Book reviews and a break
I am taking a few days off from the blog now and will be back either at the end of next week, or the week after. I’ll leave you with some random Symi photos, some recent reviews of a couple of books, and links, in case you know anyone who might fancy one, and also a link to Adriana’s Symi Diary in case you want to keep in touch with what’s happening on Symi while I am not here. I am here, I just shan’t be here, if you see what I mean. Back soon!
Symi 85600
I loved this honest and highly amusing account of leaving it all behind and heading to a Greek island. James has a brilliant command of the English language and makes it altogether much more fun than English language ever was at school! If I was to follow in James and Neil’s footsteps then this is the book I would tuck under my arm and head to Greece with. I cannot wait to read it again.
A must read if you’ve ever thought of moving away from it all and starting afresh. James writes accurately about the trials and tribulations of living on a small, beautiful Greek island with humour in such a way that not only can you not help but fall in love with the island AND James but makes you wish you could do it too despite knowing the pitfalls that go with it.
Also by James and his partner Neil Gosling, ‘Carry on Up the Kali Strata’, further tales of life on a small island.
Look out for James’ fictional story, Jason and the Sargonauts, a laugh a minute.
The Judas Inheritance
It was with some trepidation that I started this book as I know James Collins and enjoy reading his whimsical and slightly caustic blog about Symi and also his other lighter read Jason and that Sargonauts. I need not have worried. The writing relies on your imagination to picture the ‘evil’ and is a fine piece of psychological fear writing rather than the currently more popular slasher type.
James manages to skilfully alternate between a first person and a third person narrative, no mean feat in itself, and the final third of the book is a page turner reminiscent of Stephen King at his best with a final twist on the ferry home which I did not see coming.
Remotely
If you agree with Robert Frost that God seems to have a keen sense of humour, you will love this comic novel of showbiz ambition and intrigue sparked by the arrival of a Reality TV show in a small homophobic community. James Collins has an unerring eye for the absurd and the grotesque and Romney Marsh appears to be a cornucopia of both.
There is more than one laugh on every page, so be prepared for helpless giggles wherever and whenever you read it.
I was expecting a thigh – slapping, giggle a minute farce in a similar vain to James’ ‘Jason and the Sarganauts’. Instead, it was a very humourous but thought provoking story of how humans deal with the reality of being in another person’s shoes. This isn’t just a gay romp, it’s also about why the straight guy is such an angry young man, the intricacies of his relationships with those around him and coming to terms with his families secrets.
James has done a wonderful job of making the reader both laugh at and think about what makes us tick.
Thank you to everyone who takes the trouble to write reviews of books, it really does help us out.
Here’s the link to Adriana’s Symi diary. And a few more photos. Have fun!
