Thorn review and multiple meetings
Was thrilled last night to get my second review of Thorn in the Flesh from Margaret Gill, author of young adult novel, Narwhal - as below:
“Thorn in the Flesh is a gripping psychological thriller whose central character Kate goes through a whole gamut of emotions from the deeply sensual to the tenderness of true friendship, betrayal, loss, fear, a sense of personality annihilation and nail biting terror. I am constantly amazed by Anne Brooke's ability to understand abnormal levels of perversion. But at the end of this novel one is left not with the feeling of an abnormal caricature but more with a query and urge to understand what strange twist of otherwise normal events could have sown such a tragic seed.”
I’m hugely pleased with that - thank you so much, Margaret! Though naturally “abnormal levels of perversion” are probably pretty normal here in the shires … Or maybe it is just me?
At work, I am caught in a network of complicated meeting arrangements, most of which I am not fully in control of. As ever. The Steering Group appears to have been put back till 1.30pm though we’re still allowed to have lunch, so I’ll be starving by the time I attempt to minute the darn thing. After which I’m supposed to be at another meeting to discuss our new website provider. Which would be fine and no doubt fascinating if I didn’t have homework to do for it before I get there. Darn it. I’m not sure I have the energy for intellectual thought about websites, to be honest, so maybe I shall just have to wing it. Again, as ever.
Tonight, Lord H is at the shops and I’m hoping to edit more of Darshan for Goldenford. Ooh and there’s the second part of “The Fixer” on TV which I thoroughly enjoyed last week, hurrah! I won’t be bothering with Part Two of “The Passion” however. Last night’s episode was clunky, slow and way too pseudo-portentous - and as for that ridiculously clichéd music, well, words fail me. An irritant factor of ten, though we both rather liked Annas and Caiaphas. What a great team. I have to say I gained a greater sense of the reality and strength of the Gospel narratives and the sheer fascination of Jesus as a character from last year’s drama-documentary about Jewish culture and history - if I could only remember its name!
And here’s a poem:
Some things
arrive slowly
and not when you expect them
announcing their presence
like ghosts
or shy guests
who aren't quite sure
if they've come
on the right day.
Best to make them welcome,
apologise for the mess,
clear a chair
and see
what they have to say.
Today’s nice things:
1. The Thorn review
2. Editing
3. Poetry.
Anne Brooke
Anne's website
Goldenford Publishers