Foxes Unearthed: A Story of Love and Loathing in Modern Britain by Lucy Jones - a book review

 

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If I can't be found nose deep in a book, it might be because my attention has been drawn by something wild.

I love to go walking in the countryside. And, when I am out there, trying to ignore the fact I am more out of breath than I would like, catching the sight or sound of something wild still has the power to make me stop and gasp. And, after that gasp, the trying as hard as possible to remain still, for fear that any move or sound I make might disturb the wonder I have stumbled upon.

The fox is an animal I have only caught glimpses of really, and I am incredibly envious of those who are able to report having had a "moment" with this feline-like canine; a moment in which the teller comes face to face with Vulpes vulpes and they look into each other's eyes for what seems an age. For me, alas, the fox is usually, when I have been fortunate enough to see one, a flash of red and white fur disappearing into green. 

But, in this book, Lucy Jones brings the fox into sharper focus. In Foxes Unearthed she explores Britain's relationship with one of the largest predators it has left, and as she does so she walks with those who love the fox, as well as those who see the animal as vermin. And, in this the author writes without proselytising, instead allowing the truth of the subject to speak for itself.

Lucy Jones does bring the fox into sharper focus, and she does so by shining a light on the falsehoods and absurdities with which we have adorned the animal over centuries. And, we get to meet the fox face to face, and we come away knowing the red fox better for having read this book.

One hopes that this book has found its way into the hands of someone that really needs to know this animal better. Posts on social media tend to suggest their are still plenty out there ready to believe in the bad press.

Lucy Jones writes beautifully and honestly on the subject, and now that I have finished this book I really need to get my hands on Losing Eden, the author's latest offering!

If you would like a copy of Foxes Unearthed by Lucy Jones, you can purchase the book here.

You can purchase Losing Eden: Why Our Minds Need the Wild by Lucy Jones here.

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this post, please consider supporting me over on ko-fi so that I can keep bringing you content just like this!

Of course you hate the film if you love the book that much!

 

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Whenever a book gets the big screen treatment, you can almost take it for granted that you will see the book published with tie-in movie artwork on the cover. As with the example above. And, I get it; if you have a book in your stable that's been turned into a big successful summer blockbuster type film, that's a whole host of potential readers that might not have bought one of your books before. I would take advantage of that!

"Now a major motion picture!"

Indeed.

Then we come along; the serious book readers. The ones who snort with derision, and say, "Well, I read the book before I saw the film, so there." 

God, we must be annoying . . .

Because, the thing is, isn't comparing books and films a pointless exercise? Kind of redundant? I mean, they are two very different ways of telling a story. That's why they both exist.

I make the comparisons though, and I ask that question - "Was the book better than the film?" Or vice versa. 

Yesterday, I was in a car with a friend of my sister's, and I found myself having to admit that I haven't read Trainspotting by Irvine Welsh. But I have seen the film. And, I asked the question then; how do they compare?

How silly of me!

I must have forgotten that it is damn near impossible to translate a story from book to screen one-hundred per cent faithfully. I mean, if filmmakers were to do that, we'd get a lot of adaptations that had run times of hours and hours! I must have forgotten that books, by their nature, have the time and space to flesh out characters in a way that film just can't. That if some of those scenes from the book were included in the film, the film would drag in the middle. Etc.

Still, I understand the temptation. When someone takes the characters and the story that you have loved, that you have immersed yourself in, and made a part of yourself, you want to see them treated well. 

Or, maybe, I am overthinking this. I don't know.

What do you think??? Tell me in the comments, and share this with your friends (both the bookish and the film buffs) and see what they think. 

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this piece of rambling pontificating ponderings, please consider following/supporting me on ko-fi so that I can keep writing here, and anywhere else that the likes of me might be allowed to do his thing!

Britain on the Couch: A Treatment for the Low-Serotonin Society by Oliver James - a book review and analysis

 

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The central hypothesis here is that Britain has seen huge rises in depression and other mental illnesses since the 1950's (the book was originally published in 1997). Indeed, the author posits the idea that low serotonin, and increased mental unrest generally, might be a very natural response to the world that we have built up around us (politics, media, advertising, etc.), and, since we cannot hope to revert back to the ways pre-Industrial Revolution, James advocates the use of therapies and antidepressants, in particular selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRI's), as a means to functioning as well and as healthily as we can in the world of today.

So, serotonin is not only key to mental wellbeing - it also plays a key part in digestion for example - but it is the key hormone in stabilising mood and feelings of wellbeing. And so, SSRI's, which increase levels of serotonin in the individual, are often prescribed to people suffering from depression, especially "persistent or severe cases", according to the NHS website. As an aside, remember at the top of this paragraph when I mentioned how serotonin also plays a part in regulating digestion? Well, that's why side effects of taking SSRI's can include things like feeling or being sick, indigestion, and diarrhoea or constipation. Now you know. Fun!

To support and explain his hypothesis James explores sociological concerns such as how we compare ourselves with others, poor emotional bonds between people, and gender rancour. And, ooh, that last one. I don't know . . .

I have had my own adventures with a particular SSRI, and I can only tell you that, maybe because of personal experience, the way in which James discusses men suffering depression kind of rankles a little. He mentions often that women are twice as likely to report being depressed than are men, but he doesn't really explore why that might be, or why men might be more inclined to self medicate their depression with alcohol, as he suggests they are, etc. 

However, as I say, it probably rankles because of personal experience. As a guy who has been on and off antidepressants, a guy who knows the statistics (men have consistently made up about three-quarters of all suicides since the mid-nineties - just before this book was published; and suicide has been the single biggest killer of young men for years), I was a bit disappointed that the book explored so much men who commit acts of violence, and not much at all into how men seem to be vulnerable.

By the way, that's a problem that hasn't gone away. Since this book was published in 1997, it is still true that men dying from suicide accounts for around three-quarters of all deaths from suicide (Guardian article; Male suicide rate hits two-decade high); it's been true for decades now.

I feel I might be going off on a bit of a tangent. Not a wholly unrelated tangent, but a tangent nonetheless . . .

This book raises some interesting points. For example, how advertising and media has influenced how we form ideas and concepts, the way in which we compare ourselves to others, and how that has impacted upon our mental wellbeing. The author offers us examples of studies to support these ideas, and to demonstrate how these images in media and advertising are detrimental to our own self-image and how we view and value others. And, as I read those segments, I wondered a great deal about how the author would approach social media if this book were published today (at this point, though this is a book blog, I highly recommend watching the documentary The Social Dilemma). I don't doubt the constant barrage of images of pretty people - made up, exercised, dieted, filtered, and even surgically enhanced to fit the ideal of our current social tastes - influence how we look at ourselves and others . . .

Besides the media and images we are surrounded by, the author explores how schooling, work, pressures imposed upon us by ourselves and others, and relationships have impacted our mental wellbeing, or the lack thereof. How we value the lives we live.

Yeah, it can be a bit of a downer, this book; after all, it is a book that's suggesting we are progressing towards more and more ill mental health, so . . .

I'm not sure how I feel about this book. I can tell you, it made me consider getting back on the old SSRI's. Though, I don't know how I feel about those either; I can kind of disappear on those things. Maybe that's why I don't know how to feel about the book! I am kind of resistant to taking those pills, so maybe I am just a little resistant to a book that advocates the use of them. It could be that. And, just as SSRI's can work really well for people, maybe this book will work better for you than it did for me.

If you need to talk . . .

If you are in the UK and you need to talk, you can find an NHS urgent mental health helpline local to you on the NHS website (England only) - NHS website mental health helplines - or, you can:

• Call 116 123 to talk to the Samaritans
• Text "SHOUT" 85258 to contact the Shout Crisis Text Line
• If you're under 19, you can call Childline on 0800 1111 (this number will not appear on the phone bill)
• Mind's website offers some methods you can use to keep calm if you are feeling overwhelmed - mind.org.uk  

If you would like to read my write up on another of James' books, you can do so here, and I hope to see you again soon. And, if you enjoyed this piece, or any of the others, please consider following/supporting me over on Ko-fi; I appreciate all support!

The Accidental Further Adventures of the Hundred Year Old Man by Jonas Jonasson - book review and analysis

 

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Allan Karlsson is back! And, he is just as likely as ever, despite his advancing years, to find himself in all sorts of scrapes!

Unlike the first novel (which I wrote about here), we don't traverse the ever changing sociopolitical landscape of countries around the world throughout the last century, but instead we are very much immersed in that landscape of today. At times, the novel reads as quite surreal, and you might find yourself thinking it absurd comedy. But, then you recall some of the odd news stories, and equally as odd political leaders, we've seen in recent history, and you might end up thinking, "Well, jeez, maybe this ain't all that absurd!"

Just as we saw Karlsson meet prominent figures of the twentieth century in the last novel, he becomes familiar with political figures of the modern age here; Donald Trump, Angela Merkel, and Putin all make an appearance. And, just as in the first novel, he doesn't always rub them the right way. He has a way of doing that sometimes.

Alan has lived through one hundred years of watching the world shift and change; he has seen people kill and be killed for this and that ideology. And, somewhere along the way, he came to the conclusion that whatever will be will be. This attitude of acceptance is a hallmark of the character's personality, and probably why he is able to travel and see what he has seen without having to curl up in a ball in a corner somewhere. Because, though the author tells us an absurd story, it hangs on a framework the real world, and it shines a light on the craziness of this world we live in!

As I read this book, a question occurred to me; why does Allan like to drink so much? I mean, he seems to be laid back and accepting of the world, that it will do harm and suffering. He seems to accept that he will have to suffer loss, discomfort, and hurt, and he seems to accept these things with an almost Zen like calmness. However, he does love a drink, and when he imbibes he can drink an awful lot. It doesn't seem to tally.

Then, I wondered, perhaps the desire for that cosy buffer between oneself and a crazy world is just natural. A perfectly sane response to an insane world; the temporary serotonin increase, the veil between oneself and the cruelty. An idea that I might explore further in a future post. Not a wholly optimistic outlook, but there it is.

In this novel, Allan discovers the internet, and throughout the book he carries with him a black tablet; he is forever regaling anyone who will listen - and, even if they won't he tries - with the latest news stories that pop up on his screen. Even when the group he is travelling with has other concerns he still just wants to read off the news. Just as many of us do. He eventually even joins Twitter. And, what happens? This one hundred year old man who has seen and accepted so much begins to worry and feel concern. Perhaps he should, right? Or, perhaps, the internet, and social media in particular, is causing a whole new host of problems rather than doing much to alleviate the old ones?

This is a book full of absurdity, just like the last one, but it's also a book, just like the last one, that can prompt serious questions if you look beyond the absurdity. Brilliant satire!

If you would like to purchase a copy of The Further Adventures of the Hundred Year Old Man by Jonas Jonasson, you can do so here, and I very much recommend that you do!

Thank you for reading, if you enjoyed this piece, please consider following/supporting me over at Ko-fi where I regularly update about my rather bookish blog, and other of my writerly endeavours. All support is gratefully received and very much appreciated! It means that I can keep writing after all!

A Bookish List Post That May Just Reveal as Much About Me as You Will Ever Care to Know!

 

Disclaimer: should you make any purchases through links in this blog, I may earn a commission from the seller, but that has no impact on the cost to you as the consumer, and it definitely does not influence the content of this blog.

What's that? You want to know me a little better through some of my book choices? Well, you've come to the right place then! I am taking the prompts in this list post from some typical book challenge suggestions. 

All right, here we go!

Favourite book in a series - Had to think for a moment about this one, but I think I will go with The Wench is Dead by Colin Dexter. In 1989, from a hospital bed, as he recovers from a perforated ulcer, Chief Inspector Morse turns over the case of Joanna Franks, an historic case from 1859. I have a soft spot for Morse, and this story is the one that's stuck in my mind from the series of Dexter's novels starring the Oxford sleuth.

Favourite book by my favourite writer - I am not sure that I have a favourite writer. I tend to get excited about whichever great writer I last discovered. But, in the interests of not copping out (of a question that I asked myself), let's go with The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro. You may find it hard to believe, but I read my first book by Ishiguro this year, though a few of his books have been on my shelves for a while. I have read a couple since, but this book (which I wrote about here) is my favourite so far.

A book I did not finish - The first book that comes to mind is Ulysses by James Joyce. I remember taking it home from the local library and trying to read it - this was when I was in my late teens or early twenties - but not being able to get into it at all. It was very different from anything I had read before. I seem to remember telling someone that I thought it was a book that was written to be studied rather than read. But perhaps, now that I have matured as a person and as a reader, I could return to this book some time and enjoy it.

A book I remember from childhood - There are a few that pop into my mind. But, I am going to go with Winnie-The-Pooh by A. A. Milne, published by Methuen, and with black and white illustrations by E. H. Shepherd. I have a copy of that book on my shelves now. Not the copy I had from my childhood, I am not sure where that is, but I had such fond memories that I had to get another copy for myself thirty or so years later.

Favourite classic novel - I developed a liking for Dickens quite early in my reading life. And, it's a toss up therefore between Great Expectations and David Copperfield. And, I think I am going to go for the latter. Both these novels have the usual mix of colourful and memorable Dickens characters, and comedy, and both are examples of Dickens at his best, in my opinion. My siding with Copperfield is purely the way I feel inclined right now. Ask me again tomorrow and I might tell you that it's something else entirely.

A book that broke my heart - Can I opt for another Ishiguro novel? The Buried Giant? I am thinking of the ending here in particular - which I won't be so cruel as to give away - which I found poignant. A beautiful exploration of married love, both the good and the light of that love, I wrote more in depth about this novel here, and I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone and everyone.

Series everyone should read - What do I know about what you should be reading?! I don't. I can't tell you that you have to read such and such. But, I can make a recommendation, and my recommendation for a book series would probably be either the Poirot or the Miss Marple novels by Agatha Christie. I read these a lot when I was younger. And, I still have a lot of time for Christie's crime novels. Today, her stories would be called "cosy crime"; and so, I recommend settling in with a cup/glass of something nice, in your favourite chair, and starting out on one (or both) of these series.

Favourite book to give as a gift - Well, ideally, you'll be giving a book that the recipient will either enjoy or find useful, right? I mean, otherwise you're just buying a gift for yourself and giving it someone else, no? However, the book that immediately came to mind when I saw this prompt was The Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger. I don't know why. I have my own copy, its been read more than once, and I was my own kind of mixed up adolescent, so maybe all that has something to do with it. But, as I say, it was just my immediate response.

A book that made you cry happy tears - I am stumped. I don't think there is a book that has made me cry happy tears. There are books that I have closed with a sigh; a sigh of relief, and a sigh of mourning. As I turn and look at my shelves, one novel stands out for me in response to this one - Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman. This is a novel that explores themes of loneliness, loss, mental health, and friendship in a beautifully well-crafted manner. It isn't maudlin, as you might expect, given the list of themes I have just presented you with, but is warm and funny. But, yes, also there are parts that will touch on something raw, because it's honest too.

A literary character you want to have drinks with - Of course, Alan Karlsson (The One Hundred Year Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared, and The Accidental Further Adventures of the One Hundred Year Old Man)! You'd never know where you were going to end up in the company of this laid back character. And, yes, sure, you may even end up dead, but you'd have an adventure on the way!

A popular book you haven't read - Never have I read anything in the Twilight series, nor the Fifty Shades of Grey series. Never read any of the Harry Potter books, though some of those did make their way on to my shelves. Never read The Da Vinci Code, never read any Dan Brown. And, I have never read The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time. Should I have?

A book with a colour in the title - Just going to go with a book plucked from my shelves here - Crome Yellow by Aldous Huxley. This is Huxley's first full-length novel and is lighter and more comedic than much of his later work. Here we find the author casting his eyes over the wit and posturing of the 1920's. I have a lot of time for Huxley!

A fairytale retelling - The Hunchback of Notre Dame by Victor Hugo. I am unsure as to whether this could be called a retelling, but I think it is fair to say that this novel follows in a tradition of French literature, one that can be found in the French fairytale Beauty and the Beast (Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, 1740), of men with disfigurements falling in love with beautiful young women. However, unlike Beauty and the Beast, Quasimodo's appearance is no punishment for selfishness. Indeed, he is something of a pure and innocent character. As an aside, if you come to this book thinking it might be an easy read, it isn't. And, it's far darker than the Disney adaptation. You've been warned.

A book that makes you sad - I have been reading a book called Britain on the Couch by Oliver James. And, I don't agree with everything that he says in this book (which I may write about soon) but it has left me pondering as to whether or not I should get myself back onto the ol' antidepressants. I do have a tendency to feel kind of low energy and blah and sometimes I have been . . .bad. Like, quite bad. I am not that bad now. But, I do feel extremely listless. If I do a write up on this book, I might use it as an opportunity to talk more about my own history with anxiety, depression, and SSRI's (you've been warned), but for now I will just say that this book got me mulling over some stuff . . .

A book you have read more than once - Moab is my Washpot by Stephen Fry. I am, as are many, a big fan of Stephen Fry. The comedian, author, actor, documentary maker, and all round national bloody treasure is candid in this volume of his memoirs. He covers his early childhood, through to early adulthood. The book is well-written, and the reader feels as though Fry could be sitting next to them relaying the story of his early life, with the charm and warmth he is known for, in the comfort of a cosy armchair in a warmly lit room. He covers everything from struggles with mental health, school years, countryside life, and more. A read I would recommend, and not just to fans of this man, but anyone who likes a well written memoir.

A book with a person's name in the title - Let's go with The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Other Jazz Age Stories by F. Scott Fitzgerald. In the title story of this compilation of short stories, Benjamin Button is born in 1860. However, he begins life as an old man and ages backwards, towards infancy. Fitzgerald wrote for and about the "Lost Generation", a generation in limbo between wars and about to find themselves in the midst of a Great Depression.

A book by an author no longer living - As someone who is fond of classics, it isn't too difficult to find books in this category on my shelves. But, I am going to go for Silas Marner by George Eliot. This is a very short book, at just over 150 pages, but it is one of the author's most admired works. It tells the story of Silas, the unjustly exiled handloom linen weaver and how he is restored to life. "George Eliot" was the pen name adopted by Mary Anne Evans when she began to write fiction in her thirties, and she is the author of other notable novels, including Mill on the Floss, and Middlemarch.

A book with an unreliable narrator - The first book that comes to mind here is The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, another Agatha Christie novel. Indeed, another Poirot novel. I fear to get into this one too much, in case there are those of you that have not yet read this one, but some readers might be a little put out by just how unreliable this narrator is . . .

A book on sexuality - I am quite excited to read Can Everyone Please Calm Down? by Mae Martin, as it sits waiting for attention patiently on my "TBR" pile. Upon delivery, I couldn't resist flipping through the pages and I read a few snatches, and I came away thinking that this book would benefit pretty much every teenager, and their parents. If you have seen Martin's stand-up performances or her successful television show, Feel Good, you'll know she explores topics thoughtfully and intelligently. And, it looks as though that translates to this book! 

A book quote that you know by heart - From the poem, This be the Verse, by Philip Larkin:

They fuck you up, your mum and dad.

They may not mean to, but they do.

They fill you with the faults they had

And add some extra just for you.

A book written by more than one author - For this one, I am choosing Icons of England which is edited by Bill Bryson and features contributions from many writers, including Julia Bradbury, Melvyn Bragg, Jo Brand, Sebastian Faulks, Trisha Goddard, Benjamin Zephaniah, and others. This collection was originally published in 2008, and sales went towards supporting the work of The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE). Having grown up in a small countryside village, that's a cause that I can't help but admire.

A book with a villain in it that you love - Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. I'm not talking about Sikes or Fagin here, but The Artful Dodger. Though a criminal character, and one who betrays the eponymous orphan boy of the novel, he is but a child. And, he shows himself to not be altogether devoid of heart and caring. Perhaps a child living on the streets of Victorian London is worthy of a little sympathy and caring for. Even if they are fictional.

A biography you'd recommend - I am a big fan of Nirvana. Kurt Cobain, guitar in hands, underwater, adorns the t-shirt I wear as I type out this list for you (and myself). And so, the biography I would recommend is Heavier Than Heaven by Charles R. Cross. I have a copy on my shelves that is more than a little worn and dog eared at this point. I would recommend the biography, and I would recommend the music. I am unapologetically grungey!

A book I haven't read but definitely plan to - The Good Teacher by Rachel Sargent. I don't what else to say except that I've heard good things. It's a whodunit murder mystery, and I am a sucker for a good one of those, so . . .

A book cover that you love - Not particularly fussy about book covers. But, I do really like the cover to Foxes Unearthed by Lucy Jones . . .

And, last but not least, the book I am reading at the moment - I am reading two books at the moment; The Accidental Further Adventures of the Hundred Year Old Man by Jonas Jonasson, and Britain on the Couch by Oliver James. Both of these I might talk about in more detail in future posts, so I won't go into them here. Otherwise, you won't come back!

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you did, perhaps you would consider following/supporting me over at ko-fi, then I could afford to buy books and, you know, eat and stuff. All support is gratefully received and very much appreciated!

Thank you for reading, and see you again soon!

This Rather Bookish Blogger Needs More Women Authors on His Bookshelves!

 

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I loved Agatha Christie's novels when I was younger. Still do, as a matter of fact. And, I've read Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre much more than once, finding much within those pages. And, Sylvia Plath's (pictured above) writing is violent, and beautiful, and sad, and hopeful, and so much more. And, Patricia Highsmith has written some of the best crime/suspense fiction that was ever written . . . There are many talented women writers out there!

And, I thought I was doing pretty well in the diverse-bookshelves stakes. But, as I peruse those shelves, I can't help but notice any given shelf is mostly populated by books written by male authors. How come?

Perhaps it has something to do with a desire to see a little of myself reflected in the books I read, other male voices. I suppose that's a valid reason to enjoy and find meaning in a pastime and a passion; seeing something of myself in the words on the page can feel reassuring. And, I know that I am not the only one that enjoys a book because it offers a little comfort, acceptance, and validation. Being male is a part of my experience. My relationship with my gender isn't totally straightforward . . . but I might save that for another time. Another place. Or not.

There are no shelves without any female voices on them. But the male voices do outnumber them by a little way. And, as I say, it isn't because I am put off by women authors. So, here's my question, which books, written by women authors would you recommend to me? To anyone really? 

A few books written by women I wholly recommend!

The Five by Hallie Rubenhold - Non-fiction; a look at the lives of the women killed by Jack the Ripper. And, a book that asks, why have we made famous this monster? More famous than any of the women who met their ends at his hands in 1888?

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley - Mary Shelley was only nineteen years old when she wrote this chilling and classic tale! We've all heard of this story, a young scientist's desire to create life!

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton - (I wrote about this one here) We meet Nella Oortman, eighteen years old, newly married in the Amsterdam of 1686. What follows is a story of secrets slowly revealed and the dangers that can unravel along with them.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë - I am no bird; and no net ensnares me; I am a free human being with an independent will. Meet Jane Eyre, a young orphan determined to not be defined by her unfortunate circumstances.

Murder on the Orient Express by Agatha Christie - The famous Orient Express is stopped in its tracks by a snowdrift. And, with a killer onboard and a passenger lying murdered in his compartment, we might be thankful that Hercule Poirot is there to exercise his little grey cells! Mon Dieu!

The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank - this book has been read by tens of millions of people. It is humanity in the inhuman. It is hope where there was hopelessness. It's life where there was death. A must read.

Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman - Meet Eleanor Oliphant. She is fine. But not really.

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce - Harold Fry leaves the house to post a letter, his wife is upstairs, but then he reaches the post box and he keeps going. He just feels a need to keep walking.

I hope you found this piece enjoyable or informative. If you did, perhaps you'd follow/support me over at Ko-fi, so that I can focus on writing and bringing content such as the preceding. All support is gratefully received and very much appreciated!

Childe Harold's Pilgrimage (in particular, Cantos 3 & 4) by Lord Byron - a review and analysis

 

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Childe Harold is the Byronic hero; a lone traveller, self-exiled and world weary, pondering life and nature. Indeed, this long narrative poem, described as a romaunt (archaic; meaning a romantic tale or poem), takes in all of these themes. The protagonist, Childe (an archaic term, meaning a young man who aspired to knightly honours) Harold, is disillusioned with shallow pleasures and seeks distraction and something more profiund in foreign travels. And so, we follow his wanderings as he contemplates life, war, society, nature, and more.

There is a pleasure in the pathless woods,

There is a rapture on the lonely shore,

There is a society, where none intrudes,

By the deep Sea, and music in its roar :

I love not Man the less, but Nature more,

From these our interviews, in which I steal

From all I may be, or have been before,

To mingle with the Universe, and feel

What I can ne'er express, yet cannot all conceal.

There are parts of the poem, and the character of Harold, that are thought to be autobiographical. In early drafts, the character's name was written as Childe Burun, an early form of Byron's family name; it could be said that Childe Harold is Byron himself, only exaggerated. He could definitely have drawn on his own travels to inform the narrative of the poem. 

Whatever the origins, this is the poem that made Byron famous, after the first two cantos were published. It also, as already mentioned, gave the world the Byronic hero; an often dark and brooding character, most likely misunderstood by others, who questions, or maybe even has downright distaste for, social norms. Examples might include Heathcliff from Emily Brontë's Wuthering Heights, right through to Batman and James Bond. Byron himself - a man born with a deformity in his right foot, who starved himself and had a troubled relationship with his weight, not to mention the relationship he had with his parents - felt not a little like an outsider himself. "Mad, bad and dangerous to know", maybe? Maybe not. There are signs of sensitivity there; he cared much for animals, and nursed his beloved dog, Boatswain, when the Newfoundland contracted rabies and, when the poor animal eventually died, he commissioned an impressive monument to his canine friend.

I am such a strange mélange of good and evil that it would be difficult to describe me.

- George Gordon Byron, 6th Baron Byron

You can purchase a copy of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage by Byron here.

If you'd prefer, you can purchase a copy of Byron's selected poems here.

Thank you for reading. If you enjoyed this post, please consider following/supporting me over at Ko-fi, so that I can afford to eat as well as write. After losing work last year, I have been concentrating on writing and trying to start up my own business, which is incredibly enriching, just not for my bank account! All support is gratefully received and incredibly appreciated!

    

The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell (translated by Laurie Thompson) - an analysis and review

 

If you enjoy this piece, please consider following/supporting me over at ko-fi where you can follow the endeavours of all sorts of creatives!

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, Monsta Reader may earn a commission from the sellers, but that has no impact on the cost to you as the consumer, nor does it influence the content of this blog.

The Dogs of Riga was first published, as Hundarna i Riga, in 1992, in Sweden, and is the second novel in Mankell's Kurt Wallander series. However, it took nine years before it was translated and published in Britain. And, the series has become extremely popular amongst crime fiction fans in both countries.

One of the reasons I feel an appreciation for crime fiction, one of the things I think sets it apart from other genres, is the fact that within the pages of a crime novel writers are able to deal with such a wide variety of themes. The life of a detective or an inspector is naturally going to bring them into contact with the very extremes of human suffering, wanting, and crises. Therefore, writers can tackle themes which might begin at the very fundamentals of what it is to be human (in life and in death), right through to weightier topics of an existential nature, politics, psychology, and so forth. And Mankell manages that here, as he explores themes of corruption, relationships, and politics, set in the Eastern Europe of a collapsing Soviet Union.

I fear I have come to Wallander a bit late in the game and, there's a chance, you probably know more of this series than I! So far, this is the only book in the series that I have read but, since finishing it, I can tell you I intend to read more. 

With his drinking just a little too much and his love of music, Wallander reminds me a little of other brooding police inspectors of fiction - Morse and Rebus, anyone? Indeed, like those two characters, there are hints that the darkness involved in police work may be at odds with a more sensitive side (a love for opera, obvious desire for romantic love, and questioning his career choice). However, any writer of crime fiction could be forgiven for employing devices that show their protagonist to be human and not completely untouched by their work - work-related stress suffered by police officers in the real world is well documented. Besides, Wallander is also a distinct character in his own right; he has his own past, feelings, relationships, and beliefs.

As we follow the Inspector throughout the course of the novel, in fact, it is his character that informs many of the decisions he makes. For example, and without wishing to give too much away for those that might not have read it yet, it is Wallander's humanity, sense of right and wrong, and desire for romantic love that inform his choice to return to a country that seems to be full of corruption and a potential for fatal danger at every turn. Even though he has many instincts telling him to leave, even when his role as a police inspector is officially done, he is very much at the heart of this story.

This is a crime novel. But this is also a novel of suspense, and we follow Wallander into a world of paranoia. However, as we travel with this detective, I can't imagine much better company. And, when I compare Wallander with other fictional detectives - such as Morse and Rebus - it is only because he deserves to be amongst these other greats of crime fiction. If you like crime novels, I recommend this one, and I am off to get myself some more Wallander novels too.

You can purchase your own copy of The Dogs of Riga by Henning Mankell here, from bookshop.org, who support independent bookshops.

Again, be sure to check out my ko-fi page, and I hope you come back soon! But, until then, stay safe, and read lots of good books!

How Book Lovers Spend Their Time . . . And . . . We Don't Have a Problem!

 

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, Monsta Reader may earn a commission from the sellers, but that does not have any impact on the cost to you as consumer, nor does it influence the content of this blog.

Ever find yourself thinking, "Jeez, I would rather be reading!"? Of course you have, you're a card holding bibliophile! And, we love you here!

Whether we're out at the supermarket, in a meeting at work, spending time with the in-laws, we're just all too aware of the fact that this is eating into time that could be spent immersed in that book. That TBR pile is not getting any smaller, after all.

In fact, trying to get to the bottom of that particular pile is like Sisyphus trying to roll his boulder up that hill. I don't know about you, but I am forever spending money I don't really have on books I need (and, I do need them. I really do. But, I swear, once I have this last book, that'll be it for the month. I won't buy anoth . . . ooh, what's that book!).

But hey, you know what, the depressing state of my finances aside, there's no such thing as too many books, am I right? If I need to make space, I can always rearrange some stuff. I mean, do I really even need a bed? I'm sure I can make a corner pretty comfortable, just curl up there . . .

Here's a question, why do people think it's okay to come and disturb you when you're reading? Ever had that? Like, you're sitting there, caught up in the flow of the book in your hands and loving it, and someone interrupts you, assuming that you're reading only because you've nothing better to do. What is that all about!?

Maybe I just need to go and arrange my bookshelves to calm myself down. Speaking of which, how do you arrange yours? Colours? Alphabetically? Chronologically? By publisher? Personal significance? Size? Stacked?

Personally, I have gone for a mix of alphabetically, stacked, and personal significance. In other words, it's a bit of a mess; and, that's why you won't find any pretty bookshelf pictures in my Instagram feed.

I am not all that interested in how aesthetically pleasing my bookshelves are, to be honest. I even have some book series on my shelves with mismatching cover designs, mismatching editions. I know there are some for whom that's going to be a painful mental image. I can only apologise and hope that you will forgive me. If you cannot, I will completely understand and can only thank you for joining me on this crazy journey this far.

Some of the shelves hold books which, for me, have personal significance, and those books stand neatly for the most part, and they are alphabetised according to the authors surname. And, each authors work is ordered chronologically according to the date of publication. But then, I have other shelves upon which you will find books that I like very much, but which have less personal significance to me. These shelves are more disordered, the books here more likely to be stacked. Sometimes, books move from one set of shelves to another.

It's a hard system to explain, but it makes sense to me. And, uh, please don't touch my books without asking. Is that just me? Tell me I am not weird. I feel really uneasy about people being around my bookshelves.

Hm. Maybe I do have a problem . . .

No. It's others who are wrong!

I mean, those aren't just books. There are characters inside those books that I have walked beside, fought with, felt the love they have felt. And, when it all comes to an end, I have mourned the loss of them. Because, oh my god, what relief/sadness/emotional mess is left in the wake of reaching that final page.

Having said that, at least now the book is done, I don't have to delay going to the toilet, or eating, or sleeping. Don't have hold all that stuff in as I feverishly make my way through each chapter. 

Phew!

If you enjoyed this little piece, perhaps you could help me in my bookish/writerly endeavours, and support me on my ko-fi page; Ko-fi is a great platform for creatives and the fantastic folks that follow their work. All support is gratefully received, and much appreciated! 

Thank you for reading. Stay safe. Stay well. And, keep reading lots of good books.

The Success of Inspirational Books, Read by Hollywood Stars and Blue Collar Workers Alike!

 

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any of the links in this blog, I may earn a commission from the sellers, but that has no impact on the cost to you as the consumer, nor does it influence the content of this blog.

When I check what's trending on Twitter, most of the time, it feels as though I have descended into a pit of misery. It's like taking a shot of anxiety straight to the brain! And yet, for some reason, one of the first things I feel a need to do in the morning, within minutes of opening my eyes sometimes, is run through that list of bitterness and despair. Don't know why. But, I do know that I am not alone; articles, books, and documentaries about exactly how bad for us social media and our phones can be abound!

And, it's not just social media, the whole world seems kind of in a mess. The environment's kind of fucked, and we aren't doing enough about that (if only nature would give us a hint that it doesn't want us being quite so intrusive . . .); then there's politicians swinging their dicks around (in most instances, only figuratively speaking, thankfully); and, for some reason, people can still be driven to histrionics by the thought of someone, somewhere, not necessarily someone they know, engaging in consensual acts of love and sex that aren't strictly heterosexual (I dunno, you'd have thought they'd have more pressing things to be concerned about, but there it is!).

It's enough to make you want to never leave your bed!

With all that in mind, it's not hard to fathom the appeal of inspirational and motivational books. Those books that make us stop and consider the way we think and behave. Perhaps, just perhaps, there are other things we could be doing? Or, maybe there are things we should be letting go of? The answers out there somewhere, right? Right??

As someone who has spent nights awake, with thoughts in my head ugly like stagnant standing water, you can be sure I have my fair share of inspirational books on the subject of mental wellbeing. Because, thankfully, the discussions around mental health and wellbeing are just about beginning to become less taboo; the stigma is being questioned! 

Perhaps one of the best known authors writing about mental health, including his own struggles, and the successes, with regard to his mental health, is Matt Haig, the English novelist and journalist. When his book, Reasons to Stay Alive, was published in 2015 it was received to generally positive reviews. And, in those reviews can be found declarations of real thanks for a book about mental health written in such a frank way. Sort of memoir, definitely inspirational, this book takes a look at living with mental ill health, and how that doesn't have to mean being condemned to a life forever bleak.

On a personal note, I am thankful for the likes of Matt Haig. Men in the public eye who stand up and say, I struggle. And, that's okay. The discussion around male mental health, and why it is that men don't get the help they need is something we still need to work on; suicide has been the biggest killer of young men in the UK for a long time and, according to statistics, men appear most at risk of death from suicide.

Mr. Haig has written of the therapeutic power of writing, and the reading is pretty damn good for you too!

Of course, mental health isn't the only aspect of our lives that we might want to consider on the path to happiness, health, and a fulfilling life. But, it's a pretty good place to start!

In an age where we seem to be drifting from one screen to another, there's apparently an increased interest in wanting something more. Or, maybe something less. I've read plenty of pieces on the benefits of giving up smart phones, and returning to older models. Or giving up mobile phones completely (is such a thing even possible!). Then there's the abundance of books concerned with mindfulness, meditation, and the benefits of being in the moment. And, hygge. Remember hygge? I think it's safe to say we are looking for something.

One of the books in my "to be read" pile is How to do Everything and be Happy by Peter Jones, a practical look at how to get the most out of life without overburdening yourself and, as it says on the cover, be happy. You'd also find, as you nosed along my shelves, a copy of Happiness by Design by Paul Dolan, which I've read (in the wake of a relationship falling apart). Both, in their own way, suggest the benefits of finding balance in our lives; the balance of pleasure and purpose, and not trying to overload those scales.

So, maybe we just need to stop, take a breath or two, and get some balance back into our lives. Sounds good to me. Maybe, if we could do that, learn to stop, just now and then, we might all calm down a bit, and the Twitter trending list wouldn't be quite so fevered, and riddled with fearful/hateful knee jerk reactions.

Recently, a copy of Mae Martin's Can Everyone Please Calm Down? arrived in the mail. And, though I would hesitate to call it a self help book, the author does hope for a more considerate and considered conversation about sexuality. Like mental health, a subject that seems to, gradually, be something we can see our way to talking about openly. Sort of. As the blurb reads, Mae's mission is to ensure that in a world that's full of things to worry about, who we choose to kiss should not be one of them. And when it comes to sexuality, she asks: CAN EVERYONE PLEASE CALM DOWN? 

A couple of years ago, I watched Mae Martin's Comedians of the World special, on Netflix, and enjoyed it, but then forgot about it mostly. (Sorry, I was drinking my way through an unhealthy relationship and unaddressed mental issues at the time). But, Martin's work came to my attention again (once the relationship was over and I was beginning to get my shit together) and I have gotten to be a little bit obsessed. Not in a worrying way, mind. It's all good. But, yeah, she can write a book about as well as she can stand-up and TV, so . . .

To put it simply, I very much recommend Mae Martin's book. And, though this blog doesn't really concern itself with television, you should also check out Feel Good on Netflix! It's so good. I am delaying watching the final episode for myself because once it's gone what the hell am I supposed to do? Go outside? Watch something else? Pfft!

Links to a few inspirational books

Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig

The Comfort Book by Matt Haig

Happiness by Design by Paul Dolan

How to be Human by Ruby Wax

Can Everybody Please Calm Down? by Mae Martin

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck by Mark Manson

If you enjoyed this piece, please consider following/supporting me over on my ko-fi page; Ko-fi is a platform for creative types and the people that follow their work. All support is gratefully received and very much appreciated!

Thank you, see you again soon. Stay safe. Be well. And, read lots of good books!

How to Get People to Read Your Bookish Blog and Keep Coming Back For More!

 

Disclaimer: should you make a purchase through any links in this blog, I may earn a commission from the sellers, but that has no impact on the cost to you as the consumer, and it does not influence the content of this blog.

Okay, so, if you have made it beyond the title, I can probably assume two things about you; you like books quite a bit, and you either blog or you're thinking of blogging about books.

Still with me? Okay. Cool So, what do you want to know first. Who the hell am I? Um, right, well, I am a rather bookish blogger. I don't have years of blogging experience behind me, and there are bloggers with larger readerships than my own humble little blog. But, since I started my blog, the number of people visiting has been steadily on the increase, and I really enjoy engaging with my followers. So, here I am, Mr. Self-Appointed Advice Giver, ready to impart my wisdom!

First things first, why do you want to become a blogger? 

If your primary reason for wanting to blog is to try and make some money, a source of residual income, there are probably easier ways. To be honest, I've not made any money from this blog in the year and a half, or so, since I started using it as a way to try and foist my opinions on unsuspecting internet users. And, I expect that that will be a trend that will continue, at least for the foreseeable future.

I use affiliate programs, being signed up with bookshop.org and Waterstone's. However, that hasn't come to much for me yet. And, I've not received any donations via the page that I have set up at ko-fi. It would be nice if I did; I put a lot of effort into this blog, and I consider it to be more than just a hobby. Apart from that, having lost work last year, it would make a real difference. But, there are things more important than that - if there weren't I would have abandoned this space a number of blog posts ago!

For starters, to be honest, I enjoy it! I enjoy the reading, I enjoy the writing, I enjoy proof-reading what I have written, doing the edit, reading it back again, tweaking it here and there, and publishing it when I think it's as ready as it is going to be. I enjoy taking that post out to my other platforms, on social media, and sharing it with followers. I enjoy engaging with other book bloggers. I love coming back a little while later and being surprised by how well, or how poorly, a piece has been received. How many people have taken the leap and clicked on my little piece of writing. It's a little thrill.

And, it's that, the enjoyment of the whole thing, that keeps me coming back to bother you with all this content!

Love reading, and be yourself

If you are going to blog about books, and this next part may sound like I am stating the obvious, you are going to have really like reading books. 

The great thing is, after that, you can pretty much do what you want. You can discuss any genre, any author, any way you like. You can even publish nothing but blog posts about your favourite typeface, if that's your thing. I am sure someone will read it. I mean, I don't know them personally, but I am sure they are out there . . .

But, if you want to find an audience, you will probably want to stand out at least a little. And, my best advice there is, just be yourself! Because, there's nobody quite like you, baby!

So, if you want to blog about books, start immersing yourself into the books you love to read. Because that's your passion, and nobody else is going to bring that passion to readers when you start to blog. And, no one else is going to have read that book through your eyes, with your experiences.

Find other bloggers, and read about blogging

One of the best things you can do as a blogger, is to step away from the blog, and go fritter away some time on social media. Now, that may sound a tad counter productive, but trust me.

There is a wonderful community of book bloggers out there on Twitter, and they often give each other little boosts, and there's friendly conversation too. And, being a part of that community is part of the reason we went from just reading about books to writing about them online, isn't it?

I mean, I know that for myself, that that is a major part of why I blog; I welcome the discussion, the exchange, with people with whom I share a passion, a pleasure.

And, though personally Twitter is my go to platform, there are spaces on Facebook for book bloggers, and there are a huge number of bookish profiles out there on Instagram too! Again, you do you!

For further reading, a quick Google search throws up a number of books you can check out on the subject of blogging.

Start a blog

Go to Google, type into the search bar the words "blogging platforms", find one you like, and off you go.

There are a few to choose from, but I have noticed that most use either Blogger or Wordpress. 

As a blogger, I use Blogger and that seems to fit my purposes pretty well. The only issues I have had with it have been because of my own wariness around any piece of technology that doesn't require I wind it up to make it work!

As a reader, I read blogs by those who use Wordpress, and they always look well formatted and easy to read. But, I couldn't really tell you anything about how to use the platform as a blogger.

When I came to Blogger, I just experimented, and you can tell that when you look at those early posts (go on then, go have a look, I will wait . . .), and I think that that might be all you can do really; find your own voice, find what you want to say, how you want to say it. Don't be afraid to ease into it.

If you are looking for ideas on content, the different ways that you can present what you want to say, you could consider making a video post; make picture posts (as I say, there's lots of bookish content on Instagram, if you are looking for ideas); you could write a post that responds to readers' comments; you could conduct an interview . . . There are lots of ways that you can write blog posts, and they don't all have to be straight ahead reviews and analyses of books you've read. Sometimes, we just don't have the time or energy to give to a book that it deserves, so other bookish content, instead of wide spans of time between blog posts, can be the answer to that!

Consider your ambitions

At some point, you will probably come to realise that a blog can lead to other things. Whether you harbour ambitions of other writerly endeavours, or you want to use the space as a means to engage with others, a blog can achieve things beyond the blog.

Remember in the second point I made, about finding other bloggers and reading about blogging? Remember how I mentioned a Google search throwing up a number of results for books about blogging? Yeah. Well, a lot of those books are written by bloggers. Because, when you think about it, bloggers are the ideal people to write about blogging. If you get good, people will want to know how you did that!

Also, don't forget, as a book blogger, you're an authority on those books you have read! You have given your attention to those books with an analytical eye, a critical eye, so that others might benefit from your experience. If you can write well, there are probably newspapers, magazines, online spaces, etc., who will pay for your writing.

You might want to look into affiliate programs. As I mentioned before, I am signed up with bookshop.org and Waterstone's, and I am forever trying to find that happy balance between trying to convince people that they ought, if they are going to buy books anyway, make those purchases through links in my blog, and not feeling as though I am selling my soul. You know, that old chestnut!

But, it could just be that you want to find others like yourself, others for whom books and being bookish are a constant. In which case, I would say again, be yourself, and put yourself out there. You can find your people through social media, and there are a number of really good book bloggers already out there. Give them a follow. They'll appreciate it, trust me!

Write, proof-read, edit, read it back again, tweak it, publish it when it's good enough . . .

. . . and then keep doing that. Again and again and again.

If that sounds like a good time to you, you are probably going to be a half decent blogger. Also, I am a tad worried about you. But, who am I to talk!?

At the other end of the book blogger life, after reading the books, you have to write about them. And, your readers are, most likely, going to be much more grateful to you if you have made your content as good as you can make it.

I know, sometimes a mistake gets through, it happens to the best of us, but just putting in the effort to make it as good as you can each time is worthwhile. After all, I am assuming you are blogging about books, rather than just keeping a personal journal for yourself, because you have some hopes of readers finding your output.

You're a writer now, as well as a reader.

GET BLOGGING

So, what do you think? Am I talking nonsense? Ought I to get out more? Is anybody there? 

What are your blogging experiences? I would love to know. So, if you'd like to let me know your thoughts, you can comment below, or you can come and follow me on Twitter where I tweet and twitter about books, amongst other things!

If you found this piece useful or enjoyable, please consider following/supporting me over on ko-fi, a platform for creatives and their followers. If everyone who read my efforts donated but the minimum, it would make a huge difference. All support is gratefully received, and very much appreciated!

Thank you for reading. Stay safe. Stay well. Keep reading good books.