Non-New Book Review: March 2011

Saturday 26 March 2011

John Masters and his books

Have you heard of the film Bhowani Junction, made in 1956, starring Ava Gardner? The story was from a book by John Masters. There is a review of a biography of Masters by John Clay referred to on this blog http://www.bookride.com/search/label/biography. (Look for a piece dated June, 2007)

Masters' books were popular in the 1950s and 1960s which was when I read several of them. He wrote a series of 7 books dealing with one family through the period of the British rule in India:

Coromandel; The Deceivers; Nightrunners of Bengal; The Lotus and the Wind; Far,far the Mountain Peak; Bhowani Junction; To the Coral Strand

- a set of interesting titles. I still remember with dread the Thuggees who preyed on travellers in India, described in the second book. It is a strong warning against accepting help from seemingly sympathetic people when you are in unfamiliar areas.

In 1984-5 there was an 18-part serial based on this writer's stories on Radio 4.

For a full list of his books, and details of his life ....read

Contribute a review or two?

Why not write a review of a non-new book? I would welcome the chance to publish it on my blog.

The material should be your own, of course, and should not give away important details of the plot or include any promotional information from the book cover.

The circumstances in which you chose to read the book are interesting- so include such details if you wish. For example, I decided to read Fairness because it started with scenes in Deauville, Normandy - which I had visited.

Please give the publisher and the year of publication for clear identification, and add a mark out of ten to measure your enjoyment with ten as 'the perfect read' (Not so many in a lifetime; for an avid reader maybe one a year)

Send your review to:

halvenon@englishwordhelp.com

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More Novel Sentences

The first sentence of a book is supposed to be important in getting you to read it. Here are some first sentences:

The Horned Man by James Lasdun, 2002
One afternoon earlier this winter, in a moment of idle curiosity, I took a book from the shelf in my office, and began reading it where it fell open on a piece of compressed tissue that had evidently been used as a bookmark.

Lie in the Dark by Dan Fesperman, 1999
He began the day, as always, by counting the gravediggers out his window.

Stag Hunt by Anthony McGowan, 2004
The smiling one; the one who hurt; the shy one; the one who kissed; the one who cried.

On the Beach by Nevil Shute, 1958
Lieutenant-Commander Peter Holmes of the Royal Australian Navy awoke soon after dawn.

Novel Sentences.

Snow falling on Cedars by David Guterson, 1994.
"The accused man, Kabuo Miyamoto, sat proudly upright with a rigid grace, his palms softly on the defendant's table - the posture of a man who has detached himself in so far as that is possible at his own trial."

Chocolat by Joanne Harris, 1999
"(Feb 11th, Shrove Tuesday) WE CAME ON THE WIND OF THE CARNIVAL."

A Special Relationship by Douglas Kennedy, 2003
About an hour after I met Tony Hobbs, he saved my life.

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kinsolver, 2000
"Her body moved from the frankness that comes from solitary habits."

Patrick Robertson. A tale of adventure by Brian Hennigan, 2000. "I woke at seven thirty, naked, with my right foot wedged in the top corner of the refrigerated mini-bar."

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje, 1992
"She stands up in the garden where she has been working and looks into the distance."

Moving Pictures by Terry Pratchett, 1990
Watch.....// This is space.

An Instance of the Fingerpost by Iain Press, 1997
"Marco da Cola, gentleman of Venice, respectfully presents his greetings."