, subterfuge, murder and arranged encounters all lead to Ians downfall and puts his family and associates at risk. The suspense and complicated plot keeps you enthralled and the flashbacks to that bygone era just as enthralling.
Recommended read.

Simon Kernick - The Payback

2012-01-03T19:18:00.000Z

review by showhost
This is his latest book and another roller coaster of a read albeit a little ‘James Bondish’ in parts especially at the end on the island.
The main character is Dennis Milne, who made his appearance in SK’s first book ‘The business of Dying’. He was a corrupt copper who would kill the bad guys for a fee.
Now he is living in south East Asia on his ill gotten gains, still wanted by Interpol for murder for the past 10 years but is still a gun for hire.
He tries to justify his killings by telling himself his victims deserved to die but when he is asked to kill Tina Boyd, a DI in the British Police force, his conscience pricks him..
Tina Boyd is another character we have met in SK’s previous books, unpredictable, gutsy, suffers with alcoholism but on the right side of the law.
Tina is unofficially chasing the perp Paul Wise who had evaded British justice too often, for murder & child paedophilia and the murder of her lover. Attempts had recently been made on Tina’s life at the request of Paul Wise.
Tina’s quest had taken her to the Philippines and unexpectedly, Dennis Milne. When Dennis Milne realises he has been given contracts on innocent people and that his boss may be the perp Paul Wise, he joins forces, albeit an uneasy alliance, with Tina to bring the paedo ring to an end.
Tina doesn’t agree with Milnes ethics, he is a cold blooded killer but she needs him as an ally and Milne needs to try and make amends to himself, for the wrongs he has done.
It has been a good holiday read, fast and furious. Its payback time! In fact this review was written on a beach on a hot windy day in Feurteventura (Caleta De Fuste), in December.

Mikey Walsh - Gypsy Boy

2011-12-04T19:26:00.000Z

review by Ro Bennett on recorded show dec 2011

I bought Gypsy Boy after hearing Corinna’s review of The Invisible Ones by Stef Penney. I read somewhere that the subject was very difficult to research and she had drawn on this book as a reference, so I bought it.

I found it very readable and a page turner. It was brutal and shocking but it also made me laugh.

Mikey was born into a Romany Gypsy family and the story is about him growing up in the 80’s and 90’s. His father was delighted when he had a son, presuming he would continue the family tradition as bare knuckle champion. However Mikey was not cut out to be a fighter and his father became increasingly contemptuous and vicious toward him.

The book reveals the horrendous physical abuse at the hands of his father and sexual abuse by his Uncle Joseph that Mikey suffered in his childhood. It also describes the attitudes, culture and life style of the Gypsy community in general. It made gripping and interesting reading and had a feel-good ending.

However, once I had finished the book and was browsing the reviews, I began to question the validity of the story and my own prejudices. I realised that I had been quite willing to believe the stories he told portraying the gypsies as ignorant, deceiving, stealing, cheating, lying and violent until one reviewer asked, ‘Is it a true story?!?...I could not help thinking - after having read it - that it was written as a pamphlet against the Roma people by a radical racist’.

Another wrote:
I was expecting to be offered a thought-provoking glimpse into an oft-misunderstood way of life. However, I couldn't shake the feeling that Mikey Walsh was pandering to the average Daily Mail reader's prejudices. Literally every Gypsy mentioned in the book is ignorant, violent and unpleasant. At the very end, Walsh tries to shift the blame by saying that it's Irish Travellers who are the thugs (nice one; not at all racist) and Romany Gypsies are peaceful folk... all except the violent, thieving psychos he's spent 200 pages describing, I guess.
And these reviews certainly gave me pause for thought! This was reinforced by the Publisher’s Note, quote: Mikey Walsh is a pseudonym. All names and other identifying details have been changed to protect the privacy of Mikey’s family. Some characters are not based on any one person but are composite characters.

So that left me wondering whether or not it was a true and accurate account of his actual life. On the other hand there were many more rave reviews. So, the jury is out....

Keep Calm at Christmas

2011-12-04T19:25:00.000Z

review by Ro Bennett on recorded show dec 2011
This is a nice little stocking filler for Christmas.
Here is the Book Description:
A new volume in the bestselling Keep Calm and Carry On series especially for coping with the festive season

Everyone knows 'tis the season to be jolly; when you can roast chestnuts on an open fire, treetops glisten and sleigh bells ring alongside the sound of small children's laughter. However, if you don't think Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year then reach for Keep Calm at Christmas and let its soothing advice reassure you that Christmas comes but once a year.

Keep Calm at Christmas offers many merry pearls of wisdom to help you get through the festive season; on everything from relatives to office parties, and gluttony to new year resolutions. An insightful pocket gift for Christmas.

And here are some snippets:
'What I don't like about office Christmas parties is looking for a job the next day' Phyllis Diller

'About all you can do is dream of a white Christmas, for it seems like it always leaves most of us in the red' Anon

'Once again, we come to the Holiday Season, a deeply religious time that each of us observes, in his own way, by going to the mall of his choice' Anon

'Next to a circus there ain't nothing that packs up and tears out faster than the Christmas spirit' Kin Hubbard

'New Year's Day... now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions. Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual' Mark Twain

The Atheist’s Guide to Christmas

2011-12-04T19:23:00.001Z

review by Ro Bennett on recorded show dec 2011
This is another well priced stocking filler. I enjoyed this book. It’s an eclectic mix and very interesting, sometimes thought provoking, often humorous. It has been compiled by Ariane Sherine, a comedy writer and journalist. She writes for The Guardian, and has also written for The Sunday Times, The Independent, New Statesman and the NME. She started her career in television, writing for My Family (BBC1) and Countdown (Channel 4). Having said that I had never previously heard of her or some of the contributors...

It’s not a collection of anti-christian rants, it’s not a Scrooge’s grumpy guide. It’s touching, personal, educational and funny - and charitable because the Terence Higgins Trust benefits from every sale, because the editors and author all did it for free - which I think is very much in the spirit of Christmas!

There are 42 contributions which have been divided into six sections, Stories, Science, Philosophy and Events and finally How to and Arts which include practical suggestions for films, games, music, jokes, and even making Christmas environmentally friendly.

The contributors are also a mixed bunch, with people like Simon Le Bon, Jenny Colgan, Claire Rayner and David Baddiel to those we would expect such as Derren Brown, Richard Dawkins, Brian Cox and ilk.

The book also has a section on contributor biographies for added interest. It’s a good buy.

Cleveland Amory - The Cat who Came for Christmas

2011-12-04T19:22:00.001Z

review by Ro Bennett on recorded show dec 2011

I found this book whilst looking for titles with the word Christmas in. I thought it would be a lightweight, probably twee read, partly because of the cover. How wrong I was! It’s an excellent book but is currently not available on KIndle or i books.

This is from the Book Description and the back cover :

This is the heart-warming and often hilarious story of Polar Bear, an abandoned white cat - and the man he owned.

Cleveland Amory was an unsentimental, middle-aged journalist who preferred dogs. But then, one snowy Christmas Eve, he found himself in a deserted New York alley trying to rescue a starving, hurt and not-too-friendly white cat. And of course, he had no idea that this encounter would change his life forever.

This is the story of their first year together, the story of a stray cat with a mind of his own, and the curmudgeonly man who grew to love him.

If you have ever owned a cat, or been owned by one, you will recognize and delight in the journey that followed this Christmas Eve encounter.

In this extract the author is described as curmudgeonly - well I had to look that word up and several others as I read the book - for instance ailurophile, peroration, discombobulate. It’s not a light weight, quick read. However don’t be put off by this as it doesn’t detract from the enjoyment of the book which maintained the number 1 spot in the New York Times best seller list for 12 weeks when it was first published in 1988 and has been repeatedly re-published since. The copy I bought was printed in October of this year, so that indicates its ongoing popularity.

I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was a delightful, heart-warming story and often very funny but frequently poignant. The little cat needed emergency rescuing as he had several wounds and an injured back where someone had reportedly thrown things at him and hit him. He was consequently terribly frightened, not particularly fond of humans, filthy and thin. Once bathed, which was no mean feat, there emerged a beautiful white cat with exquisite eyes.

So the reader follows the story of how a mutual friendship, trust and understanding develop between a grumpy, set in his ways bachelor and a stubborn, wary little creature with a mind of his own and bubbling with personality.

It’s a witty but also an informative book. I learnt more about cats, but also about the author’s role in the early efforts by The Fund for Animals to protect whales and baby seals being brutally exploited by human beings.

Cleveland Amory was born in 1917. He founded The Fund for Animals in 1967, an organisation which campaigns against all forms of cruelty to animals throughout the world. He was a distinguished American journalist, satirist and novelist. He died aged 81 in 1998, and was buried next to his beloved cat, Polar Bear.

I Googled the Cleveland Amory Black Beauty Ranch which is a sanctuary for animals in Texas and that is a very interesting site to explore.

(fyi: An ailurophile is a person who likes cats, discombobulate means to discomfit, faze and peroration is to speak at great length, often in a grandiloquent manner.)

Philippa Gregory - The Lady of the Rivers

2011-12-02T21:32:00.000Z

review by Maggie Perkovic on recorded show december 2011
This author is always worth a read, it is well written and exciting
The story is of Jacquetta Duchess of Luxembourg, mother of Elizabeth Woodwille who was the White Queen in her previous book. Jacquetta is married at 16 years of age to the Duke of Bedford Regent of France, and on his death she marries Richard Woodville for love, going on the have 14 children!!!
Despite being involved in the dreadful Plantagenet wars she and her husband survive and still remain loyal to the Queen, Margaret of Anjou and Henry V1, a gentle King who was unable to rule as he should, and spent hours in the chapel!!!
The story is told so well the reader is drawn in to the machinations of government, the suffering of both peer and peasant, and in particular of Jacquetta and her family. Her daughter Elizabeth goes on to marry Edward the 1V whose own daughter eventually is mother to Henry V111 so a lot of history is involved in the story. Warmly recommended. I loved it.

A D Miller - Snowdrops

2011-12-02T21:28:00.001Z

review by Corinna Christopher on recorded show dec 2011

This book was short-listed for the Booker literary prize this year. Reading the first few chapters I wondered why but then as I progressed I thought it quite a clever story with much interesting background and a moral issue.

Snowdrops is a Moscow slang word for the bodies that float up into the light when the snow thaws, mostly drunks and homeless people who just give up, also murder victims.

Nick is a lawyer in Moscow working with a company wishing to exploit the transportation of oil from the frozen north. He has to deal with The Cossack a shady character who is the go-between and various other unscrupulous men. Any kind of business deals in Russia are fraught with numerous problems usually involving large sums of money in order to facilitate everything.

Nick whilst travelling on the metro one day becomes caught up in a assault on an attractive woman. This is Masha who together with her sister Katya seem grateful for his help. Soon Nick is seduced by the enigmatic Masha and seems to be unable to view his life sensibly. He cannot quite find out the truth about these women although he does recognise that they could be dangerous. He is taken to meet a lady Tatiana who is ostensibly known as an aunt. With his legal experience he is persuaded to help her in moving to another flat.

All is not what it seems and to tell more would spoil the plot and final outcome. There are wonderful insights into Moscow life with descriptions of, as Nick says, a crazy mix of filth and glory. We learn that after the 1st snowfall men in orange overalls emerge from far away places like Tajikstan or Uzbekistan to shovel up the snow. In Moscow there are more mobile phones than people because men had to have separate ones to speak to their mistresses. There were begging babushkas on the streets and QUOTE “ beneath the fur coats and grimaces, you know that the Russians were happy, relatively speaking. Because, along with the fatalism and the borsch, the snow is part of what makes them and nobody else”
The author from 2004 to 2007 was a magazine journalist in Russia and travelled widely. He has obviously a good knowledge of the country and this is a well-written book. The prose is precise and at the same time elegant with no unnecessary vagueness. I found it a worthwhile read.

Little Ern by Robert Sellers and James Hogg printed

2011-12-02T21:24:00.000Z

review by Maggie on recorded show december 2011
Here is a super book about someone I always thought was very underated. Ernie Wise born in Leeds,
started entertaining at the age of six with his dad in Northern Clubs, was spotted by Jack Hylton
and went on to perform across the country as a song and dance man. Later on when he and Eric Morecombe teamed up, he was if anything the stronger performer, but gradually they honed the act until it reached the dizzy heights of 28 million listeners at their Christmas Specials. It took a while to get their, the worst criticism was for their first TV appearance," Last night the television became the box Morcombe and Wise was buried in!!"!Eric never forget that dreadful review keeping it in his wallet till he died, Ernie worked out how to change it. Eddie Braben their new script writer looked at the two, noted their closeness to each other and wrote around that. It made them an immediate sucess. Ernie the over confident awful author who wrote terrible scripts, Eric the clown, made funny by Ernie's presentation of the jokes. This book is very warm and has unseen photos of Ernie with his wife who also gave advice and help to the authors. it presents a happy hardworking man who never resented the adulation Eric received, if it makes the act work, that's all that matters he said. And no, he never wore a wig, and he didn't have hairy legs either. A great read, warmly recommended. Maggie.

Stef Penney - The Invisible Ones

2011-12-01T18:22:00.000Z

review by Corinna christopher on recorded show December 2011

“The Tenderness of Wolves” was this author’s first book and was an international bestseller. Although this book does not have quite the same evocative lyrical narration it is nevertheless an unusual and interesting book.

Rose Janko married Ivo Janko and thus became part of a travelling Gypsy family. However she is missing and thereby lies the mystery of this intriguing story. It was rumoured that she had ran off after the birth of a boy who had inherited the family’ genetic disability and she could not cope with this fact.

Seven years later her father Leon is not so sure and wants to discover the truth. He hires Ray Leon a private investigator who has the added advantage of being of Gypsy descent. The trail has run cold and Ray finds that the Jankos are not very helpful – Why don’t they want to find Rose ?

We are now drawn into the Janko family history which is fascinating and mysterious. JJ the young lad who tells the tale in alternative chapters with Ray, lives with his mother, father having vanished at birth. His home is one of five caravans occupied by Gran and Grandad, great uncle Tene wheelchair bound and Ivo with the young disabled son Christo.
JJ goes to the local school where he tries to fit in with great difficulty. His brief friendship with a girl is touching and brings out the differences between Gypsies and the local community. At one stage there is a visit to Lourdes in France with the young Christo to see if he can be healed. His father Ivo had the same condition as a boy and subsequently was apparently cured.

Ray is soon involved with the Janko family and gradually he manages to unravel their secrets. At one point the police discover human bones in an old Gypsy site and this leads to all kinds of conjecture. It is a slow and difficult task and along the way he falls for Lulu one of the aunts, this is an added complication. The truth when it emerges at the end is tantalising and shocking. I did not see it coming !!

The main characters of JJ and Ray are likeable, honest people who genuinely want to help if they can. The fact that Ray ends up in hospital as the result of what he finds out does not deter him. JJ finds that the behaviour of adults around him difficult to explain but throughout the book the reader is aware of the great love and bond the Gypsy community have with each other in spite of the dark secrets.

I found information concerning the Gypsy way of life of great interest and the unusual background of the novel made it a gripping read with an excellent plot. To reveal more details would spoil it for anyone wishing to read this book although we do find out eventually what happened to Rose Janko!

Sophie Kinsella. - Shopaholic and Baby

2011-12-01T18:21:00.000Z

review by Maggie Perkovic on show 1st December 2011
Now i found this book in my house and thought "Chicklit" and started reading with "I won't like this feeling", but how wrong I was!!! I have read one of hers some time ago about a girl out for an evening who bangs her head and wakes up about ten years later, now married to a Rock Star or similar, and without any memory of anything!!This one tells of the original Shopaholic now settled with husband and baby on the way, and still spending, of course!!!When she replaces her obsetrician with an trendy much sort after one called Venetia, who turns out to be an ex of her husband, who is suffering problems at work, well anything can happen, and it does.Her description of her sister who wants to save the planet and despises Beck's material outlook on the consumer world, her well meaning friends, her fashion store that has hit the doldrums and needs a lift from a world famous designer that Becky used to know, well it is a hilarious read with the characters both amusing and outrageous enough to please every reader. I loved it, especially Becky's reasons for saving money by spending it
When she decides baby needs at least five prams, to suit different occasions, I could see her reasoning even if it was totally silly!!!Read and enjoy.

Alison Weir - Innocent Traitor

2011-12-01T18:20:00.000Z

review by Maggie Perkovic on show 1st December 2011
We all know the story of lady Jane Grey who was put to death at just seventeen because she had conspired to take the throne from the rightful heir Mary Tudor. Unfortunately she didn't have much choice in the matter. The grandaughter of Mary sister to Henry VIII her parents had high hopes of her birth hoping for a boy, when she proved the first of three girls her mother treated her cruelly, beating her for any demeanour despite Jane being a hardworking brilliantly intelligent child she was never appreciated, and only as her cousin the King Edward the sixth became ill did her worth as a possible
heir to the throne arise. Before that she was made to wed Guilford Dudley, the spoilt son of an ambitious Duke who hoped to gain access to the throne through the young couple. Jane was beaten until she agreed to marry him, which made her very unhappy. After the young King's death, she was made to accept the throne, only doing so in the belief she was saving the country from a papist Queen.When Mary finally gained the throne with the army of English soldiers who knew she was the heir to the throne, Jane could have saved herself if she took the Roman Catholic faith, but refused believing hers was the true faith, as Protestant. She died bravely, as did her unwanted husband and his father and all traitors to Mary.

Stephen Leather - Rough Justice

2011-12-01T18:11:00.000Z

review by Brian Lowen on recorded show december 2011

An unusual layout for this book in that there are no chapters, the story just continues on with paragraphs as the only break.

A good book to read in these times of a namby-pamby state, health and safety gone over the top and human rights legislation getting in the way of proper justice.

A vigilante group of cops decide to do something about known criminals who are getting away with murder and other crimes because enough evidence cannot be put together to take a case through the courts and receive an appropriate sentence.

So they track down these criminals and start giving out their own form of rough justice – an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth, only much more violent than that! Crime rates are falling across London but the powers that be want Dan ‘Spider’ Shepard to bring the wave of rough justice to an end.

Dan has never been comfortable investigating cops, but working for the Serious Organised Crime Agency means he has no choice. He has to go undercover with an elite group of officers who are at the sharp end of policing, risking their lives daily on the toughest streets in the capital.
But Shepard has some hard decisions to make when his own family become involved, which he solves in his own way, using good contacts and information from confidential sources.

A good fast paced read with good characters and realistic situations. Recommended.

Michael Dobbs - The Edge of Madness

2011-12-01T18:10:00.000Z

review by Brian Lowen on recorded show December 2011

Michael Dobbs was the author of the TV series entitled House of Cards about the sordid life of MPs behind the scenes in government. I thoroughly enjoyed that series so was looking forward to reading this book, but I was disappointed.

It has a good basis for a great thriller – World War 3 is a cyber war without weapons, only victims. When a few taps on a keyboard can bring the world to its knees.
It begins with small things – power failures, blackouts, transport breakdowns. A plane that falls out of the sky, a US warship steers off course into Iranian waters.
These are just warnings. A test for what is to come. The real war hasn’t started yet. When it does there will be madness, as millions die, governments fail and the world collapses into chaos. So goes the blurb on the back of the book. Sounds interesting I thought, but Oh no!

A quite farcical situation is created when the British Prime Minister gets together with the Presidents of Russia and America, all alone apart from one aide each, in a remote Scottish castle with only a housekeeper and a small boy to look after them. They spend all weekend trying to work out how to countenance this threat of world dominance by China. It could have much easier been done over the telephone.
The British Prime Minister has taken along our hero, Harry Jones, who has to save the world from total chaos, but all he does actually is save them from the flames when the castle catches fire.

I suppose some people will enjoy it, but it did not have enough action for me. Not a good page turner and not recommended.

Peter James - Dead Like You

2011-12-01T18:07:00.001Z

review by Brian Lowen on recorded show december 2011

The latest book in the series featuring Detective Chief Inspector Roy Grace from the Brighton Police Force.

We join Roy in the hunt for a serial rapist who has a fetish about women’s high-heeled shoes. Roy soon realises that this is the same rapist who was not caught during his previous crimes which he carried out in 1997 when Roy was happily married to Sandy who subsequently disappeared about 10 years ago.

The book has flashbacks to the investigation that was carried out in 1997 and we get an inkling into why Sandy might have suddenly up-sticks and left without any warning.

Each book in this series mentions Sandy’s strange disappearance but we are still no nearer to finding out the reason why she suddenly left. One reason to keep you buying the books!

It can be seen from the acknowledgements at the end of the book just how much research Peter James carries out for his stories to be accurate in his description how a modern police force works when investigating a major crime. The book goes into great detail about this but does not become boring. Instead it leads you along each investigative path with interest and tension, leading to an exciting climax in a disused cement works.
You soon work out who the rapist is from subtle clues, but this does not spoil the story as it turns out that there are two different rapists, but only one gets caught. Maybe he gets his comeuppance in the next book in the series, which I am eagerly awaiting.

C J Box - Blue Horizon

2011-11-18T20:29:00.001Z

review by showhost
This was a new author for me, a book I picked up from a stall at the August Bank Holiday fete.
Monica Taylor lives with her 2 children, 12yr old Annie and 10yr old William in North Idaho. She has had a couple of disastrous relationships behind her and makes a promise to herself and her children that no man would stay overnight unless she was seriously thinking about marrying him. So, Annie was very hostile when mums boyfriend Tom came downstairs & joined herself and William for breakfast. Annie left for school very angry with her mum but William was happy because Tom had promised to go fishing with him after school.
It was Friday, their early finishing day but Tom didn’t show. Annie was so angry she decided she would take William fishing a decision that was to change their whole life. As they approached a clearing in the woods near the stream, they witness a murder, a man is shot several times by a group of men. Annie & William watch in stunned silence but before they have chance to flee the shooter turns and sees them. The chase is on. Annie & William don’t know who to trust or to turn to, especially after being given a lift by someone they thought was a friend of their mothers only to find out that he too is involved. The manage to evade capture but the search is now on for the missing children. Unfortunately the murderers are ex LAPD cops who live in Idaho and who are organizing the search party. They do find an ally in elderly rancher Jess Rawlins who aides and abets them.
The story told, the explanations made but with over a 100 pages yet to go all there was left was the ‘fight at the ok coral’ or ranch in this case. Just like the good old western books.
Money laundering, murder, bent cops and hogs who have a taste for human meat.
The book was gripping at times but it was too padded. It was quite predictable but a good enough holiday read that will keep you flicking over the pages without over taxing the brain.

Todd Burpo - Heaven Is for Real

2011-11-09T19:19:00.002Z

review by Ro Bennett on bookshow live 10th Nov 2011
Heaven Is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Backby Todd Burpo (the father), Sonja Burpo (the mother) and Colton Burpo (the child who was just 4 years old at the time)

£10.99 retail price, Amazon £6.27, Kindle £5.96

I bought the Kindle version and am extremely grateful I didn’t pay the full price. As it is I am realising that the downside of Kindle is that if you do buy a paperback book you deeply dislike you can at least pass it on to someone who will enjoy it more. However with Kindle there’s nothing to alleviate the regret that you’ve wasted almost six quid... As you can gather I wasn’t particularly keen on this book even though it was on the Times Best sellers list.

This is the Product Description:

A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back. A young boy emerges from life-saving surgery with remarkable stories of his visit to heaven. 'Heaven Is for Real' is the true story of the four-year old son of a small town Nebraska pastor who during emergency surgery slips from consciousness and enters heaven. He survives and begins talking about being able to look down and see the doctor operating and his dad praying in the waiting room. The family didn't know what to believe but soon the evidence was clear. Colton said he met his miscarried sister, whom no one had told him about, and his great grandfather who died 30 years before Colton was born, then shared impossible-to-know details about each. He describes the horse that only Jesus could ride, about how 'reaaally big' God and his chair are, and how the Holy Spirit 'shoots down power' from heaven to help us. Told by the father, but often in Colton's own words, the disarmingly simple message is heaven is a real place, Jesus really loves children, and be ready, there is a coming last battle.

Well I’m sure this is all happy confirmation for fundamentalist evangelical Christians - the truth allegedly coming out of the mouths of babes and sucklings reinforcing proof that what the Bible says is true. To me the book was a thinly veiled attempt to proselytize.

The poor little boy certainly did have a traumatic time - he had an undiagnosed ruptured appendix and was lucky to survive and the family also had a tough time. It must have been an exhausting emotional roller coaster and very draining and stressful. They believe that Colton died on the operating table (although that is not documented in his medical notes), because some months later he told them that he went up out of his body, that he had spoken with angels and had sat in Jesus’ lap.
The family are convinced that whilst the child was dead he visited heaven, so they began to question him about his alleged experiences. In the book the boy’s experiences are linked with chunks of the Bible which Burpo claims validate the accuracy of both the boy’s story and the Bible. I counted at least 11 times when Burpo quoted what he called the Scripture:

Scripture says
Images from Scripture tumbled through my mind
That also matched Scripture in every detail etc

He kept claiming that the child’s story must be true or how else could he possibly have known these details which were verified in the scriptures, unless he had actually experienced it?’ The answer to that is ‘Easy!’ - the child has been immersed and saturated in the christian lifestyle, stories, doctrines and dogma since birth! The father is a pastor and seems a nice, well meaning man but he is very zealous. His wife, family and friends are also very religious and their entire lives revolve around their faith and their commitment to evangelize and save the world.

Quote: It didn’t matter what Bible story my wife or I read to our tiny evangelist at night, whether from the Old Testament, the New Testament, about Moses, or Noah or King Solomon, Colton wrapped up the night with the same message: Jesus loves the children.”

What really concerned me was the effect this teaching a child about heaven and hell had on an impressionable young mind. For instance the father was explaining the meaning of a funeral to Colton.

Quote: Instantly Colton’s demeanor changed. His face fell into serious lines and he stared fiercely into my eyes. ‘Did the man have Jesus in his heart?’
My son was asking me whether the man who had died was a Christian and had accepted Christ as his Savior. But his intensity caught me off guard. “I’m not sure, Colton,” I said. “I didn’t know him very well.”
Colton’s face bunched up in a terrible twist of worry, “He had to have Jesus in his heart! He had to know Jesus or he can’t get into heaven.”

Then during the funeral,
Quote: Suddenly, Colton’s face gathered into that same knot of intense concern. He slammed his fists on his thighs, then pointed at the casket and said in a near shout, “Did that man have Jesus?!...He had to! He had to!” Colton went on. “He can’t get into heaven if he didn’t have Jesus in his heart!”

Sonja grabbed Colton by the shoulders and tried to shush him. But he was not shushable. Now nearly in tears, Colton twisted in her arms and yelled at me, “He had to know Jesus, Dad!’’

Another example: after watching The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,
Sonja said offhandedly to Carlton, “Well I guess that’s one thing you didn’t like about heaven - no swords up there”.
“There are too swords in heaven.”...
Sonja smiled at Colton. “Um...okay. Why do they need swords in heaven?’
‘Mom! Satan’s not in hell yet,’ Colton said almost scolding.‘The angels carry swords so they can keep Satan out of heaven!’
Again Scripture leaped to my mind, this time from the book of Luke where Jesus tells the disciples, “I saw Satan fall like lightening from heaven.’

The Burpo’s link Colton’s behaviour as a reaction to what he saw in heaven. I personally find all this deeply disturbing and it just shows how immersed in christian teaching the child has been.

However I do think that the Burpo family are completely convinced that Colton did die and did go to heaven it’s not a cynical money making scheme.

There are some positive aspects in the book. At the end there are some interesting photos of the family over the years. They portray a wholesome respectable god fearing typically American family.

It might be worth noting that the woman who co-wrote the book Lynne Vincent also co-wrote Sarah Palin’s 2009 memoir...

As to whether or not the child did actually go to heaven - this of course is very controversial and there are all sorts of theories. For instance:

Near death and out of body experiences are the result of neurotransmitters in the brain shutting down which creates lovely illusions. They can also be attributed to lack of oxygen in the brain.

Instability and activity in the brain's right temporal lobe is responsible for religious experiences of deep meaningfulness, early memories, and out-of-body experiences

I didn’t like the book however I have read other books on the subject which I much prefer - e.g. Melvin Morse: Closer to the Light which documents NDE in children

One interesting link - Akiane Kramarik. Colton reckons that the picture she drew called Prince of Peace looks like the Jesus he met in heaven.

Akiane Kramarik was born to a Lithuanian mother and an American father. She is homeschooled.

She is primarily a self-taught painter. However, she states that God has given her the visions and abilities to create her artwork, which is unusual for her family, considering both her parents were atheist at the time (they later converted to Christianity on account of Kramarik's paintings and visions). Kramarik started drawing at the age of four, advancing to painting at six, and writing poetry at seven. Her first completed self-portrait sold for US$10,000. A portion of the money generated from sales is donated by Kramarik to charities.[3] According to Kramarik, her art is inspired by her visions of heaven, and her personal connection with God. Kramarik's art depicts life, landscape, and people.

At the age of 10, she appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show and at the age of 12, on CNN

Ken McClure - Scorpion’s Advance

2011-11-09T19:18:00.000Z

review by Ro Bennett on show 10th Nov 2011

Recently Corinna reviewed Donor by Ken McClure and so I bought it for my Kindle for 94p which I thought was an amazing bargain. Whilst browsing I noticed that McClure had also written a book called Scorpion’s Advance which is based in Israel and this sounded very interesting. It was published by Collins/Fontana in the UK in 1986 and a new book wan’t available, it was only possible to buy a used paperback from £7.15 including post and package but was only £3.58 on Kindle and, so I bought the bargain Kindle version.

Like Donor, Scorpion’s Advance is a medical mystery. McClure's work is informed by his background as an award-winning research scientist with the UK's Medical Research Council, so I did learn some interesting medical facts from the book and found that aspect very appealing and absorbing.

Bacteriologist, Dr Neil Anderson is asked by the hospital authorities to try and discover what disease could possibly have transformed a healthy medical student into a grotesque corpse within hours. His investigation uncovers an unlikely link between Klein's routine participation in testing a new drug and the research laboratories of Dr Jacob Strauss, one of the foremost medical scientists of his day.

Was Klein's death purely a medical mishap? Or was it, as Anderson begins to suspect, the result of something much more secret - and infinitely more sinister?

Initially I found the book very interesting, a real page turner and full of suspense. I loved the descriptions of Israel and was enjoying it very much. However, by about two thirds through I was weary of all the violence and gruesome deaths and started skimming over the gory bits.

The plot also lost credibility for me. Neil Anderson is intercepted by the CIA and informed that they are involved in the investigation and are protecting him from getting murdered. Knowing this, and how brutal and ruthless all the murders have been, having barely escaped being killed himself on at least three occasions he’s aware of, he and his girlfriend slip away from the bodyguards and drive into the middle of nowhere in the middle of the night to break into a place where they think experiments are being conducted illegally. To me that was absolutely ridiculous - true it added to the tension and sense of danger and had gruesome consequences, but it would have been far more feasible to tell the CIA, hand the facts over to them and let them risk their lives - they’re professionals, they have back up and they’re paid for it!

Another thing which I found really irritating was the poor editing. There were countless typos - so many that I began highlighting them. Many of the two syllable words were hyphenated - hear -ing, Ander-son, acci- dental, and instead of I’d it read Td several times. Occasionally sentences were split up - e.g. ‘So you thought you’d find secret stocks of cultures in my ...(new line)...desk. On the other hand the speech was jumbled up, there were whole paragraphs of dialogue without a new line for each person speaking which made the conversation totally confusing.

Kindle have an experimental Text to Speech function. The Kindle reads the book to you. Unfortunately it’s dreadful. It’s a digital voice and it completely disregards the punctuation so that sentences run into each other, there are pauses in the wrong places and consequently the text doesn’t make sense. So rather disappointing all round sadly.

Dawn French - A Tiny Bit Marvellous

2011-11-04T19:11:00.001Z

review by Babs Simpson on show 3rd November
The Battle family is fairly typical of today's society. Mum, Mo, is a psychiatrist who is about to suffer a mid-life crisis, her daughter, Dora, 17, is a beautiful girl, crippled by a horrendous lack of self-confidence while Dora's younger brother, Peter, knows himself to be as brilliant as his hero, Oscar Wilde, and in fact insists on being known as Oscar while affecting a similar flamboyant style of clothing and speech. And lastly there's Dad who holds everyone together.
This is advertised as being extremely funny "makes you laugh on every page" according to The Times' Review, but I actually found it terribly sad. Okay, funny incidents happen but I felt so desperately sorry for poor Dora who tries so hard to be uber-cool and professes to loathe and despise her mother, whereas all she wants is to someone to listen, to reassure her she is a worthwhile human being, to tell her she looks lovely. Peter/Oscar is another terribly sad character although he doesn't realise it, while Dad deserves better than he gets from them all. Meanwhile, Mo needs a good slap for her sheer stupidity and total lack of understanding, but then, of course, she is only a psychiatrist!

Having said all that, I found it quite a good read and it does have a happy ending, albeit a rather predictable one.

Sarah Dunant - Sacred Hearts

2011-11-04T19:09:00.001Z

review by Babs Simspon on show 3rd November
By the second half of the 16th Century, the price of wedding dowries had risen so sharply within Catholic Europe that most noble families could not afford to marry off more than one daughter. The remaining young women were despatched - for a much lower price - into convents. Historians estimate that in the great towns and city states of Italy, up to half of all noblewomen became nuns. Not all of them willingly.
This novel tells the story of one of these unhappy girls - 16-year-old Serafina - ripped by her family from an illicit love affair and forced into the convent of Santa Catarina, renowned for its superb music. Her first days of incarceration are absolutely ghastly and Serafina is hysterical, distraught and terrified. Hardly surprising as she is so young and in what amounts to a prison for the rest of her life. She desperately seeks a way out of this terrible place, seemingly impossible, but knowing her lover will be waiting, she begins to realise that she is more likely to achieve her freedom if she appears to accept the strict regime of the convent. She accepts the friendship of Siser Zuana and works alongside her in the infirmary.

Serafina has a glorious singing voice which, at first, she refuses to use until she realises that this, too, may help in her desperate quest to escape.

This is a remarkable book. The reader is as desperate as poor Serafina herself - the dreadful unforgiving strictness of convent life, the peculiarities of the different nuns, and, above all, the terrible hopelessness of her situation. 16th Century Italy is brought vividly to life, the dankness of the cold dark convent, the smells, the sheer grinding misery of it all, but you are so afraid for poor Serafina, all this fades into the background.

It is an amazing story - intelligent, moving and illuminating. Sarah Dunnant is a truly great writer.

Jeannette Walls - The Glass Castle

2011-11-04T19:06:00.000Z

review by Maggie Perkovich on show 3rd November
This is a very unusual book which tells the story of a very dysfunctual family so poor that many days they have nothing to eat at all. the parents are Rex and Rose Mary Walls, married in the 1950s and rearing their four children, Lori, Brian, Jeanette who is telling their story and little Maureen the last arrival. The parents are intelligent and far seeing but to settle to lifelong commitments in seeing their children fed and watered and clothed seemns beyond them. Many days there is no food in the house, the father sometimes works, or gambles, so they are either penniless and doing moonlight flits from the bailiffs and also the welfare people, or living very well for a few weeks until the money runs out. The mother, a frustrated artist who has trained as a teacher never seems to realise the need to settle down and care for her brood as she should. They
more or less rear themselves, but although this is a story where all yoyr sympathy is with the children,
the father somehow seems a charismatic character, full of fun at times, but when drunk is violent and
destructive. when the children finally grow older and make their very successful lives in New York the
parents follow them there, but still live their hippy irresponsible existence!!! tThe author never asks for pity, in fact she says their hard upbringing taught them how to cope in New York!!!A good read!!!!

Ronald Skirth - The Reluctant Tommy

2011-11-04T19:04:00.000Z

review by Maggie Perkovich on show 3rd November
Again an unusual book. apparently this first world war soldier started writing a book as a love letter to his girl friend Ella, but he admits that as he was writing it he found it was becoming his experiences during the war. He was training as a teacher and knew that he would be drafted as soon as he had finished the training. He entered the Theatre of war as any man prepared to do his bit for king and country, but he realised as the war progressed, what a terrible and soul destroying experience it was. He was very intelligent and also a sensitive man enjoying music, playing the piano plus he could sing. He was also a churchgoer and a believer in God and basically the integral goodness of the human spirit. What he endured and witnessed almost removed his Faith but after time spent in Italy where he went into a catholic church and was inspired by the statues and frescoes,he regained his beliefs and never again lost it. He had a bad case of shell shock, spending time in hospital and afterwards decided he would never again be responsible for the loss of a man's life in war or use an instrument against his fellow man. However he continued as a soldier and it was when he was offered the military Medal after saving the lives of other soldiers which he felt he could not accept as the battle in question has been so badly planned and executed tha several soldiers lost their loves because of it. Ronald was excellent at drawing maps and very important to the war effortbut this is really a very personal book which describes in detail how he became to his decision about being anti war. He survived to marry his sweetheart and it was his daughter who helped him with his book and to get it published He also finished his training to be a teacher and many ytears later took Ella to Italy to see where he had spent his war years. A thoughtful book you feel he was a good man if a little set in his ways. That he was brave and true to his country is in no doubt, but he puts into words what most people know, war is a terrible way to settle arguments and a terrible waste of life. Thought provoking!!!!

Simon Beckett - The Chemistry of Death

2011-10-26T18:09:00.000+01:00

review by Brian Lowen on show 27th Oct 2011
I think that this was the first book written by Simon Beckett, published in 2006, but what an opener! A really good thriller with a dramatic twist at the end that completely caught me by surprise. Not for the faint hearted as there are some pretty gruesome descriptions contained in the story that made me wonder if I might be letting myself in for some nightmares!

Three years ago forensics expert David Hunter abandoned his old life after a personal tragedy nearly destroyed him. Now working as a local GP doctor in a remote village on the Norfolk Broads he believes he’s left his past work behind. But then they find what’s left of Sally Palmer….

The body has been savagely mutilated. The Police need Dr Hunter’s expertise to find the killer, but he is desperate to remain uninvolved. Then a second woman disappears and the close-knit community that had been David Hunter’s refuge becomes a maelstrom of fear and paranoia. No one is exempt from suspicion.

Then when Dr Hunter’s new girl friend becomes the third woman to disappear, he becomes completely involved in the desperate race to find her before she is killed.

An excellent, well-written story with believable characters. A real page turner that I can thoroughly recommend.

Simon Hall - The Balance of Guilt

2011-10-26T18:08:00.000+01:00

review by Brian Lowen on show 27th Oct 2011

The latest story in the strange on-going crime solving partnership of TV Crime Reporter
Dan Groves and Chief Superintendent Detective Adam Breen.

The author is the well known reporter on the BBC Spotlight news programme so has good experience in the subject which he fully utilises in these stories, but I still find it rather extraordinary how a top detective would be allowed to work so closely with a TV hack. It does, however make for a good easy reading novel.

The story centres round the bombing of Exeter cathedral by an Islamic terrorist and the attempted cover up by MI5, who are on the trial of a group of Islamic terrorists, of whom this bomber was on the fringe.

The MI5 team move in on the case and take over control, to the annoyance of Adam Breen. There seems to be no cooperation in the solving of this outrage between the two forces and the reason why becomes apparent later in the book.

Once again it is our hero, Dan Groves who solves the mystery and points Adam in the right direction. Some of the relationships in the book are quite unrealistic but it is a good read and thoroughly enjoyable. Dan Groves is a real life believable character who you can sympathise with as he struggles with depression following the break up with his girl friend Claire at the end of the last book in the series. Thankfully all seems well at the end of this book and the romance seems on track again.

I look forward to the next novel in the series.

Ken McClure - Donor

2011-10-25T21:05:00.001+01:00

Review by Corinna christopher on show 20/10/11

This is a different kind of thriller for me, set in the medical world, very factual but completely believable.

Dr. Stevan Dunbar is a qualified field doctor employed by the Home Office and working for SCI-MED Inspectorate. This organisation investigates possible wrongdoings or unusual happenings in the arena of medicine. On the whole the medical profession is good at self-righteous indignation and closing ranks.

Amanda Chapman, seven years old will die without a kidney transplant, and so far there has been no donor, so her parents Kate and Sandy are pretty desperate.

Suddenly an exclusive private hospital Medic Ecosse, who occasionally take free patients, accepts her for treatment. This establishment is headed by James Ross a senior transplant consultant, world renowned and also in charge of important research. However, at this hospital in Glasgow there have been complaints made by two former nurses involving irregularities which resulted in the death of two transplant patients in spite of excellent compatible 87% matches. Both nurses were convinced that the two patients had been given the wrong kidneys and were either dismissed or resigned from the hospital.

Dr. Stevan Dunbar begins his task with ruthless efficiency and uncovers a terrifying conspiracy. It all becomes very exciting with a satisfactory outcome.

I especially liked the character of Stevan Dunbar, no alcoholic benders or marital problems. He seemed like a good guy, very genuine in his enthusiasm for the job.

The author has written several books in the Dr. Dunbar series, plus other novels, so must try one of his other books

Kate Pullinger - Mistress of Nothing

2011-10-25T21:02:00.001+01:00

Review by Corinna Christopher on show 20th Oct 2011

This story is told by Sally a lady’s maid in Victorian London. Her mistress, the toast of the city is Lady Duff Gordon. Unfortunately this lady is in poor health with debilitating tuberculosis which means that staying in England is not an option. Her husband Sir Alick prescribes a warmer climate and in spite of a young family she agrees to travel to Egypt in the company of her maid Sally with whom she has a close bond .

Sally is excited and thrilled with this new adventure and in the middle of summer they travel via France to pick up a ship bound for Egypt.

Lady Gordon’s elder daughter resides in Alexandria and when they arrive there they are met by various contacts including the American consul –General who arranges for them to have a ‘dragoman (that is a professional interpreter or guide). His name is Mr. Omar Abu Halaweh and he organises everything for them including the hire of a boat to cruise up the Nile. This takes them to Cairo which they find too hectic and crowded and therefore carry on to Luxor.

Once there they take up residence in the deserted French House where Lady as she is known to all, is a great hit with the local people and her salon is famous for erudite discussion and political debates/ Lady and Sally visit all the notable ancient sites and temples in the company of Omar who is diligent in teaching them both to talk the local language. Lady soon dispenses with her English attire to don the clothing of a native man which is much more comfortable, Sally joins her in more suitable clothing and they are soon melded into Egyptian life . Needless
to say Lady continues to have bad bouts of poor health and is ministered with great care by Sally.

It may seem improbable in 1860’s Egypt but Sally and Omar fall in love as they tend to Lady, and inevitably Sally becomes pregnant. Omar does of course already have a wife in Cairo and also a child but under Islamic law is allowed to have more than one wife. Foolishly they do not tell Lady until the baby is born and there of course many consequences to this event.
The subsequent storyline carries on and by this stage in the book the reader is gripped in the unfolding drama. The local scenes are full of fascinating details and the description of the Simoom or sandstorm that arrives in Luxor is very realistic. We also learn much about the politics and turmoil that takes place at that historic time in Egypt.

Lady Duff Gordon throughout her stay in Egypt wrote endless letters to her husband in England and subsequently these were turned into a wonderful book which has been in print almost continuously since 1865.
The novel is based on a true story but obviously there has been fictional interpretation of the characters of Sally and Omar for which nothing is known about and the author took many years to write the book. She was given a research grant to travel to Egypt 2002 to 2007

After a slightly slow start to the book I thoroughly enjoyed this absorbing story , a mixture of fact and conjecture. A good read.

Andy Seed - All Teachers Great and Small

2011-10-20T19:28:00.000+01:00

review by Ro Bennett on show 20/10/11
This book is about a young newly qualified teacher who takes up his first post in the Yorkshire Dales. The school is a rural primary school with an irascible, inflexible, dyed-in-the-wool headmaster who is totally averse to any innovation and a small staff of female teachers who have been harassed into treading on egg shells around him. Into this mix comes this bright, highly motivated, eager young man fresh from college and bubbling with new ideas ...

Each chapter has the title of a pupil’s name and includes anecdotes about that child. Interwoven into these are aspects of daily life at the school and in Andy’s personal life with his wife Barbara. We share their experiences as newly weds - the excitement as they move into their first home which is rented, then the anxiety and exhilaration of buying and renovating their own property, the anticipation and delight of their first baby. Andy also describes the beauty of the Yorkshire Dales and introduces the reader to the people, their way of life, their ethos in a gentle and humorous way reminiscent of Gervase Phinn. There were quite a few laugh out loud bits.

I include an extract from one review which I particularly empathised with: As a teacher, I had tremendous sympathy for Seed's tales of juggling new government edicts with the demands of the actual classroom, and enjoyed his depictions of parents' evenings, school trips and attempts to modernise the curriculum. He perfectly captures the clash between the old and new, in the rural community and in education more broadly, without being excessively sentimental and without a trace of cynicism. I totally agree!

Andy’s descriptions are good. You do feel you get to know the various children, his wife, the teaching staff and assorted other characters. The reader can easily imagine the school and school life, participate in the highs and lows, the challenges and successes. When Andy walks in the Dales or admires the beauty of the scenery, he brings the reader with him.

From the book, Andy Seed comes across as a genuinely kind and caring man who loves his wife and family, loves teaching, loves the kids, loves the Yorkshire Dales - a thoroughly good sort. Sometimes I found the book a tad dull and I couldn’t get caught up in his obvious enthusiasm and details of his school plays, projects and trips which gave him such a sense of achievement and pleasure. But this is not a fault in his writing it is entirely due to the fact that now I’ve retired, just the thought of a class full of children is enough to send me into anaphylactic shock.

The author Andy Seed worked for many years as a primary school teacher in the Yorkshire Dales before setting up as a freelance writer in 2000. He now splits his work time between writing and travelling around schools, running workshops and enthusing children about books and reading. Andy is married with three children and lives in the wilds of North Yorkshire.

Jaycee Dugard - A Stolen Life

2011-10-20T19:24:00.001+01:00

review on show by Ro Bennett 20/10/11
This is an autobiography which was published in July of this year. It is written by Jaycee Dugard who was abducted from a school bus stop within sight of her home in Tahoe, California on 10 June 1991 when she was only eleven years old. It was the last her family and friends saw of her for over eighteen years.

In the authors’ note, Jaycee writes: This book might be confusing to some. But keep in mind throughout my book that this was a very confusing world I lived in. I think to truly understand what it was like, you would have had to be there, and since I wish that on no one, this book is an attempt to convey the overwhelming confusion I felt during those years and to begin to unravel the damage that was done to me and my family.

Jaycee’s account describes her ordeal, often in graphic and harrowing detail. The first part of the book is particularly distressing to read and I found it a very upsetting and disturbing.

When a car pulled up beside her as she walked to the school bus stop, Jaycee thought the couple had stopped to ask directions. Instead she was stun gunned twice by Phillip Garrido and bundled onto the floorboards in the back of the vehicle and covered with a blanket, held down by Garrido’s wife Nancy. Terrified, groggy and disorientated, she was embarrassed because she had lost control of her bladder.

She was held initially in a tiny partitioned part of a shed, handcuffed, wearing just a towel and left on a pile of blankets. She was petrified, distraught, desperately alone and missing her mother. Eventually the handcuffs were removed and over time her living conditions improved but she was kept captive and controlled by psychological, emotional and mental threats, manipulation and fear. Jaycee was told never to say her name and was called Allissa instead. This had such an impact on her that when she was rescued and asked her real name she couldn’t speak it, instead she asked for a pen and wrote it down.

During her time in captivity, at the age of fourteen and seventeen, Jaycee gave birth to two daughters, both fathered by Garrido. She developed an uneasy relationship with Nancy his wife and they evolved into a sort of bizarre family group. Strangely, as the daughters got older they went out very occasionally as a family and Jaycee went shopping with Nancy, but she found it daunting and scary and avoided eye contact or conversation with anyone.

Garrido was on parole for a previous abduction and rape and despite periodic visits by parole officers, Jaycee was never discovered. Garrido is obviously mentally ill and a drug addict and the worst abuses were committed when he was under the influence of drugs. He was being treated by different therapists, but they appear to be enablers rather than accurately diagnosing and effectively treating his condition.

Nancy the wife is an enigma. Totally under the control of Garrido, she fluctuated between cold, hostile jealousy and an almost maternal generosity towards Jaycee. When the second daughter was born, Jaycee was informed that Nancy would now be known as the girls’ mother and Jaycee would take the role of their sister. Nancy confided to Jaycee that Garrido made her approach other little girls in the park so that he could take inappropriate photos of them.

There isn’t much detailed information about the day to day existence of Jaycee and her daughters, for instance, how she coped as a teenager bringing up two babies under those circumstances. Jaycee learnt how to use a computer to help Garrido with his printing business and to alleviate the excruciating monotony and boredom she suffered in the early years. Garrido became a religious fanatic with some very weird ideas so there was less sexual abuse as the years passed. Over the years she had an assortment of cats which gave her pleasure. And she kept a secret journal. She writes: In the Spring of 1998 I needed an outlet for all the feeling and emotions I was keeping bottled up inside. I knew that Phillip would never approve of me writing things down, but I had this compulsion to get some things down on paper.

Here are a few extracts from Jaycee’s Journal:

Part of me will always be there with her (my mom) there is a part of me that always hurts and feels the pain of losing my family and that part wants to become whole but that cannot happen until I am united with those I lost. I wish I was stronger.

Affirmations:
Only I can make it happen.
I control what I eat.
Everyday I become the person I want to be.
I have the strength to do everything I set my mind to.

My dreams for the future:
See Mom
See pyramids
Ride in a hot air balloon
Learn to drive
Swim with dolphins
Touch a whale
Take a train ride
Learn to sail an old fashioned ship
Write a best seller
Horseback ride on the beach every day.

Lonely, that’s how I feel. Lonely and incomplete. I want to run but have no idea where to run to. I want to yell, but I don’t want to hurt anybody.

There are numerous references to her sadness and loneliness, especially missing her mum. The journal includes lists of her favourite quotes, favourite songs, dreams and aspirations. On May 16th 2007 she wrote:

I’ve been feeling very pressured lately...I have enough work to do just to keep us surviving.

Affirmations to counteract the negative feelings I have inside.
I am a creative, positive, successful and happy person.
I can achieve anything I set my mind on.
I am a strong and capable person.
Today is a glorious day.
I make every day a positive day - and so on.

So we see an intelligent and thoughtful young woman struggling to make the most of dreadful circumstances and we can see why in the introduction to the book she writes of her confusion. The journal is heartbreaking but also uplifting because her strength of character shines through the bleakness of despair.

Jaycee and her daughters were eventually ‘recovered’ as she calls it, on 26th August 2009 after a series of bizarre and rather confusing incidents. The description of her emotional reunion with her mother was of course particularly touching.

The book describes what led up to their rescue and the rehabilitation process she and her family have since undertaken. It also addresses some of the the problems she has faced re-adjusting to a life where she is free to make her own choices and decisions and how frightening as well as wonderful that can be.

Garrido and his wife Nancy have since pleaded guilty to their crimes.

To be honest, I wasn’t particularly keen to read this book, but my son got it for me. He was living in Tahoe when Jaycee was abducted and it obviously had a huge impact, sending shock waves throughout the community. I had already watched a documentary about it and found that harrowing enough. I must say that reading the book was more gruelling in that Jaycee has been very frank and included graphic details which weren’t in the documentary - and reading the horror unfold was shocking. However the book clarified some issues and filled some gaps which the documentary left unanswered such as why she never ran away in the later years when she was no longer locked in and why she disliked her step-father. She comes across as a remarkable young woman and her story demonstrates the resilience of the human spirit.

As Jaycee summarises: Back then it was a struggle to get through a day, but now I can look forward to each day and the next to come. After eighteen years of living with tremendous stress, cruelty, loneliness, repetition and boredom, each new day now brings a new challenge and learning experience to look forward to. With my writings I hope to convey that you can endure tough situations and survive. Not just survive, but be okay, even on the inside too.

Zana Muhsen - A Promise to Nadia

2011-10-13T19:29:00.004+01:00

Zana Muhsen (with Andrew Crofts) - A Promise to Nadia
review on show by MAGGIE PERKOVIC, 13th Oct 2011.
THIS BOOK REPEATS A LOT OF THE FIRST EDITION "SOLD" BUT THEN IT CONTINUES THE HEART BREAKING SAGA OF TRYING TO GAIN ACCESS TO NADIA, TO SEE HER AND HER CHILDREN, BOTH ZANA AND HERR MOTHER BRING THEIR PLIGHT TO PUBLIC ATTENTION WITH THE FIRST BOOK, AND WITH INTERVIEWS ACROSS THE WORLD.
WE SEE CORRUPTION IN THE EMBASSIES, WE SEE PROMISES BROKEN, AND MOST TRAGICALLY WE SEE HOW NADIA'S SPIRIT IS BROKEN BY CONSTANT BULLYING, CONTINUAL PREGNANCIES UNTIL WHEN THEY FINALLY DO SEE HER SHE INSISTS SHE IS HAPPY AND SETTLED IN YEMEN AND HAPPY WITH HER LIFE, ONLY WHEN YOU LOOK AT HER EYES AS SHE APPEARS ON THE COVER PHOTOS AND SOME INSIDE THE FIRST BOOK You REALISE HOW COMPLETELY VANQUISHED SHE IS. THEY TRY DESPERATE MEASURES, USING MONEY FROM THE SALE OF THE BOOKS TO PAY SOME SO CALLED MERCENARIES WHO OFFER TO SNATCH NADIA AND HER CHILDREN, BUT WHEN THEY HAVE RECEIVED IN PAYMENT FROM ZANA AND HER MOTHER THEY DISAPPEAR WITHOUT EVEN TRYING TO HELP AS PROMISED.
AS THEIR MONEY DRIES UP AND THE INLAND REVENUE DEMAND TAX ON UNDECLARED EARNINGS
DOES ZANA REALISE SHE WILL NEVER RESCUE HER SISTER.
SHE KNOWS SHE IS ILL AFTER SO MANY PREGNANCIES AND NO PROPER AFTER CARE AND WONDERS JUST HOW LONG SHE WILL SURVIVE.
SHE HAS SEEN ONE PHOTO OF HER SON WHOM SHE HAD HOPED WAS TO LIVE WITH NADIA BUT
AFTER SHE LEFT HE WAS SENT TO MAKE HIS HOME WITH OTHER RELATIVES.
HER CLOSING LINES ARE THAT SHE HOPES SOMEONE READING THE BOOKS MIGHT FINALLY BRING HOPE THAT NADIA COULD BE RELEASED.
ZANA BLAMES THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT FOR NOT HELPING THE GIRLS WHO WERE BRITISH NATIONALS AFTER ALL, AND WONDERS IF IT WAS BECAUSE OF THEIR ETHNIC BACKGROUND??
QUITE DEPRESSING READS IN SO FAR AS THERE IS NO HAPPY ENDING, AND ON THE EVIDENCE NOT LIKELY TO BE.
review by Maggie
showhost note: one reviewer saw a 'post' which said that Nadia & her family returned to the UK in 2003......? This is unconfirmed but said to have come from a friend of the mother. We can only hope that one day there will be a happy ending.

Zana Muhsen - Sold

2011-10-13T19:27:00.000+01:00

review by Maggie Perkovic on show 13th October 2011

THE BOOK "SOLD" BY ZANA MUHSEN IS QUITE SHOCKING IT TELLS THE STORY OF ZANA ND NADIA BORN TO PARENTS OF YEMENI ORIGIN WHO MADE THEIR HOME IN BRITAIN AND AT THE AGES OF 14YEARS AND 15 YEARS WENT TO THE YEMEN ON THE PROMISE OF A LOVELY HOLIDAY AMONG THE SAND AND SEA AND PALM TREES ONLY TO FIND THEIR FATHER HAD ARRANGED TO SELL THEM TO RELATIVES WITH SONS OF MARRIAGABLE AGE OUT THERE FOR THE SUMS OF £1.300 POUNDS EACH!! FOR TWO FUN LOVING GIRLS FROM BIRMINGHAM THEIR LIVES BECAMEA LIVING NIGHTMARE AND AS THEY WERE MOVED FURTHER INTO VILLAGES WHERE NOTHING HAD CHANGED FOR THOUSANDS OF YEARS, ZANA DETERMINED TO GET BACK TO HER MOTHER AND FREEDOM.
BEFORE THEY WERE BORN THE FATHER HAD ALREADY TAKEN THEIR OLDER BROTHER AND SISTER OUT TO THE YEMEN TO LIVE WITH THEIR GRANDPARENTS, TELLING HIS WIFE HOW MUCH LOVED THEY WOULD BE AND WHAT A HAPPY LIFE THEY WOULD HAVE, ONLY MUCH LATER WOULD THE FACTS EMERGE THAT THEY WERE TREATED VERY BADLY!!!
FOR A LONG TIME THE MOTHER WAS IGNORANT OF HER DAUGHTERS' WELFARE, ANY LETTERS WRITTEN WERE NEVER DESPATCHED TO HER UNTIL ZANA FOUND AN ENGLISH SPEAKING DOCTOR IN THE VILLAGE WHO UNDERTOOK TO SEND A LETTER TO HER MOTHER AND SMUGGLE A REPLY BACK TO ZANA.
FINALLY AFTER LOTS OF HARD WORK FROM HER MOTHER THE INTERNATIONAL SPOTLIGHT FOCUSSED ON THE GIRLS SUFFERING, AND IT SEEMED AT LAST THEY COULD ESCAPE, BUT BY THEN ZANA HAD TWO CHILDREN, AND ONLY ZANA WAS GIVEN PERMISSION PROBABLY BECAUSE
SHE HAD NEVER SUBMITTED TO HER SLAVERY, DESPITE BEING BEATEN AND MADE TO WORK FROM DAWN TO DUSK EVEN WHEN VERY PREGNANT, HER MOTHER IN LAW NEVER TOOK TO HER!!
SHE HAD TO LEAVE HER YOUNG SON BEHIND, BUT LEFT HOPING WITH PRESSURE FROM COLLECTIVE GOVERNMENTS SHE WOULD BE ABLE TO COLLECT HIM AND ALSO FREE HER SISTER WITH HER CHILDREN.
review by MAGGIE

Alex Gray - The Riverman

2011-10-13T19:25:00.000+01:00

review by Brian Lowen on show 13th October 2011

A detective story featuring DCI Bill Lorimer of the Glasgow Police and set in the area around the Clyde.

The Riverman’s job is to navigate the swollen currents of the Clyde, pulling rubbish from Glasgow’s river, but occasionally he is required to do something more shocking – such as lifting out corpses.

The day he pulls a lifeless body out of the river it looks like a case of accidental death, but DCI Lorimer is not convinced and when he identifies the body as a partner in a top firm of accountants he starts investigating just what did happen after the firm’s party at a riverside hotel. As his investigations get deeper into the mystery other executives start to disappear and a whole can of worms is uncovered involving the accountants, local bookmakers, drugs and money laundering.

A good story, a bit plodding at times, as any investigation would be I suppose, which keeps you guessing until the end. Probably not on a par with Ian Rankin ( Malcolm would say!) but an easy to follow, enjoyable book especially if you know the area around the Glasgow river.

Ken Follett - Fall of Giants

2011-10-13T19:22:00.000+01:00

review by Brian Lowen on show 13th October 2011

Another great saga from Ken Follett. As good as his previous long works – Pillars of the Earth and World without End. This is book one of a trilogy

The story is set in the period leading up to and subsequent to the first World War and once again a tremendous amount of research has gone into this book, blending real life characters with fictional ones

The story centres around five families – one each in America, Germany, Wales, England and Russia, from the high-born to lowly peasants. You get to know each family as Follett weaves his story around them, with great characters with whom you can empathise as we follow their adventures during the ten years covered in the book. At 850 pages long it is not an easy book to hold but well worth the effort.

The story starts in 1911 as 13 year old Billy Williams starts his first day at work down a Welsh coal mine.
The Williams family is connected by romance and enmity to the Fitzherberts, aristocractic coal mine owners. Lady Maud Fitzherbert falls in love with Walter von Ulrich, a spy at the German Embassy in London. Their destiny is entangled with that of Gus Dewar, ambitious young aide to U.S. President Woodrow Wilson. Two orphaned Russian brothers soon become involved, but Grigori and Lev Peshkov’s plans to emigrate to America falls foul of war, conscription and revolution

The story goes into great diplomatic detail as the various countries spar with one another before the outbreak of the war. You are left wondering what on earth Britain was doing getting involved in this battle between warring nations in central Europe, but it all boils down to a power struggle with Britain still feeling it has to be the most powerful in the world, as it was, building up to this conflict. But the subsequent horrendous loss of life in pointless, repetitious battles that went on for months, with no one gaining an advantage, should have resulted in courts martial for the Generals involved.

A book I thoroughly enjoyed, and can recommend. I look forward to the next book in this trilogy.

Jane Yardley - DANCING WITH DR KILDARE

2011-10-05T20:59:00.001+01:00

review by Babs Simpson on show 6th October 2011
The day Nina's father dies, she discovers an old music manuscript, written in his hand, locked away in a desk. Her father was no musical genius so where had this symphony come from, and what compelled him to keep it hidden? The answer lies in a web of deceit and scandal that reaches back fifty years. Now Nina is determind to find out the truth. Digging into her family's past, she is forced to reconsider her own traumatic childhood when her father's chronic and emotionally destructive hypochondria brought the family near to breaking point. Nina's sole
refuge at that time had been the home of her best friend whose parents were world champion of ballroom dancing. There she had found escape in the glittering world of Argentinian tango.

Nina is in her thirties now and leading a very complicated life - the world recession is making daily living more and more dfficult, her American admirer seems doomed never to make it across the Atlantic and the prospect of a relationship with a Finnish tango danger is enormously appealing. As the mysterious symphony forces her to confront difficult questions about her late father, she soon begins to wish she had never unlocked that desk.
This is a fascinating story, very well told, and I found the scenes of childhood depicted particularly well, binging back emotions that I had long forgotten. I can heartily recommend it as an intelligent, beautifully written and intriguing story and I look forward to reading this author's other novels.

Debby Fowler - THE SILVER SEA - A FELICITY PARADISE CRIME NOVEL

2011-10-05T20:56:00.000+01:00

review by Babs Simpson on show 6th October 2011
The cover of this book caught my attention as it is a photograph of St Michael's Mount looking beautiful under a cloudless sky.

The story begins when a higly successful businessman with a holiday home in St Ives goes missing. His clothes are found on the beach. Has he drowned whilst surfing or has his disappearance been carefully staged? Months later, Felicity Paradise, an artist, thinks she sees him on Tresco, but it can't be. The missing man is pronounced officially dead, but the case, if there is a case, takes an unexpected and tragic turn.

Chief Inspector Keith Penrose, an old frind of Felicity's, begins to unravel the layers of deceit and deception, only to find he's left with a mystery at both ends of the investigation. Assistance comes, as usual, from Felicity and unexpectedly, from his wife until the final denouement takes place.

The story unfolds against the glorious settings of Tresco and St Michael's Mount and, of course Felicity's home town of St Ives.

Whilst not in the same league as PD James, for instance, this is a good, light read. The settings and characters are vividly described. It won't take you long to get through, but it's worth it for the local interest.

Rosamund Lupton - Sister

2011-10-05T20:55:00.000+01:00

review by Ro Bennett on show 6th October 2011
This was another gripping page turner for me and I sat up late to finish it - but having said that - it wasn’t a feel good book. I felt quite miserable and depressed whilst reading it. It had a good plot with a twist but I found it a tad morose even though I kept on reading, hoping for some sort of happy resolution to the situation. I actually had anxiety dreams the night I finished it - I dreamt my cat’s tail got ripped off and that I was trying to de-clutter my lounge (which was an even more horrific nightmare!), so make of that what you will...It will teach me to read late at night!

The book is written in letter form, from Beatrice to her younger sister Tess.
Beatrice who lives in New York with her fiancé Todd, is in the middle of Sunday lunch when she gets a frantic phone call from her mother to say that Tess, is missing. Beatrice and Todd had just got back from a snowy romantic break in a cabin in Maine where there hadn’t been a mobile phone signal. On hearing the news that her sister has already been missing for four days, Beatrice boards the first flight to London. Despite the fact that the police, Todd and even their mother accept they have lost Tess, Beatrice refuses to give up on her. She embarks on a chilling and suspenseful search during which she realises how little she actualy knew about her sister’s life. despite their supposedly close ties.

Through her investigations, she uncovers an affair with a married man which resulted in a pregnancy, meets another young man who has been besotted with her sister and stalking her and discovers that Tess was also participating in an experimental medical trial that might have gone very wrong. She suspects all of these as probable perpetrators with motives for foul play. However her family and the police simply see a grieving sister in denial, unwilling to accept the facts.

This is a psychological thriller with a twist. Each strand of the investigation uncovers a potentially ominous threat and the reader doesn’t know from which source the implied danger would strike, or if indeed there is any actual danger or just the product of a mind unbalanced by grief.

To me there were some discrepancies. The sisters are portrayed as completely different in outlook and personality - Tess, a free spirited artist and Beatrice rather conservative, high achieving and sanctimonious. So I’m not convinced that they would actually be as close as the book describes them to be.. I can’t see Tess tolerating Beatrice’s lectures and reprimands or confiding in a sister who was so smug and disapproving of her life style and choices. And I can’t see Beatrice forming a warm, indulgent bond with someone who was behaving in a way she would have perceived as totally irresponsible and unacceptable. It would be more believable if there was a frosty distance between them.

There were also some loose ends which weren’t addressed. There was a plot line where Beatrice thought she was being followed, however the Police kept assuring her that whoever he was, was on trial and would remain in jail. But we never found out who he was or his part in the mystery.

Also, Beatrice kept fainting and was unable to speak on occasions and her health appeared to be deteriorating. I presumed that whatever illness she had was going to be crucial to the plot line and the disappearance of Tess, but nothing seemed to be concluded with that either.

So all in all I’m rather ambivalent about the book.

Lindsey Davis - The Silver Pigs

2011-10-05T20:53:00.000+01:00

review by Ro Bennett on show 6th October

This is the first of the books by Lindsey Davis about Marcus Didius Falco, the lovable first century Roman detective. It was written in 1989. I have enjoyed every one of her books without exception. I still have some to read, as there are now twenty in the series, but I save them for when I need to read a book I know I will enjoy.

Falco is a private informer, and in this book, his first case, he rescues 16 year old Sosia from a gang of thugs. He is hired by Sosia’s uncle, a senator, and by the Roman Emperor Vespasian, to look into an illegal trade in silver ingots, (silver pigs). This involves Falco traveling reluctantly to what he regards as a god forsaken, remote corner of the Roman Empire, inhabited by barbarians - Britain.

In Britain he meets Helena Justina, daughter of the Senator who hired him. At first there is mutual animosity between them as she is of a higher class and he is cynically contemptuous of the upper echelons of society. However by the end of the book they have fallen in love and their relationship continues to evolve throughout all the books. Her rank and his lower status of course results in all sorts of complications.

There are an assortment of other characters - friends, relations, pets and even Falco’s bitter enemy the Chief Spy who continue to pop up in the books. These characters are well developed and keep the reader interested and involved with them and their lives as they unfold. The

The Silver Pigs is the introduction to the fascinating world of 70 AD which is so well described that you really feel drawn in to the experience of life in those times. You absorb all these intriguing facts about Roman politics, culture, food, clothing and homes and so on, by a sort of osmosis. It really gives you an understanding of that period in history. Lindsey Davis knows her stuff. She has obviously spent a good deal of time researching the every day life of the Empire and this makes the characters and setting very believable.

There’s a strong plot and the story includes suspense, tragedy and mystery, but it’s also written with humour, so it’s a feel good read. An excellent start to a great series - and absolutely addictive!

Rosemary Sutcliffe - The Lost Eagle of the 9th

2011-10-03T18:51:00.000+01:00

review by Maggie Perkovic on show 29th Sept 2011
I SUPPOSE YOU WOULD CALL THIS A RETRO READ. I FIRST READ THIS IN THE 1950'S. THE LOST EAGLE OF THE 9TH BY ROSEMARY SUTCLIFFE.
IN 117AD, FLAVIUS AQUILA LED 5000 SOLDIERS OF THE 9TH LEGION ON A MISSION BEYOND THE EDGE OF THE KNOWN WORLD AND THEIR TREASURED EAGLE STANDARD WERE NEVER SEEN AGAIN.
20YRS LATER HIS SON SETS OUT TO SOLVE THE MYSTERY AND RESTORE HIS FATHERS HONOUR. THIS IS THE STORY OF HIS MISSION INTO THE UNKNOWN NORTH OF BRITAIN FROM WHICH FEW IF ANY RETURN, TOGETHER WITH HIS SLAVE WHO LATER BECOMES A FREE MAN AND DEVOTED FRIEND. THEY ENDURE INCREDIBLE HARDSHIPS AND DETERMINE TO FIND OUT JUST WHAT REALLY HAPPENED.
I FOUND THIS STORY GRIPPING THE EXCITEMENT AT THE END REALLY HAD ME ON THE EDGE OF MY SEAT AND I REMEMBER HOW MUCH I HAD ENJOYED THE BOOK FIRST TIME AROUND.
THE CHARACTERS ARE STRONG , THE ACTION TENSE AND THE AUTHORS DESCRIPTION OF THE COUNTRYSIDE IS VERY EVOCATIVE.
A FILM HAS BEEN MADE CALLED SIMPLY 'THE EAGLE' AND I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THIS.
THIS BOOK IS PART OF A TRILOGY AND ALL BOOKS ARE BRILLIANT!

Nicola Tyrer - Stolen Childhoods

2011-10-03T18:02:00.002+01:00

review by Maggie Perkovic on show 1st Sept 2011
WHEN THE JAPANESE ENTERED THE WAR IN 1941 SOME 20,000 BRITISH CIVILIANS LIVING IN ASIA, WERE ROUNDED UP AND MARCHED OFF TO CONCENTRATION CAMPS WHERE THEY WERE TO REMAIN FOR 3 LONG YEARS. OVER 3,000 OF THEM WERE CHILDREN.
IN THIS BOOK THEIR EXPERIENCES OF SUFFERING, ENDURANCE AND BRAVERY ARE PRESENTED TO US, HARROWING AND UPLIFTING THEY ARE TOO.
THESE CHILDREN HAD BEEN LIVING IN A PRIVILEGED WORLD WHERE THEY WERE LOOKED AFTER BY SERVANTS AND SPOILT TO A CERTAIN DEGREE. THE WAY THE MAJORITY OF THEM COPED IN THE MOST TERRIBLE CIRCUMSTANCES CERTAINLY MAKES THIS BOOK A VERY INTERESTING READ. THEY WITNESSED THEIR PARENTS BEING BEATEN AND PUNISHED FOR THE SIMPLEST DEMEANOUR, THEIR RATIONS WERE OF THE VERY BAREST WHICH FOR GROWING CHILDREN THIS WAS AKIN TO TORTURE.
THEY WERE DEPRIVED OF EDUCATION YET IN MOST CAMPS SOME FORM OF TEACHING WAS INITIATED, EVEN IF IT WAS ONLY WRITING LATIN VERBS IN THE DUST!
SOME CHILDREN WHOSE FATHERS WERE IMPRISONED AND WHOSE MOTHERS WERE TAKEN TO HOSPITAL WERE VIRTUALLY ORPHANS DEPENDING ON THE GOOD WILL OF OTHER INTERNEES. AS THE WAR PROGRESSED CONDITIONS GOT WORSE AND WORSE SOME CAMPS WERE WORSE THAN OTHERS. THE BRIGHT AND HAPPY CHILDREN WHO STARTED OFF LOOKING ON THE WHOLE BUSINESS AS A GREAT ADVENTURE NOW LAY IN BED LISTLESS AND WEAK.
THOSE INTERNED IN JAVA AND SUMATRA WERE TREATED MUCH WORSE THAN THOSE IN OTHER
CAMPS AS THEIR CAPTORS HAD BEEN INDOCTRINATED WITH A HATRED OF WHITE COLONIALISM.
THE STORIES ARE VERY HARROWING WITH WHOLE FAMILIES DYING IN THE CAMPS, WITH SHIPS BEING
SUNK AND THE THOSE NOT DROWNED BEING MACHINE GUNNED BY THE JAPANESE AND SURVIVORS TAKEN
TO CAMPS INJURED AND ILL FROM EXPOSURE TO SEA WATER AND SUN.
AFTERWARDS WHEN THE WAR WAS OVER AND THE CHILDREN, GROWN UP AND IN MANY CASES STILL FEELING THE EFFECTS OF THEIR INTERNMENT, THEY DECIDED TO SET UP THE ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH CIVILIAN INTERNEES FAR EAST REGION TO LOBBY JAPAN FOR SOME REPARATION
FOR THEIR TREATMENT IN THE CAMPS. THEY WON NEITHER AN APOLOGY NOR A SETTLEMENT FROM THEIR FORMER CAPTORS BUT AS LATE AS THE YEAR 2000 THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT PAID £10.000 TO EVERY BRITISH CITIZEN THAT HAD BEEN INTERNED.
THAT HELPED A LITTLE, THOUGH NOT ALL CLAIMS WERE SETTLED. NO OTHER GROUP OF CHILDREN HAD THEIR CHILDHOOD STOLEN FROM THEM THE WAY THESE CHILDREN HAD.
GROWN UP WITH CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN, THEY RARELY MENTION THEIR PAST SUFFERINGS NOR COMPLAIN OF WHAT IS PAST BUT AS ONE PRIEST SAID WHO SHARED THEIR ENDURED INTERNMENT 'THEY WERE ALL LITTLE HEROES' AN EPITAPH THAT FITS THEM WELL.
A GREAT READ MAKES YOU THINK A LOT AND ADMIRE THAT GENERATION AFRESH!!

Alison Weir - The Captive Queem

2011-10-03T17:53:00.003+01:00

Review by Maggie Perkovic on show 1st Sept 2011
THE CAPTIVE QUEEN BY ALISON WEIR IS THE VERY EXCITING STORY OF THE LIFE OF ELEANOR OF
AQUITAINE.
THE AUTHOR IS A GOOD HISTORIAN, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST BOOK OF HERS I HAVE READ THAT
ACTUALLY PUTS FLESH ON THE BONES AND WORDS IN THEIR MOUTHS SO THAT YOU ARE DRAWN INTO
THE MACHINATIONS OF THE LIFE IN THE MIDDLE AGES FOR ROYALTY AND FOR THE COMMON MAN
ELEANOR WAS BEAUTIFUL, INTELLIGENT, AND INCLINED TO BE WILFUL.
HER FIRST MARRIAGE TO LOUIS VII OF FRANCE WAS FOLLOWED BY ONE TO HENRY II OF ENGLAND FROM WHICH SHE HAD RICHARD 1ST THE LIONHEART, PLUS MANY OTHER CHILDREN INCLUDING BAD KING JOHN!!!
THAT THEY LOVED EACH OTHER WAS OBVIOUS FROM THE START, BUT THE KING BELIEVED IN KEEPING HIS SONS IN THEIR PLACE WHICH CAUSED SUCH BAD FEELING AMONG THEM, THEIR MOTHER TOOK THEIR SIDE WHICH MADE HER HUSBAND TURN AGAINST HER AND IMPRISON HER FOR MANY YEARS. REMEMBER IN THOSE DAYS WIVES WERE SUBJECT TO THEIR HUSBANDS RULE WITHOUT QUESTION, ALL THEIR LANDS BECAME THEIR HUSBANDS & PROPERTY ON MARRIAGE. ELEANOR AS A FEISTY AND INDEPENDENT WOMAN RAILED AGAINST THESE RESTRICTIONS, BELIEVING SHE WAS
ABLE TO RULE AS WELL IF NOT BETTER IN MANY CASES.
THE STORY OF THE DEATH OF THOMAS BECKET IS EXPLAINED IN DETAIL HERE, AND ALSO THE LEGEND OF ROSAMOND THE FAIR, THE BELOVED OF HENRY II, WHICH MADE ELEANOR VERY BITTER,
AND RUMOUR HAS IT SHE HAD THE MAID POISONED, THE JURY IS STILL OUT ON THAT ONE.
THIS IS A RATTLING GOOD READ BUT MY ONE COMPLAINT IS THAT SHE SEEMS TO RUN OUT OF STEAM AND THE LAST FEW YEARS OF ELEANORS LIFE ARE GLOSSED OVER LEAVING LOTS OF ENDS UNTIL HER DEATH IN THE NUNNERY AT FONTEVRAULT.
I DO RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AS IT BRINGS AN EXCITING WOMAN TO THE FORE AND BREATHES LIFE INTO A THRILLING PART OF HISTORY.

Margaret Powell - Below Stairs

2011-10-03T17:48:00.001+01:00

Review by Maggie Perkovic on show 29th Sept 2011
WITH DOWNTON ABBEY ALL THE RAGE AT THE MOMENT, THIS IS AN INTERESTING LOOK AT THE
REAL LIFE CHARACTERS THAT ARE BELOW STAIRS. MARGARET POWELL WAS BORN IN 1907 IN HOVE
AND LEFT SCHOOL AT 13 TO START WORK IN AN HOTEL LAUDRY ROOM, A YEAR LATER SHE
STARTED WORK IN SERVICE AS A KITCHEN MAID,EVENTUALLY BECOMING THE COOK BEFORE
MARRYING ALBERT A MILKMAN.
HER FATHER WAS A HANDY MAN PAINTER/DECORATOR MOSTLY UNEMPLOYED, HER MOTHER WOULD GO OUT CHARRING FROM EIGHT IN THE MORNING TILL SIX AT NIGHT TO KEEP THE
FAMILY TOGETHER BUT IT WAS A LOVING AND LOVELY FAMILY AND HER CHILDHOOD WAS FULL OF
LOVE AND LAUGHTER AS SHE PUTS IT.
HER STORIES OF LIFE BELOW STAIRS IS BOTH AMUSING AND HEARTBREAKING, AND SHE WAS TO
LEARN THAT SHE WAS INDEED THE LOWEST OF THE LOW AS REGARDS THE UPPER CLASSES.
ONE INCIDENT REALLY HURT HER BADLY. THE LADY OF THE HOUSE HAD RECEIVED HER
LETTERS BUT WHEN MARGARET WENT TO PASS THEM TO HER, SHE WAS TOLD IN NO UNCERTAIN
TERMS TO USE THE LETTER GRIP RATHER THAN PASS THEM WITH HER BARE HANDS.
MARGARET SAID HOW INSULTED SHE WAS TO BE THOUGHT TOO LOW TO USE HER OWN FAIR MITTS.
OTHER INCIDENTS MADE HER REALISE HOW UNFAIR THE CLASS SYSTEM WAS, BUT AFTER HER
MARRIAGE AND BIRTH OF HER FAMILY SHE STARTED TO GO TO EVENING CLASS AND
STUDYING ALL SORTS OF CLASSES AND FOUND SHE HAD QUITE A BRAIN AND AN APTITUDE FOR LEARNING. SHE WROTE OTHER BOOKS BESIDES THIS ONE AND AS SHE SAYS AS HER KNOWLEDGE INCREASES AND HER READING WIDENS SHE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO A HAPPY FUTURE. THIS BOOK WAS FIRST PRINTED IN 1968 SO OF COURS, MARGARET POWELL IS LONG SINCE DECEASED BUT IT IS VERY EVOCATIVE OF A LIFE IN SERVICE AND PROBABLY AS TRUTHFUL AS ANYTHING YOU READ NOWADAYS.
A GOOD READ

Malcolm Welshman - Pets in a Pickle

2011-10-01T10:00:00.002+01:00

review by Malcolm Martland on show 29th September 2011
From the cover:
Drawing on his own experiences of working as a vet, Malcolm Welshman brings to life a wealth of colourful characters - including the formidable practice receptionist, Beryl, with her one steely eye - and an ark's worth of marvellous animals. As enchanting as it is funny, this wonderful story will delight any animal fan. When Paul Mitchell arrives for his first day's work at Prospect House Veterinary Hospital, he never expects this...Oh his very first day, he is bitten by a feisty hamster...but this is a mere prelude to a cavalcade of hilarious - and often painful - encounters with fish, flesh and fowl etc.
My review.
This is just the sort of book I wish I had written and I wouldn't mind writing something similar either, but will I ever get round to it? The author qualified just three years before I did so we are almost contemporaries and both of us entered practice at a time when a lot of the old methods had not yet died out but modern techniques were flooding in all the time.
It is a collection of linked short stories about pets and their owners and the amusing predicaments they get into, very much along the lines of James Herriot, but with differences. I found it quite hard not to imagine that the clients were from Yorkshire and not the lush South Downs that are portrayed. But the stories are so similar to those that most vets could relate from experience that they awoke many memories which I hastily wrote down for future reference. I'll just have to avoid plagiarism! There are tales of sick cows, cats, horses and monkeys but it is the owners that bring the humour to the situation.

There is also the underlying romantic element, with the new vet falling in love with one of the veterinary nurses while at the same time fending off the amorous advances of his buxom divorced landlady. There is clearly scope for more.

I'd definitely recommend this book if you like James Herriot and it would make an ideal stocking filler for Christmas. I hope Malcolm Welshman writes many more.

Malcolm Martland broadcast on RadioScilly 107.9 FM 29 September 2011

Hakan Nesser - Borkmann's Point

2011-10-01T09:57:00.002+01:00

review by Malcolm Martland on show 29th September 2011
When I saw the title of this book, I thought it sounded a little bit like a New World Cabernet Sauvignon, or perhaps a wine from South East Australia.
From the cover:
Borkmann’s point was hardly a rule; in fact, it was more of a comment, a landmark for tricky cases . . . In every investigation, he maintained, there comes a point beyond which we don’t really need any more information. When we reach that point, we already know enough to solve the case by means of nothing more than some decent thinking etc.
My review.
I seem to be reading more and more Nordic Noir these days but far from the fraught and depressed Kurt Wallander Detective Chief Inspector van Veeteren enjoys a leisurely afternoon with wine and pastries or cake a game of chess with a colleague a pleasant walk by the sea. In this novel he's on holiday by the seaside with his son who is on parole from prison for drugs offences. He is not getting onto well with the relationship and wishes he was back at work when there is a murder in a nearby town and he is offered the chance to extend his holiday and go and help out floundering local police force.
It transpires that the latest murder is the second of a similar type. The victim staggering home late from the pub one might is attacked by a mad axemen who almost severs his head. Van Veeteren quickly makes himself at home in a comfortable hotel and acquaints himself with the local chief of police who is shortly to retire. They get on famously and start to make serious inroads into the police chief's massive ancient fine wine store! Then there is a third attack this time a young doctor who is discovered by his girlfriend lying in a pool of blood in the hallway of their apartment but this time with the axe left embedded in his back.

Witness statements pour in and the Department is overloaded with information and van Veeteren is left to ponder over the information between his high teas and Danish pastries.

Then a woman detective is kidnapped and things hot up a bit. Van Veeteren finds himself a witness having seen her going for a run only shortly before. But of course he solves the whole mystery before local police chief, and fellow chessplayer, retires. Van Veeteren probably goes back to his hotel and rewards himself with a glass of beer and maybe some bratwurst before having a nice dinner somewhere, he "could think of no better companion than a good meal".

Although these mysteries don't have the hard edge of the Wallander novels I find myself enjoying them and am now on my third!

Malcolm Martland broadcast on RadioScilly 107.9 FM, 29 September 2011

Peter James - Dead like you

2011-09-28T21:07:00.000+01:00

review by show host
Another Roy Grace novel. DCI Roy Grace of the Brighton & Hove police force. A young woman is raped and the perp takes one of her very expensive designer shoes as a momento, the same designer shoe with the 5 inch heel, which he made his victim perform sexual acts with. When a second rape occurs days later with the same use of designer shoes, DCI Roy Grace is reminded of the similarities to a case he worked on in 1997 'the Shoeman' the Shoemans suspected last victim however was never found which was something which has haunted Roy grace for 12 years. Now 12 years after the last known attack it would appear the Shoeman is back.
DCI Roy grace assembles his long established team plus the criminal psychologist who worked on the case before, to try and profile this perp and discover who the Shoeman really is.
The story fluctuates from 1997 to present day. In 1997 it takes us back to Grace,s work on the Shoeman and his relationship wife his wife Sandy who suddenly disappeared one day, another thing which has haunted him.
Back to the present he is engaged to the beautiful police pathologist Cleo who is pregnant with their child. In the present we also have another sick perv, a taxi driver, who also collects women's designer shoes and toilet chains, he also likes to teach these women a lesson, just like he did to his abusive mother. Another possible suspect in the present, is a re-offender who has just been let out of prison who keeps crossing paths with Roy Graces’s enquiries.
I enjoyed this book. It was tense and absorbing. The fluctuation in time did not detract from the story, rather it built up the story. I like the way the author brings us into the life of Roy Grace, in and out of work, and those around him and into the disturbed mind of the pervs on the streets of Brighton.
Recommended.

Douglas Kennedy - State of the Union

2011-09-24T13:28:00.000+01:00

review by Corinna Christopher on show 22nd Sept 2011
Set in America in the sixties this is one very good read and once immersed in the story I found it difficult to put down.

Hannah is a disappointment to her artist mother and famous radical father. Invited by her father to attend a rally where revolutionary ideals are aired and criticism is made of Nixon’s government , she first meets up with a young firebrand, Toby.

Against her father’s wishes she foregoes a career and after graduation marries her doctor boyfriend Dan.

Dan is starting his lifetime work in a small New England town where they settle down into a rather dull routine. With small son Jeffrey to look after and not much else to do Hannah is soon bored even though she manages to get a part time job in the local library.

With the arrival of Toby suddenly appearing into Hannah’s life whilst Dan is away visiting his dying father, a series of unfortunate events occur resulting in Hannah being coerced into breaking the law.

The second part of the book skips on 30 years and this transgression remains forgotten as Hannah and Dan live harmoniously together, the epitome of well to-do successful Americans. Hannah has an interesting job as a teacher and continues to have a very close friendship with her lifelong friend Margy. Daughter Lizzie has a successful banking career but unfortunately is having an affair with a married man, causing her mother lots of worry.

Then something extraordinary happens and Hannah’s life goes into freefall and everything changes. Toby comes over all pious and repentant and decides to write a book about his errant past. In spite of altering all the names Hannah is instantly recognised in the book. Dan is betrayed, priggish son Jeffrey and wife Shannon disown her and daughter Lizzie disappears – things couldn’t be worse. News headline reads “MISSING GIRL’S MOM WAS ONE-TIME LOVER OF FBI WANTED RADICAL”
With a large assembly of characters it is impossible to relate the relevant events but suffice to say that the storyline and conclusion are gripping. Kennedy is brilliant at understanding the minds of stylish and troubled women and the details are moving and perceptive.

I have read two other books by this author but this one is in my mind much the best. A wonderful read in which to escape for awhile

Daniel Tammet - Born on a Blue Day

2011-09-24T13:26:00.000+01:00

review by Corinna Christopher on show 22nd Sept 2011

This is a memoir of an extraordinary mind, that of Daniel Tammett.
He has Savant Syndrome, an extremely rare form of Asperger’s. He sees numbers as shapes, colours and textures and can perform unique mathematical problems in his head. He can also learn and speak fluently foreign languages and once learnt Icelandic which is very difficult in only a few days and then went on television for a public interview speaking fluently.

There is a foreword by professor Simon Baron-Cohen, a leading authority on the subject who says that Daniel’s condition occurs in only 1 in 10,000. In a public competition he set the record by reciting the mathematical constant Pi from memory to 22,514 decimal places.

Daniel was born on 31 January 1979 – a Wednesday and the date is blue as Wednesdays are always blue. He was his parents first child and devoted to each other they were very much looking forward to this new child. His first home was a very small flat and with his constant crying his parents had a hard time. Shortly afterwards another child arrived and eventually Daniel had eight brothers and sisters. This of course necessitated in them moving a lot into larger homes.

In all the time of his growing up there were of course problems with his behaviour and development but unfailingly his parents supported him and gave him unconditional love. Academically he did well at school but always found friendships difficult and spent a lot of time in libraries. At school it was known that he talked to trees and was weird. At times he wanted to vanish, did not seem to fit anywhere
as though he had been born into the wrong world. He did not want to go to university and decided to go as a volunteer teacher with the VSO where he was posted to Lithuania. This was a move that was brave but gave him confidence to be independent.

Daniel met his partner Neil online in the autumn of 2000 and this enabled him to form a loving relationship with someone who accepted him for who he was. Six months later they moved into together . Daniel applied for several jobs but because of his lack of interpersonal skills he was not successful. Finally he set up his own educational web-site with the help of Neil ‘ especially for language learners.

His parents throughout were brilliant, his father teaching him chess and he feels that he owes everything to them, All his siblings were equally loving and supportive and to-day they all get on very well. Daniel is virtually unique amongst people who have severe autistic disorders in being able to live a fully independent life.

This is an inspiring book and one to relish.

Meg Henderson - Finding Peggy

2011-09-24T13:25:00.000+01:00

review by Ro Bennett on show sept 22nd 2011

This was a very interesting and informative book about growing up in a Glasgow slum.
Here is the Product Description
Glasgow in the 1950s was a deprived and often violent place. Meg Henderson was part of a large family, and when the tenement block in which they lived collapsed they had to move to the notorious Blackhill district where religious sectarianism and gang warfare were part of daily life. Yet despite appalling conditions, there was warmth, laughter and a remarkable spirit, and Meg’s mother and her Aunt Peggy, both idealistic and emotional women, shielded her from the effects of her father’s heavy drinking.

A hopeless romantic, Peggy searched for a husband until late in life and then endured a harsh, unhappy marriage. When she died horrifically in childbirth her death devastated the family and destroyed Meg’s childhood. Only later, after the death of her own mother, was Meg able to discover the shocking facts behind the tragedy.

It all sounds pretty grim and the author does describe growing up as part of a large and often troubled family, the squalid conditions and poverty very vividly. The harsh repercussions of alcoholism, ignorance, and illiteracy on the development of children and family life generally are shockingly portrayed. The book also reveals the prevalent bigotry, social inadequacies, sectarianism and lack of justice of the time. So it’s not always a comfortable read - but then you find yourself laughing out loud at humorous incidents the author has included. Also, the fact that Meg Henderson managed to overcome such deprivation and countless obstacles to live such a successful life gives the book a feel good factor.

The one criticism I have of the book is that it ends with Meg suffering unrequited love for Rab and flying off with the VSO to India. Then comes the epilogue in which she is married, to a Rab, with a child. So what happened in India? Is she married to the Rab of the unrequited love? How did their relationship develop? I feel a huge, interesting chunk has been left out.

About the author: Meg Henderson was born in Glasgow in 1948, the youngest of three children. When she was 11 her aunt Peggy died aged just 27 during childbirth, and Finding Peggy, her first book was born out of her research into her family history.

Meg Henderson gratefully left her convent secondary school at 16, having had to care for her family ever since the death of Peggy; her mother being unable to cope with the loss and her alcoholic father being generally feckless, and useless as a husband, father or provider. She first worked for the NHS where she became a Senior Technician, then travelled to India with the Voluntary Service Overseas. When she returned to Scotland she married, went to live on a Scottish island and became an adoptive and foster parent. She now lives with her husband, three children and three cats on the East Coast of Scotland, and works as a journalist writing for newspapers and television.

Colin Cotterill - The Coroner’s Lunch

2011-09-24T13:23:00.000+01:00

review by Ro Bennett on show 22nd Sept 2011

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and found it a gripping read and a real page turner. It’s unusual and interesting in that it’s set in the newly formed People’s Democratic Republic of Laos in 1976. All the rich, middle classes, professionals and just about anyone else capable of it have sailed or swum across the Mekong river to Thailand to get away from the communist regime who've taken over the country. The country is in state of flux. There is incompetence and corruption, lack of resources and most people are coping with deprivation and in unenviable living conditions.

The hero is just lovely. Dr Siri Paiboun is a seventy-two year old gentleman who was trained as a doctor in France where he fell madly in love with an ardent communist. He joined the communist party for a lark and returned to Laos because of his wife’s commitment to the revolution. However he had been banished to the jungles of Laos and Vietnam for many years to work with injured soldiers and avoid bombs because he had a habit of telling the senior party members when he disagreed with them.

His wife who had become bitter and disillusioned with the corruption and the fact that the revolution was not remotely fulfilling it glorious ideals, had been killed by a grenade. Now, the war over, Dr Siri is looking forward to a well earned retirement, only to be informed that as the only surviving doctor he is to become the nation’s Chief Coroner. Initially he hasn’t a clue what he is doing and performs his first autopsy with the help of a very old French book and two assistants he’s been allocated, a girl who enjoys reading magazines and a young man with mild Down’s syndrome.

He now has three cases to deal with; the death of an important official's wife, the discovery of bodies that could lead to an international incident between Laos and Vietnam, and uncovering the reason why the commanders of an Army base, located in northern Laos, keep dying.

Dr Siri is constantly hindered in his investigations by an inept judge who is throwing his weight around. I quote: The judge been trained, rapidly, to fill one of the many gaps left by the fleeing upper classes. He’d studied in a language he didn’t really understand and been handed a a degree he didn’t deserve. The Soviets added his name to the roster of Asian communists successfully educated by the great and gloriously enlightened socialist Motherland.

Siri believed a judge should be someone who acquired wisdom layer by layer over a long life, like tree rings of knowledge; believed you couldn’t just walk into the position by guessing the right answers to multiple choice tests in Russian.

One example of the tongue in the cheek pop at the politics of the region. However, besides being witty and funny, with many laugh out loud parts, there is also a very real sense of danger and peril. These are intensified by the macabre dreams Siri has. The author, who clearly knows Laos very well and loves it, has incorporated his insight into Lao life and culture, hill tribe life and the belief in spirits, and used it all to good effect to build up the atmosphere and tension in the story.

The plot is excellent, the characters are quirky and amusing but the author is very astute so they are well developed and convincing. I got a really good idea of what life was like in Laos at the time. Here’s an extract which illustrates this.

On his one day off, Siri was expected to help in the digging of an irrigation canal. Quote: Community service in the city wasn’t a punishment; it was a reward for being a good citizen. It was the authorities’ gift to the people. They didn’t want a single man, woman or child to miss out on the heart-swelling pride that comes from resurfacing a road or dredging a stream. The government knew the people would gladly give up their only day off for such a treat....

When Siri went downstairs he found two trucks loaded with drowsy, silent neighbours, obviously overcome with delight.

I am so pleased to have found this author and intend to read the rest of this series.

Colin Cotterill was born in London, he has taught in Australia, the USA and Japan and lived for many years in Laos where he worked for non-governmental social service organizations. He spent over twenty years teaching and training educators in Asian countries, mainly Laos and Thailand. His twin passions are drawing cartoons and writing. He now writes full-time and lives in Thailand.

Peter James - Twilight

2011-09-08T19:14:00.000+01:00

Review by Brian Lowen on show 8th Sept 2011

Peter James writes two types of novels:
He has a series of books, all with the word ‘dead’ in the title and featuring Det. Insp Roy Grace of the Brighton Police Force.

The other books he writes cover a multitude of subjects concerning the occult, dreams, nightmares, out of body experiences and things that go bump in the night.

This book is from the latter.
Three muffled thuds ring from the partially filled grave of the newly-wed girl. Only the Verger hears them and he dismisses them as his imagination. But over the next few days others also hear faint sounds.

An exhumation order is granted. Reporter Kate Hemingway sneaks into the small suburban churchyard when the coffin is opened, and the scene she witnesses is so horrific she can never forget it. As she starts work on the story, Kate finds herself caught up in a sinister and macabre cover-up. At the centre is a respected anaesthetist who has a secret obsession – to find out if there is life after death.

Another wonderful tale from Peter James that keeps you enthralled the whole way through. I loved the way that the two characters – Kate the reporter and Dr Swire the anaesthetist, are built up separately until they finally, dramatically, come together.
Not a book for the squeamish or faint-hearted, as it deals in detail with post-mortems and out of body experiences.

A great read – thoroughly recommended.

Arnaldur Indridason - Hypothermia

2011-09-08T19:13:00.001+01:00

Review by Brian Lowen on show 8th Sept 2011

One of the most boring books I’ve read – I’m surprised I managed to get to the end of this so-called thriller. I am sure all Icelandic people can not be as boring as Detective Erlunder as he tries to solve the mystery surrounding an apparent suicide. The author makes little attempt to involve you with the main character in his story, so you struggle to get into the story. There is no background to help you, even though there have been other books published featuring Detective Erlunder.

The story: One cold autumn night, a woman is found hanging from a beam at her holiday cottage. At first sight it appears like a straightforward case of suicide. Maria had never recovered from the death of her Mother two years previously and she had a history of depression. But then the friend who found her body approaches Detective Erlunder with a tape of a séance that Maria attended before her death and his curiosity is aroused.

Driven by a need to find answers, Erlunder begins an unofficial investigation into Maria’s death. But he is also haunted by another unsolved mystery – the disappearance of two young people 30 years ago – and by his own quest to find the body of his brother, who died in a blizzard when he was a boy.
I found the many tongue-twisting Icelandic names difficult to remember and got bored with the plodding investigation carried out by Erlunder. I realise most crimes involve this, but you do need something more, I think, to keep the reader interested. You couldn’t really call it a thriller until the last few chapters, by when you had worked out what had happened anyway.

Tatiana de Rosnay - Sarah's Key

2011-09-08T19:00:00.001+01:00

Review by Ro Bennett on show 8th Sept 2011

This book shocked me. I have done a lot of research into Jewish History and the Holocaust - but this book shone a spotlight on horrendous events in France I had previously been unaware of.

I was browsing through the New York Times Best Seller list and looked up Sarah’s Key in ibooks. The next moment I had downloaded it and that was that - the rest of Sunday I sat and read it because it was so gripping. I had to record the programmes I had planned to watch on TV that evening and I stayed up late reading until I had finished it.

Sarah's Key is a dual story told from both a pre and post war perspective. In 2002 Julia Jarmond, an American journalist married to a Parisian is assigned to investigate the Vel' d'Hiv for the 60th anniversary of a dark moment in French history that many, including her husband, would prefer to forget.

The operation, cynically code named Spring Breeze was conducted in Nazi-occupied Paris, not by the Germans but by the French police; using French trains to cart Jewish families to their deaths. During the Nazi decreed raid and mass arrest in Paris on 16 and 17 July 1942, 13,152 victims were arrested and held at the Vélodrome d'Hiver an indoor cycle track and the Drancy internment camp nearby, then shipped by railway transports to Auschwitz for extermination.

Sarah's Key is written with parallel chapters. We are drawn into two intertwining stories, the first, that of Sarah, a 10 year old girl who experiences these horrific events and the second, contemporary story, that of Julia Jarmond.

There had been a rumour that Jewish men were going to be arrested and deported, so Sara’s father is hiding in the cellar when the French police hammer on the door demanding that the family pack a few essentials and leave immediately. Whilst frantically packing, Sarah’s mother tells her to dress her terrified four year old brother. Sarah, too young to understand the situation, manages to lock her little brother in a cupboard "for his own safety" so that he is not part of the transportation. She assumes that they’ll be back home soon and that meanwhile their dad will come and let him out as soon as the coast is clear. However, as they are dragged outside, the mother screams her husband’s name, he comes out of hiding to be taken with his family. Much of the ensuing tension of the first part of the book rests on the question of whether she will be able to escape and if she will succeed in being reunited with her brother. That’s why it is a page turner!

Julia’s involvement with Sarah’s story begins when she discovers that the property which she and her husband are renovating and where her father in law grew up had previously belonged to a Jewish family who had been transported. She wants to know who the family were and what happened to them and her investigations lead her to uncover the plight of Sarah and her family.

It’s a riveting book, heart wrenching and thought provoking.

Incidentally in 1995, French President Jacques Chirac apologized for the complicit role that French policemen and civil servants served in the raid.

Michael Morpurgo - Little Manfred

2011-09-08T18:59:00.000+01:00

review by Ro Bennett on show 8th Sept 2011

This is a another delightful book by Michael Morpurgo and illustrated beautifully by Michael Foreman. They make such a fantastic team! According to my research, Little Manfred was written for the Imperial War Museum and is a slightly fictionalised account of a true story.
In the Imperial War Museum there is a wooden Dachshund. The wooden toy was carved by a German Prisoner of War and given to the three children of a British family who befriended him on a Kent farm at the end of the Second World War and Little Manfred is the story of its journey from the family to the museum.
The story begins in the summer of 1966, just after England's famous footballing victory against the Germans in the World Cup Final. Charley and her little brother Alex are walking their dog Manfred on the beach when they notice two old men staring out to sea.
A chance encounter brings them together and The children discover that one of the men, Walter, had been a German prisoner of war. When the Bismarck was sunk, he was one of the few German survivors taken on board a British ship as a prisoner of war. He was sent to live with a host family, and had worked and lived on their farm in 1945. Slowly Charley and Alex learn of their mother’s past and the friendships that can be formed in the most difficult of circumstances.
Walter is visiting England, to go to the World Cup Final with an old friend and through his war time memories and time he spent on the farm, the book reveals why a little wooden pull-along toy is so special, particularly to Charley and Alex's mum, Grace.

The Story is based on facts - there are facts about the end of the 2nd world war and about football. It makes very interesting reading as well as imparting knowledge to the children who read itand will delight and educate young and older readers.
There is also an afterword about the history touched on in the story and a short chapter about Michael Foreman's memories of that World Cup... and another dog, this time named Pickles, who saved the day.

It's a compelling, heart warming story about friendship and kindness which captures the futility of war. I thought it was a lovely story and thoroughly enjoyed it.

Bill Bryson - At Home, a Short History of Private Life

2011-09-03T16:08:00.000+01:00

review by Malcolm
From the Back Cover
What does history really consists of? Centuries of people quietly going about their daily business – sleeping, eating, having sex, endeavouring to get comfortable.

And where did all these normal activities take place?

At home.

My Review.

I like Bill Bryson and his writing (e.g. Notes from a Small Island) and when I heard about his At Home I put it on my 2010 Christmas list. Bill Bryson is an American writer who spent many years in the UK working as a journalist before returning to America (see: Notes from a Big Country) and finally coming back to settle in the UK where he bought an old rectory in Norfolk. He is a fervent antilitter campaigner and also will be known to many on the Isles of Scilly from his celebrity appearances at the sadly defunct Tresco Marathon.

I have lived in several houses of a similar age to Bill Bryson's rectory in both rural and urban settings. I remember the delights of discovering working servants bells, concealed second staircases, coal holes, finding doodlings on plaster beneath the wallpaper possibly from the famous artist who previously occupied the house, working out how to mend sash windows, little grassy back walkways to the village church lovingly restored by Thomas Hardy, all that sort of stuff.

At Home was hopefully going to be along similar lines particularly from the interview I'd seen Bill Bryson give on BBC about sunken churches in English graveyards. Sadly no, At Home proved to be 1000 detailed facts of British and American history that I never really wanted to know in the first place. Facts tenuously applied to the layout of Bill Bryson's house. When he describes The Study he does not apply many of his thoughts to the sermons that may have been written there but more to the fact that they seem to catch a lot of mice in there, and this opens a whole thread of vermin control without which the globe would no doubt be covered in a 10 mile deep layer of mouse fur within a year! And the Attic, for instance, opens up a thread on the life of Charles Darwin and several famous archaeologists. In mitigation, I can identify with some parts, Mount Vernon for example, the beautiful country home of George Washington which I visited in the 1980’s – that was probably in the chapter on The Stairs – ah no it was the Plum Room – not a room for storing or eating fruit just a reference to its colour! The Stairs seems to be a lot about poisonous wallpaper, the formulae for calculating the dimensions of each step and the government statistics for stair deaths!
It isn't that the facts Bill Bryson delivers to us are all uninteresting they just don't seem to be very relevant to the concept of being at home and that gets a bit tedious. Mention the loo and he goes off into reams of delight over the Black Death, plague, cholera, cremation versus burial, London sewers and so on. Grand house designs and designers, canals, lightbulb inventors, landscape gardeners, the Industrial Revolution all feature, lovingly described in yawningly miniscule detail! Even the index and “Further Reading” is over 50 pages long!

In my opinion the young, incisive, witty author who brought us Notes from a Small Island in 1995 seems suddenly to have become the Party Bore!

Malcolm Martland, broadcast on RadioScilly 107.9 FM, 1 September 2011

Mervyn Peake and Maeve Gilmore - Titus Awakes

2011-09-03T16:00:00.000+01:00

review by Malcolm Martland

Mervyn Peake was born in China in 1911 to British parents. He trained as an artist and had a career in painting and illustration. He witnessed some horrors during World War II during which time he applied unsuccessfully to become a war artist. The Channel Island Sark was his home on and off before and after the war. He suffered from mental illness and in later years Parkinson's disease. His life experiences undoubtedly coloured the narrative of his books.

From the Back Cover
With every pace he drew away from Gormenghast mountain, and from everything that belonged to his home...

In Titus Awakes the 77th Earl of Groan, leaves the crumbling castle of Gormenghast and finds the larger world even stranger than his birthplace. Confronted by elemental and human threats - snowstorms, shipwrecks and attempts on his life - Titus' bravery is tested and he must fight to free himself from the claims of his past.

Peake began this fourth and final volume of the Gormenghast stories but died having only written a few pages. Using notes and the fragments he left behind, his wife, the writer and painter Maeve Gilmore, has created a richly imagined sequel that fans of Gormenghast will delight in.

My review
It is probably 30 years since I read Mervyn Peake's trilogy, Titus Groan, Gormenghast and Titus Alone which were written in the 1940s and 50s. These novels tell us of the birth, childhood and finally the setting out on his own of Titus Groan, 77th Earl of Gormenghast. Gormeghast is a huge castle run with the greatest inefficiency by a whole army of retainers and bound by ancient and strict rules.

The original trilogy had a completeness of its own, this new work written mainly by Mervyn Peake's wife from fragments left by the author, while continuing in a very similar style seems to break very little new ground to me. Titus wakes in a freezing cold shed in the middle of winter, tended for by kindly but foreign villagers. They are also caring for a girl similarly suffering from hypothermia. Titus recovers, grows in strength, helps the community, gets the girl pregnant and leaves. A loyal dog from the village follows him and becomes his protector. There then follows a sequence of events in which Titus is kidnapped by bandits, held captive by militia, working as a model in an artists' commune, a mental hospital attendant, and being cared for in a monastic order before he finally realises his final destination.
I was disappointed, this just seems to be a bit more of the third novel Titus Alone, the bits the author left out with an alternative ending. I felt the original ending was significant and complete, unless you are an avid addictive Mervyn Peake fan I would not recommend this work as I feel it detracts from the original.
Malcolm Martland, broadcast on RadioScilly 107.9 FM 1 September 2011

Marci Shimoff with Carol Kline - Love For No Reason

2011-09-03T15:56:00.000+01:00

review by Ro Bennett on show august 2011
I recently diagnosed myself as having an extreme case of Post Visitor Stress which led to False Guilt Syndrome so I thought that reading this book might be a good antidote!

The full title is Love for No Reason - 7 Steps to Creating a Life of Unconditional Love. I figured that if I learnt how to love unconditionally I would never again find having visitors sleeping on my lounge floor stressful and would spend less time snuffling and snorting over the escapades of my grandchildren.

Marci Shimoff claims there are proven practical perks to living in Love for No Reason - for example, Love is a great medicine. When you experience love, the heart and the brain in concert with the endocrine and nervous systems release chemicals including endorphins and oxytocin which is known as the cuddle hormone because it makes you feel warm and fuzzy - and these strengthen the immune system and reduce the mental and physical effects of stress so they aren’t as strong and long-lasting.

Also studies show that being in a state of love increases your brain power and clarity through a physiological response called cortical facilitation. Blood and neurotransmitters flow to your cerebral cortex, activating the higher brain centres that govern creativity, intelligence and problem solving. So it all sounds good stuff!

In her explanation of why she came to write the book, Marci explains that in the process of becoming a a best selling author of books which have sold more than 14 million copies, including Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul and Happy for No Reason, she learnt to be happier. Then, as she travelled to speak about the books, people started showing up in her life who were more than just happy. She met them in unexpected places: the woman sitting next to her on the airplane to Kiev, the waiter in Peru, the man on the street in St Louis. Each of them had a palpable quality of open heartedness that was impossible to miss. She started doing what she loves to do - asking them questions.

So, each chapter contains stories contributed by people Marci refers to as Love Luminaries - people who she feels are role models, people who consistently radiate that kind of Higher Love. She and her co-writer Carol Kline interviewed over 150 people. Some were famous spiritual leaders and teachers, some were scientists, others ordinary people who chose to love despite horrendous circumstances, causing them to live what she describes as ‘lives rich in the gifts of the heart’ She claims she found their stories, insights and recommendations profound and eye-opening. I found all the stories absorbing and quite riveting. There was a wide variety - some were gut wrenching, some very sad, but all of them were inspiring.

At the end of the book there are recommended resources. I found a wealth of information and further reading and websites to explore and research in this part. There was also a section containing short biographies of the Love Luminaries whose stories appear in the book and I found these very interesting and informative too.

As well as their personal stories, many have contributed exercises or techniques which they have found helpful in their lives - so I will be fervently practising them all winter in preparation for next season!
On the other hand I might just learn how to say NO...

Glenn Cooper - Book of Souls

2011-08-24T21:10:00.001+01:00

REVIEW BY BRIAN LOWEN ON SHOW 18TH AUGUST

I think this book is well summed up by the sticker on the front cover that says if you love Dan Brown you will love this.

I also think that it would be most advisable to read Library of the Dead, to which this book is a sequel, before reading this as you will not know what is going on until you get well into the book.

A shocking truth lies within the pages of an ancient library, locked inside a high-security complex deep beneath the Nevada desert. The US government will stop at nothing to keep it classified, but now a shadowy group of ex-employees want the world to know – however terrifying the disclosure might prove to be. When a single volume, missing from the original collection, mysteriously surfaces at a London auction house, they persuade former FBI agent Will Piper to help them obtain it and unlock the ultimate secret of the library, once and for all.

Travelling to England, Will discovers the text contains a sonnet that holds a series of clues that reveal the book has had a profound effect on the history of mankind. But all the time he is being watched, and as he gets nearer to the final revelation, he and his young family become a direct target for a deadly group of men whose duty it is to protect the library’s secret – whatever it takes.
Another good story from Glenn Cooper, completely far-fetched, but still very enjoyable.
Not so much of a thriller, well, until the last few chapters, but rather a good tale of following mysterious clues and solving ancient riddles.

Once again, the story jumps across the centuries, but this is not a problem as each part is well contained and you know how they are going to slot into the final conclusion.

Well recommended.

Bernard Cornwell - The Fort

2011-08-24T21:08:00.000+01:00

REVIEW BY BRIAN LOWEN ON SHOW 18TH AUGUST

Bernard Cornwell is probably most well known for his novels about Sharpe – a soldier who was involved in many battles during the 18th century.

This tale is set in 1779, during the American war of Independence, and is based on true facts.

A small British force of a few hundred soldiers land on a peninsula in the Penobscot river on the north eastern sea board of America, in what is now the state of Maine. They arrived there in transport ships protected by 3 small sloops. The sloops anchor across the mouth of the river to protect the soldiers while they build a fort in order to establish a bridgehead in this area where the local farmers are still on the side of the British and would not support the’rebels’, fighting for independence.

A much larger American force sets out from Massachusetts in a large fleet of 41 ships to destroy the enemy. The American soldiers manage to land on the rocky shore below the steep cliffs, on top of which the British force are struggling to build the fort. Instead of rushing the half-finished fort and overcoming the small British force, when they could easily have achieved their aim, they dither about suffering poor leadership, and instead start digging in for a long protracted battle, thus giving the British soldiers time to complete the walls of the fort.

The battle that followed was a classic example of how the best laid plans can be disrupted by personality and politics, and how warfare can bring out the best and worst in men.
The American army was a hotspotch of poorly trained men, mostly farmers and native Indians together with just a few regular marines and despite outnumbering the British they were no match for the well disciplined redcoats.

The American army commander kept entreating the Navy commodore to attack the 3 British ships with his warships but he refused to go into battle as his ships would have to sail in line ahead and suffer the broadsides of the 3 ships lined up across the river mouth, before they could break through and then would be trapped in the harbour under the cannon fire from the new fort.

The battle drags on and the American army is on the point of overcoming the redcoats when a relieving force of 3 British naval frigates appears over the horizon.

A good story that brings to life the hard conditions that soldiers experienced in those days. It also shows how important good discipline is essential in any army, because as the American rabble were arguing amongst themselves as to what was the best way to fight the battle and those who disagreed just went off home, the British meanwhile were well lead and followed orders that were clearly given.

Emma Donoghue - ROOM

2011-08-12T20:17:00.001+01:00

review by Corinna christopher on show 11th august

A really remarkable book, original and deeply moving.

The story is told by Jack, 5 years old, who lives in a room with his Ma. They have been locked up in this very secure 11’ x 11’ space for all of his life. His mother was kidnapped by a monstrous man 6 years ago and gave birth to Jack in this prison.

Mother and son have created an astonishing bond and everything Jack has learnt about life has come from his mother and what he has absorbed from a television set in the room. Taught to read and write they have developed games and imaginative play from next to nothing.Their only contact is from their jailor who brings them food and of course takes advantage of a captured woman for his own pleasure. Jack has a limited view of life which he considers is wholly in that room. On visits from the jailor he is kept hidden in a cupboard.
How they escape and the outcome prove a riveting tale. How the two of them come to terms with living on the “outside” is heartbreaking and compelling.

Several people find the babyish talk of Jack a hindrance but it really does bring the situation alive. Altogether and uplifting experience for the reader and a book to be definitely recommended.

Emma Donoghue - The Room

2011-08-12T13:10:00.004+01:00

review by showhost

It's a book that will seep into your skin. It's hard to keep with at the beginning, it's a book that grows on you.

The dialogue and thoughts are from Jack who is 5yrs old and speaks a kind of child/pidgin english: 'why are the eyes of me shut', his look on life are those of an inquisitive 5yrs old and everything is taken literally.

Quote: "gimme five!'says a doctor, holding his hand up and wagging his fingers. I pretend I don't see, I'm not going to give him my fingers, I need them for me!"

Jack and Ma live in a room 11ft x 11ft. Ma was kidnapped by 'Old Nick' when she was 19 and put in The Room, a fortified shed in Old Nicks garden. The only light is from a skylight, secure,window. Jack was born in this room and has never stepped outside. They have a television which Jack considers to be all fantasy and Jack believes that there is no other life outside this Room. Ma has been prisoner for 7 years. The only person she sees is Old Nick who brings food and visits his Ma after 9pm when Jack is asleep in the wardrobe.
Ma has tried to escape but failed and been punished for it. Once when Ma angered 'Nick' they had no electric and no food for days. Is there no way out for them?
To say more would be giving away the third part of the book. But the third part is where it gets really interesting and thought provoking.
It is a slow book, especially at the beginning and the child/pidgin language may put readers off but once you get the gist of it and understand what is going on and an escape plan forms it starts to build up speed.

Giles Tremlett - Catherine of Aragon

2011-08-12T12:58:00.001+01:00

review by Maggie Perkovich on show 11th August 2011
IN 1501 A FIFTEEN YEAR OLD PRINCESS FROM
SPAIN RODE OUT ON THE JOURNEY TO DISTANT
ENGLAND TO MARRY PRINCE ARTHUR, HEIR TO THE
ENGLISH THRONE, AND HOPEFULLY TO BEAR MANY
SONS FOR THE FUTURE OF THE ENGLISH THRONE.
SADLY, ARTHUR DIED ONLY 6 MONTHS LATER AND
SHE LIVED IN PENURY UNTIL HENRY VIII CAME TO
THE
THRONE AND DECIDED TO MARRY HERAND MAKE
HER HIS QUEEN.
SO FAR SO GOOD, BUT OVER 20 YEARS LATER
AFTER LOSING MANY BABIES AT BIRTH OR SOON
AFTER, SHE WAS NO LONGER WANTED BY HER
HUSBAND, AS HE HAD FALLEN FOR ANNE BOLEYN,
AND DECIDED TO GET RID OF HER BY STATING
THAT THEIR MARRIAGE WAS ILLEGAL, AS SHE HAD
BEEN HIS FORMER SISTER IN LAW, AND DESPITE
THE CRUELTIES WHICH SHE FACED FROM HENRY,
CATHERINE STOOD FIRM ON THE FACT THAT SHE
WAS HIS QUEEN, AND THAT HER ONE LIVING CHILD
A GIRL WAS THE TRUE HEIR.
THIS BOOK IS A WELL WRITTEN AND ENGROSSING
STORY OF HER PREVIOUS LIFE WITH HER FAMOUS
PARENTS ISABELLA AND FERDINAND AND HER
LATER STRUGGLES WITH HENRY.
SHE COMES OVER AS A BRAVE AND FEISTY
WOMAN,
STUBBORN TO THE END DESPITE BEING
SEPARATED FROM HER BELOVED DAUGHTER AND
HOUSED IN THE MOST WRETCHED DWELLINGS SHE
STOOD FIRM IN HER BELIEFS AS A CATHOLIC AND
HER BELIEF IN THE SANCTITY OF HER MARRIAGE.
HER DEATH ENDED A TUMULTOUS LIFE, AND
TOUCHINGLY HER LAST LETTER TO HENRY IN WHICH SHE SAID ABOVE ALL HER EYES LONGED TO SEE HIM PROVED THAT SHE LOVED HIM TO THE END.
I LOVED IT AND FOUND IT A CRACKING READ

Veronica Cecil - DRUMS ON THE NIGHT AIR

2011-08-11T19:10:00.001+01:00

Review by Corinna Christopher on show 11th August 2011

This is an account by the author of her life and escape from a paradise. Veronica was 25years old when her husband and eleven month old son set off for an adventure in Africa. Her husband David was offered a job in the Congo and Veronica was filled with enthusiasm for a new and exciting life.

However living in the Congo in 1963 did not turn out as envisaged with food shortages and differing neighbours to contend with. The nation was in chaos. Her idea of befriending the native Congolese was not to be and there were many rules and regulations to which she found difficult to cope with. To begin with it was bridge parties and meetings in the white only local club. Her overtures to the black servants were met with suspicion and she felt like an outsider. Having lived some of her life in apartheid South Africa she felt some of her experiences should have helped her.

After six months David who was an accountant was given a new post in Elizebetha at the Company’s Palm Oil plant. Her house overlooked the Congo river and their lives were punctuated by the patter of drums. Veronica was happier here and able to make friends with her servant Nicholas who fitted in well with her domestic arrangements.

A short while later with civil war coming ever nearer they had to be evacuated and leave David behind to join them later. Their escape to Leopoldville in small planes and boat was very scary especially since Veronica was heavily pregnant and in danger of having the baby in a small cramped plane jammed in with the luggage.

Fortunately all was well and she had a lovely little girl and was reunited with David. Horrible events took place in the Congo and although the Company helped all sorts of people – provided they were white many others were left to face the iniquities of a rebel force. Veronica felt deeply for the country and the book opens with an unsettling account of the killing of 12 innocent people caught up in the atrocities.

There is an afterword by the author in 2010 which is interesting. They both went on to live in Nigeria and fortunately managed to get out before the Biafra tragedy .They had four children all of whom have made successful lives for themselves. David sadly died of a heart attack at a quiet early age.

Initially I was not overwhelmed with the book but the writing is lucid and coherent so that soon I was drawn into this couple’s experiences and I anxiously read on to the end. It was an honest attempt to try and understand the complexities of this heartland in Africa.

Ken Follett - Fall of Giants

2011-08-07T16:36:00.001+01:00

review by showhost
I don’t know where to start with this review as it has been so long since I started it! Its over 800 pages long and spans from the coronation of King George 5th in 1911 to the first labour government in Jan 1924.

I was disappointed in the book as it reminded me in parts of Catherine Cookson with a history lesson. As in true Catherine Cookson fashion, the maid Ethel becomes pregnant by the Lord Fitzherbert but has to leave Wales because of the shame. Her brother comes across Lord Fitzherbert again in the war and obviously there is a running hatred between them.
It’s a saga, intertwining fates of five families, in Wales, England, Germany, Russia and America. The Williams family, who live in Aberowen, Wales and work the coal pits for the Lord Fitzherbert; to Grigori and his brother in Russia who are struggling to live under the Tzarist rule and the women's suffrage movement..
The story sweeps us up into the the simmering bickering that leads so many countries, eventually, into World War 1 and the Russian revolution and the start of ‘the Soviet’.
The story of Grigori and his brother Lev (good brother naughty brother) has shades of Kane and Abel by Jeffrey Archer.
Not in the same league as ‘Pillars of the Earth’ but I wanted to return to the book and wanted to keep reading it. You just have to shrug at the Cookson bits and wait for the next ‘grab your attention’ bit.
This is part one of the century trilogy, I will read the sequel.

Patricia Jones - Boy From Space & Circles of Blood

2011-08-04T19:21:00.002+01:00

Patricia was on the radio scilly bookshow today being interviewed with my other guests Jono Grossett age 11yrs and Pippa Grossett age 14 yrs. Jono read the Boy From Space & Pippa read Circles of Blood.
Patricia is a lovely, smiley lady who immediately puts you at your ease. She is over on holiday on the Isles of Scilly, with her husband. She contacted me a few months ago about coming on the show. She wrote her first story at age 5!
The Boy From Space is about two boys, Colin & Niloc, who live in a parrellel universe and look exactly like each other.
Circles of Blood was aimed at older children and is a murder mystery book set in France with two teenage detectives, Mark & Louise, helping Inspector Le Clerc.
One of her books 'The X-streamists' was entered into the Booktrust Nestle Smarties Book Award in 2005
Patricia has been signing copies of her new book 'Boy From Space, Journey to the Edge of Darkness' in Waterstones in Deansgate, Manchester.

Graham Swift - Wish You Were Here

2011-08-04T19:19:00.000+01:00

review by Malcolm

From the Back Cover

Wish You Were Here is both a gripping account of things that touch and test our human core and a resonant novel about a changing England. Rich with a sense of the intimate and the local, it is also, inescapably, about a wider, afflicted world... etc.
(What a pretentious review!)

My Review

I have read two previous novels by Graham Swift: Booker prize winning Last Orders which was hard going and also about a funeral and Waterland set in the Fens which I enjoyed. I bought this one on Kindle hoping for a good read with promises of Devon farming life during the BSE and Foot and Mouth outbreaks of the 80’s and 90’s. But as one Amazon Reviewer stated “The most boring book of 2011” – but that’s only because Bill Bryson hasn’t brought one out this year! Sorry Bill!

The novel starts almost the same point it ends – Jack lying on his bed with his father’s gun loaded at his side – and not much happens in between. Jack is the son of Devon dairy farmer Michael and his wife Vera and he has an 8 year younger brother Tom. Neighbouring farmer Jimmy has a daughter Elli and is Jack’s girlfriend and later wife. Tom is obviously the apple of his dad’s eye, and probably of Jack’s too. The novel jumps all over the place in the lives of the characters but essentially, Vera dies, Tom joins the army on his 18th birthday, Michael – maybe as a consequence of Tom leaving – Ellie’s dad dies soon after and Jack and Ellie decide to sell up their farms and buy a caravan park on the Isle of Wight. Some years later they receive news that Tom has been killed by an IED in Iraq and Jack goes alone to meet the repatriated body and see that he is buried next to his parents in the churchyard near their old home. The sensitively described repatriation scene was about the only part of the book I felt that had any merit. And that’s it!

The narrative takes us over and over again about what Tom did and then what Tom did and then what Tom did next. Mainly told from Jack’s perspective – Jack seems to have been very jealous of his younger brother. And then there was Tom and the old dog. And then Tom and …..zzzzzzzzzzzz. And Jack overanalyzes the whole thing endlessly – maybe Tom had slept with Ellie, maybe Tom this and maybe Tom that - and Jack starts imagining he sees the figure of a soldier everywhere – guess who - Tom!

No! I shall not intentionally buy another Graham Swift book. It was hard going and I would have given up long ago if I hadn’t promised to review it today. Oh! Is that Tom over there?!!!!!!!!!

Review by Malcolm Martland – broadcast on Radio Scilly 107.9 FM 14 July 2011

Kate Atkinson - Started Early Took My Dog

2011-08-04T19:12:00.000+01:00

review by Malcolm
From the Back Cover
A day like any other for security chief Tracy Waterhouse, until she makes a shocking impulse purchase. That one moment of madness is all it takes for Tracy's humdrum world to be turned upside down, the tedium of everyday life replaced by fear and danger at every turn... etc.

My Review

This detective novel is the 4th in the career of ex cop private detective Jackson Brodie – in a previous novel Case Histories which was dramatised recently on BBC Brodie’s house is blown up which explains why in this novel he is living in his old Saab. He was left a fortune by an eccentric cat owner, Binky Rain, whose animals he was always being asked to locate (for a moment I thought I was reading Dirk Gently Holistic Detective again). And on top of that Brodie’s second “fake” wife has run off with the lot leaving him bitter and penniless – but I haven’t read that novel yet.

Jackson Brodie first appears in this book when he sees a dog in a Leeds park being really badly treated by its flag of St. George tattooed meathead owner, to the great consternation of many onlookers. The dog is being kicked and hung up by its lead and has been thrown into the boot of his car when Brodie intervenes with a swift punch in the diaphragm – the super hero – testosterone man folds to the ground and Brodie warns him never to treat anyone or anything like that again or he’ll kill him. He gets the dog from the car boot and walks off with the hound – its collar identifying it as The Ambassador. Throughout the rest of the book they get on famously and Ambassador even saves Brodie’s life by raising the alarm when he gets beaten up and thrown into a wheelie bin.

We are also introduced in a flashback to 1975 to WPC Tracy Waterhouse “a big graceless girl only just off probation”. She accompanies her boss to a block of flats after a neighbours’ complaint of “a right stink” it turns out to be the murdered body of a prostitute but they also find an emaciated little boy. Back in the present Tracy is retired but still large and graceless and addicted to cakes and chocolates. She has become a shopping centre security guard. She is still single having missed the boat in all respects. She is just passing Greggs when she sees a young mum, Kelly Cross, badly treating a little girl. Tracy has just been to the bank to get 3 thousand pounds to pay a builder for work on her home and on an impulse she offers the money to Kelly in exchange for the child. Kelly grabs the money and lets go of the child’s hand telling Tracy her name is Courtney! A little later Kelly is found murdered too.

Jackson Brodie meantime is trying to find the true identity of an adopted woman living in New Zealand. And there is another subplot involving an elderly and dotty actress. In a cheerful if sometimes violent romp across rural Yorkshire the ex policeman and woman separately manage to get social workers, bent former police, some gangsters and another private detective called Brian Jackson just to confuse everyone all chasing each other about before the murders and identity of the adopted woman are solved and al the loose ends tied up.

I found it quite slow going to begin but as the pace built up I did enjoy the book. In fact I went on to read the previous novel Case Histories. Definitely one detective I’ll watch out for again.

Review by Malcolm Martland – broadcast on Radio Scilly 107.9 FM 14 July 2011

Glenn Cooper - Library of the dead

2011-07-31T19:30:00.003+01:00

review by showhost
Another charity shop buy and another first for me and this author.
It's a strange book. Time wise it jumps backwards and forwards from 2009 to 300AD to a929. At times it grabbed my attention then it let it go again......
300AD the Abbey, Vectis (IOWight). Brother Josephus has taken in the remaining twin of the 7th son of a 7th son. The child is very strange, fair skinned, giner hair, no speech, no interaction at all and toitally uneducated, yet he draws symbols in the dirt earth. The Abbott is intrigued what the symbols are for. In a moment of inspiration they give the child a quill and parchment paper. He writes and doesn't stop ..his pages are full of names from all over the world and dates, either of their birth or death. These dtaes cover hundreds/thousands of years in the future.
The brethren feel he is sent from God to register these events. They dig and extend the church to provide subterranean rooms for him to work and sleep in and to keep the volumes of these records.
The church bring in young girls to keep this strange boys lineage going, the off spring are all born looking the same and all perpetually write.
2009, Will Piper and FBI agent is near to early retirement but he is given a high profile job to crack - the Doomsday serial killer. Each murder is preceeded by a postcard with a coffin drawn on it.
1929, a group of archeaologists find the site of the old priory and the tomb of the library and also a tomb of hundreds of human bones.
Back to 2009 and Will Piper meets up with a computer geek from his college days who works on a secret location in Nevada. He has found a way to smuggle out the Top Secret info stored there in 'Area 51', to make millions of dollars. The secret info is names & dates.
They are all obviously linked and it all comes together in the end.
At the end of the book is a chapter of his next book. I had a quick read but it smacks a lot of this one - its the sequel.....
I can't say I would rush to pick up one of his books again. His characters ddn't leave a lasting impression, there was too much unnecessary 'small talk', irrelevant detail - to pad out the story? And some of the grammer didn't make sense.
As I said earlier there were snatches of attention holding but then it would lapse again. It's classed as a thriller but it wasn't 'thrilling' enough for me.
I'm glad I finished it cos now I can look for another, hopefully better, book.

Magsie Hamilton Little - Dancing with Darkness

2011-07-31T19:03:00.000+01:00

review by Ro Bennett on show 28th July
This title is actually: Dancing with Darkness: Life, Death and Hope in Afghanistan. I must say that having read it I couldn’t see much hope. I’ll read from the Product Description by Alex Mason who is an Afghanistan expert.

London, July 7th 2005.The author, a student at the School of Oriental and African Studies, witnesses the carnage caused by a suicide bomber on a London bus. At a loss to reconcile the blind hatred behind the attacks with the Islamic world she has been studying, and despite the risks, she feels compelled to travel to the heart of where many see as the conflict between East and West, in a search for understanding. She buys a ticket and gets on a plane to Kabul. A single non-Muslim woman in Afghanistan faces many dangers; but Magsie also encounters the warmth and humanity of the Afghan people, in their desperate struggle to survive. It is they who give her a knowledge of Islamic faith and culture she could never have learnt at college and enable her to see a side of Afghan life seldom reported in the Western press. Months later, back in London, life resumes as normal, before suddenly everything is turned upside down again. A desperate phone call from Kabul sends her rushing back to the country she has come to love - and plunges her into a terrifying nightmare.Alone and totally out of her depth, it is only now that the real journey can begin... Written with compassion and insight, this is a journey about loss, frustration and tragedy, but above all, about hope. 'She has a greater understanding and feel for Afghanistan than ninety-nine percent of the people reporting on or writing about Afghanistan.'

I didn’t totally agree with this description. She wasn’t alone, she was with Afghans and if she was ever out of her depths and I’m sure she was, it was because she deliberately made decisions and choices which put her in grave danger. She was very brave but also much of what she did could be considered extremely foolhardy. I would agree that the people Magsie got to know closely and become friends with were warm and they built up a wonderful relationship, but on the whole there was generally more hostility, animosity, mistrust, prejudice and negative reaction to her and rejection of her, her culture, her life style and beliefs and indeed most Western values.

What does come across is the warmth of the Afghan family and other people Magsie’s got to know well and her deep love and loyalty to the country and those people. I certainly feel I know more about Afghanistan than before. I have read several books like the Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns and the Book Seller of Kabul, but this book made life in Afghanistan and the situation there clearer and more real for me. It was a shocking book and a thought provoking book but also a page turner - very, very tense in places and very poignant in parts. However it didn’t leave me with much hope for a happy outcome or indeed any resolution to the situation in the immediate or foreseeable future.

Brendan O’Carroll - The Mammy and The Chisellers

2011-07-31T19:01:00.000+01:00

review by Ro Bennett on show 28th July
I’ll just explain a bit about what led me to read these books. Bear with me as you’ll see the relevance eventually - I hope... I watched Mrs Browne’s Boys which is a sitcom created by and starring Irish writer-performer Brendan O’Carroll who plays the title character Mrs. Browne in drag. It’s about an Irish family and I found the few episodes I watched very funny if a tad risqué and the language in places was rather earthy. The sitcom is loosely based on the family Brendan O’Carroll wrote about in the books The Mammy and The Chisellers which were published in 1994 and 1995 respectively. The books are based in the 60’s while the tv series is present time. The cast is, for the most part Irish and a large majority of the main cast is played by O'Carroll's family. For example, Cathy Brown is played by his wife, Winnie McGoogan by his sister, Maria Nicholson by his daughter, Buster Brady by his son and Betty Brown by his daughter-in-law. Apparently it was also a daily radio soap at one time and Brendan O’Carroll is described as Ireland’s funniest and most outrageous comedian.

Marlene got the books, enjoyed them very much and passed them on to me.
My first impression was that I didn’t like the book covers but I noticed on Amazon that they are now different and instead of rather hideous comic type sketches, they are now photos from the 60’s which I personally prefer.

From the back of the book The Mammy: It’s 1967 and in the teeming streets of Jarro, home of Dublin’s dealers and dockers, Agnes Browne struggles to raise seven children, the only legacy of her dead husband, ‘Redser’. With her best pal Marion and an assortment of characters as colourful as the fruit on her Moore Street stall, she copes with propositions, puberty and the problem with Sr. Mary Magdalen. And when she has time she dances with Cliff Richard.
I loved the book, it was quick and easy to read, hilarious in parts but also poignant and sad, with glorious, colourful characters.

The Chisellers is the second book, Chisellers means children which I didn’t know.
From the back of the book:
This takes place three years after Redser’s death and Agnes Browne soldiers on, being mother, father and referee to her fighting family of seven. Helped out financially by her eldest and hormonally by the amorous Pierre, Agnes copes with family tragedy, success and the move from Jarro to the ‘wilds of the country’ - suburban Finglas when the Dublin Corporation decides to re-house them as part of their Inner City Renewal Plan to demolish the tenements.
And when the family’s dreams are threatened by an unscrupulous gangster he learns a costly lesson - don’t mess with the children of Agnes Browne.
I enjoyed this book as much as the first one - it’s described as ‘a heroic, comic saga brimming over with the raw humour of the Dublin Streets.’ There’s more pain in this book, it introduced a more tragic element, but it still made me laugh out loud in places.
One reviewer sums the books up: Excellent read. Best of good old fashioned Irish humour. Great read for your holidays, or in hospital as it gives you lots of laughter.
Another wrote: This author captures the true spirit of family life as they go through the happy and sad times as they all grow up.It was a wonderful read and I have now read all of Brendan’s books all I can ask is that through you, you contact him and tell him to get off his fat lazy arse and write some more.
I haven’t read the third book, ‘The Granny’ yet, but I have ordered it.

Robert Goddard - Caught in the Light

2011-07-31T18:58:00.001+01:00

review by Brian Lowen on show 28th July
On assignment in Vienna, photographer Ian Jarrett falls in love with a woman he meets by chance, Marian Esguard. Back in England, he leaves his wife and goes to meet Marian, intending to run away with her, only for her to vanish from his life as mysteriously as she entered it.

Searching for the woman for whom he has sacrificed everything, Jarrett comes across a Dorset churchyard full of gravestones of dead Esguards. He also meets a psychotherapist, Daphne Sanger. She too is looking for someone: a former client who believes she is the reincarnation of Marian Esguard, who may have invented photography ten years before Fox Talbot in the early 1800s.
But why is Marian Esguard unknown to history?
And who and where is the woman Jarrett met in Vienna?

Jarrett sets out to solve a mystery whose origins lie amid the seemingly magical properties of early photography, but whose answer is most surprising, as the dead bodies pile up.

A really good detailed story of the type one can expect from Robert Goddard, especially interesting to those interested in the early origins of photography. The tension slowly builds up to the dramatic conclusion in the final chapters A lot of names in the story that requires good concentration to keep track of them all, but it does hold the interest of the reader.

Not a happy ending, but probably a more realistic one. Recommended.

Glenn Cooper - Library of the Dead

2011-07-31T18:56:00.000+01:00

review by Brian Lowen on show 28th July
I enjoyed this book. Completely far-fetched and jumping about between the centuries, but as with some books this can be very annoying and confusing, not with this story.
We move from the year 777 at a monastery on the Isle of Wight, to the year 1947 in the same place, and then to present day New York City. Each place has its own story to tell which all finally come together towards the end.

Our hero is maverick FBI special agent Will Piper, once the most accomplished serial killing expert in the bureau’s history, but now on a dissolute spiral to retirement.

He is reluctantly given one final case – to catch a murderer who is loose on the streets of New York, nicknamed the Doomsday Killer, he has already claimed six victims. The police are mystified because the victims have nothing in common, defying all profiling, all that connects them is that each received a mysterious postcard in the mail before they died, announcing the date of their death.

Will’s search for the killer takes him in a direction he could never have predicted, uncovering a shocking secret that has been closely guarded for centuries. A secret that once lay buried in an underground library beneath an eighth century monastery, but which has now been unearthed.
The reader will find this secret completely preposterous but it does make for a good story.
There is a sequel to this book which I shall seek out, as Will is a believable character who you can empathise with. A recommended read.

Julie Summers - When the Children Came Home

2011-07-21T20:10:00.000+01:00

review by Maggie Perkovic on show June 2011
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF BOOKS WRITTEN
ABOUT EVACUEES DURING THE WAR, BUT THIS ONE
ISA LITTLE DIFFERENT AS IT TELLS THE STORIES
OF THE RETURN OF THESE EVACUEES AND HOW
HARD IT WAS FOR A LOT OF THEM TO SETTLE
DOWN AGAIN.
THERE WERE THREE MAJOR EVACUATIONS
DURING THE SECOND WAR.
FIRST WAS IN 1939, THE SECOND IN 1940, AND THE
LAST IN 1944 WHEN THE VI AND V2 WERE SENT
OVER.
IN THIS BOOK JULIE SUMMERS TELLS THE STORY
OF WHEN THESE CHILDREN CAME HOME.
FOR SOME THE EVACUATION GAVE THEM A NEW
LOOK AT THEIR LIVES, AND RETURNING HOME WAS
NOT A GOOD EXPERIENCE, FOR OTHERS THE
EVACUATION WAS A MISTAKE, AND THEY WERE
DREADFULLY UNHAPPY, EVEN WORSE SOME HAD
THEIR LIVES RUINED FOR EVER.
IN THIS DAY AND AGE TO IMAGINE YOUNGSTERS
SENT TO A FAMILY WITHOUT VETTING THEM FIRST
SEEMS INCREDIBLE, BUT THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED,
THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS WERE SPLIT UP, A
NIGHTMARE FOR THE OLDER ONES WHO WERE
TOLD “LOOK AFTER THE LITLE ONE”
THIS WAS ESPECIALLY TRUE IN THE CASE OF THE
CITY OF BENARES.
OF THE NINETEEN VESSELS THAT LEFT TO TAKE
THE EVACUEES ABROAD, 16 ARRIVED SAFELY,
THREE DID NOT, BUT THE STORY OF THE CITY OF
BENARES IS THE MOST TRAGIC, AND CHANGED THE
GOVERNMENTS ATTITUDE TTOWARDS THE WHOLE
SCHEME.
THE SHIP CARRYING NINETY CHILDREN ON THEIR WAY TO CANADA WAS HIT BY A TORPEDO,NEAR
ROCKALL, SHE SUNK WITHIN FORTY MINUTES
THIRTY CHILDREN WERE KILLED INSTANTLY BY THE
FORCE OF THE EXPLOSION, THE REST STRUGGLED
IN THE DARK AND CONFUSION TO MAKE FOR THE
LIFE BOATS, WITH THE ESCORTS CALMING THEM
AND HELPING.
TRAGICALLY, SOME LIFEBOATS FILLED WITH WATER
AS THEY WERE LOWERED, OTHERS FILLED WITH
CHILDREN TOSSED AND BILLOWED IN THE STORMY
SEA, THE WEATHER WAS FEROCIOUS, THE
CHILDREN IN THEIR NIGHTDRESSES INADEQUATELY
PROTECTED FROM THE ELEMENTS, FADED AWAY,
MANY DIED FROM INJURIES AS THEY LEFT THE
SINKING SHIP.
HMS HURRICANE REACHED SOME NEXT DAY,
FOURTEEN HOURS AFTER THE TORPEDO STRUCK,
MANY LIFEBOATS WERE FULL OF DEAD CHILDREN,
SOME WERE FLOATING IN THE SEA STILL HOLDING
ON TO ANYTHING THAT FLOATED.
DIFFERENT STORIES THAT CAME OUT WERE HORRIFYING; A BOMBED OUT FAMILY LET THEIR
FIVE
CHILDREN GO ON THE SHIP FOR A NEW LIFE
ABROAD ONLY FOR THE CHILDREN TO DIE AS THE SHIP SUNK.
MARY CORNISH WAS IN A LIFEBOAT WITH 46 SOULS, 32 INDIAN SEAMEN, SIX
EVACUATED BOYS, A SHIPPING MAGNATE PLUS OTHERS AND THE BOAT WAS THE SIZE OF AN
ENGLISH BUS, ONLY FOUR FOOT LONGER.
THEY
WERE IN THAT BOAT FOR OVER A WEEK, HOW THEY SURVIVED WAS DUE TO THE REDOUBTABLE
LADY MARY CORNISH, DUE TO HER
ENCOURAGMENT AND BRAVERY ALL SURVIVED BUT
AN INDIAN SAILOR DIED AFTER THEY HAD BEEN
RESCUED BY HMS ANTHONY.SHE HAD BEEN WORKING AS AN ESCORT TO evacuated girls and was devastated to LEARN HOW MANY OF THEM HAD PERISHED. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE SINKING IS MIUNUTE IN DETAIL AND ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATING IN CONTENT. THIS IS A WELL WRITTEN WELL RESEARCHED AND QUITE APPALING IN SOME STORIES BUT HEART WARMING IN OTHERS. A STUNNING AND SOBERING PART OF HISTORY
review by Mags

Katie McCan - Madeline

2011-07-21T20:07:00.001+01:00

review by Maggie Perkovic on show June 2011
THIS BOOK WAS WRITTEN PRIMARILY TO BRING THE SAD TALE BACK INTO THE WORLDS FOCUS. AS EVERYONE WILL RECALL NEARLY 4 YR OLD MADDIE WAS TAKEN WITH HER FAMILY TO PORTUGAL ON HOLIDAY BUT NEVER RETURNED. ABDUCTED BY AN AS YET UNKNOWN PERSON HER FAMILY STILL BELIEVE SHE WILL BE RETURNED OR AT LEAST THEY WILL KNOW HER FATE.
KATIE IS AS HONEST AS SE CAN BE, YES SHE BLAMES HERSELF FOR LEAVING THE CHILDREN UNATTENDED, WISHING THEY HAD NEVER GONE ABROAD, SHE WANTED TO GO TO CENTRE PARCS IN BRITAIN AND TELLS HOW SHE SHOULD NEVER FIND ANY ENJOYMENT IN LIFE AFTER THE DREADFUL INCIDENT HAPPENED. EVEN WORSE IS WHEN THE PORTUGESE POLICE ACCUSE KATIE OF MURDERING HER CHILD HERSELF.
SHE WRITES IN A CLEAR AND CONCISE STYLE, ALMOST DIARY LIKE AND PRAISES HER HUSBAND FOR HIS STRONG AND CARING SUPPORT AT ALL TIMES.
THE CHILDREN WERE BORN BY IVF AND THERE IS NO DOUBT THEY WERE ALL VERY MUCH WANTED AND LOVED.
SOME MAY FIND IT HARD THAT MADDIE WAS IN A NURSERY BY 6 MONTHS BUT AS BOTH PARENTS WERE IN CARING AND DEMANDING CAREERS THAT IS UNDERSTANDABLE, HOWEVER I WAS SURPRISED THAT HEY WERE IN A HOLIDAY CLUB IN PORTUGAL EVERY DAY, SURELY HOLIDAYS ARE TO SPEND TIME TOGETHER?
ALSO, SHE REALISED THAT A LOT OF DETAILS OF THEIR ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE CHILDREN AND DINING PLANS WERE NOTED BY THE RESTAURANT AND ANY ONE WISHING TO CHECK THIS COULD HAVE DONE SO.
SHE DOES MENTION TWO POSSIBLE SIGHTINGS. ONE ON THE SAME NIGHT OF A MAN CARRYING A SLEEPING CHILD IN AN AWKWARD WAY AND IT WAS APPEARING TO BE WEARING NIGHT WEAR LIKE MADDIE'S. THE OTHER A LITTLE LATER ON IN A PETROL STATION WHERE A SAD LITTLE GIRL ASKED A MAN WITH HER IF SHE COULD SEE MUMMY NOW. HE REPLIED NOT YET.
THE POLICE BEHAVED IN AN APPALLING WAS, ONE EVEN PUBLISHED A BOOK DETAILING HOW KATIE KILLED HER LITTLE DAUGHTER. THEY HAVE SUED HIM AND THE BOOK HAS BEEN REMOVED FROM THE SHELVES BUT HE IS APPEALING AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT, MUCH TO THEIR ANGUISH.
I BOUGHT THIS BOOK TO HELP WITH THE CAUSE AND IT MADE ME REALISE HOW CRUEL THE MEDIA CAN BE. I APPLAUD THE MCCANS FOR THEIR DETERMINATION TO KEEP MADDIES NAME IN THE PUBLIC EYE, AND LIKE US. LONG FOR A HAPPY ENDING.
review by Mags

Mark Logue and Peter Conradi - The Kings Speech

2011-07-21T20:05:00.000+01:00

review by Maggie Perkovich on show June 2011

THIS IS AN INTERESTING AND ILLUMINATING BOOK RETELLING THE WELL KNOWN STORY OF HOW LIONEL LOGUE HELPED THE KINGS FATHER WITH HIS VERY SEVERE SPEECH IMPEDIMENT TO END UP MAKING CLEAR AND POSITIVE SPEECHES TO HIS PEOPLE.
IT IS QUITE FASCINATING TO SEE THE PHOTOS OF THE KING AND HIS FAMILY AND TO REALISE JUST HOW CLOSE THEY WERE, HOW HIS WIFE SUCH A SUPPORT AND HOW LOGUE GAVE UP MANY CHRISTMAS DAYS TO HELP THE KING THROUGH HIS PRESENTATIONS.
WE ALL KNOW I THINK HOW HIS FATHER GEORGE V WAS AN IMPATIENT MAN AND URGED THE BOY TO 'SPIT IT OUT MAN' WHEN HE WAS STUCK ON A WORD - NOT VERY HELPFUL. HOW HIS NURSE WAS NOT AT ALL SYMPATHETIC, HOW HE WAS BULLIED IN THE NAVY AND WAS QUITE UNPREPARED TO BECOME KING. WHEN EDWARD HIS BROTHER DECIDED TO ABDICATE, THE COUNTRY WAS NOT TOO SURE ABOUT THE NEXT IN LINE WITHOUT THE CHARM AND CHARISMA OF HIS BROTHER HE SEEMED A POOR REPLACEMENT AND TOGETHER WITH THE SPEECH PROBLEMS, WELL, THE THRONE SEEMED SHAKEY!!
HOWEVER, HIS LOVELY FAMILY, QUEEN AND TWO LITTLE GIRLS WERE GREAT ASSETS, HIS DEDICATION AFTER THE BEHAVIOUR OF HIS BROTHER ALL WENT INTO HIS FAVOUR AND THE HARD WORK HE PUT INTO LEARNING TO SPEAK WITHOUT A STAMMER WON THE HEART OF BRITAIN AND BEYOND.
LOGUE CHANGED CERTAIN WORDS THAT WERE PROBLEMATIC, TAUGHT HIM TO BREATHE, HELPED HIS DIAPHRAGM TO EXPAND AS IT SHOULD AND BEST OF ALL GAVE HIM UTTER CONFIDENCE TO PRESENT HIS WORDS AS THEY SHOULD SOUND.
TOWARDS THE END OF HIS ASSOCIATION WITH LOGUE HE BEGAN TO ACTUALLY DO HIS SPEECHES WITHOUT LOGUE HELPING ALTHOUGH HE ALWAYS RANG HIM AFTER FOR COMMENTS.
LOGUE USUALLY COMPLIMENTED HIM BUT ONCE COMMENTED HOW HE HAD PAUSED ON A WORD.
'YES' SAID THE KING '[I HAD TO LET THEM KNOW IT WAS STILL ME'. THEY BOTH LAUGHED.
I FELT HUMBLED TO REALISE HOW MUCH STRESS THE KING SUFFERED WHEN HE DID HIS SPEECHES, HOW HE DREADED THE CORONATION (WHICH WENT PERFECTLY) AND HOW HARD HE WORKED ON TOURS, ON VISITS, ON SEEING HIS COUNTRY THROUGH THE WAR AND FINALLY DYING IN HIS FIFTIES, BELIEVED BY MANY TO BE THE STRAIN OF KINGSHIP AND CAUSING HIS WIFE TO BLAME THE DUKE OF WINDSOR EVER AFTER.
LOGUE HIMSELF DIED A YEAR OR SO AFTER ALSO WORN OUT AND GRIEVING FOR HIS WIFE MYRTLE, WHO HAD ALSO BEEN HIS SUPPORT THROUGHOUT HIS LIFE.
I RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING THE FILM ONE DAY.
review by Mags

Matt Hilton - Slash and Burn

2011-07-19T19:53:00.000+01:00

Review by Brian (Biggles) Lowen on shfow 7th July
Not a very inspiring title for this book which is the first in what appears to be a new series featuring Joe Hunter – a Jack Reacher type (Lee Childs) with a conscience.

Joe is not such a loner as Jack Reacher, having two buddies who work for a private investigative firm in Florida. As in the Jack Reacher novels we have Joe’s fictional life history laid out in a few pages at the end of the book, not at the beginning as in the Jack Reacher novels.

Anyway, the book roars into action from the first page and doesn’t let up until the last.
If you like that sort of book it is full of rip-roaring action the whole way through.

The storyline: Joe Hunter is always ready to help a lady in distress, particularly when Kate, the lady in question, is the sister of a dead Special Forces mate.
Robert Huffman pretends to be a respectable businessman, but the psychopathic twins he uses as his enforcers give the lie to that. Huffman is a player in the murky world of organised crime and needs Kate as bait for one of his schemes. He hopes she will lure her sister Imogen into his clutches as she is in possession of incriminating evidence involving his underhand schemes.
So Joe sets off looking for this mysterious sister, but is way outnumbered by the bad guys. Luckily he has his two buddies to help him and they are just itching for a fight.

This is not a book in which you are going to get bogged down with detailed explanations as to the why and wherefore of the actions carried out, although Joe’s conscience does appear to trouble him a bit as to all the killings, but not for long!

A good read, full of action, thoroughly recommended.
review by Biggles

Sebastian Faulks - Devil May Care

2011-07-19T19:49:00.000+01:00

Review by Brian (Biggles) Lowen on show 7th July

This is a James Bond novel written by Seb Faulks, writing as Ian Fleming.

It is certainly not as good as the films, but whether it is as good as the Ian Fleming James Bond novels I cannot say as I have not read any of them, but I have seen most of the films.

One has an image of James Bond in the mind, (even though he has been played by several different people) but I found this book disappointing. JB had none of the suave manner he exudes in the films. His character was shallow and unbelievable. Where were the special toys produced by Q ? Even his visit to M and Miss Moneypenny lacked conviction.

The storyline : It’s the swinging sixties and a flood of narcotics is pouring into Britain. Sinister industrialist, Dr Julius Gorner is identified as the source and James is despatched by M to investigate. The trail takes Bond to Paris and then Persia – where the beautiful and enigmatic twins, Scarlet and Poppy, lead him to Gorner’s secret desert HQ. Here Bond uncovers Gorner’s cold blooded plans for world domination and only he can stop him.

I found this quite poor as a thriller as it lacked any tension. There was no attempt to build up the characters into believable people. One point I found quite unbelievable was when Scarlet turns out to be 004, out on probation, and JB had not been told. Why not? No good reason had been given.

Disappointing book – not able to recommend it I’m afraid.
review by Biggles

Jo Nesbo - The Leopard

2011-07-19T19:47:00.000+01:00

review by Corinna Christopher on show 14th July

Harry Hole is at it again !! The Norwegian detective already famous for solving the Snowman murders is once more at the heart of this book, although I could wish sometimes to have a normal detective not one permanently recovering from an excess of alcohol – the details at times were almost too authentic !

At the start of the book Harry is in Hong Kong trying to forget the trauma of the Snowman case. When he is tracked down he reluctantly agrees to return to Norway as his father is seriously ill in hospital.

Back on his home turf he is seconded into the Crime Squad to help solve some recent murders. Two young women have been horribly tortured and killed. The murder weapon being an ingenious golden ball which stuffed into their mouths is then operated by pulling a thread thus operating steel needles into their cheeks and causing them to bleed to death. This gadget was known as Leopolds Apple.
Before too long there are more victims and the connection between them relates to a night they all spent in an isolated mountain hostel.

Harry with his intuitive brain is in competition with Kripos another official organisation who are also trying to solve the crime , hotly pursued by the Media who are anxious for answers.

As with previous Nesbo thrillers there are many twists and turns, several characters to keep track of and constant furthering of the plot . The background is Oslo and surrounds, with two forays into the Congo. Many diverse leads result in false conclusions before the eventual result.

During the book there are tantalising words and thoughts from the killer just to tease the reader, however chapter headings are helpful.

Nesbo has crafted a very gripping thriller but it is wrong to describe him as the next Stieg Larrson since he has quite a different writing style.
In addition to reading “The Snowman” I have also read “The Devil’s Star”which is equally good.
review by Corinna

Sadie Jones - Small Wars

2011-07-19T19:11:00.000+01:00

review by Corinna christopher on show 14th July
Hall Treherne is a professional soldier keen to see action and after a spell in Germany he is sent to Cyprus in 1956. With his wife Clara and small twin daughters they set up home in the British base which is near Limasol in the centre of the island.

A brief history of the island is pertinent here. In 1878 Cyprus came under British administration , but in the 1930’s Greeks on the island began to want union with Greece in spite of many Turks living there as well. In 1955 EOKA a Greek organisation led by Archbishop Makarios began a guerilla war against Britain . There was fierce fighting and it became a Republic in 1960. Makarios was eventually overthrown and Turkey invaded which resulted in partition, with the North set up with their own government which is still not recognised internationally to-day.
Hall called the war in Cyprus “this small, dirty struggle” and he found it difficult to cope with the conditions he found, in particular with the cruelty, torturing and betrayal of comrades and Islanders. After a scene in the guardroom he thought “his country,his schoolboy land of heirarchies, was defeated.”

Clara tried very hard to fit in with a new way of life together with the other wives and her 2 small twin girls. However, Hal became much changed and distant and they were unable to talk properly. Clara became pregnant after a few months and following a distressing bomb incident on the beach it was decided that Clara and girls should move to the capital Nicosia. It was while there that she was involved in a terrible explosian on the street that nearly killed her and resulted in losing her baby. The Army thought it expedient for her to return home and at the last moment Hall accompanied her in spite of orders to return to his unit due to the intensity of warfare in the area.
Things were very different back in the UK. Hall was in deep trouble with his bosses in the Army and would not offer any unmitigating circumstances for his behaviour. He left the Army and had to try and make a fresh start. Clara meanwhile was still very frail and had these comments:- “Cyprus, It had been encased around and above in hard blue sea and sky. They had made their small home on it, been taken in by it, and she had lost him. Such a small place to loose a person, and now released, they were both alone.”

The ending to this story is completely satisfactory and the reader feels pleased to have survived such a raw emotional experience. The prose throughout is precise and powerful with no surplus facts or waffling, very easy to read and keep pages turning. Thoroughly well written, gripping and with a real insight into the Troubles of this small nation. There has obviously been much excellent research

Sadie Jones’ first novel “The Outcast” was very good and this book I feel is even better.
review by Corinna

Sarah Winman - When God was a Rabbit

2011-06-30T20:26:00.000+01:00

review by Ro Bennett on show 30th June

I bought this book because I liked the title and the book cover was attractive. It has had some excellent reviews but I personally found it bland and irritating and I skimmed through much of it. I did finish it because I kept hoping that it would improve, but for me it wasn’t a page turner, it didn’t grip me at all. I didn’t enjoy it and I wouldn’t recommend it.

When I first started reading it I thought, ‘Well, the author is obviously a gay actress and this is like reading a pamphlet advocating and defending gay and theatrical life styles. I really don’t care whether people are gay, straight, theatrical or conventional but I would have presumed and have preferred that the theatrical, bizarre and alternative would have grabbed my attention and I would have found it interesting and absorbing reading - but it didn’t happen. It was so obvious and full of cliché that it became tedious and I found it a tad seedy.

Elly is the narrator. Her brother Joe is gay and tormented, her father is a guilt ridden lawyer living with the angst of having defended a guilty paedophile and the subsequent suicide of his victim, Nancy his sister is a gay actress who reckons that Katherine Hepburn shoved her up against a wall and snogged her, quote ‘tongues and all’ - then explains that it wasn’t THE Katharine Hepburn... Elly’s mother loves her husband but Elly sees her snog Nancy - once again quote ‘tonges as well’ with all that implies. The neighbour is a paedolphile who abuses Elly who is consequently screwed up, her friend Jenny Penny (who I want to call Henny Penny) is abused by her mother’s boyfriend and goes on to murder an abusive partner, the brother Joe’s gay lover is kidnapped and incarcerated in Lebanon and has an ear cut off before he is released when a ransom is paid, and Joe is involved in the 9/11 tragedy and feared dead but is conveniently found with amnesia.

There is male lodger who is theatrical and gay, a female lodger who is theatrical and bizarre, the theatrical bizarre one dies of breast cancer - so it was jammed packed with stuff but I didn’t develop an emotional connection with any of the characters and the countless emotional crises and traumas left me cold.

Now I sound like a grumpy old woman!! The only good thing about it as far as I’m concerned was that I got it half price - though I would have preferred to have bought it for 20p in the Charity shop!
Ro Bennett

PG Wodehouse - The Code of the Woosters

2011-06-30T20:23:00.001+01:00

review by Ro Bennett on show 30th June
I absolutely loved this book. It’s ridiculous and slap stick but I found it very, very funny. It was a perfect book to take away on holiday. I read it on the station, at the airport, on the plane, the coach, the beach. It was easy to immerse myself in it and I kept sniggering out loud which was a bit embarrassing. As I read it I could visualise Stephen Fry as Jeeves and Hugh Laurie as Bertie Wooster and they fitted the characters perfectly.

The book has so many interesting and entertaining characters and an excellent intricate plot with countless twists and turns. Bertie’s Aunt Dahlia wants him to go to Totleigh Towers to pinch back an antique cow creamer from Sir Watkyn Bassett who appropriated it inappropriately from Bertie’s Uncle Tom. Unfortunately Sir Watkyn Bassett is the magistrate who once fined Bertie five guineas for copping a policeman's helmet on Boat Race night. Bertie had previously been sent by Aunt Dahlia to the antique shop where the cow creamer was for sale to cast doubts on its value to try to bring the price down. Whilst pretending to examine it, he trips over a cat and falls through the door still clutching the cow creamer just as Sir W and friend Roderick Spode arrive. Sir W recognises Bertie as a criminal who has come up before him in court and assumes he is trying to steal the cow creamer. So Bertie does a runner, narrowly avoiding arrest.

At the same time as Aunt Dahlia is urging Bertie to go to Totley Towers, he receives urgent telegrams from his old pal, Gussie Fink-Nottle, who Aunt Dahlia refers to as ‘Spink-Bottle’ to come there to to save his engagement to Madeleine Bassett, daughter of Sir Watkyn. So with a bit of blackmail from Aunt Dahlia and a strong desire to avoid having to marry Madeleine himself should her engagement to Gussie fail, he sets off with Jeeves and a good deal of trepidation.

When Bertie arrives, he is of course confronted by Sir W and the thug Spode who is a would be dictator and leader of the Black Shorts - a hilarious parody of Oswald Mosley and his Black Shirts.

To complicate matters further, there is the love interest of Stiffy Byng and Reverend Stinker Pinker and how that impinges on the search for a little brown leather notebook in which Gussie has written all sorts of derogatory observations about Sir W and Spode. Gussie doesn’t know where he has misplaced it and there is a race to find it before it falls into the hands of Sir W or Spode - with disastrous consequences.

It is of course up to Jeeves to disentangle and rectify all the repercussions which ensue...

It was an excellent read and I thoroughly recommend it. I bought it from i books and the only problem with that is that I have since had to purchase the paper back so that I can lend it to my friends and family!

review by Ro

Emma Donoghue

2011-06-27T20:57:00.003+01:00

review by showhost
It's a book that will seep into your skin. It's hard to keep with at the beginning, it's a book that grows on you.
The dialogue and thoughts are from Jack who is 5yrs old and speaks a kind of child/pidgin english: 'why are the eyes of me shut', his look on life are those of an inquisitive 5yrs old and everything is taken literally.
Quote: "gimme five!'says a doctor, holding his hand up and wagging his fingers. I pretend I don't see, I'm not going to give him my fingers, I need them for me!"

Jack and Ma live in a room 11ft x 11ft. Ma was kidnapped by 'Old Nick' when she was 19 and put in The Room, a fortified shed in Old Nicks garden. The only light is from a skylight, secure,window. Jack was born in this room and has never stepped outside. Ma has been prisoner for 7 years. The only person she sees is Old Nick who brings food and visits his Ma after 9pm when Jack is asleep in the wardrobe.

Ma has tried to escape but failed and been punished for it. Is there no way out for them?

It is a slow book, especially at the beginning and the child/pidgin language may put readers off but once you get the gist of it and understand what is going on and an escape plan forms it starts to build up speed.

Erica James - Hidden Talents

2011-06-27T20:15:00.000+01:00

review by Babs Simpson on show 16th June
I suppose Erica James's novels would be described disparagingly as Chick-Lit but I have to say that any book that is well written, has a good story and interesting characters doesn't deserve to be denigrated and Erica James' work has given me a great deal of pleasure over the years.

HiddenTalents is about a writer's group set up in a small Cheshire village and the various characters it attracts. Dulcie, who has the idea in the first place, is 63 and has been leading a double life for many years, then there is Beth whose only son is just about to leave home for University, Jack whose wife has just left him for his best friend, Jaz, 17, who comes from a large family with no understanding of her longing for intellectual stimulation, and finally, Victor and opinionated know-it-all who claims to be writing the blockbuster novel every publisher will be clamouring for.

Their lives become intertwined and the resulting story is very entertaining and satisfying. If you want a really good read, give Erica James a try. I'm very glad I did.
review by Babs