Page 10 - Ickford Informer Newsletter Summer Issue June 2021

Book Reviews by Jo Tiddy

ND AT LAST IT IS SUMMER. The swifts are screaming in the blue
skies, shorts are on, and I’m writing this accompanied by the
A continuous cacophony of construction works. Peaceful, it aint!

So, for some escapist summer reading, transporting us far away to the gilded
shores of anywhere else (because let’s face it, few of us will be getting on
planes just yet) I offer up the following.
ICKFORD
A THEATRE FOR DREAMERS, by Polly Samson,
is pure sun-kissed escapism. 1960’s, and the
island of Hydra, Greece, is a community of Tug-of-War
artists, songwriters and poets, all living complex
and tangled lives. Teenager Erica arrives with Hi all,
nothing more than her notebooks and her grief,
and is drawn into this free-living commune. She It’s that time of the year
observes as the idyllic community is riven by again when we take on our
competitiveness and jealousy. Set against the neighbours Tiddington in the
searing heat and glorious landscapes of the
Aegean islands, this novel examines themes of annual Tug-of-War over the
creativity and feminism, and what happens when River Thame.
Paradise turns out to be not all it seems.
We have started training and
would like to see some new
HAMNET, by Maggie O’Farrell, won the Women’s
Prize for Fiction. This astonishing book examines faces on the rope!
the life of Agnes, wife of the playwright William
Shakespeare. Told in rich prose and with great If you are interested in
attention to historical detail, this is the heart coming along and giving it a
stopping story behind one of Shakespeare’s most go, we train on the playing
famous plays. On a summers’ day in 1596 a field in Ickford, Monday and
young girl takes to her bed with a fever. Her twin Wednesday evenings, 7pm
brother searches everywhere for help, but nobody till dark or knackered which
is at home. ever comes first.
This is the story of the bond between twins,
of a marriage that is pushed to the brink by grief. There are three different
It is a story of the Plague (topical!), and of an teams
unconventional free-spirited woman admired and
mistrusted by the good folk of Stratford-upon-Avon. – Juniors (13 to 18 years
Above all it is a tender examination of the life old boys and girls)
of a child who has been consigned to a footnote.
An absolute must-read. – Womens
– Mens
For small children, I am obsessed with the latest
th
picture paperback by Nadia Shireen, BARBARA This year is the 69 year
THROWS A WOBBLER is a charming and and it is always held on the
humorous look at bad moods, and how to deal first Friday in August
with them. Aimed at pre-schoolers, I like to think
that the book resonates equally with adults. If you are interested please
I can relate to at least four of the bad moods message me or just come
described. down to training and give it
a go.
For older children, the inspiring role model Marcus
Rashford has written a wonderful, morale-boosting Many thanks.
book. YOU ARE A CHAMPION is a positive Carlo Abreu
and practical guide to encourage following your
dreams and using your voice. A great book for carlo.abrue@btinternet.com
even the most reluctant reader. v

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