Musings, reviews and stories
Welcome to my blog! Here you will find, musings, book reviews and stories.
Regarding book reviews: I tend to review only books that I enjoyed reading. You’ll find:
reasons why I liked it
some thoughts about the characters, plot and underlying messages
ideas about who else might like this book
Amongst the other things you might find here are:
a few short stories that I wrote for fun
excerpts from some of my books
the occasional beginning of a story to kick-start your own writing ideas.
Enjoy!
Which Jane Austen next?
Jane Austen books – which one to read? Well, it depends what mood you’re in, and maybe a bit on how old you are. They’re all romances, but they’re all also satirical commentary on society, and all are cleverly layered. Here is my take on them - see what appeals and then go out and grab your next read!... read more...
May 2022
Memoir - In my mind's eye: reflections of a synaesthete
Black lines dance along the white ticker-tape of my father’s speech. His eyes are closed, and I hurriedly shut my own again. The tape streams and coils over the table, spilling off the edges and winding around the legs of chairs to pool on the floor.. read more...
March 2022
Book review:
The Chronicles Of Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters
The Chronicles Of Brother Cadfael by Ellis Peters
Cadfael is kind, shrewd, and a little bit mischievous. Once a soldier in the Crusades; now a monk, Cadfael's favourite thing is tending his herb garden in the Abbey and brewing remedies for sickness... read more...
January 2022
The other day, Tolkien hid in a cupboard, with a chef, a ballerina mouse and a hit man... read more...
November 2021
The cattle-grid at Luke's front gate was a killer. Every time he rode across his teeth clattered like a machine gun... read more...
October 2021
The rocks would be treacherous under Dustbag’s galloping hooves, but Travis had had no choice. A bicycle couldn’t make it down the ravine....read more...
August 2021
Here's the beginning of a story. What do you think happens next?
The Backpack Thief
The moment Will opened the backpack he knew he was in trouble. Read on...
June 2021
The paper lies crumpled on shining coils of ribbon. Ben holds the cardboard box. They only remembered to wrap it thirty seconds ago. It’s the wrong shaped box. Read more...
February 2021
