The Herald - The Herald Magazine
Truths rarely acknowledged
work like all the best non-fiction: you follow the writer on a journey into an unknown world populated by fascinating characters.
Great non-fiction is full of colour and reportage, sugaring the pill of material that might otherwise seem intimidating. It’s the old Reithian trick of entertaining while educating.
I wanted Ageless to take me into a
JIMMY BROWN’S ADVENTURES IN TIME & SPACE
Tom Hollinshead
Austin Macauley Publishers, £8.99
What is the book about?
A young boy called Jimmy Brown received an odd birthday present that his father was given by a mysterious stranger. Jimmy soon discovers a bronze coin that when rubbed between his fingers summons two fairies ready to serve him. It is with their help that he utilises its power to travel
GEMMA McLAUGHLIN
through time and space.
Who is it aimed at?
world I knew nothing about and show me the men and women working in the lab who’ll change the shape of tomorrow – and I wanted Steele to lead me through the moral maze this Brave New World will confront us with as a species.
Instead, I felt like I was back at school swotting for my Biology
A Level.
I would recommend it from 7-10.
What was your favourite part?
It was fun, exciting and easy to read for a number of reasons but what stood out to me was its structure. The choice to use a series of short stories not only allowed us a wider range of stories to become lost in, but also gave it a unique sense of order.
What was your least favourite?
Some of the situations Jimmy gets himself into can be just a little darker and more dangerous.
Which character would you most like to meet?
If I could meet any one character it would have to be Jimmy Brown for his compassion and bravery in every story.
Why should someone buy this book?
Each story in this book is a treasure that invites the reader on a journey they’ll never forget.
THE OTHER BENNET SISTER
Janice Hadlow
(Pan, £8.99)
In Pride and Prejudice, Mary is the middle Bennet sister: plain, socially unskilled, left behind. Hadlow redresses the balance in her debut novel, giving Mary a voice and putting her centre stage.
The first part re-tells Pride and Prejudice from her perspective, evoking sympathy for this character by showing how her father ignored her, her mother compared her unfavourably with the other girls and her sisters left her feeling isolated. The remainder takes place two years later. Mary, unmarried and dependent on others, is nevertheless determined to have a life. The advantages of beauty denied her, she cultivates her mind, experiencing kindness and learning to accept herself.
Many characters from the original crop up, slightly tweaked by Hadlow to make them more or less agreeable. Modern in outlook, it’s broadly respectful to Austen, honouring her spruce prose and social critique.
ALL THAT’S BRIGHT AND GONE
Eliza Nellums
sets out to investigate, alongside eight-year-old Hannah and imaginary friend Teddy. Theo’s death isn’t the only mystery she has to contend with, and the girls’ investigation threatens to upset a few apple-carts. As a detective, Aoife is brave and clever beyond her years.
As a narrator, she has a sophisticated vocabulary for a girl of six, and a precocious way of looking at the world. But Nellums retains enough of a child’seye perspective to make her believable, while the tale has a sense of danger.
HAUNTOLOGY
Merlin Coverley