Review ~ The Last of the Wine by Mary Renault

Virago
(VMC 640)
August 2015

Ancient Greek history has never been something that I have felt comfortable with, due, I suppose to my education in this area of history being sorely lacking. My high school wasn't the sort of place where the classics sat comfortably, so perhaps the fault is that I never grew to understand the pull of ancient mythology at an age where I might have soaked up it with rather more interest.

So, when offered the chance to read this reissued book by Mary Renault, originally published in 1956, I started with an open mind, after all the introduction to the novel, tells me that Mary is an exceptional story-teller, and to some extent I would agree with that statement,  she certainly does have the ability to weave a tale around the ancient world. She paints her characters with a yearning passion and her vivacity for the world she recreates, is evident in the way she controls the story. She doesn't shy away from portraying the intricacies and subtle nuances of history and graciously allows her characters enough space to tell their own story.

I'm not going to lie and say that I found this book riveting, because I didn't. In fact, in places it was hard going, but by the end of the novel, and I have to admit that I skim read my way through a lot of it, my opinion remains that classical history is something I still find really difficult to totally enjoy.

And yet,undoubtedly there are readers who love Mary Renault's books and I am sure that they will be delighted that they are being reissued as modern classics by Virago. 

Best read with copious cups of strong tea and an entire packet of chocolate hobnobs.

About the author

My thanks to the Curtis Brown Book Club and Virago for the opportunity to read and discuss this novel.

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Review ~ Stasi Child by David Young

Twenty7
Bonnier Publishing
Ebook

East Berlin,1975. Questions are dangerous. Answers can Kill.

Communist East Germany in 1975 was a place of shadows, a time of oppression and deceit, and an uncertain time for police officer, oberleutnant, Karen Müller, who attempts to maintain law and order on the dark streets of East Berlin. When the mutilated body of a young woman is found lying exposed in a city cemetery, Müller and her underleutnant, Werner Tilsner are faced with the difficult task of trying to investigate a killing which seems to throw up more questions than it does answers. When they discover that they will be assisted by Klaus Jäger, Minister for State Security, the level of secrecy and collusion becomes heightened to an, almost, impossible level.

Keeping the dystopian atmosphere of Eastern Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall is a difficult task, as so much during this time, was shrouded in secrecy, however, this debut author does a commendable job of bringing both time and place distinctly alive in the imagination. There is a subtle darkness to the narrative which, in my mind, is entirely in keeping with that of the shadowy world of communist politics. Shrouded in mystery, the central theme of the story works well; it’s atmospheric without being enclosed in too much unnecessary detail and the crispness of the narrative allows the story to move forwards and backwards in time with seamless precision. There are more than enough twists and turns in the plot to keep even the more erudite crime aficionados guessing right until the very end.

And yet, the story is also about so much more than its underlying plot. It’s also about sharply delineated characters that become frighteningly realistic. I was entirely beguiled by Karen Müller, she is as much an enigma as the communist world she inhabits, and I am delighted to learn that this is the first book in a proposed series, where I hope we will learn more about this charismatic and, it must be said, supremely flawed, oberleutnant.

Best enjoyed with ice cold Vodka shots and black coffee chasers...

About the Author

Follow on Twitter @djy_writer

David Young was born near Hull and, after dropping out of a Bristol University science degree, studied Humanities at Bristol Polytechnic. Temporary jobs cleaning ferry toilets and driving a butcher’s van were followed by a career in journalism on provincial newspapers, a London news agency, and international radio and TV newsrooms. He now writes in his garden shed and in his spare time supports Hull City AFC.

Amazon UK

My thanks to Julia Dorrington at Midas PR for my review copy of this book.

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Review ~ Bryant & May - London's Glory by Christopher Fowler

Doubleday
Penguin Random House
Transworld
5 November 2015

The first-ever collection of Bryant & May stories not only sheds light on eleven classic cases but also contains everything you need to know about the two octogenarian detectives and the Peculiar Crimes Unit.

In every detective’s life there are cases that can’t be discussed, and throughout the Bryant & May novels there have been mentions of some of these such as the Deptford Demon or the Little Italy Whelk Smuggling Scandal.

Now Arthur Bryant has decided to open the files on eleven of these previously unseen investigations that required the collective genius and unique modus operandi of Arthur Bryant and John May and the Peculiar Crimes Unit - investigations that range from different times (London during the Great Smog) and a variety of places: a circus freak show, on board a London Tour Bus and even a yacht off the coast of Turkey.

And in addition to these eleven classic cases, readers are also given a privileged look inside the Peculiar Crimes Unit (literally, with a cut away drawing of their offices), a guide to the characters of the Peculiar Crimes Unit, and access to the contents of Arthur Bryant’s highly individual library.

My thoughts:

I'm rather a latecomer to the world of Arthur Bryant & John May. So, to have a compendium of short stories in one volume and for that volume to have a perfect introduction, including an illustrated guide to the Old Peculiar Unit and a fascinating Dramatis Personae, is a really good way to begin reading this very popular crime series. There are eleven short stories to enjoy, all are roughly twenty or so pages long, some a little shorter, but always complete in themselves. And, as always, the stories are the perfect showcase for Bryant &May’s own brand of peculiar eccentricity.

I’m not a huge reader of short stories but when I do read them, I want them to be like these, short, succinct, wide-ranging, with a fine eye for detail, and above all entertaining. I enjoyed dipping into the book at whim, and being allowed moments of complete enjoyment as I traversed the streets of London in the company of two men, who, if I’m being perfectly honest, were I to meet them in real life, I would probably cross the street to avoid. However, be that as it may, there is no doubt that Bryant & May exude a certain fascinating charm. Old school gentlemen detectives in a world which has to them, seemingly, gone completely mad. I especially liked Bryant’s wry observation in Bryant & May and the Secret Santa on Strictly Come Dancing’s use of two verbs and an adverb in its, to Bryant , anyway, offending title. It must be said, though, that the book is not without some quite dark moments, there are stories like Bryant & May and The Seven Points which have a distinctly sinister edginess.

There’s no doubt that Bryant & May make me smile, they’re incredibly engaging and in the hands of this hack writer employed by Mr Bryant’s publishers – the author’s words – not mine, I am sure they will continue to enthral readers for some time to come.

Bryant & May London's Glory would make a perfect Christmas gift for any crime reader who likes quirky crime stories.

Best enjoyed with a nice glass of Merlot and maybe a few ginger biscuits.

About the Author

Christopher Fowler is a Londoner born (in Greenwich) and bred. For many years he jointly owned and ran one of the UK’s top film marketing companies.

He is the author of many novels and short story collections, from the urban unease of cult fictions such as Roofworld and Spanky, the horror-pastiche of Hell Train to the much-praised and award-winning Bryant and May series of detective novels - and his two critically acclaimed autobiographies, Paperboy and Film Freak.

He lives in King’s Cross.

Follow Christopher Fowler on Twitter- @Peculiar
Find him on Facebook
Or on his website

My thanks to Sophie Christopher at Transworld for my review copy of this book

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The author in my spotlight is ...Kirsten McKenzie

I am delighted to introduce the author

Kirsten McKenzie

Kirsten is talking about her debut novel


Fifteen Postcards

Accent Press
2015

Hello Kirsten and welcome to Jaffareadstoo...

Where did you get the first flash of inspiration for your novel, Fifteen Postcards?

I was sorting through an ice cream container full of old postcards which I'd found out in the back room of the shop. Mixed in the cards were a series of numbered postcards a soldier had written to his mother in WWI. Every time I tried sorting them into chronological order, someone would come into the shop, and I'd had to put them aside. They were essentially the beginning of 'Fifteen Postcards'. I only wish I knew whether the soldier survived.

Tell us three interesting things about your novel which will pique the reader’s interest?

The shop in Fifteen Postcards, The Old Curiosity Shop, is loosely based on Antique Alley, the antique shop my father started in 1971. The description of the front window, the shop counter, the aisles, is what I see everyday I'm at work. And yes, it really is that messy and disorganised.

If you are familiar with Charles Dickens' novel The Old Curiosity Shop, you'll recognise some crossover of character names, which I've sprinkled through Fifteen Postcards.

The descriptions of the antiques in Fifteen Postcards, are all based on articles which really exist. I've pinned images of most of them to my Pinterest board. It is astonishing the worth of some articles which were everyday items to some segments of society in days gone by. The only exception are the Paul de Lamere candleabra. While he was a prolific silversmith, records of his work were lost, so the candleabra in Fifteen Postcards are based on silverware owned by Queen Elizabeth II which were made by him, and pieces of his held in the V&A in London.

In your research for Fifteen Postcards did you discover anything which surprised you?

The population in both Simla in India, and in Bruce Bay in New Zealand. For the times, they really were bustling towns. Simla (or Shimla now) is of course a large town with plenty of tourists and university students, but Bruce Bay has long emptied of most of its inhabitants, and nature once again reigns supreme.

Fifteen Postcards is a Time Slip novel   - how did you control the narrative, or did the narrative ever control you?

It very much controlled me. It sounds peculiar to tell people that I had no idea what was going to happen with the story, but the slightest interesting thing which came across the counter at work, or something I read for research, could easily send me off on a tangent neither I nor my characters expected!

There was a point during the editing process though, when I realised I've left a relatively important character standing on the side of the road in India. Poor man. I had to then weave him back into the story, which is just as well as he plays a very important role in the next book.

What do you hope readers will take away from your novel?

That everything was once loved and desired. Everything you see in an antique shop was once new, and desired, by someone. I guess that goes for people too. That old man at the bus stop, was once young and vibrant. Take the time to talk to him, because you never know his story. Everything old has a history behind it, and that history can be fascinating.

What can we look forward to next ?

You can look forward to walking beside Sarah as she continues on her quest to be reunited with her parents. Will Warden William Price find her? What revenge will Richard Grey seek? I'm two thirds of the way through writing the next installment, so hopefully I can figure out how its going to end soon...

Amazon UK

Amazon.com

My Review

About the Author

Find Kirsten on her website

Follow her on Twitter @Kiwimrsmac

Find her on Pinterest

My thanks to Kirsten for taking the time answer our questions and to Accent Press for my copy of Fifteen Postcards.

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Review ~ Holding Avery by Heidi Chandler

M P Publishing
2014

When her otherwise healthy, even idyllic, first pregnancy ends in the sudden and terrible stillbirth of daughter Avery, Heidi Chandler and her husband are left at a total loss. Looking into Avery’s perfect face, one that never cooed or cried, Heidi realizes how much her life has changed.Holding Avery is a raw exploration of life after the death of a child. Heidi Chandler unapologetically recounts her heartache — the fears and doubts that come with knowing she is a mother but without a child to care for. The unabashed honesty of her grief will resonate with anyone who has experienced loss and found that the question why? may always go unanswered. But Heidi learns that moving through the tragedy is not impossible. 

This is not something that I would usually choose to pick up and read, as I find memoirs about lost children such an emotional subject, but having had two easy and healthy pregnancies, I am of course, always sympathetic to the plight of those women who sadly, do not find it easy to accomplish their heart's desire. I can also look back to my midwifery career and see again those women who were devastated by the stillbirth of a much longed for child. To see mothers broken by loss,and uncontrolled by their grief is heartbreaking, and no matter how professional, you silently cry with them, because you know that there but for the grace of God..

Holding Avery is a beautifully written love story to Heidi Chandler's lost daughter, Avery. It's angry and heartbreaking in equal measure, but there is also a heartwarming message that tragedy can be overcome. I found it difficult to read in places as the emotion is so very raw but it's also compassionately realistic, and for that I applaud the author's reasons for expressing her sorrow so publicly.

About the Author

My thanks to Nickta Rowaichi at MP Publishing for the opportunity to read this book.

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Blog Tour ~ The Butcher Bird by S D Sykes

Jaffareadstoo is delighted to be hosting today's stop on 

The Butcher Bird Blog Tour

Oswald de Lacy is growing up fast in his new position as Lord of Somershill Manor. The Black Death changed many things, and just as it took away his father and elder brothers, leaving Oswald to be recalled from the monastery where he expected to spend his life, so it has taken many of his villagers and servants. However, there is still the same amount of work to be done in the farms and fields, and the few people left to do it think they should be paid more - something the King himself has forbidden. Just as anger begins to spread, the story of the Butcher Bird takes flight. People claim to have witnessed a huge creature in the skies. A new-born baby is found impaled on a thorn bush. And then more children disappear. Convinced the bird is just a superstitious rumour, Oswald must discover what is really happening. He can expect no help from his snobbish mother and his scheming sister Clemence, who is determined to protect her own child, but happy to neglect her step-daughters. From the plague-ruined villages of Kent to the thief-infested streets of London and the luxurious bedchamber of a bewitching lady, Oswald's journey is full of danger, dark intrigue and shocking revelations.

My thoughts :

There is something so beautifully accurate about The Butcher Bird that travelling back in time to the autumn of 1351 feels perfectly realistic and totally reminiscent of imagined medieval life.

Oswald de Lacy, the new Lord of Sumershill Manor, is charged with investigating the mysterious death of a new born infant who has been found impaled on a thorn bush tree. The superstitious simplicity of the villagers who live and work within the demesne of the Manor are convinced that the mysterious and deadly Butcher Bird is to blame. Oswald has great difficulty in persuading the villagers that their superstition has no basis in truth, and in his quest to determine who, or what is blighting the village, Oswald must overcome huge prejudice. What then follows is a creative and well plotted historical mystery, which uses as its focuses the plight of those who have been affected by poverty and disease.

I was completely captivated by The Butcher Bird and although I haven't read the first book in the series, that really didn't matter, as I very quickly, thanks to the author's great story telling skill, soon devoured the story, with ease. The medieval world comes alive in all its gruesome glory. The sights, sounds, and yes, quite frankly, the smells - “a stench of wholly new proportions” - of medieval England, are so vividly described that I became totally immersed in fourteenth century life, so much so, I had to keep looking up, whilst reading, in order to reassure myself that I was actually still present in the 21st century. And yet, it's not just a story about medieval superstition; it's also a young man’s quest to find his own identity, of righting a grave wrongdoing, and of the portrayal of ordinary family life, with all its ups and downs, something which is as relevant today, as it was back in the fourteenth century.

There is no doubt that this story is from an author who has a distinctly authentic voice. Her love of writing and history shines through with every well written word, and the enthusiasm and commitment to the story, and the comfortable way in which she brings history alive, make The Butcher Bird an absolute joy to read. 

I feel sure that we are only just at the beginning of Oswald de Lacy's intrepid journey. And whilst I'm waiting for book three, I will definitely be catching up with the first book, Plague Land.

  

Amazon UK

About the Author

SD Sykes lives in Kent with her family and various animals. She has done everything from professional dog-walking to co-founding her own successful business. She is a graduate from Manchester University and has an MA in Writing from Sheffield Hallam. She attended the novel writing course at literary agents Curtis Brown where she was inspired to finish her first novel. She has also written for radio and has developed screenplays with Arts Council funding.

Visit her website

Follow her on Twitter @SD_Sykes

Do visit the other blogs on the tour for an exciting insight into the author's writing of 

The Butcher Bird

My thanks to S D Sykes and publishers Hodder & Stoughton for their kind invitation to be part of this exciting blog tour.

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Sunday War Poet ....

The theme for this month's poetry

 is


Remembrance

Fallen

by

Alice Corbin

He was wounded and he fell in the midst of hoarse shouting.

The tide passed, and the waves came and whispered about his ankles.

Far off he heard a cock crow -- children laughing,

Rising at dawn to greet the storm of petals

Shaken from apple-boughs; he heard them cry,

And turned again to find the breast of her,

And sank confusèd with a little sigh...

Thereafter water running, and a voice

That seemed to stir and flutter through the trenches

And set dead lips to talking...


Wreckage was mingled with the storm of petals...

He felt her near him, and the weight dropped off --

Suddenly...