Tag Archives: caribbean

JANE CABLE REVIEWS APRIL’S NEW RELEASES

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The Forgotten Palace by Alexandra Walsh

A dual timeline based around Arthur Evans’ archaeological digs at Knossos on Crete, this book has an incredible sense of place, time and history. The heat and the dust from the excavations rise up from the page as the Victorian characters scrape in the earth and wash dirt from shards of pot.

In 1900 Alice departs on a grand tour of Europe accompanying her aunt and young nephews. She is heartbroken and in terrible disgrace, so her kindly family have sent her away to recover. In the present day timeline Eloise leaves for Crete on the day of her husband’s funeral wearing a red dress and red shoes. It’s clear she is glad he has gone – but why?

The book is packed full of history, myth, and dreams, with italicised sections which could be either of the latter, almost making it a triple timeline. But having read Alexandra Walsh’s other books I was not expecting this to be a simple love story and it is anything but.

A final word: don’t let the cast list at the front put you off – it really isn’t needed as all the main characters are so memorable.

 

The Cruise by Caroline James

I am not a great reader of romantic comedy, but I really enjoy Caroline James’ books. Not just because the protagonists are ladies in their sixties having a fabulous time, but because everything about them and their adventures is so beautifully observed and the pathos and humour eased out.

In The Cruise three single friends (one widowed, one almost divorced and the other resolutely single) decide to head to the Caribbean for Christmas. I loved the descriptions of the islands and it was wonderful to be back in a Barbados I recognised, albeit through the pages of a book. Anne, Jane and Kath, and the supporting cast of characters are bound to make you smile, so book your cabin now.

 

A Village in the Third Reich by Julia Boyd and Angelika Patel

I don’t often review non-fiction but I loved the premise of this book; to follow the life of a single village in Germany from the end of the First World War, and all through the Second.

It did not disappoint, and I would say it is essential reading for anyone interested in the era. It brings the human stories of the inhabitants of Oberstdorf in the Bavarian Alps to the fore, while setting them firmly in their social and political context. Whether dipping in and out, or reading from cover to cover, this in an exceptional history and meticulously researched.

 

The Girl Who Escaped by Angela Petch

This book is Angela Petch at her best, with a purely historical narrative set in her beloved Italy during the Second World War. It’s a gripping tale that explores the plight of the Jewish community as fascism tightened its hold on the country, and the efforts of the Italian resistance to return their nation to the tolerant society it once had been.

The Girl Who Escaped follows the stories of not only Italian Jew Devora, but her schoolfriends Luigi, a clandestine partisan, and Rico who may or may not be a collaborator. Their stories unfold and entwine, with Devora always centre stage as the world she has known crumbles around her when fascism begins to bite.

It’s an incredibly well researched book, so rich in detail that it absolutely transported me to Urbino during the Second World War, to circumstances that were at times so painful it was hard to read on. But, heart in mouth, I persevered, because I just had to know what happened. And that is the mark of a truly great storyteller.

Jamaica and Cuba touted as the top selling Caribbean destinations for 2014

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Sales up 50% year on year

Want an idea for your next holiday? Following a recent report from the Post Office which positions Jamaica as the cheapest Caribbean island to visit for travellers on a budget, online travel agent loveholidays.com has conducted its own research into top selling Caribbean holiday destinations:

  • Research shows the majority of Jamaica holidays booked are all-inclusive holidays so the price of a holiday is not significantly affected by falling costs of food and drink in resort
  • Jamaica bookings are up by 50% on 2012.
  • An average seven night holiday to Jamaica in winter 2013/14 costs from only £893pp
  • Jamaica is the fastest growing Caribbean destination for loveholidays.com, growing at 50% year on year. However Cuba is still the most popular Caribbean destination accounting for 70% of bookings to the region.

COO of loveholidays.com Jonny Marsh concluded: “Jamaica was once considered unsafe by many but our customers are seeing it as increasingly desirable.

After seeing a 50% increase this year and with the added incentive of our low deposits from just £49pp, we expect our sales of Jamaica holidays to continue to grow, in particular, our all inclusive holidays for 2014. This growth represents Jamaica’s exceptional value compared to some other Caribbean resorts, so the spike in bookings is due to a combination of great value prices and an improving image. At present we offer luxury all-inclusive holidays to Jamaica from as little as £893pp. This compares to other Caribbean destinations where a seven night all inclusive break can reach as much as £1299.

The Post Office report is interesting but as many of our clients book an all-inclusive break many remain unaffected by falling prices of food and drink.

Cuba holidays also represent fantastic value for money but until recently they have remained off the mainstream tourist radar. It’s only a matter of time before flights resume from Miami so now is the time to go if customers want to experience a true taste of Cuba. With the price of a 5 star all inclusive package, coming in at £529pp, Cuba is another Caribbean island representing terrific value.”

Tropical Sun Freebies

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The Tropical Sun team (who funnily enough are all called Ray) has launched a live vending machine sending out freebies of their authentic Caribbean products. Check out the video:

What are you doing for Black History Month?

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As the UK enters Black History month, NHS Choices, the national website of the NHS is putting the spotlight on black health heroes at www.nhs.uk/blackhistorymonth. The siteprofiles members of the African and Caribbean community who are improving the health and lives of others. NHS Choices also sheds light on conditions that are more likely to affect the black population, www.nhs.uk/blackhealth.

Amongst the celebrated health heroes is Dr Tunji Lasoye, an A&E consultant and surgeon in an inner city hospital, who often encounters victims of knife crimes. Also featured is Rudolph Isaacs, a rare-type blood donor whose donations are especially vital to people who suffer with sickle cell anaemia, which affects the black community more than others. The work of the trailblazer Nola Ishmael OBE, is also acknowledged for her contributions to nursing.
According to recent statistics from the NHS Information Centre, the numbers of BME (black and minority ethnic) hospital doctors are on the rise. There has been an 73% increase of BME hospital doctors, from 22,775 in 2000 to 39,476 in 2010.[1]

Barry Mussenden OBE, Deputy Director for Equality and Partnerships at the Department of Health says; “Black and minority ethnic people have contributed greatly to the NHS for over 60 years since the Windrush era, this recognition by NHS Choices shows the appreciation to all those inspirational health heroes throughout the UK.”

To further help ethnic minority communities to get reliable health information, NHS Choices has now incorporated a translation function into the site. This enables visitors to read most pages in more than 50 languages.

For more information about other health heroes, visit the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk/blackhistorymonth