Zac and Jac is a great middle-grade emotive book for fans of football and who like books about newfound friendships alike.
Nine-year-old Jac sees his father as a hero, but when Jac joins a local football team with his best friend Zac, things start to get a bit weird at home. It’s not until a group of professional footballers come into school to talk about racism that Jac realises what his father’s problem could be. After a traumatic turn of events, Jac learns of the difficulties faced by Zac’s grandparents and the Windrush Generation and becomes determined to help to make a change in society, starting with his own family.
Review
Football plays such a big part of many people’s lives and books featuring it enthrals many children. This is where the book is clever as it mixes sport with issues as young people look up to footballers and those children who join local teams. It really highlights the Windrush Generation and the issue of racism.
It shows the gap between younger and older generations and how different people can be viewed. It’s quite a strong book like this, but the positive is that it shows Zac and Jac being of different skin colours being friends and how Jac wants to show that this is a lovely thing and there’s nothing to fear, it’s just friends with something in common at the end of the day.
I feel adults reading this to children will also see that people can come from somewhere different, have different skin colour even etc and still be friends.
In Search of Beethoven – A Personal Journey By John Suchet
Review By Louise (Lou)
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 5 out of 5.
This autumn/winter, music, journalistic skills and travel are in the air! It’s long been since known that John Suchet has a passion for Beethoven, you could now almost say the two go hand in hand. He’s written books about him before, but this time it’s personal. The reader can now follow in the footsteps of John’s life of discovery and love of Beethoven and how they intertwine in his personal and working life in this part memoir, part factual history, part travelogue as he and Nula Suchet travel around Germany and Vienna.
Blurb
From the bestselling author of Beethoven: The Man Revealed, In Search of Beethoven is John Suchet’s latest and most personal book dedicated to the life of this extraordinary composer. Part biography, part memoir, part travelogue, Suchet draws on his own life and career as a foreign correspondent and news anchor to show how Beethoven’s music has accompanied him through the best and worst of times. It was with him as a music-loving and adventurous teenager, as a journalist entering Beirut in the grip of civil war, and as he has continued to explore the old cities of Bonn and Vienna, in search of the man behind the music.
In this novel and compelling book, we see Beethoven brought vividly – and sometimes painfully – to life. Suchet traces Beethoven’s footsteps from his early years in Bonn to his dying days in Vienna, taking us on a journey both literal and symbolic, as he uses his own experience as a Beethoven aficionado to demonstrate the life-changing power of great music.
Review
From the first page, I am hooked into what is a heart-warming prologue, touching upon himself, Beethoven, his Bonnie, Nula Suchet and a project that her James had been working on…. Then readers are taken back in time to 1778, where Ludwig Van Beethoven commands your presence. Each chapter weaves times gone by and the present very well, between John’s footsteps of Beethoven’s life and how he became enthralled by it, where he travels to in Germany.
Beautifully, it truly has a personal feel as you get a bit of a sense of how Nula and John Suchet are when they travel together as well as getting a sense of Beethoven and his family and how they were together too. You get a sense of the geography of Rheingasse, then and now and what’s so important about the Fischer family in Beethoven’s life too.
Intelligently, this isn’t a total look at Beethoven in isolation, fascinatingly, there’s context placed, with other musicians such as Mozart and Haydn, affectionately known as “Papa Haydn”. There is also historical context in both their time and the times when John Suchet visited Germany and Vienna. This offers another dimension and depth to what’s being told, increasing knowledge and understanding, in a relatable way, creating a wider sphere, but with Beethoven naturally at the centre. It all adds to it being a fascinating read.
In Search of Beethoven is accessible. The mix of fact and the heart of the personal and travel side is a good balance. The text isn’t heavy, it pulls you into a bit of a deeper understanding and into a fascinating journey along the way into a book that reads like story-telling, but with everything being true.
I highly recommend you put on a bit of music and pick up this book. It has everything and it won’t disappoint.
One Of Us Is Dead is the latest Roy Grace book by Peter James and it’s another fabulous read, from the intriguing title to the masterful plotting inside… I nicely received this some time after it being organised by one of the Bloody Scotland organisers after watching him give a talk, which you can read about at the end of my book review in a link from a previous publication my review of it. Peter James also has a UK theatre tour of a play version of Picture You Dead, see more about this in my review from Bloody Scotland too. First, onto the book in hand, One Of Us Is Dead.
Blurb
Roy Grace is about to find out just how dangerous a dead man can be . . .
When James Taylor arrives late for a funeral, he has to stand at the back of the small church. But, as the service progresses, Taylor notices a man six rows in front of him. At first he thinks he must be mistaken, but the more he looks at the man, the more convinced Taylor becomes that this is his old schoolfriend Rufus Rorke.
Except it couldn’t be him, could it? Because two years ago Taylor attended Rufus Rorke’s funeral. He even delivered Rufus’s eulogy.
On the other side of Brighton, at Police HQ, Detective Superintendent Roy Grace has been alerted to a number of suspicious deaths that he can’t get out of his mind. But how are they linked? And could they possibly be connected to Rufus Rorke?
One Of Us Is Dead is the latest race-against-time instalment of the award-winning Grace series by Peter James, now a major ITV show starring John Simm.
Review
A dead man shouldn’t be dangerous, he’s dead, but this is different…
The mystery is a twisty one and is it a case of mistaken identity or a dopple-ganger or is there more to this than meets the eye when James Taylor, a pilot, attends a funeral and catches sight of someone bearing a rather similar look to his dead school-friend, Rufus Rourke?
These are the questions for DS Grace and his team to answer…
The killer is often a step-ahead, but it’s intriguing to see what the other characters do. We see this roll out from different perspectives, with deaths looking like a coincidence at first, but of course, we know differently, it being a crime fiction novel and all that.
The plot is slick and plays out rather more deviously than it first looks and reels and grips readers in bit by bit, as Peter James plays with the mastermind of the criminal and the reader adeptly and masterful, so those pages keep turning right to the end, with every word read.
This is a long running series I highly recommend, with every case being different from the last, with cleverly crafted plots and characters that make you want to discover more about the nefarious goings on in Brighton and Hove.
Peter James is a UK No.1 bestselling author, best known for his Detective Superintendent Roy Grace series, now a hit ITV drama starring John Simm as the troubled Brighton copper.
Much loved by crime and thriller fans for his fast-paced page-turners full of unexpected plot twists, sinister characters, and accurate portrayal of modern day policing, he has won over 40 awards for his work including the WHSmith Best Crime Author of All Time Award and Crime Writers’ Association Diamond Dagger. In 2024, it was announced that he is the creator of Her Majesty Queen Camilla’s favourite fictional detective.
To date, Peter has written an impressive total of 20 Sunday Times No. 1s, sold over 21 million copies worldwide and been translated into 38 languages. His books are also often adapted for the stage, with his six stage shows grossing over £17 million at the box office – the most recent being Wish You Were Dead.
Out on 12th November, A Backstage Betrayal would make a great pre-Christmas read or a gift for theatre and book lovers alike. For now, here is a sneak peek at what the second book by Michael Ball is all about. A proof copy has just arrived for me (19th November) to review from… I know, so exciting and I’m so lucky, so a full review will come soon. For now, check out the stunning cover and the blurb.
‘Full of glamour and intrigue. It slips down as easily as any cocktail.’ Fern Britton
ESCAPE TO THE EMPIRE THEATRE WITH THE NEW NOVEL FROM MUSICAL THEATRE LEGEND, MICHAEL BALL.
GLAMOUR. DECEIT. SECRETS. SCANDAL. THE THEATRE MAY SEEM GLAMOROUS, BUT SECRETS WAIT BEHIND THE CURTAIN.
1926. Running a theatre may appear to be all about the showbiz, but times are hard at The Empire. Following a turbulent period Jack Treadwell, erstwhile proprietor, his mother Lillian, and his playwright wife Grace, know they need to get things back on track – and how better than with the annual pantomime, a new venture, and an all-singing all-dancing talent contest, showcasing the best performers around.
But could Lillian’s new admirer, Grand Duke Nikolai Kuznetsov, be bringing disaster in his wake? Will The Empire be caught up in the scandal surrounding West End star, Stella Stanmore? And what are their enemies in Highbridge planning?
While Jack and Grace fight to ensure the show does go on, a royal visitor raises the stakes and a young widow, Sally Blow, dares to dream that the talent contest might be her big break.
As the talent contest draws closer, tragedy strikes. Amid the glitz and glamour there are strange goings on and a plot afoot. Is everything Jack and Grace have worked so hard for about to come crashing down? And could this be curtains for The Empire?
In this perfect Christmas gift for theatre lovers, Michael Ball transports readers to the roaring twenties as he works his magic in this second Empire Theatre novel.
How far will you take things? What would you do when all you want is to win? Dance to the Death is a Christmas murder mystery with style, sass with a bit of heart!
Blurb
It’s Christmas time in London and all is not calm…
After solving a series of murders at Blackpool Tower Ballroom, all Lily Richmond and Susie Cooper want is a peaceful Christmas. The last thing they expect is to find a dead body backstage at the Royal Albert Hall.
Even worse, the victim is one of Lily’s students, a trust fund debutante set to be the new star of the ballroom dancing world.
Lily and Susie set to investigating, but every clue throws up more questions, and around every corner lurk more suspects. And along the way, familiar faces on the dance scene will make themselves known – some that ought to stay in the past.
Will the unlikely duo manage to wrap up the case in time to enjoy the holiday with their loved ones? Or is there a greater danger behind the scenes than they could have imagined?
Review
The glittering cast list before the story begins shows sass and intrigue. It starts in a strong, need to read on, prologue at the Royal Albert Hall and shimmies to Dance Daily Live.
Hook-ability is quick (don’t care if that isn’t a word, I’m saying it). Plunged into the world of competitive dance with all its sequined glitz, a valuable necklace is stolen and there’s murder.
You can really dig deep into the cast to see what really goes on with your “backstage pass” that this book is like. There is friendship, foes, romance and interestingly, NDA’s. For a murder mystery, there is some heart to be found in it too.
The writing is brilliant and there are certain parts that are almost poetic.
So, I recommend getting your shiny shoes on and dance to the One Step Ahead championship as your fingers quick-step through the fast-paced book, with all eyes glued on the words that pop off the page.
(A Play, Pie and a Pint’s Party of The Century and Tortoise in a Nutshell’s Feral),
Directed by Jordan Blackwood
(A Play, Pie and a Pint’s The Scaff and Perth Theatre’s Antigone)
Review by Louise Cannon (Lou) Bookmarks and Stages
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4.5 out of 5.
Last night I had an entertaining night at the MacRobert Centre, Stirling, Scotland at family play, Treasure Island. Sail down further to see the synopsis, review, quotes and the all important tour dates of what’s left of it.
Photo by Mihaela Bodlovic
Synopsis
Local lad Robbie Stevenson prefers to hide away from the world inside the pages of his favourite book, Treasure Island. But with a little bit of imagination, the book comes to life, and he is thrust aboard. Robbie soon finds that you can’t stay hiding forever when he must learn to navigate his own course, and to discover the world is full of treasure, if you’re brave enough to look. Inspired by the classic tale by Robert Louis Stevenson.
Review
Ahoy Me Hearties!!! I dared to be whisked away on the seven seas in this new re-telling of Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, adapted for all the family from 5 years plus. There’s a great balance of entertainment for both adults and children alike. I took a look around the audience and people seemed enthralled and happy.
The audience were greeted with sea shanties filling the auditorium, which definitely set the scene perfectly well and gave a great atmosphere.
You’re placed inside Robbie’s imagination. He’s go the Biggest Imagination Ever!!!
He’s also had the Worst Day at School. EVER!!! It’s so relatable to children and adults alike. He just wants to curl up and disappear. He reckons he can’t possibly sing the song for the school play. So, he hunts through his books and finds Treasure Island and you see him act out scenes, before we are immersed onto the ship ourselves. It truly married up book, the escapism they give with stage too as soon, his bed becomes a ship and we meet familiar characters, most notably like Jim Hawkins, who as we are reminded, is the Strongest Boy Ever!, Bones, Captain Flint and the infamous, Long John Silver.
All the cast were strong, playing several parts, with my favourites being Long John Silver, the part was played superbly with just enough scariness for children and no more. It was pitched just right and acted strongly. The character of Jim Hawkins was played very well, going between anxious and playful states.
The mix of spoken word and song, in the form of sea shanties was fabulous fun and arranged very well.
There is mild trepidation, humour, swashbuckling sword fights and uplifting messages about the power of stories and imagination, that it’s okay to be scared and more, throughout.
And what do the black spot and tattoos mean? Can he find the treasure? What happens to Robbie? You’d have to go and see it to find out.
It may not all be completely the original story, but is certainly inspired by it and is still recognisable as being Treasure Island, so a worthy adaptation. I felt that it hopes that maybe one day children will read the novel and escape with their own imaginations into the full story too, like Robbie does.
It’s a great night out for all the family and I urge you to go and then have your own pirate adventures on the high seas of play and bookish imagination.
Quote from the writer:
“I am delighted that audiences across the length and breadth of Scotland will have the chance to take to the seas and share in the adventure. I always wanted to adapt Treasure Island and I am over the moon to be working with such an incredible team to bring this magical story to life in a unique adaptation. I hope this show inspires people young and old to show that with a bit of bravery and a dash of imagination treasure can be found anywhere.”
Writer, Ross MacKay
Quote from the director:
“Our Treasure Island centres around a young boy who has locked himself in his room and goes on a journey to discover what bravery means for him. In this version of the show, everything you see on stage could be found in his bedroom. We would love to inspire children to go home and create their own adventures in the bedrooms, this show reminding audiences you’re never too old to use your imagination.”
Director, Jordan Blackwood
Tour Listing:
Places it is still touring are:
Tuesday 15 Oct 2024, 6pm – Festival Theatre Studio, Edinburgh
Thursday 17 Oct 2024, 2:30pm – Lemon Tree Theatre, Aberdeen
Bookmarks and Stages by Lou 