Phoenix Squadron - technical overload!

Phoenix Squadron, by Rowland White is the true story of how a squadron of Buccaneer fighter bombers set off on an unprecedented long-range mission to combat the threat of invasion to British Honduras. This tiny outpost on the other side of the Atlantic, had been a source of tension in the region for some time, but things came to a head towards the end of 1971 and early 1972, when US-trained Guatemalan paratroops began building their numbers on the border for what looked like a serious attempt to claim British Honduras for themselves. The only possible deterrent Britain could offer was HMS Ark Royal, its once dominant aircraft carrier that was, at the time, on the verge of being scrapped. And so began a high-speed dash across 1,500 miles of ocean to get them to a point where they could launch two Buccaneers that would fly over Honduras and show everyone in the region that Honduras was protected. The launch point was on the very edge of what was possible and involved inflight refuelling, both there and back. If the rendezvous points were missed or delayed in any way, the bombers would not have made it back. Full of incredible detail about the people involved, as well as the planes and ships involved, this is a testament to the skill, bravery and sheer bloody mindedness of an elite squadron who, in January 1972, were tasked with the impossible ... or so it seemed. I admire the research and work that has gone into this book, with much of the content taken from first hand accounts, and I also applaud the tenacity of the squadron who pulled this mission off. However, partly due to the technical nature of the detail, I found myself getting bogged down at times and a little confused by the number of people involved, particularly in the first half of the book. However, once the mission got underway and the tension began to rise, I became much more engaged. So, for me, a book of two halves. If you really like the technical stuff, I can heartily recommend this book to you.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 524 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE, borrowed from my brother-in-law.
Formats available: Print, ebook.

Giovanni's Room - deflating

Giovanni's Room, by James Baldwin is a book chosen from the February suggested reading list in my Literary Diary. The theme for this month has been love, and I picked this title as it is reported to be an American Classic. David, the narrator, is an American living in 1950s Paris who, after his girlfriend Hella goes to Spain to think things through, comes across a charismatic barman in a gay bar. David is captivated by the handsome Giovanni and, despite trying to deny it to himself, falls completely in love with him. It's almost like David feels free of the burden of trying to hide who he really is for the first time, and his eyes are opened to the possibilities of living with a man (which he could not do back in the USA at that time). Money is tight, David is relying on his father to send him money, and Giovanni's job relies heavily on tips. David moves into Giovanni's tiny room and, at first, this seems heavenly, but Giovanni's love is so intense that David finds it hard to cope with. It's almost too much, too soon. He is still conflicted about who he is and fears the reality beyond the fantasy imbued by the first bloom of love. He keeps saying that they will be together only until his girlfriend returns, almost as if he is preparing an escape route. Finally, when Hella does return, he goes back to her, saying nothing of his time with Giovanni. Desperate to become the person he thinks he should be, he asks her to marry him, and they start planning to move back to America. But Giovanni takes this rejection very hard and spirals into malaise. In this vulnerable state, he falls victim to his old boss from the bar who has designs upon him, and in the course of their interaction, Giovanni murders him. There is a lot to admire about this book, particularly considering the period of time in which it is written.  However, for me, the main characters didn't quite ring true. Everything felt superficial and the inner conflict of David, which is central to the book, didn't go deep enough. I wasn't even sure that I particularly liked either David or Giovanni, so I wasn't really rooting for them. I also found the ending unsatisfactory - but I suppose it could be argued that love and life can be like that! This is a much admired work and, understanding more about the author and the time of writing, I get that. But the story didn't quite resonate for me in the way I had hoped.

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 160 print pages.
Price I paid: FREE, borrowed from library as an ebook.
Formats available: Print, MP3CD, ebook.

A Rare Book of Cunning Device - short, but sweet

A Rare Book of Cunning Device by Ben Aaronovitch is part of the Rivers of London series. It's a short story/novella, exclusive to Audible. Short, but sweet at only 30 minutes long, I used it as a filler to keep me going until I can obtain the next book in the series. When things start moving for no apparent reason in the basement of the British Library, PC Peter Grant is called in to investigate. The original suspect is a poltergeist, but Peter soon quashes that idea ... but there is, indeed something unexplained going on. He calls in his colleague, Postmartin, as well as Toby the dog - not just to annoy the chief librarian but to use his super senses for all things magical. As the night unfolds, the cause of the disturbance is discovered and it's not what you might expect. Light of touch and full of the usual humour, this is an entertaining offshoot to the series that will help you while away half an hour. Definitely one for fans of the series or, if you are an Audible member, why not download it for free and try it on for size ... you never know, you might be drawn into the world of magic and mayhem that is the Rivers of London series. Wonderfully narrated, as ever, by Kobna Holbrook-Smith.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Length: 30 minutes.
Price I paid: FREE.
Formats available: Audio download.

Nicholas Nickleby - epic, but entertaining!

Nicholas Nickleby is a young man who, at the age of 19, has just lost his father and, together with his mother and Kate, his sister, find themselves in need of financial assistance. They seek help from his Uncle Ralph, an unpleasant, miserly London businessman who has no feelings for his new "family". He packs Nicholas off to Yorkshire to tutor in a terrible school run by a tyrannical headmaster called Squeers. Meanwhile, Kate has to find work to make ends meet and support her mother, and Ralph takes the opportunity to use his niece in order to amuse some of his clients who have less than honourable intentions. Meanwhile, Nicholas befriends the much bullied Smike and rebels against Squeers, fleeing the school and taking his new friend with him. They end up joining a theatrical group for a while before finally heading back to London, where he finds work and falls in love (from afar). Ralph's hate for Nicholas grows and grows and the stage is set for much drama, tragedy, comedy and romance - not necessarily in that order. There are, as usual with Mr Dickens, a huge number of characters, which can get a little overwhelming at times, but they each play their part in bringing together a story that rolls along and where you are cheering for the goodies, and booing the baddies. Epic it may be, but Nicholas Nickleby, by Charles Dickens is a great example of his work. It's full of vitality and heart, and is peppered with statements on the state of society at the time of writing (some of which, sadly, still hold true for today). I chose to read an audio edition, narrated by the fabulous Kobna Holbrook-Smith, who really brought the work to life, especially in some of the off-topic passages which Dickens seems to delight in adding - it may just be me, but I sometimes find these sections a little tedious and don't always bring a lot to the story.

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.
Length: 800 print pages.
Price I paid: free offer from Audible (if a member).

The Little Book of Hygge - comforting

I have heard about the Danish phenomenon of "hygge" for many years (thank you Sandi Toksvig), but haven't delved too closely into it. So, when The Little Book of Hygge (subtitled The Danish Way To Live Well), by Meik Viking appeared on the January list in my Bibliophile Diary, I decided to select it. Written by the CEO of the Happiness Research Institute in Copenhagen, this book tries to describe what hygge is all about and why we might all benefit from incorporating its elements into our lives. I mean, if it's good enough for the Danes, who are one of the happiest nations in the world, then surely it's worth taking notice of? Hygge is a feeling, a cosiness or comfortable state of being, usually in the company of good friends or family. It's about letting yourself be soothed and relaxed, and at ease with your surroundings. Things to help you reach this state are candles (plenty of them), an open fire, a comfy sofa, a warm drink and maybe a stew (the making of and the eating of), or maybe sitting in a cushioned nook under a snuggly blanket, reading your favourite book. Filled with lovely photographs and illustrations, plus the odd recipe, this is a gentle meander into the hearts and minds of the Danish people. It definitely slowed me down while reading it. Not a taxing read and, at times, a little repetitive (candles, yes, we get it) this is still an antidote for the dark days of winter, and perhaps, with the state of the world today, maybe we could all use a bit more hygge!

My STAR rating: THREE.

Length: 288 print pages.
Formats available: print; audio download; ebook.
Price I paid: free from library as an ebook.

War of the Wolf - smashed it!

Partly due to a nasty virus that laid me low over the Christmas period, I felt in need of some TLC and treated myself to one of my favourite authors ... Bernard Cornwell, and so I reached out for the 11th instalment in The Last Kingdom series. War of the Wolf sees Lord Uhtred, now having reached the grand age of 60, looking forward to enjoying life after winning back his ancestral home at Bebbanberg. But with enemies on all sides - some old and some new - the chances of a quiet time with the family are very slim indeed. When Uhtred is called to come to the aid of the beseiged Lord Aethelstan, he has no choice but to stick to his old oath of protecting him - but when he discovers that Aethelstan wasn't in any real danger, it becomes clear that this was a mere ruse to get him away from Bebbanberg and out into the open. And as if the politics of the Saxons who surround the ailing King Edward aren't enough, Uhtred has a new Viking foe to face, led by a formidable leader who has already killed his beloved daughter. Uhtred may have lost some of his strength and speed, but it is always dangerous to underestimate someone whose cunning and courage have never waned. This is a cracking story and I raced through it at a great rate of knots. Yes, after the 11th outing for Uhtred, the story arc may feel a little familiar, but that's almost part of the charm. When you can't face anything too heavy, and you need a bit of escapism, it's a comfort to know that there's an author out there who never fails to deliver ... as long as you don't mind a bit of gore!

My STAR rating: FOUR.

Formats available: print; unabridged audio download; audio CD; ebook.
Length: 352 print pages.
Price I paid: free, borrowed from library.

How is it already 2020?

Happy New Year to one and all.

I, for one, am glad to see the back of 2019 which was not my (or indeed the world's) best year by a long chalk. My challenge over the last 12 months was to reduce the pile of unread books that have been sitting on shelves and under beds for some time, and while I have got through a few, there are still several year's worth of stories still waiting for me. So, this year, I will continue to work my way through them, but also, as an additional challenge, I'll select a book from the lists compiled at the start of each month in my new Bibliophile Diary (thank you hubby). I am hoping that this will open up new topics and authors that I may not otherwise have discovered.

So, here we go ...