Recent News
30/10/2023:
A review of The Day of the Scorpion
by Paul Scott 
"*** NOTE: This review contains spoilers *** This is the second of Paul Scott's "Raj Quartet", an expansive portrayal of the lives of Britons in India during the Second World War, and the concomitant, disorderly break-up of the British Empire. I hadn't planned to read the Raj novels back-to-back, but having enjoyed The Jewel in the Crown, I sought out more of the same..." More
07/10/2023:
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28/08/2023:
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07/08/2023:
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A review of The Jewel in the Crown by Paul Scott
"As with I, Claudius, I decided to read this book after being captivated by the DVDs of the television adaptation. The series, like the book, features a large cast of characters, dealing with crises personal and political in India during the Second World War..." More
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06/07/2023:
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| At Lee Valley in a new kayak |
20/06/2023:
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A review of A Little History of Poetry by John Carey
"One can't fault this book its scope: a history of English-language poetry from Beowulf to Les Murray, including several chapters on ancient and foreign writers that bring in useful context. It is concise, educative and readable..." More
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05/02/2023:
A review of Nothing is Real
by David Hepworth
"A short collection of Hepworth's rock journalism. It is, inevitably, less cohesive than his full-length books..." More
15/01/2023:
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A review of The Ordeal of Gilbert Pinfold by Evelyn Waugh
"At the beginning of 1954 Evelyn Waugh was in poor physical and mental shape. He was experiencing severe joint pains, drinking too much, consuming large quantities of sedatives, and suffering from memory lapses..." More
- Video:
Sea surfing
01/01/2023:
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A review of I, Claudius by Robert Graves
"*** NOTE: This review contains spoilers *** A few months ago I watched the 1976 BBC serial drama I, Claudius on DVD. Despite its small budget, this tale of intrigue and corruption in the early Roman Empire makes compelling viewing..." More
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Most book reviews now include a photo of the book cover.
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