Book Review: Mystery of the Night Watchers / A M Howell / 9 – 12

Published by Usborne.

A tale of astronomy. Halley’s comet – a mystery and a family feud.

Halley’s comet, last seen (actually seen by me), over the sky of Cumbria. It returns once every 75 years – so not often and I was lucky to see it at all, back in 1986 – It will return, for those who weren’t about, in 2061…another 40 years from now – I suppose I might just see it again…

Back in May 1910, however, it flew remarkably close to the earth – if you can say that 13.9 million miles is close – which caused quite a lot of concern.

To quote WIRED (https://www.wired.com/2015/01/fantastically-wrong-halleys-comet/)

Writing to the Royal Observatory, one worrywart warned the comet would “cause the Pacific to change basins with the Atlantic, and the primeval forests of North and South America to be swept by the briny avalanche over the sandy plains of the great Sahara, tumbling over and over with houses, ships, sharks, whales and all sorts of living things in one heterogeneous mass of chaotic confusion.”

Mystery of the Night Watchers is set in this time of fear and trepidation – and is a fantastic story of inheritance, arson, mystery and a family torn apart by greed…

One for young astronomers out there.

Keep looking at the skies…

Book Review: If Only they Could Talk / James Herriot (James Alfred Wight) / 9 – Adult

Published by Pan Macmillan.

I recently found my old copy of this – a ‘new’ edition published in 1973. The book is a tired paperback. My over-sized bookplate stuck firmly inside, the cover distinctly worn and slightly stained. With a Thelwell cartoon on the cover and a notation that it is ‘now filmed as All Creatures Great and Small…’

I knew it was good, but hadn’t remembered quite how good. This was the first book in the series. I loved it then, I love it now. The ‘original’ TV production had Christopher Timothy as James Herriot, that extraordinary actor Robert Hardy as Siegfried and of course Peter Davison as Tristan… On re-reading If only they could Talk I was struck by how the television series so closely followed the trials and tribulations detailed in the book – it was beautifully done.

More recently (2020) ‘they’ have for reasons I don’t know, re-cast and re-scripted and reproduced the books for TV – though it took a while for me to get used to the programme (not just the actors, script, but the music too) – I have, as long as I don’t think too hard about it, found myself enjoying the new production too – possibly just as much as the first.

Reading the books, though – is the first pleasure. A must read for anyone who has any interest in animals – but understanding too, that this was before many of the modern drugs that make things so different for vets now.

Not all the stories have a happy ending.

Which makes the books all the more evocative and true. A vet’s life isn’t a bed of roses. There are and were times when ‘nothing can be done’ and though that can be hard to read about, it is those stories, those books that result in an emotional response that are the good ones. Those that can be read with total equanimity, don’t have the depth that make a good book.

These do – and are stupendous as a result:

If Only They Could Talk (1970)

It Shouldn’t Happen to a Vet (1972)

All Creatures Great and Small (1972)

Let Sleeping Vets Lie (1973)

All Things Bright and Beautiful (1974)

Vet in Harness (1974)

Vets Might Fly (1976)

All Things Wise and Wonderful (1977)

Book Review: Einstein the Penguin / Iona Rangeley / 5 – 8

Published by Harper Collins

This book reminded me of my niece. Strangely enough also named Imogen. As a very young girl she was a fan of pink…

‘My scarf is pink!’ said Imogen. ‘I don’t like pink anymore!’

So by page 10, I was amused. It has the feel of Paddington (Michael Bond) – though it is a simpler tale – a story of a penguin met at the zoo and invited home. It also reminded me a little of my favourite penguin book – Meet at the Ark at Eight, written by Ulrich Hub now sadly out of print.

A mystery – a missing penguin – a search across the world…

Imogen was furious. How could her mother talk to her like that? She wasn’t little, and she certainly wasn’t upset – she was righteously angry. To suggest that it didn’t matter Isaac was still missing – the very idea was ridiculous!

The cover of the proof has a rather charming illustration of Einstein and I am hopeful that there will be more within the book too.

A friendly book for those just beginning to read for themselves…Einstein might yet become more famous than that physicist of the same name.

Book Review: Storm Horse / Jane Elson / 9 – 12

Published by Hodder Children’s Books

This a celebration of neurodiversity, horses (in particular Seabiscuit) and friendship.

For those not in the know Seabiscuit was an American racehorse – though his conformation had much to be desired. He was an outsider, if ever there was one. The proportions of his legs were unusual for a good racehorse and he was deemed to be small and scrawny. He was a true character – his grooms had to wait for him to wake – they weren’t allowed to disturb him when he was sleeping. His jockey – was also unique one-eyed and he had a problem with drink.

Storm Horse is a story of a boy with severe dyslexia. He has trouble not only with reading, but making his way around his school. As for sports – he’s well aware that his abilities do not include speed or agility.

This is a story of friendship – and love. A competition and a race. A love between two equines, a story of achievements…hard won and friendship…

Book Review: Our Beautiful Game / Lou Kuenzler / 9 – 12

Published by Faber and Faber…

Young Polly herself is, I fervently believe, on the very edge of running wild. Lacking the niceties of the female sex, she is most often to be found playing out on the waste ground; pushing, shoving and brawling with half the youths of the neighbourhood.

There was more to the First World War than the trenches. There were those left at home, who did their bit too. This is the story of Polly. Young sister of Joe who has recently marched to the front line. Taking her only and beloved, football with him…

‘Will I get to use gunpowder?’ she asked, delighted.

This is the story of the Canary Girls of the First World War and of football – women’s football and its burgeoning beginnings. A tale of sacrifice, bravery and a young girl’s determination.

War results in so many sacrifices…some not so obvious as others…none should be forgotten.

It’s brilliant.

Book Reviews: Airs above the Ground & Madam, will you Talk? / Mary Stewart / 9 – Adult

Published by Hodder & Stoughton

We have been going through my parent’s loft – clearing things out as you do – finding old treasures, sifting though considerable numbers of books, papers, pictures and other paraphernalia… We found a box (actually we found several boxes of this sort), stuffed with books, most were paperbacks – many were mine. Some had belonged to my siblings. One had a bookplate to show it belonged to my brother – we returned that one to him. Most were given to my sister for her new holiday let enterprise in Yorkshire*. We did come across one, though, that I remembered.

Airs Above Ground by Mary Stewart. I KNEW I had enjoyed it, but couldn’t remember the story, but felt it was worth stealing back from my sister to read.

I was right, I couldn’t put it down. A brilliant mystery – well written and engrossing. It was first published back in 1965 by Hodder & Stoughton. My copy was the 18th impression of the 1967 edition…pages are yellowed..it cost £4.50 – you can now buy a new edition by Hodder for £10 – a larger quarto, better designed and is printed in a larger font too. In the back of my copy is a small pencilled notation – it was definitely my copy – I had built a database of my books…that one was number 379. I am definitely my father’s daughter.

I then thought to read another and bought Madam Will you Talk off the shelf at work. Once more I was engrossed. I was pinged earlier this week and found myself reading the book instead of doing all the other things I intended to do… Mary Stewart is a bit of a drug for me; it took less than 24 hours to consume.

I have ordered a copy of This Rough Magic and Wildfire at Midnight – to be going on with. I am visiting my sister (the one that took all the other books, most of which, I think were mine) in Yorkshire in September – I will be taking a couple of Mary Stewart books with me.

Sadly Mary Stewart died in 2014 – so I am unable to compliment her on her writing. If she wasn’t dead, I’d have wanted her to come to sign copies…if not have an event…

*Just so you know Clare’s holiday cottages can be booked via Rural Retreats…a glorious place – with fantastic views, but have a look at the details…she’s getting repeat bookings – and is almost full, but you can book well in advance to secure a fantastic holiday:

https://www.ruralretreats.co.uk/england/yorkshire-holiday-cottages/craiglands-cottage_yo118

https://www.ruralretreats.co.uk/england/yorkshire-holiday-cottages/the-mistal_yo119

Obviously I am ‘ever so’ slightly biased – but you don’t repeat book, if you don’t like your holiday!

Book Review: All the Money in the World / Sarah Moore Fitzgerald / 9 – Adult

Published by Orion Books

I cupped my hands, palm up, as if the music was liquid falling down on top of me in a silvery wave and I might be able to catch it and bring it home. I don’t know how long I stayed listening, but all the time the gorgeous sound swelled in the heat of the afternoon and seemed to find the dark gaps inside me and fill them up…

I am self isolating at the moment, having been pinged a couple of days ago, coming back from work. So, I’m working in my garden, writing more of Ginger and was lucky enough to receive this book on my last day at work and importantly, remembered to bring it home with me, so I am reading this too.

I am a fan of Sarah Moore Fitzgerald – ever since reading A Very Good Chance – if you haven’t read my post about it – do, or just buy it when you get this one.

All the Money in the World is a book of dreams, determination and hope.

Penny lives in a building referred to locally as The Flats; converted from an old house. The building is home to several families all doing what they can to survive. And rats too. The walls between the flats are thin. The mould in her bedroom has now changed. It used to be the shape of a mouse…more recently it is a very good representation of Ireland. The building smells. Her mother works all the hours she can to make ends meet… Penny is helping her friends who also live in the building to do their homework. More often than not doing it for them. When not hanging around doing nothing. She’s bored. Bored at school and at home. There is little food and life isn’t exactly inspiring.

Over the wall is an old house, built at the same time as the building that contains The Flats. Inhabited by the local witch. Or so everyone believes. Except it isn’t.

A Very Good Chance could be listed as a book about horses. This similarly could be regarded as a book about music. Once again this is so much more…I have reached page 124 of 294 – started it late last night…

This reminds me so much of my big sister…I often wish I was more like her. She too heard about a school…

Incidentally – this should be read whilst listening to Beethoven’s 8th Sonata…a story with no words.