It’s never easy ringing the changes for Father’s Day so I’m sticking to well known themes but I do feel excited by my choices.
Books – well, why not.
Anatomy of a Soldier by Iraq and Afghanistan veteran, Harry Parker, who returned as a double amputee. Of course this interested me because I founded Words for the Wounded, but it also interested the blokes on our small volunteer team. Harry is now a writer and artist and this is his first novel. It is a tour de force, quite different to all others in this vein. The narrators are the equipment which led to the ‘incident’, and to the saving of his life.
Faber and Faber: hb £14.99 also in pb.
Another that is quite different to others I have read and which appeals to both men and women, or so I believe.
Castle of Water by Dane Huckelbridge features a modern day plane-wreck, the two survivors of which (strangers) reach a deserted Polynesian Island and have to find a way of surviving – together. It’s not only a fascinating concept (never ever travel without a huge number of spare contact lenses – especially if you fancy yourself an artist – though it seems he produced exceptional work without.) This leads to the question – if he survived would he continue to produce through a blur.
It was laugh aloud funny, but also moving and interesting as they became a team.
HQ: pb £7.99
Labour and the Gulag:
One of my relatives was a communist between the wars, and proceeded to achieve high office in a profession demanding rigorous integrity and intelligence. He continued however to be hard left and a supporter of Russian Communism – heedless of the inconvenient truth of theiniquities of the system. He felt, I believe, that the end justified the means. It removed any respect I felt for him and his subsequent work.
He was not alone. Read this and bang your head on the table in despair and exasperation.
Labour and the Gulag by Giles Udy
Biteback Publishing. hb £30.
All this reading should of course be accompanied by a restorative drink or two.
BULLDOG Gin
Present in over 80 countries, BULLDOG Gin is the fourth largest and fastest growing premium gin in the world. With its unique bold, black bottle and distinct flavour, BULLDOG is a modern gin that has been quietly causing a stir on the gin scene with its British attitude and global mind-set. Using only the best quality British wheat and water, BULLDOG starts with triple distilled neutral grain spirit. It is then distilled once more, adding the distinctive blend of 12 botanicals to the pot still to deliver a smooth experience.
Stockist Ocado RRP £22.00
Estrella Galicia
Estrella Galicia is a premium world lager with a refreshingly smooth and well balanced taste with a light body. A spicy and light toned beer, Estrella Galicia has a clean and balanced aroma of Perie with nuggets hops and light malts.
Stockist: Marks and Spencer
RRP: £5.25