My Name Is Why by Lemn Sissay
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
This is Lemn Sissay’s memoirs of growing up in care. From the blurb it is about ‘neglect, misfortune and cruelty, but also hope, determination, triumph and creativity’.
Lemn was failed by the system, starting with his foster parents and ending with his final children’s home. It’s about everything that can be wrong about the care system.
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Me by Elton John
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Not usually a fan of pop star autobiographies- either too full of their selves or too much detail. This however was really readable and entertaining. Love Elton and love him even more now. Unfortunately the London leg of his farewell tour is sold out- finished the book and feverishly started ticket searching!
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Today I have the pleasure of introducing another guest post by author John D. May. As well as an author John is a programmer, medical doctor and singer. He is interested in the effects of technology in today’s world- how vastly different it is from that of twenty- thirty years ago. This was the reason behind his book Lethal Keystrokes.
Take it away John:
As a previous programmer at IBM, I know the vulnerability of the computer systems that we rely on every day. How well can our industries and governments protect us against digital saboteurs?
Lethal Keystrokes highlights America’s vulnerability to angry individuals with a driving desire to destroy it. While blending in with neighbors and friends, they plot against us, not only through traditional methods but even more frighting ones.
“Lethal Keystrokes is a compelling look at America’s vulnerability to fanatics. It’s a contemporary thriller that you won’t be able to put down.” Anthony Furey Syndicated Columnist, National Post of Canada.
Today I am very pleased to have a guest post from David Pauly author of a fantasy series: The Fourth Age Shadow Wars.
The first book of the series is The Fourth Age Shadow Wars: Assassins– set in the land of Nostraterra, and features men, elves, and dwarves who have just ended a massive race war.
In the aftermath of the Great War, the land of Nostraterra lies in ruins. While the Elves, Dwarves and Men rebuild their kingdoms, a sinister plan has been set in motion: the assassination of Alfrahil, Crown Prince of Eldora.
As fire rains down within the city walls, young prince Alfrahil rides for his life and escapes. Braving unforeseen dangers, he is determined to unmask the conspirators and discover the truth.
Clues point towards Alfrahil’s brother, Prince Daerahil, and the scheming First Minister, Mergin. But who is really behind the conspiracy?
If you like fantasy fiction this looks like a great read. Thank you David for this tantalising taster to Assassins.
Milly x
I cut my late teenage salacious reading years on Jilly Cooper. And this was deliciously Jilly Cooper.
This is a very honest, heart wrenching account of human trafficking. The numbers are staggering, the tactics horrendous. There will never be an end, but where there is hope there is a way. Fortunately there are humanitarian organisations that will always make a huge difference to the lives of a few.
What would you do to protect your family?
Anything.
And so the narrative cleverly unfolds. There is a surprise around every corner to throw you off balance. A family all sticking together. Or are they? The plot seems straightforward. Or is it? No one is a good guy. Everyone has a secret.
Well worth a read if crime/ thriller is your thing.
It’s the Swinging Sixties and sit-com writers Tony and Bill are writing a comedy series, Barbara (And Bill, starring Sophie Straw- a former Miss Blackpool who wanted to be a comedy actress like her hero Lucille Ball. I am a seventies child- the golden age of the half hour sitcom. I loved this! Five stars from me!
I went to the In Conversation event organised by Eastbourne Library this week. The author was Shon Faye- writer, broadcaster and activist. Shon presents the ‘Call Me Mother’ podcasts and wrote the critically acclaimed ‘Transgender Issue’ a landmark work that signals the beginning of a new, healthier conversation about trans life.
Faye talked about the Transgender Issue and the call for justice and solidarity between all marginalized people and minorities eloquently and with passion. An interesting hour spent on a Wednesday night in March.
Went to this on Wednesday night. Salena Godden in conversation with Josephine Hall about her debut novel Mrs Death Misses Death.
Death desperately wants to share her stories, and she selects as her scribe Wolf Willeford, a genderfluid east London poet.
Death is personified as a series of black women,because, as she points out, “there is no human more invisible, more easily talked over, ignored, betrayed and easy to walk past” than a black woman.
The effect is to produce a collage of speech and speechlessness, a story that sometimes slips away from you even while you are reading it. It reminded me of Max Porter’s ‘Lanny’.
Salena was a larger than life character- it was fascinating to hear her talk about the process of creating Mrs Death and in the almost gothic and very appropriate setting of The beautiful building that is Hastings Library.
Mystery in the Channel by Freeman Wills Crofts
My rating: 2 of 5 stars
‘The captain of the Newhaven to Dieppe steamer spots a small pleasure yacht lying motionless in the water, and on closer inspection, sees a body lying on the deck.’
First published in 1931 I liked the classic vintage feel to this story- it is certainly of its time- but I had a job following it and still not sure how the plot panned out. Having said that I’m a sucker for anything with a local theme and ‘Newhaven to Dieppe Steamer’ was enough to make me pick it up and plod through to the end.
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The Transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice by Shon Faye
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Shon Faye ‘…uncover(s) the reality of what it means to be trans in a transphobic society…’ The transgender Issue: An Argument for Justice.
I thought this would be heavy going- it wasn’t. It was interesting and informative. I have no strong feelings either way (rightly or wrongly)about the transgender issue. It wasn’t something I had thought about. Shon Faye, has though, opened my eyes on the issues involved and gave me plenty of food for thought. I can’t say I ‘enjoyed’ The Transgender Issue as such- it’s not my normal reading material, but {‘m glad that I read it (listened to it on audio)and that I’m more informed on this high profile issue as a result.
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The Flat Share by Beth O’Leary
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Tiffy and Leon share a flat and a bed. They have never met. Leon works nights and Tiffy works days. They never have to meet. They build up a friendship through notes left for each other. Throw in a brother in prison, a jealous ex, a mad crochet woman and two friends- a lawyer and counsellor respectively.
This has Rom Com splashed all over it.
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One Summer: America, 1927 by Bill Bryson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
One Summer in 1927 America.
Charles Lindbergh, Babe Ruth, the Talkies, television, President Calvin Coolidge, Henry T Foord, The Jazz Singer, the Mississippi floods, Prohibition, Al Capone, Showboat, Jack Dempsey. an exhilarating romp of a year.
I learnt a lot.
I loved it.
I was sad when I reached the end.
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The Lamplighters by Emma Stonex
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Inspired by real events this is a proper page turner of a mystery. The language and the imagery is captivating, the characters draw you in. It’s intriguing and beautifully written.
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Milly Space 