TheBookbag - Recent changes [en]

Murder and Chips (Jiggy McCue) by Michael Lawrence

2012-05-16T17:16:35Z

Murder and Chips (Jiggy McCue) by Michael Lawrence

2012-05-16T17:14:52Z

Created page with "{{infobox |title=Murder and Chips (Jiggy McCue) |author=Michael Lawrence |reviewer=Linda Lawlor |genre=Confident Readers |rating=4.5 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |isbn=9781408313961 |..."

New review

{{infobox
|title=Murder and Chips (Jiggy McCue)
|author=Michael Lawrence
|reviewer=Linda Lawlor
|genre=Confident Readers
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=9781408313961
|paperback=1408313960
|hardback=
|audiobook=
|ebook=B007XNJA94
|pages=224
|publisher=Orchard
|date=May 2012
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408313960</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>1408313960</amazonus>
|website=www.jiggymccue.com
|video=
|summary=If you haven't met Jiggy McCue before, then prepare yourself. In Jiggy's world, if things can go wrong, then they will, and always in the most painful and embarrassing way possible. Bearing that in mind, the last thing his mum should do is take him on a murder mystery weekend, right?
}}
Poor Jiggy. It seems everything he touches is doomed. In previous books he's been squeezed almost to death by a pair of demonic underpants, attacked by the ghost of a bad-tempered goose and pursued by a spiteful genie—though all of that, frankly, is nothing compared to what happened with that toilet (don't ask). And now, to cap it all, exams are looming—you know, the ones everyone tells your whole future depends on? Jiggy and his two friends Angie and Pete are stressed, and in dire need of bit of rest and relaxation.

Unfortunately for Jiggy, as fans of the series can tell you, the chances of that happening are a million to one. For some bizarre reason of her own, his mum decrees that the best cure for exam panic is a weekend away for the two families, and despite their loudly expressed reluctance everyone is soon dragged off to Naffington Hall. It's impressive enough to look at: the huge old stately home is heaving with butlers, maids, gardeners, sweeping staircases and wardrobes the size of beach huts. For the adults, that is: the Three Musketeers (motto: one for all and all for lunch) get dumped in a vast grubby attic full of ancient toys and broken furniture. And that's the good news . . .

It wouldn't be a murder mystery weekend without a body or two, and the place is soon awash with shadowy figures, secret staircases and a strange book which seems to move round the house at will. There's even a noose hanging up in a dark corner, heavy with cobwebs and menace. Jiggy's parents are no help (in fact, once you meet them, you begin to see why Jiggy is the way he is). His mum's too busy behaving inappropriately in the garden, and the two dads have no other ambition in life than to slip off at the earliest opportunity to the local pub. So, once again it's up to the Musketeers to solve the mystery, catch the villain and save the day. Well, maybe!

Michael Lawrence has created a very distinctive brand of humour in this series of books which, judging by the amount of awards and nominations he's received, hold a strong appeal for many young readers (and, to be honest, quite a few older ones, too). There's something rather comforting about the fact that no matter how clumsy you are, how ridiculous you look or how embarrassing your mistakes, you will never, ever, ever mess up as disastrously and publicly as Jiggy does. His wry tone as he recounts his latest disaster, his absolute conviction that no matter how bad something is, it can always get worse, and his philosophical, almost cheerful acceptance of his fate, make him endearing and very, very funny. The toilet-centric topics, the groan-worthy puns and the daffy names (how could a weekend organised by Roderick Basket-Case be anything but an unmitigated disaster?) will delight boys and girls alike and do more to encourage 'literacy' than a bucketful of educational initiatives. This isn't great literature, and why should it be? It's just sheer, silly fun from start to finish, and young readers will love it.

Oh, by the way, Jiggy also has his very own website, which is well worth a visit. Try the Pants Olympics, for starters!

Bookbag also enjoyed [[Kid Swap (Jiggy McCue) by Michael Lawrence|Kid Swap]] by the same author. And if you like your inspired silliness with a dash of fantasy, you'll definitely enjoy [[Muddle Earth Too by Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell]].

{{amazontext|amazon=1408313960}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=8693939}}
{{commenthead}}

Books for Review

2012-05-16T17:10:49Z

Competitions

2012-05-16T09:46:00Z

Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey by Anne Allen

2012-05-16T09:44:06Z

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anne Allen

2012-05-16T09:28:31Z

Features

2012-05-16T09:27:49Z

Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey by Anne Allen

2012-05-16T09:27:09Z

The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anne Allen

2012-05-16T09:25:29Z

Created page with "{{infoboxinterviews |title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anne Allen |reviewer=Sue Magee |summary=We really enjoyed [[Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island o..."

New review

{{infoboxinterviews
|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anne Allen
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|summary=We really enjoyed [[Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey by Anne Allen|Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey]] so we had plenty we wanted to talk about when author Anne Allen popped in to see us at Bookbag Towers.
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780882300</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>1780882300</amazonus>
|date=#
}}

We really enjoyed [[Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey by Anne Allen|Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey]] so we had plenty we wanted to talk about when author Anne Allen popped in to see us at Bookbag Towers.

* '''Bookbag: When you close your eyes and imagine your readers, who do you see?'''

Anne Allen: Women of all ages who enjoy love stories with a twist, an element of mystery. Perhaps those who have had personal tragedies which they've overcome and can relate to how other women cope- or not! - with the vicissitudes of life. Having said that, some of my readers have been men so perhaps my audience is wider than I'd intended! When I wrote Dangerous Waters I had been immersed in books by women for women (for example, Joanna Trollope, Joanne Harris, Katie Fforde), as a form of therapy after the end of a long-term relationship. I was a long way from my friends and needed to connect with other women, no matter how vicariously. Writing the book became the logical next stage in the healing process.

* '''BB: I can empathise with all that, Anne. I really enjoyed Dangerous Waters and I thought that Jeanne Le Page made a great heroine but for me the star was the island of Guernsey. Do you know it well? How can anyone bear to leave it?'''

AA: Yes, I do know Guernsey really well having lived there for many years. I wasn't born there, however, and arrived as an outsider, three children in tow, in 1988. I had fallen in love with the island the year before, having spent two weeks holiday with friends I'd met in England but lived in Guernsey. I managed to go over for a few days at a time over the next 12 months and soon came to the conclusion that this was where I wanted to be. It was a combination of the beautiful scenery- incorporating big sandy beaches, cliff top walks, sheltered coves, the magical island of Herm, winding lanes - and the fantastic people I met. I felt as if I truly belonged somewhere for the first time in my life. But it wasn't plain sailing, as a non-local I had to live 'Open Market' which was both restrictive and expensive and it was four years before I was granted a licence to live in 'local' property. By then I felt truly rooted in Guernsey and never envisaged leaving. Life, however, can throw us a curved ball and several years later that is what I had, reluctantly, to do. It was hard, particularly as this is where my friends are, but I contrived to leave my older son there, giving me a good reason to return as often as possible. I was there two weeks ago for the book launch and felt I made a stronger re-connection than I'd done for some time. In spite of the awful weather of heavy rain and strong winds Guernsey was still beautiful.

* '''BB: What was the inspiration for Dangerous Waters? You have a neatly-constructed plot which has obviously taken a LOT of work. Was the book a long time in the writing?'''

AA: I wrote the initial draft in 2005/6 after having been inspired by Joanne Harris's [[Coastliners by Joanne Harris|Coastliners']]. This was a story about a small island off the coast of France which sounded like a cross between Guernsey and Herm. It sparked the idea of setting a novel in Guernsey which I felt had to be a love story with an 'edge'. My heroine, Jeanne, emerged quite quickly as someone who had experienced tragedy and I wanted her to overcome what life had thrown at her and find the strength to turn her life around. I then began to visualise a story reflecting similarities between Jeanne's life and that of her late grandmother. The plot developed fairly quickly from there and I wrote the initial draft in about six months, working several hours a day. As a 'newbie' author I was naive enough to think that that was it, finished. How wrong can you be! After seeking the help of professional editors I re-wrote the book several times and nearly six years to the day, the book was finally published.

* '''BB: That would explain something else which I noticed in the book - you really understood the way in which the publishing industry worked! I sensed a love of the sea too. Does it play a big part in your life?'''

AA: Yes, yes yes! It hasn't always done so as I was born in Rugby, as far from the sea as you can get in the UK. However, my father was from Anglesey, North Wales and as a family we spent every summer holiday there until my teens. So I think the sea is in my blood and I've spent most of my life trying to get close to it. Guernsey, being an island, definitely hit the spot! It was there that I had my first experience of boats and used to love going out with friends in their small cruisers. I also, briefly, took up crewing for a guy with a yacht who insisted on an all-female crew for some reason . . . ! I've lived near the sea in Spain since then and that was pretty good too - so much warmer! Back in England I'm now in Devon, by the sea again, which is a reasonable compromise, I guess, after Guernsey and Spain!

* '''BB: I was impressed by your knowledge of hypnosis and your understanding of fear and panic. It was obviously far more than research - do I sense a professional interest?'''

AA: For many years I've been a psychotherapist specialising in hypnotherapy. I've worked with hundreds of clients in that time and it's been an eyeopener to me just how many people do suffer from panic attacks. Hypnosis has proved invaluable in helping people uncover the underlying cause and becoming healed.

* '''BB: Where and how do you write? With music or without? Which parts of writing do you enjoy the most and which would you rather not have to do?'''

AA: I'm someone who needs to be comfortable in order to write so it's usually at my desk or a table. I do like music in the background but nothing too 'loud'. I enjoy writing the plot outline, imagining the various characters and their unique stories and how they will interact with each other. It's also fun deciding what happens to the main protagonists, it gives me a feeling of being in control - something not always apparent in real life! I find the continuous re-writes hard work - I just wish I could get it right the first time!

* '''BB: I loved the recipes in Dangerous Waters. How did you come by them? Do you enjoy cooking?'''

AA: The recipes are fairly standard local ones passed down through the years. They crop up in several Guernsey cookery books. The French ones I researched on the internet as appropriate to the mid-19th century. I do enjoy cooking if I've got family or friends to cook for, I tend to be a bit lazy if it's just for me. I will, occasionally, go through my numerous recipe books for something I really enjoy as a treat.

* '''BB: What are you reading at the moment? What’s your favourite book of all time?'''

AA: ''On The Street Where you Live'' by Mary Higgins Clark - I really love her work. My favourite book has to be ''The Quincunx'' by Charles Palliser. It has everything - drama, mystery, convoluted plots, fascinating characters. It's a huge book so you need plenty of time to curl up with it - ideal for dark winter nights!

* '''BB: Thanks Anne - that's a couple of books for us to look out for. You’ve got one wish. What’s it to be?'''

AA: If it can be personal, then I'd like my second career as a writer to take off and lead me to new adventures - and financial security!

* '''BB: What's next for Anne Allen?'''

AA: I started my second novel, 'Finding Mother', a few years ago and it has languished in the cupboard too long. As we speak, it's been dusted off and on my desk ready for action. It's the story of a young woman who, after a life-changing event, decides to trace her natural mother and along the way uncovers secrets going back two generations. Another tale of love and loss set primarily in the Channel Islands and with echoes from WWII in England.

* '''BB: We'll look forward to seeing that Anne - and thanks for taking the time to come in and chat to us.'''

{{commentfeature}}

[[Category:Interviews|Allen, Anne]] [[Category:Anne Allen]]

Children's Picture Books for Review

2012-05-16T08:49:59Z

Books for Review

2012-05-16T08:46:33Z

Newest For Sharing Reviews

2012-05-15T14:17:13Z

The Bookbag

2012-05-15T14:16:49Z

Katie in London by James Mayhew

2012-05-15T14:13:25Z

Created page with "{{infobox |title=Katie in London |author=James Mayhew |reviewer=Ruth Ng |genre=For Sharing |rating=4 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |isbn=978-1408323854 |paperback=1408323850 |hardback=..."

New review

{{infobox
|title=Katie in London
|author=James Mayhew
|reviewer=Ruth Ng
|genre=For Sharing
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-1408323854
|paperback=1408323850
|hardback=1841218065
|audiobook=
|ebook=
|pages=32
|publisher=Orchard
|date=May 2012
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408323850</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>1408323850</amazonus>
|website=http://james-mayhew-author-illustrator.blogspot.co.uk/
|video=
|summary=A lovely introduction to some of the very famous sights in London, perfect for sharing with children during the Queen's Jubilee year!
}}
Katie is visiting London with her little brother and her Grandma. When Grandma gets tired they stop a while in Trafalgar Square, and whilst Grandma rests on a bench Katie and her brother find themselves going on a magical adventure with one of the Trafalgar Square lions!

James Mayhew has a series of books about Katie that are usually introducing children to a particular artist. This one is introducing the city of London and I think it would work well for both children familiar with London as well as those who have never been. On their travels with the lion they visit St Paul's Cathedral, The Tower of London, Tower Bridge and some of the sights along the South Bank like The Globe Theatre. There is, of course, a visit to Buckingham Palace, and the obligatory ice cream in the park! The range of sites around London provides a good overview of the city's famous landmarks.

The story itself isn't particularly thrilling, but we enjoyed it and have read it a few times since then since the real interest is in seeing all the different places they go to. The illustrations are well drawn. The Lion is wonderfully large and golden and has a fabulous flowing mane, and all of the sights are instantly recognisable and very detailed. My only criticism would be that London looks a lot cleaner in this story than how I remember it when I lived there!

There isn't anything about the new buildings and developments for the Olympics, but as 2012 is the Queen's Jubilee it works well for any little ones who are interested in the Queen and where she lives. My daughter enjoyed spotting the Queen waving from her window, and as we have visited London several times it was interesting to see some of the places we have been to in a story book.

I think this would be most suitable for those in the early years at school, although some sensible older toddlers might also enjoy it. It has some further information at the back of the book for those who want to know more about some of the places and, of course, if you're planning a trip to London to take part in any of the celebrations this would be a nice way to show a child what there is to see...as long as you have a ready excuse for why the Trafalgar Square Lion isn't waking up to fly you around the city any time soon!

Slightly older readers might enjoy [[Me, the Queen and Christopher by Giles Andreae and Tony Ross]] There are also lots of other adventures involving Katie. You might like to look at [[Katie and the Waterlily Pond by James Mayhew]]

{{amazontext|amazon=1408323850}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=9022765}}

{{commenthead}}

Newest For Sharing Reviews

2012-05-15T12:57:37Z

The Bookbag

2012-05-15T12:57:10Z

Cheer Up Your Teddy Bear, Emily Brown! by Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton (illustrator)

2012-05-15T12:56:26Z

Category:Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton (illustrator)

2012-05-15T12:55:10Z

Created page with "Layton, Neal Cowell, Cressida"

New review

[[Category:Authors|Layton, Neal]]
[[Category:Authors|Cowell, Cressida]]

Cheer Up Your Teddy Bear, Emily Brown! by Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton (illustrator)

2012-05-15T12:54:30Z

Created page with "{{infobox |title=Cheer Up Your Teddy Bear, Emily Brown! |author=Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton (illustrator) |reviewer=Ruth Ng |genre=For Sharing |rating=4 |buy=Yes |borrow=Y..."

New review

{{infobox
|title=Cheer Up Your Teddy Bear, Emily Brown!
|author=Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton (illustrator)
|reviewer=Ruth Ng
|genre=For Sharing
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-1408308493
|paperback=1408308495
|hardback=1408308487
|audiobook=
|ebook=
|pages=32
|publisher=Orchard
|date=May 2012
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408308495</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>1408308495</amazonus>
|website=http://www.cressidacowell.co.uk/
|video=
|summary=Marvellous illustrations and an interesting story about sadness.
}}
Emily Brown and her rabbit, Stanley, are having fun indoors on a very grey and rainy day. They meet a small, very wet little teddy bear who is singing sad, self-commiserating songs to herself about how sad and lonely she is. Of course, Emily and Stanley feel compelled to help, so they take the teddy with them to the Outback of Australia, but will they manage to cheer the little teddy up?

I do enjoy stories that show the joys of children using their imaginations. Emily certainly uses hers with her toy rabbit Stanley and it's fun to see her imagining camping in Australia, walking in Yellowstone Park, and painting sunflowers in the South of France! On their travels, however, they have another little friend accompanying them - the small, sad teddy. This poor, sad, wet little teddy trudges around with them and although Emily and Stanley hope to cheer her up she just won't be cheered and everywhere she goes she sings herself a sad little song about how sad she is that repeats through the story and gets longer and longer!

Eventually the little black rain cloud that follows the teddy around grows bigger and bigger and Emily and Stanley begin to feel very sad too. It begins to rain on them, washing away their beautiful sunflower pictures. At this, Emily gets very cross. She pulls out her umbrella and as she does so lots of other little bears pop up out of the sunflowers to come and shelter underneath the big red umbrella! The sad teddy sees that she is not the only lonely teddy bear, and with a bit of a talking to from Emily she rediscovers her smile and, fortunately, everyone is happy again!

This was quite an unusual story, with the poor teddy being sad for almost all of the book and Emily and Stanley being dragged down into her sadness too. I wasn't entirely sure about the story the first time I read it, but it has grown on me. The repetition of the sad teddy's song works well within the text, and makes it funnier for children listening as they hear it grow each time it's sung. I also like that at the end of the story, when the sad teddy is finally happy again, having a picnic in the sunshine with the other teddies, that Emily and Stanley go outside to play in the rain and get very wet, because rain doesn't always need to mean feeling sad and blue.

The illustrations work perfectly with the story and they're my favourite thing about this book. Stanley is wonderful, all floppy rabbit and a wonderfully expressive little face. He's definitely the one I'm looking for on each page! The poor sad teddy still manages to look very cute, and I love all the bright colourful pages contrasting with the big black rain clouds throughout the book.

This isn't a speed-read picture book as the text is quite detailed, and so the story would work well for nursery-aged children as well as those who have just started at big school too and like something a little bit longer than some of the usual picture-book offerings. A fun story to share, and have fun inventing the tune for the poor, wet teddy's sad little song - mine changes every time!

You can read more about Emily Brown in [[Emily Brown and the Thing by Cressida Cowell|Emily Brown and the Thing]].

{{amazontext|amazon=1408308495}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=8690942}}
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Books for Review

2012-05-15T12:12:34Z

Newest For Sharing Reviews

2012-05-15T11:53:42Z

The Bookbag

2012-05-15T11:53:11Z

Category:Tatyana Feeney

2012-05-15T11:49:53Z

Created page with "Feeney, Tatyana"

New review

[[Category:Authors|Feeney, Tatyana]]

Small Bunny's Blue Blanket by Tatyana Feeney

2012-05-15T11:48:29Z

Created page with "{{infobox |title=Small Bunny's Blue Blanket |author=Tatyana Feeney |reviewer=Ruth Ng |genre=For Sharing |rating=4 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |isbn=978-0192757920 |paperback= |hardba..."

New review

{{infobox
|title=Small Bunny's Blue Blanket
|author=Tatyana Feeney
|reviewer=Ruth Ng
|genre=For Sharing
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-0192757920
|paperback=
|hardback=019275792X
|audiobook=
|ebook=
|pages=32
|publisher=OUP Oxford
|date=May 2012
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>019275792X</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>019275792X</amazonus>
|website=http://www.tatyanafeeney.com/
|video=
|summary=A lovely story to share, especially with little ones who have their own favourite blanket that travels anywhere and everywhere with them!
}}
Small Bunny has a blue blanket. He loves his blanket very much and takes it everywhere he goes. It helps him to do all the things he enjoys doing, like swinging and painting and reading. Of course, this means that Blue Blanket gets rather dirty, and so one day Mummy says that both Small Bunny and Blue Blanket need to have a wash...

Although my own little girl has never had a strong attachment to any one item (thank goodness!) we've seen plenty of her friends (and their parents) go through the various traumas associated with these beloved items. One little girl had a mouse, a much loved and incredibly dirty mouse. Mouse was never allowed to have a wash and it came to pass that Mouse became really repulsive to look at (and definitely not something you wanted to kiss goodnight to!) so Mouse had to be spirited away. Sadly Mouse did not survive the washing machine trauma and so a new Mouse had to be purchased and in order to explain her absence and then return looking completely different the little girl was told that Mouse had been to a spa! Ah, the joys of parenting and lying to your kids! For myself as a little girl I had two things I was very attached to. I had a blanket, and I had a teddy. My poor blanket ended up being cut into pieces to try to solve the 'washing' problem, but this wasn't possible with Teddy. I remember sitting in front of a washing machine waiting and waiting for teddy to come out. I think then, because of this, that my favourite part in this story is when Mummy puts Blue Blanket in the washing machine and says ''Don't worry...it will only take a minute'' but on the following page, with a series of pictures of Small Bunny standing in front of the washing machine, we read ''It actually took 107''! There's a lovely, gentle sense of humour behind the story and I felt it was very relevant for little ones with their own favourite items, be that a blanket or a cuddly toy.

Blue Blanket does, of course, eventually come out of the machine and dries on the washing line, but Small Bunny does not agree with his Mummy's assessment that the blanket is now ''good as new'' and so it takes an awful lot of swinging, painting, reading and playing in order to get Blue Blanket back to perfection!

There's a wonderful simplicity to this story. The text on each page is very clear, and the story is simple to follow so everyone from teeny tinies to bigger toddlers can follow what's happening. The illustrations also work brilliantly with the words, with simple black, white, blue and occasional touches of pink making up the simple line drawings. Small Bunny is sweet, and although very simple the pictures are funny and memorable. I like the picture of Small Bunny attempting to hide under his bed, with Blue Blanket, in order to avoid the washing machine! My little girl also laughed at this picture and it's worth noting that even though she's the grand old age of five now she liked this book and asked for it more than once.

A sweet story to share!

Another nice book about favourite items that's great for sharing with babies is [[Noo-Noos! by Carol Thompson]]

{{amazontext|amazon=019275792X}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=8728186}}
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Newest Literary Fiction Reviews

2012-05-15T07:41:06Z

Newest Crime Reviews

2012-05-15T07:40:40Z

The Bookbag

2012-05-15T07:40:16Z

Category:Helen Noble

2012-05-15T07:38:52Z

Created page with "Noble, Helen"

New review

[[Category:Authors|Noble, Helen]]

Tears of a Phoenix by Helen Noble

2012-05-15T07:34:48Z

Created page with "{{infobox |title=Tears of a Phoenix |author=Helen Noble |reviewer=Ani Johnson |genre=Crime |rating=4.5 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |isbn=978-1846949883 |paperback=1846949882 |hardbac..."

New review

{{infobox
|title=Tears of a Phoenix
|author=Helen Noble
|reviewer=Ani Johnson
|genre=Crime
|rating=4.5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-1846949883
|paperback=1846949882
|hardback=
|audiobook=
|ebook=
|pages=238
|publisher=Soul Rocks Books
|date=May 2012
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846949882</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>1846949882</amazonus>
|website=
|video=
|summary=A fascinating exploration of what makes, sustains and could possibly save a violent offender. Ghanaian culture mixes with the English penal system and an accumulated family history of pain and hopelessness in Helen Noble's insightful, unusual debut novel.
}}
It was almost inevitable that Jed Johnson would follow his brothers into crime. The slippery slope from care to young offenders' institute to an eventual life sentence was almost predictable despite his mother's attempts to raise him for responsibility. However, once serving the life sentence, Jed has time to think and, aided by Elisabeth, a prison service psychologist, he assesses his past and decides how he'd like his future to look. Decision doesn't guarantee fulfilment though, and Jed has a long way to go before he knows how his story will end.

This is a powerful, authoritative novel due, in no small part, to the author's experience and inside knowledge (no pun intended). Helen Noble may be new to writing fiction, but as a trained psychologist and lawyer who's worked in the criminal justice system, her experience is evident.

''Tears of a Phoenix'' isn't just about a man trying to break the pattern of a lifetime; it's about power and control in the world of the contemporary gang member. It makes sense that, from a deprived childhood, young people like Jed would see crime as a way in which to reclaim their lives rather than become socially deprived flotsam. By committing theft or assault, they have the upper hand and so are able to take some form of warped control. Once taken into custody, their control is removed but can be replaced by things like graduation in prison pecking order and not allowing themselves to be cowed or oppressed by the staff. The tragedy is that, once released, it's difficult for them not to return to the type of life and sense of power that they enjoyed before.

At first Jed is another hard boiled criminal; a genre statistic rather than a person. Then gradually, through the journal entries he writes to explain himself to Elisabeth, the person emerges. We see his past as he dissects it along with his feelings. His two short-lived relationships, his two children, the way he related to his brothers and sister and his difficulty (to say the least) accepting that his widowed mother could love again... the detail is as enthralling as it is sad. Helen Noble has been particularly clever here as the reader realises who Jed is at the same time that he does.

The intricacies, dilemmas and problems of everyday prison life are also compulsively revealed. Even if a prisoner decides that he/she wants to change, there are still obstacles, pitfalls and frustrations to test the most stalwart determination. It's like an all too real game of snakes and ladders. Being awarded a place on a rehabilitation scheme could be a step up to freedom, but then there are always events, attitudes or people who ensure that the downward snakes follow swiftly. The greatest tragedy of this is that sometimes the people acting as unreasonable obstacles are those classed as the 'goodies' by the outside world.

Running alongside Jed's reality checks is the discovery of his Ghanaian roots and the culture of his ancestors, the Ashanti tribe. This, for him, is a new take on the power that he's sought as he discovers that potency doesn't just come from what can be taken or who can be intimidated but can legally emanate from self-respect and a heritage understood.

In the end ''Tears of a Phoenix'' is Jed's journey. In concept it may be emotional and complex but it's an easy, engaging read covering a life of disruption and vengeance that's far from unique. This is not just writing as entertainment (and it ''is'' very entertaining) but also an interpretation of the gangster mind that the media like to lump under the all-embracing brand of 'criminal' when perhaps it would be more profitable to look at the individual rather than the label.

I would like to thank the publisher for giving Bookbag a copy of this book for review.

If you've enjoyed this and would like to read more about Ghanaian culture in the UK, try [[Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman]].

{{amazontext|amazon=1846949882}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=9054609}}
{{commenthead}}

[[Category:Literary Fiction]]

Books for Review

2012-05-15T06:19:15Z

Newest Confident Readers Reviews

2012-05-14T17:03:11Z

The Bookbag

2012-05-14T16:59:39Z

Spy Another Day by Philip Caveney

2012-05-14T16:53:18Z

Created page with "{{infobox |title=Spy Another Day |author=Philip Caveney |reviewer=Linda Lawlor |genre=Confident Readers |rating=5 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |isbn=9781849394178 |paperback=184939417..."

New review

{{infobox
|title=Spy Another Day
|author=Philip Caveney
|reviewer=Linda Lawlor
|genre=Confident Readers
|rating=5
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=9781849394178
|paperback=1849394172
|hardback=
|audiobook=
|ebook=
|pages=242
|publisher=Andersen Press
|date=May 2012
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1849394172</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>1849394172</amazonus>
|website=http://www.philip-caveney.co.uk
|video=W43ypDgBB-Q
|summary=In this second outing for movie fans Kip and Beth, the scene is pure James Bond – gadgets, evil masterminds and clocks ticking down to BOOM! All they have to do is get into the film, grab the secret agent's ID card, and get out. What could go wrong?
}}

That Mr Lazarus is an odd man. He works at the local cinema, which is owned by Kip's dad, and unknown to anyone but Kip he's actually set up home in the projection room. He claims to be about 120 years old, and he makes money by selling film memorabilia. But he doesn't acquire his loot by hanging round movie plots, or rummaging around on stalls at car boot sales. No, he does it by persuading (well, that's a polite way of putting it: blackmail's such an ugly word) Kip and Beth to go into films and steal it. Yup. Into actual films, while they're playing. Downside? If they don't get out by the closing credits, they're stuck there. No pressure, then.

Kip reckons he learned his lesson in the first book in this series, where he spent time in a film aptly called Terror Island. No way is he ever going to let Mr Lazarus push him into doing that again. But his friend Beth (who might actually be his girlfriend—Kip hasn't been consulted, so he's not sure) is determined to meet the suave, debonair Jason Corder, star of a famous series of spy films, and of course he feels he can't let her go alone. But, after one of the ''least'' smooth crash landings in the history of spying, in which Kip manages to knock the hero of the film unconscious (completely by accident) he realises that he and Beth have been separated, and he has no idea where, or indeed when, in the film she is. Trouble is, the characters on screen don't understand that they're not real. So, for the duration of the film, Kip and Beth are at constant risk of being shot, blown up and generally made to suffer horribly by a whole gamut of secret agents, hulking security guards and assorted villains.

For those of us who always felt Bond and company should have been filmed as comedies (The chat-up lines! The goofy gadgets! The villains who never learn that world domination just ain't gonna happen!) this is perfect. The danger is scary, the thrills just keep on coming, and deadly peril turns up like a bad penny every few pages, but the whole thing is played for laughs, and is all the better for it. Every cliché, every set piece is there, from the underground caverns to a certain white cat, to be recognised and greeted by the reader as old friends, but in contexts even wackier than the originals. James Bond is sufficiently part of our culture now, for good or ill, to be familiar even to younger readers, and many an adult will thoroughly enjoy these pages too. Just make sure you don't miss the scene where Agent Triple Zero and Mr Lazarus meet up—it's a cracker!

It's clever, it's exciting, and above all it's very funny. Go on, read it. You know you want to.

Do get hold of the first book in the series, [[Night on Terror Island by Philip Caveney|Night on Terror Island]]. You won't have any trouble following book two if you don't, but it would be a pity to miss it — it's a lot of fun!

{{amazontext|amazon=1849394172}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=8687309}}

{{commenthead}}

Newest General Fiction Reviews

2012-05-14T16:42:28Z

The Bookbag

2012-05-14T16:41:42Z

Fifty Shades Freed by EL James

2012-05-14T16:40:56Z

Created page with "{{infobox |title=Fifty Shades Freed |author=EL James |reviewer=Zoe Page |genre=General Fiction |rating=4 |buy=Yes |borrow=Yes |isbn=978-0099579946 |paperback=0099579944 |hardb..."

New review

{{infobox
|title=Fifty Shades Freed
|author=EL James
|reviewer=Zoe Page
|genre=General Fiction
|rating=4
|buy=Yes
|borrow=Yes
|isbn=978-0099579946
|paperback=0099579944
|hardback=
|audiobook=B0081HQ73I
|ebook=B007KOYEOC
|pages=592
|publisher=Arrow
|date=April 2012
|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099579944</amazonuk>
|amazonus=<amazonus>0099579944</amazonus>
|website=
|video=
|summary=About to start their married life together, Ana and Christian face many challenges that even his playroom cannot resolve in this only-ok conclusion to an otherwise stand-out series.
}}
When the [[Fifty Shades Of Grey by EL James|first]] book in a trilogy is outstandingly awesome, and the [[Fifty Shades Darker by EL James|second]] is pretty darn excellent, to read the final instalment is a no-brainer really. And, I suspect that is why this book is selling so well, because while it’s a mildly interesting reading, in my mind it didn’t come close to the first two offerings in terms of intriguing characters, a suspense filled plot or general ''kinky-fuckery''.

Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey are now married. The man who fretted she would leave him, combusted internally at the sight of other men in her midst and generally liked to treat her as a possession, constantly calling her ‘my Ana’, can rest easy for she is now well and truly his. She is not the naïve girl she once was, and nor is she his submissive: she is his wife, his partner, his more or less equal. In her new role as Mrs Christian Grey Ana has a lot to contend with both at home and at work, and she’s barely back from the honeymoon before there's trouble brewing. Trouble that even a round in the playroom won't sort out.

Having thrashed my way through the previous books I thought I knew what I was getting myself in for with this one, and so was quite surprised with what appeared. The style in this is quite different especially at the start. I found the jumping around quite irritating and amateurish in places, and it took me much longer to get into this book than the earlier titles. It would have been simpler just to tell the story as it happened, skipping out weeks in between if needed, rather than to do what it did and go back and forth all over the place with dubious links in between about lying on sun loungers and letting one's mind drift back to...

The sex scenes also seemed much wordier than before, and more heavy than they were hot, though it may just have been that after the first 1000 pages in the ongoing saga, I already knew what to expect so didn’t need the warm up. It’s something I said in my review of ''Fifty Shades Darker'' but it stands here too: these books are reading like an extension of the original story, not stories in their own right. Unfortunately, there’s a reason books these days don’t tend to go on for 1500+ pages and that’s because the reader loses interest no matter how hard you try. And splitting an adventure down into 3 tomes doesn't really cut it.

While some of the trademark Grey standard remained in this one – Ana comes back from the honeymoon with the throbbing wrists of someone who has been bound up and left like that – there wasn’t as much as previously and the space left by this was filled up with a story that was like the Curate’s egg…good in parts. I don’t know how I expected marriage to change the couple but I expected it would have some impact, good or bad, on the way they worked in the bedroom and in the boardroom. And yet, it seemed as if nothing had changed.

I enjoyed the family dynamics, the revelations about Christian’s past and their trips out of town but I thought more time and effort could have been devoted to the developing threat against the couple. Some of the twists were a bit dubious. The link between the assailant and the Greys seemed contrived and needn’t have been (surely wanting to bring down the richest man on the west coast simply because he was the richest man on the west coast would have been enough?) And, I thought it was rather disappointing to know exactly whodunit thanks to some throwaway remarks at the end of book 2. It almost felt like the characters were playing catch up while the reader was sitting there willing them to put 2 and 2 together to get 4, because it was no harder than that.

I didn’t dislike the book - I would even say I found it enjoyable - but compared to the first two I found myself a little disappointed too, almost as if the premise had gone on a bit long. People will read it because they know the characters and want another instalment and that is fine, but it’s recommended only for this group, and not for anyone who thinks the best way to start a trilogy is with the final part because without the set up from books 1 and 2 you’ll be a little lost at what’s going on, and more importantly you might not really care.

The series will stay with me forever, but this final book on its own is far from memorable. The massive redeeming factor was the final few pages where we switched from Ana’s head to Christian’s, which I adored, and in spite of what I’ve said, if another book comes out told from Christian’s point of view, I would simply have to have it.

Thanks go to the publishers for supplying this book.

These books have been getting massive hype recently, but they're not the only new ones on the market. If you need more inspiration, our [[Newest General Fiction Reviews]] page is a good place to start.

{{amazontext|amazon=0099579944}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=9096365}}

{{commenthead}}

The Treasure House by Linda Newbery

2012-05-14T15:31:32Z

Linda Newbery Talks To Bookbag in Praise of Charity Shops

2012-05-14T15:30:19Z

Features

2012-05-14T15:26:08Z

Linda Newbery Talks To Bookbag in Praise of Charity Shops

2012-05-14T15:24:11Z

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 <amazonuk>0099548844</amazonuk> <!-- Asher -->
 <amazonuk>1848093586</amazonuk> <!-- Caddick-Adams -->
 <amazonuk>1846687640</amazonuk> <!-- Curtis -->
 <amazonuk>1846683181</amazonuk> <!-- Darley -->
 <amazonuk>1780280955</amazonuk> <!-- Freeman -->
 <amazonuk>0099542188</amazonuk> <!-- Kargar -->
 <amazonuk>1848874170</amazonuk> <!-- Knight -->
@@ Line 63: / Line 65: @@
 <amazonuk>1849163936</amazonuk> <!-- Nicholson -->
 <amazonuk>1780871104</amazonuk> <!-- Ohlin -->
 <amazonuk>1780875118</amazonuk> <!-- Proctor -->
 <amazonuk>0091936349</amazonuk> <!-- Rozan -->
@@ Line 92: / Line 95: @@
 <amazonuk>0370331818</amazonuk> <!-- Delaney -->
 <amazonuk>1908775254</amazonuk> <!-- Dodd -->
 <amazonuk>0857070916</amazonuk> <!-- Harrison, M -->
 <amazonuk>1444904752</amazonuk> <!-- Hurley -->
 <amazonuk>184939413X</amazonuk> <!-- LaFevers -->
 <amazonuk>1408314010</amazonuk> <!-- O'Brien -->
 <amazonuk>0141337788</amazonuk> <!-- Palmer -->

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:46, 16 May 2012
(One intermediate revision by one user not shown)
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	== May and June Competitions ==		== May and June Competitions ==
		+
		+	<br>
		+
		+	Sue really enjoyed [[Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey by Anne Allen]] and we've a copy to give away. You can enter the competition [[Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey by Anne Allen\|here]].

	<br>		<br>

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:27, 16 May 2012
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	Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews\|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists\|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments\|articles]].		Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews\|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists\|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments\|articles]].
		+
		+	{{newfeature
		+	\|category=interviews
		+	\|title=The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anne Allen
		+	\|summary=We really enjoyed [[Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey by Anne Allen\|Dangerous Waters: Mystery, Loss and Love on the Island of Guernsey]] so we had plenty we wanted to talk about when author Anne Allen popped in to see us at Bookbag Towers.
		+	}}

	{{newfeature		{{newfeature

@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 |reviewer=Sue Magee
 |genre=Women's Fiction
-|summary=The sub-title says it all.  It's better than chick-lit and gives a satisfying, intelligent read.
+|summary=The sub-title says it all.  It's better than chick-lit and gives a satisfying, intelligent read. Anne Allen popped into Bookbag Towers to [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Anne Allen|chat to us]].
 |rating=4
 |buy=Yes
@@ Line 38: / Line 38: @@
 {{amazontext|amazon=1780882300}} {{waterstonestext|waterstones=9082405}}
 {{commenthead}}

@@ Line 9: / Line 9: @@
 <amazonuk>1408314355</amazonuk> <!-- Anholt -->
 <amazonuk>0007455925</amazonuk> <!-- Cronin -->
 <amazonuk>1444900684</amazonuk> <!-- Grey -->
 <amazonuk>1444900285</amazonuk> <!-- Grey -->
@@ Line 14: / Line 16: @@
 <amazonuk>1905434995</amazonuk> <!-- Griffiths -->
 <amazonuk>1905434960</amazonuk> <!-- Griffiths -->
 <amazonuk>1407115235</amazonuk> <!-- Knapman -->
 <amazonuk>000746438X</amazonuk> <!-- Lobel -->

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408313960</amazonuk>
 |amazonus=<amazonus>1408313960</amazonus>
-|website=www.jiggymccue.com
+|website=http://www.jiggymccue.com
 |video=
 |summary=If you haven't met Jiggy McCue before, then prepare yourself. In Jiggy's world, if things can go wrong, then they will, and always in the most painful and embarrassing way possible. Bearing that in mind, the last thing his mum should do is take him on a murder mystery weekend, right?
@@ Line 27: / Line 27: @@
 It wouldn't be a murder mystery weekend without a body or two, and the place is soon awash with shadowy figures, secret staircases and a strange book which seems to move round the house at will. There's even a noose hanging up in a dark corner, heavy with cobwebs and menace. Jiggy's parents are no help (in fact, once you meet them, you begin to see why Jiggy is the way he is). His mum's too busy behaving inappropriately in the garden, and the two dads have no other ambition in life than to slip off at the earliest opportunity to the local pub. So, once again it's up to the Musketeers to solve the mystery, catch the villain and save the day. Well, maybe!
- Michael Lawrence has created a very distinctive brand of humour in this series of books which, judging by the amount of awards and nominations he's received, hold a strong appeal for many young readers (and, to be honest, quite a few older ones, too). There's something rather comforting about the fact that no matter how clumsy you are, how ridiculous you look or how embarrassing your mistakes, you will never, ever, ever mess up as disastrously and publicly as Jiggy does. His wry tone as he recounts his latest disaster, his absolute conviction that no matter how bad something is, it can always get worse, and his philosophical, almost cheerful acceptance of his fate, make him endearing and very, very funny. The toilet-centric topics, the groan-worthy puns and the daffy names (how could a weekend organised by Roderick Basket-Case be anything but an unmitigated disaster?) will delight boys and girls alike and do more to encourage 'literacy' than a bucketful of educational initiatives. This isn't great literature, and why should it be? It's just sheer, silly fun from start to finish, and young readers will love it.
+Michael Lawrence has created a very distinctive brand of humour in this series of books which, judging by the amount of awards and nominations he's received, hold a strong appeal for many young readers (and, to be honest, quite a few older ones, too). There's something rather comforting about the fact that no matter how clumsy you are, how ridiculous you look or how embarrassing your mistakes, you will never, ever, ever mess up as disastrously and publicly as Jiggy does. His wry tone as he recounts his latest disaster, his absolute conviction that no matter how bad something is, it can always get worse, and his philosophical, almost cheerful acceptance of his fate, make him endearing and very, very funny. The toilet-centric topics, the groan-worthy puns and the daffy names (how could a weekend organised by Roderick Basket-Case be anything but an unmitigated disaster?) will delight boys and girls alike and do more to encourage 'literacy' than a bucketful of educational initiatives. This isn't great literature, and why should it be? It's just sheer, silly fun from start to finish, and young readers will love it.
 Oh, by the way, Jiggy also has his very own website, which is well worth a visit. Try the Pants Olympics, for starters!

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1780882300</amazonuk>
 |amazonus=<amazonus>1780882300</amazonus>
 }}

@@ Line 3: / Line 3: @@
 ==For sharing==
 __NOTOC__
 {{newreview
 |author=Cressida Cowell and Neal Layton (illustrator)

@@ Line 13: / Line 13: @@
 '''Read [[Features|new features]].'''
 __NOTOC__
 {{newreview
 |author=Tatyana Feeney

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:56, 15 May 2012
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	{{amazontext\|amazon=1408308495}} {{waterstonestext\|waterstones=8690942}}		{{amazontext\|amazon=1408308495}} {{waterstonestext\|waterstones=8690942}}
	{{commenthead}}		{{commenthead}}
		+	[[Category:Cressida Cowell]]
		+	[[Category:Neal Layton]]

@@ Line 10: / Line 10: @@
 <amazonuk>0099548844</amazonuk> <!-- Asher -->
 <amazonuk>144411056X</amazonuk> <!-- Bartkowiak -->
 <amazonuk>1846687640</amazonuk> <!-- Curtis -->
 <amazonuk>1846683181</amazonuk> <!-- Darley -->
@@ Line 33: / Line 34: @@
 <amazonuk>0099548496</amazonuk> <!-- Albinia -->
 <amazonuk>1780921403</amazonuk> <!-- Andriacco -->
 <amazonuk>1908434147</amazonuk> <!-- Bell -->
 <amazonuk>1908248262</amazonuk> <!-- Bitmead  -->

@@ Line 87: / Line 87: @@
 <amazonuk>1849394210</amazonuk> <!-- Allsburg -->
 <amazonuk>1907869565</amazonuk> <!-- Chandler -->
 <amazonuk>0330544683</amazonuk> <!-- Curran -->
 <amazonuk>0370331818</amazonuk> <!-- Delaney -->
 <amazonuk>1908775254</amazonuk> <!-- Dodd -->

@@ Line 20: / Line 20: @@
 |website=http://www.lindanewbery.co.uk
 |video=
-|summary=Nina's mother is warm, artistic and impulsive. But one day she disappears, leaving only a vague message telling people not to worry. Then Nina finds some of her mother's favourite belongings in the charity shop, and decides to investigate the mystery.
+|summary=Nina's mother is warm, artistic and impulsive. But one day she disappears, leaving only a vague message telling people not to worry. Then Nina finds some of her mother's favourite belongings in the charity shop, and decides to investigate the mystery. Linda popped into Bookbag Towers and [[Linda Newbery Talks To Bookbag in Praise of Charity Shops|chatted to us about charity shops]].  We were fascinated.
 }}

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:30, 14 May 2012
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	There's no getting away from that song. It played in my head almost all the time I was writing … and is playing there now as I write this.		There's no getting away from that song. It played in my head almost all the time I was writing … and is playing there now as I write this.
		+
		+	[[Category: Linda Newbery]]

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:26, 14 May 2012
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	Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews\|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists\|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments\|articles]].		Check out the full lists of [[:Category: Interviews\|interviews]], [[:Category: Lists\|top tens]] and [[:Category: Comments\|articles]].
		+
		+	{{newfeature
		+	\|category=comments
		+	\|title=Linda Newbery Talks To Bookbag in Praise of Charity Shops
		+	\|summary=Here at Bookbag we were blown away by Linda Newbery's latest book [[The Treasure House by Linda Newbery\|The Treasure House]] and we couldn't wait to hear about the inspiration behind the story.
		+	}}

	{{newfeature		{{newfeature

@@ Line 8: / Line 8: @@
 }}
-===Second-Hand Rose, a junk-shop crocodile and The Treasure House
+==Second-Hand Rose, a junk-shop crocodile and The Treasure House: a guest blog by Linda Newbery==
-- a guest blog by Linda Newbery===
 I'm fascinated by charity shops, junk shops, antiques markets, car-boot sales, reclaim yards – anywhere I might find something unexpected or unique. When I began helping in a local hospice shop, the idea of setting a story in a charity shop soon became irresistible. There were so many promising ingredients: the stories behind objects; things brought in by mistake, found in bags or pockets; items that may or may not be valuable, or may be precious to someone. Then there were the people. I noticed that some customers came into the shop mainly to talk – as did one or two of the volunteers. Every week, I'd overhear someone telling their life story, or relating a trauma, or entertaining everyone with an anecdote.