Humour

Children’s Book Review: “The Adventures of Nanna Willowspell” by Keele Fishel

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Rating: 3 stars

Headline: There were too many short stories in “The Adventures of Nanna Willowspell” for me to get behind the central character

Review:

The Adventures of Nanna Willowspell is a children’s book by author Keele Fishel. Set across multiple enchanting settings, it follows the various short tales and adventures, recounted by the protagonist Nanna Willowspell to a group of children who have gathered to hear her stories. The pacing of this book is driven by these short stories, most lasting no more than a page or two in length, with limited plot outside these stories, which for parents could make this a good read aloud book for much younger children.

While the stories in this book are pleasant enough to read, the basis that all the stories are hyper short in length and unrelated to each other (or the world in which Nanna Willowspell is recounting them) makes the book feel a bit bitty in places. You start getting into a story only to be yanked out of it again. The scene-setting also feels somewhat lacking as a result of the shortness of the stories and the dialogue is limited by the narration of the stories being conveyed in a memory form. While granted, it gives a homely feeling of an older relative recounting an experience, it does remove the development and personality of the secondary characters, however fleeting their appearances might be.

A smaller points on the book’s formatting, where the use of the story’s title at the top of each page in varying font sizes does lend to confusion, it gives the feeling that a new story is starting on each fresh page when in reality it is not always the case. The margins are also too narrow, something which may have been a formatting choice to reduce page count and potential printing costs but it makes the amount of text feel blocky and a tad bit overwhelming.

Based on several hints dotted toward the end of the book, it would seem Fishel is planning to turn The Adventures of Nanna Willowspell into a series for younger audiences. While I love the magical and fantastical elements of this book, in any subsequent books I would prefer it if there was more focus on lengthening the short stories or focusing on the overarching plot of Nanna Willowspell in the hear and now. In simple terms, less is more.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “The Adventures of Nanna Willowspell” by Keele Fishel

Purchase Link: “The Adventures of Nanna Willowspell” by Keele Fishel (Amazon)

Author Website: Nanna Willowspell

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10 Years of “My Housemate’s a Mermaid”

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Anniversary, British, comedy, Event, family, Humor, Humour, Mellennial, Mermaid, Review, Swindon, Uncategorized , , ,

On 11th November 2014, I went to the supermarket to buy toilet roll, which inspired me to start a blog. Ten years later, I’m still here.

Five years ago I wrote the very aptly named piece, Five Years Ago Today…. Aside from it being very surreal that five more years have gone by, a hell of a lot more has changed since then.

What MHAM is, and always will be, is an insight into my world, from the highs of getting my short stories published, to the foot injury lows and the ranty McRant face of Jus-Rol’s cinnamon swirls. It has also been the place to share all the wonderful holidays I’ve undertaken as a solo traveller and, more recently, with my wonderful “Boyfriend Ben”. I setup a social group for young people, moved to London, came back from London, built a career from a History degree in execution and country houses. I’ve volunteered for nine separate non profits, and met an amazing bloke who to this day continues to champion my corner, inspiring me to strive for the stars each and every day. It really has been a rollercoaster of emotional content.

Around the world there are so many instances of people being denied their freedom of expression and creativity, which is why I feel so privileged to have the family and professional career that supports me to keep doing what I love. It is the utter joy I get from recognition and compliments, the unexpected surprise when someone reaches out to say how much they enjoy my work. The odd competition win or shortlisting. It is those glints of gold that give me the euphoric buzz to keep hitting these keys.

In 2014, on that chilly dark night where nothing seemed possible, I discovered my voice. And you, the reader, are 75% of the reason why I’m still here. Thank you.

With little more to add, I will leave you with visual memories of the last ten years (and a couple from before) and a simple vow, that I will continue to write for ten more years and beyond, whatever form that takes.

May your hearts always be full and your coffee only slightly spilled.

AEB x

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Poetry Review: “All Made of Longing” by Ruth Osman

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Rating: 4 stars

Headline: A strong poetry debut which speaks highly of where Osman will take her creative talents next

Review:

There are few mediums that can transport a reader quite so rapidly as poetry. From snappy two liners to elongated stanza blocks, when done right there is something quite magical about the romanticism of the free flowing word and its ability to convey a fresh presentative on the world we live in.

Marking her poetry collection debut, Ruth Osman brings readers to the sunny landscapes of the Caribbean in her new publication All Made of Longing. Spread over sixty four pages, Osman’s poetry draws heavily on the symbolism of tropical surroundings, with an acknowledgement of the human interactions that have come to influence nature (much to our peril).

In All Made of Longing, Osman experiments with different approaches to tempo, pace, presentation and, most significantly, tone. A number of the poems draw on the poet’s heritage and its links to slavery and the slave trade; while they are not always a pleasant read, they are an important read all the same. They suggest sorrow and an ongoing struggle felt by the descendants ever since. As a British reader in the twenty-first century, they serve as an important reminder to the past.

Within this collection, a personal favourite of mine is the short and sweet “Deluge”, a four line stanza that offers a somewhat tongue-in-cheek warning to those who mock the power of Mother Nature. The use of blue monotone illustrations at the header of each chapter is also a nice touch to break up the collection, each a representation of ta tree’s growth, and the ongoing circle of life contained within.

Reading All Made of Longing you would not expect this to be the work of a debut poet, it is a strong opening collection and speaks highly of where Osman will take her creative talents next.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “All Made of Longing” by Ruth Osman

Purchase Link: “All Made of Longing” by Ruth Osman (Amazon)

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Writer’s Cartoon of the Week – “Querying”

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Image credit: Writers Write (@writers.write.company) / Peanuts

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Book Review: “Guide to Understanding the News and Understanding the World” by Nick Simoneschi

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Rating: 1 star

Headline: Nick Simoneschi’s guide lacks clarity, identity, and engaging writing

Review:

It only takes a minute, the right author and a dash of luck to make a story go viral. By mid morning, that seemingly biennial news article could not only have become the talk of the office, but the driving force behind behind an entire brand, a new cult or even a shifting force within History itself. Recent years has seen the rapid adoption and expansion of instant media, but can everything we read be trusted?

Written by Law graduate and financial strategic advisor Nick Simoneschi, Guide to Understanding the News and Understanding the World is a non-fiction guide which aims to educate and warn against the perils of believing news coverage at face value. The book is split into seven chapters, covering topics such as “global news”, “environmental news” and “fact-checking”. It is formatted in an essay-type construct, with no additional imagery. Simoneschi refers to the reader as “students” throughout.

While on the cover it seems apparent what Simoneschi is trying to achieve, in reality this is a book that lacks identity. In doing so, more often than not it turns into a soap box for the author to express his views on how news content should be presented. Chapter three, “news literacy for children”, becomes bogged down in arguments for changing the school curriculum, yet it is not clear who Simoneschi is directing this argument to. Parents? Students? Teachers? The intended readership of this title is not apparent enough to know for sure.

The writing itself makes for a very clunky read, with over repetition of key essay buzz words (in the duration of the book’s 81 pages, the word “furthermore” is used 33 times, “conclusion”, 30, and “student” an eye-watering 249 times). The lack of author credentials and general introduction on why the world needs this book right now is also an area which needed presenting in the opening pages of the book. Otherwise it looks like just another opinionated piece anyone could have written.

In a market saturated with other books claiming to be the “definitive guide”, Guide to Understanding the News and Understanding the World does little to shake up the establishment, or offer new insight to a fresh readership base. An experienced book editor would have identified the mistakes immediately and worked with the author to improve the writing quality, to make it a more engaging and inclusive read for its intended audience. Instead, the content repeats over itself, to the point where Simoneschi’s guidance unfortunately becomes too bland to consume in a meaningful way. This book could have been better disseminated as a series of short online blog posts.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “Guide to Understanding the News and Understanding the World” by Nick Simoneschi

Purchase Link: “Guide to Understanding the News and Understanding the World” by Nick Simoneschi (Amazon)

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This bin has an interesting description

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Mumma B takes full credit for finding this on her eBay travels.

The listing has long since vanished, although strangely I was able to access the link via my mobile, but not laptop (so go figure).

It’s admittedly a bit of a lengthy description, so I’ve picked out the highlights. Sections have been removed for brevity but everything marked in quotes is word-for-word lifted from the original description.

 

Plastic Recycle Bin & Lid 25L/50L Rubbish Dustbin Kitchen Garden Waste New 2022

This product is very inexpensive and light in weight.

I think this product can bring a fun way of putting in the necessary things. Attractive and Beautiful both aspects of this Flap Lid Recycle Bin bring happiness to the eyes. There are some people who will find this ecstatic.
Above all, it is said that people tend to remember only 10-20% of what they see and hear. Moreover, that number rises to as much as 90% when they see something unique.


On the contrary, I must say that this is the ultimate final product if you are looking for something big because Flap Lid Recycle Bin is for your interior decoration because this is the best.
This product is designed for the British Aesthetic looks and Cultural aspects.
It can be used in your Drawing rooms and Lounges because it adds beauty to it.

Wait, there's more!

RETURNS AND REFUND POLICY

Goods received back complete as NEW and unused and in original box and packaging including all accessories and in a re-sellable condition: You will be refunded the full invoice amount less cost of delivery.

Goods received back not in a re-sellable condition: We are unable to accept these back under the above terms and the goods will be returned back to you and the cost of delivery charged to you.

Goods received back complete as NEW and unused and in original box and packaging including all accessories and in a re-sellable condition: Goods will not be accepted back if they are not in a resellable condition.

In case you weren't sure

RETURNS:

Goods must be returned ‘AS SOLD’ in the original packaging complete ‘AS NEW’.

Goods must be complete, unused, and in ‘AS NEW’ condition (eg if you have opened the box to examine the product it must have been done so without damaging the box and packaging or damaging the product in any way) and must be re-packaged as received.

Payment information is sponsored by the upper case

PAYMENT:

We Aim to Dispatch All Orders Within 24 Hours Of Cleared Payments

(Please Note Orders Placed On Friday, Saturday And Sunday Can Only Be Given To Carriers On Monday As They Do Not Pick Up Over Weekends)

And as for customer service...

SERVICE:

Our aim is to provide Top Level Customer Service, normally so we will try our best to solve any problem.

 

So there you have it. It is said that people tend to remember only 10-20% of what they see and hear, moreover, that number rises to as much as 90% when they see something unique.

It is probably why no one ever remembers anything from my website.

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Book Review: “The Ultimate Beginners Guide To Cheesemaking” by Kendall Roy

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Rating: 4 stars

Headline: The Ultimate Beginners Guide To Cheesemaking is a helpful, well-pitched guide for novice cheesemakers, young and old

Review:

Can I just say, I love cheese. It is both simple and extravagant, it’s non-fussy (preparation time for a meal of cheese and crackers? 30 seconds) and, above all, it goes with absolutely everything. There are over 1800 types of cheese, and one of the crying shames of mortality is that there is every chance I will not be able to try them all before the next world beckons. Hopefully that next world also has cheese.

Kendall Roy must be cut of the same cloth as myself. The American writer, based in California, is the author behind the new publication The Ultimate Beginners Guide To Cheesemaking. Spanning 78 pages, this short guide covers everything any budding cheesemaker would need to know to start crafting their own cheese recipe at home. Starting with the origins of cheesemaking, the guide goes on to cover some basic recipes, including essential kitchen ingredients and utensils. The book covers ten different cheese recipes for popular classics, including cheddar, feta and Swiss cheese and is bookended by common mistakes to avoid, and plenty of references should budding readers want to learn more.

A fun book, the tone of voice in The Ultimate Beginners Guide To Cheesemaking is nicely pitched, with the guidance offered at the right level for novice cheesemakers. The recipes are clear (for my fellow readers outside America, an FYI that the ingredient measurement are provided in cup units), and the detail provided on segments such as “essential kitchen equipment” comes from someone who has been there and got the apron. You can tell the guidance is coming from someone with a deep understanding of the craft. It would have been good to have included more imagery (sadly there are none, and in places it does feel lacking for it, especially as an aide memoir for the recipes). There are also no page numbers, which can make it slightly more challenging to when referencing between different sections.

The Ultimate Beginners Guide To Cheesemaking is a good book for newcomers to the cheesemaking industry, and while Roy makes no slight of the patience needed to produce a good lump of cheese, she is also clear on the rewards it can bring. Namely, cheese.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “The Ultimate Beginners Guide To Cheesemaking ” by Kendall Roy

Purchase Link: “The Ultimate Beginners Guide To Cheesemaking ” by Kendall Roy (Amazon)

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Isle of Wight antics

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Culture, Holiday, Humor, Humour, Tourist, Travel, Uncategorized, Vacation , , , ,

Here’s a snappy summary of what Boyfriend Ben and I got up to in August. In simple terms, a lot of walking and a wonderful trip to the Isle of Wight to visit Ben’s family…and also the mermaid gin bar.

After all, one has to keep up with one’s mermaid connections. It would have been a crime not to visit!

Locations featured:

Wiltshire Canal (Bath Spa – Bradford on Avon)

Brading Roman Villa

The Boathouse IOW

Isle of Wight Distillery (Mermaid Gin Bar)

Appley Beach Café

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Fiction Review: “A Woman’s Guide to Search & Rescue” by Mary Carroll Moore

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Rating: 3 stars

Headline: The story of one woman’s mission to rebuild relationships and clear her name

Review:

When the opportunity arose to review Mary Carroll Moore’s The Woman’s Guide to Search & Rescue I thought I was picking up a non-fiction title (having missed the small inclusion of “a novel” in the thumbnail’s footer). After realising my mistake I decided to continue reading, hooked by a dramatic opening scene featuring protagonist and indie rockstar, Red Nelson.

Shortly after crashing a stolen plane we learn of Red’s predicament. Framed for a violent attack she didn’t commit by the real perpetrator, longstanding criminal Billy Cotton, Red turns to her search and rescue pilot step sister, Kate Fisher and her daughter, Molly, for help. Their challenge is twofold, proving Red’s innocence and locking up Billy for good. However, as family tensions heat up and physical injuries take hold, it quickly becomes apparent there can only be one winner in this epic battle of cat and mouse and, when it comes to defeat, Billy is not a man used to losing…

The premise of this book is interesting, playing against the relationships of blended female generations who are linked by the same patriarchal figurehead. Personalities are distinct between the core characters and Moore does a great job in building tension and raising stakes within action sequences.

In A Woman’s Guide to Search & Rescue there is a lack of strong subplots to keep driving the underlying story of Red evading capture. The need of an additional storyline during the middle lull was particularly needed after the sudden appearance of Billy (an event that occurs earlier in the story than most comparative titles would normally address). This, as well as perhaps a few too many characters within the story, some of which appearing sporadically as means to unlock elements of the plot and little else.

A Woman’s Guide to Search & Rescue is worthwhile a read for those who enjoy stories featuring intergenerational relationships. Moore’s talent as an author shows in the writing quality and scene setting which are well executed throughout. However, in this case, it is the pacing of the story itself that would make me more prescriptive with the type of reader I recommend this title to.

AEB Reviews

Links:

Reedsy Discovery Review: AEB Reviews – “A Woman’s Guide to Search & Rescue” by Mary Carroll Moore

Purchase Link: “A Woman’s Guide to Search & Rescue” by Mary Carroll Moore (Amazon)

Author Website: Mary Carroll Moore | Author and Artist

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A birthday card for my sister

My Housemate's a Mermaid (Alice E. Bennett) Birthday, British, comedy, Cotswolds, Event, family, Humor, Humour, Uncategorized , , , , ,

From the makers of Seven Degrees of Pie, ladies and gentlemen, I present you with the collage-card I gifted my sister for her birthday:

Now, I know how it looks. It looks like I found a really old newspaper, cut it up and threw it altogether to squeeze into a birthday card…

In my defence, I didn’t realise the coupon for the iweekend newspaper was dated.

Besides, who couldn’t be left in absolute awe over the contents of this birthday card? It has words such as “amazing”, “5*”, “Discover Paradise”, and a inserts of a pilot with a ukulele and Richard Madeley with a knowing smile.

I obviously threw in some smudgy words into the gap before handing it to her, but we all know the real reason why it’s a birthday card she won’t forget in a hurry. After all, you know what they say, “don’t judge a [generic greetings card] by its cover.”

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