Cliff

Better Verse Novels For Young Adults

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Our superb volunteer Belinda explores the world of verse novels and makes some recommendations… I have to confess to a slight sinking feeling when I picked up my first verse novel, One by Sarah Crossan.  I was interested in the story line but was sceptical about the verse format.  How could the details and subtleties of the story be conveyed when the word count was so much lower than a novel written in prose?  How wrong I was!  The sparseness … Read more

Review: The Land Of Maybe

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  A remarkable portrait of this unique archipelago, its amazing natural history, its rich culture and mix of modern and traditional society.  Tim Ecott first visited the Faroes 10 years ago and was captivated by the landscape, people and wildlife. He returned many times forging lasting relationships with farmers, fishermen,  environmentalists and historians who have shared their knowledge and invited him to experience life on the islands, participating in the hunting, harvesting and celebrations, giving him a true insight and … Read more

Small Press Focus: Old Street Publishing

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We’re rooting out some great but less well-known small publishers and finding out what makes them tick. This month’s small press is Old Street Publishing – founded in 2006, Old Street is an independent British publisher of fiction and non-fiction who might be recognisable from their excellent ‘Shortest History’ series. Ben Yarde-Buller kindly gave us some of his time to fill us in with all things Old Street: Q: What is Old Street Publishing’s origin story? I wish we had … Read more

Review: The Shortest History Of Greece

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  A hugely entertaining romp through the history of Europe’s oldest civilisation. From the popular ‘Shortest History’ series, this latest focus is of Greece and it’s surrounding islands. In a brief but detailed format which includes photographs and illustrations, it traces the odyssey of the Greeks from ancient past all the way up to their complicated present. Ex-Ottakers boss James Heneage – currently residing in Greece – gives us all we could ask for and more with this deep dive … Read more

Sarah’s Five Favourite Devon Things!

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Fantastic Bookshops! I love the personalised nature of the shops I’ve visited here in Devon, they’re really working with their local communities and schools to make sure everyone has the books that are right for them. And it’s such a rush, seeing my own handwriting right on the shop front of The Bookery in Crediton, where I helped them with their new branding and lettering. I’m thrilled to be their new Patron and hope I can give them a boost! … Read more

Review: The Birdcage

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An atmospheric Cornish setting with secrets galore make this an engrossing and intriguing story.

Three half-sisters, Flora, Kat and Lauren all have different mothers and the same father Charlie Finch. Charlie is an artist and his mother owned a house in Cornwall called Rock Point. They used to visit their Granny and Father in the summer holidays and the last time they all stayed at the house was the summer of 1999. Now in the present day, Charlie has called them all to the house as he has news to share with them all.

From the outset of this book, you know something big happened to the family that year. It was also the summer that Charlie painted his famous piece ‘The Girls And The Birdcage’. Fractured family relationships are prevalent in this novel, and Rock Point is a formidable setting with its cliffs, a turbulent sea and secluded truths. The use of the dual timeline flows really well, effortlessly switching between the past and the present.

The author’s previous novels have been well-written and entertaining, and this one is no exception.

(Review by Karen)

The Women’s Prize 2022

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The Women’s Prize for Fiction is the UK’s most prestigious annual book award celebrating & honouring fiction written by women. This year’s winner was announced as The Book Of Form And Emptiness by Ruth Ozeki. Our review is below, along with the rest of the very strong shortlist from this year. Ozeki’s latest breathtaking novel encapsulates grief, mental illness and Zen Buddhism in an engrossing story about the connections we make to people and the world around us. Following the … Read more

Review: The Big Goodbye

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  Sam Wasson revisits one of the most pivotal moments in American film history – the making of Chinatown. 1974’s Chinatown, which starred Jack Nicholson and was directed by Roman Polanski, is widely regarded as a turning point in both the style and method of filmmaking in America. Behind the scenes of this groundbreaking motion picture though is a story of betrayal, deceit and passion from which none of the protagonists come away unscathed. More than just a simple blow-by-blow … Read more

Annette’s Devon Bookshelf

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Annette Shaw is a freelance journalist with 30 years of experience, and has a regular column in Devon Life, sharing her pick of brilliant books with Devon connections.With her reputation for championing books and authors around the county, we’re delighted to have the opportunity to showcase her reviews here.   Tea At The Palace By Carolyn Robb No doubt Devon will have many events to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee and one we can all be involved in is a local street … Read more

Review: Fake

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  A timely novel about truth and deception in our digital lives by the award winning author of Boy 87 which was a huge hit with young adult readers. Imagine a world where your only friends are virtual, and big tech companies control access to food, healthcare and leisure. This is Jess’s world but when she turns fourteen, Jess can go to school with other children for the first time. Most of them hate the ‘real’ world, but Jess begins … Read more