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Wednesday August 23, 2017
Books in August
- French Leave by P G Wodehouse
George passed this book on to me - a very old edition hardback with
no date. I spent the first few chapters wondering when Wooster was going
to appear.
Anyway despite the lack of Bertie, it was hilarious - if you like Wodehouse (presumably not if you don't).
George was taken by an umberella exchange business model suggested in the book - which apparently was recently tried out by a Chinese start-up Sharing E Umbrella - with Wodehouse-like consequences! - Sidney Chambers and the Shadow of Death by James Runcie
The first book of short stories in the Grantchester mysteries written
in 2012 , set in 1953/4 - and swiftly adapted for the small screen in
the shape of "Grantchester".
I feel Runcie's clergyman is not quite as portrayed by James Norton - he is a little more theological and a a lot less worldly - as you might expect since James is the son of Robert Runcie on whom the character is based. A rather gentle read - despite the crimes. I did not find Sidney wholly sympathetic - he seems a bit wet and undecided about everything in general - not least his love life.
- Strange Tide by Christopher Fowler [read by Tim Goodman]
It took me a long time to realise this but ... reports of Arthur's demise
were exaggerated and there are after all some new books. As a "loyal
obsessive" I am delighted but - please don't do this again Christopher.
One of the things that delights me about this plot reversal is the sheer aplomb with which it is carried off. The explanation - and the cure - of Arthur's condition are totally in keeping with the style of the books and their combination of the scientific and the supernatural - and it even refers back to some previous events we already know about from other books. Also as with most good comedy, it is supported by the "straight man" (or men) (or women) whose reaction to Bryant's cure from apparent dementia is much as you might think in real life - except that he would not have been allowed back to work - but then how many 80-year-olds are there working in the police? (o - ok Dixon of Dock Green ... got me there).
So well done Mr Fowler - or - hang on... did you plan it all along?!
Posted by Christina at 7:37 AM. Category: Books of the Month
