Reviewing novels, short stories, plays and non fiction.
I’m sure most people have heard of Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me by Kate Clanchy, and the controversy about it. I thought of reviewing the book at the time (which I borrowed via my local Borrowbox library app). However I rarely write negative reviews. And from the language I read she had used, I was fairly sure a review would have to be negative.
I was correct.
Continue reading “Some Kids I Taught and What They Taught Me – Review”
This review is of Make do and Mend (Keeping Family and Home Afloat on War Rations). It is a collection of delightfully reproduced WW2 leaflets, with a foreword by Jill Norman. It’s a beautiful snapshot of the past. It can be easy to romanticise the wartime era, and think that everyone knew how to sew, cook and fix their homes. In reality, the much lauded ‘Blitz Spirit’ was formed and reinforced with a lot of propaganda and hand holding. This included classes, radio shows and detailed leaflets. The leaflets covered home maintenance, fuel conservation, and tips on how to wash, store, and mend clothing.
They could even help you learn how to make do and mend today!
Money saving expert Martin Lewis begins Thrifty Ways for Modern Days by explaining that this is a crowd sourced book. He gives all credit to his resourceful forumites, on the Old Style Board.
He explains he himself is not an old-styler, as it is a lifestyle, not just an adjustment. He recommends it for people who *need* to do it, due to debt or unemployment, and for people who want to live a greener, thriftier lifestyle. The book is divided into cleaning, shopping, fashion, DIY, special occasions, presents, growing your own and recipes.
Continue reading “Thrifty Ways for Modern Days by Martin Lewis”
Unusually, I got the Kindle version of Tin Can Cook. I tend to have my phone handy when cooking so I figured it would be appropriate. So far, it’s introduced me to the joys of tinned potatoes (9/10 most of a fresh bag will end up in the compost before we use it).
FYI, if you want to start composting, this site does cheap, subsidised bins – https://getcomposting.com
I have a real soft spot for Jack Monroe, for a very practical reason. The recipes on the Cooking on a Bootstrap website helped me when I was seriously struggling financially. Put it this way; I wasn’t visiting a food bank, but maybe I should have been.
This non-fiction book follows Louis Theroux as he travels America ten years after his Weird Weekends series, and catches up with a select group of former interviewees. It tackles the voyeurism, affection and exploitation at the heart of Louis Theroux’s documentary style.
COPPER LANTERN BOOK REVIEWS 