Monthly Archives: August 2013

The Disgrace of Kitty Grey by Mary Hooper

Posted on 27 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Published by Bloomsbury ISBN: 9781408829813 http://www.hive.co.uk/ebook/disgrace-of-kitty-grey/17312047/ REVIEW: ESTHER WADE Set in 1813 England, The Disgrace of Kitty Grey is a novel about a young dairymaid whose life turns into a complicated turn of events. Kitty is enjoying life when Will, … Continue reading →

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Perfect by Rachel Joyce

Posted on 26 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Published by Transworld Publishers ISBN: 9780857520661 http://www.hive.co.uk/book/perfect/17409402/ REVIEW: SARAH MCGHEE Perfect is Rachel Joyce’s second novel after her hugely successful No.1 Sunday Times Bestseller The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry. In this novel, Joyce poses challenging questions we all have … Continue reading →

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Dead Water by Ann Cleeves

Posted on 26 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Published by Macmillan ISBN: 978-0-230-76017-2 http://www.hive.co.uk/book/dead-water/16613924/ REVIEW: MATILDA NEILL Dead Water is the latest crime thriller by Ann Cleves (Vera) and tells the story of a higgledy-piggledy bunch of police detectives, trying to solve the mystery of murder in the … Continue reading →

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Great Things #6: Wallander

Posted on 25 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

WORDS: ESTHER WADE Settling down in front of the box, this show can make a summer’s day feel as cold as a winter’s day. Some of you may know what I’m talking about. What I’m talking about is the Swedish … Continue reading →

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Barbarossa: Bloodlines

Posted on 25 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Memphis Industries Available Now REVIEW: George aird So often are singer songwriters shunned for their predictability and ease of trade, left despondent and hesitant in releasing their music upon the world. Successful tradesmen in this field are few and far … Continue reading →

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Great Things #5: Dickinson’s Real Deal

Posted on 24 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

WORDS: HENRI PEARSON Ask anyone what TV they enjoy and they’ll likely rattle off the list of television super-giants that run constantly like The Simpsons or Friends or (more recently) The Big Bang Theory – or, indeed, any other high-budget … Continue reading →

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Waiting for Sunrise by William Boyd

Posted on 24 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Published by Bloomsbury Publishing PLC ISBN:  9781408830390 http://www.hive.co.uk/book/waiting-for-sunrise/16392871/ REVIEW: RACHEL PATTERSON William Boyd’s eighteenth novel Waiting for Sunrise is mostly a showcase of an author who has become an expert at crafting spy fiction with realistic but innovative characters and … Continue reading →

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Lulu James

Posted on 23 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

O2 Academy, Newcastle 9 August 2013 http://lulujames.com/ REVIEW: MATILDA NEILL Lulu James was born in Tanzania at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro and grew up in South Shields, so we find out from the crackling voice over that brings her … Continue reading →

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Kiran Leonard: Bowler Hat Soup

Posted on 23 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Hand Of Glory Released 26 August 2013 http://kiranleonard.bandcamp.com/album/bowler-hat-soup REVIEW: Sara Kamouni Like a musical pick ‘n mix from the corner shop, Bowler Hat Soup, the debut release from seventeen year old Mancunian Kiran Leonard, is pleasant enough but notably undecided. … Continue reading →

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Anthem for Jackson Dawes by Celia Bryce

Posted on 22 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Published by Bloomsbury ISBN: 978-1-4088-2711-6 http://www.hive.co.uk/book/anthem-for-jackson-dawes/16646887/ REVIEW: SARAH MCGHEE Celia Bryce’s debut novel, Anthem for Jackson Dawes, tells the story of Megan Bright, a 13-year-old girl who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. After being admitted into hospital she finds … Continue reading →

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Five Star Billionaire by Tash Aw

Posted on 22 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Published by Harper Collins ISBN: 9780007494170 http://www.hive.co.uk/ebook/five-star-billionaire/17237279/ REVIEW: sophie STELLA “Shanghai is a beautiful place, but it is also a harsh place. Life here is not really life, it is a competition.” Five Star Billionaire by Tash Aw is set … Continue reading →

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Soul Storm by Kate Harrison

Posted on 21 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Published by Indigo Books ISBN: 178062025X http://www.hive.co.uk/ebook/soul-storm/17828742/ REVIEW: SARAH GONNET Fictional teenagers have been solving crimes since Enid Blyton’s Famous Five. With certain trends and similarities across teenage detective fiction, it’s not surprising that some characters of this genre mould into … Continue reading →

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San Miguel by T.C.Boyle

Posted on 21 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Published by Bloomsbury ISBN: 0670026247 Buy the Book REVIEW: SARAH McGHEE Tom Coraghessan Boyle (aka T.C. Boyle) has published 14 novels and over 100 short stories, many of which explore the ruthlessness and the unpredictability of nature and the toll human … Continue reading →

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Jackson Scott: Melbourne

Posted on 20 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Fat Possum Released: 9 September 2013 REVIEW: GEORGE AIRD Who is Jackson Scott? Until very recently searching for that answer would leave you in scarce surroundings. As with an increasing amount of artists, Scott just appeared – a formula of … Continue reading →

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Hookworms: Pearl Mystic

Posted on 20 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Gringo Records AVAILABLE NOW REVIEW: JACK BLENKINSOPP Hookworms’ five members prefer to be known simply by their initials (lead singer is known only as MJ). This is a perfect illustration of why I find this kind of dense, reverb-up-to-eleven psychedelic … Continue reading →

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Stockton Weekender

Posted on 19 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

27-28 July 2013 http://www.stocktonweekender.co.uk REVIEW: NASIM ASL Throughout the last weekend in July, Stockton played host, once again, to the bustling Stockton Weekender. This festival has been running under its current name since 2011 – before this it was a … Continue reading →

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Kendal Calling

Posted on 19 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

Lowther Deer Park, Lake District 26- 28 July 2013 http://www.kendalcalling.co.uk/ REVIEW: HANNAH GRENCIS Kendal Calling is an independent music festival in the Lake District, and as soon as I arrive I have high hopes for it. The weather couldn’t be … Continue reading →

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Conversations Not Fit for the American Dinner Table

Posted on 18 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

ARC Stockton http://www.tonguetiedtheatre.co.uk/productions/conversations.html REVIEW: ALEX SIKKINK America often proves to be the dominating force in our culture; we’ve adopted the bulk of their franchises; become obsessed with their TV; and are just as invested in their elections as they are. … Continue reading →

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Great Things #4: Dan Bull

Posted on 17 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

http://itsdanbull.com REVIEW: Vinny McHugh Dan Bull writes raps about digital rights, free speech, autism and animal welfare. But mostly he pens lyrical love letters to video games. They really are quite awesome – in the original sense of the word … Continue reading →

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Cuckoo Playlist: OK Go

Posted on 17 August 2013 by Laura Brewis

PLAYLIST: LEWIS BROWN Now, if there’s anything I like (almost) as much as a good song, it’s a good music video. There’s something about setting even the most everyday of actions to music that can make them come alive, in … Continue reading →

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