The Blackbirds of St. Giles, Lila Cain

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This post is part of a blog tour. Thank you to Random Things Tours and Simon and Schuster for providing me with a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

It’s 1768 and the enslaved people on the Garnett Plantation in Jamaica have had enough, it’s time to seek their revenge and escape a life of misery. This dramatic opening gives glimpses of the horrors that have been experienced, some truly bone chilling. The main focus however, is setting up the relationships between the characters we will follow for the next nearly five hundred pages, and to give an understanding of their history. Thirteen years later we meet Daniel and Pearl again, in New York. Friends with the wealthy Fitzallens, they have made a good life for themselves. When they head to London they discover that not all members of the family are as good hearted, and James Fitzallen is set up as the villain of the piece, one that will make your blood boil. Sadly, their reception in London generally is one of threat and distrust, and the life they had hoped for soon proves itself out of their reach. A young woman, Jen, meets them in a moment of need and suggests they make their home in the St. Giles Rookery, a place where the desperate find some shelter and companionship, ruled over by the dangerous Elias. 

Their life there is challenging and Daniel smarts with the injustice of how their fortunes have turned once again. His desire to keep Pearl safe means he feels compelled to agree to Elias’ demands and soon finds himself in a position where he needs to betray those who have been good to him. You do really feel for Daniel to begin with but he doesn’t always make the best decisions, and he is far from in control of his emotions, treating those who are looking out for him badly. He tries to control Pearl despite her being a young adult, and although this is clearly rooted in love, he doesn’t seem to learn that explaining his reasoning would help people get on board with his ideas. Pearl is a companion character, we see her development only through Daniel’s eyes and through her rebellions against him.

The community they find in the rookery, those willing to put themselves on the line for others, and groups fighting for change is a strong one, but not without its conflicts. There is no love for Elias among his ‘subjects’ but fear keeps them loyal. With the new arrivals on the scene, some believe change is on the horizon. Daniel is resistant to power, but his successes in the ring show how much the community need a hero, and he might not have much choice in playing the role.

This is a book that doesn’t shy away from the hardships experienced by many in the eighteenth century. It explores the experience of people of colour living in London during a time where slavery was still rife, where any run in with the law could have you shipped off in chains. It is horrifying, and we are shown how it traps people in situations they might otherwise have a chance of escaping. There are moments where you become deeply invested in the characters, but for a lot of the book they feel fairly surface level and predictable. Elias is undoubtedly a character with a wicked core, but we don’t quite see enough of him to really feel the hatred that the other characters do. James Fitzallen is absent throughout most of the book, and although he does reappear, constantly working to undermine the life Daniel is building, he is ephemeral and so we don’t experience the emotions of their conflict as strongly as it seemed we would when first introduced. Another character from the past makes a reappearance in the latter parts of the book, and although they add a bit of extra difficulty, and the opportunity to reveal a secret, again they don’t make that much of an impact. The ideas are good but the story progresses much as you would expect and it all feels a little too neat, moments that are designed to be high tension lack drama because you feel certain of the outcome. 

Most of the characters are fictional but the situations are rooted in history, shining a light on a part of London’s Georgian history that has largely been ignored. Daniel and Pearl’s story might be atypical in its conclusion, but the struggle is very real. This is an accessible introduction to this history, and one which evokes the surroundings and struggle of people at all stages of life vividly. It also highlights the normalcy of the presence of people of colour in London in this period - running pubs, shop owners, etc, a reality that is often skipped in historical fiction.

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The Palace, Gareth Russell

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Hampton Court Palace is one of Britain’s most iconic and unusual palaces. Half Tudor, half Baroque, it offers a unique opportunity to explore a wide range of British history in a very tactile way. It’s also been home to some of the most significant events in the country’s history. Russell takes us on a whirlwind tour of five hundred years of history, encompassing family feuds, marital breakdowns, the imprisonment and escape of a King due to be beheaded, religious milestones, and even the pre-coronation ball of Queen Elizabeth II, bringing us back to the modern world.

We gain an understanding of the people who have shaped the very fabric of the building. Anne Boleyn was keenly interested in this and worked hard to smooth the different styles into something that looked deliberate. Traces of her were removed once Henry VIII had moved on to his next bride, but one remaining insignia was found many centuries later. Of course, the biggest change came with William and Mary, who had planned to destroy the whole of the Tudor palace. If money hadn’t dried up we would be left with a very different building today, a sad thought. Queen Victoria, keen to turn the palace into a visitor attraction, perhaps inspired by the success of Versailles, realised the public interest was firmly with the Tudors and so undertook work to restore and enhance the Great Hall. 

Its history as a place of public interest has grown across the centuries, but has been an aspect of It’s role through much of its existence, adhoc tours being provided by staff wanting to supplement their income during quieter periods. The presence of grace and favour residents onsite had also allowed access to a broader range of people visiting their friends and relatives in their apartments, seeing areas of the building that were otherwise inaccessible to the public. Now under the custodianship of Historic Royal Palaces, who do a wonderful job of interpreting the spaces, visitor numbers are at the highest they’ve ever been, and continual work to conserve and open up the spaces is undertaken.

Approaching a biography of a building such as Hampton Court, so rich in history and with such a long life is no small task. Russell opts to focus on one area of the palace in each chapter, on one connecting event, taking us through chronologically so that we have an understanding of how the various monarchs have felt about and used the palace. Many of the events of course have many links to places and people outside the palace and so at times it feels more like a romp through British royal history than specifically about the palace, but perhaps that is testament to the central role it has played.

Those with a broad understanding of the history involved will find familiar stories but also perhaps links that you may not have known. For me these included the time Charles I spent onsite in captivity and his escape, perhaps encouraged by his opposition. The King James Bible having connections to the palace in the conference held there in 1604 which led to both it and the Book of Common Prayer, both incredibly important moments in the history of Christianity. Finally, one chapter explored the arrangements around the grave of the Unknown Soldier which sits in Westminster Abbey. A huge range in content, and a demonstration of how the story continues long after the royal family regularly used it as a home or entertainment venue. 

An interesting read, written in such a way as to bring the magic of the palace and its history to life. If you have an in-depth knowledge of British history there might not be all that much new to you, but the breadth of the focus suggests that there will be nuggets of interest and revelation for most readers.

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2024 Wrap-Up

Another year draws to a close, one of great highs and lows. The world has certainly felt like a scary place to live a lot of the time and for anyone personally impacted by any of the horrors inflicted this year, I hope 2025 brings more peace and healing. For those fortunate enough to benefit from it, art can be a reminder of the beauty that also exists in this world and of our shared  humanity. It can, of course, also be a welcome escape when life feels heavy. Here are some of my highlights from the past twelve months.

Books:

Non-fiction this year his proved thought-provoking. One that I think will stay with me for a long time is Unwell Women by Elinor Cleghorn, a fascinating yet horrifying look at the history of medical misogyny and the ways in which it unfortunately continues to impact the treatment women receive. What Everyone Knows About Britain by Michael Peel proved to be an interesting examination of Britain's past and present and how the former has influenced the latter. Wherever you sit on the political spectrum there's food for thought here, On a more whimsical note, I thoroughly enjoyed John Bevis' romp through the public library system in An English Library Journey. A reminder, if ever one were needed, of how precious our public libraries are.

On the fiction front, I have to mention This Motherless Land as it is by far the book I have recommended most this year. With villains you love to hate and a protagonist who is captivating and good without being unbelievably perfect, this book has so much to keep you hooked. The Little Paris Bookshop came to me at just the right time and its mix of whimsy and philosophy hit all the right buttons for me.

Live:

One of the highlights of live performance for me this year was English National Ballet's Swan Lake in the round, which I've been eager to see since it first graced the Albert Hall's stage. It did not disappoint - a spectacular, beautiful production. Another highlight was Spirited Away. Never having seen the anime, I was coming to it fresh but its sumptuous design, ingenious stagecraft, and sweet story made for an excellent evening of theatre.

Special mention too to the Paddington Experience, a new addition to London for 2024. An immersive experience that takes you through Paddington's cosy London home to the rainforests of Peru, it is a beautifully designed experience with actors who fully embrace the roles, working hard to ensure everyone feels welcome and part of the action. Highly recommended as a family day out, even is your children are now adults.

Travel:

Annecy

I've been very fortunate that a combination of work and personal trips have meant 2024 has been a good year for travel. Regular readers will know what a wonderful experience I had walking the West Highland Way in the summer. I was fortunate to spend a few days in the south of France in the medieval village of Tourrettes-sur-Loup which proved to be not just a beautiful, sunny time but also a hub of creativity and great food. 

A trip to Switzerland took me to the Matterhorn and lovely Lausanne, probably my favourite stop of the Swiss part of the trip. On the banks of Lake Geneva and climbing to a castle overlooking the water and surrounding mountains, it’s a city with a lot to offer. A day trip from Geneva to Annecy in France was also a highlight, despite the near constant rain. The beautiful old town is threaded through with canals leading off from Lake Annecy, adding extra charm to this already delightful spot. The water is turquoise, the history is fascinating, and cheese, wine, and crepes are plentiful.

I also made my first trip to Ireland with a long weekend in Dublin the weekend before Halloween, and my do the locals go all in for the season. A visit to the National Leprechaun Museum, a storytelling experience which was a highlight of the trip, gave us an opportunity to learn more about the season of Samhain. A trip to Bewley’s for cake was also well worth it.

A festive road trip has taken me to a few more places on my UK bucket list and as I type this snow is gently falling outside my hotel window. I feel so incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to see so many beautiful places this year, both in my local area and further afield, and can’t wait to see where 2025 will take me.

I wish you all the best for the year ahead, and hope that it is filled with all the things that bring you joy. I’d love to hear your top tips for hidden gems and reading highlights in the comments. 

Gifts, Laura Barnett

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In the lead-up to Christmas there’s still plenty of gifts to find, and through the stories of twelve characters we see them search for that meaningful something to get someone special. Whether it be a school friend, a carer, or a husband who is adamant they don’t want anything, each wants to get it right, to find something that will show how much the recipient means to them. The chapters each focus on a different character, one that was mentioned in the previous chapter, often the recipient of the previous chapter’s gift. Although focussed around Christmas the stories are each insights into their lives, giving rich backstory, often quite dark or troubling, which make these characters three dimensional and believable. Many are struggling with new starts, having lost a loved one, recently come out of a relationship, or, for one, adjusting to life after prison. There’s also a collective sense of fresh beginnings as they leave the pandemic behind and are able to celebrate Christmas without restrictions once again. The pandemic is never discussed in depth, and the early mentions of it may be confusing for readers in the years ahead, where those reading now, memories fresh in our minds, will easily pick up the references and understand the world these characters are emerging from. 

The first four characters’ tales are quite closely linked - Maddy, who runs a bookshop in their small town searches for a present for an old friend and possible love interest, who in turn searches for something for his daughter Chloe. She has chosen to come and live with him in his separation from her mother, the true reasoning for which neither or them are fully aware. She in turn looks for a gift for her grandmother, who knows her better than any other family member. The closeness of these four stories means that there is some continuation as we see Maddy and Peter’s relationship develop and find out what’s going on with Chloe. After their four stories it begins to stretch out more, and although all the characters are inter-connected, no other set goes into quite as much detail. It is an interesting technique for telling a story, and you care about all the characters, often wishing you could have more time with them. It does eventually loop back and bring them full circle, but once you move a couple of chapters away from a protagonist you won’t learn much more about them. 

There are common themes within. Primarily, the complexity of relationships. There are happy marriages where secrets are still occasionally kept, decidedly unhappy marriages, and abusive sibling relationships. New relationships bud, while others are cut off before they have a chance to bloom. Parents and friends are lost, while others decline in a care home, a financial strain on their offspring who love them but who have mixed feelings about their decline. As in life, nothing is straight forward, lives do not progress in a linear fashion, and there are dark secrets hidden behind smiles. We see the judgment of certain relationships from the outside, but also the flip side of what it feels like for those in the marriage. Certainly not perfect, but well intentioned and loving. It will make you think about your family, by blood and by choice, and how complicated these relationships can be, as well as the gap between perceptions and intentions.

The festive theme hangs fairly lightly throughout as we delve into the inner lives of our twelve protagonists. If you are looking for a feel good Christmas read, this might not be the one for you as it deals with some dark topics, but for those wanting a book for the season without the Hallmark ending, well it might just be worth picking up. It reminds us of what really makes any celebration and tradition special, and that we are all connected.

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You Are Here, David Nicholls

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Driven and successful Cleo is determined to help her divorced friends out of their shells and back into the world of fun with friends. Michael, a geography teacher at the school she leads, is struggling with his mental health, and very much prefers his own company. Repeatedly rejecting her offers of company on hikes, he eventually relents and agrees to a group joining him for the first few days of the 190 mile Coast to Coast walk he is about to embark upon. Marnie, living alone in London, and being a freelance copyeditor, has very little opportunity or inclination to spend time with others, always hoping for a cancellation to come through for any plans she’s reluctantly agreed to. She’s not a walker but agrees when Cleo invites her for the walk, thinking it might be just what she needs. Arriving in all new waterproofs and walking boots, she appears the inexperienced hiker Michael had suspected would be joining him (although he certainly doesn’t make the route any shorter or easier to allow for this). Cleo invites a London pharmacist along who she thinks would suit Marnie well, and triathlete Tessa for Michael. When Tessa doesn’t show and Conrad scurries back to London at the first signs of rain, their focus is forced on each other. What follows is a gentle opening up, companionship in long distance walking, and a few geographical tidbits thrown in for good measure.

The opening chapter introduces us to Marnie, and the descriptions of how her world has shrunk with age and the isolation which is inherent in remote working are painfully relatable. At thirty eight she feels left behind by her friends who are happily married and distracted with raising a family. Even when she is invited to events, on the rare occasions she goes, she is aware of the awkwardness of being the divorcee of the group, and the quiet matchmaking that her friends inflict on her. As the book progresses we get an insight into her own unhappy marriage, and although she often presents it with a hint of humour it’s clear it has left deep wounds. Despite feeling too old to start again she embraces the opportunity of the walking holiday, feigning interest in Conrad’s Formula One obsession, persevering when the weather makes the walk more than unpleasant, and generally flitting around lightening the mood.

Michael’s marriage feels like a very different beast. Him and Natasha tried for a long time to get pregnant but this took its toll, and when a brutal attack left him physically and mentally scarred it pushed them too far and they separated. It feels like there’s still a lot of love between them and a genuine desire for the other to be happy. He continues to live in their marital home, some of her possessions still there, living what feels like a half life. He spends as much time out walking as possible, in part to escape a home that no longer feels like one. He is full of anxiety and struggles to talk about what’s led him to this point. When he does make an effort it is sweet and you hope that things will work out. Will the walk show him that nature will only go so far in healing, sharing it with another might just be the key. But is he ready to let go of the hope of reconciliation with Natasha?

Conrad may be a decoy for Marnie to begin with, but it’s clear to the reader that the potential romance will be with Michael. At the outset he hopes to continue the walk as if he were on his own, walking ahead of the rest of the group, but as numbers dwindle this becomes increasingly difficult. Marnie spends most of some of the days swearing at the mud and at him for lying to her about the challenges ahead, but he gradually learns to enjoy the company, and as her departure date approaches they’re both reluctant to bring the walk to an end. She teases him gently about his love of geography and finding what others see as quite boring to be of great interest. He listens to her open up with genuine interest and care.

The walk and landscape itself is central to the novel. The peace and companionship of walking with another, whether or not you’re talking, is well drawn, and the misery of being stuck miles from anywhere in wind and rain will be familiar to any keen hikers. Each accommodation is well described, with an ongoing joke about the wifi passwords, and it really brings to life the cosy pubs, the stodgy food, and attempts to keep your clothes dry before putting them on again the next day. This is not an idealised version of the English countryside but does highlight the camaraderie of long-distance walking and the friends you make along the way. 

A lovely, easy read which will put a smile on your face. The characters are believable, and although slightly frustrating at times, their backstories are shared enough that you understand what’s made them the way they are. A gentle love story that isn’t without its upsets, you long for them to find comfort in each other. 

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Small Batch Bakes, Edd Kimber

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Being a keen baker while living in a small household can mean endlessly having too many baked goods to reasonably eat before they go off, or determinedly munching your way through seemingly endless cake long past its best. Sure, you can try and scale down the recipe, awkwardly attempting to use half an egg, forgetting half way through that you’re meant to be halving quantities (just me?) and ending up with a less than perfect bake. Edd Kimber, the original Bake Off champion, offers the perfect solution with his 2022 book Small Batch Bakes. Each recipe is designed for one to six people, meaning you’re more likely to be wanting more than throwing away stale bakes. This ingenious book covers pastry, cookies, cakes, desserts, and breads, meaning there’s bound to be something that takes your fancy every time the baking bug hits. 

Kimber is keen that making small batches doesn’t mean lots of wasted ingredients. Often it feels like you can only buy ingredients in large quantities that don’t keep well, but he offers suggestions on how to cut down on this. He also signposts recipes that help use up ingredients, for example, for egg whites if you’ve only needed the yolks, a favourite inclusion for me as I find it so frustrating wasting these things. This is an incredibly well-thought out book which makes baking delicious treats a joy. 

The recipes themselves are wonderful, whether its an Emergency Chocolate Chip Cookie for one (my first bake from the book), a cinnamon bun loaf cake, or sour cherry galettes, they are of the highest standard. I bought this book only a couple of months ago and have already used it far more than some other recipe books that have been sat on my bookshelf for much longer. The variety and originality of the recipes combined with all the hard work already having been done to scale them down makes this the perfect book for any keen baker, and because the portions are smaller you have a good excuse to bake even more. I’m completely obsessed, and can’t wait to get my hands on his latest offering - Small Batch Cookies. 

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Remarkably Bright Creatures, Shelby Van Pelt

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Tova Sullivan spends her nights cleaning the local aquarium, despite all her friends encouraging her to finally retire at the age of 70. She feels the need to keep busy however, her son’s death at the age of 18 leaving her with a lingering grief, the recent loss of her husband to cancer, and even more recent, the loss of her estranged brother, has left her feeling more alone than ever. She enjoys her work at the aquarium and talks to the creatures in their tanks as she makes her way around the building. One night, however, she gets a surprise when she discovers Marcellus, the Giant Pacific Octopus that resides there, out of his tank and tangled in cables. She helps him back to his tank and thus begins a friendship that will have major impacts for both of them. Marcellus is not merely a side character, he narrates parts of the novel, counting his days of captivity, aware that the end of his life is drawing near. He observes the humans who come to see him and marvels at the things they miss that seem so obvious to him. The third main focus of the novel is  30 year old Cameron Cassmore, recently fired, again, and newly single after his girlfriend unceremoniously kicks him out. He finds himself back on the couch of his two childhood best friends, now married and expecting their first child, there is a sense that he has been left behind. His aunt Jeanne gives him a box of items from his mother, who he hasn’t seen since he was nine. He plans to pawn anything of value, but an old class ring and photograph leads him to believe he might finally be able to track down his father. When Cameron and Tova’s paths cross they have the opportunity to find what’s missing for them both, but will they see it before it’s too late, and can Marcellus help reveal what remains hidden to them?

Sowell Bay is a small community and everyone knows everyone else’s business, in no small part thanks to Ethan, the owner of the local grocery store. He may like to gossip, but his heart is in the right place. When Cameron turns up in a falling apart camper he helps him fix it up, and lets him park on his drive, offering him a sense of home in a strange town. Tova is quite private and doesn’t appreciate her business being shared, especially when it encourages others to think she needs to take life slower. She’s very conscious of the town knowing about her personal tragedies and not really knowing how to be around her. At a large gathering we see first hand how awkward conversations quickly become with a thoughtless comment. She’ll always be the woman who lost her teenage son, and although it’s painful, she would actually like people to talk to her about their memories of Erik, something they’re generally reluctant to do.

Cameron is introduced to us in a way that makes him seem irresponsible and a bit of a liability, but as we get to know him we see that he really does want to do the best he can but struggles to get past a low sense of self worth. Life in Sowell Bay seems to agree with him however, he manages to hold down a job at the aquarium for longer than any other job he’s had, and he even meets someone. Finding his father proves difficult however, and when he finally does meet the man he’s looking for things don’t fall into place as easily as he’d hoped. He almost lets his anger and disappointment get the better of him, but the people he has met in the Bay have taught him about responsibility. Tova spends time at the aquarium while he is there, and although he finds her very particular way of doing things somewhat frustrating to begin with, they form a friendship, and share the secret of Marcellus’s night-time wanderings.

Marcellus himself is an interesting character, causing slight chaos on his wanders, eating the other exhibits, although he thinks he’s careful never to eat too many. His narrative is amusing and very interesting as an alternative viewpoint. When we finally learn of how he came into captivity it also makes you question whether being ‘rescued’ is really the best outcome. He was injured and no doubt benefited from the opportunity to recuperate in the safety of the aquarium, but in doing so he was condemned to spend the rest of his life in captivity. We see the arrival of a new octopus toward the end of the novel, also injured and afraid, the owner excited to have a replacement for Marcellus when his inevitable end arrives. Throughout, the owner is shown to be knowledgable about the lives under his care, and that he genuinely wants to do his best for them, but it is important to think about how the living exhibits really feel. 

This is a warm book, with characters that you fall for. Central characters such as Erik and Cameron’s mum never appear directly but we see much of them through the recollections of others. They are important characters despite, or perhaps because of, their absence. It will make you think about family and friends and how easy it is to lose important connections in life, encouraging you to make the effort. You see the full range of life, from absent parents to loss, and concerns about what the end of your life will look like. Despite this, it doesn’t feel like a heavy book at all, but is emotional at times. A warm hug of a book, with a wonderful, unusual narrator.

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