Power of Friendship

Mayflies by Andrew O’Hagan

Everyone has a Tully Dawson: the friend who defines your life. In the summer of 1986, James and Tully ignite a friendship based on music, films and rebel spirit. With school over, they rush towards a magical weekend of youthful excess in Manchester, played out against the greatest soundtrack ever recorded. And there is a vow: to go at life differently. Thirty years on, the phone rings. Tully has news.

The first part of this book is set in the 1980’s. A group of Scottish lads travel to Manchester for a music festival. There’s a huge music scene there with lots of bands playing. This section had a feel of Trainspotting without the heroin for me. However, I almost gave up on it as nothing much seemed to happen. I think that was the point; the author was setting the scene for the friendship and the group dynamic.

In part 2, its 30 years later and the news Tully has is that he has cancer. Tully is only 50 years old and feels that he’s too young to die. He turns to his best friend for support rather than his fiance. While planning a wedding with Anna, he’s also planning to go to Switzerland to end his life on his own terms.

I couldn’t put this book down in part 2. Tully gradually gets sicker and he’s desperate to have control of the one part of his life that he can – how he dies. His friend is supporting him, but Anna is completely against the idea.

There are no detailed descriptions of Tully’s cancer or treatment, the reader knows its awful and painful. This book is about friendship and doing what you can to support your friend. Jimmy struggles with what he’s been asked to do and asks a bishop if what he’s doing is murder. I loved the the response “… its that other thing beginning with m – mercy.”

“We don’t experience our own death the way we experience the deaths of those we love.”

Music is a huge part of this book, more so than the cancer. The music of their youth brought them together and its used later on to cement their bond and bring back memories.

There’s a playlist at the back of the book, which if I had found sooner I would have created a soundtrack to listen to while I read the book. I recommend you do so. This book is definitely worth it.

Special Books

Reading is something you do alone – its the perfect activity in fact. Books transport you to other worlds, countries, places. They introduce you to people you would never normally meet. Its the perfect escape.

Despite the solitary nature of reading I’ve gained some of the most important friendships of my life through books. One of those was Becky. She set up a bookclub and I was one of the first people who joined. The group went from strength to strength for over 15 years.

I saw Becky every month. She was an amazing person – bright, intelligent, funny, kind and generous. It always felt like a sunny say when you were with her, so when she died last year it broke my heart.

One of the last books she gave me to read was “Where the Crawdads Sing” by Delia Owens. I can hear her saying how much she loved it. I picked it up in January of this year and instantly felt close to her. Reading the book made me feel like she was with me – a bright, sunny day in January.

Some books have a special place in your heart and this one has for me

Its set in the 1960’s in USA’s deep south. Kya lives with her family in a shack in the middle of a swamp. They are poor, white trash and life is hard. One day her mother walks out, unable to live with the physical abuse of her husband any longer. One by one Kya’s brothers and sisters leave until its just Kya and her father. Eventually he leaves too and she alone. Even though she’s far to young to be by herself she manages to survive.

She makes friends with a young boy who teaches her to read and she falls in love – not only with him but with books and knowledge.

Its a beatiful and touching love story; a story of survival and connecting with nature.

There’s also a shocking and tense court room drama with twists and turns that keep you guessing right to the very end.

I didn’t want this book to end due to the connection with Becky and yet I couldn’t put it down. She was right – its fantastic.

Reading In Spain

April in Spain by John Banville

Pathologist Quirke and his wife are on holiday in Spain. Everything seems ordinary until Quirke sees a familar face and when he investigates further he realises a terrifying truth. The person he’s seen is supposed to be dead and has links to the downfall of an Irish political dynasty.

Quirke calls his friend Detective John Strafford for help. Strafford heads to Spain straight away – but someone else is also on their way. A sinister hitman who’s been hired to find the woman and ensure she’s killed.

My book club was lucky enough to win 8 copies of “April in Spain” by John Banville. I gave a copy to my Dad, who is a huge crime and thriller fan and he got through his copy in less than 2 days! It sparked some interesting conversations between us about life and politics in Ireland and Great Britain during the 60’s.

It took me a while to get into the book if I’m honest. I enjoyed the descriptions about Spain and the scenes between Quirke and his wife as they were trying to settle into their holiday, and I felt an instant dislike and unease with the Terry character when he was introduced, but nothing seemed to happen for a long time.

This is what makes this novel completely different to the other crime/thriller novels I have read where something exciting seems to happen on every other page. In this book there can be 2 or 3 pages of a scene detailing what happens between Quirke and his wife at breakfast in the hotel, or while they are on the beach but what you learn about the characters in these scenes is priceless. Banville creates characters amazingly well.

Lots of people describe this novel as a ‘slow burn’ and they are absolutely right. Sometimes a slow burn can be too slow, the flame fizzles and dies out – but not with this book. It keeps you reading and paying close attention because something significant can happen in 2 or 3 words and its quite easy to miss.

The plot builds to a climax that didn’t disappoint. I really enjoyed this book. My Dad enjoyed it so much he lent it to a neighbour!

Return of the MOJO!

Isn’t it strange how difficult it is to really see or appreciate a situation when you’re right in the middle of it? You’re unable to truly appreciate how bad or significant it was until it is over and you are able to look aback from a new vantage point.

I’ve continued to read right through the pandemic and in fact 2020 was a record breaking year in terms of the number of books I read, but recently I realised I had been reading with everything closed – mind, heart and soul.

I know some people stop reading althogether when they feel down or depressed – i don’t think I could ever do that. I imagine, though they must feel the same as I did the first time, when they pick up a book and it reaches into their soul. “The Murmur of Bees” did that for me. I wouldn’t say its the greatest book I’ve ever read; it was the right book at the right time for me. I felt that joy and excitement you feel when a book sparks the imagination – you’re there with the characters as the events of the story unfold around them and you absolutely have to find out what happens next.

The Murmur of Bees by Sofia Segovia

The book is set around the time of the First World War and the Spanish Flu pandemic, so has particular relevance to what has been happening over the last couple of years. The story takes place in a poor farming community in Mexico and follows one family in particular.

Their lives are changed when they find an abandoned baby – protected by a swarm of bees. The baby has a cleft lip and palette and the operation to fix it is unavailable to them. As he grows up the bees remain with him and this, along with his unusual facial features, makes the other villages afraid of him. Some of them believe him to be of the devil because he knows things the bees tell him.

The story is narrated by the family’s youngest son, who returns to his childhood home as an old man.

There is so much in this book – so many sotry arcs that peak before the next one carries you away somewhere else. The author manages to hint at what happens and then holds you in suspence – where you have to read on, secretly hoping the terrible thing you know has happened hasn’t actually happened.

The Power of Reading

It’s been a while since my last post. 2020 was a terrible and stressful year for many people. A time when our lives changed completely. It had an impact on everyone. We had to change the way we worked, lived and socialised. We had to spend most of our time at home, change how we spent out time while trying to make sense of what was happening.

2021 started with a promise that things were going to get better. I thought so too, but then I lost one of my best friends to Covid. So many people have lost family and friends, I know other people are experiencing loss and grief. Its comforting to know that its not just you, but it doesn’t make the pain and heartache any less.

I’ll always be grateful I knew my friend and she was part of my life. She was kind, generous, funny and made you feel like it was a sunny day. She was my friend and I feel very lucky I had her in my life for so long. I also miss her very much.

My friend was part of my book club, she set it up and I was one of the original members. We got to know each other through an interest in books and reading. And this is the point of this post. Reading is something you do alone, by yourself, closed off from other people and the world around you. But reading can also bring people together – giving you something to talk about, swapping books with a friend and waiting (anxiously if you REALLY liked the book) to find out what they thought.

Reading can help you explore difficult feelings like grief; reading about the experiences of a character can help you with your own thoughts and feelings, maybe find a way to put them into words and open up to someone else.

You can choose a light-hearted book to give yourself something else to think about, or an historic fiction or fantasy to transport you to another time or universe. Sometimes all you want to do is escape for an hour and reading is the key.

Books have always been my constant friend. I found friends and adventures when I was a kid and was being bullied at school. I explored new cultures and places, different times and brand new worlds. I’ve met some amazing people through a love of books and reading, and I’m lucky to call them my friends.

Keep reading.

Back in Time

I love history, finding out how people lived in the past, the discoveries they made, how similar and different their lives are to ours. I read history magazines, read books, listen to podcasts and watch documentaries. I also enjoy historical fiction. Its a really good way to get inside the lives of ordinary people from a particular time period, especially if the writing is done well.

Prophecy by S J Parris

This is a crime ficton murder mystery with a difference – its set in Tudor England during the reign of Elizabeth the First.

One of Elizabeth’s maids is killed and on her body are strange astrological symbols. There are already prophecies foretelling the Queen’s death.

Giordano Bruno, our detective, is an Italian Monk. He’s tasked by Francis Walsingham to find out what happened. When Bruno discovers links to a Catholic plot and Mary Queen of Scots he realises that not just the Queen’s life is in danger.

I’m really familiar with this period of history and these characters. This book felt like looking into this period of history with new eyes. Its well researched and the characters are interesting. The crime element is enough to keep you reading and is a match for any modern detective series.

The Giver of Stars by JoJo Moyes

This book is set in 1930’s Kentucky – a deeply traditional and religious part of America. When Alice meets and falls for a handsome American touring Europe her life is flipped upside down when she marries him, leaving England and moving to America.

Kentucky is completely different to England and Alice is soon deeply unhappy and lonely.

Life improves when she starts working for the Packhorse Library, delivering books on horseback to people living on the mountains. She loves the work and the friends she makes – until something happens that threatens this happiness and that of the people she loves.

I loved this book – partly because delivering books by horseback is my dream job! For a relatively short book Moyes packs plenty of action and drama into the plot while managing to create a cast of characters that feel completely real and stay with you for a long time once you close the book.

It covers many themes – class, gender roles, the segregation of black people and women, the importance of friendship and how reading can bring a community together and change lives.

Just beautiful.

Book Swaps & Recommendations

One of the best things about reading is discovering that a friend is a fellow reader and swapping recommendations. People always have different tastes to you and I love reading a book a friend has enjoyed.

Maybe One Day by Debbie Johnson

A friend from work recommended this book to me. Its not something I would usually go for – romantic fiction – but I did enjoy it.

When Jess is 17 she meets the love of her life, Joe. They get together and although life is hard they are very happy. They have a baby but tragedy hits them when the baby is killed in an accident. Joe and Jess are torn apart.

Twenty years later Jess discovers a box of cards and letters sent to her by Joe when she was suffering a mental breakdown caused by grief. Her parents hid the letters from her and she decides to track Joe down, using the faded post marks on the letters as clues.

Along the way she learns what happened to Joe in the time they were apart.

There’s a happy, fairytale ending – but sometimes you really do need a little make believe and disney magic.

Radio Cumbria Book Club News

This month we talked about “Daisy Jones and the Six by Taylor Jenkins Read.

Its set in the 1970’s and is about members of a band – their relationships and the song writing process. The central main relationship is between Billy and Daisy and their obvious attraction – but Billy is married so tries his best to resist.

The book is written as an interview with the band members, so there’s lots of contradictory points of view.

We enjoyed the book, but one member of the book club didn’t finish the book. As a book group we always support our members if they don’t finish the book, or even if they don’t start it. Its just not possible to enjoy every book – it might not interest you, it might not suit your mood at that time, or it might not be for you. That’s not to say its not for anyone else and listening to someone talk enthusiastically about a book you dismissed is one of my favourite book club experiences – even more so when have another go at the book and really enjoy it.

We also talked about the current situation in England, that we’re all in full lockdown and there is so much happening in our lives. Sometimes you’re simply not in the mood to read, or you can’t concentrate for long periods of time. This is ok too, and you shouldn’t put pressure on yourself. There are so many books out there to suit your mood – and if you need help to find one ask a friend for a recommendation.

Lockdown Reading

England is back in full lockdown, with everyone being ordered to stay at home. Once again I find myself being grateful for books and reading – and my community of book loving friends.

For Christmas I was given this poster:-

Top 100 books. The idea is that you scratch off the square once you’ve read the book. I’ve already read some of them (I won’t say how many) but in the spirit of the challenge I’m going to start again.

Wild Fire by Ann Cleeves

http://www.anncleeves.com

I’ve read a couple books by Ann Cleeves. This is part of the Shetland series, and is in fact the last one of that series. However, it is also a stand alone book – I’ve not read any of the other Shetland books but it wasn’t a problem. The back story of the main characters is explained concisely and well.

In this story, Jimmy Perez and his team are looking into the death of a young woman, Emma, who is found hanging in the barn belonging to a family who recently moved to the area. It is clear that Emma was murdered.

Jimmy looks into Emma’s life and the lives of those closest to her. When another person is killed they become under increasing pressure to find out what happened.

I enjoyed this book, a pleasure to spend time with. There’s something about losing yourself in a good murder mystery and Ann Cleeves does place and setting really well.

What Alice Forgot – by Liane Moriarty

I’ve listened to several books by Liane Moriarty now, and I’ve really enjoyed them. They were narrated by Caroline Lee, who is particularly entertaining. I’m going to read a book by the same author to see if I enjoy them as much.

In this book, the main character, Alice, falls and bangs her head. When she regains consciousness she finds she’s lost her memory of the last ten years. It comes as a complete surprise to her that her perfect marriage to Nick is on the bring of divorce and she has three children.

Alice begins exploring her life as a 40 year old woman from her 30 year old point of view. I found this a really interesting concept – thinking about what your younger self would make of you and your current life. And sometimes the events of the past really make a difference and cannot be put aside completely, but you need to take a step away and look at life from the outside to see what really matters.

http://www.lianemoriarty.com.au

Compare & Contrast

The Testaments by Margaret Atwood

This is the sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale”, which was written in the 1980’ss. The Testaments is set 15 years from the end of the first book and follows the story of three different women. They all have an involvement in the downfall of Gilead, despite each of the them being in completely different circumstances. One is a girl brought up in the confines of the regime and is expected to marry a man chosen for her, one is a girl living free in Canada and one is an Aunt – part of the regime itself.

It is an interesting and readable book. A fascinating look at gender and the role of women in society. I enjoyed the book but it didn’t have the same impact on me as “The Handmaid’s Tale”, which blew me away the firs time I read it and I was struck by how accurate the future predictions were when I read it again.

Book Club News

Normally at this time of year we would be looking forward to our Christmas meal out, but obviously this year we still won’t be able to meet in person. We have our Zoom meetings and I’m sure they’ll be some sort of Christmas celebration.

Current Reading

Reasons to be Cheerful by Nina Stibbe.

This is the Radio Cumbria choice for this month. I’m looking forward to the discussion.

All Kinds of Ghosts

A Head Full of Ghosts – by Paul Tremblay

This was great to listen to as an audio book and in some ways it was very similar to “The Wayward Girls” by Amanda Mason. Its about a young girl who appears to be possessed – she’s around 14 years old. The narrator is her younger sister, who is 8 at the time, and is telling her story years later.

The family sell their story to a TV company, who film the family during the exorcism.

What makes this story a bit different is the twist at the end. I really enjoyed this and its definitely worth a listen.

Ghosts by Dolly Alderton

This reminded me of ‘Bridget Jones’s Diary’. It follows the lift of thirty something Nina. After the end of a long term relationship she takes the plunge into online dating. She meets what seems to be the perfect man, Max, and they start dating. The relationship seems to be going well until Max abruptly stops contacting her. Nina has problems with her other relationships too – her friend from school is married with children and they are struggling to find common ground in their friendship, her Italian neighbour is abusive and noisy, and her father is suffering from dementia.

I really enjoyed this. Its laugh out loud funning – Nina’s mother gives her a middle name of George after George Michael who’s song was number one on the day she was born – there’s even a family tradition of playing the song on her birthday only it turns out her mother was mistaken!

I thought the story of her father’s gradual decline was well handled and thought provoking.

Book Club News – Special Guest

This week we were joined by Clare Whitfield, author of ‘People of Abandoned Character’. We applied for a set of books offered by the Reading Agency. We were lucky enough to be sent a set of books. We were thrilled when they told us the author could join our Zoom meeting. There are some benefits to lockdown after all.

“People of Abandoned Character” is set in Victorian England, around the time of the Jack the Ripper murders. After a difficult childhood, Susannah goes to London and trains to be a nurse. She meets a dashing young doctor and they get married. Married life isn’t what she expected and her husband very quickly changes. She begins to suspect he may have something to do with the murders taking place – and she tried to find out what is happening.

I really enjoyed this book, it twists and turns in ever darker and disturbing circles. As the title suggests, none of the characters are particularly good, but that doesn’t stop you wanting to find out what happens and hoping for the best.

Clare Whitfield was open, warm and friendly. She was really keen to answer our questions and talk not only about the book, but the writing process and the research she’s carried out. Clare enthusiasm for Victorian England was infectious. I couldn’t believe this was her first novel – definitely looking forward to the next one.

Currently reading…

I’m reading “The Testaments” by Margaret Atwood. Its the sequel to “The Handmaid’s Tale”. I’m enjoying it so far. The world she has created is so complicated and believable.