In Bruges

Books

Fox, Swallow, Scarecrow by

From the new glass bridge which spanned the inscrutable waters of the Grand Canal, the tram purred downhill and glided gently into the heart of the city.
It was the opening of this book that persuaded me to buy it. The way Ní Duibhne pokes fun at that certain class of Dublin people. It made me smile, but because I knew that there really are people who think that way. Or at least there used to be, now with the demise of the Celtic Tiger maybe there are less of them than there once were.

22 February 2009
Books

Royal Escape by

No ISBN ; Elsewhere Set after the execution of Charles I, this book tells the story of Charles II after his forces lose the Battle of Worcester[1] and he is forced...

23 October 2008
Books

The Courtesan’s Revenge by

Harriette Wilson, the woman who blackmailed the king ISBN: 0571205240 See also: LibraryThing ; Other reviews Harriette Wilson’s Memoirs omit both time and place; there are no addresses given, no locations...

26 September 2008
Books

The Remains of the Day by

It seems increasingly likely that I really will undertake the expedition that has been occupying my imagination now for some days.

The Remains of the Day is about Stevens, a butler in a “grand old English house”. He spent his life trying to be a “great” butler in the service of Lord Darlington. With the death of Darlington he remains in Darlington Hall working for the new owner a rich American, Mr Farraday. It is at Mr. Farraday’s suggestion that Stevens, our narrator, first begins thinking about taking a short trip out into the English countryside, and to see Miss Kenton. Now Mrs. Benn she recently sent him a letter, hinting, Stevens thinks, at her unhappy marriage and her wish to return to service in Darlington Hall. On his journey Stevens reflects over his life and the changes he has seen.

24 June 2008
Books

Empire of Ivory by

Book 4 in the Temeraire series. ISBN: 9780007256747 See also: Other reviews ; Novik’s LJ “Send up another, damn you, send them all up, at once if you have to,” Laurence...

2 June 2008
Books

This Night’s Foul Work

Author: Fred Vargas
Trans: Sian Reynolds

As you may already know I’m a big fan of Fred Vargas’ work and while this one is a library copy I’ll be buying this when it comes out in the proper size. I can’t stand these trade publications versions. They make no sense to me. All the negatives of a hardback with none of the positives. But enough about that; on to the plot.

The most straight-forward way of describing this book is to say that it is a murder-mystery. But with characters like Adamsberg there is no such thing as a straight-forward case. So when he spots something a little “off” about the two bodies that have shown up he decides that this case his rather than giving them over to the Drugs Squad.

18 May 2008
Books

The Tooth Fairy by

Read for the Once Upon A Time Challenge See also: Author’s Site ; Scooter Chronicles ; SF site ; Tier 3000 I’ve read a few Graham Joyce books at this stage;...

11 May 2008
Books

The thistle and the rose by

ISBN: 9780099493259 Read with Historical Favorites See also: LibraryThing ; Literature Map ; Scandalous Women ; Susan Higginbotham In an apartment of that royal palace which recently, by the command of...

5 May 2008
Books

Christine Falls by

ISBN: 9780330445320 Book 1 in the Quirke series See also: MetaCritic ; Grumpy Old Bookman ; PopMatters ; She was glad it was the evening mailboat she was taking, for she...

15 April 2008
Books

The Separation by

ISBN: 9780575081154 See also: Grumpy Old Bookman ; Singling out the duplications ; Guardian Review ; Excessive Candour ; Sandstorm Reviews Jack and Joe are identical twins. Medal winners in the...

23 March 2008
Moving Pictures / Reviews

In Bruges dir. by

Ray and Ken are two Irish hit-men hiding out after a job. Hiding out in Bruges on orders from their boss, Harry. Ken is all set to relax and enjoy the medieval scenery and architecture. Visit the castles and churches. Harry says it is like fairy tale, coming in on the canal. Ray isn’t so sure of that, but when he comes upon a film shot he is much more interested.

18 March 2008
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