I've never read any Christopher Fowler but we had an arc for his new one so I took a look. Loved it - his peculiar crimes unit is right up my street. So much so that I've bought 'The Water Room' (second book I've bought this week it must be coming up to payday!) because we didn't have the first one in the series so I'm reading them in reverse order.
The new book comes out in October so I'll review it then. Fowler lives in London and it shows and Bryant and May are two pretty unique characters as are the rest of the squad. If you like your mysteries a little (ok a lot) on the weird side the match boys are for you (Bryant and May is a well-known brand of matches in UK) I would highly recommend these books to fans of Jasper Fforde, Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett.
Oh and third draft nearing completion.
Aug 27, 2008
Aug 25, 2008
Guernsey Literary etc review
This is a great book which tells the story of the Society through a series of letters and telegrams to and from author Juliet Ashton. The fact that the whole story is told through letters doesn’t detract from the power of the subject matter.
The Germans occupied Guernsey and the other Channel Islands because the British foolishly left them undefended. They confiscated the locals livestock and forced them to live under harsh and constantly changing regulations and curfews. The society was formed under false pretences but became an escape for the islanders who had no news from the outside world for the last five years of the war. Juliet in a London still reeling from the might of the Luftwaffe gets a glimpse of the Society and wants to know more and the more she learns about the Islanders in general and Elizabeth McKenna in particular the more she knows she’s got to visit Guernsey.
The story is told in letters, and telegrams to and from Juliet, her publisher and friend Sidney Stark, his sister Sophie, Dawsey Adams, Amelia, Isola, Eben and Eli and many others.
I laughed, was suitable affronted and yes in some places I cried. A brilliant book and it’s about time someone shone a spot light on this little-known part of history. It had some interesting things to say about booksellers (Juliet and Sophie worked in a bookstore when they first moved to London) and the complicated relationships between the islanders and the Germans. And to say the path of true love doesn’t run smooth for one character would be an understatement!
I was very sad to learn that Mary Ann Shaffer one of the authors died before the book’s publication.
The Germans occupied Guernsey and the other Channel Islands because the British foolishly left them undefended. They confiscated the locals livestock and forced them to live under harsh and constantly changing regulations and curfews. The society was formed under false pretences but became an escape for the islanders who had no news from the outside world for the last five years of the war. Juliet in a London still reeling from the might of the Luftwaffe gets a glimpse of the Society and wants to know more and the more she learns about the Islanders in general and Elizabeth McKenna in particular the more she knows she’s got to visit Guernsey.
The story is told in letters, and telegrams to and from Juliet, her publisher and friend Sidney Stark, his sister Sophie, Dawsey Adams, Amelia, Isola, Eben and Eli and many others.
I laughed, was suitable affronted and yes in some places I cried. A brilliant book and it’s about time someone shone a spot light on this little-known part of history. It had some interesting things to say about booksellers (Juliet and Sophie worked in a bookstore when they first moved to London) and the complicated relationships between the islanders and the Germans. And to say the path of true love doesn’t run smooth for one character would be an understatement!
I was very sad to learn that Mary Ann Shaffer one of the authors died before the book’s publication.
The Guernsey Literary Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Burrows
Another spectacular title. I read this over the weekend and I'm not taking it back I'll buy a copy because I enjoyed it so much and know I will read it many times in the future.
I'll post my review in a moment but first a few observations. The bits about booksellers in here are well observed. We don't do it for the money - we do it because we love to read and recommend books. The three questions. What's it about? Is it any good? and Have you read it? come up on a daily basis.
Every family in England has a war story that floats around from generation to generation and ours has to do with a doodlebug - the soft and fuzzy name for a V1 flying bomb. Granny Curtis my Mum's mum heard a doodlebug go over. Doodlebugs are OK as long as you can hear them, when the engine cut out you had about 30 seconds before the thing plunged to earth and possibly blew you to bits. This one was faulty and the engine kept cutting back in. Mum told me that every time the engine stopped Gran backed a little further towards the open fire, fortunately the V1 blew up just before she toasted her behind.
I'll post my review in a moment but first a few observations. The bits about booksellers in here are well observed. We don't do it for the money - we do it because we love to read and recommend books. The three questions. What's it about? Is it any good? and Have you read it? come up on a daily basis.
Every family in England has a war story that floats around from generation to generation and ours has to do with a doodlebug - the soft and fuzzy name for a V1 flying bomb. Granny Curtis my Mum's mum heard a doodlebug go over. Doodlebugs are OK as long as you can hear them, when the engine cut out you had about 30 seconds before the thing plunged to earth and possibly blew you to bits. This one was faulty and the engine kept cutting back in. Mum told me that every time the engine stopped Gran backed a little further towards the open fire, fortunately the V1 blew up just before she toasted her behind.
Aug 23, 2008
The Terminal Spy by Alan S. Cowell
Another review - this one just came out
On November 1st 2006 a man is assassinated in broad daylight in Central London. Add to the facts that this man was a Russian defector, former KGB and that the murder weapon used was a little known radioactive substance and you might think you’ve stumbled into a Le Carre spy novel, but this isn’t fiction.
From his death bed Alexander Litvinenko charged the Kremlin with his murder and Cowell - the then bureau chief for the New York Times in London - lays out all the major suspects in and outside of Russia during the turbulent times of the collapse of the Soviet Union when Moscow resembled the wild west. He charts the twin careers of Vladimir Putin and Litvinenko – whom he gives us warts and all - and most chillingly details the first known act of nuclear terrorism on British soil.
On November 1st 2006 a man is assassinated in broad daylight in Central London. Add to the facts that this man was a Russian defector, former KGB and that the murder weapon used was a little known radioactive substance and you might think you’ve stumbled into a Le Carre spy novel, but this isn’t fiction.
From his death bed Alexander Litvinenko charged the Kremlin with his murder and Cowell - the then bureau chief for the New York Times in London - lays out all the major suspects in and outside of Russia during the turbulent times of the collapse of the Soviet Union when Moscow resembled the wild west. He charts the twin careers of Vladimir Putin and Litvinenko – whom he gives us warts and all - and most chillingly details the first known act of nuclear terrorism on British soil.
Black and White and Dead All Over by John Darnton
Here's the review
Globe Editor Slain in Newsroom screams the headline of the New York paper Theodore S Ratnoff worked for before someone spiked his life story, literally.
Jude Hurley is assigned to cover the story. He’s not a favorite of the police who are lining up a long list of suspects. Did Ratnoff uncover a criminal conspriracy? a plot to take over the Globe’s media empire, did he wrong a woman, or is he just the first name on a grudge list?
There’s also the matter of a bastard son about to inherit controlling interest in The Globe’s stock, a murderous ‘avenger’ with a nice line in poetic justice, mistaken identity, boardroom power struggles, a megalomaniac Aussie media baron, and a pack of newsman hungry to snatch the lede away from Jude.
It all adds up to a complex but enjoyable thriller set in the heart of the newspaper business.
Globe Editor Slain in Newsroom screams the headline of the New York paper Theodore S Ratnoff worked for before someone spiked his life story, literally.
Jude Hurley is assigned to cover the story. He’s not a favorite of the police who are lining up a long list of suspects. Did Ratnoff uncover a criminal conspriracy? a plot to take over the Globe’s media empire, did he wrong a woman, or is he just the first name on a grudge list?
There’s also the matter of a bastard son about to inherit controlling interest in The Globe’s stock, a murderous ‘avenger’ with a nice line in poetic justice, mistaken identity, boardroom power struggles, a megalomaniac Aussie media baron, and a pack of newsman hungry to snatch the lede away from Jude.
It all adds up to a complex but enjoyable thriller set in the heart of the newspaper business.
Canada, How to mess up on Trax and Who's Reading this Blog
Last week I realised a childhood dream to visit Canada and it didn't disappoint. I could go on and on about how lovely it was or I could just put a link up to the photos of the trip (click the title for this blog entry and it'll take you straight to them). The one of Victoria harbour at night will be my new screensaver shortly. Anyway it was back to work yesterday - in the morning and then my usual afternoon shift at TKE.
Funny story - I came back on Trax but I got the wrong one and ended up at the U. I got off at the Stadium onto 1300E and started to walk along it. Note to self 1300E is a long road when you're on foot, had to be rescued by hubbie. The moral of this story is never get on Trax without looking at the destination board!
I've got a copy of 'The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Society' to read this weekend and the John Darnton book 'Black and White and Dead all Over' came out this week so I'll post my review of that next.
Interesting point I've set up Google Analytics on my blog - because I wasn't sure if anyone (apart from family and friends) was reading it. The good news, people are and more than I thought but the thing that floored me was where they're coming from. Not just the US and the UK (thanks Mum!) but from as far afield as Norway, Poland, Australia and South Africa. So thanks for reading!
Funny story - I came back on Trax but I got the wrong one and ended up at the U. I got off at the Stadium onto 1300E and started to walk along it. Note to self 1300E is a long road when you're on foot, had to be rescued by hubbie. The moral of this story is never get on Trax without looking at the destination board!
I've got a copy of 'The Guernsey Potato Peel Pie Society' to read this weekend and the John Darnton book 'Black and White and Dead all Over' came out this week so I'll post my review of that next.
Interesting point I've set up Google Analytics on my blog - because I wasn't sure if anyone (apart from family and friends) was reading it. The good news, people are and more than I thought but the thing that floored me was where they're coming from. Not just the US and the UK (thanks Mum!) but from as far afield as Norway, Poland, Australia and South Africa. So thanks for reading!
Aug 9, 2008
Aug 4, 2008
Feedback , Breaking Dawn and UMFA
I started my Friday on a high - I got some constructive and positive feedback - thanks Linda! and to be honest for the rest of the day nothing could dent it. Even a pretty busy shift in the run up to the Breaking Dawn release. Our pre-solds were gone by 10.30 and after we got everyone out of the store and locked up it was my job to walk down the line checking that the people in the queue really did have their vouchers - some didn't but we sorted that out. Some people had just gotten in the queue because it was there, by the time I got to the back my voice was going and my throat has been a bit sore all weekend. Once we got to midnight the books flew into the hands of eager readers and we were done by 12.30.
Yesterday Chris took me to the Monet to Picasso exhibition at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. The last time I was in an art gallery was Vienna in the 80's. The paintings at UMFA are all from private collections so rarely seen. They were great but the Rodin sculptures just blew me away. If we ever got a piece of fine art to go in the house and it was my choice it would be a Rodin.
Yesterday Chris took me to the Monet to Picasso exhibition at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts. The last time I was in an art gallery was Vienna in the 80's. The paintings at UMFA are all from private collections so rarely seen. They were great but the Rodin sculptures just blew me away. If we ever got a piece of fine art to go in the house and it was my choice it would be a Rodin.
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