Archives

F1 Racing: Drive by Rachel Brookes

Jun20

Perfect For The F1 Fan

F1 Racing: Drive by Rachel Brookes is the perfect companion for the F1 fan.

Rachel Brookes writes in a very personable style that draws the reader into her inner circle.

The book covers technical topics such as set up, choice of tyres, breaking, approach to corners etc. She presents them in a way that is easily understood by the lay person.

There are quotes from both racers and pundits alike, including Martin Brundle, Anthony Davidson, Valtteri Bottas, Oscar Piastri and more. All are familiar names and well respected by the F1 fan.

Drivers of the past are included too, as everyone tries to decide – who is their personal G.O.A.T (Greatest Of All Time)?

We learn about the dedication of the late, great Aryton Senna. And we see the comparison of Seb Vettel who “made it his business to know people, not just their job titles but their lives.” There is the belief that “people work harder when they feel they matter.”

Continue reading →

Can’t Judge A Book By It’s Murder by Amy Lilliard

Jun20

Cosy Crime

Can’t Judge A Book By It’s Murder by Amy Lillard is a contemporary cosy crime novel that I enjoyed. It is the first book in A Main Street Book Club Mystery which promises to be entertaining.

The reader enters small town America where a murder of one of their own has been committed. The clues all point in one direction – to a quiet, unassuming local despite the fact that strangers are in town. Local residents come together and begin amateur sleuthing looking for answers.

As I read, I was very much reminded of both Miss Marple; and also, Midsomer Murders, if both were set in America. Everyone knows each other; the police chief is a friend to all, and there are a trio of octogenarians plus two younger people, all trying to solve the crime.

I loved the inclusion of a traumatised cat, and also a noisy parrot who provided light-hearted entertainment with his random comments.

Continue reading →

Darling Bud by C J Skuse

Jun16

Chilling – Nature Vs Nurture

Darling Bud by C J Skuse is a chilling contemporary novel and the sixth book in the Sweetpea series but can be read as a stand-alone.

There is the theme of nature versus nurture. Do we become monsters? Is there something in our DNA or can we overcome our genes? “You can’t fight a monster by becoming one.” We witness the leading lady trying to overcome her gene pool. Meeting up with her mother when she is sixteen, confirms to her that she is correct in fighting against her ‘bad’ genes.

We witness the desire to belong within a family – but be careful what you wish for – all that glisters is not gold.

There are those who will exploit others for their own gain, whilst hiding secrets.

We see a warped sense of vigilante justice. We need to let the authorities punish the guilty.

A mother’s heart breaks through, if only for a moment. “She’d left me with the best person in the world, knowing that she was one of the worst.”

Continue reading →

All The Broken Places by John Boyne

Jun15

Innocent? – Or Not?

All The Broken Places by John Boyne is a powerful novel set over four different time periods that consumed me from the start. It is the sequel to The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas but can be read as a stand-alone. I recommend reading book one first as there are references to scenes in there. This is Gretel’s story who is the daughter of the commandant of Auschwitz, and therefore sister to Bruno, the lead character in The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas.

The story in set in London in 2022, and also in Paris in 1946, Sydney 1952, and London again in 1953. The chapters alternate between 2022 and the other time periods.

Gretel is ninety-one in 2022. She has had a lifetime of hiding and guilt consuming her, despite only being twelve-years-old when she first went to live at Auschwitz. She has been running from the truth ever since.

Blame is laid on her youth. She claims her youth equals her innocence – but she knew exactly what was going on, and she is only fooling herself.

We see the truth of Edmund Burke’s famous statement that for evil to flourish, it just needs good men to do nothing. “By doing nothing, you did everything.” People are complicit in the Holocaust by their inactivity.

There are Holocaust survivors. Their stories cannot be compared to Gretel’s. She chose to do nothing, to say nothing. She has guilty hands. The Jewish people had no choice in their fate.

Continue reading →