Fighting back against middle-class toxicity… @renardpress #onewomancrimewave

As you’ll probably guess if you read the Ramblings regularly, I tend to be quite selective when it comes to reading modern fiction. A lot of it is not for me, and I lean more towards the classics, modern classics, non-fiction and translated writing. However, when Will at Renard approaches me with something more current, I pay attention; he publishes intriguing, sometimes quirky and always interesting modern fiction, and I’ve enjoyed a number of titles Renard have issued. Therefore, I was happy to receive an advance copy of a new book which is out today, and which has an intriguing strapline; the book is “One Woman Crime Wave” by Bee Rowlatt, and as the proof cover asks, “What is your babysitter doing when you’re not there?”.

Fifteen year old Ashleigh has the reputation of being the best babysitter in the neighbourhood, and is having her first job with a dreadful pair of lovies, Tara and Giles. Their daughter Betsy seems to be shuttled between nanny Samira and babysitters, and it can’t be said that her parents are particularly hands on. However, as we observe Ashleigh at her job, it’s clear she has some kind of agenda… She may present as the perfect teenager, but in fact she’s a deeply troubled girl with a difficult family set-up, and as she goes through Tara’s house with forensic attention to detail, the reader can’t help wondering what she’s after.

Gradually, as the narrative progresses, parts of her past are revealed. Her mother is dead, and she lives with sister Morgan and dad Ludi. Tara’s house was previously their home, now converted from flats back into a posh middle class dwelling. However, despite the material trappings, Tara is not happy either. She’s struggling to restart her career after having Betsy, beginning to loathe her husband Giles, and despite lording it over the other mums at the playground gate (and repelling those like Holly who might not be from her class), she’s not getting the attention she needs. When Samira suggests that little Betsy might need to be tested for autism, that’s the trigger for Tara to take her rage out on the nanny and as well as sacking her, she takes some pretty unpleasant action.

This was why she loved the law. Every case had a proper ending. Each interconnected part was necessary, like completing a chain. Nothing dangled or straggled or was left unresolved.

Samira herself is an interesting character; part of a small family of refugees from Iraq, she’s studying for law and all her widowed father’s hopes are focused on her. Tara’s actions will potentially damage her plans, but Samira is not one to take things lying down. As events build to a dramatic conclusion, all of the characters will find their lives changed; but whose will be for the better and whose for the worse?

To say any more would spoil the pleasure of reading the book and watching the story develop. I have to say, though, that I was very invested in the characters, particularly Ashleigh and Samira; both girls have different ways of kicking back against the hand life has dealt them, and I was cheering them on! The skewering of Toxic Tara and Ghastly Giles is a joy to see; I’ve run across their type many a time, both when taking my own Offspring to school and also in my current school-based job… However, the villains are not all middle class, with Rowlatt allowing nuance in her portrayal of characters from all backgrounds and communities.

Central to the story, I feel, are women trying to take control of their own lives and come to terms with past traumas and present difficulties. Both Ashleigh and Samira have much to deal with, and seem determined to improve their situation, but Tara has pretty much made her own bed and now has to lie on it. Running through the book are themes of class, race and the veneer we put on when dealing with others. Tara, Giles and their set seem inherently racist and dismissive of anyone they deem as different or beneath them, so it’s comforting to see their world crumble. This is a book very much about secrets; all families have them, and as the narrative progresses and lives unravel, those secrets become revealed in dramatic ways. And interestingly, the question arises as to whom, actually, does the title of the book refer? Is Ashleigh’s nosing and pilfering the crime, or does Tara’s behaviour raise more red flags?

As you can probably tell, “One Woman Crime Wave” is a fascinating read which tells a gripping story whilst exploring many topics and issues; and it struck me that we’re really not moving on in our modern, fractured world where we’re very far away from an integrated and supportive society with opportunities and consideration for all. Ashleigh and Samira have different ways of dealing with their issues, and although Ashleigh’s are perhaps not the best, they’re understandable. The way the two women’s lives interact and enable resolution is cleverly done, and Rowlatt’s debut novel is a real success. Previously known for her work in journalism and non-fiction, it’s clear she has a talent for storytelling, and the short, sharp chapters in “One Woman…”, focusing on the different characters, keep you engaged all the way through.

So another winner from Renard! As well as producing beautiful editions of classics and essays, poetry and plays, they’re also carving out a niche for excellent and often quirky modern fiction. As I said, this is not a kind of writing I often read, but it’s great to be taken out of your comfort zone and I do recommend “One Woman Crime Wave” as a pithy, engrossing and thought-provoking look at modern life! 😀

Some recent shorter reads #Woolf #Cocteau @renardpress

Just a little post today to round up a couple of recent short reads – in length, that is, although not in impact. Both authors are huge favourites, so here goes!

In the Orchard by Virginia Woolf

Woolf was a prolific essayist, and I am gradually collecting all of the volumes of her Complete Essays. However, useful as those are, there’s definitely something daunting about the prospect of reading them. So I’m very happy that lovely Renard Press have been releasing slim volumes collecting a few essays at a time, as these make excellent reading. The latest one contains three essays: “In the Orchard“, “Three Pictures” and “Evening Over Sussex: Reflections in a Motor Car“. The latter is a piece I’ve written about here, so I won’t repeat what I’ve already said.

However, the other two essays are as stunning as Woolf always is. “In the Orchard” describes a simple scene, one of Miranda asleep in the orchard; however, rather cleverly, Woolf narrates the situation in three completely different ways and from differing angles, showing just how the interpretation of what seems a simple scene can vary. Kind of an early “Exercises in Style“, then!

And triads feature again in “Three Pictures”, a powerful and moving set of three short pieces. The narrator, presumably Woolf, records three short scenes, almost like paintings, and provides her interpretation of them. The conclusion of the final one explains the second and destroys the bucolic image of the first in an unforgettable way – quite brilliant.

Woolf as an essayist is always outstanding, and these lovely slim volumes from Renard are a wonderful way to explore her non-fiction writings – highly recommended!

Secrets of Beauty by Jean Cocteau

Published by Eris, this is a book I’d hoped to cover for #ReadIndies; however, publication was delayed and I only got hold of it recently. I’m painfully aware that only a fraction of Cocteau’s writings have been translated into English, so if anything new comes out I pounce on it! That was the case with “Secrets of Beauty”, translated by Juliet Powys and with an introduction by Pierre Caizergues. Another slim but lovely volume, collections with this title were published in 1945 and 1950; this particular release doesn’t specify which it’s drawn from, but internal evidence reveals that it was initially composed at the tail end of WW2 and scribbled on whatever scraps of paper, napkin etc. Cocteau could find.

Baudelaire’s contemporaries saw only grimaces in his work, and only grimaces they admired. From behind those grimaces, the gaze travelled slowly towards us, like starlight.

“Secrets…” is in effect a series of aphorisms or epigrams by the author, varying in length, where he shares his thoughts on beauty in poetry and art. Whether reflecting on some of his favourite creators, or indeed his own artistic vision, he offers fascinating thoughts on poems, paintings and music. Some creators are damned by faint praise, but when he loves someone’s art, he says so.

The poet has a truth of his own that people mistake for a lie. The poet is a lie that tells the truth.

This book is a brief but definitely thought-provoking read, and it shares the feeling of being written on the hoof which came across in his “Letter to the Americans“. There, he was on a plane home to France; here, he’s returning from a visit to his lover Jean Marais, by car and then train. Being on the move seems to stimulate his thoughts, and there’s much to unpack in this little gem of a book.

*****

Although I love a good chunkster, sometimes it’s nice to pick up a slimmer volume and just read through it in one session; and that’s what was so enjoyable about both of these books. Stimulating, beautifully written and really thought-provoking, they were just what I wanted to read and a wonderful way to re-engage with a couple of favourite authors. I highly recommend them both!

“…my own dear lady’s quick, intuitive brain…” @RenardPress #ReadIndies #LadyMolly

I can hardly believe it’s the end of February – and #ReadIndies! Luckily, we’ve had an extra day this year, and to round up the month, Lizzy and I have been buddy reading a book from one of our favourite micro-presses – Renard! It’s a reprint of a fascinating collection of classic crime stories which I’d not come across before; and it turned out to be a real treat. The title is “Lady Molly of Scotland Yard”, and it’s by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, best known for penning the ‘Scarlet Pimpernel’ books.

However, Orczy had more to her range than just adventures of derring-do. As well as writing a remarkable number of novels, she’s also responsible for the creation of ‘The Old Man in the Corner’, an armchair detective who solves crimes whilst sitting in a London tearoom with a female journalist. I’ve read and enjoyed some of these stories in anthologies, so was very keen to discover Orczy’s Lady Molly adventures. First published in 1910, the book contains 12 shorts stories which follows the escapades of Lady Molly, plus her loyal ‘Watson’, Mary, as they solve a series of dastardly crimes. These tales are wonderful fun, and pioneering in many ways, with Lady Molly being an early female detective.

Attached to Scotland Yard, Molly and Mary are often called in to cases where male detectives are puzzled and the female touch is considered to be necessary. Her methods are unconventional (and occasionally frowned on by the Yard); but she can get results where the men can’t, particularly if the case involves female protagonists (and in some cases, female villains!) She also uses brain not brawn, another way in which her adventures are pioneering, paving the way for future detectives who rely on the little grey cells and not the muscles!

So there are cases with illegitimate babies and blackmail; missing art treasures and profligate sons; Sicilian gangs and false accusations of murder; plenty of impersonations and some very dastardly murders! The mysteries are twisty and clever, with Lady Molly and Mary cleverly outwitting all of the baddies. Fortunately, they’re a resourceful pair, adept at disguise and dissimulation, and also wise to the wiles of some of the women they encounter. As you’d expect from the author of “The Scarlet Pimpernel”, there’s plenty of action and melodrama; this does make the stories a little larger than life, but they’re thoroughly enjoyable.

Inevitably, any crime stories of this vintage are going to use the Holmes/Watson template as a model, and Mary is a faithful recorder of Lady Molly’s investigations; she also worships her employer! As the stories develop, we gradually are given more hints about Lady Molly’s background and how she ended up in Scotland Yard; certainly, it’s not usually the destination of a titled lady, although her social status definitely helps her access areas that the Yard can’t normally get into. The final stories reveal all and bring the adventures of Lady Molly and Mary to a suitable and satisfying close; Orczy sensibly limiting her writings about this particular detective to the one collection so as not to stretch the stories to thin.

Bearing in mind the interest nowadays in early and Golden Age crime fiction, it’s surprising that the adventures of Lady Molly haven’t made it into a reprint edition before now; however, this handsome Renard edition is definitely worth the wait. It’s beautifully presented, with supporting notes, and is a wonderfully entertaining read. As with so many books of this time, language and views which are unacceptable nowadays do appear in the text; however, Renard very sensibly leave these in, adding notation at the end that these sentiments were common at the time, but not something which is allowable now. I think this is a really good way to deal with this issue; I am, after all, an adult reader and can deal with these terms whilst wholeheartedly acknowledging that we wouldn’t use them now.

So my final book for #ReadIndies was a brilliant and entertaining read; I loved making the acquaintance of Lady Molly and following her escapades and her cases. Wonderfully dramatic, full of disguises and tricks and devious baddies, “Lady Molly of Scotland Yard” is a diverting and enjoyable read, and the ideal way to bring a little escapism into your life!

“It was not enough to be dead” #richardaldington #exile #ReadIndies @renardpress

One of the publishers I always try to include in #ReadIndies is lovely Renard Press, purveyor of excellent reissues, lost classics, plays, poetry and sparkling new fiction, amongst other things! I’m always happy to see what they’re putting out next, and my monthly subscription invariably brings in new treats. A recent arrival was a fascinating poetry reprint from an author I’d not read before. However, the name was familiar, and as I started reading the book I found out why!

The book is “Exile, and other poems” by Richard Aldington, a war poet perhaps less well remembered nowadays than the big names of Owen, Sassoon et al. However, Aldington was an early associate of the Imagist group, poets who believed in precision and clarity; and he published in the early 1910s, as well as working as a literary editor and columnist. The First World War changed his life, as is it did so many, and the first section of “Exile” contains some short and powerful works which reflect Aldington’s experiences during that conflict.

Many of the WW1 poems I’ve read have been traditional in structure, but not so here. Aldington uses free verse to explore, in dark and haunting works, the horrors of war and its effect on humans. Aldington obviously had to confront death and injury and disease and this is reflected in his work, which is powerful and moving. The poetry is often spare and pared back to the bones; and bones are indeed a recurring image in the verse.

I do not need the ticking of my watch
To tell me I am mortal;
I have lived with, fed upon death
As happier generations feed on life;
My very mind seems gangrened.

The second section of the book contains more lyrical work and these are often structured in more traditional forms. There are two parts, titled “Songs for Puritans” and “Songs for Sensualists”. Here, Aldington adopts the style of the lyric poets, and drawing from the tradition of Latin and Greek verse, produces some lovely verses.

The final two poems, “The Berkshire Kennet” and “A Winter Night” are more pastoral works, set in nature where Aldington sought out peace and attempted to recover his humanity. However, even in these more bucolic poems, there are echoes of war, conflict and trauma; nature can help to heal, but this will take time… Aldington’s range was obviously wide, for as well as the war poems and those exploring the natural landscape, a dry humour shows through in some of the verse; I definitely would be keen to investigate his work further to see how his writing developed over the years.

This edition of “Exile” is a centenary one, released in 2023, and as well as the poems themselves there is erudite commentary and notation; this is supplied by Elizabeth Vandiver and Vivien Whelpton, leading Aldington scholars, and they provide excellent support for a reading of the verse.

I mentioned at the start of this post that Aldington’s name rang a bell, and as I read the introduction to the book all became clear. I had come across the poet in connection with the American author H.D. (Hilda Doolittle); she and her troubled marriage to Aldington were covered in the wonderful book “Square Haunting”, which I reviewed for Shiny New Books back in 2020. The connection had slipped my mind, but I’m glad I’ve had the chance to read Aldington’s work; I think he was a fine poet, producing work which is still very immediate and resonates with me, and I would like to read more.

So this is one of the reasons I love #ReadIndies – if it hadn’t been for Renard reprinting this, I doubt I would have picked up on Aldington’s work, which I’m so happy to have done. As well as being an engrossing and moving read, “Exile” is beautifully produced with excellent supporting material (as is always the case with Renard). If you want to read some powerful and often beautiful poetry and explore the writing of Richard Aldington, this is definitely the book for you! 😀

Welcome to #ReadIndies 2024!

Here we are once more to support independent publishers by reading and reviewing their fantastic output.  Trading conditions haven’t got any easier for Indy publishers since Lizzy and I launched Reading Independent Publishers Month in 2021, and so we hope you’ve got your book stacks all ready to dive into. 

I’ll quickly recap on the two rules that apply to #ReadIndies: 

• Reading material (whichever format, whichever language) must come from publishers who are currently operating as independents.
• Self-published titles are not eligible.

There will be no Mr Linky this year, so please alert us to your reviews by using the #ReadIndies hashtag on your social media platform of choice, or by leaving a link in comments below.

What am I planning to read?

Our badge this year features publishers in the Indie Press Network, and I *will* try to read from those imprints as much as possible. However, my intention is to read as many of the indies which I already have in the stacks, as I shared in my end of January post yesterday, and there is an interesting range of possibilities!

What is most unusual is that Lizzy and I have identified a title we have in common: “Lady Molly of Scotland Yard” by Baroness Emmuska Orczy, published by Renard Press. (ISBN 9781804470718), which we’re going to buddy read and review on 29th February.  All welcome to join in.

Talking of Renard Press, do check Lizzy’s blog later today for her interview with Will Dady, founder of Renard Press and the Indie Press Network. It’s very enlightening about the pressures small publishers face and makes us really proud to be supporting them through Reading Independent Publishers Month.

“Rejoice in thy youth” @RenardPress @threepeasinapot

My love of the indie publisher Renard Press is probably well known by now; and over the last few years I’ve been happy to support their seasonal releases of a festive short story in the form of a small booklet which can be sent as a Christmas card. Not only are these lovely objects in their own right, but they also support a worthy cause: that of the Three Peas charity which supports refugees. In a world increasingly riven by conflict, that’s essential and I’m happy to do what I can.

I’ve previously written about “The Gifts of the Magi“, “The Christmas Dinner” and “The Burglar’s Christmas“, each of which was a lovely read. This year’s choice of story is “The Fir Tree” by Hans Christian Andersen, and it is indeed an affecting little story! It tells of a beautiful little fir tree growing in the forest, surrounded by sky, air and fellow trees. It should be happy, you would think, but no – it questions everything. It wants to be as big as the other trees, and admired by all. It wants to know what happens to the trees which are chopped down and taken away. The little tree is generally unhappy with its lot, particularly when it sees smaller trees being cut off at ground level and removed somewhere; and it’s not satisfied until this happens to it too.

Despite the pain of being felled, the tree is taken away, put in a home and dressed in bright decorations. Has it finally found the adoration it craves? Well – no… This being Andersen, there is a moral point to be made, about being happy with your lot and not constantly seeking after chimeras with no real idea what you’re looking for – which is a very good moral indeed.

“The Fir Tree” is beautifully told, full of memorable vignettes (the story-loving mice were a particular standout), and there’s plenty of pathos towards the end when the tree realises its mistakes. So a moving tale encouraging us to appreciate what we have, which is a timely one for the festive period!

Renard are a great indie to support; as well as producing some lovely and fascinating books, they’re also a climate-positive publisher which is wonderful. This year’s Christmas story was another little treat, and if you know me in real life, you may end up getting a copy this year!! 😉

“You’re having a panic attack.” #mybookofrevelations @RenardPress

Following on from my involvement in the #blogtour for the wonderful “The Zebra and Lord Jones”, back in September, I’m very pleased to be participating in another one for a Renard Press title! This time it’s an author I’ve read before – Iain Hood, whose “Every Trick in the Book” I enjoyed massively last year. His new title, “My Book of Revelations“, promised to be equally intriguing and entertaining, so I was happy to be asked to take part in the tour!

Hood hails from Glasgow, and grew up by the sea in Ayr. He was educated in Scotland and began his working life there, later moving to England where he now lives. “Revelations” is most definitely rooted in his Scottish heritage, set as it is mainly in Edinburgh, although it does at times range far and wide.

The book opens rather intriguingly with short sections going back in time and exploring how the standardised calendar came into common use. Chapters follow looking back to the events of 1985, 15 years before the turn of the millenium, and then to a closer period – indeed, divisions of 15 recur in the book. It soon seems clear to the reader that the narrator is doing some kind of presentation, and in fact he is – to a bunch of people working T.S. Mole, a Scottish tech laird who runs the Molextrics company.

The narrator is blagging his way into the company to ensure it is futureproofed against the predicted Millennium Bug, and is soon employed to do so, as well as being given a lot of leeway as to how he does it… But our unnamed narrator is erratic, and when he occasionally seems to be telling the truth, is actually doing very little. All the tech knowledge he displays is cribbed from a friend; he’s convinced the bug will not affect Molextrics; and most of his time is spent putting on a show whilst reflecting on his past. As the dreaded date draws closer, the populace react in different ways, some hoarding supplies in a way which recalls the reactions the pandemic… And as New Year’s Eve starts, the narrator heads into Edinburgh to celebrate with his fellows the coming of a new era – though what kind of world will be there on the other side of midnight is anyone’s guess!

I’ve only really hinted at what “Revelations…” is doing here, because once again there are so many layers to this book! Hood is a determinedly experimental writer, a facet of his style which was very much on show in his last work. Here, however, he takes this to a much higher degree, and in fact the final section, leading up to the actual millennium itself, is a tour de force – more of which later. The book is cleverly structured, with the middle section consisting of a series of emails between the narrator and a friend in America; this in itself ranges far and wide over all manner of topics and is fascinating in its own right.

It seems to me, however, that time is the most important thread running through the book, from how we record it to how we stretch it. It’s worth remembering that time and how we measure it is a human construction; there are no clocks in nature, and they were invented by us to try to structure the world. In “Revelations” that structure becomes unhinged, and the final section of the book notionally takes place in the last quarter of an hour before midnight on 31st December 1999. Yet time is elastic here, with the narrator seemingly having the ability to roam over time and place at will.

Jesus, think how poor our cultural life would be if it wasn’t for nicking all things French? I mean, I like to head to a rendez-vous for a liaison at a restaurant with an apéritif followed by some champagne and on to a menu of sliced baguette, then omelette, soufflé and salad with vinaigrette. After this we’ll be chauffeured to watch one of these chic, risqué, avant-garde cabaret premierès where we’ll find the use of silhouettes all too easy to ridicule because it is too sentimental. We won’t bother picking up the souvenir programme.

There is a wonderful long set-piece where the narrator converses with Jean Cocteau and Dame Muriel Spark (albeit a Jean Cocteau with a very Scottish accent; and the characters keep morphing into other ones and then back to who they were originally). This pulls in much of Scottish history, with the two discussing its past and potential futures, as well as art and literature. This was, I have to say, one of my favourite parts of the book; witty, mind-bending and entertaining; as the review in the Herald highlighted, it calls to mind the writing of Alasdair Gray, in particular “Lanark”, and Hood is obviously a worthy heir of Gray!

From the two books I’ve read by Hood it’s quite clear that he’s a writer setting out to stretch and break boundaries, and I applaud him for that. “My Book of Revelations” is a work which sends you off in so many directions; from pondering the daftness of University departments (the pages about the various spelling mistakes re the Department of Mimetics were hilarious), through the lies we tell ourselves and each other, to questions of identity in the 21st century, this is a book packed with ideas. It’s a complex and thought-provoking work, and I’m still thinking deeply about what it’s saying days after finishing it – always the sign of a good book – and think it would definitely benefit from a second reading. So another winner from Renard and Iain Hood, and I highly recommend this if you enjoy fiction which stretches the mind!

“…the man whose heart is hard and drab is the greatest fool of all.” @BookwormVaught @renardpress

Today on the Ramblings I’m happy to be taking part in a blog tour for one of my favourite indie publishers, Renard Press. I’ve followed them since the early days, being happy to support them, and I thoroughly recommend their monthly subscription which gets you a lovely book each month as well as supporting them in their endeavours! I’ve often featured here some of their beautiful classic reprint titles, but they also have an impressive list of new authors and titles. Now I’m not always much of a reader of modern writing, but I’ve found that their new titles are always wonderful and intriguing reads. Today’s book is a case in point…

“The Zebra and Lord Jones” is by Anna Vaught, an author of Welsh heritage with an impressive body of work behind her already., including the acclaimed novel “Saving Lucia”. As well as teaching, mentoring and editing (in addition to her own writing!), she’s also launched The Curae, a new literary prize for carers. Frankly, I’m impressed with her energy! But on to the novel!

“Zebra” is set mainly during WW2 and tells the story of the titular Lord Jones and his redemption at the hands of the Zebras, as well as the Welsh people and landscape! Robert Jones is actually the son of Lord and Lady Ashburn, and a more repellent pair of aristocrats you never did see. Robert is a Disappointment to them; in weak health after a childhood bout of polio, he’s the complete opposite of what they would like as a son and heir. For all of his life they’ve basically neglected him, treating him as a hindrance, wishing they had a son like that nice Mosley boy, and bemoaning the fact that he has no backbone. Yes, as you might have guessed, the Ashburns are fascists, mixing in a circle of the well-heeled who are fascinated by Mussolini, Hitler and all of the right-wing ghastlies. Robert is an emotionally damaged, stunted man and by the time of WW2 is drifting hopelessly, following vague instructions from his hateful and cold parents.

His parents were extremely rich, in money, property and thoroughbred horses, and were well connected and cloaked in the sort of arrogance which comforts those who have it, but which leads those who do not to vomit into the nearest hedgerow.

Up in London to supervise some insurance matters, he finds himself caught in the middle of the Blitz; so too do Mother and her child Sweetie, a pair of Grevy’s zebras on the run from the bombed London Zoo. Somehow human and zebra recognise each other as sympatico spirits, and Lord Jones finds himself purloining the two animals (or, as it is hinted, they might just have stolen him!) and he takes them off to refuge on the family estate, Cresswell Manor in Pembrokeshire. Here, the powerful figure of Anwen Llywellyn, a local woman of character and beauty who works on the estate, will take centre stage in all of their lives.

Surrounding them are a fascinating range of other characters: there is Jenkins the Dry priest, who for some reason has an Ethiopian monk staying with him. Then there are Anwen’s relations, Dai and Myfanwy, grieving the loss of their son. Down from London comes the young evacuee Ernest, who has suffered the loss of one brother at Dunkirk, knows the other is ill after fighting and has even had to deal with the euthanising of his beloved dog because of the War. All of these characters have their own kind of pain; as do the zoo keepers of the world. Talbot, the zebra keeper from London Zoo, is bereft at the loss of Mother and Sweetie; he’s been in contact with other keepers in Dresden and Lisbon, despite the conflict. As Anwen and Robert come to know each other better, taking in evacuee animals from London to the sanctuary of Cresswell Manor, there are all manner of plot strands running through the story. Why *is* there an Ethiopian monk in South Wales? What is Operation Zebra? Is that really Haile Selassie coming for a visit? And where does Christopher Marlowe come into this??

As you can probably gather, “Zebra” is a wonderful and clever book, drawing in all manner of strands to create an involving and lyrical story. There are so many different elements at play, from the suffering of animals at the hands of humanity, through the futility and evil of war, the losses we have to deal with on a regular basis in life, and of course the magical nature of zebras and the Welsh! The book is beautifully written, in lilting and often discursive style, replete with digressive and entertaining footnotes at relevant points of the story. There’s much information about the beauty of zebras built into the narrative, as well as the strong sense that stealing animals from their native environment is completely wrong, a sentiment with which I strongly agree. Real history is beautifully blended into the story, and the book captures brilliantly time and place.

The Welsh setting, with all its hidden magic, is beautifully evoked, and narrative is wonderfully poetic – there’s a very Welsh quality to it, to my ear! And, well – who *is* the narrator? Well, you’ll have to read the book and find out yourself! As for all of the individual characters, I grew to love them whether animal or human. Lord Jones and Anwen are a wonderful pair; drawn together despite their obvious differences, there’s a sense that they’ll balance each other out well. Anwen is a powerful and unforgettable woman, strong yet brimming with compassion. Poor suffering Ernest is a heartbreaking character who you pray will find some kind of home; Dai and Myfanway are passionate yet also tug at your heart with the loss they’ve suffered. And all of the animals, particularly the zebras, are given their own viewpoint!

The story of the escaping zebras and the adventures surrounding them draws in so many different aspects; there’s commentary on colonialism, class, inequalities of wealth, and how cruelty is always wrong. The story is rounded up beautifully with all the ends tied up nicely and people’s lives resolved, though not without plenty of melancholy woven in (because life is, after all, full of melancholy). I was left feeling that the underlying message is that we need to apply compassion and kindness to all, and then the world would be so much better; the narrator makes regular swipes at humans and their war-making, and this is unfortunately still something that our stupid race needs to stop. All of this is, however, done with a light touch which never makes the messages overwhelm the story, and I found myself gripped by the tale of Lord Jones and the zebras from start to finish.

As I mentioned, Vaught writes beautifully and I loved her footnotes, asides and the extra material which appears at the end of the book. I have a great fondness for Wales, having spent many happy times there, and I loved the way she captured its magical quality. “The Zebra and Lord Jones” is a treat from start to finish; I can highly recommend it if you wanted to be transported to a wonderful world of adventure and animals! 😀

“Let foaming sea absorb the chaos” #waytothewest

In the picture of my monthly reads via my end of June round-up, I gave prominence to a beautiful book of poetry and art which I read as the month was drawing to a close. “Way to the West” by Andy & Vally Miller had arrived as part of my Renard Press subscription, and I was very keen to explore it as it looked a little different from their usual releases. Renard, as a matter of course, produce books which are always beautiful things in their own right; and they also regularly promote new poets by releasing fascinating collections of verse. However, this book seemed particularly special…

“Way to the West” is subtitled “A Celebration of Cornwall in Verse and Art” and is a landscape format book, falling in size somewhere between A5 and A5 size (about 9.5 x 7.25 inches in old money). Twenty five poems by Andy are presented on the left hand page, with gorgeous watercolours by Vally opposite; and together these artworks build up a vivid and fascinating picture of the history and landscape of Cornwall.

The extreme West of England is an atmospheric place; I’ve only been down there a few times in my life (including a memorable holiday in Newquay in my teens) but I recall the big skies, the beaches and the wild seas. However, I suspect that what I know of Cornwall is more from reading about it than from my visits, so these poems and paintings, which explore its past so evocatively, are certainly captivating.

The poems are wonderful; very immediate, beautifully written, they explore the violence of the seas, the quiet of the country areas, the mining past and the present which is so often dominated by tourism. There’s often an underlying sense of loss, with a cottage which was once a home now being rented out to visitors, and the conflicted feeling of residents, dependent on tourism, but all the same resenting it. Other verses explore the remants of the old industries, now being reclaimed by nature; and Andy reflects of the ancient nature of Cornwall, pondering on how many people will pass over the land and the stones in future.

At the edge of the estuary,
The perimeter of history,
The pulse of salt persists.

As for Vally’s paintings, they’re absolutely gorgeous. Having made feeble attempts at watercolours myself in the past, I can attest to how difficult the medium is and therefore how good these are. Sometimes appearing deceptively simple, they capture the Cornish landscape in all its glory; from the crashing waves to the overgrown greener areas, from standing stones to glorious sunsets, they’re a joy to behold. Vally’s painterly eye moves from wide open skies and beaches to darker, dramatic scenes, proving just how versatile she is with her medium. The lightness and beauty of some of the watercolours occasionally belies the darker subject matter sometimes on show; ‘Above Us the Waves’, for example, is a poem about mining under the sea-bed which left me shaken.

My snap doesn’t do this justice, but hopefully this will give you an idea of how lovely the watercolours are!

As is fairly obvious, I absolutely loved “Way to the West”; Renard have done a marvellous job in producing it, with the book printed on thick, quality paper which really does justice to the paintings. The Millers are obviously a hugely talented pair of creatives, with both having had long careers in their particular metier; and the combination of their two arts works wonderfully here. “Way…” is a book to be read and treasured and revisited regularly; it’s a wonderful, beautiful book and will have pride of place on my Renard shelf!

Flaming June!!!! ☀☀☀

Well, June was a bit of a scorcher in more ways than one! Apart from the intense heat (which I have to say that I don’t much enjoy…), I had a red hot month of reading with a wonderfully varied selection of books – and once again, no duds, which is always such a treat! Here are the books I’ve enjoyed during June:

June’s reading – I have placed the lovely Renard Press book on top so you can appreciate the gorgeous artwork!

As you can see, there are some interesting titles in there! I enjoyed two excellent crime releases from the British Library Crime Classics range, which were really strong entries in the series. I also took part in a blog tour for “Relentless Melt“, a book which may have been out of my usual remit but which turned out to be really enjoyable and quite dark. Revisiting favourite authors was a delight in June, too: a re-read of Bruno Schulz in a new translation helped me reappraise him; discovering a softer side to William Burroughs was a joy as I took part in the “Reading the Meow” event; the non-fiction of Charles Dickens turned out to be just as good as his fiction; and Calvino’s “Castle of Crossed Destinies” was wonderful and very thought-provoking. I ended the month with two very different poetry collections, from Andy & Vally Miller and Nora Igua – both were marvellous reads and reviews will follow! 😊

So July beckons, and I guess it may well be as hot as this month has been; frankly, I’ve been glad to go into work, because the office has air con!! At the start of a new month, I always like to regroup and go through the immediate TBR, choosing possible reads that fit my mood at the moment, and this is what I came up with for July, the books which are catching my attention:

Possible reads for July!

As you can see, they’re mostly an interesting array of chunksters! Going from the top, I have already embarked on “The Voluble Topsy”, a forthcoming release from Handheld, and so far it’s turning out to be pure delight – very funny but with pithy undertones. The Taggard and the Beerbohm are review copies and both ones I’m keen to get to soon. “Writing in the Dark” was a gift from the Offspring, and looks like the perfect piece of non-fiction to keep me occupied. “Night Walking” seems to have been on the TBR *forever* and it’s another fascinating sounding non-fiction work that I need to get to sooner rather than later. And then there’s Proust… I have been gradually making my way through his books, with gaps in between, and I still have part 2 of “The Guermantes Way” to read from this volume. I really should get back to him…

There’s also the ongoing Virago reading event in the LibraryThing VMC group, and there are a couple of interesting titles I could pick this month, including *finally* getting to read Brigid Brophy – we shall see how time goes!

I also want to mention a couple of special bookish arrivals this month from lovely blogging friends which are sitting looking pretty on the TBR and calling strongly! The first is from Simon at Stuck in a Book, my co-host for our reading year Clubs; I mentioned during “Reading the Meow” that I had thought I had some of Beverley Nichols‘ cat books, but found I didn’t. Simon very kindly sent me over a spare copy he had of “Cats’ X.Y.Z.” which is absolutely gorgeous and it was so kind of him. I shall try to read it before next year’s “Reading the Meow” event, but if I don’t at least I have it standing by!!

Secondly, lovely Liz at Adventures in reading, running and working from home sent over a book she’d read which I thought sounded fascinating – as you can see, it’s about walking up the spine of the country, which is the kind of non-fiction I love exploring nature and the past and the modern world. Can’t wait to read it!

Finally, I have to sneak in a book which has just made it into the house, and which I have been craving for weeks! I’ve been watching the marvellous Alice Roberts series “Ancient Egypt by Train”, and her journey following the pioneering one made by Amelia Edwards over 100 years ago, recorded in “A Thousand Miles up the Nile”; the book is obviously a touchstone for Roberts. Enthused by this, I’ve found it quite hard to track down a decent quality edition but finally settled on a 2022 reprint from the Egypt Exploration Society, and here it is:

Isn’t it gorgeous?? What particularly appealed was the fact that the book contains colour reproductions of the watercolours Edwards painted of her Egyptian travels, and also that it’s not one of those nasty cheaply produced modern editions that turns up on Amazon. It has nice thick paper and decent sized print so will be a joy to read; it was Not Cheap, but was worth it, and worth the wait!!

So as you can see, there are plenty of choices for July and as usual the hardest bit will be choosing. I shall no doubt do as I always do and follow my inclinations – do any of my possibles appeal to you????