Yesterday I ventured into a brilliant independent bookshop in Wimbledon called Copperfield's Second Hand Bookshop. I won't bore you with all the details as I was in there for ages and looked slightly suspicious as I cruised around the shelves gawping at the vast range of books stacked so neatly in such an efficient way. The important thing is that I found a very small and very modest looking book called Soldier Fritz and the Enemies He Fought. The cover is a gorgeous green with gold embossing and it was one of those times when a small book booms out at you and you just can't ignore it.


As some of you may already know I have a soft spot for old children's books and an even softer spot for books with inscriptions. This little book ticked both boxes as its pages were not only full of lively stories of victory and triumph but it also had this inscription...


'Presented to Arthur Stroud as a reward for constant attendance during the year 1880 - Holy Trinity Sunday School, Richmond'.

And that was me hooked.

Soldier Fritz and his enemies are now on my bookshelf, but not being content with knowing I had a piece of history on my shelves, I wanted to know more. I wanted to know who Arthur Stroud was and how old he was when he was awarded this prize? Of course I will never know if he was chuffed to receive it or if his mother dragged him to the church every Sunday but thanks to the National Archives I have been able to dig a little bit deeper and I now have a sketchy outline of who this young boy was.


Arthur Stroud lived with his Mum and Dad, George and Martina, and had two brothers, George (older) and Albert (younger). He was born around 1867, making him 13 when he was given Soldier Fritz. Now isn't that something? To think that his grandparents would have been born around the early 1800's makes history seem shorter, as though we are not as far from the late 1700's as I once thought. Quite a productive trip into town.

So I would like to say congratulations Arthur! Whether or not you were dragged to church, you looked after your books and I hope you enjoyed the story. 131 years later and I'm wondering what happened to that thirteen year old boy who grew up in Richmond?

Book three for me out of the TV Book Club list and so far it has been my favourite. At times the subject matter is hard to digest as the institutionalisation of children and adults is such a delicate topic. There is no skirting around the edges when it comes to discussing child abuse, humiliation and degradation.

Reviewing a book by Terry Pratchett is like walking into a garden centre and telling the head gardener that roses are really quite wonderful. It doesn't really need to be done. Everything he writes is literally (and I use this word in the most literal sense) magical. So for that reason this review is purely self-indulgent as it gives me a chance to reflect on what I liked most about a book that has kept my commute lively.

For starters this book is aimed at young adults, which doesn't make it that much different from his other books only that perhaps Tiffany Aching is a bit younger than some of Terry Pratchett's other characters. The action is crammed in like pickles in a jar and truth be told I did snort on a few occasions. Yes, folks it really is that funny and it is such a relief to find a book that doesn't take itself too seriously.

As for the Nac Mac Feegles which gave a stonkingly good performance throughout the magical tale, I would like to see a book dedicated entirely to them and their way of life. If you have yet to meet the Nac Mac Feegles, fear not for they are a friendly folk, that is if you are not accidently digging up the mound under which they live in the mountains. Hearty drinkers and raucous fighters, these tough guys make the story what it is - a story of companionship, loyalty, love and above all MAGIC.



I would recommend this to anyone looking to keep a certain someone entertained through what looks to be a few very rainy weeks of summer.

This book is both creepy and disturbing and that's exactly what it is intended to be. Through a swift and light-hearted narrative the novel captures the reader by drawing you in to the mind of a seemingly friendly and fun girl.

However, the water does not remain calm, so to speak, as soon you are dragged under by a strong current which takes a dark turn leaving you  repulsed, confused and compelled to continue reading...

This is a tragedy like no other, the protagonist is blinkered from the real-life dangers surrounding her suburban bubble. Only the outsider (now insider as you adjust to her internal monologue) can see that she is in a destructive relationship that has the power to corrupt her fragile life and mind. This is not a book for the faint-hearted. I was swept up by it but then again I won't be returning to this dark ravine.

Last Thursday I was treated to a night at the theatre. We went to see Chicken Soup with Barley the rejuvenated 1950's play by Arnold Wesker. Focusing on a Jewish family and spanning 20 years from 1936 to 1956, this extraordinary play blurs the lines between realism and idealism. Sarah Kahn is an East End Jewish mother, fighting to protect her family from the Mosley's fascists marching outside her flat. Sarah is a staunch supporter of Communist ideals and whilst her family might be on her side, their beliefs don't appear to have the same sticking power. Or at least, they have grey areas, whereas she only sees in black and white.
Twenty years on and Sarah is still fighting the battle, whilst others have drifted to the suburbs, she is still attending meetings, and making her voice heard. Samantha Spiro gave an excellent performance as the politically driven mother of two, however for me, it was Danny Webb, who plays her husband Harry Kahn, that really stole the show.

Whilst Samantha performed monologues to the sold-out audience, it was Danny that I was watching. Throughout the 20 year span, Harry Kahn encounters two strokes. To begin with, I was not really aware of his stage presence as Sarah held my attention as she proclaimed her commitment to the Communist party. However, as the silences became more weighted, and Harry's posture became more afflicted, I became absorbed by his every move. His speech deteriorated and his physical presence was painful to watch, which made it all the more powerful. Not only was it tragic to watch a man slide into a decline, but it added to my appreciation for Sarah as she carried on with her duties and tried to hold her ever-disjointed family together.

A brilliant performance by both leads -  made even better by being in such an intimate theatre. Although words are obviously important to a play, sometimes silences can hold even more weight. It is at these times when you can really appreciate the power of a frown or a smile, and being that much closer to the actors made all the difference.

Well this was the second book I read from the TV Book Club list and I have to say I was more than a tad disappointed. Bear in mind that I am a ginormous fan of Gothic literature and vampires pretty much float my boat. But recently I feel there's been a smidgen more than overkill (excuse the pun) on this genre.

 The Radleys is great if it is the first book about vampires you have ever read. If, however, you grew up worried that Buffy and Angel might never be together, or found yourself lured into the Stephanie Meyer/ L.J Smith debate, torn between pale and sparkly or pale and dishy, then this might not be the book for you.

 It's been done before folks, and no doubt it will be done again.

I loved Being Human  on BBC3 and this felt like Matt Haig had watched it and then moved it from Bristol to yet another suburb. I struggled to find the humour and having a family of abstinent vampires is surely just a rewrite of the popular veggie Cullen family.

I think perhaps I was the wrong audience for this book. I was a tough cookie to please and unfortunately this book did not so much as float my boat as leave me grounded on a fairly nondescript sandbank.

I'm giving it a 5/10 for trying to compete in a vampire infested market.

Just to be clear the 1/8 means it is the first of the 8 books that I have read out of the pile sent by the lovely people at the TV Book Club, I don't think it's the first they have discussed.


I am so glad I started with this book, it's that lovely chunky size which means you can really chew on it for days. Set in Provence, France, Deborah Lawrenson's sensual tale is one of a love shrouded in mystery. Eve and Dom buy a derelict farmhouse in the lavender sea of Provence and take their time sinking into their surroundings and relish their isolation from the hustling modern world.


However, as with all old properties in novels, this farmhouse has a story that it slowly begins to unveil and a resident it has yet to disclose. 


Lawrenson elegantly captures the sights, sounds and smells of the richly perfumed Provence and draws her readers into a rural history tainted by misunderstandings. I can see why the Book Club selected The Lantern for their summer read, I could almost feel the sun beating out of the pages and luckily enough, the lavender in our front garden aided the sweet fragrances that Lawrenson so accurately describes. 


These books are going to be rated, a rarity for me so here goes. I give it a well deserved 7/10. You can read it wherever you choose, a lush field, a cool poolside or a stuffy train carriage. It really doesn't matter where you are, you'll all be drawn into the same beautiful French landscape. Oui! Oui!