Capsule book reviews in 255 characters or fewer. Ish. A reading diary (1st Jan 2019 onwards) by Eamonn Griffin.
Subtitled “a memoir of a childhood and the sea,” this is a kinda non-chronological autobiography, capturing moments of poet McMillan’s love affair with the British coastline and of working-class family holidays then and now. Light, whimsical in places, and charming and heartfelt. Cleethorpes features prominently, as it rightly should.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
An overview of climate change, its consequences, and a call for urgent meaningful action to be taken. A swift, accessible, though comprehensive account of the damage being done to the planet, and of the problems that this is already causing. The message is clear: the window for taking corrective action is closing fast. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A possible diary in images and words of a year in the East of Lincolnshire. Can’t say more than that – and this isn’t a review, ‘cos family – but if you’re familiar with Maxim Griffin’s work then this is the motherlode to date. If you haven’t, then this is your departure point. Get on it now before the inevitable Werner Herzog/Ben Wheatley/Johnny Nice bidding war begins. Onwards, as Maxim is wont to say.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A near-future dystopia: aliens are collecting samples while the planet faces ecological catastrophe; a reporter investigates. Ambitious mini-series (a four-issue run anthologised here) that’s theme-heavy though not always fully engaging on a pure story level. That said, there’s some swagger in the execution, plus odd moments will linger. Worth sampling yourself at least.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A psychogeographical (ish) visit to Reculver. As with its predecessor The White Heron Beneath The Reactor I’m not reviewing this – ‘cos of family vested interests – but noting for diary purposes that it’s been read and wondered at and about.
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My own books here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A journal of an attempt to complete the Pacific Crest Trail, a hiking route through from Mexico to Canada. And an excellent thing it is too, detailing Healy’s fascination with the US and the Trail, and the challenges faced and friendships made on the route. Plenty to appreciate, not least the blend of simple illustrations and occasional prose sections. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A hipsterish artist is challenged by the ghost of Thoreau to make a return to living in harmony with nature. Walden for beginners, basically, and charmingly done. Some good connections are made between the early 19th and 21st centuries, and there’s a tongue-in-cheek approach taken throughout that gently critiques the protagonist.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England
A talented young artist develops an obsession with mountaineering. An excellent autobiographical graphic novel about climbing, growing up, finding yourself, and losing yourself above the snow line. Beautifully sketched and told. Recommended, like the many routes to different mountain summits recounted in this volume.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A personal account of the ill-fated 1996 Rob Hall-led Adventure Consultants expedition to climb Mount Everest. A classic of its type, if disputed in some of its assertions (discussed in this edition), Into Thin Air remains a detailed study of adventure tourism, obsession, survival, and hubris. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A history of human interference with the world, from the birds’ perspectives. A smart, clever book with a unique angle, supported by Smyth’s in-depth knowledge, and via his facility for Stuka divebombs of sentences. Lots to think about here. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
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