Book Review: 'Left of the Bang', By Claire Lowdon

Published in 2015, ‘Left of the Bang’ is a contemporary novel about the lives of young adults living in London. Told in third person narration, the story focuses on Tamsin and her relationship with her boyfriend Callum. Surrounding this central relationship is a series of sub-plots that provides a thorough look at the complexities of a generation. Big themes are tackled in this book: sexuality, adultery, modern family life, war in a contemporary setting.

 

Tamsin is not the most likeable character, in fact she’s quite unlikeable; what keeps you hooked is the rawness of the writing. There is no censorship to what these characters say and do, and it is refreshing to see such an extremely honest portrayal, for better or for worse.

Left of the bang is a military term that describes the lead-up to an explosion. This idea is reminiscent in the novel as events slowly reveal themselves and reveal what is to come.

Reserve a copy here.

Book Review - Why Mindfulness is better than Chocolate : Your guide to inner peace, enhanced focus and deep happiness By David Michie

Why mindfulness is better than chocolate : Your guide to inner peace, enhanced focus and deep happiness explains the benefits of meditation and mindfulness. The benefits include-

• Reduced stress
• Lowers high blood pressure
• Boosted immunity
• Reduces health costs
• Helps manage chronic pain
• Reduces mortality
• Helps people suffering from chronic inflammatory conditions
• Helps manage and prevent anxiety
• Promotes good help
• Increases self compassion
• Helps you break bad habits

With all these benefits David Michie uses Buddhist teachings and contemporary science to discuss and explain a number of related topics in detail.

"David Michie demonstrates the knack for capturing the essence of this important topic and presenting it in a fun and accessible way." Dr Timothy Sharp, The Happiness Institute.

A very insightful and informative read. Anne

True Blood comes to Camden Library Service

We have recently acquired all 9 books in the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris - and we plan to get the next one when it is published next year. These books were the basis of the TV series True Blood and are in the current contemporary vampire genre. Find out more from wikipedia or the author's website. Several reservations have already been placed - get in early to get your next vampire fix!
Wendy

"politics isn't rocket science"

This DVD is an English series of 6 episodes (a double DVD) on The Amazing Mrs Pritchard who, in disgust at the antics of her local candidates in a national election, decides to stand herself because politics isn't rocket science. Her knowledge of people helps her connect, her timing is right for people who are tired of professional politicians but as you may expect, she and her family are catapulted into situations she has not anticipated. A funny, serious, moving and interesting look at the pitfalls and pleasures of power and family life. Many of Britain's finest actors contribute to the strength of this series.

Wendy

From Little Britain to fiction

David Walliams is best known as one of the creators of the Little Britain TV series. This first novel is an exploration of "The Boy in the Dress" and seeks to explain a boy's journey into cross dressing. Beautifully illustrated by Quentin Blake, the boy in question comes to an understanding with his class mates at school and with his father. He is helped by being one of the school's best soccer players and is needed for a crucial game. I can't help wondering if a boy without a sought-after talent would have fared quite as well. More fable than gritty but an enjoyable read nonetheless. Walliams has a light and sure touch and hopefully will write more.

Wendy

All marriages have their own secrets.....

A thought provoking read as a man re-discovers his life after his wife dies suddenly in The Marriage Club by Kate Legge. Each person in their circle of friends starts to wonder how much they each know of their friends and of their own marriages. The Age writes " Legge's compassionate intelligence informs a graceful and deeply felt novel that will arrive as a welcome breathing lesson in many lives. Satisfying and interesting.
Wendy

Songs Without Words

This latest book from Ann Packer is another gem about contemporary family life. You may have read her earlier novel 'The Dive from Clausen's Pier' and marvelled at her ability to get inside each character's head and tell events from different perspectives. Her lucid prose and telling descriptions are evident in this new book. Little touches like her description of a minor character, a real estate agent showing a house....."never a hair out of place. Today she stood at the dining room table with her smoked salmon and her flyers, in a tobacco-brown blazer over a high-collared gold silk blouse that was like a display stand for her impeccably made-up face."

Two friends, Sarabeth and Liz, their places in their relationship set by their shared history and separate choices. When Sarabeth was in high school, her mother committed suicide and Sarabeth lived with Liz's family. Liz has, by choice, devoted her life to her family - husband David and two children and has a routine of home making, yoga, and voluntary work; Sarabeth works part-time at a variety of 'arty' jobs and has had a long term unsatisfactory affair with a married man.

David on Sarabeth"...she's going to a gamelan concert tonight..you know those Indonesian chimes and gongs...Sarabeth was always doing something a little hipper than he and Liz would do on their own, and every third or fourth time, Liz would get a bee in her bonnet and they'd end up in some warehouse in Alameda , watching naked people write on each other or something. On the plus side, it gave him great stories for work."

Sarabeth and Liz don't quite realize that underneath their friendship, they regard each other's lives with 'scorn and envy' until a trauma in Liz's family is the catalyst for a re-assessment of their lives and relationships.
Wendy

The Race

In 'The Race', Richard North Patterson poses the question 'Can an honest man become president?' but as previous readers of his contemporary political novels will know, it's never that simple. Patterson brings the ambition and drama of a brutal political contest to life with the assurance of a person with inside knowledge of Washington power games. If you liked this one, why not try one of his earlier novels from our Fiction General collection.
Wendy