Tag: reviews

Roberta Writes – Book reviews: The Rat in the Python Fashion by Alex Craigie and Dewdrops on the Soul: Poetry you will love by Dwight Roth #bookreviews

Today, I have reviews of two delightful books for you.

The Rat in the Python Fashion

Picture caption: Cover of The Rat in the Python Fashion by Alex Craigie featuring a cartoon styled python with people inside a bulge in its belly.

What Amazon says

If you haven’t heard of a liberty bodice, believe that half-a-crown is something to do with impoverished royalty and never had the experience of slapping a television to stop the grainy black and white picture from rolling, then this series might not be for you. Please give it a go, though – I suspect that most of it will still resonate no matter where you were brought up!

Book 3 looks at fashion and how it’s changed since the end of WWII. From utility coats and twinsets, to schoolboys in short trousers with socks and garters. From the swinging sixties with its long, long hair and short, short skirts, to psychedelia and beyond.

The Rat in the Python is about Baby Boomers who, in the stability following the Second World War, formed a statistical bulge in the population python. It is a personal snapshot of a time that is as mystifying to my children as the Jurassic Era – and just as unrecognisable.

My review

I realised when I came to write this review that this is book 3 and I have skipped out book 2. They don’t have to be read in order so it doesn’t matter, but book 2 should not be missed as this is a terrific series.

This fascinating short read covers fashion in the UK from WWII to the current date. It actually even goes a little bit further back in the beginning with some interesting comments about fashion during the Edwardian era and I am very thankful that I never had to wear a corset. Being long waisted, this would have been really awful for me. Edwardian women did, however, look very sophisticated with their gorgeous hats and long skirted, tight waisted dresses.

With regards to fashion during WWII, this book reinforced a lot of information I had heard from my mother about the lack of buttons, silk stockings and other niceties and how girls found innovative ways of dealing with this problem. To quote: “Women dealt with the latter issue by painting their legs with special product or using gravy browning and getting a friend to draw a line down the back of the leg with an eyebrow pencil to resemble the seam.”

This book takes the reader on a journey through the austerity of the post war continuing rationing fashion scene when people dressed very formally but frugally with shirts that had replaceable collars and cuffs and continues to the modern ‘throw away’ society. The current culture in the UK is actually vastly different from here in South Africa where women still dress fairly conservatively and most certainly do not buy cheap clothing that is thrown away rather than washed. Poverty is still a big issue in Africa, but perhaps this is better than the consumeristic habits of the developed world that add so much to plastic and global warming problems. I found the changing trends in this regard discussed in this book to be thought provoking.

The book includes lots of interesting photographs and pictures to demonstrate the fashion statements made and is really a wonderful undertaking to preserve the history of fashion in the UK. An interesting and worthwhile read.

Purchase The Rat in the Python Fashion by Alex Craigie from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0995696675

Dewdrops on the Soul: Poetry you will love by Dwight Roth

Picture caption: Cover of Dewdrops on the Soul: Poetry you will love by Dwight Roth featuring a red hibiscus flower covered in dewdrops

What Amazon says

Poetry must speak to the soul if it is to be remembered. The poems in this book are written in readable verse that is easily understood by the reader, yet challenging and thought provoking. Along with the poems are beautiful original color photos taken by the author that are used to enhance the poems. In addition to photos there are also original paintings done by the author.
Poems in this collection are inspired by nature, nostalgia, and reflections on the meaning of life.

The author has published a poetry blog on Word Press since 2016 which you can view at. rothpoetry.wordpress.com

This is a great book to spend time getting lost in as you peruse through the many poems included here.

My review

This is the first collection of poetry and flash fiction I’ve read by Dwight Roth and it was a complete delight.

The poet has a wonderfully positive outlook on life and this reflects in every word he writes. The poems and prose pieces in this book made me feel happy and uplifted and you just can’t beat that feeling. The book also includes some wonderful paintings by the poet, photographs from his childhood and adult life, as well as some innovative handmade creations include what he termed to be a Jackleg guitar. Not a term I have heard before but it seems to fit this wonderfully artistic musical instrument.

I really enjoyed all the poems but a few standout ones for me were as follows: A Call for Change, Dad, Pop’s Garden, Red Bellied Woodpecker, Digital Wolly Worm, Night Train, Dandelion Stars, Trigger, Love and Cherry Delight, Family Memories, Where do you Belong? and Proud Vulnerability.

I highly recommend this beautiful collection and will leave you with the poem I loved the best as I also love and appreciate the beauty of dandelions.

Dandelion Stars
“Aging flower wild and free
Sunny yellow color gone
Silver stars cover its head
reflecting sunlight
Beautiful seeds waiting for the breeze
Like Nature’s poetry
Blowin’ in the Wind across our minds
Beauty for some
Weeds for others
Daylight stars waiting
to be appreciated”

You can purchase Dewdrops on the Soul: Poetry you will love by Dwight Roth from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DT86WRW2

Roberta Writes – Book review: A Life in Frames by Leonora Ross #bookreview #bookcommunity

Picture caption: Book cover of A Life in Frames featuring a few small trees in the desert

What Amazon says

A photojournalist consumed by his passion for telling stories through his camera lens, a father and son at a war of wills, and lovers struggling to find a way to each other.

A Life in Frames follows the life of Namibian photojournalist Lejf Busher as he navigates through childhood and manhood in this coming-of-age literary saga. Two women are central to Lejf’s existence: his mother and the woman he loves. Destined for success and international acclaim, he discovers the complex reality of a career that separates him from his relationships. His mother is a beacon of strength, but he feels unsupported by his father. Lejf wants that acceptance. He also longs to succeed romantically with his great love, but her own search for independence and escape from a conservative upbringing widens the distance between them. Lejf’s expectations of a world and people he cannot change force him to confront his fears and choices when he can no longer run from them.

A Life in Frames is about the push and pull between the ties that bind us and the desires that motivate us. It is also about coming to grips with the consequences of unspoken and misinterpreted words.

My review

Picture caption: Badge for Rosie’s Book Review Team

I reviewed this book in my capacity as a member of Rosie’s Book Review Team. If you would like your book reviewed, you can contact Rosie Amber here: http://rosieamber.wordpress.com/.

I was attracted to this book for two reasons: It is set in Namibia and it focuses on photography. As a South African with a passion for wildlife photography I knew I would enjoy reading a story set in our neighbouring country of Namibia and I also knew there must be a focus on wildlife photography. I was correct on both counts and I loved the beautiful descriptions of the main character’s, Lejf Busher, home in a small town in Namibia and his trips into the bush to discover amazing photographic opportunities. I related completely to Lejf’s love for his country and its wildlife and people. The author described the small town attitudes of the people who surround Lejf as a child, including his father, with a sharp pen, and I enjoyed the disruptions to their thinking caused by Lejf’s mother, a Swede with an open-minded European mindset. The scenes about a book about sex, written by Lejf’s mother to teach her five sons about women, and its making the rounds of the town’s people made me laugh. It would be like that here in conservative South African towns too.

Lejf’s father’s lack of support of his son’s choice of career also rang true for me, having experienced this attitude of creative careers being unreliable as pay cheque jobs in my own family. The clashes between Lejf and his father over many things were well portrayed and realistic. A conservative farmer from a small Namibian town would react to a dramatic and creative personality like Lejf’s with concern and a lack of understanding. The author has a very initiate understanding of small town people in southern Africa.

This is a coming of age story and follows Lejf’s life from a boy of ten into later adulthood. It beautifully depicts a man driven by deep empathy for the first nation people of this planet who have been displaced and their way of life decimated by interlopers. There is a great tragedy and sadness in the scenes of Lejf’s visits to these people and places. The author must have first hand experience of such peoples and places and has done a lot of research.

In summary, this is a beautifully written book filled with thought provoking and interesting scenes and well worth reading. It is literary fiction and the pace is slow and considered so it is aimed at a certain readership.

A Life in Frames is available from Amazon USA here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1069082805

And through Amazon UK here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Life-Frames-Leonora-Ross-ebook/dp/B0DW2Q8WNY

Roberta Writes – book review: Nine Black Lives by Resa McConaghy and ‘Skart’ #bookreview #readingcommunity #art

Resa is a fantastic artist, photographer, and the designer of unique ballroom gowns from recycled fabrics, but did you know she is also the author of a fabulous book? I came across Nine Black Lives quite by accident and it is a really good book, filled with Resa’s imagination, knowledge and humour.

What Resa says

Picture caption: Cover of Nine black lives featuring a black city skyline through a window splattered with rain

Nicky is an actor, vain, jaded and tired of Hollywood fluff. He holes up, brooding in his New York apartment only to accept yet another “detective” role scheduled to shoot in his grey and gritty home turf. As stalkers move in and a real life murder taps him on the shoulder, Nicky enters a dangerous Neo Noir world. Peril looms to all those around him, including his love Lara and their unborn son. With the chill of premonition creeping over him, and wielding his “detective” skills, Nicky must awaken the true man within before time runs out.

My review

I really enjoyed this fascinating book. The author is a talented costume designer and has a lot of experience with life behind the cameras on a movie set. This knowledge shines through in this novel and makes the settings and character interactions very realistic and believable.

The main character, Nicky, is a hugely successful movie star who is searching for more fulfilment in his life that his typical male hero roles are offering. Unable to find a more challenging movie role, he throws himself into unravelling the mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of a costume designer, Lucille, he’d worked with during the filming of his first move. The one that made him a star. At the same time, his girlfriend informs his that he’s going to be a father. Simmering in the background of these two storylines, are several threatening letters that Nicky’s has received from an obsessive fan. These three aspects weave together to create an exciting and fast paced novel set during the filming of Nicky’s new film, Nine Black Lives.

The characters and dialogue in this book really stood out for me. Due to the author’s understanding of the movie making world, the book is sprinkled with intriguing commentaries about the making of movies and the various actors, main and supporting, who make up the cast, as well as all the people involved in makeup, costume design and administration. An example of one such conversation is as follows:

“”The Handmaiden’s Hands was a step up, but who knew it at the time? Back then it was a paycheck. No one really thought anything would come of the stupid film. Leo had even worried that it could possibly hurt Nicky’s career.
“Who could have predicted a low budget loser like that would turn out to be a cult classic. Hell, the script was a joke,” Leo laughed.”

The backstory and details surrounding Nicky’s ‘stalker’ are interesting and well described. Insights into star obsession and the world of fan social media and on-line admiration clubs are unveiled in all their murky weirdness and excessiveness. It was all fascinating to me as a reader and I learned a great deal about the challenges of living in the spotlight.

The relationship between Nicky and the lead investigator into the death of Lucille and Nicky’s stalker is also interesting. The investigator, Lightfoot, is disdainful of Nicky’s information and thoughts and determined to remind him that he is not a ‘real’ investigator but only a pretender to the crown. This relationship was an intriguing reminder not to underestimate another person just because you are resentful of their position in life.

This is an interesting novel with a strong storyline, fascinating characters, and entertaining detail.

Your can purchase Nine black lives from Amazon US here: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B007HB8T1M

Or you can download it on Resa’s blog here: https://graffitiluxandmurals.com/artists/

Skart

Resa finds and photographs the most amazing street art. Late last year, Resa came across a most intriguing skateboard art find. Just after this discovery, I posted my one any only poem about skateboarding. Resa created an incredible post to showcase her art discoveries, and I am thrilled that she included my poem, The Silver Lining. Thank you, Resa, for all you do to make our lives interesting and art filled.

Click on the image to find Resa’s incredible post.

About Resa McConaghy

You can discover more about Resa McConaghy on her website here: https://resamcconaghy.com/

You can enjoy her gorgeous art gown creations here: https://artgowns.com/

I just love her latest creation:

Picture caption: Resa’s extraordinary and beautiful wedding dress creation

For me, it is a wedding dress and if I was getting married now, I would want this dress. I asked TC if he wanted to renew our wedding vows so I could wear this dress. Dear man said I could have the dress, but we didn’t need another wedding because the first one was amazing. Isn’t he a darling?

This is what Resa says about herself:

“Hi there!

I’m an amateur photographer who has a passion for taking pics of outdoor ephemeral art.

Eagle ! to Natasha

My name is Resa McConaghy, and my site, “Graffit Lux and Murals”, was originally dedicated to showcasing & documenting Graffiti Art  and Murals in Toronto and Winnipeg.

However, I now find I am featuring the Street Art of other cities around the globe through travels of mine, and guest contributors.

Taking these pics is a passion and a joy. Each work of graffiti art or mural evokes thoughts in me, and these thoughts are reflected in the titles of my Posts.

Some of these pieces may already have been named by the artists. If I know the original name, I will name it so.

Painted by Mandy van Leeuwen, Jennifer Johnson Pollock and Charlie Johnston.
Painted by Mandy van Leeuwen Jennifer Johnson Pollock and Charlie Johnston.

If I know the name of the artist, I will credit them under the photograph and/or in the body of the post. If you are an artist & have not been credited,  you can reach me by email with your info. I will gladly update the post. If you’re here, it’s probably because you love this type of art as much as I do. I hope my pics do the pieces some justice.

Contact me at: submissionstoglam@graffitiluxandmurals.com

Cheers!

Resa

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