Work for Idle Hands

When I saw Sherlock Holmes was playing in Regents Park this summer, I thought to book it with like-minded friends who are also fans. It turned out out be an excellent production - a thoughtful and intelligent combination of The Sign of the Four and The Adventure of the Bruce-Partington Plans from which Joel Horwood has crafted a completely different narrative, albeit with rather strong though arguably fair anti-Empire leanings! The play is directed by Sean Holmes, with Joshua James as Sherlock Holmes, and Jyuddah Jaymes as Watson.
"London, 1890, a city rapidly expanding, devouring all in its path. Fresh off the success of his first big case, Sherlock Holmes misuses his time, until an unknown woman and a mysterious jewel arrive at 221b Baker Street".

[Unfortunately I seem to have (yet again) chosen a day of tube strikes, and the only day for weeks with forecast thundery showers! In the event, the weather was amazingly obliging, and although we took a carefully planned route into London and used the buses, we found that many tube lines were still running, so we were able to take a fairly conventional route home.]

Posted by Christina at 8:02 pm | Category: Art and Culture, Days Out | Permalink

• The Drowning Place by Sarah Hilary [read by Simon Lawson]
  When we went to Woking library to see Abir Mukherjee in conversation with Sarah Hilary, I felt I ought to do my bit for the publishers and actually read the book Sarah was there to promote. (Not to mention Abir's Hunted, which is still waiting patiently on my "to be read" pile.)
  This is Sarah's latest novel, the first in a new series set in the Peak District and featuring the enigmatic DS Joe Ashe. I have to say, I found it an excellent read - ghosts notwithstanding. It's a first-rate police procedural as well as a gripping mystery, populated by wonderfully drawn characters who leave you wanting to know much more about them.
  As for the ghosts... you'll have to read the book to find out.


• The Franchise Affair by Josephine Tey [Read by Karen Cass]
  A young girl - a picture of innocence - claims to have been kidnapped, imprisoned, beaten, and kept as a "slave" by a spinster and her elderly mother, turning their quiet, somewhat reclusive lives upside down. The usual small-town prejudices quickly surface against the women, who are viewed as slightly odd outsiders. And however implausible the story may seem, the girl is so very young and pretty - why would she invent such a tale?
  The story is soon seized upon by the newspapers (I notice that Tey really does seem to have a particular dislike of tabloid journalism), and in the face of the photogenic young accuser, the two women are utterly condemned in the court of public opinion.
  The protagonist of the novel is actually the country solicitor Robert Blair, with Alan Grant appearing only as a peripheral character representing Scotland Yard. It is Blair whose sympathies are so deeply engaged by the plight of the two women that he goes to extraordinary lengths to unravel the mystery and prove the girl's story to be a lie.
  The finale takes place in the courtroom - very Perry Mason...
  [Published in 1948, the novel was inspired by real-life events from the eighteenth century.]
  Note that: I purchased one audiobook - referenced above - containing all six Alan Grant novels by Tey.


• Ironwood by Michael Connelly [Read by Will Damron]
  By some administrative error, I seem to have read the second Catalina novel before reading the first. However, as Connelly is an experienced writer, I never felt that the plot of book one was being spoiled during book two. In fact, the story worked so well as a standalone novel that I did not even realise there had been a previous instalment until afterwards.
  As usual, it is well written and full of action and suspense, despite Catalina being portrayed as a quiet backwater island where people — including our protagonist, Detective Sergeant Stilwell — are sent to see out the twilight of their careers (or perhaps not...).
  There are two entirely separate narrative threads: a police conspiracy centred on “a drugs bust gone wrong” on the island, and a serial killer/cold case investigation that brings Renee Ballard into the story.
  

Posted by Christina at 8:55 am | Category: Art and Culture, Books of the Month | Permalink

Alison came to talk at the Dorking group today and I have to say I've seldom heard such an inspiring life story. Not so much that I am inspired to follow in her footsteps - we are much the same age - but so inspired by her capacity for living. I can't set out all that she told us but starting with a teenage career in as a hairdresser, and, despite severe dyslexia (later in life diagnosed as dyspraxia) she went on to raise a family and, as a mature student, complete a textile degree at West Dean college.
She was apparently know as "the pinny lady" after some of her earliest work - but her scope is much beyond that now - and quite wonderful.

Posted by Christina at 5:00 pm | Category: Crafts, Quilting | Permalink