Book Review: The Testaments
NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes
by Jackie Law
3d ago
The Testaments garnered Margaret Atwood her second Booker Prize win, albeit with some controversy due to the accolade being shared with Bernadine Evaristo. This decision went against clearly stated prize rules that the judges simply refused to adhere to. Both authors remained gracious when quizzed on the dilution of their achievement. Being a sequel to The Handmaid’s Tale, the book was always going to sell well anyway. Its profile was also raised by the popular TV series, still airing at the time of publication (Margaret Atwood was a consulting producer so one may assume she had input into pl ..read more
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Book Review: Unwords
NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes
by Jackie Law
5d ago
This review was written for and first published by Bookmunch. With every Tom, Dick and Jackie now able to post their thoughts on the books they read online and thereby call themselves a book reviewer, it is good to find someone who knows their stuff and can express opinions well. What we have here is a hefty tome – over 600 pages in length – of book reviews and essays gathered together from a couple of decades of the author’s published critiques and opinions. Andrew Gallix is clearly a literary powerhouse. I may not agree with his summations of some of the books I too have read – The Net ..read more
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Robyn Reviews: Bitterthorn
NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes
by Robyn
1w ago
‘Bitterthorn’ is an atmospheric fairytale-esque story of witches in towers, loneliness and fitting in, and of course magic. With a slow-burn sapphic romance and gorgeous central European setting, there’s plenty to like here – but it’s a little surface level and the conclusion slightly rushed, keeping it from quite reaching its full potential. Mina, daughter of the duke of Blumwald, has never fit in. Since her mother died, she’s had a strained relationship with her father and stepmother, and doesn’t act how others deem a lady of her station should. So when the Witch comes to claim her tithe ..read more
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Edward Explores: Stamford in Lincolnshire
NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes
by Jackie Law
1w ago
Edward has recently returned from a lovely few days in a part of the country new to him. Friends will know that he enjoys visiting The Shires. This trip enabled him to explore Lincolnshire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and Cambridgeshire – none of which he had previously visited. His base in the pretty little town of Stamford is on the border of these four counties. The dry weather enabled him to get out and explore widely. Accompanied, as has become the norm for weekends away, by his running bear friend, Compton, Edward spent three nights in a lovely hotel by the Burghley Estate. Being such a h ..read more
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Book Review: Kick the Latch
NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes
by Jackie Law
2w ago
This review was written for and first published by Bookmunch. Let’s start by saying I am no fan of horse racing due to the way the horses are treated – disposable commodities, run to the ground and discarded if not generating required wealth. I would challenge anyone not to feel the same way after reading this book, which I was still eager to get to due to the many positive comments other readers had shared. It is about horse racing, yes, but more about the everyday experiences of those living behind the scenes with the horses at a racetrack. Kathryn Scanlon has created what is described as a ..read more
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Robyn Reviews: Voyage of the Damned
NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes
by Robyn
2w ago
‘Voyage of the Damned’ is a lighthearted fantasy murder mystery with plenty of comedic elements. It falls very much on the ridiculous end of the fantasy scale, but taken as it is without too much dissection of the over-the-top narrative, its a fun ride. The Empire of Concordia is led by the Blessed – twelve individuals each graced with the magic of their province, working under the Emperor. Their cooperation maintains a fragile peace. However, the time has come for a new generation of Blessed to take the lead – celebrated with a twelve-day voyage to the sacred Goddess’s mountain. The Emperor ..read more
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Hotel Review: William Cecil, Stamford
NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes
by Jackie Law
2w ago
The William Cecil Hotel in Stamford is situated adjacent to the Burghley Estate. Unlike many of the large estates historically owned by the aristocracy, much of the associated parkland is available year round for members of the public to roam at will. When we visited, the impressive Elizabethan manor house had not yet opened for the season but we were still able to walk close to it and admire the architecture. We also came across some of the famous horse trials infrastructure on what proved an interesting excursion on a clear if somewhat cold afternoon. The hotel is also a short walk from the ..read more
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Run Report: Rutland Water Parkrun
NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes
by Jackie Law
2w ago
With a weekend away in Stamford, Lincolnshire planned we looked around for a nearby Parkrun venue to tourist at and discovered Rutland Water. What a fine find this proved to be. On a Saturday morning when many Parkruns around the country had to cancel due to an excess of water underfoot, and those local to us waking up to an unexpected blanket of snow, all that Rutland Water threatened us with was the possibility of rain. In the end even this held off until after the event. There is ample parking in Normanton car park near the Rutland Water Fishing Lodge. Parkrun participants may collect a di ..read more
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Robyn Reviews: The Serpent and the Wings of Night
NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes
by Robyn
3w ago
‘The Serpent and the Wings of Night’ is a self-published fantasy-romance sensation, recently picked up for traditional publication by Tor UK and Bramble US. Featuring warring vampire clans, a secretive tournament where only one can survive, and a forbidden enemies-to-lovers-esque romance, it ticks plenty of the popular boxes for new adult fantasy – and executes them with aplomb. An engaging read with plenty of action, it’s easy to see why this has won so many readers’ hearts. Oraya is an anomaly. The adopted human daughter of the Nightborn vampire king, she’s spent her entire life in a world ..read more
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Book Review: Little Englanders
NeverImitate | Trying to avoid society's pigeonholes
by Jackie Law
3w ago
This review was written for and first published by Bookmunch. The German philosopher Georg Hegel famously said, “The only thing that we learn from history is that we learn nothing from history.”  For proof of this one only has to read Little Englanders. The author writes of the Edwardian era – a new century that started with the death of a Queen and ushered in significant social and political changes over the following decades. These were not always well received. At home there were: marches and riots, strikes for better pay, anger at increasing immigration. Abroad there was a war a ..read more
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