I managed to get a second hand copy of this rare work (you'll find it in the British Library of course, and other legal deposit libraries) and read it with some interest. It seems to be a vintage "young adult" novel: aimed perhaps at older teenagers and university students. The plot hinges around the interestingly … Continue reading The Stage Under the Cedars by Irene Byers
Reviews
How to Be a Victorian by Ruth Goodman
How to Be a Victorian is a fascinating read that takes one into a past era. It also gives the reader great perspective on our own era: I frequently found myself wondering what Victorians would think of sheer abundance of food and products available in the western world today. The author has spent extensive periods … Continue reading How to Be a Victorian by Ruth Goodman
The Adventure of the Floating Flat by Irene Byers
A vintage children's story with great charm. I picked up this novel in a second hand shop, never having heard of the author Irene Byers before. I've since been astonished to discover that she wrote over forty novels, mainly for children, yet barely anything is known of her. Out of curiosity I have ordered several … Continue reading The Adventure of the Floating Flat by Irene Byers
Red Inks: Flash Fiction by Sharon Livingstone
Like a box of jewels: a treasury of short stories in every sense, the flash fiction in Red Ink ranges from longer tales to tiny vignettes. All of them beautifully written with exquisite detail: sometimes fascinating, sometimes funny, sometimes sad. Some of these stories leave you wanting more because the glimpse of a world they … Continue reading Red Inks: Flash Fiction by Sharon Livingstone
The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie
The Pale Horse has long been one of my favourites. It's wonderfully macabre and atmospheric, and very, very clever. The book even saved someone's life, because a reader recognised the murder mechanism being used on a real person and contacted the police. In another case, an already-completed murder was discovered through the same symptoms. If … Continue reading The Pale Horse by Agatha Christie
Dubai by Robin Moore
This book is supposedly banned in Dubai but it’s relatively easy to find a second-hand (or third/fourth/fifth hand) copy there, pretty much every long-term expat has read it. “Fitz Lodd” usually raises a chuckle, and there are many who claim to know who he was based on as well as other characters in the book. … Continue reading Dubai by Robin Moore
Round the Bend by Nevil Shute
An unusual, fascinating and even disturbing book. A highly enjoyable read. Round the Bend is one book where you really should avoid spoilers. Specifically for the last page, which will turn many of your perceptions on their head and also cause you to rethink other things you have read. The (non spoiler) plot follows the … Continue reading Round the Bend by Nevil Shute
Edward Turbeville 