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GENRE: CONTEMPORARY LITERARY FICTION The Bee Sting would have to be one of my all-time favourite novels. It’s a poignant and unflinching portrayal of a family—the Barneses— in turmoil. They reside in a small town in Ireland during a time of…
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AND MRS ARBUTHNOT: PATRICIA FINEBERG STONER
GENRE: ROMCOM (?)/SATIRE And Mrs Arbuthnot is at first glance, fluffy-light, whimsical and possibly based on Oscar Wilde’s character of the same name. It’s presented as a volume of twelve connected short stories about a difficult and temperamental woman and her…
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HERE ONE MOMENT: LIANE MORIARTY
GENRE: CONTEMPORARY FICTION I read ‘Here One Moment’ in about three days, even though the early stages of it were quite heavy-going and could perhaps, have been more concise. Stick with it and the rewards will be worthwhile. It’s a…
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BURIAL RITES: HANNAH KENT
GENRE : HISTORICAL FICTION In 1829, the last public execution in Iceland took place (you can still see the specially commissioned axe in the National Museum in Reykjavik). A man and a woman were beheaded for a murder committed on…
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THE LOVED ONE: EVELYN WAUGH
GENRE: SATIRICAL COMEDY It was through reading this book published in 1948 that I learned of the existence of and sheer power of satire to engage the brain in a tug-o-war between laughing and observing conventions. Double entendre entered my…
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RETURN OF THE NATIVE: THOMAS HARDY
GENRE: CLASSIC TRAGIC BRITISH LITERATURE This book was a so-called classic— one of the books they ‘make you read’ at school that everybody loves to hate. I, however, loved it. I recently reread it because I couldn’t remember why and…
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ON WRITING: A MEMOIR OF THE CRAFT: STEPHEN KING
Welcome to my first book review. I have two confessions to make up front. The first is that my greatest introversion-driven two-pronged aspiration has been, for over sixty years, to be a writer and to live in a ‘chambre de…
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HASTE YE BACK: ISLE OF COLL, SCOTLAND
Scotland’s a land of monumental mountains and misty glens, castles with hidden stories, drams of whisky straight from the source, men in kilts, kelpies, selkies and Fay folk. It’s a mystical, time-shrouded lodestone which entices for many reasons, but the strongest for…
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A NORMANDY HERITAGE JAUNT – JUNE, 2024
It’s easy to see why many Impressionist artists flocked to Normandy to find inspiration: the lush landscapes and quiet serenity of the countryside, just a short schlepp away from Paris, would provide the perfect setting to paint in peace. No doubt…
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ISN’T KOFU IN GREECE? CHERRY-BLOSSOM TIME IN JAPAN PART 2
Cherry-blossom shots are the quintessential heart of the Japanese travel brochure cover shot, but Japan in cherry-blossom season is unlikely to live up to your dreamed experience if you limit yourself to the overtouristed areas of Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka.…
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RITES OF SPRING, JAPAN 2025
After three weeks in less touristed parts of Japan, my husband and I are bulleting through semi-rural Gunma Prefecture towards Narita Airport, laden with presents for the grandkids and a shared head cold. Blinking at passing scenery with dull, red…
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VIGELAND SCULPTURE PARK -OSLO
One of the great joys of travel is having in-person encounters with great art and architecture. This little ripper—the Vigeland sculpture park is a fine example. Steps alert if you are a little unfit. This park is not really wheelchair…
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AN INTRODUCTION TO MY FUNNY AVATAR’S LIFE OF WRITING
Meg Blomfield was the person I was before I married The Sexy-Hot Kelly Nerd. She had a social media presence under her maiden name so students wouldn’t find her to send her friend requests on Faceflop, or Twittillations on Tweetie-pie…
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KOM OMBO TEMPLE EGYPT
In 2010, I went to Egypt. What can I say about this amazing museum of a country? It’s hot, it’s dirty (don’t even dip your toothbrush in the tap water) and you should learn how to say ‘no thank you’…
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THE TRAVELLING COLLECTOR
What souvenirs do you collect when you travel? My own particular fetishes are fridge magnets, teatowels, postcards and a more unusual collecter item— soft toys. I call them ‘stuffies’ as in ‘stuffed toys’, but more commonly they seem to be…
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TANABATA IN KOFU
You’ve probably heard of Tanabata—the Festival of the Stars, celebrated on the seventh of July in many parts of Japan. It’s the one where they write wishes on pieces of paper and tie them to a bamboo bough. I’m still…
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SELF-DRIVING ICELAND?
The Snæfellsnes Peninsular, not too far from Reykjavik, has all the natural features of Iceland represented in one small area. But make sure you don’t zoom past Hellissandur and Rif. These little fishing villages are easily missed if you’re en…
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THE VIKING AGE NEVER REALLY ENDED IN ORKNEY
I wish I had had longer than one day in the windswept Orkney Islands, north of Scotland.The day I did have was halcyon and perfect. We were chasing deep time—standing stones, Skara Brae and more recent time—the Churchill Barriers, and…
