The Rebel Poetess

The Children Act, Jonathan Cape, 2014 Fiona is a high court judge, dealing with matters of family law.  She is businesslike, brisk, yet compassionate.  Beyond the professional successes, Fiona is childless and her marriage is in crisis. Fiona is summoned in a pressing case, Adam a beautiful seventeen year old boy with leukemia is refusing medical treatment which could save his life, under grounds of religion – he is a Jehovah’s Witness.  In order to gain a better understanding of the case, Fiona goes to visit Adam in hospital, and their encounter touches both their lives in ways they could never have imagined. The main crux of the novel follows their encounter and how Fiona’s decision impacts on both of their lives.  Beautifully written and succinct, with not a word wasted, the reader can see why Ian McEwan is such a well-respected and revered writer.  Thought provoking and powerful.

I was going to write this week about going to see Hollie McNish*preview -AMAZING* but I decided to write today about superheroes, following the passing away of Stan Lee. I have always been drawn to Superhero films.  Spiderman has always been one of my favourites.  I think because as a kid growing up I was often ill.  I was smaller than other children my age. I couldn't reach the same levels in sport my classmates could.  I stood out. But superheroes taught me that standing out didn't have to be a bad thing.  You could be geeky and wear glasses, and in a swish of a cape and removal of glasses unleash superpowers. I have also always been obsessed with Superman, still got a pretty major crush on Dean Cain TBH-he's still got it!  I will have to post my Superman poem at some point.  I think the other side to my superhero obsession was the idea that you didn't have to fit in one box.  You could be a writer at The Daily Planet in the daytime, and save the world at a mome

Ketchup Clouds, Annabel Pitcher, Orion 2012 Teenager Zoe writes letters to a man on death row, a man who killed his wife, someone you would expect her to have little in common with.   The truth is, Zoe knows more about love, and death, than most people would give her credit for.   Ketchup Clouds is the outpouring of her deepest darkest secret. Zoe meets Aaron at a party and there is an instant connection but, blurred by alcohol and a mass of bodies surrounding them, they lose each other.   She finds herself with Max, the most popular boy at school.   Before she can realize the connection between Aaron and Max, she has become Max’s girlfriend. Although she has what every girl at school wants – to be the girlfriend of the coolest boy there, Zoe can’t help the tug of her heart strings pulling her away from Max and towards Aaron.   From what she has seen Aaron has a girlfriend too, and telling him how she feels isn’t an option. Throughout the book is threaded the feelin

As you may know, this year I moved three times in six months.   Moving in itself is stressful enough, when you're going through the trauma of the break up of   a ten year relationship, and major health issues- well to use a cliché the straw that breaks the camel's back. With all three moves, I had very little time to prepare.   In a weird way, this was the best approach for me.   When you have anxiety, the slightest thing can cause your heart rate to rocket.   An invitation to a party, giving a presentation at work, even a car backfiring can make you leap out of your skin. The first move was...for a writer I'm lost for words.   Chaotic.   I had made the decision to move but only had three hours to pack up what was most precious to me, and run for the hills, metaphorically speaking.   The second was super easy and practically stress free. The third move, however, has been extremely stressful.   I didn't move very far, but I have had to change Drs practices,

Into the Darkest Corner, Elizabeth Haynes, Myriad Editions, 2011 Elizabeth Haynes is a police intelligence analyst and we can only imagine how much of the detail she has put into the novel that is based on fact.  The book was created as part of NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) and is Haynes first novel.  It was featured on More4’s TV Book Club in 2012 where it sparked a lively debate. Into the Darkest Corner tells the tale of an abusive relationship.  Catherine has been enjoying single life as much as the next person, relishing the freedom being unattached brings her.  All of this changes when she meets Lee.  A chance encounter leads to something more, while at first she enjoys the highs such a passionate pairing can bring, it soon becomes clear that in this case such highs bring crippling lows.  For Lee is not the nice guy he charms Catherine’s friends into thinking he is.  By the time she finally realises the lengths he will go to keep her, it is too late to stop the

I don't remember where I was when Elvis Presley was found dead(on the toilet of all places. ) I don't remember where I was when Neil Armstrong walked on the Moon.   I don't remember where I was when John Lennon was shot dead. Because I'm a child of the 80s.   I wasn't alive when those major news stories broke.   But I can tell you I was 15 my Mum woke me up after getting in from her Night Shift to tell me Princess Diana had died in a tragic RTA in Paris. Tony Blair was all over the news that day, the TV coverage showing crowds laying flowers at Westminster Palace. My Auntie actually went there to lay flowers. I can tell you when 9/11 happened I was living in Liverpool, in the Kensington area, in a three way student house share, one of the girls I was sharing with came into one of our rooms clutching the Liverpool Echo, the now iconic image of the Twin Towers ablaze silenced our idle chatter, and chilled us to the bone. I can tell you when Grenfell