This week's books - set in the past; in the future; and a part memoir/part business manual
This week there’s an eclectic mix as usual. Some of these books are self-published including two novels, one set two centuries ago, the other speculative work taking place in the future after America has torn itself apart with war and aggression. There’s a part-memoir, part business manual and there’s also a pair of novels for children, seeing as they’ve no school these days and therefore plenty of time to read a book or several. Many, preferably.
A recent study in UK schools shows that literacy skills have plummeted to alarming standards, and it’s estimated that four out of every six kids in Britain under the age of eight do not, and probably never will, own a book that could be deemed reading for pleasure.
We’re too primitive and savage to run such studies in Ireland – God’s sake, we can’t even house our kids never mind school ‘em – but you can bet your bottom dollar we’re in the same boat, probably even a worse, leakier boat. Reading to young children and obtaining books for children to read for pleasure, whether through purchase or through the public library, is as important as feeding and clothing them. How come parents don’t get this? And how come there’s not a single TD spearheading action on this? (Don’t get me started…)
Lady Dixon’s Niece, Chele Crawley, Chele Crawley Publishing, €15.13
Set in Devonshire and London in early 19th century England, this novel tells the story of Anneliese Schmidt, summoned by her wealthy aunt from her family farm in Devonshire to make her debut in the socially mobile classes around the capital. This could be Anneliese’s ticket to a better life, away from the drab countryside and into a situation where she would be more likely to find a suitor. She is to be drawn into a world where one’s moral compass is not necessarily one’s most profitable asset and will learn some tough life lessons along the way, before her considerable wall of deception collapses in spectacular fashion. For those who like Barbara Cartland’s Regency era novels, or perhaps Georgette Heyer’s, this novel is set in the same historical period.
Reflections on a Golden Ball, Donal Casey, Seahorse Investments Ltd, €20
‘Golf is the ruin of a good walk’. Depending on who you believe, that hilarious assertion was first made by Rudyard Kipling, Mark Twain or Oscar Wilde. When I first heard it, many decades ago, it was at the time attributed to Kipling. Anyway, no matter. While Kipling and I would wholeheartedly agree, we are vastly outnumbered and outgunned (and maybe out-clubbed!) by a heaving ocean of golfers in their gazillions, along with the Lord Captains and Lady Captains of their local clubs and a hape of other spookily quare stuff… but I digress. Donal Casey was the CEO of Rory McIlroy’s corporation, Rory McIlroy Inc, for a decade from 2013 and so knows a thing or two about pro golf and golfers. Prior to that, he was a big cheese in Irish Life and Aon Ireland. So, he also knows a thing or two about money games and their players, the men in suits. In this series of reflections, he merges the two (golf and business) and comes up with some thought-provoking essays, as well as some memoir material about his own life.
The Lorna Incident, Eoin O’Beara, Eoin O’Beara, €29.24
The world has moved 15 years into the future, and the story is set in the aftermath of the American Civil War; the second one, that is. Rosie is an electrician who travels from place to place across the US where her services are required and finds herself in Falls Creek, a typical American small town with not a whole lot going on. Well, actually there is a whole lot going on, but Rosie will only discover that by degrees, as the townspeople are a naturally taciturn bunch. There’s a lot of repair work to be done in Falls Creek and Rosie is happy to stick around for as long as the jobs last. She befriends a local woman, Fiona, who had been in a coma for years and has almost as many questions about recent events in the town as Rosie has. Both women are keen to find out what happened to Lorna, a girl who went missing some years previously. The story is preceded by a ‘prologue’ that depicts the historical setting to the reader. This reader would have preferred the usual use of world-building techniques as they appear in speculative fiction, rather than any lengthy explanations that make the reader feel they’re being lectured rather than entertained. A queer ‘romantasy’ blended with some mystery added to the mix.
Children’s Corner
Star by Star, Sheena Wilkinson, Little Island, €10.99
A personal and political novel about young Stella, living in 1918. The Great War has ended but the tragedy of the battlefields has been replaced by the tragedy of the Spanish Flu, sweeping across the world and claiming millions of lives by 1920. Stella has lost her mother and her home and ends up living with an aunt she has never met. Life is hard, but Stella has hope. Women are finally going to get the vote for the first time and Stella thinks that maybe she can make a difference to the future. Just as the stars appear at night, one by one, maybe people can make a change for the better too. One by one.
Unfairies: Death by Toad, Huw Aaron, Puffin, €12.99
Huw Aaron seems to be publishing a book a week these days but as long as they’re good, who cares? This is his second Unfairies book and here Pip finds herself the ruler of Oakhold. Which should be a good thing, but actually she’s really bad at it. There’s stuff going on in the garden and Pip sends her best friend Twig to investigate. It could be nothing. Or it could be insurrection. Twig doesn’t return and Pip is left to investigate herself and in the doing she will be risking… death by toad. A hysterical graphic novel.
Footnotes
Arguably one of the most famous Irish festivals, the Galway International Arts Festival has a packed programme and runs for two weeks from July 13. See giaf.ie for details.