The format of this 2-volume autobiography/memoir makes it an expensive choice; but I was fortunate enough to receive it as a Christmas gift, and having only just finished poring over it, I can now report that I found it utterly fascinating. I believe the book will be of greatest interest to those who have followedContinue reading “Book Review: ‘The Lyrics’ by Paul McCartney with Paul Muldoon”
Category Archives: thoughts
A Visit to Compton Verney, Warwickshire, in December 2021
Compton Verney in Warwickshire is one of my favourite places; an elegant Georgian house set in a glorious landscape. A visit here and a walk through the Capability Brown parklands always gives me a feeling of bliss and tranquility. Capability Brown knew what he was up to when he rode through the grounds of theseContinue reading “A Visit to Compton Verney, Warwickshire, in December 2021”
Book Review: Power Unimaginable, Book 3 of the Fantasy Trilogy Oron Amular by Michael J Harvey
Today I bring you my review of the final book in Michael J Harvey‘s fantasy trilogy Oron Amular. I reviewed the first two books in the trilogy here in my last blog post. I found this, the third in the Oron Amular Trilogy, a very intense read. King Curillian, along with his Captain of theContinue reading “Book Review: Power Unimaginable, Book 3 of the Fantasy Trilogy Oron Amular by Michael J Harvey”
The stories of people who believe they have had strange experiences
Recently I visited one of the locations in my current work-in-progress, Illustrated Tales of Warwickshire to be published by Amberley Publishing in 2022. The subject matter of the book varies widely but is largely about curious events in the physical world, based in known fact; however, the first chapter is devoted to strange and spookyContinue reading “The stories of people who believe they have had strange experiences”
A Visit to Stourhead National Trust: a Perfect Vision of an Idyllic Landscape and Lake; an Infamous ‘Romantic’ Encounter in the Temple of Apollo
Before visiting the gardens at Stourhead, Wiltshire the other day I looked forward to seeing for myself this ‘living work of art’, for I had created a brightly coloured, stylised copy of a photo of that iconic view just last year, during the first UK lockdown of the Covid-19 pandemic. When we visited the garden,Continue reading “A Visit to Stourhead National Trust: a Perfect Vision of an Idyllic Landscape and Lake; an Infamous ‘Romantic’ Encounter in the Temple of Apollo”
A Poignant Story from Charlestown, St Austell Cornwall
We recently visited Charlestown, a beautiful little Cornish seaport, which opened up several stories for me. Not only did we explore the moving and compelling tales of numerous historical shipwrecks and recovered artefacts in the Shipwreck Treasure Museum: but also I learned the poignant story of the man who created, designed and built Charlestown: CharlesContinue reading “A Poignant Story from Charlestown, St Austell Cornwall”
A Walk Around Port Isaac on the Cornish Coast, from One Headland to Another
Book Blog Tour for ‘The Migrant’: action thriller novel by Paul Alkazraji
I’m pleased to be hosting a stop today on the blog tour for Paul Alkazraji’s powerful novel of Albanian and Greek aspirations, politics and social tension, The Migrant. In view of the current world situation, the themes of this novel are acute: “Crossing borders does not always lead you further from home.” The action ofContinue reading “Book Blog Tour for ‘The Migrant’: action thriller novel by Paul Alkazraji”
Book Review: When This is All Over 2020 -2021: an anthology of writings about the Covid-19 Pandemic
I found this an immensely varied collection of pieces, both prose and poetry. It was very moving to reflect upon how differently people react to the onslaught of Covid-19 upon the world. The range of moods and outlooks among the 220 writers is fascinating: funny, sharply satirical, melancholy, fearful, heartbreaking, hopeful. Some of the livelyContinue reading “Book Review: When This is All Over 2020 -2021: an anthology of writings about the Covid-19 Pandemic”
Book Review: ‘Miss Graham’s War’ by Celia Rees
Today I share my review of ‘Miss Graham’s War‘, the latest novel by Celia Rees, which has been released in a new edition, having spent some time on sale as ‘Miss Graham’s Cold War Cookbook’. ‘Miss Graham’s War‘ is a very complex and gripping account of life in Germany in the immediate aftermath of theContinue reading “Book Review: ‘Miss Graham’s War’ by Celia Rees”
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