Review ~ The Fatal Tree by Jake Arnott

Sceptre

February 23 2017

What's it all about...

This is the tale of Edgware Bess, related in her own words, and a darker narrative for those that would look a little closer.

A hidden history that must be told in secret of lives too scandalous even for the Newgate Calendar.

And of love lost, which is the saddest story of them all.

My thoughts about the book...

Arriving in London, Elizabeth Lyon is assaulted on all sides by those who would, given half a chance, exploit her to the fullest measure. Hoping to entice naive country girls, procuresses, lurk in the confines of the city's deepest corners and hunt in dark shadows just waiting to pounce on their next innocent victim. And thus, begins the metamorphosis of country girl, Elizabeth Lyon, into the notorious prostitute and petty criminal, 'Edgware Bess'. With her sharp introduction into Mother Breedlove's Vaulting School, Bess’s initiation into the brothels and flash world of Romeville is swift and uncompromising.

What then follows is the narrated tale of Bess' introduction into a lively criminal underclass, of her downward spiral into a world of thievery, and of her association with the thief-takers, bung-nippers, culls and coves who loiter around the brothels and molly-houses of the parish known as the Hundreds of Drury. The colourful characters who make up this world are, without doubt, a debauched and dangerous bunch who operate within their own unique moral code, and, always, with an eye on the main chance.

It is obvious that the author has done a great deal of research and cleverly interweaves fictional alongside factual characters. The adept use of Romeville’s unique flash language takes some getting used, but, thank goodness, there is a detailed glossary at the back of the book, and all is expressed with a ready wit and a great understanding of time and place.

The Fatal Tree is a compelling and realistic account of living life in the underbelly of Regency London society.  There is darkness to the narrative which is reflected in the imagery and sensations evoked, and the characters, whilst not always particularly likeable, express such a worldly weariness that you can’t help but be moved emotionally by their plight.

Best Read With... a visit to Moll's coffee house, and a dish of coffee liberally laced with brandy...

About the Author



Jake Arnott burst onto the literary scene with his debut novel, The Long Firm, a cult hit that has sold over a quarter of a million copies and was subsequently made into a BAFTA nominated BBC TV series.

The Fatal Tree is the authors first foray into historical fiction and is published  today, 23rd February 2017.

More about the Author can be found on his website by clicking here

My thanks to Sceptre and Bookbridgr for my copy of The Fatal Tree

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Review ~ Quicksand by Steve Toltz

Sceptre
2015

Quicksand is an altogether different sort of story; it’s quirky and irreverent which had me smiling at one point, and then shaking my head in frustration at others.

The story is about an unlikely friendship between two very different individuals. Liam struggles with just about everything in his life, he wants to write the next literary masterpiece and yet, his work as a failing police officer and his friendship with the hapless criminal, Aldo does absolutely nothing to help him realise this dream. A dream which Liam also imagines will bring him back the love of his life, his ex-wife Stella. What then follows is a series of hapless incidences which involve both Aldo and Liam, and with an altogether frenetic sort of activity allow a glimpse into the turmoil and improbability of their world.

By the time I came to the end of the story, I’m not sure that taken as a whole the concept worked for me. True, there were some interesting observations about the whims and fancies of an altogether cluttered life but I’m afraid for me it sort of lost direction half way through and became rather too unbelievable in places.

My feeling is that this will be something of a love it or hate it sort of book and overall, Quicksand,  may not be what readers are expecting.

Best Read With ...thick sliced, white toast heavily spread with marmite and a cup of instant black coffee..

About the Author

Read an interview with the author here

Amazon UK  Quicksand is now published in Paperback

My thanks to the author and Ruby Mitchell at Hodder & Stoughton for my copy of this book

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Blog Tour ~ Quicksand by Steve Toltz

Jaffareadstoo is delighted to be hosting the first day of the 

Quicksand Blog Tour

Steve ~ welcome to Jaffareadstoo.

It's great to be part of your blog tour for Quicksand...

Where did you get the first flash of inspiration for Quicksand?

Halfway through writing A Fraction of the Whole, I was walking down a street in Paris (where I lived at the time) and had a spontaneous cervical spinal hemorrhage that left me paralyzed. The following few months were spent in a Paris hospital and then in the spinal ward of a hospital in Sydney. It was a fairly traumatic time in which I faced an uncertain future. I was told by the doctors it was unlikely I’d walk again, or that they don’t know if I would walk again, or that I wouldn’t walk again. So I learned wheelchair skills. I spent many days and nights with patients with spinal injuries. My girlfriend found us a wheelchair accessible house. Meanwhile I wiggled a toe. I got up on the bars. I got out of the chair. I learned to walk again.

About a month later, I needed money so I went back to one of my old jobs, which was working as a television extra. And the first gig that I got cast for was on a TV show called All Saints, a hospital drama. They cast me as a patient! One month out of hospital and I had to put on a hospital gown again, and lie in bed for a four day shoot. It was during those four weird days I came up with the first line I wrote for the book. It is when Aldo wakes up in hospital. The nurse asks: Do you know where you are? And Aldo answers: On the set of a hospital drama? 

What can you tell us about the story that won't give too much away?

I can only say that it’s the story of a somewhat fearful, yet intrepid, amateur psychologist, failed entrepreneur, bad friend, and almost supernaturally unlucky man named Aldo Benjamin. In the book he is described by his best friend as a  “well-known parasite and failure, who had declared multiple bankruptcies, and was the kind of man you might come across sharing cigarettes in an alleyway with a masturbating hobo.’

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

Do you feel a palpable sense of relief passing children’s hospitals—because you’ve outgrown them? Have you ever considered opening a B, B, & B—a Brothel, Bed, and Breakfast? Do you agree the problem with having children is that on your deathbed you’re surrounded by people who’ll profit handsomely from your death? Then this is the book for you.

When do you find the time to write, and do you have a favourite place to do your writing?

I write longhand and then for every twenty pages I write, I toss 19. I work in blocks of two hours. Sometimes I write lying down. Sometimes I write standing up. Because I write longhand, I can do it in the sun, at the beach, in a cafe, in a bar. I try to work 9 - 5 so I feel like a person.

Can you tell us if you have another novel planned?

Yes I do.

Published in hardback in spring 2015, and now in out in paperback, Quicksand rapidly won plaudits as one of the funniest and most inventive books of the year. Quicksand is the story of Aldo and Liam: lifelong friends, criminal and police officer, muse and writer. Indeed, the life lessons imparted by Aldo are those of a man who has entirely given up. The result is undeniable: intensely moving, darkly funny and hugely entertaining fiction.

About the Author

Steve Toltz graduated from the University of Newcastle, New South Wales, in 1994. Prior to his literary career, he lived in Montreal, Vancouver, New York, Barcelona, and Paris, working as a cameraman, telemarketer, security guard, private investigator, English teacher and screenwriter. A Fraction of the Whole, his first novel, was released in 2008 to widespread critical acclaim. It was shortlisted for the 2008 Man Booker Prize and the 2008 Guardian First Book Award. He currently lives in New York.

My thanks to the author and Ruby Mitchell at Hodder & Stoughton for my invitation to this blog tour. Tour runs 10th March - 18th March.

 Do visit the other stops.

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Blog Tour ~ The Chimes by Anna Smaill

Jaffareadstoo is delighted to be part of this exciting blog tour

Sceptre Books
January 2014

What's The Chimes all about...

Imagine a London orchestrated by a vast musical instrument that destroys memory. Each object weaves its own melody and song rings into every drip of air, yet each day feels the same as the last and that is part of the mystery....

Anna Smaill has created a world where music has replaced the written word and memories are carried as physical objects. Memory itself is forbidden by the Order, whose vast musical instrument, the Carillon, renders the population amnesiac. The Chimes opens in a reimagined London and introduces Simon, an orphaned young man who discovers he has a gift that could change all of this forever. Slowly, inexplicably, Simon is beginning to remember – to wake up. He and his friend Lucien will eventually travel to the Order’s stronghold in Oxford, where they learn that nothing they ever believed about their world is true.

And here are my thoughts...

With melodic candour The Chimes weaves an altogether unusual coming of age story about the power of memory and the shaping of lives bereft of the ability to recall past events. The insidious removal of generic recall is forbidden by the shadowy group, which is known only as The Order, and who subtly control a vast musical instrument called the Carillon which extracts public memory. The destruction of memory and the fundamental right of everyone to cherish hopes and dreams forms the basis of this beautifully observed story. And by focusing the story on a dystopian London there is an authenticity which is made frighteningly realistic by the sharp observation of people and places.

There is such a poetic resonance to the story, which flows so beautifully, that I felt like I was reading a piece of music and from the outset was drawn into a sharply observed world, where the principles and attitudes of distrust are allowed to fester. It is clear from the outset that the pervading menace is all consuming, and our main protagonist, Simon needs not only to understand his limitations, but must also be excruciatingly aware of the need to cherish his memories and to keep them close.

The language used throughout is imaginative and rather special and even those readers who have no great knowledge of musical vocabulary will start to understand the hidden nuances behind the words. However, some of the earlier parts of story, it must be said, are quite challenging, and until the terminology starts to resonate it may take just slightly longer to get the gist of what’s happening. However, throughout the story there is a wonderfully inventive feel to the narrative and an incredible urge to read on in order to find out just a little bit more about this dystopian world which has been so lovingly recreated.

Without doubt this is an impressive debut novel from an exciting new talent…

Best Read with…tea laden with spices and a memory of golden meat pasties, succulent with gravy..

About the Author

 

My thanks to Anna Smaill and also to Ruby Mitchell at Hodder & Stoughton for their kind invitation to be part of this blog tour


Do visit the other stops on the tour







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