Archives for reviews - Page 13
Auld Lang Syne compiled by Karen Dolby [Book Review]
Auld Lang Syne: Words to Songs You Used to Know compiled by Karen Dolby My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is a song book of many of the songs that you've probably heard growing up, or maybe down the pub if you frequent that sort of pub. Auld Lang Syne compiled by Karen Dolby Auld Lang Syne is a collection of songs organised by theme. They're not quite folk songs, but popular implies the wrong thing. These are songs that ordinary people sing, rather than professional musicians (although many have been recorded by the latter). Each song has its lyrics, and is followed by notes on when it was written, who has recorded it and what the tune is. There are also notes explaining the context of some of the songs. The sections are: country life thoughts of home love and…
Eamonn Griffin – Historical Fiction [Author Interview]
This week sees an interview with Eamonn Griffin, a professional writer who has published two novels, as well as writing for other people. Eamonn Griffin's third novel, Juggernaut - a sequel to Jekyll & Hyde, is due out in November this year. Eamonn Griffin Interview 1. How long have you been writing for and what made you start writing? I've been writing seriously for about 14 years. I'd always had the ambition to write someday, but up until a decade ago, I'd convinced myself that I didn't have the time for it. The first thing I wrote with serious intent was a screenplay which I collaborated on with a work colleague. The central idea had some promise, and we had a great summer working on the project, and on sending it out and getting the first rejections back. One day,…
Slouching in the Undergrowth by Jack Swaab [Book Review]
Slouching in the Undergrowth: The Long Life of a Gunner Officer by Jack Swaab My rating: 4 of 5 stars I bought Slouching in the Undergrowth because I'd previously read and enjoyed Field of Fire, the author's wartime experiences. Slouching in the Undergrowth covers pretty much all of Jack Swaab's extraordinary life. Slouching in the Undergrowth There's a fair amount on his childhood, first in Sydenham and later at boarding school in the South West. Jack also tells us of his time as an undergraduate that doesn't flatter himself much. I guess when you get into your nineties you don't need to worry so much what people think of what you did as a callow teenager. There is some good social history on pre-WW2 Britain from the perspective of reasonably well to do children. You can see how experience in…
Ricky Vernio – Historical Fiction [Author Interview]
This week’s interview is with Ricky Vernio who has written several novels. Ricky Vernio writes across a variety of genres, including historical fiction. Interview with Ricky Vernio 1. How long have you been writing for and what made you start writing? About fifteen years, give or take. I use a dozen different pseudonyms because of all the genres I work in. I believe that writing is storytelling first and foremost. It irked me that authors were somehow losing sight of that fact. 2. Do you write for a living, or do you also do other work? I write for a living. Lately, with the sales down for everyone, and the publishing industry unable to support as many authors as it could earlier, I've been augmenting my income by painting portraits and cityscapes, lecturing, and giving painting and music lessons. 3. How…
Dominic Green – Science Fiction Writer [Author Interview]
Dominic Green The author interviews are making a return to Themself! First in the new series is Dominic Green, a Hugo nominee and science fiction author. I reviewed his book Warlords of Llantatis earlier this week, it's one of my top books of 2016. I have a feeling that I'll shortly be reading a lot more of Dominic Green's work. Interview - Dominic Green 1. How long have you been writing for and what made you start writing? I remember filling exercise books with ridiculous, poorly-spelt, derivative stories written in pencil. I was about 33 at the time. I don't remember ever making a decision that I wanted to write stuff. That would be like a fish making a decision that it wanted to breathe water. 2. Do you write for a living, or do you also do other work?…