THAT MAMA IS A GROUCH.

THAT MAMA IS A GROUCH by SHERRY ELLIS.

BACK COVER BLURB: Will anything get a mother yelling about time outs and withholding favors faster than a toy-strewn house? In That Mama is a Grouch by Sherry Ellis, an intelligent and very wise narrator reminds us in charming rhyme that mothers are human, most often loving, and that certain situations will guarantee driving them to their breaking point. The reader is quickly reminded that tripping over toys is one way to guarantee a grouch attack. Children from three to seven will delight in this story of a mommy who's nearly out of control, and they will learn the importance of something as simple as putting away toys. Ms Ellis does parents a big favor when she reminds all of us that there is humor to be found and something to be learned in even the most everyday circumstances. When nerves are tested, pick up this book and start reading!

FIRST SENTENCE: I was playing on the floor behind my bedroom door when ...

MEMORABLE MOMENT: At lunchtime I made spider soup....

SOURCE: A blog win, many thanks to Sherry Ellis's Mama Diaries.

MY THOUGHTS: I don't know about children aged three to seven (the age range at which the book is marketed) as I have yet to share this with my great-nephews but with its humourously conveyed message and fun, brightly coloured illustrations that admirably depict the scene I really enjoyed That Mama Is A Grouch and am sure they will do likewise.

A FIELD GUIDE TO DEMONS, VAMPIRES, FALLEN ANGELS AND OTHER SUBVERSIVE SPIRITS.

A FIELD GUIDE TO DEMONS, VAMPIRES, FALLEN ANGELS AND OTHER SUBVERSIVE SPIRITS by CAROL K MACK & DINAH MACK.

BACK COVER BLURB: If you met a werewolf on the eve of a full moon, would you be able to tell what he really was?

Could you resist the dark charms of a vampire or the lure of a fallen angel?

Would you know how to escape the clutches of these inhuman creatures.

This illustrated guide - the first of its kind - reveals the origins, habitats and reputed antics of the most diabolical demons from all around the world. It provides tips on how to spot them in a crowd, and offers invaluable advice on dispelling any malevolent spirits you might have the misfortune of meeting at a party - or in your kitchen.

FIRST SENTENCE {Introduction}: Although far more commonly sighted than angels, demons are still the most misunderstood of the ancient spirits.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 169}: The Palis is a potentially deadly foot-licker species that attacks its victims at night when they're sleeping in the desert. He licks the soles of their feet until their blood is gone.

SOURCE: Library book.

MY THOUGHTS: Along with a chapter of 'Who's who in the domicile' this field guide covers creatures, some familiar, others not (at least to me), divided into the various realms of 'Water', 'Mountain', 'Forest' and 'Desert' in what I felt was a fairly comprehensive guide albeit one restricted by its relatively short length. 

Covering demons, vampires and so on from all manner of cultures this is a wonderfully descriptive read in which the authors take us through not only a description of the various creatures but also the lore surrounding them and, perhaps most interestingly of all, 'disarming and dispelling techniques' that tradition has wards them off.

Fascinating stuff, I'd suggest this as a great reference book for all those interested in the 'supernatural and/or folk lore.

 

THE SUMMER OF BROKEN STORIES.

THE SUMMER OF BROKEN STORIES by JAMES WILSON.

BACK COVER BLURB: England, 1950s. While out playing in the woods, ten-year-old Mark meets a man living in an old railway carriage. Despite his wild appearance, the stranger, who introduces himself as Aubrey Hillyard, is captivating - an irreverent outsider who is shunned by Mark's fellow villagers, and a writer to boot. Aubrey encourages Mark to tell stories about his own make-believe world, and in return he informs the boy about a novel he is writing - a work of ominous science fiction.

As the meddling villagers plot to drive Aubrey out, Mark finds himself caught between two worlds - yet convinced that he must help Aubrey prevail at any cost. 

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter One}: It's as if for years you've had a picture on your wall.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 70}: As they close on her, Peggy Akers suddenly cries out, stumbles, then collapses onto the bank, strewing the ground with buttercups and daisies.  Grimacing with pain, she clutches at her ankle - revealing a pair of lumpy green knickers. To Mark's horror, they're stained with darker patches, and the top of her thigh is wet.

SOURCE: Received for review from Alma Books. (Click here to read an excerpt).

MY THOUGHTS: A story of an outsider (Aubery) who, most of the adults having found his mysterious presence dubious to say the least, is befriended by two children, Mark and, other newcomer to the village, Lou.

A tale of inter-generational friendships, of stories swapped as Marc and Aubery tell their tales. Mark's an innocent childhood tale, Aubery's an altogether darker, more sinister one.

Evoking a bygone era in which children, free to roam as they pleased, had secret dens with which passwords were needed to enter and formed friendships with adults that were free from suspicion in a way they aren't generally today. The Summer Of Broken Stories, told in such a way as to be almost cinematic, is a rich, multi-layered read in which the author subtly plays with our perceptions.

And as for the characters?

Wonderfully quirky, I adored the eccentric, 'awfully British' Murky (an elderly friend of Mark given to giving him the odd glass of home-made blackberry wine - ah times have indeed changed). And as for Mark? A boy poised on the cusp of adolescence, whilst female and a child of the seventies myself, he is the sort of character that I found myself readily relating to.

With its two worlds, that of the real and the imaginary, this was everything I was hoping for ... and more. 

OF ANIMALS AND PEANUT BUTTER.

WARNING: Whilst I endeavour to keep Media Monday family friendly I feel it only right to point out that some of the newspapers featured do have links to articles of a more adult nature. TT

Alexander McCall Smith's Fatty O'Leary's Dinner Party has won the Bollinger Everyman Wodehouse Prize for comic fiction which, possibly Literature's most eccentric prize, saw him awarded a large quantity of champagne, a 99 strong set of books and .... a pig named after their novel.

Personally I'd prefer to eat it ...

Shaving your legs with peanut butter is the quirky way of getting super-smooth legs this summer as according to a consultant dermatologist at a London clinic the old kitchen staple has moisturising benefits.

Doh! She did say your legs and not your face ...

Armed with a jar of Sun-Pat and a packet of disposable razors a man tried shaving his face with peanut butter .... and apart from it smelling nicer than shaving foam and tasting better when you licked it off your fingers it wasn't pleasant.

And now for the story that caught Mr T's attention ...

Having escaped from her field and been shot by police marksmen concerned for the welfare of the public a FaceBook group (RIP Wallsend Cow) had organised a candlelit vigil to pay respects to the cow affectionately named Bessie.

AS MUCH AS I LOVE CHOCOLATE ....

- Sweet potato 

(Japan)

- Gouda Cheese

(Japan)

- Peanut .... and ketchup

(America)

- Cheese & Onion crisp

(Ireland) 

- Bacon

(England)

- Havana tobacco

(Belgium)

- Chocolate flavoured tooth paste

(Philippines)

And last but not least ...

In a wedding that would make Willy Wonka proud a fifty four year old bride from Devon married in a gown made up of chocolate wrappers.

Any of these take your fancy? I must admit if it wasn't for the colour I quite like the idea of the sweet potato Kit-Kat and the cheese & Onion crisp flavoured Tayto don't sound too bad either.

THE CARETAKER OF IMAGINATION.

THE CARETAKER OF IMAGINATION by Z.R. SOUTHCOMBE.

BACK COVER BLURB: Bored with his normal life, John Carroll runs away with his faithful cat in search of adventure. When he meets a real-life pirate, John realises there is much more to the world than he'd ever thought possible - that magic is real, and in desperate need of a hero.

John must convince the (once fearsome) Captain Simon Peabody to join him on a fantastic and perilous quest to find the only person who can save magic from being lost forever: the Caretaker of Imagination.

FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue}: Like most children, John wanted to run away.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 65}: Unfortunately for this group of pirates, none of them was too flash with a fishing rod and so they wasted valuable hours trying to catch something big enough for a dragon.

SOURCE: Received for review from the author.

MY THOUGHTS: The first in a series. I liked this book, really liked it - after all, a story about the quest for magic featuring a pirate, a dragon AND a cat, what is there not to like? However I felt that it had a lot more potential, that at only eighty six pages long it could leave all but the youngest of readers disappointed that it wasn't a longer story. 

Still, a fun read. With its imaginative plot, great illustrations and a wonderful mix of colourful characters it should appeal to children and is traditional enough to be a hit as a bedtime read with parents/grandparents.

THE RIVERS OF LONDON.

Read for the What's In A Name? 2015 challenge: A Body Of Water category.

 RIVERS OF LONDON by BEN AARONOVITCH.


BACK COVER BLURB: 'I used to be a probationary constable in that mighty army for justice known to all right-thinking people as the Metropolitan Police Service, and to everyone else as the Filth...'

Meet PC Peter Grant. He will show you his city. But it's not the capital that you all see as you make your way from tube to bus. It's a city that under its dark surface is packed full of crime, and of magic. Grant's story starts when he tries to take a witness statement from a dead man. It takes him into a centuries' old mystery that could quickly set modern London on fire.

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter 1: Material Witness}: It started at one thirty on a cold Tuesday morning in January when Martin Turner, street performer and, in his own words, apprentice gigolo, tripped over a body in front of the East Portico of St Paul's at Covent Garden.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 80}: Her face didn't fit her outfit, being too long and sharp-boned with black almond-shaped eyes. Despite her mob cap she wore her hair loose, a black curtain that fell to her waist. She instantly gave me the creeps, and not just because I've seen too many Japanese horror films.

SOURCE: A World Book Night 2014 read.

MY THOUGHTS: On a positive note, a different (weird but different) sort of supernatural/urban fantasy-come-crime novel. It's just sad that for me at least this is as positive as it gets.

Imagine if you will what would have happened if Harry Potter had never gone to Hogworts but instead had joined the Metropolitan police only to be taken on as an apprentice to the last known wizard-come- detective then throw in a couple of 'spirits' that are more than likely unlike any you have encountered before and you have Rivers of London.

An interesting concept I'm sure you'll agree but for me the mix of magic and police procedure never quite hit the mark. And as for the plot and characters? Completely ludicrous. Whilst I willingly bought into the likes of wizards, ghosts and vampires, that magic actually exists, I'm afraid I failed to engage with (let alone believe in) either the world building (much of it built on a foundation of actual London locations) or any of the characters (the trolls residing under London's bridges, Old Father Thames living in a caravan) portrayed here.

What turns out to be the first in a series of the books, Rivers Of London is published in the US as Midnight Riot. A very British novel with what I feel is a quintessential British sense of humour which combined with many references to British culture etc (Dixon of Dock Green, anyone?) might prove bewildering to readers outside the UK.

FEELING SOMEWHAT ... CUE CHARACTER WITH ROUND EYES, LARGE DOWNTURNED CURVED MOUTH & HIGH-SET CURVED EYEBROWS.*

Because of their incredible adoption rate and speed of evolution they are evolving faster than ancient languages such as hieroglyphics. As a visual language they have already eclipsed its ancient Egyptian precursor which took centuries to develop. 

Rapidly replacing 'LOL' and 'OMG' they are used by eight out of ten people in the UK to communicate with 72% of eighteen to twenty five year olds claiming it is easier to put their feelings across in this way. 

Added to the Oxford English Dictionary in 2013, the name comes from the Japanese word meaning pictures and characters.

According to this article the top ten most popular symbols are ...

• Smiley face
• Crying with laughter
• Love heart
• Beaming red cheeks
• Thumbs up
• Tongue out winking face 
• Blowing kiss
• Winking face 
• Confused
• See no evil monkey.

One eminent linguistic expert has it that Emoji is the fastest growing 'language' in the UK.

Without a doubt great fun, creative and quicker than trying to express yourself with words. Call me old fashioned but I'm feeling somewhat ....

(that's confused to you and me) by this growing trend that has young people feeling it is easier to communicate their feelings in this way and slightly....

    (* worried) that one day I'll open a book and find not words but a whole load of characters like these.

Apparently my Emoji is the ....

..... Sparkling Heart 

{Ah, to be in love. You're a hopeless romantic, always looking for 'the one'. Finding a soul mate occupies most of your time, because you know your one true love is out there.}

Hmm, not too sure what Mr T will make of my most of my time being occupied by my search for a soul mate.

But what about you, what type of Emoji are you? Do this quiz to find out and be sure to let me know in the comments.

And finally ... 

How many of these 10 historic historic events as told through Emoji can you decipher?

THE ONE PLUS ONE.

THE ONE PLUS ONE by JOJO MOYES.

AMAZON.CO.UK BLURB: One single mum.

With two jobs and two children, Jess Thomas does her best day after day. But its hard on your own. And sometimes you take risks you shouldn't. Because you have to ....

One chaotic family.

Jess's gifted, quirky daughter Tanzie is brilliant with numbers, but without a helping hand she'll never get the choice to shine. And Nicky, Jess's teenage stepson, can't fight the bullies alone.

Sometimes Jess feels like they're sinking.

 - Click on book title to view full synopsis. 

FIRST SENTENCE {Chapter 1: Jess}: The irony did not escape Jessica Thomas that she lost the best job she'd ever had because of a diamond.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 298}: I have eaten an apple that had been down the too-tight trousers of a teenage boy and a kebab that for all I know contained human flesh.*1

SOURCE: Ex-library stock minus its dust jacket hence the lack of the cover image.

MY THOUGHTS: Unless its one of my favourite authors it isn't very often that I opt for a book based on its author (the book was missing its cover so I had no idea what it was about) but such has been my enjoyment of two of JoJo Moye's books that I simply had to have this one.

Essentially what I thought of not so much a family saga or a romance (though there are elements of both) as a 'road trip' novel with a difference.

Whilst by no means my favourite novel by this author, as enjoyable as the story is for the most part it is very predictable. The One Plus One never the less had all of the trademarks - an insightful and intuitive depth of writing, in this instance full of current issues (bullying, cyber bullying, the use of social media, marital breakdown etc) and characters that you find yourself aching for - that I have come to associate with her writing.


*1 Please note this is part of a much longer sentence in which one of the character is discussing his thoughts on the previous three days. TT

A FAIRY STORY/NURSERY RHYME INSPIRED MEDIA MONDAY.

WARNING: Whilst I endeavour to keep Media Monday family friendly I feel it only right to point out that some of the newspapers featured do have links to articles of a more adult nature. TT



Once upon a time there were three billy goats, and the name of all three was Gruff. One day the three Billy goats Gruff set off to the hills where the sweet grass grew. There they would eat and eat until they were fat.

On the way was a paper bridge over a stream, and under this bridge there lived a troll. 

- Adapted from The Three Billy Goat's Gruff.

Made up of 22,000 sheets of paper and boasting no glue, bolts or any other fittings an artist from Teesdale has spent three years developing and constructing a fully functioning Paper Bridge.

"Just wait, Gretel, until the moon rises, and then we shall see the crumbs of bread macaroni salad which I have strewn about, they will show us our way home again to the thieves."

- Adapted from Hansel And Gretel.

Having stolen a cash register and .... a bowl of macaroni salad which they had seemingly snacked on as they made their escape thieves in Livingston County, New York, were found by police officers who followed the trail of macaroni salad remains.

Sing a song of sixpence,

A pocket full of rye,

Four and twenty blackbirds 

Baked in a Greggs pie.

- Adapted from Sing A Song Of Sixpence.

A pastry loving purloiner wanted by Trowbridge police turned himself in after two months on the run because he wanted to be able to get a Greggs without the fear of being arrested.

And now for the other news ...

A Surrey man who regularly suffered a blocked nose sneezed out the cause - the sucker of a toy dart stuck up his nostril for 44 years.

The headline I probably shouldn't have laughed at .... but did ...

Mourners follow wrong hearse for nine miles.

And finally, one from Mr T ...

A four-year-old Doncaster boy has been reunited with his Star Wars Lego figure which was lost in a ballot box during the recent election.

PINOCCHIO.

PINOCCHIO by MICHAEL MORPURGO {With illustrations by EMMA CHICHESTER CLARK.}

BACK COVER BLURB: "My name is Pinocchio

I reckon I must be just about the most famous puppet the world has ever known.

But I'm more than just bits of wood and string.

I'm me. So it's about time that I, Pinocchio, told you my story ...."

FIRST SENTENCE {Introduction}: I used to think, on account of my somewhat strange start in life, I suppose, that I was unlike everyone else.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 126}: Every dog I saw was hairless, all the sheep were shaved of their wool and trembling with cold. The butterflies had no colour in their wings and couldn't fly. Peacocks and pheasants had lost their tales and all their bright feathers. It was a place where everyone and everything was so sad.

SOURCE: Purchased with a book token.

MY THOUGHTS: Alas, the jury is still out as to quite what I think about the re-telling/re-imagining of books. Simply lazy, unoriginal story telling or a great way to introduce stories to a whole new generation of readers?

Told largely in the style of the original but from the point of view of an older (though not necessarily wiser) Pinocchio. I felt the first person narrative worked exceptionally well in bringing to life (if you'll excuse the pun) the wooden anti-hero of the title but it was the exquisite black and white illustrations that really made this latest offering from Michael Morpurgo such a hit with me.

SKELLIG #2.

In the last of my posts from 2015's World Book Night  today I'm bringing you Mr T's thoughts on ...



SKELLIG by DAVID ALMOND.

Well, not sure what to say really. Having found that most people seem to enjoy this read it's left me a tad deflated. It's just one of those books that didn't really take me anywhere or give me anything that I could describe as having learned something.

It is beautifully written, the language flows from the narrator expressing events and feelings, reactions and mystery. Michael's inner emotional turmoils are expressed as 11/12 year olds know how to and we do see his character fill out and develop but essentially there was nothing about him that made him particularly interesting or attractive. All other characters in the book, including Skellig, remain rather flat and perfunctory. Skellig's own curious and peculiar state of being is not detailed, nor explored as fully as I would have wished it to be.  So despite the oddness and discomfort that Skellig presents on the surface, there is little sense in which a reader could be attracted, other than the passion for Chinese takeaway and Brown Ale.

So I'm sorry to those who have approved, but not one for me I'm afraid. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

A novel we will have to agree to disagree about, it's been one of my favourite reads of 2015 so far. 

Thanks to Mr T for sharing his thoughts on Skellig and once again thanks to him and his colleague Leanne (you can see her review of her WBN choice, Prime Suspect, here) for organising such a wonderful event which saw almost 100 students and staff receive books. TT

 

ON XOCLATOPHOBIA AND DISTURBING THE PEACE

WARNING: Whilst I endeavour to keep Media Monday family friendly I feel it only right to point out that some of the newspapers featured do have links to articles of a more adult nature. TT


Made of wood, chicken wire and expanding foam a giant twelve foot gnome lovingly named Dumpty has stumped a small Alnwick town after moving into at least twelve gardens, the only evidence being a mobile phone picture of him being transported in the back of a van.

NOOOO!

A thirty year old man from Maidenhead, Berks, is suffering from xoclatophobia - a fear of ..... chocolate.

Witnesses have reported that crates laden with bags of cash and coins spilled out onto the road after a lorry containing more than £1 million in cash broke suddenly as it approached a roundabout in Swindon, Wiltshire.

Here's one for Kelly's Thoughts & Ramblings and all other jigsaw fans ....

A retired builder turned dedicated volunteer has what is being termed the most tedious job in Britain as he spends his days assembling donated jigsaws checking them for missing pieces.

And in the news from Canada ....

A ninety-one year old woman from Quebec has been fined $148 (£100) for 'disturbing the peace' ... with her rocking chair.

And finally .. when literature isn't as far-fetched as it might at first seem ...

A paternity case involving a set of twin girls had a surprise ending worthy of a daytime talk show (or indeed a book TT) when a Passaic County Superior Court judge ruled a DNA test had shown that a man whilst the father of one twin was not the father of the other.

KITTY HAWK FLYING DETECTIVE AGENCY: BOOKS 2, 3 & 4.

Having read the first book in the Kitty Hawk Flying Detective Agency series, Kitty Hawk And The Curse Of The Yukon Gold by Iain Reading, I was honoured and absolutely delighted to receive the next three books in this wonderful series that is particularly suitable for tweenagers upwards. A series of books I hasten to add that would work just as well as standalone reads but given how enjoyable they are really should be read from the beginning.

A hodgepodge of many genres, historical, mystery, action, adventure, all rolled into one. As educational (in a fun way) as they are entertaining. Whilst they all have something in common - our intrepid heroin (independent, smart resourceful, essentially a great role model in my opinion) on an adventure-filled, action packed, quest that sees her meeting up with the locals and getting to know about their culture/local customs and cuisine - because each finds Kitty in a different location with another mystery to be solved each feels as fresh as the first.


#2: KITTY HAWK AND THE HUNT FOR HEMINGWAY'S GHOST.

AMAZON.CO.UK BOOK BLURB: Click on book title to view.

FIRST SENTENCE (Prologue: Holding On By My Fingertips): I was literally holding on by my fingertips in a cramped, dark little space surrounded by thick brick walls on all sides.

MEMORABLE MOMENT (Page 86): Millions of air bubbles filled the water, each one illuminated and sparkling from the strange, eerie glow coming from the sea floor. The entire sea was bathed in a deep blue light that looked so unearthly and strange that for a moment my breath caught in my throat at the beauty of it.

MY THOUGHTS: Every bit as good as the first book and, in my opinion, even better. Not only did I find the plot that bit tighter but I found the historical stuff surrounding Fort Jefferson fascinating, the tale of ancient ship wrecks and mysterious artefacts exciting. And then of course, even if the 'hunt for his ghost' was a bit misleading, the story revolving more around the strange lights out at sea than any ghostly goings on, there was the Hemingway connection which surely couldn't do other than appeal to bibliophiles.



#3: KITTY HAWK AND THE ICELANDIC INTRIGUE.

AMAZON.CO.UK BOOK BLURB: Click on book title to view.

FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue: Run Like Never Before In My Entire Life}: The bullet split the air with a dreadful ripping sound and whizzed past my ear like some horrifying angry insect.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 175}: With his arms folded defiantly across his chest and the river rushing past him, he looked just like a Viking captain standing at the bow of his ship in a raging storm.

MY THOUGHTS: My goodness! These books just keep getting better and better. Overall I thought this the strongest book in the series so far.

A great mystery, plenty of action, fascinating insights into Icelandic customs AND folk lore involving the 'little folk'. In this, the third instalment, we find Kitty plunged into a world in which the magical realm of elves is still acknowledged. Is it them, the 'powers that be' or the environmentalists that are to blame for the sabotage at an aluminium smelter plant? As always Kitty is on hand to solve the mystery.

#4: KITTY HAWK AND THE TRAGEDY OF THE R.M.S TITANIC.

AMAZON.CO.UK BOOK BLURB: Click on book title to view.

FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue: A Lost Soul Set Adrift}: I found myself surrounded by an all-consuming blackness so thick that it felt as though I could touch it.

MEMORABLE MOMENT {128}: He was having trouble walking, and who could blame him since he was wearing knee-high leather boots with three-inch heels. Above these he was showing a lot of skin from his bony knees to the hem of his incredibly short skirt. Finishing off his tacky ensemble was a fuzzy faux-fur coat and a blonde wig.

MY THOUGHTS: Whilst the 'historical aspect', the story of the Titanic and Jack The Ripper was as always exceptional - I always think it a sign of a good novel when you come away wanting to know more - I'm afraid for some reason I can't quite put my finger on the action/adventure side of things wasn't quite as thrilling as the other books in the series.

And then there was Kitty herself. Great to follow how she is developing and arguably nice to see another facet to her character BUT I'm not altogether sure that the direction in which the author seemed to be taking her was a wise move. Added to which was the Ripper element. Something that as an adult I was happy enough with but it did leave me wondering how suitable some of the gory descriptions were for young readers.

Still, overall an enjoyable read. I can't wait to see where the next book(s) will find Kitty.

ELIZABETH IS MISSING.

Apologies for my late posting of this. The starting book for this months 6 Degrees Of Separation post you can see where the book took me by clicking here.


ELIZABETH IS MISSING by EMMA HEALEY.

BACK COVER BLURB: Maud is forgetful. She makes a cup of tea and doesn't remember to drink it. She goes to the shops and forgets why she went. Sometimes her home is unrecognisable - or her daughter Helen seems a total stranger.

But there's one thing Maud is sure of: her friend Elizabeth is missing. The note in her pocket tells her so. And no matter who tells her to stop going on about it, to leave it alone, to shut up, Maud will get to the bottom of it.

Because somewhere in Maud's damaged mind lies the answer to an unsolved seventy-year-old mystery. One everyone has forgotten about.

Everyone, except Maud ...

FIRST SENTENCE {Prologue}: 'Maud? Was I boring you so much that you'd rather stand outside in the dark?

MEMORABLE MOMENT {Page 75}: After a few steps I find I am leaning on a noticeboard. I stop and read out the words of a poster pinned in the middle: 'Cash- machine criminals operate twenty-four hours a day.' I wonder what a Cash-machine criminal is and how they manage to stay awake for so long. The thought makes me feel tired.

SOURCE: Purchased with a book token.

MY THOUGHTS: My only criticism? Perhaps the teeniest bit drawn out but otherwise, poignant without being bleak, well observed and with a wonderfully deft narrative, all in all an extraordinary read.

A detective story - of sorts - with a haunting insight into what it is to experience confusion (I won't say of what it is to have dementia as though dementia is suspected it is neither confirmed nor denied) at the heart of which is a truly beautiful story of love and friendship and one woman's obsession with finding her friend who may (or may not) be missing. Just as Elizabeth is Maud's story so it is the story of her daughter, Helen.

What could be seen as an overly repetitious read, the increasing 'frayed at the edges' distinction between the present and events that occurred many decades ago frustrating, Elizabeth's ability to recall the mundane tiresome, her capacity to feel afresh the loss of her friend heartbreaking. For me whilst all of these things it did however bring to life beautifully the nature of memory loss, portraying perfectly Elizabeth's vulnerability as a confused elderly woman albeit it one who vigorously defends her right to buy peach slices should she so wish.

WORLD BOOK NIGHT: PRIME SUSPECT.

Following on from World Book Night  and mine and Mr T's reviews today I'm delighted to be bringing you Leanne's review of ...


PRIME SUSPECT by LYNDA LA PLANTE.

WBN BOOK BLURB: Click here to view.

FIRST SENTENCE: Mrs Corrina Salbanna was woken from a deep sleep by the sound of the front door banging in the wind.

MEMORABLE MOMENT: (Chapter Ten, Page 303) Every single man had signed the petition. Tennison’s eyes brimmed with tears.

LEANNE'S THOUGHTS: Prime Suspect is the first novel in the Prime Suspect trilogy, featuring DCI Jane Tennison as a tough, straight-talking senior female officer, locked in a continuous battle to prove her worth to male members of the chauvinistic and very traditional Metropolitan Police Force. Having been a little too young to enjoy Prime Suspect as a TV series in the ‘90s, I was intrigued when the title was selected as one of the World Book Night 2015 giver choices. I decided to make Prime Suspect my first choice and I’m very glad I did.

Lynda la Plante’s characters are spot on. Tennison is portrayed as a feisty, self-assured woman who will let nothing stand in the way of her ambition; yet la Plante also allows the reader to gain an insight into the softer side of the DCI’s character. 

The plot is extremely tightly written, with no obvious gaps at all. The fast, relentless pace of the narrative sweeps the reader along and, by the end, I didn’t want to put the book down!

I thoroughly enjoyed Prime Suspect. I’ll certainly read the two remaining books in the trilogy and I’m also very interested in reading la Plante’s ongoing Detective Anna Travis series as a result of checking out the author’s website. Great stuff!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My thanks to Leanne for not only sharing her thoughts on Prime Suspect but also along with Mr T for arranging the event which saw the giving away of almost 100 books to students and staff. TT

LOVEFILM: APRIL 2015.

HEAVEN IS FOR REAL ...

Not quite the obvious propaganda of last month's God's Not Dead, I'd even go as far as to say this was fairly well balanced as Todd Burpo (minister and father of Colton who claims to have gone to heaven) sees his faith waiver. Could have been a good 'Easter film' but was sooo tedious. Perhaps I'll fare better with the book on which this supposedly true story is based. TT

Not really a film to grab the imagination in any enticing way. Biopic of one preachers story of struggle with belief when his very ill son recovers from surgery and starts discussing his conversations with angels and Jesus on his visits to heaven. Based on a real life story, OK if you're into that sort of thing, but very slow going. don't hold your breath waiting for anything to happen. NJT

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES.

OK, so not quite as I remember it from my adherence to the TV versions of well, not so long ago (1987) and the inevitable product placement marks it as so in the most obvious extent. I think I shall retain my happy cartooned memories of the turtles rather than this pale imitation that has none of the humour and playfulness of their earlier selves and doesn't work hard enough at plot and character investment to really carry off the ominous darkness that it's nemesis should portend.... and only one Cowabunga! Turtley disappointed, almost as bad as the day she threw my Turtles T-shirt out. NJT 

Overly reliant on the CGI action scenes, lacking in the humour of the original cartoons and what was it with all the advertising of a certain pizza chain? I can't remember Donatello or indeed any of the others ever expressing a preference. TT 
PS In my defense RE a certain Turtle: Cowabunga T-shirt the said item was almost more hole than shirt. 

THE RELUCTANT FUNDAMENTALIST. 

Not a film for the action oriented, told mostly in flashback. Changez has a privileged background in Lahore that permits him top-league education in the US and thereafter employment on Wall Street. Whilst on a job in Manilla the world shifts around the World Trade Centre attacks and so does Changez's life.  The film charts the journey of one man from the centre of western free market capitalism, to being suspect of the western intelligence services and the reasons why. Surprising film in many ways not least the contrast with Four Lions, with the same lead actor, Riz Ahmed. NJT

Seemingly filmed without a lighting budget - how I wish I could say the same for the incidental music budget - visually this was too dark, much of the footage in shadow. An hour into this two hour, ten minute film and I can't see where its going and perhaps more disappointingly I don't care. TT

DARK CITY.

Mr T's choice. I hadn't much hope that I'd enjoy this let alone that I'd enjoy it as much as I did. Wonderfully quirky and filmed in such a way that it somehow brought a comic book to mind AND it has one of the most sinister 'child baddies' you are ever likely to encounter but don't be fooled. Though full of themes such as thought control and the nature of memory it has so much more to it than an original plot full of cinematic references and stunning visuals should you care to think about it. TT

Just my type of thing, not sure how I missed this one. An impressive cast, particularly nice to see Richard O'Brien in a film role once more and Jennifer Connolly (the girl from Labyrinth all grown up) examine the nature of human identity and just how do I/we know who I/we, am or are. Dark is the word to describe this film where an alien force is attempting to discover just what it is that makes human beings, human. Need to watch again and it may become a permanent addition to the film library. NJT

THE INBETWEENERS II. 

A spin off from the popular TV series and follow on from The Inbetweeners Movie, The Inbetweeners II finds the four friends in Australia in what I dare say is a hilarious film ... if you are of a certain sex and age. For myself whilst not without the odd funny moment this was way too lewd - the jokes about 'down under' coming thick and fast. TT

I had hoped that lessons learned in the first movie would have permitted some character development in the four heroes, but no. Sad commentary on the film industry and society's delay of conferment of adult status on young people, and a pretty poor presentation of Australian culture. Can't wait for when they are having their mid-life crises. NJT