Tag Archives: Margaret Graham

‘This is’: Goya, Monet and Kandinsky

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This is- pic 1 Fan.JP

I spend a great deal of my spare time dawdling around art galleries. Every time I wish I knew more about the paintings. As I stand there, appreciating the works, I am aware that I am looking at complicated ideas and histories but not really seeing or understanding the concepts.

Laurence King Publishing has brought out a new series called This is…

I have read This is Goya, This is Monet and This is Kandinsky, by different authors. These books are well presented, with clear and understandable text, accompanied by the artists’ paintings, as well as especially commissioned illustrations.

This is pic 2 Goya cover.

Let’s take Goya by Wendy Bird with illustrations by Sarah Maycock. Did you know that Francisco de Goya y Lucientes was the first artist deliberately to pursue creating works of art for their own sake? I didn’t.

This is Pic 3 Goya_Spread_6.

Monet I knew was a leading member of the French Impressionists.

This is Pic 4 Monet cover-12

I was looking at one of his many paintings of haystacks in the National gallery, the other day, (He painted the same haystacks but followed the play of sunlight on them throughout the day). Go and have a look. He never rested, evolving his art way into his eighties. Learn more from Sara Pappworth with illustrations by Aude Van Ryn.

 

Kandinsky looks more like a clerk, or bank manager, than a painter.

this is Kandinksky cover

He seems almost a cypher, but inside this misleading façade lived a sensitive artist who produced forceful genre defying work. I knew little about his work and am not sure I particularly like it, but this book by Annabel Howard with illustrations by Adam Simpson has created an interest. This in itself is a virtue.

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A truly lovely series.

 

 

Paddington Goes on Holiday by Paddington (aka David Worsdall)

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When my grandpa, who lives in Downley, High Wycombe, told the family that he was going to go to Peru it was suggested that I might go to keep him company. He agreed, but wanted to have a close look to make sure I didn’t weigh too much.I had no idea why at the time.

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Anyway, a few days later we finally set off and flew to Lima. Grandpa said I should stock up on marmalade when we get to the hotel because there wasn’t going to be any for a few days. I didn’t like the sound of that.

pic 3 DW.

Then we went to a place called Cuzco where we met local people who were mountain guides and porters and Grandpa had a technical discussion about equipment, medicines and other things. Marmalade was never mentioned.Then off we went.

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After two days we reached a very high pass where the air was very thin. I was strangely unaffected but it was a little tiring having to pose for photographs with lots of people who seemed to recognise me including local mountain guides and everybody who had heard about my recent film.

Was this the deepest darkest Peru I had been told about? The scenery was breath-taking.  ‘in more ways than one.’ Grandpa said.

After four days we finished the journey and I perked up when Grandpa said there would be marmalade when we got to Machu Picchu

Paddington goes on holiday by Paddington (aka David Worsdall)4

A fantastic train and boat journey then followed which I enjoyed immensely. I met lots more people.

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As you know when you are having fun, time passes very quickly and it was soon time to come back to England.

When we got back to the airport we had to go into London to get home so Grandpa took us round to Marylebone to get the train to High Wycombe. The lady behind the ticket counter said ’I am very sorry to tell you but Marylebone is closed for engineering works you will have to go round the corner to . . . Paddington.’

pic 13 paddington home.

Grandpa and I just looked at each other and laughed.  I knew I was home.

 

 

Twisted by B A Morton Reviewed by Margaret Graham

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Twisted by B A Morton reviewed by Margaret Graham

Blimey, talk about tense …

In Twisted, Jack Miller’s been playing a dangerous game, and the stakes are about to be raised.

I read the first few lines and was hooked.

Poor old DI John Samuels is on the trail of a bank robber, but he has no idea of the people he’s dealing with. In particular, let me introduce you to Spook, who is one of the most balmy and evil characters I’ve come across. How on earth did B A Morton conjure her up, let alone all the others. You see, so few are conventionally good people, but they’re so interesting. I was totally engrossed, and found myself – understanding? Well no, not understanding why they were as they were, but close to that.

The pace, the story, the characters are all spot on. So, let’s get back to the book: the ruthless robber is Miller, for whom bank robbery is simply a means to an end. Wounded while making his escape Miller has half a million in used notes and a hostage that wasn’t part of the plan. As the police close in, Otto, the crime boss wants his cash, and someone wants Miller silenced  – forever.

Then there’s the weird misfit Spook. Unstable and fearless, she’ll go to any lengths to get what she wants. Then a judge’s daughter disappears and evidence points at Miller. It is then that Miller discovers just how crazy Spook really is. (Ah ha, but I knew it all along, so very there).  With every twist and turn, and even with the rapid pace, Morton keeps us with her.

Published by Caffeine Nights, Twisted surely lends itself to a series. I do hope so.

B A Morton lives in the North East of England, and writes across a number of genres, including crime, romance, horror and historical fiction. She lives in a cottage built on the remains of a medieval chapel.

She is a member of the Crime Writers’ Association. In 2011 her debut novel, Mrs Jones, a crime thriller set in New York, took second place in the international literary competition, The Yeovil Prize, and launched her extremely successful career.

 

 

A Day In The Life of Ryan Stanier, Director of The Other Art Fair

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pic a Ryan portrait.

As director of The Other Art Fair my days are always busy, meeting with artists and planning for the fair. 2015 saw the launch of two new fairs – one in Bristol and our first international fair in Sydney – and the 10th edition of the London fair is coming up, (15 – 18 October) so I’m busier than ever!

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My day typically starts at 6am. I’ll stop by my local coffee shop Ginger & White in Belsize Park for a double espresso on my way into work. I like to be in our Covent Garden office by 8 am to go through my emails and catch up with phone calls. The rest of The Other Art Fair team are in by 9 am – if it’s a Monday morning we kick-start the week over coffee, pastries and swap interesting stories from the morning newspapers.

art fair pic 2.I visit artists’ studios before lunch to discuss their practice and plans for the upcoming fair. I recently caught up with Dan Hillier at his studio in Stoke Newington. Dan has participated in all 10 editions of the fair and so we asked him to design our #TOAFis10 tote bags, celebrating 10 successful editions of The Other Art Fair.

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I’ll have lunch with one of our fair partners, such as Deborah Curtis from House of Fairy Tales to discuss their exciting Matchbox Project for the upcoming fair. Then it’s straight back to the office for a creative planning session with the team, developing ideas for future editions of The Other Art Fair.

art fair pic 4.

At the end of the afternoon Sophie, the fair manager, and I meet to discuss plans for our next international fair. I try to finish work at 6.30, and at the end of a busy week I’ll go to catch up with mates at The Engineer in Primrose Hill. My job is demanding, but it’s worth it to see the success of artists who participate in The Other Art Fair.

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The Other Fair Old Truman Brewery Hanbury Lane LondonE1 6QL

15 – 18 October 2015

www.theotherartfair.com/

Dan Hillier’s #TOAFis10 tote bag is available to buy online or at the fair, with all profitable proceeds going to the fair’s charity partner The House of Fairy Tales.

Follow Ryan on instagram @ryan.stanier

 

 

The Reluctant Pilgrim by Penny Gerrard Reviewed by Margaret Graham

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The Reluctant Pilgrim review

At the start of The Reluctant Pilgrim, Penny Gerrard asks, ‘How do I capture the contrasts using what can hardly be more than verbal snapshots? Can I bring you the sights, sounds and smells which for me, in the future, will immediately say ‘Israel’?

Well, she can, and she does.

The Reluctant Pilgrim records a journey Gerrard took which showed her some of the best and worst of the troubled land she has been reading about in the Bible since she became a Christian forty something years ago.

Starting at the shore at Caesarea Philippi Gerrard immediately brings to life the shore: I felt the warmth of the sun, the blue of the sea, and the five desalination plants of today’s Israel. And this is how the journey continues, history mixed with today, conveyed in straightforward prose and using interesting photos.

I was actually in Israel quite a while ago, cycling on and off road. I saw the parched land bloom, I visited places named in the Bible, I would, however, have liked to read Penny Gerrard’s journey before I went.

Why? She weaves us through past and present. The present being 3 shekels to reserve yourself a music filled cubicle in a public loo, the past being the fact that Roman soldiers were known to use dead chicks in lieu of the more usual sponges. Oh joy.

We go with her to Tiberius, founded on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. And onwards to, amongst others: Bethlehem, then the home of Dead Sea Scrolls and finally Jerusalem.

The Reluctant Pilgrim is a journey through faith, as well as a country. Gerrard has the happy knack of being able to bring a place to life. How? She doesn’t ignore detail, she writes with a great sense of place. The Reluctant Pilgrim is thoughtful, and evocative.

Bravo.

The Reluctant Pilgrim by Penny Gerrard can be obtained from Amazon.co.uk

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff Reviewed by Margaret Graham 

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fatesandthefuruesbookreview
 
Fates and Furies 

This is a novel that deserves its hype, and trust me, not all do.

At age twenty-two, Lotto and Mathilde are tall, glamorous, madly in love, and destined for creative greatness. A decade later, their marriage is still the envy of their friends, but by now we understand that things are even more complicated and remarkable than they have so far seemed.

Lauren Groff is in full command of her perspectives. She reveals each new twist effortlessly, and her vibrant prose keeps us gripped and involved over more than two decades. Basically, Groff explores the unsettling truth: that secrets are often the cement – or do I mean the engine? – of relationships.

I really enjoyed Fates and Furies, and admire the oomph of the prose and profound understanding of creative, and relationships, that Groff displays. It’s a clever, accessible, and resonant novel. Brilliant.

Lauren Groff is the author of the New York Times bestselling novel The Monsters of Templeton, the short story collection Delicate Edible Birds and Arcadia. She has won Pushcart and PEN/O. Henry prizes, and has been shortlisted for the Orange Award for New Writers. Her stories have appeared in publications including The New Yorker, the Atlantic, One Story, and Ploughshares, and have been anthologised in Best American Short Stories 2007 and 2010, and Best New American Voices 2008. She lives in Gainesville, Florida, with her husband and two sons.

Fates and Furies by Lauren Groff. Published in hardback by William Heinemann in September 2015 at £14.99

 

GOING PUBLIC: Organising a Charity Litfest

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W4W leaflet.jAuthor and Frost contributor Jane Cable shares the third in a series of blogs about organising a charity litfest in aid of Words for the Wounded. This month has been all about publicity. And an unscheduled auction.

I’m scared. I shouldn’t be, but I am. Chief Chindi Christopher Joyce is on holiday and I don’t dare contact our venues to see how ticket sales are going. With Chris’s extensive publicity campaign in full swing they should be selling like hotcakes – but you never can tell.

But first I’d like to bend your ears about a way that anyone wishing to support Words for the Wounded can help – even if you’re nowhere near Chichester. It started when celeb chef Simon Rogan donated a set lunch for two at Fera at Claridges – far too good for a raffle prize – so I thought ‘let’s have an online auction’. Alongside this we put Claire Dyer’s Fresh Eyes editorial review (a must for any budding writer and worth £150) and a hair cut from Benjamin James in Chichester. Here’s the link: http://www.chindi-authors.co.uk/words-for-the-wounded-auction/ so bid away and keep an eye on Chindi’s social media for updates.

planes over Goodwood

Unfortunately our leaflet went to press before we’d decided to do this, but following on from last month’s blog local accountancy firm Carpenter Box stepped forward to sponsor the printing and the printers, Artyzan, provided us with double the number we paid for. The leaflet looks stunning and Chindi members have been out and about on the streets of East Hampshire and West Sussex, leaving them in libraries, book shops, gift shops, museums… and anywhere else we think people will read them.

Booklovers can hear all about the events too on our local radio station, Spirit FM. Chindi member Jill King twisted a few arms and recorded a commercial which they are airing for us free of charge. For the first time ever Jill had to do a second take – because during the first one there were spitfires flying overhead as part of the Battle of Britain commemorations at nearby Goodwood. It just served to remind us all the reason we’re doing this.

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If you are in the Chichester area and would like to join us, the events are:

Saturday 17th October: 11.30 – 14.00
Literary lunch with Elizabeth Buchan and Margaret Graham at Woodies Brasserie, St Pancras.
Call 01243 779895 to book – tickets are £25 including a glass of wine or soft drink.

Saturday 17th October: 19.30 – 23.00
Authors’ party at the Park Tavern, Priory Road with live music and raffle.
No booking, no entry fee, but come ready to be parted with your money.

Sunday 18th October: 9.30 – 11.30
Bookswap breakfast at Carluccios, Eastgate Square.
Call 01243 527412 to book – tickets are £15 including full breakfast.

Learn more about…
Words for the Wounded: www.wordsforthewounded.co.uk
Chindi Authors: www.chindi-authors.co.uk
Carpenter Box chartered accountants: www.carpenterbox.com
Artyzan Print: www.artyzanprint.co.uk
Christopher Joyce: www.creaturesofchichester.com
Jane Cable: www.janecable.com

 

 

The Road To Rangoon By Lucy Cruickshanks By Jan Speedie

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roadtorangoon

Lucy Cruickshanks’ latest atmospheric novel is set in 1980 in the Mogok region of northern Burma (now called Myanmar). This region is where they mine the world’s most beautiful rubies. A bitter civil war rages between the controlling Tatmadaw and the rebel Shan State Army. The people are poor and the Tatmadaw regime is cruel, violent and corrupt. Lucy’s three main characters are thrown together by chance and must struggle together to survive.

Than Chit an ambitious military officer with the Tatmadaw longs for promotion and power. His schemes and manipulations to promote himself end in devastating personal loss.

Thuza Win is 11 years old when her parents are imprisoned for ruby smuggling. Deeply scarred by life and struggling to survive she must grab any chance she can for a better life.

Michael Atwood, son of the British Ambassador in Rangoon is a naive 21 year old. Following a bomb attack in which his friend is seriously hurt Michael decides to avenge this terrible deed by helping the rebels. Unfortunately, Michael finds that he has been tricked; he is in danger and his only hope of survival lies with Than Chit and Thuza.

But as three strangers, in this savage country, they must learn who they can trust.

Lucy Cruickshanks has travelled the world, drawn to countries with a troubled history. Her first novel was set in Vietnam and was short listed for the Authors’ Club First Novel Award and the Guardian Not the Booker Prize.

Lucy was born and raised in Cornwall. She studied Politics and Philosophy at Warwick University and Creative Writing at Bath Spa University. She now lives on the south coast of England with her husband and two small children.  She enjoy writing and caring for her young family.

I enjoyed Cruickshanks’ handling of her material, and her research is thorough and fascinating. She weaves it all together into a satisfying novel. Even the title is evocative: ‘Rangoon’ has such resonance …

Published by Heron Books on 17th September 2015 in hardback £18.99