Sunday 24 December 2017

Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson + Free Book


Markheim by Robert Louis Stevenson
First published in the UK by Unwin in 1885.

Where to buy this book:


How I got this book:
Read a free online version at East Of The Web

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

"Markheim" is a short story by Robert Louis Stevenson, originally prepared for the "Pall Mall Gazette" in 1884, but published in 1885 in "The Broken Shaft: Tales of Mid-Ocean" as part of "Unwin's Christmas Annual". The story was later published in Stevenson's collection "The Merry Men and Other Tales and Fables" (1887).

London, Christmas 1884. The story opens in an antique store, with Markheim wishing to buy a present for a woman he will soon marry. The dealer presents him with a mirror. Markheim is strangely reluctant to end the transaction, but when the dealer insists that he must buy or leave, he consents to stop tarrying and review more goods. The dealer turns his back to replace the mirror, and Markheim pulls out a knife...

Markheim is set on Christmas Day although, other than the lack of custom to the antique dealer's shop, we only really know this because we are told so. A regular customer has been let in to the closed shop. He usually takes items to sell, and we are given to understand that these are stolen goods, yet for Christmas Day he wishes to buy a gift for a lady friend. The dealer doesn't completely believe him, but is trusting enough to turn his back ...

Stevenson's story is very much of its time with most of the sixteen pages taken up by overwrought dialogue that is far too deep for natural conversation in the situation described. However, accepting that this is the case stops the melodrama from detracting from the tale. Markheim has led a poverty-stricken life, believing his thieving and worse to be the result of his circumstances. Now that perhaps he has sunk as low, morally, as it is possible to go, should he heed the words of a devil and profit from his crime or should he stand tall for once and Do The Right Thing?

I liked this tense story and would have preferred it actually to have been a little longer. The claustrophobic shop setting is wonderfully described and I found it easy to imagine the situation. It would be a good story to read out loud or to act out on Christmas Eve and, of course, has a strong moral message of what disaster may ensue if Christmas shopping is left until the very last minute!


Search Lit Flits for more:
Books by Robert Louis Stevenson / Short stories / Books from Scotland

Saturday 23 December 2017

In Loving Memory by Jenny Telfer Chaplin


In Loving Memory by Jenny Telfer Chaplin
Published by Endeavour Press in September 2013.

Where to buy this book:


How I got this book:
Took advantage of a free Amazon download

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Glasgow, in the early nineteenth century. Times are hard, and the the streets are crowded with desperate and starving people. Amid poverty and strife, an insurrection known as the Radical War is about to start and two women's lives will be changed forever. 

Maggie and Sheena are both fighting for the same man. Maggie is left with child by her unwanted seducer, and is forced by her family into an arranged marriage with Fergus to cover up the scandal. Fergus leaves his young sweetheart Sheena broken-hearted and in a similarly precarious position. Distraught she turns to Fergus’s brother Rab for comfort. Against the backdrop of turmoil and revolt, Maggie and Sheena must fight to remain true to their hearts. 

In Loving Memory appealed to me because of its setting - Glasgow at the time of the Radicals - which I didn't know much about. Unfortunately, I still don't know much because, while historical events such as the Radicals and the Bread Riots are namedropped, they are not explained. Most of the novel's convoluted plot takes place in our protagonists' homes where two-dimensional characters argue frequently and, again, without much background given so I found it difficult to understand the whys of many decisions. They speak in a phonetically spelt Scots brogue that took a little getting used to, but does at least add some atmosphere. However my main gripe is the device of huge events happening to our characters off the page. At one point a chapter ends with a family boarding a ship, then the next chapter starts five years after the shipwreck. Hello? What shipwreck?!


Search Lit Flits for more:
Books by Jenny Telfer Chaplin / Historical fiction / Books from Scotland

Sunday 17 December 2017

Salvage by Cynthia Dewi Oka


Salvage by Cynthia Dewi Oka
Published in America by TriQuarterly Books today, December 15th 2017.

Where to buy this book:


How I got this book:
Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

How do we transform the wreckage of our identities? Cynthia Dewi Oka’s evocative collection answers this question by brimming with what we salvage from our most deep-seated battles. Reflecting the many dimensions of the poet’s life, Salvage manifests an intermixture of aesthetic forms that encompasses multiple social, political, and cultural contexts—leading readers to Bali, Indonesia, to the Pacific Northwest, and to South Jersey and Philadelphia.

Throughout it insistently interrogates what it means to reach for our humanity through the guises of nation, race, and gender. Oka’s language transports us through the many bodies of fluid poetics that inhabit our migrating senses and permeate across generations into a personal diaspora. Salvage invites us to be without borders.

I looked forward to exploring this volume of poetry, but unfortunately found it way beyond my comprehension. There are flashes of imagery, some violently graphic, which I understood and I have no doubt that for someone familiar with Indonesia or this style of poetry, Oka's poems could be very powerful. However I found her poetry too disjointed to follow so did not finish the book.


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Books by Cynthia Dewi Oka / Poetry / Books from Indonesia

Sunday 3 December 2017

Discovering Aberration by S C Barrus + Free Book


Discovering Aberration by S C Barrus
First published in America by Away And Away in January 2014.

Sign up to S C Barrus' mailing list to get a free copy of this book


How I got this book:
Downloaded the ebook

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

An ancient map stolen. A lost civilization discovered. A terrible secret unleashed.

Thaddeus Lumpen's archaeology career is near collapse, thanks to the machinations of rivals who would kill to claim a discovery for themselves. In desperation he turns to Freddy Fitzgerald, a rebellious writer who still maintains connections from his days as a street hooligan. For Lumpen to get ahead of his even less scrupulous competitors he must steal an ancient map and forge a path to an island where a lost civilization waits to be found. For Freddy, it's a chance to sell the story of a lifetime.

But nothing is as simple as it appears from halfway across the world. Old acquaintances become enemies, professional rivalries turn violent, and a notorious gang lord wants his map back. The island itself holds dangers that Freddy and Lumpen couldn't have prepared to face--and horrifying secrets that might be better left buried. Beset by wild beasts, cutthroat competitors, and dangers darker still, the two men fight not for glory, but their own survival... before the island pushes them past the brink of insanity.

DISCOVERING ABERRATION is a alternative history adventure novel. Inspired by the classic science fiction, adventure, and horror writers who spawned what would later become the steampunk genre, DISCOVERING ABERRATION is part Victorian era urban romp, part dark fantasy adventure.

Excellent news reached me a week or so ago that S C Barrus' steampunk serialisation, The Gin Thief, is back on its rails and I can expect the second installment in the new year. I noticed I hadn't yet transferred my thoughts on its predecessor, Discovering Aberration, from Stephanie Jane to Literary Flits so am doing so today!

I first saw Discovering Aberration some three years ago marketed on Google+ as a 'steampunk adventure' which intrigued me so I downloaded a copy. The story is inventive with an interesting plot and a strong steampunk feel. It doesn't have a particularly fast pace but Barrus' wordy style is reminiscent of true Victorian authors so I found that this helped to add atmosphere. The varying viewpoints of the narration is a clever touch and nicely done. I did like the cheeky derivation of some characters' names. Overall reading this story feels like reading a classic adventure mystery so if you like that style of book, I would definitely recommend giving Discovering Aberration a try.

"I'm always homesick for the journey" too!


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Books by S C Barrus / Steampunk fiction / Books from America

Tuesday 28 November 2017

Concerto Al-Quds by Adonis


Concerto Al-Quds by Adonis
First published in Arabic as Kunshirtu alQuds in Lebanon by Dar al Saqi in 2012. English language translation by Khaled Mattawa published in America by Yale University Press today, the 28th November 2017 (UK publication, 3rd January 2018).

One of my WorldReads from Syria

How I got this book:
Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


A cri de coeur or fully imagined poem on the myth and history of Jerusalem/Al-Quds from the author revered as the greatest living Arabic poet. At the age of eighty-six, Adonis, a Syrian poet, critic, essayist, and devoted secularist, has come out of retirement to pen an extended, innovative poem on Jerusalem/Al-Quds. It is a hymn to a troubled city embattled by the conflicting demands of Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Adonis's city, as a coveted land, ought to suggest the universal love of humanity; as a land of tragedy, a place of contending history and beliefs, and a locus of bitterness, conflict, hatred, rivalry, and blood. Wrapping multiple voices, historical references, and political viewpoints within his ecstatic lyricism, Adonis has created a provocative work of unique beauty and profound wisdom, beautifully rendered in English by award-winning poet Khaled Mattawa.

I admit that I struggled with this long poem. It's translation into English by Khaled Mattawa is beautifully done so I could appreciate some of the rhythms and emotions of the Arabic original. At times Adonis feels to be justifiably furious at the continued violence and destruction across Jerusalem. This focal city for three of the world's mist followed religions ought to be a tranquil, serene haven yet perpetual squabbling over religious supremacy has meant it more frequently resembles a war zone. I love the shocking and powerful imagery used to great effect in short 'machine gun' bursts. It contrasts well with softer world-weary verses.

Where I came unstuck though was in my lack of knowledge of Jewish, Muslim and Christian history and of their respective books. I made good use of the comprehensive notes section, included in the English edition at the end of the poem. This is an excellent resource which allowed me to add an extra layer of understanding to my reading. However I feel as though to fully appreciate this great work I need to sit with an expert and discuss Concerto al-Quds line by line.

Etsy Find!
by Pure Photo Prints in
Canada

Click pic to visit Etsy Shop


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Books by Adonis / Poetry / Books from Syria

Thursday 23 November 2017

IA: Union by John Darryl Winston + Giveaway


IA Union by John Darryl Winston
Published in America by BHC Press tomorrow, the 24th November 2017.

Enter the Goodreads Giveaway to win signed copies of the IA trilogy (Open internationally for one week from the 24th Nov)

Where to buy this book:

Abebooks

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Smashwords

Speedyhen

The Book Depository

Waterstones

Wordery


How I got this book:
Received a review copy from the author

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Naz has lost everyone that he loves. And while he may have found refuge and pause at International Academy, he has found no peace and certainly no answers. All that he knows calls to him from the streets of the Exclave and Union High School where he reunites with friends and mentors. 

Naz struggles, unsuccessfully, to put the pieces of his shattered life back together again—until D comes into his world and changes everything. She helps him put things into perspective, see things he couldn’t see before and remember things he had all but forgotten. 

But when D goes missing, it will take more than Naz’s newly found abilities to discover her whereabouts, rescue her, and bring her unlikely captor to justice. Will he reach her in time?




It feels like I have been waiting ages for the concluding novel in John Darryl Winston's IA trilogy. I enjoyed reading the first two books, IA: Initiate and IA: B.O.S.S. so was delighted to learn IA: Union's publication is imminent. I was even happier to snaffle a preview copy! For once, I have actually read this series in order. The books aren't standalones so, if you haven't already bought IA: Initiate and IA: B.O.S.S. what are you waiting for? I'd advise staying up all night to read before IA: Union joins them tomorrow!

IA: Union again picks up Naz's story from pretty much where the previous novel left off. He is coping with grief, displacement and still coming to terms with the extent of his supernatural abilities. I like Winston's realistic portrayal of Naz's increasing maturity throughout this series. In IA: Union we see almost a world weariness, the result of Naz experiencing so much in the preceeding years, yet there are still moments where his childish nature leap to the fore. The IA series is written for a pre-adult audience, but Winston doesn't shy away from confronting intense emotional themes such as sibling and friend bereavement. Naz's turmoil is very real and, at times, upsetting to read but is softened for the reader by his burgeoning romance with D. The harsh realities of a childhood in The Exclave make for exciting scenes and envisaging Naz using his telekinetic power is breathtaking.

For me the most memorable scene though was the calm way in which a class of schoolchildren respond to 'a lockdown' - meaning a gunman is roaming about inside their school. IA: Union is science fiction, but I was shocked to realise that lockdowns aren't. This is actually 'normal' for American schools!


Search Lit Flits for more:
Books by John Darryl Winston / Science fiction / Books from America

Tuesday 14 November 2017

The Oddfits by Tiffany Tsao


The Oddfits by Tiffany Tsao
Published in America by Amazon Crossing in February 2016.


How I got this book:
Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Eight-year-old Murgatroyd Floyd doesn’t fit in—not as a blue-eyed blonde living in Singapore, not in school, and certainly not with his aloof expatriate parents, who seem determined to make his life even harder. Unbeknownst to him, there’s a reason why he’s always the odd boy out: he is an Oddfit, a rare type of human with access to the More Known World, a land invisible to most people. Yet unfortunate circumstances keep Murgatroyd stranded in the Known World, bumbling through life with the feeling that an extraordinary something is waiting for him just beyond reach.

Seventeen years later, that something finally arrives when a secret organization dedicated to exploring the More Known World invites Murgatroyd on a mission. But as the consummate loser begins to grow into the Oddfit he was meant to be, the Known World becomes bent on exterminating him. For once in his underachieving life, will Murgatroyd Floyd exceed expectations and outsmart those trying to thwart his stupendous destiny?

The Oddfits is set in Singapore which appealed to me as I know very little about the city and Tsao gives lots of interesting insights into everyday life there. I loved the cover art too!

Tsao has created a great character in her protagonist, the unfortunately named Murgatroyd Floyd. A blonde haired, blue eyed caucasian child of British parents, Murgatroyd hasn't found his place in Singapore, even though he has never lived anywhere else, and Tsao uses this extreme example of not belonging to highlight the sense of alienation that most of us feel at one time or another. Physically different and socially inept, and with a name that is unpronounceable to Singaporean tongues, Murgatroyd only finds 'home' in an ice-cream shop owned by a strange elderly man who had previously vanished for over sixty years. Billed as science fiction, The Oddfits does take its readers to other worlds, sort of, but it is essentially a novel about how we view ourselves and how other people see us. Murgatroyd seems to call out to be pitied, yet he doesn't see himself as especially hard done by. He is content in a job that suits him perfectly, with a best friend he has known since his school days, and with parents who always do their best for him. However, once he meets a one-eyed woman in a green dress, he begins to wonder whether his future is quite so clear as he had once believed.

I frequently found myself smiling at the rich and often bizarre imagery in The Oddfits and I now really, really want to visit Singapore. There's lots of delicious-sounding food there for a start - this is another novel to read with snacks on standby! The idea of L'Abbatoir restaurant is gorily appealing although I am far to squeamish to ever eat there, and the Duck Assassin is one scary creation. I did like Olivia and James too - not as they are, obviously, but the idea that people could really behave like that is great for the book. This is a fun read with a seriously thoughtful side. It won't appeal to sci-fi fans who like action-packed books, but those who like to take a sideways glance at our own world will probably enjoy the ideas a lot.


Etsy Find!
by Old English Co in
Stamford, England

Click pic to visit Etsy Shop

Search Literary Flits for more:
Books by Tiffany Tsao / Science fiction / Books from America

Monday 30 October 2017

Faraway by Lucy Irvine


Faraway by Lucy Irvine
First published in the UK by Doubleday in November 2000.

I registered my copy of this book at BookCrossing

How I got this book:
Swapped for on the book exchange shelves at Camping Sopalmo, Spain

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Eighteen years after her Castaway experience, in 1999, Lucy took her three children to the farthest corner of the Solomons to live for a year on remote Pigeon Island. This time the invitation had come from an intrepid eighty-year-old, Diana Hepworth, who, in 1947, set sail from England and embarked on a hazardous journey to find a faraway paradise where she and her husband Tom could raise a family.

Faraway is the fascinating tale of two extraordinary worlds - 'primitive' and modern 'colonial' - in which tragedy, heroism, danger and pure joy combine in one remarkable story. This is a classic account by a writer who has dug deep into her psyche to illuminate the darkest reaches of our own.

I picked the right time to read this book as it was ridiculously hot in Spain, although perhaps still cooler than the Reef Islands. Lucy Irvine's 'biography' of one, Pigeon Island, is fascinating due to her detailed and honest descriptions of its complete clash of cultures. I have scant sympathy for the Hepworths' troubles, seemingly caused primarily by obsessively forcing their style of English life onto an island people who neither wanted or needed it. The Irvines' own successful integration was an interesting counterpoint and it would be nice to know whether Diana Hepworth actually liked this book, resulting as it did from her original commission.


Search Literary Flits for more:
Books by Lucy Irvine / Reportage / Books from England

Sunday 29 October 2017

The Stolen Bicycle by Wu Ming-Yi


The Stolen Bicycle by Wu Ming-Yi
First published in Chinese in Taiwan by Rye Field Publishing in 2015. English language translation by Darryl Sterk published by Text Publishing Company on the 26th October 2017.

Featured in Cover Characteristics: Flying Birds

How I got this book:
Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Cheng, a novelist, once wrote a book about his father's disappearance twenty years ago. One day he receives a reader's email asking whether his father's bicycle disappeared as well. Perplexed and amused, Cheng decides to track down the bicycle, which was stolen years ago.

The journey takes him to a scavenger's treasure trove, the mountain home of an aboriginal photographer, deep into the secret world of antique bicycle collectors, and ultimately to his own heart.

The Stolen Bicycle is the first Taiwanese book I have read and I expected it to have a Chinese feel to it. I didn't previously know that Taiwan had been under Japanese control for fifty years until 1945 and, for me, I felt more of a style affinity to Japanese literature. Author Wu and his imagined protagonist Cheng overlap in several of their interests. Given that The Stolen Bicycle is mainly narrated in the first person by Cheng, this makes it impossible to differentiate between Cheng's fictional life and Wu's real life. I liked this duality and the sense of authenticity it brought to the novel.

I wondered if the story had initially started out as several stories which were later intertwined into one work. In tracing the story of Cheng's father's missing bicycle we spend time in present-day Taiwan, but also journey back to the Second World War and across to Malaysia and Myanmar. Wu has Cheng explain the history of bicycle manufacturing in Taiwan and Japanese bicycle army regiments. Other characters discuss intricate butterfly handicrafts or talk in depth about particular zoo animals, their wartime experiences, or their exploration of grotesque underwater scenes. The narrative jumps between different people's points of view by way of speech, emails and letters and, especially at the beginning of the book, I did lose track of whose story was foremost and what their connection was to the bicycle.

The Stolen Bicycle has a mystical atmosphere to it. Certain scenes seem unbelievable, but were perhaps true; others start out in mundane detail and gradually become more fantastic. I'm still not sure I know the truth of what happened to Cheng's father, but I enjoyed losing myself in Taiwanese history and piecing together the lost bicycle years.


Search Lit Flits for more:
Books by Wu Ming-Yi / Contemporary fiction / Books from Taiwan

Tuesday 24 October 2017

Iran: A Modern History by Abbas Amanat


Iran: A Modern History by Abbas Amanat
First published in America by Yale University Press in October 2017.

One of my WorldReads from Iran

Where to buy this book:


How I got this book:
Received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A masterfully researched and compelling history of Iran from 1501 to 2009

This history of modern Iran is not a survey in the conventional sense but an ambitious exploration of the story of a nation. It offers a revealing look at how events, people, and institutions are shaped by currents that sometimes reach back hundreds of years. The book covers the complex history of the diverse societies and economies of Iran against the background of dynastic changes, revolutions, civil wars, foreign occupation, and the rise of the Islamic Republic.

Abbas Amanat combines chronological and thematic approaches, exploring events with lasting implications for modern Iran and the world. Drawing on diverse historical scholarship and emphasizing the twentieth century, he addresses debates about Iran’s culture and politics. Political history is the driving narrative force, given impetus by Amanat's decades of research and study. He layers the book with discussions of literature, music, and the arts; ideology and religion; economy and society; and cultural identity and heritage.

Clocking in at a thousand pages, Iran: A Modern History is easy three times as long as books I usually choose so it is with all credit to Abbas Amanat's engaging writing that I happily immersed myself in this history for the best part of a week. I was fascinated to discover the rich history of this ancient nation and, although I have already forgotten many names, I do feel that I have a stronger understanding of Iran's culture and her people as a result. I certainly appreciated the differences in not viewing this history through British eyes and, in common with a depressing number of history and historical fiction books I read over the past few years, Britain's actions reveal our government to have been (and still be?) duplicitous, selfish and greedy.

In common with many (all?) countries, Iran's history is primarily a story of violent men, but I liked that Amanat makes a point of frequently stepping away from war to also show us beauty. Artworks are reproduced in colour and black and white, plus I loved reading poetry and song lyrics, descriptions of theatre and film productions and even seeing a couple of satirical political cartoons. Such artistic creations are important to Iranian culture and their inclusion helped me to have a greater understanding. There are also maps which I think in a printed book would show various warring factions in a seemingly perpetual struggle for territory, however these details aren't reproduced in the ebook format so I was confused by the exact timelines of particular battles.

I quite expected to read Iran: A Modern History in sections around other books and for reading it to feel like studying or work! Instead I was keen to keep reading and exploring Iranian history. Amanat draws out human stories and individual characters so this book didn't feel dry. I often enjoyed reading for several hours at a time! The 20th century, as Iran swings from one cultural extreme to another, takes a disproportionate number of pages compared to medieval times. Understanding the historic events that led there, albeit in an overview, is very satisfying. Readers do need a certain level of commitment to get the most out of this book I think, however I would recommend it for history buffs and fans of historians such as Simon Schama. A good book for long winter evenings!


Search Lit Flits for more:
Books by Abbas Amanat / History / Books from Iran

Monday 23 October 2017

Cold Hand in Mine by Robert Aickman


Cold Hand in Mine by Robert Aickman
First published in the UK by Gollancz in 1975. Audio edition narrated by Reece Shearsmith published by Audible Studios in 2013.

How I got this book:
Downloaded the audiobook from Audible

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Cold Hand in Mine stands as one of Aickman's best collections and contains eight stories that show off his powers as a 'strange story' writer to the full. The listener is introduced to a variety of characters, from a man who spends the night in a Hospice to a German aristocrat and a woman who sees an image of her own soul. There is also a nod to the conventional vampire story ("Pages from a Young Girl's Journal") but all the stories remain unconventional and inconclusive, which perhaps makes them all the more startling and intriguing.

I took a chance on this Audible download as part of a two-for-the-price-of-one-deal having not read or listened to any of the author's work before. Sadly I struggled to get through to the end even though the collection of eight 'strange' short stories is marketed as Aickman's best. The author wrote subtle, creeping horror rather than out and out gore but unfortunately several stories are so subtle that I remained unmoved. Reece Shearsmith's odd narration doesn't particularly help either which surprised me. He sounds unrehearsed, continually halting mid-sentence and putting emphases where they don't seem to fit. The fifth story, The Hospice, is the best of a so-so bunch as its spooky atmosphere does build up nicely, but I wouldn't read any more Aickman after this experience.


Etsy Find!
by Crappy Crafters in
Florida, USA

Click pic to visit Etsy Shop

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Books by Robert Aickman / Horror fiction / Books from England

Wednesday 18 October 2017

Two Pound Tram by William Newton


Two Pound Tram by William Newton
First published in the UK by Bloomsbury in November 2003.

I registered my copy of this book at BookCrossing


How I got this book:
Swapped for on the book exchange shelves at Camping Sopalmo, Spain.

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Wilfred and Duncan live in a large old house in Sussex, only ever see their parents on Wednesdays, and spend their days catching butterflies and dreaming of adventure. Then their mother elopes and their already distant father becomes hostile. So the brothers pack their camping equipment and run away from home. They already have a plan. They're going to London to buy a tram they have seen in an advertisement, and it costs two pounds...

Judging by other reviews on Amazon, this is a Marmite book that people either adore or don't get at all. Personally, I'm in the 'underwhelmed' camp! The story is an fanciful tale of two boys running away from home and buying an ancient horse-drawn tram with which they make their living. So far, so good, but I found the book so lacking in emotional detail and depth that the events described were unbelievable. The boys seem to easily float from one town to another and when crises do occur, there's always a helpful adult on hand to make everything OK again. I lost count of how many chickens the boys stole with no comeback at all! I did enjoy the local interest aspect as much of the story takes place in Worthing which I know quite well, but this wasn't enough to redeem the book.

Etsy Find!
by Funky Koala in
Brisbane, Australia

Click pic to visit Etsy Shop

Search Literary Flits for more:
Books by William Newton / Historical fiction / Books from England

Friday 13 October 2017

Money Power Love by Joss Sheldon


Money Power Love by Joss Sheldon
Self published in the UK on the 7th October 2017.

My Book Of The Month for October 2017

Where to buy this book:


How I got this book:
Received a review copy from the author

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Born on three adjacent beds, a mere three seconds apart, our three heroes are united by nature but divided by nurture. As a result of their different upbringings, they spend their lives chasing three very different things: Money, power and love. This is a human story: A tale about people like ourselves, cajoled by the whimsy of circumstance, who find themselves performing the most beautiful acts as well as the most vulgar. This is a historical story: A tale set in the early 1800s, which shines a light on how bankers, with the power to create money out of nothing, were able to shape the world we live in today. And this is a love story: A tale about three men, who fall in love with the same woman, at the very same time…

Authors like Joss Sheldon are the reason I love indie published books! Every so often I discover a unique and exciting voice such as his, writing informative and thought-provoking novels that are also great fun to read. If you've followed my Literary Flits reviews for a while you might already have seen me singing the praises of Occupied and The Little Voice. Money Power Love is just as good.

Set in the dawn of the modern banking era, Money Power Love is historical fiction, but written in a modern style. We view our four main characters as they live their divergent lives, but I was always aware that I was watching from a 21st century perspective. Sheldon's detailed descriptions of the rural Lambeth Marsh village and other locations allowed me to clearly envisage scenes and I love his characterisations, especially of cameo roles and people met in passing. I could almost imagine the BBC period drama adaptation as I read.

Our three heroes, Mayer, Archibald and Hugo, each embody an aspect of the novel's title and, as such, are preternaturally obsessed with the pursuit of money, power or love. This is a cleverly worked device. The three men only exist to illustrate the history Sheldon wants to tell and elements of their lives are frequently implausible, yet I still empathised and understood their choices - even when I knew the outcome would lead to the mess of a world in which we live today! Money Power Love teaches the side of economic history that Western capitalism doesn't want to be widely understood. The novel shows how false the ubiquitous 'hard work equals success' mantra is and explains how easy it is to make money from nothing if you move in the right social circles. It's all about who you know and who believes they owe you a favour!

Money Power Love is a novel of politics and economics, but don't be misled by that. It's is never dry, dull or boring. Lola particularly is great fun to spend time with and I kept reading pretty much non-stop as I couldn't bear to put the book aside! Another triumph for Joss Sheldon and a novel that I urge everyone to buy for at least one friend this Christmas!


Search Lit Flits for more:
Books by Joss Sheldon / Historical fiction / Books from England

Sunday 8 October 2017

The Running Man by Gilbert Tuhabonye


The Running Man by Gilbert Tuhabonye and Gary Brozek
First published in America by John Blake in April 2007. Also published under the title This Voice In My Heart.

My 2000s read for my 2017-18 Decade Challenge

I registered my copy of this book at BookCrossing

How I got this book:
Bought from a Torquay charity shop

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Where to buy this book:

The Book Depository : from £8.99 (PB)
Wordery : from £7.19 (PB)
Waterstones : from £8.99 (PB)
Amazon : from £2.48 (used PB)
Prices and availability may have changed since this post was written

Gilbert Tuhabonye is a survivor. As a high school student in the African nation of Burundi, his dreams were of becoming a champion runner and Olympic athlete. These dreams were cruelly interrupted when the centuries-old battle between the Hutu and the Tutsi tribes found its way to his school. Fuelled by hatred, the Hutus forced more than a hundred Tutsi children and teachers into a small room and used machetes to slash most of them to death. The unfortunate ones who survived were doused with gasoline and set on fire. Gilbert lay under the bodies of his smouldering classmates for an agonising and terrifying eight hours. During this terrible ordeal, when almost all hope was lost, there was one thing that gave this remarkable young man the strength to survive - God's voice, which told him he would live through this ordeal. Gilbert was the only survivor of this terrible atrocity and he thanks his enduring faith in God for his survival.

Today, Gilbert has re-built his life and is following his dream. He now lives in the USA and is a world-class athlete and running coach, using his survival instincts to spur him on in his goal to qualify for the 2008 Olympic summer games. This gripping and emotional book brings home not only the horror of the events that took place in Africa, but how, even after such trauma, an existence can be rebuilt and forgiveness can transform a life.

The first thing I think to say about this memoir is that it is not a book for the faint-hearted. Tuhabonye does go into graphic detail of the violence he witnessed and experienced inflicted on Tutsi students by Hutu men. Secondly, this isn't really a running memoir either. Tuhabonye is indeed a runner and now a successful running coach, but that is only one aspect of his life. For me, The Running Man is a richly detailed memoir of a Burundian childhood, one which gives insights into a disappearing way of life.

Expertly ghostwritten by Gary Brozek, I found The Running Man to be a compelling read from start to finish. Chapters about Tuhabonye's idyllic childhood, his determination to gain a good education, and the importance of his religious faith, are interspersed with horrific scenes of the later violence that would force him into exile from his country. This vivid contrast heightens both narratives. I know it is important to witness and to remember genocide in the hope that eventually humans will move beyond such indiscriminate hatred, however I don't think I could have stomached reading these scenes together as a whole chapter. Tuhabonye does explain the immediate triggers of the Burundian genocide and the historical cultural inequalities in which anger had simmered for generations. Still, there's a lot about humanity that I don't think I will ever truly understand.

If you can bear (or skim read) the violence, I would highly recommend this memoir. Tuhabonye has an engaging voice and isn't afraid to show himself in negatives as well as positives. I am glad to have read this memoir, especially with its ultimate message of hope even after such a tragedy.


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Books by Gilbert Tuhabonye / Biography and memoir / Books from Burundi

Sunday 24 September 2017

What's Wrong With The Street by Andy Carrington


What's Wrong With The Street by Andy Carrington
Self published in August 2017.


How I got this book:
Received a review copy from the author

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Roads closed / leading no- where we carry on through the thick haze and fog shrugging off the false promises and hope it’s pissing it down with rain (again) and every direction seems wrong. In it for the long haul fighting with others and ourselves [caught up in traffic] while the piti- ful screams “WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER!” can be heard from up top as the cameras monitor / GPS tracks our every move - I’m just trying to make it through.

Andy Carrington returns to the fervent anger of his previous poetry collection, Apathy Will Kill Us All, for this newest publication. For me, the poems felt like segments of an epic work rather than individual pieces because of their overlapping subject matter and recurring themes. The sheer energy Carrington maintains throughout the book is exhausting! He vividly illustrates his experience of life in modern Britain, specifically Bradford, through stream-of-consciousness rants and tirades against pretty much everything from the realities of scraping by on a pittance to the gentrification of local pubs. If you want to understand the deep divisions across contemporary British society, read Andy Carrington.

Etsy Find!
by Iconeo Design in
Wiesbaden, Germany

Click pic to visit Etsy Shop


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Books by Andy Carrington / Poetry / Books from England

Monday 11 September 2017

Service Disrupted by Tyler E. Lloyd


Service Disrupted: My Peace Corps Story by Tyler E. Lloyd
Published by Lloyd Media on the 4th August 2017.

How I got this book:
Took advantage of a free Amazon download promotion

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Giving over two years of your life as a Peace Corps Volunteer is admirable, but giving up his life is more than Tyler Lloyd signed up for. Service Disrupted is an engaging memoir in which Tyler tells of his adventures and his eagerness to share his knowledge of gardening and agriculture with the kind and quirky villagers in Burkina Faso, Africa. But when he learns that his end of service medical exam showed a positive HIV test, Tyler’s mind becomes consumed with emotion, worry, and despair. The ups and downs will keep you reading to the end with a new respect for Peace Corps Volunteers and the African people. You’ll be both fascinated and saddened by the Sub-Saharan people who have become much more than a village to Tyler, as he awaits the answer to what his future holds.


I remember as a teenager looking into volunteering with the Peace Corps and being most disappointed to discover that only Americans were eligible to apply! Tyler Lloyd was one such American who spent his two years of service in Burkina Faso. He gives us a few glimpses into the country's life and culture, but this memoir is primarily a recounting of his mental turmoil following a health scare. I thought there was going to be more about the Burkinabe people and the Peace Corps projects Lloyd undertook whilst overseas. (If you are looking for such a memoir then this probably isn't the book for you.) However it is an interesting insight into the reactions of a young man potentially afflicted with a terminal illness, especially the Schrodinger's Cat situation he endures whilst awaiting further tests and a definite prognosis.

Lloyd expresses his emotions well and isn't afraid to portray himself in a negative light which makes for a particularly engaging memoir. I would be interested in an epilogue now, a few years down the line, to discover both whether the life statements he made during the traumatic three weeks ever came to fruition and the long term results of his Burkina Faso projects.

Etsy Find!
by Vintage Postage Shop in
Tennessee, USA

Click pic to visit Etsy Shop

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Books by Tyler E. Lloyd / Biography and memoir / Books from America

Monday 4 September 2017

35 Crocheted Bags by Emma Friedlander-Collins


35 Crocheted Bags by Emma Friedlander-Collins
Published in the UK by Cico Books in September 2016.

Where to buy this book:

Abebooks

Alibris

Amazon UK

Amazon US

Kobo

Smashwords

Speedyhen

The Book Depository

Waterstones

Wordery


How I got this book:
Received as a gift

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Using the latest colours and techniques, Emma Friedlander-Collins brings you a fun and functional collection of bags to crochet. There are bags for carrying around all your essentials, such as the Aztec Shoulder Bag made in tapestry crochet, and the Strawberry Handbag. Then there are totes and holdalls, including a Spring Shopper with neon-bright trim, and a Hipster Duffle in green and khaki – perfect for camping and festivals, or just for when you’ve got a lot to carry. To complete the set, there are cases and covers, such as a Zig-zag Glasses Case to match the Aztec Shoulder Bag, a Pencil Case and a cover for your e-reader. With a techniques section covering all the basic stitches and tapestry crochet, instructions on lining your bag, and suggestions for variations to make each design your own, you will be able to make a bag that is both beautiful and useful, as well as unique.

35 Crocheted Bags is a great resource for practical crochet patterns. It includes clear instructions for all kinds of bags from large totes and satchels to coin purses and glasses cases and I like that many are designed to be made with thick, chunky yarns. I can get from pattern to finished product pretty quickly! Friedlander-Collins has a good eye for quirky details so, for example, a green-edged circular bag with the addition of a couple of brown embroidered 'pips' resembles a slice of apple! Instructions also include methods for attaching various types of straps, handles and closure fastenings all of which give their respective bags a new style. 35 Crocheted Bags probably isn't ideal for an absolute novice crocheter, but for someone like me who has already grasped the basics it is inspirational both in its existing patterns and in providing jumping-off points for my own projects.


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Books by Emma Friedlander-Collins / Craft books / Books from England

Sunday 3 September 2017

Everything Is Better With A Cape by C H Clepitt


Everything Is Better With A Cape by C H Clepitt
Self published today, the 3rd September 2017.

Join in C H Clepitt's Cape Launch Party on Facebook today!

How I got this book:
Received a review copy from the author

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


What is better than a sarcastic talking badger? A sarcastic talking badger with superpowers, of course!

Having survived the apocalypse, Kerry is back to being a socially awkward web developer, but when apocalypse survivors start ending up dead, with her next on the list, events begin to spiral out of control. Follow Kerry as she deals with life and fashion challenges, whilst trying to save the world in this hilarious sequel to I Wore Heels to the Apocalypse.

Be a hero, #WearTheCape

Kerry is back and still making event-inappropriate fashion choices! I enjoyed Everything Is Better With A Cape even more than its I Wore Heels To The Apocalypse predecessor and I think it is definitely the most humorous post-apocalyptic fiction I have read! There is little in the way of grim despair in Clepitt's invented world, instead we are faced with superheroic costume choices, gooey robots and a brilliantly sarcastic badger. Badger is undoubtedly my favourite of the characters. I liked that everybody is more strongly portrayed in this sequel which allowed me to understand and empathise with their decisions and actions. Kerry's bull-in-a-china-shop approach to problem-solving means that there is no let up in pace though. She wasn't the only one flying through this story. At times I did find the plot jumps too swift for my taste, but Clepitt's cartoon chapter breaks are a fun story enhancer and serve their purpose well. For light escapism with a hint of romance, Everything certainly Is Better With A Cape!

Etsy Find!
by Wild Things Dresses in
Chorley, England

Click pic to visit Etsy Shop

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Books by C H Clepitt / Novellas / Books from England