BBC 1 will be starting the first of a three-part mini series of JK Rowling’s A Casual Vacancy on Sunday at 9pm. I’m delighted that the BBC have chosen to adapt it as a drama, and will be watching eagerly. I have a high opinion of the book: see my book review here. I wasContinue reading “Did You Struggle With The Large Number of Characters in JK Rowling’s A Casual Vacancy? Here’s a Useful Crib-Sheet!”
Category Archives: Books
Book Review: “Miracles” by Eric Metaxas
This book was recently recommended to me: Miracles: What They Are, Why They Happen, and How They Can Change Your Life. I’ve now reading it and found it a fascinating book ideal for discussion in a group. Metaxas is renowned as the author of a much-admired book on Dietrich Boenhoffer (published in 2011). In this new book,Continue reading “Book Review: “Miracles” by Eric Metaxas”
Inspirational Tale of African Girl Who Triumphs Through Adversity
I’ve just read and reviewed a powerful and affecting story on Kindle, Eleven Miles by Lance Greenfield. I understand the novel was inspired by a village girl, Boikanyo Phenyo, from the Okavango Delta in northern Botswana. The life prospects for girls born into such circumstances are limited: school till the end of primary education, get married,Continue reading “Inspirational Tale of African Girl Who Triumphs Through Adversity”
The Sublime Landscape of JRR Tolkien and His Creative Vision – in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
I saw the last Hobbit film two days ago: The Battle of the Five Armies. And as I watched it I had a strong feeling of Peter Jackson making the most of his final cinematic visit to Middle-earth. Everything was exploited to its fullest extent, the brutality of battle, the sublimity and peril of theContinue reading “The Sublime Landscape of JRR Tolkien and His Creative Vision – in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies”
Book Review: The Beatles Lyrics by Hunter Davies
Having received this book as a Christmas gift, substantial 375-page tome that it is, I devoured it in a few days. I found the book utterly compelling. Hunter Davies starts by describing his search among collectors, companies and auction houses for what must surely rank among the most valuable “scruffy scraps of paper” in theContinue reading “Book Review: The Beatles Lyrics by Hunter Davies”
Thank you for all your support and encouragement
Thank you to all of you who read my blog and like or leave comments on posts. Your support and encouragement has lifted me up and helped to keep me going as a writer. And often people I know who read my blog mention how much they enjoyed a recent post. This makes it all worthwhile for me.Continue reading “Thank you for all your support and encouragement”
Opening Up the Genius of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Evocative and Imaginative Sherlock Holmes Exhibition at the Museum of London
The Museum of London have explored the story of Sherlock Holmes and his creation in an evocative and imaginative exhibition. When we visited on Saturday, as Sherlock fans, we found much to enthral, amuse and intrigue us. I was particularly captivated by a number of paintings of Victorian London in the fog, which Sir Arthur Conan DoyleContinue reading “Opening Up the Genius of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle: Evocative and Imaginative Sherlock Holmes Exhibition at the Museum of London”
Book Review: “Being Miss” by Fran Hill – Brilliant Comic Account of One Day in the Life of a Schoolteacher
“Being Miss” is a novella-length account written by Fran Hill. Since Fran is a member of my writers group and I’d seen several positive comments about “Being Miss” on Facebook and also read some of Fran’s very funny blog posts, I decided to download the Kindle version and move it to the top of my currentContinue reading “Book Review: “Being Miss” by Fran Hill – Brilliant Comic Account of One Day in the Life of a Schoolteacher”
Book Review: “Earthed” published by Mystic Christ Press: Bridging the Gap Between Christianity and Paganism
This fascinating book came into my hands because I belong to a Facebook group called Mystic Christ and heard about the publication of this collection of essays by authors with both Christian affiliation and a desire to express spirituality through nature connection. This sounded like a book after my own heart. For many years IContinue reading “Book Review: “Earthed” published by Mystic Christ Press: Bridging the Gap Between Christianity and Paganism”
Jeffrey Archer at Warwick School: Entertainer, Story-Teller and Raconteur
I went to see Jeffrey Archer speak at Warwick School on Friday night. His subject was: How To Write a Bestseller. I last heard Jeffrey address an audience probably about 23 years ago, this time at Sevenoaks School; and he said several of the same things (one of which was “I’m not a writer. I’mContinue reading “Jeffrey Archer at Warwick School: Entertainer, Story-Teller and Raconteur”
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