Category Archives: Book Review

The Tarot of Leonora Carrington

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Susan Aberth, Tere Arcq. RM Verlag SL . (168p) ISBN 9788417975999

The Tarot of Leonora Carrington

The Tarot of Leonora Carrington

I was forwarded the Guardian article about this by a friend and immediately went down a rabbit hole, trying to find out everything I could about Leonora Carrington who I had never heard of previously.

After all that digging around I just had to get the book as soon as it came out and brilliantly enough the release coincided closely enough with Christmas for it to be one of my presents!

From the cover to the end this book is so opulent, glistening in gold, shining in silver, and all on excellent quality paper making it an object of desire within itself.

Once you start reading and finding all about the occult life of Leonora Carrington though you are transported to another time, a brilliant introduction, touching opening essay from her son, then onto the meat of the book, her work.

This initially explores her work and the influences from the occult learnings of various groups in the 19th and 20th century, including The Golden Dawn, mesoamerican myths and culture, Celtic gods and goddesses, feminism, Jungian theory, and explored this amalgam through examples of Leonora’s works.

It also talks about her relationship with other artists who used the subconscious and the occult as part of their practice and shows her influence on them, placing her firmly within the canon of surrealism and at the same time making you wonder how she was so firmly hidden for so long.

We then move on to the cards of the Major Arcana themselves and look at each one in turn. Each cards symbolism is explored in relation to traditional forms and how this was adapted to be significant to Leonora’s idea of divination from the card.

Some diverged greatly, with different colours and icons used whilst others stayed mainly the same though with important changes to fit into the mythology of the cards that were being developed.

A stunning book from start to finish, an object to lust after, and a stepping off point for me to discover more about Leonora Carrington.

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Lily Grim and the City of Undone

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Andy Ruffell. Hodder. (300p) ISBN: 9781444969603

Lily Grim and the City of Undone

Lily Grim and the City of Undone

I knew as soon as Andy contacted the shop about signing this book that I wanted to read it.

Dropped a few subtle hints on Twitter and I settled down to read.

Another great book to come out of the Northern Writers’ Award and the work being done throughout the year to encourage new writing is brilliant.

Andy’s book sees us following the adventures of Lily Grim in a world of flooding, oppression, othering, them and us, scapegoating, and violence.

Lily finds out quite quickly that her life is much more than she always thought it was, secrets are slowly revealed as Lily comes to her full potential in the search for answers and Gabriel.

Fast-paced and full of intrigue, there are lots of hints dropped as to where this series may go but as an adult reading it I can see the world it is coming from and it is a great statement on a lot of current world problems.

Some great set pieces, Dekka is a great and true friend throughout who is a very Dickensian figure at heart, feels like a lot of the artful Dodger in that young man.

A great adventure with great potential for the series, looking forward to finding out where (and when) I think this world is set.

If you want a pacy, twisty, nail-biting adventure this is a great one for all.

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The Laugh

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Fay Evans, illus. Ayse Klinge. Flying Eye Books. (32p) ISBN 9781838740825

The Laugh

The Laugh

I received this a while back for a review, but found with everything that was going on it was just to much for me at that time.

The Laugh is a bright and lively book about loss and grief and about ways to remember someone you’ve lost.

It shows the process of loss extremely well, from the mother looking ill to using the word ‘died’ when the mother died. This is extremely important as children sometimes just don’t get the euphemisms that adults use around the subject of death.

The use of the sunflower as a motif throughout the book emphasises the warmth that the mother expressed along with the deadheading once the flower had died to symbolise the loss of the mother.

This deals with death in a very honest and straightforward way and explains that though there will be gaps there, there will be emptiness that the love and brightness that the other person inpired in you is still there waiting to blossom when the time is right.

A brilliant book and one I want on our shelves to recommend when required.

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Arch-Conspirator

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Veronica Roth. Titan Books. (128p) ISBN 9781803363578

Arch-Conspirator

Arch-Conspirator

It had been a forever age since I’d read anything by Sophocles, 40 years maybe. So when I won the ARC from Titan Books for Arch-Conspirator I was intrigued as to how this would fit in with the slew of retelling of Greek myths that have been coming out lately, especially since it was set in a speculative fiction Earth where there are no other towns on a barren and destroyed planet.

I went back and re-read several versions of the source material before starting to read this to familiarise myself with the themes and story once more and was stunned by Roth’s take on the material.

The tragedy that was to unfold was there from the beginning and threaded throughout the story in a masterful way, from pulling in the shameful acts of Oedipus (though adapted for the setting) to the final choices made by Antigone.

Characters were fleshed out extremely well in such a short story, and knowing the source material quite well by this time you could feel the shadow of Sophocles originals within them all and what was intriguing was how was that shadow going to show itself in the finale.

The final conflict and sacrifices were masterfully played and as it finished it felt as though there was more to tell, as though the saga would continue from there as all good Greek tragedies do. Each a domino in ancient Greek history, one treachery begetting another.

Loved this and since I’ve never read any other Veronica Roth may have to look to her other works soon.

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We Are Here

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Kate Rafiq. Dune Books. (36p) ISBN 9781838346133

We Are Here

We Are Here

Kate has kindly let me have a sneak read of “We Are Here” due to be published by Dune Books on the 19th of May 2023.

A mother plays games to make her child feel safe as they flee from their home to what the mother hopes is a safer place for them, each step of the journey shows a different ‘game’ but if you look closer there is danger for them both ever present on each leg. It shows the length a mother will go to to protect their child, both from what happened at home and what is happening on this arduous journey.

Beautifully and sympathetically illustrated throughout. Each illustration uses a palette to reflect the story being told in the frame, but none of the palettes used are garish, they are soft and even the cold blues have a warm feeling to them. I think this all shows. the love the mother has for their child, at least this is what it made me feel.

Another important text to help children explore what it is like to be the other and to have to flee, how this decision isn’t taken lightly and how families support each other in their travel, that though this could be seen as an adventure it is not, it is a decision to live.

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Can I Come Too

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Owen Davey. Rocket Bird Books. (32p) ISBN 9781915395009

Can I Come Too

Can I Come Too

As soon as I saw the cover for this book I really wanted to have a proper look at it, I was lucky to be sent a copy for review.

I received the hard back version and there is a sculptural quality to the cover that fits with the block shape style of illustration, really lovely to feel.

The story is one of sibling bears where the youngest bear wants to tag along with the older sibling, and through the enthusiasm, rather than malice, of the younger one things keep going wrong and the older bear keeps getting frustrated and angry.

The story explores these feelings well and has a lovely resolution for the siblings.

I’m still not quite sure whether the art work reminds me of 50s or 60s design aesthetics, leaning toward the 50s, but the palette is a lovely set of warm browns, fresh greens, and cool blues and make the book gorgeous to look at whilst following the story.

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The Princess with the Blazing Bottom

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Beach. Simon & Schuster. (32p) ISBN 9781471197284

The Princess with the Blazing Bottom

The Princess with the Blazing Bottom

The latest in the “A Very Fiery Fairy Tale” series from Beach and I always feel so privileged when I get sent a copy to read and talk about, especially such fun books.

This continues the adventures of Sir Wayne and Dragon, brave and fearless and full of parp!

This sees Sir Wayne and Dragon going to the rescue of a princess in a tower, Sir Wayne with his sword of Dragon with his bottom of flame and they both think they are the perfect hero and will be. the one to rescue the princess.

Who will be right, who will do the rescuing, why has the monster three eyes, all these questions will be answered in this fun and colourful addition to the series.

Beach’s illustrations once again really bring the story to life with lots to explore on the page and the pace perfectly set between words and images.

Another book I’ll be using for storytimes at the shop as who doesn’t like blazing bottoms?

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Not Now, Noor!

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Farhana Islam, illus. Nabila Adani. Puffin. (32p) ISBN 9780241552476

Not Now, Noor!

Not Now, Noor!

A fun story about an extremely curious young girl and her family and how persistent she can be to get an answer to her questions.

I was sent this after seeing it available for a review copy and was really pleased, loved the bright and fresh illustrations by Nabila Adani which match the book perfectly and give it such an active and bright feel.

Noor is extremely curious about the hijabi in her life and wants to know why they wear a hijab? She has lots of theories why and tells them to the people she is asking the question of, but they all tell her ‘Not Now Noor!’, though they never deny her theories 😉

She talks to all the women in her immediate family until she gets to her mum who answers her question.

Beautifully paced and a great story for young ones to find out about themselves or others.

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The Man Who Planted Trees

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Jean Giono, trans. Barbara Bray. Vintage. (64p) ISBN 9781784878016

The Man Who Planted Trees

The Man Who Planted Trees

I had to get this book as soon as I saw the cover and read the blurb, but as usual it has sat on my shelf for what feels like forever waiting for my mood to swing back to it.

Yesterday it did and I was so pleased it did, a short read but kept me engrossed from start to finish (along with the interesting story about its origin and life after writing).

Giono’s prose as translated by Bray is wonderful, full of heart and passion.

We enter the world of Elzéard Bouffier, a lone shepherd in the foothills of the Alps who day by day plants tree seeds and has a new world grow around him, literally. This growth brings back more than tree life, it bring back humans and hope in the valleys as the forests grow.

A lovely story about how one person can change things and that this can have such a positive impact on the world and those around them

I love these short books that come in to your life make a big impression and sit there at the back of your mind forever.

It has been made into a short film and if you want to watch it you can find it at YouTube.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

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Red Sauce Brown Sauce

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Felicity Cloake. HarperCollins. (384p) ISBN 9780008413668

Red Sauce Brown Sauce

Red Sauce Brown Sauce

Been on holiday this week and have given myself permission to just blow everything off completely which has meant I was able to sit down and read and I chose this as it was a book I’d had on my radar for a while and now that it’s out in paperback I had to get a copy.

I love Felicity’s pieces in the Guardian and constantly use some of her “How to cook the perfect…” recipes and advice.

This book takes that style of writing she does so well in the paper (personal, witty, and not taking herself too seriously) and makes one of the better travel books I’ve read in a while.

When I saw the basis of the book the thought of travelling around the UK and eating breakfast after breakfast almost had me buying lycra, and the amount of breakfasts I would eat means it would really have to stretch safely and a lot!

Full of fascinating vignettes of place and people, recipes, and constant talk about the route and some of the tribulations Felicity met on her tour kept me engaged and wanting to know more.

The close friendships of her and her travelling companions was also very heartwarming and a change from the lone voyager travel books.

Looking forward to trying some of the regional variations on a breakfast, especially getting some smoked fish back on the breakfast plate and clootie dumpling can be fried and added to a decent fry-up. I have to agree about the no chips rule but a good pile of hashed potatoes rather than a hash brown is really the way to go.

I won’t give the conclusion away but I agree.

If you want to help and support this blog and my other projects (Indie Publishers and Indie Bookshops) you could become a Patreon which would help pay for my hosting, domain names, streaming services, and the occasional bag of popcorn to eat while watching films.

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