Book review: “Good Evening, Mrs. Craven” by Mollie Panter-Downes

This book is a collection of short stories, originally published in the New Yorker magazine during the second World War. The author was a prolific writer for the magazine throughout her career, submitting a wide range of work including poems, book reviews, London Letters, and Letters from England, as well as these short stories.

The twenty-one stories in this collection are vignettes of Middle England through the war, briefly chronicling the experiences and emotions of her subjects. The stories range from light-hearted, almost wickedly observed meetings of a Red Cross sewing party, to the melancholy tale of a lonely, isolated civil servant, to the sparkling joy of a young bride finally stepping out from the shadow of her sister. The characters are perceptively observed, and the wit and compassion of the writer jumps of the page all the while shrewdly documenting wartime England, and the state of the nation.

Persephone Books are fast becoming my fail safe method of ensuring I read entertaining, intelligent, beautifully written books, and this was no exception. I don’t read a lot of short stories, but these were an absolute joy, and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them to others.

Film review: “Sounds Like Teen Spirit”

This British feature-length documentary about the Junior Eurovision contest, is a heart warming and heart felt film. I’d never heard of Junior Eurovision before this, and it’s a shame that the UK don’t compete in it, as it looks like a great competition – better than the adult version!

The director follows entrants from four countries, showing how they were selected, their preparation for the event, and the week they spend at the actual competition leading up to the live show. The children show us around their homes and show us where they live and how they feel about representing their country.

I loved that there were no pushy parents, and although there are moments to both laugh and cry, you never feel as though the children are being exploited or there is any intrusion into their privacy. As a complete antithesis to all the media representation of most children and teenagers in this country, the children the director has chosen to follow, all seem genuinely nice, talented kids. In fact, their talent is not only their singing or performing, but as part of the rules of the competition, they have to write their own song (music and lyrics) in their own language.

A warm, funny, feel good film – I loved it.

Book review: “The Earth Hums in B Flat” by Mari Strachan

Gwenni Morgan is growing up in a 1950s Welsh town, and she has a special gift – she can fly in her sleep. She flies over the town, occasionally over the sea, and watches the world from above – at least, that’s when her sister isn’t disturbing her sleep by invading Gwenni’s side of the bed. This gift makes Gwenni inquisitive, and when a neighbour disappears, she’s determined to help bring him back to his family. But what else will she uncover along the way?

On the inside cover, this is described as “a magical novel that will transport you to another time and place”, and I have to agree – it is a magical book and as you experience the story through Gwenni’s first person narrative, you will indeed feel transported to the small town Welsh community and into the Morgan’s family home. Gwenni’s naivety means that while she doesn’t initially comprehend the significance of her observations, as a reader I was one or two steps ahead of her and able to piece together the truth for myself; this does not, however, take away anything from the reading experience and enjoyment of the book.

I really loved the brevity of the writing. That’s not to say it’s a short book, or has a sparse style, but Strachan doesn’t describe any of the characters in much detail, and yet the brief glimpses of physical features make all the people feel very real and genuine, and I had a vivid picture of each of them in my head. The details of the period are also only ever hinted at, with occasional vague references or gently interlaced details of the time, but there is never a specific description of the setting, merely enough to give a feeling of the period.

I became completely engrossed in Gwenni’s life and her journey to understanding her own family as well as the world around her. There is no sentimentality or mawkishness about this tale, merely lovely, and at times, moving, storytelling. Very impressive for a debut novel.

Book review: “The Post Office Girl” by Stefan Zweig

In the bleak years following World War One, Christine is one of the lucky few with a job in an economically destroyed Austria; she’s a civil servant working in a provincial post office in a safe government job. At 28, she’s working full time, both at the post office and at home, where she’s caring for her sick mother, and has no prospects or expectations for the future. One day, Christine receives a telegram from an American aunt, inviting her to join her aunt and uncle in a resort in the Swiss Alps. A few days later, she arrives at the hotel and is immediately transported into a care-free world of wealth and luxury, and her transformation begins. Abruptly, rumours and jealousy cast a shadow over her, and the dream of a different life is cut short, sending her back to the post office, but with a new outlook on life.

The manuscript for this novel was found amongst the authors papers after he’d died in 1942, and was published posthumously. I’m not sure exactly when he wrote it, but I’m guessing in the 1930’s, and what I find incredible, is how modern the book feels. Although this is a modern translation, I can’t imagine any translator would attempt to alter the style or language of the original work, so I’m assuming this is a true representation of the authors manuscript, and as such it is a great piece of writing. I felt as though the story and characters could be transplanted into a modern day setting, and would still be just as relevant as the post-WWI Austria and Switzerland Zweig has represented.

Christine’s story reveals an emotional journey from resignation, to the awakening to hope and joy, through confusion and embarrassment, and finally the anger and despair of a young woman who has glimpsed the wonders that the world can hold, only to have it all snatched away. It is the transition of a young woman who has never had the opportunity to fulfil her potential, whose naivety and joy is a breath of fresh air amongst the wealth and riches of the hotel guests, but is her downfall as jealousy rears its ugly head, and she is plunged back into her old life with little hope of an escape back to the colourful, care-free world she knows is out there.

The way the author writes from Christine’s point of view feels very real, and the emotional rollercoaster we are taken on is the heart of this book, while it always has an eye on the sociological issues of the period as the backdrop to the story. Christine’s thought processes, drifting fluidly or flitting quickly, are written with clarity and feel very honest.

As the book was not submitted as a finished manuscript by the author himself, we can’t be sure if this was the completed book he’d planned. The denouement of the book concludes in a very abrupt manner, but I hope it was how the author intended it to end. It doesn’t try to end the story and leaves the reader to decide how they think the lives of the characters will continue, yet instead of leaving me wanting more, wanting to know what happened next, I thought the single world last sentence was the most satisfying ending to a book I’ve read in recent times.

Book review: “The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop” by Lewis Buzbee

The Yellow-Lighted Bookshop is a memoir from reader, book seller, author, but most importantly book lover, Lewis Buzbee, who takes us through his introduction to the world of books and his love of book stores, and incorporates the history of the book and the development of the book trade.

For anyone who loves the the very tactile nature of books, this gem is a must. The author has worked in bookshops as well as a publisher’s sales representative from an early age, and has spent a lifetime enveloping himself in the world of books.

He describes how the first spark the stated his fascination with books, the bookshops that inspired his choice of career, and the current state of the book industry. But more than this, he tells the history of the book itself, as well as the education he received from others on the make up of the book, with facts about books and bindings casually mixed with tales of how he learned the information himself. There is more of an emphasis on the constantly changing face of book selling in the last thirty of so years, and the effect of the internet and technology in the current publishing industry, and a look to where the future may take books.

After learning an important lesson as a young man about judging people by they read, there is no prejudice or elitism about readers or books, or about independent bookshops, multi-national chain stores, or even internet sellers, just an account of one persons continued love of books.

For all book lovers, as well as book shop addicts, this book is a must, although it should come with a warning, as it will make you want to hunt out every bookshop in every place you ever go!

Book reviews: “Chocolat” and “The Lollipop Shoes” by Joanne Harris

Chocolat begins with the exotic Vianne Rocher arriving on the wind in a small village in rural France, Lansquenet. Before long she has opened a chocolate boutique which sees the start of a battle with the local priest, Father Reynaud, trying to make his parishoners observe the rituals of Lent by denouncing the newcomer and her sinful confections. Who will win the war between church and chocolate?

I first read this book when it was published in 1999, and I’ve just read it again, as I wanted to remind myself of the story before reading the sequel The Lollipop Shoes, and I’ve seen the film adaptation too many times to remember what the original story was (as the film is a very different story from the book). The story feels like a fairy tale for adults, with the mysterious, mystical Vianne, with her talent for being able to tell what everyone’s favourite chocolate is, up against the religious, righteous Father Reynaud, with his own secrets of the past which have made him the overzealous, overbearing representative of the church.

I love the characters of this book, who are all believable, each with their own idiosyncrasies and faults, and who all contribute to the story. What I also like about Vianne is the ambiguity of her magical abilities. Can she really perform magic? I’m not so sure. I think it’s more about the situation and intuition and coincidence, but the alchemy of making perfect chocolates and confection is beguiling.

The story is supposed to have been contemporary at the time, and yet the village has an out of period quality about it, and I think that’s why the filmmakers decided to set it in the 1950s, allowing the correlation of the old-fashioned attitudes of the characters to a era of self-restraint and deference to the church. In fact, the period of the story is the only thing that I find slightly jarring in the book, as it doesn’t sit well with modern life, even in the small village location of rural France.

Overall, a very entertaining and indulgent read.

The Lollipop Shoes is the continuation of Vianne’s story, and after leaving Lansequenet, a few troubled moves later, has reinvented herself as Yanne, and settled into a quiet, invisible life in Montmatre, Paris. Her daughter, Anouk, is now Annie, and they have an addition to the family, Rosette, a second daughter for Yanne. When the bohemian Zozie arrives as a whirlwind, she’s everything that Anouk remembers her mother, Vianne Rocher, to be, and nothing like the woman, Yanne, she has become. But Zozie, also steals identities and lives, and has set her sights on the family for her next theft.

I started the book, with low expectations, as I have tried to read other Joanne Harris books since Chocolat but have never found them as satisfying, and had stopped bothering, but couldn’t resist trying The Lollipop Shoes and finding out more about the tale of Vianne Rocher. The opening chapters of the book were very good, and I was intrigued as to where the story was going, so I was pleasantly surprised. However, as I mentioned above, the thing I enjoyed about Chocolat was the ambiguity about the magic performed by Vianne, but in The Lollipop Shoes there was no question about it – the characters were performing spells and incantations. I did enjoy the gradually emerging story of what had happened to Vianne and Anouk in the intervening years, but by the end of the book, the story became too fantastical for my liking, and wasn’t worthy of the characters. I was also disappointed by the ensemble of characters, who weren’t really necessary, and weren’t as well drawn as those of Chocolat.

I did manage to at least read to the end of the book, but an unsatisfying conclusion meant I didn’t enjoy it anywhere near as much as Chocolat.

Book review: “Sacred Sierra” by Jason Webster

If you’ve ever read one of those books where the author tells us how they turned their back on the rat race and moved to France/Italy/Spain to get back to nature and create their self sufficient haven by renovating a run down/ruined farmhouse/vineyard/mill, then you might think this book by Jason Webster is another one of those writing by number memoirs and with comical, colourful local characters, and disasters aplenty, concluding with the all round happy ending of a beautiful home with the perfect life achieved. THIS IS NOT THE CASE!

Yes, the author and his Spanish girlfriend buy a rundown mas (a small hamlet of buildings that would have supported the people farming the surrounding land) in the mountains of eastern Spain and, yes, they renovate it to live a different lifestyle, but, this book is so much more than that story. The subtitle of the book is “A Year On A Spanish Mountain”, and each month forms a chapter of the story. At the start of each chapter is a quotation from a 12th century book of agriculture, showing how the practises of farming from 900 years ago can still be applied today, working with the elements and the seasons to get the best out of the land and crops.

The natural history, geography and geology of the area are included, and we learn of the bees and insects, trees and weeds, water and rocks surrounding the mas, from the authors own experiences, as well as the encounters and meetings with the three elderly farmers who become his friends and mentors in the various aspects of bringing order back to the overrun olive and almonds trees, the terraces for planting, and the prospect of fulfilling a dream to plant an arboretum.

Religion is still a big part of Spanish society, and we are also told of modern day festivals and pilgrimages, as well as some of the history of the various religions and peoples that have occupied and lived in the area, including the Moors, the Cathars, and the story of the Knights Templar within the region.

Interspersed with local tales of fairies and folklore, handed down through the generations, these beautifully told myths and legends provide a lovely interlude between chapters.

The writing style is very readable and accessible. Too often, authors writing on this subject feel compelled to include plenty of local words and dialect within the text, trying to add colour to the narrative. Whilst there are some local words and phrases included, they are never intrusive or over used, and always translated. The descriptions of both the people and the locations are beautiful and tell of a lifestyle and landscape that may not exist for much longer.

To conclude the book is a fabulous coda explaining the trees of the region, including details of their history in the area, the conditions they thrive in, the mythology surrounding them, their medicinal properties, and their specific requirements for nurturing them. A fantastic resource, echoing the style of the book, and giving a potted history and reference guide to the trees on the land surrounding the mas.

All this adds up to, quite simply, an engrossing and evocative book, and I highly recommend it.

Book review: “Oscar Wilde and the Ring of Death” by Gyles Brandreth

When Oscar Wilde starts the game of ‘Murder’ during his Sunday Supper Club, where all of the guests anonymously choose someone they would like to kill, little does he realise the chain of events he will set in motion. That very evening, the first ‘victim’ chosen in the game dies in mysterious circumstances, and the game appears to have taken a very deadly turn. Along with his trusted friend, Robert Sherard, Oscar will need to use his instincts, intelligence and power of observation to find the killer – but time is of the essence, as Oscar himself is destined to be ‘victim’ number thirteen.

This is an unusual Victorian crime novel, as Brandreth has chosen to use real people as the main characters of his book, and using the author Oscar Wilde as his detective, at a time when he was at the height of his success and fame. The story is told by narrator, Robert Sherard, who was a life-long friend of Oscar Wilde and an author is in own right, publishing poetry, novels and biographies in his lifetime, including five books about Wilde. This is a very interesting tactic on Brandreth’s part, as it allows Sherard to show us the investigation as Wilde conducts it, without giving away his thought processes and conclusions, and allowing us to try and solve the mystery as the plot unfolds.

There are plenty of Wilde’s contemporaries involved in the plot, including fellow authors Arthur Conan Doyle and Bram Stoker as well as artist Walter Sickert, which adds to the colour and interest of the world that Brandreth creates in the novel. It is obvious from the warmth of the writing that the author has a great regard for his subject, and on the book website he tells us that Oscar Wilde was his first real life hero. With a plot that touches on class and social issues of the time, as well as including the classic mystery elements and set in an interesting time in British history, this books is very evocative of the period and a rewarding and entertaining read.

I’d never considered to be a great reader of crime novels, but I’ve recently realised that I actually enjoy what I would call ‘alternative’ crime fiction. I don’t like modern crime, with graphic descriptions of violent crime, but I do very much enjoy period crime novels like this, or funny, light hearted crimes books like the Jasper Fforde novels or the Agatha Raisin murder mysteries. This book definitely falls in to my ‘alternative’ crime list, and I’ve found out it’s actually the second in the series, so I shall definitely be on the look out for the first book (”Oscar Wilde and the Candlelight Murders”) and eagerly anticipating the next one (”Oscar Wilde and the Dead Man’s Smile”) which will be published later this year.

Book review: “Shakespeare’s Wife” by Germaine Greer

There is very little known about William Shakespeare’s wife, Ann Hathaway, and most of it is based on conjecture and assumption, rather than evidence. We do know she was older than Shakespeare, and most theories claim she bedded him and he was then forced to marry his pregnant seducer. Historians and academics interpret the little evidence there is to make Ann the villain of the piece, while Germaine Greer turns these theories on their head, and looks at the bigger picture of the society of the age, and suggests that Will and Ann were in love, backed up by discussions around the customs and laws of the time, and how history has recorded their affairs.

This is by no means an easy read as it is a very academic text, so be prepared for lots of reference numbers pointing you to the Notes section at the back of the book, as well as plenty of lists of the recorded evidence for other contemporaries of the couple which can be dry at times. As someone who doesn’t read books about history or academic pieces, I thought I might struggle with the book, but having heard the author on various radio programmes and podcasts talking about it, I was determined to have a go. Greer’s voice jumps out of the text at you, and I almost felt she was reading the book to me in my head, it was such a strong narrative, while the content is fascinating and a real insight into the society of the period, mixed with interesting views on how evidence of his feeling for Ann and their relationship may be seen in Shakespeare’s work. As the author points out to us, it appears that others who have attempted to examine Ann’s affect on Shakespeare and his work, seem to have used the lack of records as evidence that Ann didn’t conform to the customs and laws of the period, but it seems highly unlikely that a woman in this period would have been able to behave and live in such a way without being ostracised from her community.

It took me a while to finish the book, but it was an interesting and educating diversion from my normal reading, and thoroughly worthwhile.

Book review: “Who’s That Girl?” by Alexandra Potter

Thirty-one year old Charlotte Merryweather is a glowing example of the modern woman, a successful businesswoman who owns and runs her own PR company, living in a smart flat in London, with a fabulous sports car and a property developer boyfriend. Her day starts at six in the morning and a work out with her personal trainer, before a busy day filled with business lunches with top flight journalists, meetings with prospective clients, cocktail party press launches and dinner with Miles, her boyfriend. Sounds perfect? Charlotte is stressed out, always tired, a glutton for self help books on how to perfect her life, and has migrated from her dream of becoming a writer in favour of financial stability. So when she follows a diversion because of road works and finds herself face-to-face with her twenty-one year old self, she realises she has the perfect opportunity to undo some of the mistakes she made ten years ago.

The genre of chick-lit has moved on from the straight forward boys meets girl type of romcom, and now spans the spectrum of the life of women in today’s society. This is no exception, and although the publishers are keen to point out on the back cover that this is a romantic comedy, it is really more about a woman coming to terms with the mistakes she made when she was younger, and learning to understand what the important things are in her life, and realising her dreams. There is enough romance to satisfy the chick-lit audience, but this book is squarely in the aspirational category, concentrating on the main characters relationship with herself, her family and friends.

When I reviewed the last book by this author, I said that I thought it was a return to the form she showed in her first couple of books, and this one is even better. I loved the heroine, both as a twenty-one and thirty-one year old. All through the book, you’re wondering why she changes so much from the young carefree woman, into the stressed executive, and when the explanation arrives, it is brief, but as a woman, it speaks volumes and you understand completely how it could change your life.

You do wonder how the author is going to explain the time-travel plot line, and it is a bit of a cliché, but it’s not too overblown and I think she gets away with it. The ending of the epilogue is a bit corny as well, and if I’d written this book, I’m not sure I would have included it, but I guess it was necessary to tie up a particular loose end. It didn’t spoil the book by any means though, so I’m not going to quibble over it!

Overall, an above average chick-lit book, which I thoroughly enjoyed, and would happily recommend to other fans of the genre.