While the men were at war women ruled the streets. Kate Thompson tells the vivid and moving stories of the matriarchs who remain the backbone of London’s East End to this day.
Non-Fiction
BOOK REVIEW: In the Dream House: A Memoir
Carmen Maria Machado’s absorbing and brilliantly unorthodox account of an abusive relationship is due for publication in the UK on 2nd January 2020.
THOUGHTS ON: Into the Wild
I share my thoughts on the true story of Chris McCandless, a young man who walked deep into the Alaskan wilderness to seek adventure but never returned.
The World of Moominvalley #ToveTrove
The World of Moominvalley is simply the ultimate guide for any Moomin fan, old or new.
BOOK REVIEW: Murder by the Book: The crime that shocked Victorian literary London
A gripping investigation into a crime that scandalized literary London.
BOOK REVIEW: The Beekeeper of Sinjar
Dunya Mikhail tells the harrowing but often moving stories of women who have managed to escape the clutches of ISIS.
BOOK REVIEW: The Library of Ice: Readings from a Cold Climate
A vivid and perceptive book, which will probably appeal to readers of Robert Macfarlane, Roger Deakin and Olivia Laing.
‘A Pocket Guide: The Literature of Wales’ by Dafydd Johnston
In this, the third of my occasional features about Wales to be posted in the run-up to Dewithon 2019, we look at an informative little book about Welsh literature.
BLOG TOUR: ‘Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear? 200 birds, 12 months, 1 lapsed birdwatcher’ by Lev Parikian
Book Jotter is the fourth stop on Lev Parikian’s great Why Do Birds Suddenly Disappear? Blog Tour. Grab your bins and join in the fun!
BOOK REVIEW: Books for Living: A Reader’s Guide to Life
An uplifting exploration of the power of books to shape our lives in an era of constant connectivity.
BOOK REVIEW: In Search of Lost Books: The Forgotten Stories of Eight Mythical Volumes
The gripping and elegiac stories of eight lost books, and the mysterious circumstances behind their disappearances.
BOOK REVIEW: Suffragette: The Battle for Equality
2018 marks a century since the first women won the vote in the United Kingdom, and this children’s book tells the story of their fight. ‘Suffragette’ is a tale of astounding bravery, ingenuity and strength.
THOUGHTS ON: The Assassin’s Cloak: An Anthology Of The World’s Greatest Diarists
A dip-in doorstop filled with risqué anecdotes, humorous stories, unintended hilarity and intriguing revelations.
BOOK REVIEW: Sylvia Pankhurst: Rebellious Suffragette
In honour of the centennial of women gaining the right to vote in the UK, we look at the life of someone who fought relentlessly to achieve it.
BOOK REVIEW: The Little Book of Feminist Saints
Its publication date scheduled to coincide with International Women’s Day, Julia Pierpont’s The Little Book of Feminist Saints is a joyous celebration of one hundred women who achieved something of significance during their lives.
THOUGHTS ON: George Orwell: A Life in Letters
For almost forty years George Orwell wrote and received the letters collected here, which have been edited by Peter Davison.
BOOK REVIEW: Great Polar Bear
Journey into the magnificent and mysterious world of the far north in Great Polar Bear, Carolyn Lesser’s poetic and scientifically accurate story about a year in the life of a polar bear.
BOOK REVIEW: The Extraordinary Life of A A Milne
While The Extraordinary Life of A A Milne will undoubtedly delight fans, it should also appeal to anyone with even a passing interest in the author and his famous teddy bear.
BOOK REVIEW: Aphra Behn: A Secret Life
Behn is celebrated for being one of the first English women to earn a living from her pen. She courageously shattered many cultural conventions of her day, while in some ways remaining in step with her times.
BOOK REVIEW: In Search of Nice Americans
The result of Geoff’s 2016 sabbatical is the light-hearted In Search of Nice Americans, subtitled, Off the Grid, On the Road and State to State in Trump’s America, a disorderly but entertaining drive across the USA.