More of wot I have read…

Elle Minow Pea by Mark Dunn

This book was a Christmas present from James and Nikala who bought it for its literary uniqueness. The book revolves around a famous pangram (a phrase, sentence or verse composed of all the letters of the alphabet). But it is the developing political fanaticism that drives the story and I must say that it is one of the only books where the story has actually wound me up. It is a very interesting and entertaining read.


‘As Ella Minnow Pea writes to her cousin with the latest news on the small, quiet island of Nollop, little does she imagine the crisis ahead. The letter z has fallen from the statue of Nevin Nollop, revered author of the sentence ‘The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog’ – and the island’s rulers interpret this as a sign of divine displeasure and ban its use in any form. In a novel composed of correspondence, the loss of z is inconvenient; but far worse is to come as more letters fall and more are banned, until only l, m, n, o, p remain…

The story of a battle against tyranny, this extraordinary novel, written with an ever-shrinking alphabet, is at once a moving love story, a brilliant political allegory and an unforgettable celebration of language.'



Pompeii by Robert Harris

This is a riveting read that I couldn’t put down. I love historical novels and one, like this, based on such a famous incident adds something due to the familiarity of the subject. It is great to read an account from such a personal viewpoint.


‘A sweltering week in late August. Where better to enjoy the last days of summer than on the beautiful Bay of Naples?

But even as Rome’s richest citizens relax in their villas around Pompeii and Herculaneum, there are ominous warnings that something is going wrong. Wells and springs are falling, a man has disappeared, and now the greatest aqueduct in the world – the mighty Aqua Augusta – has suddenly ceased to flow…

Through the eyes of four characters – a young engineer, an adolescent girl, a corrupt millionaire and an elderly scientist – Robert Harris brilliantly recreates a luxurious world on the brink of destruction.'