GENRE. MYSTERY, THRILLER, SUSPENSE, PSYCHOLOGICAL THRILLER
Or CRIME (in general, but with a twist)
AUTHOR. C J TUDOR
TITLE. THE TAKING OF ANNIE THORNE
ISBN 978-0-718-18745-3
C J TUDOR’s SECOND BOOK ‘THE TAKING OF ANNIE THORNE’
THIS IS NOT A COSY, HAPPY-PLACE BOOK. IT IS TOLD WITH GREAT IMAGINATION INCORPORATING SOMETHING UNUSUAL
After reading her stories and especially after ‘The Taking of Annie Thorne’ I commented to myself that this author had a seriously traumatic childhood and that her school life must have been hell!
I could be wrong and it is all down to an ultra imaginative mind.
J Tudor’s debut novel, ‘The Chalk Man’, and her second ‘The Taking of Annie Thorne’ should send you storming out of your comfort zones. Five pages in The Prologue introduces the reader to a crime scene. Explicit and with some thought given to feelings of officers investigating. I was hooked when I read the clear message written at the termination of it.
We both struggled a bit with the first six chapters. The thought that questions ‘shall I carry on?’ It was depressing reading and I wondered what sort of world we were being coaxed into. It's set within a school background and everything is detailed and explained in depth. Joe Thorne returns to a place that he once knew. He has not been in a happy place either! Some would say ‘it is never good to go back’ and whether that is true or not gives us an excellent story. No clichés are allowed except, ‘I did not want to put the book down’ and I wanted to know how it was to end. A warning thought; there is a need to concentrate as there are more turns in the story than a mountain road.
It gripped me and I intend to re-read ‘The Chalk Man’ as I enjoyed this second book so much. Her latest ‘The Other People’ has just been published. More to read then!
Thursday 30 January 2020
Sunday 26 January 2020
AUSCHWITZ AND THE LIBERATION OF BIRKENAU
LIBERATION
This past week has marked the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz- Birkenau in 1945, by the Red Army.
A political gathering met in Jerusalem to commemorate this day and The Holocaust.
In the gray columns of weary women
Going each day to work
Barefoot half naked, hungry, cold
Wretched shadows dragging each foot.
Not all of them will return to camp
Many will remain on the road
Their corpses will be pulled back into the rows
They are all needed for the roll call.
Corpses from the fields, corpses from near blocks
Are thrown together on the piles
Today’s half dead - will burn tomorrow
The same fate is awaiting us all.
Only a dark smoke will burst to the skies
And the wind will whistle victoriously
Spreading the stench of burnt bodies
In glory or in defeat?
The marching columns of weary women
Young and old - mature and children
To last at least another day
Freedom must be not far away.
Monika
Birkenau, 1943
Translated from the Polish by June Friedman
Saturday 11 January 2020
ABIR MUKHERJEE WITH 'DEATH in the EAST'
DEATH IN THE EAST by ABIR MUKHERJEE
It is about time I gave the author, Abir Mukherjee, more praise for his incredible use of word combinations. It's so descriptive and encourages the reader’s imagination. I love the full use of words. Try this line from his latest one and fourth in the series, ‘Death in the East’.
“a policeman with an opium habit is like a long-distance runner with his laces tied together”
So simple and yet it says a lot!
This 400 plus page novel headlined on the front cover by C J Sansom as ‘A brilliantly conceived murder mystery’, is just that, but there is much more to absorb.
British Imperial India has been the sole setting until it is shared with London’s East End and then later in Jatinga, Assam. He's in Jatinga for a very good reason, of course, and would you believe, there's death! A minor theme in the books are Sam Wyndham’s weakness for a pretty face. You could say he has a flaw!
We have another chunk of history thrust our way when we know about Sam’s earlier life and exploits as a beat copper in around Leman Street nick in 1905. He is, of course, involved in murder investigations and the not-so-subtle ways of life with the old style coppers, dockers, immigrants and Jews. There’s poverty and violence, corruption and death. If that isn't enough to intrigue a reader, too bad because I will not spoil the telling of the plots. You will have to read the book.
As always there are examples of how it was in 1920’s India with characters showing their very stubborn prejudiced ‘Britishness’. The indigenous population being treated as inferior. Through out Sergeant Bannerjee has been referred to as Surrender-not as the Anglo-Saxon tongue was incapable of saying ‘Surendranath. Sam is eventually challenged by Suren, (the native) a name by which he is called and shortened for convenience to pronounce properly and to use his Indian name. And he does. That's about time too and I wonder how many times Abir Mukherjee experienced comments and prejudice with his own name.
Experiences like those; they live on and these four books highlight the prejudice that existed and still exists in many minds.
Having written a poem my last line was ‘prejudice fuels hate’ and this book especially proves my point. The best crime novel of the four to date. It's a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed although at times I had to give some thought to the reality of certain events. You maybe surprised!
It is about time I gave the author, Abir Mukherjee, more praise for his incredible use of word combinations. It's so descriptive and encourages the reader’s imagination. I love the full use of words. Try this line from his latest one and fourth in the series, ‘Death in the East’.
“a policeman with an opium habit is like a long-distance runner with his laces tied together”
So simple and yet it says a lot!
This 400 plus page novel headlined on the front cover by C J Sansom as ‘A brilliantly conceived murder mystery’, is just that, but there is much more to absorb.
British Imperial India has been the sole setting until it is shared with London’s East End and then later in Jatinga, Assam. He's in Jatinga for a very good reason, of course, and would you believe, there's death! A minor theme in the books are Sam Wyndham’s weakness for a pretty face. You could say he has a flaw!
We have another chunk of history thrust our way when we know about Sam’s earlier life and exploits as a beat copper in around Leman Street nick in 1905. He is, of course, involved in murder investigations and the not-so-subtle ways of life with the old style coppers, dockers, immigrants and Jews. There’s poverty and violence, corruption and death. If that isn't enough to intrigue a reader, too bad because I will not spoil the telling of the plots. You will have to read the book.
As always there are examples of how it was in 1920’s India with characters showing their very stubborn prejudiced ‘Britishness’. The indigenous population being treated as inferior. Through out Sergeant Bannerjee has been referred to as Surrender-not as the Anglo-Saxon tongue was incapable of saying ‘Surendranath. Sam is eventually challenged by Suren, (the native) a name by which he is called and shortened for convenience to pronounce properly and to use his Indian name. And he does. That's about time too and I wonder how many times Abir Mukherjee experienced comments and prejudice with his own name.
Experiences like those; they live on and these four books highlight the prejudice that existed and still exists in many minds.
Having written a poem my last line was ‘prejudice fuels hate’ and this book especially proves my point. The best crime novel of the four to date. It's a great read and I thoroughly enjoyed although at times I had to give some thought to the reality of certain events. You maybe surprised!
Saturday 4 January 2020
ANOTHER GREAT READ FROM IAN RANKIN
Ian Rankin and his 1990 novel, ‘Westwind’.
As far as I am concerned he is in a class of his own. I have read and particularly enjoyed his ‘corrupt cop’ ones set in Glasgow. He makes it sound - real and, of course, his characters are strong either with criminal intent or doing their best to prevent anarchy.
The introduction to ‘Westwind’ is five pages in length and sets out his struggle to get it written and eventually published in 1990. In the intervening period and to get it into print again he had to work on it.
I had no idea what this book was about before I picked it up. There is criminal activity - of course what would you expect from him - but the whole plot is involved with the world order as intended by some of the characters. That's enough of that otherwise I could give too much of the plot away. Suffice it to say that the story runs between two continents, unscrupulous and arrogant individuals are involved through out. There are watchers and listeners and computers are having to work hard to keep up.
The setting for the events keep the reader moving rapidly on and backwards and forwards between continents. The plots move fast too and the characters that are created are strong and interesting and even, un-nerving! He does them well. Oh yes, people get killed and there is a hint of romance, but that is left hanging!
What was going on in the 90’s is different to today, but the plot, the story and the intrigue holds good for today too. I enjoyed it and you can too and decide how much or how little could or could not have happened. Yes, I can criticise it, but not now until you read it. Enjoy, as I did.
As far as I am concerned he is in a class of his own. I have read and particularly enjoyed his ‘corrupt cop’ ones set in Glasgow. He makes it sound - real and, of course, his characters are strong either with criminal intent or doing their best to prevent anarchy.
The introduction to ‘Westwind’ is five pages in length and sets out his struggle to get it written and eventually published in 1990. In the intervening period and to get it into print again he had to work on it.
I had no idea what this book was about before I picked it up. There is criminal activity - of course what would you expect from him - but the whole plot is involved with the world order as intended by some of the characters. That's enough of that otherwise I could give too much of the plot away. Suffice it to say that the story runs between two continents, unscrupulous and arrogant individuals are involved through out. There are watchers and listeners and computers are having to work hard to keep up.
The setting for the events keep the reader moving rapidly on and backwards and forwards between continents. The plots move fast too and the characters that are created are strong and interesting and even, un-nerving! He does them well. Oh yes, people get killed and there is a hint of romance, but that is left hanging!
What was going on in the 90’s is different to today, but the plot, the story and the intrigue holds good for today too. I enjoyed it and you can too and decide how much or how little could or could not have happened. Yes, I can criticise it, but not now until you read it. Enjoy, as I did.
BOOKS & BOOKS & READERS
BOOKS AND THE CHOICE THERE IS - BECAUSE YOU START ONE IT DOES NOT MEAN IT HAS TO BE FINISHED
In the last few months I have started several books and I could not get on with them. I would read a chapter and not feel encouraged at all. I would pick it up again and the same, so I put it down.
One was by Kate Moss, who I have read before and enjoyed the history of it and when I obtained Burning Chambers I thought that I could easily ‘get stuck into it’. I was wrong. It is still there waiting to be read and I will give it another go.
A friend brought in a present, a book, by Stephen King and Owen King, Sleeping Beauties. Okay, apparently it is a number one best seller. The Daily Mail comment is ‘Immersively believable…..brilliantly drawn characters’ and it is thick enough to stop maybe a bullet or a sharp knife! Would 713 pages be enough to defend one self with?
I looked and examined the first few pages and found three pages of lists of characters. Bloody hell what is this a memory test? And the print is small. Only to be read in good light without any alcohol too! I know Stephen King’s reputation is huge and any of his fans reading this would probably want to encase me alive in concrete, but why does it have to be that complicated? No it doesn't. You have to believe me I have tried and after several attempts I managed to read twenty five pages. Then I thought no, I would rather tread in dog shit! There's much more to life than struggling with it.
On a more positive note I am looking forward to reading the third in the trilogy by Hilary Mantel. I can hear people exclaiming, if you can read Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies then you can surely read Stephen King? I admit the way Wolf Hall was written it did take some getting used to, but I read both and I intend to read both again before March when ‘The Mirror and The Light’ is published.
But not all is ‘doom and gloom’ for I finished Westwind by Ian Rankin, last night, and that is a different read to any that I have read recently.
In the last few months I have started several books and I could not get on with them. I would read a chapter and not feel encouraged at all. I would pick it up again and the same, so I put it down.
One was by Kate Moss, who I have read before and enjoyed the history of it and when I obtained Burning Chambers I thought that I could easily ‘get stuck into it’. I was wrong. It is still there waiting to be read and I will give it another go.
A friend brought in a present, a book, by Stephen King and Owen King, Sleeping Beauties. Okay, apparently it is a number one best seller. The Daily Mail comment is ‘Immersively believable…..brilliantly drawn characters’ and it is thick enough to stop maybe a bullet or a sharp knife! Would 713 pages be enough to defend one self with?
I looked and examined the first few pages and found three pages of lists of characters. Bloody hell what is this a memory test? And the print is small. Only to be read in good light without any alcohol too! I know Stephen King’s reputation is huge and any of his fans reading this would probably want to encase me alive in concrete, but why does it have to be that complicated? No it doesn't. You have to believe me I have tried and after several attempts I managed to read twenty five pages. Then I thought no, I would rather tread in dog shit! There's much more to life than struggling with it.
On a more positive note I am looking forward to reading the third in the trilogy by Hilary Mantel. I can hear people exclaiming, if you can read Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies then you can surely read Stephen King? I admit the way Wolf Hall was written it did take some getting used to, but I read both and I intend to read both again before March when ‘The Mirror and The Light’ is published.
But not all is ‘doom and gloom’ for I finished Westwind by Ian Rankin, last night, and that is a different read to any that I have read recently.
Wednesday 1 January 2020
A PLEDGE REQUEST FROM FRIENDS OF THE EARTH
Welcome to the year 2020. No, this isn’t the future – it’s now.
And the climate crisis is here.
We can’t afford to think of the climate and nature emergency as something that will happen in the distant future (or in a galaxy far, far away). It’s happening as you read this, with communities around the world already suffering the consequences.
But you can make a real difference this year, and it all starts with a simple pledge:
I’LL SIGN THE PLEDGE
Research has shown that resolutions are most successful when they’re split into a number of small goals. So why not make it your first step to sign and share the pledge?
You can’t take on all the world’s woes now, nor can you do it alone. But just think what a difference a year can make.
This time last year we hadn’t yet had the world’s largest climate strike. That’s over 4 million people who, on New Year’s Day 2019, didn’t realise that they would be part of history.
So thank you for everything you’ve already done to avert climate breakdown. Now will you pledge to help make 2020 an even more powerful one for the climate movement?
I’LL SIGN THE PLEDGE
Best wishes and happy New Year!
And the climate crisis is here.
We can’t afford to think of the climate and nature emergency as something that will happen in the distant future (or in a galaxy far, far away). It’s happening as you read this, with communities around the world already suffering the consequences.
But you can make a real difference this year, and it all starts with a simple pledge:
I’LL SIGN THE PLEDGE
Research has shown that resolutions are most successful when they’re split into a number of small goals. So why not make it your first step to sign and share the pledge?
You can’t take on all the world’s woes now, nor can you do it alone. But just think what a difference a year can make.
This time last year we hadn’t yet had the world’s largest climate strike. That’s over 4 million people who, on New Year’s Day 2019, didn’t realise that they would be part of history.
So thank you for everything you’ve already done to avert climate breakdown. Now will you pledge to help make 2020 an even more powerful one for the climate movement?
I’LL SIGN THE PLEDGE
Best wishes and happy New Year!
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