Category: book review

Ghosts of Guatemala by Collin Glavac

Ghosts of Guatemala by Collin Glavac

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Spent the weekend in Antigua, Guatemala immersed in the dangerous world of the CIA and Latin American drug cartels. Quite a complicated plot and I had to re-read bits to make sure I was understanding it, but this was a cracking, fast paced narrative with an explosive ending. Its the first in a trilogy featuring CIA agent John Carpenter. Had a job getting past the fact that it was Antigua Guatemala, not Antigua West Indies, but got over that… Seriously, I enjoyed it when I didn’t expect to.



View all my reviews

1984 by George Orwell.

1984 by George Orwell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Dystopia

Pronunciation:/dɪˈstəʊpɪə/
Frequency (in current use):
Etymology: modern Latin, < dys- prefix + -topia (in utopia n.)
Thesaurus »

An imaginary place or condition in which everything is as bad as possible; opposed to utopia n.Oxford English Dictionary

George Orwell’s 1984.
My older self was way more disturbed by this than my eighteen-year-old self. The depressing inevitability of Winston’s fate. Room 101. Big Brother. Hated it. Loved it.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/014118776X/ref=as_li_qf_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=millyspace-21&creative=6738&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=014118776X&linkId=a2cd3da4a2d01e90f69abc04a38cfc68

View all my reviews

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


A delicious mix of fantasy and reality. Funny, clever and engaging. Greek gods living in the twentieth century. Gods behaving badly- gods causing chaos. The Greek gods trying to maintain their influence in a world where no one believes in them any more. All still omnipresent and omnipotent: swift Artemis, Hermes the messenger, arrogant and beautiful Apollo, the warrior Ares and the all powerful Zeus.


View all my reviews

Thomas Oken Tearooms. Our recipies.

A shout out to Thomas Oken Tearooms, Warwick:

http://thomasokentearooms.co.uk/

The tearooms are run by mother and daughter, Jo and Jess. Quintessentially English, it’s menu boasts hearty, warming soups, scrumptious cream teas and cakes, real local ales and a whole host of loose leaf teas served in fine bone china teacups- what other way is there to enjoy a cup of tea? All food is freshly prepared using quality ingredients.

Set against the backdrop of Warwick Castle the Tea Rooms building was by Thomas Oken, Philanthropist and one time Mayor of Warwick. It is a perfect place to recuperate after a castle visit.

They have produced this book in response to the may requests from visitors for the recipes to the food sampled in the tea rooms. Copies are available from the online shop website:

Front cover and a mouthwatering lemon drizzle cake

http://thomasokentearooms.co.uk/on-line-shop/

I’m slowly working my way through the recipes- !

Romeo and Juliette by William Shakespeare

Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I missed this at O, A’ and Degree level, then recently read David Nicholls ‘Sweet Sorrow’ which finally inspired me to give Romeo and Juliette a go. I actually listened to it on audio- I struggle to read Shakespeare, but love to listen and let that beautiful language wash over me. Looking out for a Globe production now to complete the experience.

View all my reviews

Romeo and Juliet (Wordsworth Classics)

Sweet Sorrow: the new Sunday Times bestseller from the author of ONE DAY

I Go Quiet by David Ouimet

I Go Quiet is the exquisite story of an introverted girl, struggling to find her place in a noisy world. Through the power of books, creativity and imagination, she begins to see possibilities for herself beyond the present, to a future where her voice will finally be heard.

Beautiful and Inspirational. As an only child this would have reassured me.

Shortlisted for our East Sussex Children’s Book award #ESCBA. Looking forward to meeting the author David Ouimet at the final event in June at the Hippodrome Theatre Eastbourne: https://royalhippodrome.com/  

I Go Quiet