Feral: Rewilding the Land, the Sea and Human Life by George Monbiot
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

What an amazing book! I really liked it but only after about 5 or 6 chapters - because there seemed to be too many personal musings and angry thoughts about the author's lost opportunities to catch (endangered?!) fish or become a member of an African tribe etc. There was even a chapter about people who thought they had seen a black panther on various moors in the UK. Quite interesting and amusing but its relevance escaped me.
However, if you can get through those earlier bits then the author proceeds to provide a wealth of information about the loss of habitat, extinction of various species and theories about the causes. Inevitably homo sapiens figures as the main culprit over the many millennia in his quest for superiority over all other species on Earth. There is an impressive volume of research with pages and pages for reference at the end of the book.
It is vexing for anyone interested in rewilding our planet to read about obvious things that can, or could, be done but ignored by most governments and organisations with vested interests in clearing forests, scrubland, peat moors etc, thus maintaining a damaging status quo! Not enough people it seems are aware of the real damage to the Earth and the loss our children and grandchildren will find later - too late! Monbiot's book was written several year ago and its importance cannot be overstated.

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The Private Life of the Otter by Philip Wayre
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I started reading this fascinating book about a year ago while on holiday in a cottage on the Isle of Skye. It was the usual thing; I picked it out from the various genres on the shelf of books left for visitors who found the weather particularly 'unfair' one day and wanted something to read. I was unable to finish it before leaving but managed to obtain a used copy on returning home. Apparently otters are more common on the west coast of Scotland and we felt lucky to see them more than once swimming in the various bays around Skye. Thrilling for everyone in our party of four adults and two girls, and which increased my desire to find out more. I had previously read Gavin Maxwell's 'Ring of Bright Water' and 'The River People' also by Philip Wayre, the author of the book in Skye.

Wayre must have been one of the most expert people in the world on the subject of otters, and not just the European species. He and his wife established the first British Wildlife park in 1971 where they set up a very successful breeding project in order to re-introduce otters back into the wild. Both of his books include all sorts of details about otters: amusing tales about his own close-up experiences with those he kept; intricate details and measurements recorded for studying them further, and in this book, lots of amazing black and white photographs. The pictures may lack the amazing clarity and colour available to almost anyone in these digital times but the photos, taken in the late 1960s and early 70s, were so poignant and somehow underlined how terribly persecuted these wonderful animals once were - almost to extinction in the UK. There is advice for readers who wish to study otters further although Wayre and others have set up important otter trusts that will be far more efficient in my opinion. There is always the danger that well meaning individuals may do more harm than good, or even, unknowingly, cross the legal lines involved in caring for wild animals like otters, polecats, badgers etc. Notwithstanding all that this book is a Tour de Force! Highly recommended to lovers of wildlife.

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We'll Find a Way by Tia Lee
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is a fairly typical rags to ‘probable’ riches romantic story, set in 1860s Boston, USA. I say ‘probable’ because we are left wondering, at the rather abrupt end of the book, whether the young couple concerned are ever going to drag themselves out of the mire in which they find themselves. While it has some intriguing historical points, that occur throughout the story, much of the plot could have been told in almost any more contemporary timeline. I have three main criticisms of this book: the first concerns the somewhat naïve style of writing used because it does not feel like a book aimed at an adult reader; the second is that many of the expressions used are too idiomatic of the modern world and felt out of place in the society of the late 19th century; and my third most important point is the glaring lack of editing all the way through the book. A simple word processor spell/grammar check could have solved many of the typos, lack of punctuation and editing problems. Plus, maybe a friendly beta reader for proof-reading later could have saved the day here?
A few examples are needed to illustrate my critique: the confusion between the words ‘were’ and ‘where’; the use of contemporary slang terms like ‘gussy up’, ‘scooted’, and ‘fancy’ felt out of place in a so-called historical novel; some words like ‘ahold’ cannot be found in a dictionary; a ‘pub’ would probably have been a tavern or inn or even a bar back then; and there were several examples of verbosity which left a wry smile on this particular reader’s face.
However, all of this criticism does not mean that I did not like the story, which says a lot as I usually avoid romantic novels of any genre or time period! Many of the exchanges between Serena and Everett, the main protagonists, are charming and clutch at the heart strings. You want them to succeed in their life together, with impoverished Serena coming across as the stronger of the two, while the rather hapless Everett has to learn some important lessons in the ‘real life out there’ away from the rich and privileged family he chooses to leave for true love, his heart’s desire. ‘We’ll Find A Way’ seems to be aimed at the very young adult but with a lot of tidying up there are many fans of romantic historical fiction who would enjoy this charming tale of young love.


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Escape to Molokai by Spike Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This story is both intriguing and shocking. I learned a lot about a situation that occurred in Hawaii just after World War 2, which, I would imagine, will surprise most people. The author uses George, a young teenage boy, as the messenger for readers to find out about Hansen’s Disease which is more commonly called leprosy. George is involved in a madcap dash between the Hawaiian islands of Molokai and Maui, when he is desperately trying to find his parents and his best friend Jonathan. The pace of the story is almost breath-taking and the number of different people he encounters, young and old, good and bad, can leave your head spinning. George rides a Tsunami and even learns how to cut sugar cane when he is desperate to earn money. All of this action is suitably gripping as are the conversations between characters for a story aimed at children who are around the same age as George, 13 years old. Having said that, the book is equally gripping for anyone unaware of the terrible restrictions that were imposed on the unfortunate population, and who had to live with the disease at that time. I particularly liked the meetings between George and Jonathan as the author’s skilful writing had the language and banter just about right. But while this adventure story is exciting it is also very sad, with some important educational points.

The story has a satisfying ending. It also includes some factual details about the disease and a historical context to add to the information in a kind of simple appendix. Unfortunately, there were a couple of glaring editing errors that should have been spotted before publication. One in particular was the wrong year on the Civil Arrest Warrant for Jonathan and Alice Napua: it wrongly said 1846 rather than 1946. Notwithstanding this I can highly recommend Escape to Molokai to youngsters who like a fast paced adventure story with lots of excitement.


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Glass Island by Gareth Griffith
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

About a year ago I read a book by David Ross, ‘Wales: History of a Nation’, in which the Battle of Dyrham was briefly mentioned. There was very little said about the battle other than it occurred in 577 AD, near to Bath, and that it was significant at that time regarding the relentless advancement of the Saxons westward. Quite how significant this battle was became much more “real” and obvious to me through the reading of ‘Glass Island’, a novel by Gareth Griffith.

The Romans had gone from Britain and frequent invasions were to follow. Little factual history is known about the succeeding couple of centuries other than information found during the later archaeology of those times. The book tells the story of events that occurred around the time of the Battle of Dyrham, together with the effects that influenced several characters, such as Eleri Gwir, the daughter of a king, and Gwion a young man who was her life-long friend. The author skilfully involves the reader in Eleri’s complicated romantic and political relationships, as well as those between other kings and princes, and the inevitable internecine squabbling when tribes need to combine forces against the pressing Saxons. It takes patience and time for the reader to get their head around the many characters and places with their difficult Welsh names but a helpful list is provided at the start of the book. This is the kind of historical novel that is very true to its genre with much “real” history to back up the story and therefore more enjoyable for it. In addition there are constant discussions and objections expressed by the characters about their beliefs in their old gods and the ‘new’ monotheistic religion of Christianity - a nice touch.

The characters and their conversations are strong and generally believable, although I did find a couple of expressions a little too idiomatic of more recent times. For example: “According to Eleri’s father it was a lot of rubbish.” The descriptions of the battles, places, and the innermost feelings and thoughts of the main protagonists are sensitive and real, at times poetic. It was hard to believe that ‘Glass Island’ is Gareth Griffith’s first novel. Recommended to lovers of historical fiction.


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Imagining Violet by Mary E. Hughes
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was not the kind of book that I like to read. A succession of letters without some real interaction between characters seems unexciting and lacking in intrigue. But “Imagining Violet” was both surprising and full of incident with a main character who was engaging and beautifully written; a mark of the talented author. Violet’s charming approach to life, together with her undoubted ambition to become a concert violinist, in an age of Victorian expected “proper behaviour” led to this reader rooting for her from the beginning. We see her burgeoning growth from a mild mannered, young English rose into a sophisticated woman.

The author has imagined the late-Victorian life of her own grandmother, with family photographs throughout the book, and with a collection of letters written by Violet to her family and friends. There are charming descriptions of Violet learning to ice skate, and when she plays at her first concert. There is the hoped-for romance, both suspected and real, with holidays filled with friends and acquaintances, and the smells, sights and sounds of Germany before the Weimar Republican era. This series of letters, written by Violet, who was born in Ireland and raised in Edinburgh, and who travels to Germany to advance her studies, are a fine example of the epistolary novel. It will appeal to anyone who enjoys historical novels with a difference and as I will in future.

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Hannah: Woman of Iron by Barbara Sowood


Hannah: Woman of Iron is more of a novella than a full story book. It was an intriguing look at the life of a woman who lived during the 19th century and who took on the task of managing her husband's ironworks, while bringing up several young children. Sowood's fictional tale was particularly interesting to me having recently read about the 'prophet' John Wroe by Jane Rogers, another historical fiction, as this same man also appears very many times in Hannah: Woman of Iron. I was disappointed to find out very little about the running of an ironworks during the industrial revolution, either by man or woman. This novella was much more about the effects of John Wroe upon the town of Ashton-under-Lyne and Hannah's family, especially her grown-up children. When Sarah, her daughter, says that she has been chosen by Wroe to give birth to the new Messiah, called the Shiloh, it causes great consternation. Hannah's strong courage and determination, reputably a trait of Lancashire women of the times, is explored by the author in a very understandable and credible fashion. The conversations and arguments; Hannah's innermost thoughts and fears for her family's reputation; and her generous attitude towards others are explored well by Barbara Sowood - if a little simplistically at times. My last comment about the narrative is because much of the writing style reminded me of the style found in a children's book, of a book meant for early teens. Indeed there is nothing tackled here that could not generally be understood by a clever child of about 12 or 13 years.

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Peterloo: The Story of the Manchester Massacre by Jacqueline Riding
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This fascinating "book of the film" - Peterloo, directed by Mike Leigh - gave some wonderful and equally disturbing insights into the events that led up to, and resulting consequences of the traumatic hustings in St. Peter's Field, Manchester, on Monday 16th August 1819. The descriptions of the many main characters, such as Henry Hunt, Samuel Bamford, Lord Sidmouth, Joseph Nadin and various magistrates, gave the reader some kind of balance to the context but did not change my overall final emotions of sadness and outrage on behalf of the needlessly slain and injured people who had gathered in Manchester.

Whether the local and national governments' statements and various "Acts" later on were all part of a massive kind of cover-up is still debatable but I have no doubt that the whole event (incident?) was disgracefully mishandled by all of the authorities involved, including the military and various administrators. The mere fact that they employed several, later (in)famous, spies who also acted as agents-provocateurs seriously undermines any case of justification put forward by the Home Secretary Sidmouth and his lackeys. The book is incredibly revealing in lots of those sort of details and Jacqueline Riding is to be highly commended for the amount of research done for this very readable account.

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Black Hat Blues by Gene Kendall
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was one of the strangest books I’ve read this year. I loved The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Universe but, unfortunately, not this book. It was OK, since much of it reminded me of Douglas Adams’ style of writing. But I found most of it hard to understand probably because the comic book style plot and genre was something that I left behind some 50 or 60 years ago. For me the pace was breathless at times, especially the dialogue and, as a UK reader, there were too many USA idiosyncrasies. However, there was a lot to appeal to my sense of humour and expectation in the novel. There is a hero and a villain and thus plenty of ‘Good versus Evil’, and action involving different universes. Maybe there were a few too many stereotypical characters and situations, for me, in the story? That said, when an old ‘avant-garde’ cartoonist’s creations come to life and begin to influence his ‘real’ world then anything can happen – most of it does in this well-written tale. Black Hat Blues will appeal to fans of the comic book genre, even, probably, to those who were reading ‘Mad Magazine’ long ago as I did, but with a slightly less jaded outlook nowadays. Recommended.

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Bloodstone Bludgeon by S.D. Brown
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This fast moving and well written crime thriller was a very entertaining read for me. It is full of interesting characters with curious, and often quirky, personal traits. The central female character owns a store that sells rocks and stones, worked to make them as attractive as possible to her potential customers. When a particular bloodstone that she has ordered becomes central to a murder incident Allie, the owner, turns into detective. She was once a district attorney and is unable to resist proceeding with her ‘enquiries’, thus becoming entangled in a whole mess of complications that include polygamous families, possible paedophilia and a likeable New Age believer. The inclusion of a child ‘bride’ victim, an abandoned puppy and various touches of light humour in the story added obviously, irresistible hooks for me to continue reading. I’ve no doubt that they will appeal to other fans of this kind of ‘cosy murder’ mystery, notwithstanding the very serious edge also to be found in it. I was left wondering about the likelihood of certain polygamous communities still existing in more remote areas of Arizona – a disturbing thought.

Unfortunately, I found some typographical errors in the copy I read and this affected my final star rating of a fascinating book.


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