Another Little Theatre by the Sea

I was SO excited about going to see a performance of Tristan and Iseult at the Minack Theatre in Porthcurno. What could be more atmospheric? Kneehigh Theatre Company had received rave reviews for their production and I was desperate to visit Cornwall’s own Little Theatre by the Sea.

But. On Monday it rained and rained and rained. There were gales. There was more rain. Sadly, the performance was cancelled….

However, undeterred, we visited the Minack to find out more about this special theatre, braving rain and wind to see for ourselves, the amazing achievement by Rowena Cade.

Rowena Cade started building the theatre on the cliffs at the bottom of her garden in order to stage The Tempest back in 1932. (Monday’s weather conditions would have been perfect for this). A small group of players had already put on Midsummer Night’s Dream in a meadow at nearby Crean, but there was no seating and somewhere more permanent (and atmospheric) had to be found.

Rowena had the answer and she made it her life’s work. In the winter of 1931/2 she started building, helped by gardener Billy Rawlings. Between them they created a grassy stage lit up by batteries and car headlights; the audience had to clamber down a gorse-lined path and The Minack Theatre was born.

Over the years, Rowena continued to work on the theatre to improve the seating and stage, with the help of two gardeners. She even carried sand in bags on her back from Porthcurno beach up steep steps carved into the granite for the next day’s building – hands on even when she was in her eighties. What an incredible achievement and an amazing woman.

At the Minack – now run by a Trust which continues to improve the theatre in line with Rowena’s vision – you can visit an exhibition to learn more about the building of the theatre and Rowena Cade’s life. You can visit the café and you can walk around this amazing theatre space perched on the rocks above the wild Atlantic ocean.

I will be back to visit this wonderful Little Theatre by the Sea again very soon.

Give Bosa a Hug From Me

On this dull day in May, I’m thinking about Sardinia and looking forward to the paperback publication of Little Theatre by the Sea…..

Drum roll……. On June 1st I can’t wait to see the book with its luscious cover (thank you, QuercusBooks) in bookshops and supermarkets. I’ll be the one seen having a quick hug – with the book that is.

So, when I think about Sardinia where Little Theatre is mostly set – with a smattering of West Dorset of course, my home these days – I think about the warmth, the translucent sea in the secret little coves, and the delicious food. I want to go there – now!

And I think about Bosa. Bosa lies on the rugged west coast of the island of Sardinia and was the main inspiration for my fictional town of Deriu. It was founded by the Phoenicians, so it’s historic and also pretty, with mediaeval cobbled streets to wander, gorgeous pastel-painted houses on the river-bank and a colourful market. Bosa’s artisan traditions of gold-filigree jewellery and lace-making can still be seen – women sitting outside their houses doing embroidery and gold filigree jewellery being sold in the market.

And there’s more – you can walk through olive groves and blue jasmine up the winding stone steps to the Castello dei Malaspino, which offers spectacular views of the church of San Pietro, the Temo river valley and the red roofs of the Sa Costa quarter. Restoration in the 1970s has brought to light the most stunning cycle of Catalan school frescoes within the small fourteenth century Nostra Signora di Regnos Altos chapel. These frescoes are unexpected, vivid and truly beautiful to behold.

It’s also worth visiting the fascinating Casa Deriu for a touch of 1920s faded glamour, the marina to watch the boats come in, and of course one of the wonderful restaurants to be found in the town…

If you read Little Theatre by the Sea, I hope that you’ll be inspired to visit Sardinia, and especially the little town of Bosa. If you do, please give Bosa a hug from me.

Spring Reading 2017

We’ve had Easter and so now Spring is officially here. If reading is more your bag than eating chocolate (or if you like to do both simultaneously) here are some of my favourite reads for the season…

Another You by Jane Cable:

What struck me first about this book was the freshness of the writing and the author’s skill in conjuring up drama, mood and atmosphere from her setting. I am biased, because the setting happens to be in Dorset and by the sea (perfection as far as I’m concerned) in Studland Bay – an area of undeniable beauty. But the setting also has a darker history in connection with the way it was used during the second world war. It is this fact that Jane Cable uses as a lynch pin in her contemporary story, so that past meshes with present and echoes of the past reverberate through the story and provide both obstacles and resolution for the main character Marie. Marie is a chef, but although she is clearly a strong and interesting character, she continues to be bullied and put down by her ex-husband who shares ownership of the pub where they both still work. Add in a creative but rather troubled son leaving college and trying to find his own pathway in life and you get some interesting family tensions and conflict, as well as a perceptive depiction of a mother/son relationship.  Apart from her failed marriage, Marie also has other ghosts to slay and her journey towards restoration of self-worth is thoroughly convincing. A haunting and thought-provoking story and an engaging read.

A Secret Kept by Tatiana de Rosnay

I am currently immersing myself in books set in France – especially Brittany – and this is one of my favourites. De Rosnay tells the story of brother and sister Antoine and Mélanie Rey who spent their childhood summers on the island of Noirmoutier with their family. Tragedy struck when their beautiful mother died and since then the family has never recovered. Their father has (unhappily) re-married, Antoine’s marriage has broken up and Mélanie is alone and unhappy. They return to the island for Mélanie’s birthday and memories are gradually uncovered which make them question the circumstances surrounding their mother’s death and indeed, her life. The ‘secret’ referred to in the title is the driving force of this novel, but what I enjoyed most was the accomplished style of De Rosnay’s writing and her well-observed portrait of a man in middle-age who is questioning his life for the first time. We often assume that people want to discover the truth about their past. But what if one would rather it is kept secret? What if that secret could hurt and make one doubt one’s own family and those we are closest to? Through her characters, De Rosnay explores this possibility. Ultimately this story is both poignant and moving. The author examines family relationships, and the issues of love and loss and how past can impact on present with an explorative and perceptive eye.

The Farm at the Edge of the World by Sarah Vaughan

Authentic, well-researched and wonderfully descriptive, this novel utterly transported me to Cornwall. (I like Cornwall a lot and am more than happy to go there anytime…) The story is told in two timelines by two narrators – Lucy and her grandmother Maggie. We are immediately drawn into Lucy’s story by dramatic events as problems in her marriage and at work emerge and we fully empathise with her need to return to her childhood home. So far, so good. At the same time the atmosphere of Cornwall during the war is gradually and atmospherically emerging through Maggie’s eyes…

Lucy returns to the Farm where the contemporary story continues to engage. Will she return to Matt and London? Will she manage to help her family and the farm survive their current financial crisis..? Sarah Vaughan keeps us guessing. For me, Maggie’s story was equally compelling, this farm girl who became an adult during the war years, who fell in love and regretted the subsequent loss for the rest of her life.

Sarah Vaughan writes with fluency, confidence and emotion. Her characters are warm, believable and fully drawn and her setting is described with both freshness and precision. I like that. I thoroughly enjoyed this engaging story of family relationships, love and loss. Highly recommended.

The Girl Before by JP Delaney

I have said before that I’m a bit bored with all these ‘girl’ titles but apparently, we’re not done with them yet. Even so, I couldn’t resist this one – it’s a good title and has some excellent reviews.

There is originality in this domestic noir. There’s an intriguing architect, a techno-minimalist house and there are a lot of pretty weird rules in the architect’s ongoing questionnaire.  What are we to make of it all? Well, we have to read on to find out – the style is fast-paced and the tension gripping. I was drawn in by page 1 which is a pretty impressive feat.

The book alternates between the perspectives of Emma (Before) and Jane (After) who both rent the house. Because of the nature of the plot (both girls experience the same sorts of things e.g. falling in love with the architect Edward) there is an element of repetition at times, but equally this is chilling and helps build up the drama. I felt that there could have been deeper characterisation to convince the reader that they would fall for Edward despite what they have found out about his dead wife/ the previous tenant. Also, Edward himself is rather a stereotype (in the manner of Christian Grey). However, I was still gripped by this fluently written story and there is an excellent twist which I didn’t see coming.

The Returning Tide by Liz Fenwick

Stories about twins are always interesting – I always find it fascinating that there can be such closeness between two people and yet they must still have their own identities and dreams. Adele and Amelia are like this. They are separated by events during the second world war and ultimately experience an ultimate betrayal. Psychologically, it’s very powerful stuff.

I very much like the way Liz Fenwick writes – with lots of emotion and compassion, she creates a strong tension that keeps the story moving forward. The story is set in both past and present and in different viewpoints, thus it is multi-layered and complex. I enjoyed both settings – Cornwall and America (Cornwall the most) and Liz Fenwick’s descriptive writing is strong and builds a visual picture. Her portrayal of events during the second world war is poignant and at times heart-breaking. Past continues to haunt the present and as readers we totally believe in this.

Authentic and compelling, this story of love and betrayal explores some fascinating human relationships against the backdrop of World War II. I loved it.

The Thousand Lights Hotel by Emylia Hall

Having spent several glorious weeks on the island of Elba, it was an absolute thrill to discover that Emylia Hall’s new novel is set there. The story begins with sadness and with Kit’s journey as she travels to Elba, little knowing what she is looking for and what she will discover.

Valentino Colossimo is patron of the extraordinary Hotel Mille Luci on Elba and he has dedicated his life to the pursuit of happiness – the happiness of his guests, that is. The hotel is tranquil, restorative and magical – in fact, everything any guest could wish for and more, while the delicious food is prepared by the immensely lovable Oliviero. Together, they are a class act. But behind this façade of perfection, a darkness begins to unfold – the darkness of the past and what has been left behind.

Emylia Hall’s prose style shines from the page much like Valentino’s thousand lights. Her characters are warm and authentic and her story sweeps the reader through heart-break, tragedy, love and hope. I absolutely loved every second of the journey. Full of the flavours and fragrances of Italy comes a magical novel to touch the heart