Oi, I'm over here....

Stuff and Nonsense by Amy Cockram is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

Hello again.

If you happen to chance on this blog you can find a lot of old posts about books I have read and a few more random things.

I stopped writing on this blog when my son became ill (see last post). I have started another blog now - a fresh start - if you would like to pop in at cornishamy.wordpress.com.

Circumstances mean that blog posts might be infrequent - so far I average one a year, which makes Donna Tartt look prolific - but I want to try to get it going a bit more. I'm sure I will write a fair bit about books, but I am also hoping to try to do some fundraising in the future relating to my son's condition. The new post going up soon will be a bit of background about this....

Closing statement

Stuff and Nonsense by Amy Cockram is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

It is with regret that I wanted to let you all know that I won't be posting here for the foreseeable future.

Since having a baby in December I haven't really been able to keep up with reviews anyway. However, in a very short time everything has changed drastically as our son has been diagnosed with infantile spasms (a rare kind of epilepsy). As I need to focus on him, I won't be able to write here at least for a while.

It's horrendous to feel so powerless to help your child when they are ill. One of the few things I can do is share information about infantile spasms to help others recognise the symptoms quickly, so I'm including a link for further information here.

A quick catch up...

Stuff and Nonsense by Amy Cockram is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

I've been doing a fair bit of late night reading still - in fact, the only time I am getting to read - on the Kindle.  I haven't kept up with writing about what I have read, so this is a brief catch up. As I'm not usually that alert at night, they have been fairly unchallenging reads.

"The Chimera Secret" and The Eternity Project," by Dean Crawford.

"The Chimera Secret" and 'The Eternity Project' are the latest novels in the series of novels by Dean Crawford which feature  Ethan Warner and Nicola Lopez.  I have read and enjoyed previous entries in the series, which I have reviewed here.

These novels continue the story arc, in which Ethan is looking for his journalist fiancée, Joanna, who was kidnapped in Gaza. Alongside this arc, each novel has it's own "monster of the week" storyline. In "The Chimera Secret" Dean Crawford draws on Bigfoot mythology, and "The Eternity Project" is of a more ghostly ilk.

These 2 novels form a satisfying conclusion to the story arc, and are so addictive that I went straight from one to the other (which I had not initially intended to do). I got the impression that "The Eternity Project" is intended to be the last book featuring this entertaining pairing, which is a shame.

"Up with the Larks: Starting Again in Cornwall" and "Seagulls in the Attic: Making a New Life in Cornwall," by Tessa Hainsworth.

As a Cornish girl who has relocated to Devon for love but still thinks Cornwall is better, I was attracted to these books for nostalgia reasons. I wanted to be reminded why Cornwall is better than Devon, and I was. These books are nice, gentle reads, set in a rural society which is gradually being eroded by declining fishing opportunities and the influx of retirees and second-homers which are pricing out the locals.  There is a 3rd in the series which I intend to read at some point, but maternity leave pay has resulted in a shortage of book-buying funds (and, indeed, anything buying funds).

"The Greatcoat," by Helen Dunmore

I think I've mangled the order of these a bit, as I think I read this just after "The Ghost Hunters" when I was still in the mood to be creeped out on late night feeds. It is the well-written tale of a new wife who moves into a flat with her husband and finds a greatcoat in a cupboard. Following this, she starts to be visited by a ghostly airman.  Well-written though it may be, I didn't find it creepy which means that it ultimately didn't work effectively for me as a ghost story.

"Guardians of Stone" and "Fountain of Secrets," by Anita Clenney

A random find on the Kindle Prime library; the first two novels in a relic hunter series described as Indiana Jones meets Janet Evanovich. I couldn't resist that combination.  I think ultimately the Janet Evanovich comparison came from a sex triangle vibe, but these novels didn't really have the sense of humour that I so enjoy in the Stephanie Plum series. They were an entertaining diversion for late night feeds, but I haven't yet decided if I enjoyed them enough to want to continue with the series.

"The Ghost Hunters," by Neil Spring

Stuff and Nonsense by Amy Cockram is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

I discovered "The Ghost Hunters" through word of mouth on Twitter. When I was deciding what to put on my new Kindle to read while being kept awake at night by a young baby, this was one of my first picks.

In the framing narrative of Neil Spring's novel, Dr Robert Caxton receives a letter which summons him to the Senate House Library in London. Once there, he is given a mysterious manuscript that had been found in the collection of infamous ghost hunter Harry Price.  This document - written by Sarah Grey relating her time working with Harry Price, their relationship and their involvement with the allegedly haunted Borley Rectory - forms the main body of the novel.

I wasn't aware when I started reading this that Harry Price was a real person and Borley Rectory was a real, supposedly haunted, place. This added an extra level of fascination for me.  In the past I have been interested by the plays of Terry Johnson, who merges the real and fictional in his work, and where that demarcation point becomes blurred. However, where the historical figures that Johnson uses are well-known, even iconic - for example Einstein and Marilyn Monroe in "Insignificance" - I had no knowledge of Harry Price.  Spring's use of Harry Price comes with no iconic, recognisable character traits as far as I am concerned - unlike Einstein or Monroe, where public knowledge of the person forms a character shorthand - which also means it comes with no expectations or preconceptions.  Rather better known to me is Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, whose fascination with spiritualism was well documented, and who Neil Spring also uses as a character in his narrative.

Of course the real measure of a ghost story is how scary it is. It might be down to circumstances to an extent - reading in near darkness in the middle of the night - but it did effectively creep me out (so much so that I alternated it with another book when I got too freaked out to continue reading at night).  It is a bit of slow burn, quite M.R. James-y (which is a very good thing) and effectively builds suspense and foreboding. There was an element in the narrative that I didn't quite buy into and felt a little cheated by - I won't disclose what, as it would be a significant spoiler - but in the main I found it very satisfying and unsettling.

Neil Spring's novel has strong characters as well as a creepy ghost story to recommend it, with an element of verisimilitude. As well as reading the novel, I would recommend reading the fascinating author's note which relates events in the narrative to the details of the actual alleged haunting of Borley Rectory.

"Takedown Twenty," by Janet Evanovich

Stuff and Nonsense by Amy Cockram is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

I reviewed Janet Evanovich's previous book, "Notorious Nineteen," on this blog here. Please follow the link to see the review of this book: as Janet Evanovich continues to write the same book, I might as well write the same review. Although "Takedown Twenty" does have a giraffe.

I am being a bit facetious and bitchy in this, but the fact does remain that - fun and entertaining as the books are - there is little character development and Stephanie's life still has not really moved on.  The mystery element might vary a bit for each novel, but the formula remains the same....

"The Magus of Hay," by Phil Rickman

Stuff and Nonsense by Amy Cockram is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

This is going to be another quick catch up post. I lamentably have not got very far with my maternity leave reading, and have had little chance to read or blog since my rather screamy baby was born on Boxing Day. I did however finish "The Magus of Hay" just before he was born, and I am trying to perfect my one handed typing technique while supporting a 4 week old baby on my lap to start blogging again.

In "The Magus of Hay" Phil Rickman re-introduces two characters from his earlier novel "The Crown of Lights," artist Robin Thorogood and his sensitive - meaning psychic to an extent - wife, Betty. Robin is struggling to piece his life back after events in the earlier novel, and he impulsively decides that his new project should be opening a pagan bookshop in Hay on Wye.  Their lives then intersect once again with Merrily Watkins, deliverance minister, as they all get drawn into the intrigue surrounding the death of an elderly man.

This novel sees Merrily more isolated than usual, as her musician boyfriend, Lol, goes away on tour and her daughter, Jane, is away from home on an archaeological dig prior to going to university.  I had mixed feelings about this. It was an interesting change to show Merrily at a remove from some of her normal support network, and yet I missed Lol and Jane as they are both characters of whom I am very fond.  As a book geek, I also enjoyed the Hay on Wye setting (which brought back fond memories of a visit there when I was a student).

The Merrily Watkins novels continue to be my favourite series of mysteries and, as always, I will be waiting impatiently for the next book.  When I read the Ruth Galloway series of mysteries recently - which I briefly wrote about on this blog - I was mentally comparing them to Phil Rickman's novels, as I became very fond of the recurring characters in the Ruth Galloway series but was less satisfied by the mystery element. Phil Rickman is an excellent example of a writer who excels at both.

My maternity leave reading

I've been saving these for my maternity leave. I wonder how many I can get through before the baby arrives and I never have time to read again? One down so far - review to follow - and 2nd book started today....

The Ruth Galloway Mysteries by Elly Griffiths

Stuff and Nonsense by Amy Cockram is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

This is another one of my catch up posts.  Now that I am on maternity leave I really should be a bit better at writing - at least until the baby comes - but I have still been feeling very tired.  I read these during the summer as a sequence, as I found them very addictive.

The titles in this series, in order, are:
"The Crossing Places'
"The Janus Stone"
"The House at Sea's End'
"A Room Full of Bones"
"Dying Fall"

Elly Griffith's heroine, Ruth, is a forensic archaeologist, working at the University of North Norfolk.  In "The Crossing Places" she is approached by Detective Chief Inspector Harry Nelson to help in his investigation of some bones that have been discovered on a desolate beach.  This begins a partnership that spans the series of books, as Ruth becomes embroiled in Nelson's life and work.

For me, the main appeal of this series is the character of Ruth - intelligent, dedicated to her work, independent, strong, self-deprecating - and her relationships with Nelson and other recurring characters.  In terms of the mystery element, I found the first novel to be the most satisfying but I still enjoyed the others and I intend to keep reading further entries in the series.

"The Man in the Picture: A Ghost Story," by Susan HIll

Stuff and Nonsense by Amy Cockram is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

This is a book that I read a few months ago but, as I still haven't been feeling great and haven't been reading much, I am only just getting around to writing about it.  This is likely to mean that my review will be a bit shorter than usual and perhaps a bit more hazy.  However, it does mean that, coincidentally, I am writing about this novella almost exactly a year after having read and written about "The Woman in Black." This book was even loaned to me by the same friend (thanks Bill, who has also been very disappointed in me for not writing much recently).

In this novella, the narrator pays a visit to Theo Parmitter, an elderly man who was his university tutor at Cambridge.  Theo asks him if he would like to hear a "strange and somewhat disturbing story."  It's an invitation that I suspect no-one with natural human curiosity could decline, and Theo starts to recount a story of going to an auction and purchasing a painting of a Venetian scene that is not to his normal taste.  This painting has exerted a sinister fascination over him, and he is unable to relinquish the picture even when a latecomer arrives to the auction who badly wants to purchase it. As Theo continues the story, the narrator becomes increasingly aware of his unease...

I enjoyed this and found it easier to read than "The Woman in Black." This might mean that I am getting used to Susan Hill's prose style, however I think it more likely that I felt more comfortable with this style of ghost story because it is very M.R. James (and, although I haven't read anything by him for a while, I am very fond of his writing).  It is hard to beat M.R. James when it comes to the creepy, atmospheric, slow-burn ghost story.  In particular this brought back hazy memories of "The Mezzotint."

I am also very fond of writing and films with a Venetian connection - having been to Venice on honeymoon - so I was already predisposed to enjoy this.  This is, however, not the Venice of my experience (thankfully).  The Venice that we saw was sunlit and beautiful.  This is the sinister and ominous Venice of "Don't Look Now;" of dark and oppressive alleyways, reeking canals and shops of sinister, gloating carnival masks.  I'm very glad not to know that Venice; the closest we came was getting lost in Canaregio one night (which seemed to be a more run-down and less touristy area of Venice). 

This has put me in the mood for more good ghost stories (or maybe, now that it is getting colder and night falls earlier, it is more the time of year for a creepy tale).  I still have a couple of posts to catch up with writing, but I'm not sure what to read next....

"One by One," by Chris Carter

Stuff and Nonsense by Amy Cockram is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

I used to confuse Chris Carter the crime author with Chris Carter, originator of "The X-Files," which I am sure that I am not alone in doing.  This Chris Carter, however, comes from a position of some experience in crime as, according to the biographical blurb, he was a criminal psychologist who "has worked over 100 cases involving serial killers, murderers and dangerous offenders."  Like Kathy Reichs, pathologist turned author - whose books I also enjoy - he has now turned his professional expertise to his creative advantage.

Chris Carter's heroes are Detective Robert Hunter and his partner, Detective Carlos Garcia, who work for the LAPD's Homicide Special Section.  Carter doesn't prevaricate in opening his novel, jumping straight in with the intrigue when Hunter receives a mysterious phone call which instructs him to log onto a particular internet address - on doing so, he sees footage of a terrified man who is being held captive.  It becomes clear that Hunter has an integral part to play in the killer's machinations.... but why and to what end?

"One by One" is Chris Carter's fifth novel, but this is the first by him which I have read (so I am coming to the series a little bit late).  I normally try to read series in order - something I can be rather obsessive about - so it is unusual for me to jump in during a series.  However, with this novel, I didn't feel disadvantaged by not having read the earlier books featuring Robert Hunter; this works effectively as standalone novel if you don't feel inclined to read the previous books first, although there is always the possibility that you gain more in character development if you follow a series through from the start. 

I felt that this novel is strongly plotted and inventively gruesome.  Carter has effectively managed the thriller writers' trick of writing short, snappy chapters which end on a teasing nugget of revelation that is only fully revealed in the next chapter (hence you can't put it down).  I found it to be an addictive read which holds up well when compared to other similar writers in the field (like Jeffery Deaver, whose books I also enjoy).  Although I doubt that I will keep hold of my copy (limited bookshelf space and all that), instead passing it on to other keen readers, I might be tempted to return to the world of Robert Hunter and read other Chris Carter novels in the future....

"One by One" was published on the 15th August, and I am grateful to Simon and Schuster for sending me a review copy so that I could start to read it a bit early.

"Pigeon English," by Stephen Kelman

Stuff and Nonsense by Amy Cockram is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 2.0 UK: England & Wales License.

This was a chance purchase at a charity bookstall.  It wasn't especially one that I felt driven to read at the time it came out but, as I find it interesting to read Booker nominated books, I picked it up when I had a cheap opportunity.  I read it a few months ago, but feeling rough has meant that I am only just now writing about it.  That and, if I'm honest, I wasn't sure what to write about it as I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either.

Stephen Kelman's hero is an 11 year old Ghanian boy, Harrison Opoku, who has moved to the UK with his mother and sister.  At the start of the novel, Harrison sees the dead body of a boy who he knows, although not especially closely, from school.  Harrison is deeply affected by this and, with a friend, turns detective to try to find out who killed his schoolfriend.

I found Harrison's voice particularly effective and this, for me, was the main strength of the book (however I should say that I know very few 11 year old boys against whom I can judge verisimilitude, and none of these are Ghanian refugees).  His linguistic style is distinctive and interspersed with slang from his home culture, one connotation of the pidgen English of the title. Harrison has a very active imagination and there is a strong vein of humour in his musings on life (such as imagining his grandfather in heaven playing rock, paper, scissors with Jesus). Kelman quite effectively shows the effects that growing up in a violent environment have on Harrison, as his desire to belong to a gang is at war with his own evolving awareness of what is right and wrong. 

There was, however, an aspect to this book with which I did have a huge issue.  The bloody pigeon.  It's a pigeon who thinks in English ... do you see what he did there? When Harrison sees the dead boy, he notices that a pigeon has walked in his blood; this pigeon becomes a - thankfully sparingly used - recurring character.  The narrative of the novel is occasional interrupted by the musings of the pigeon, who is gifted with an omniscient, godlike, insight into the human race.  This really didn't work for me.  I'm too old and cynical to accept the slightly twee concept of the pigeon commenting on humanity at face value.  As an alternative I considered the possibility that these thoughts were ascribed to the pigeon by Harrison but, as they seem beyond the level of emotional and intellectual maturity that he displays elsewhere in the novel, this interpretation didn't work for me either.  I acknowledge that maybe there is an aspect of Harrison's cultural inheritance from his origins in Ghana that might make sense of this for me but, without that knowledge, I didn't manage to come to terms with pigeon thought as a literary device.

I don't think that this is a book that I would be tempted to re-read, so this is likely to be bound for a charity shop or the work book swap shelf.  I have to confess that, while I didn't dislike it as a whole, I am slightly unsure why it was lauded highly enough to be on the Booker shortlist.  The vivid and entertaining narrative voice is its main strength, and maybe this was a major contributing factor to its consideration, but ultimately I didn't quite find it as satisfying as I hoped.