From blossom trails to bluebell woods, and foraging to farm stays, here are some of the finest seasonal getaways Read More
Blog Directory > Books & Literature Blogs > Julian Worker UK Blog books-and-literature Blog >
Julian Worker Uk Blog Blog
1
Blogarama's Sponsor
Tags:
My blog for UK related items relating to travel, books, literature, and creativity.
“My, my,” said Knowles to himself, “I thought my place was a time capsule, but it’s got nothing on this.”
He looked at the matching Staffor… Read More
The two men started to walk over to the eastern wall of the monastery’s refectory where the body had been found an hour earlier by Bingo the retriever, out on a long walk with his owne… Read More
Detective Sergeant Rod Barnes surveyed the remains of Manton Rempville monastery with incredulity. He’d heard that 100,000 pounds had been spent on preserving the ruins and he couldn&r… Read More
Knowles screwed up his face with doubt and rubbed his chin. Barnes nodded.
“Well, that’s a theory,” said Knowles,”but, she must have been drunk or blind. Strong to… Read More
On the rest of this today and the next today the humans packed and unpacked their bags several times each and changed their suitcases twice. This suggests indecision to me, but they eventual… Read More
This year’s hiking events cover everything from vineyard strolls to foraging safaris and coastal routes with spectacular views Read More
“Hello Freddie and Gemma, how are you, and who were your friends?”
“Hello Rufus, how’s the flying going? Are you going further?” I ask.
“I am increa… Read More
Mystical and atmospheric sites from County Fermanagh to Cornwall Read More
“Good morning, Sergeant Barnes,” said Knowles, “you are even more pleased with yourself than normal, what’s causing the broad smile?”
“Good morning, si… Read More
“Can I have some books, please?” I ask politely, “a nice variety of books, fiction, geography, comedies, business, that sort of thing.”
“Yes, we’ve hea… Read More
“Will you remove the dye after the mission is completed?” I ask, “just so my humans will recognise me when I come back? I wouldn’t want them to think the cat sitter h… Read More
South-west Wales is a naturalist’s playground, and early spring is the perfect time to explore its coastal paths, wild flowers and treasured birdlife Read More
“Well, Freddie and Gemma,” says Arabella, “does our little idea meet with your approval?”
“It does in principle,” I say, “but we need to know mor… Read More
“I heard my name mentioned, sir,” said Smythe, putting her phone down.
“You organised Mahoney, Linda?” asked Knowles.
“Indeed, sir, he likes flowers appar… Read More
William Marble is a bank clerk. He is short of money. A chance visit from a well-off distant relative provides him with an opportunity to solve his financial woes. The relative is buried in… Read More
“And who are the people on the other side?” I ask, “the people you need my help against?”
Arabella and Aubrey then go into a long explanation of my role and Gemma… Read More
Geoffrey of Monmouth completed this book in 1136. It traces the story of the kings of Britain from Brutus – the great-grandson of Aeneas who escaped from Troy – to Cadwallader wh… Read More
“Well, that’s true, as usual you are right Freddie,” replies Reg, “so go ahead Arabella and Aubrey, let Freddie know what your suggestion is.”
“Thank y… Read More
The region between the Cairngorms and the Moray Firth is rightly famous for its whisky, but that is just one of its many charms Read More
I scamper over the floor and jump onto the counter. I say ‘Good Morning’ to the primroses and all the cacti on the window sill. The previously grumpy primrose returns my greeting… Read More
Chapter 1 – Scoresby Police Station – Monday 8:15 am
“Good morning, Linda,” said Detective Inspector Colin Knowles as he strolled into the office. Knowles was happ… Read More
I am dreaming about sitting on top of The Eiffel Tower contemplating my existence. As you can deduce, the height of the object I’m sitting on in my dreams is increasing and soon it wil… Read More
Hello fellow book readers.
It’s been 60 todays since I last wrote anything down that I wanted to share with you. I’ve been keeping my paw in by writing down what’s… Read More
This excerpt is from the book entitled 40 Strange Groups available here on Amazon
=============
This society recently celebrated its 40th anniversary by holding a special spoon-bending… Read More
From the wilds of Exmoor to the blustery beaches of Northumberland, these characterful pubs offer walks on the doorstep, a pint by the fire, dinner and a bed for the night Read More
A short book containing three stories telling of deadly premonitions, the interception of dreams, and spectres bearing warnings.
The stories are called ‘To Be Read at Dusk’, … Read More
The Adventures of Tom Bombadil and Other Verses from the Red Book was published on 22nd November 1962.
In the first part of The Lord of the Rings, Frodo, Sam, Merry, and Pippin are crossi… Read More
Shingle beach, drained farmland or a bare plain under huge skies; flat spaces distort distance Read More
An absolutely fascinating article in the New Statesman Christmas and New Year special about the evolution of the English language and the work of Hana Videen.
A favourite Old English wor… Read More
I’m not sure if you write reviews on Google for places you’ve visited both at home and abroad, but it would appear the AI algorithm used to check the content has some very strang… Read More
A retired teacher has had her pension payments stopped four times because her pension provider repeatedly refuses to accept that she is not dead.
Once again, I had to check that today was… Read More
These easy meal hacks will boost your energy levels and sharpen your mind Read More
Written by Sax Rohmer in 1920, this book is a good yarn. It’s a compelling story where you more or less know whodunit early on in the story, but it’s a question of why they did i… Read More
Top attractions from cycling, canoeing and surfing to fashion, culture and art – plus an aerial adventure on top of the Principality Stadium Read More
As Sir David realises he’s helped unearth a new pliosaur, the years fall away until the 97-year-old is a schoolboy fossil hunter once more. Talk about truly exciting television Read More
Jessica Daley is an absolute star. She rushed to the rescue after Curve theatre in Leicester put out a call for someone who knew the role Read More
Yes, you read that right here’s a mouse tidying up a photographer’s workbench in his shed in Builth Wells, Wales.
I wonder what the mouse’s hourly rate is? Read More
Dorset hillside chalk figure was originally a muster station for West Saxon armies fending off Vikings, experts suggest in this article Read More
There are six Inspector Knowles books set in and around Goat Parva, Manton Rempville, Willougby Waterless, and Melton Lazars. Where are these places you might ask? Well, they’re in my… Read More
This essay is partly a review of the books of Charles Dickens but is mostly about the man who was Charles Dickens the author and why he was so appealing, someone who was read by the working… Read More
In the New Statesman, Dr Phil Whitaker wrote a great article about anaesthesia associates (AA) and physician associates (PA). These two roles were introduced in 2003.
They were originall… Read More
A walk threading through the city follows in the footsteps of the Yorkist king vanquished in 1485, whose remains were found – beneath a car park – in 2012 Read More
This excerpt is from the book entitled The Goat Parva Murders an English Murder Mystery book set in the countryside and stars two policemen who have been working together for a few years and… Read More
From a farmer’s market in Clitheroe to freshly-landed fish in Porthleven, these lesser-known spots for gastronomes offer a perfect flavour-filled break Read More
Some thoughts from magazines I’ve read these past few days.
These are from The New Statesman written by Andrew Marr.
The original Cloud of Unknowing, written by a priest in the… Read More
Quintuple plusgood. What else can you say?
I think this is the third time I’ve read this book and it never ceases to amaze. Orwell completed the first draft of this book at Barnhill… Read More
A two-day adventure by rail offers iron age hill forts, Offa’s Dyke and a local straight out of The Archers Read More
Mrs and Mr Drachen have a daughter called Wendy.
Wendy is a five-foot high dragon who wears gloves to cover her claws. She has rather rounded shoulders as her wings have evolved into wha… Read More
Industrial heritage in a place I used to live Read More
Sandy beaches, glorious vistas and a bustling high street add to the charm of this pretty seaside town just half an hour from Edinburgh Read More
Mrs and Mr Drachen have a daughter called Wendy.
Wendy is a five-foot high dragon who wears gloves to cover her claws. She has rather rounded shoulders as her wings have evolved into wha… Read More
Eric Ambler is the Agatha Christie of thriller writers – there’s never been a better one and this story proves the point as any one of the guests at the Reserve pension on the Fr… Read More
I think Karen Armstrong is the best writer in the world.
This book is utterly amazing. It’s a biography of The Bible first published in 2007. It is difficult to take in all that&rsq… Read More
If you were inconvenienced in the UK recently by Storm Babet and your train journey was cancelled, did you get a refund from the company you booked the ticket(s) through?
My experience wa… Read More
This is a very strange book on one hand and fascinating on the other. Characters are introduced in almost every chapter but they’re never described, in fact the main character is never… Read More
A brilliant book about a man who had the potential to be one of the great Prime Ministers of the UK and had the opportunities to be, but ultimately let himself down due to his self-centredne… Read More
The full title of this book is “A Brief History of The Hundred Years War”.
Actually, the war lasted 116 years but towards the end the English were a defeated army and perhaps… Read More
I went to Jura in April and I really liked the place a lot, especially the staff at the Jura Hotel who are incredibly friendly and helpful. This hotel is opposite the Jura distillery and so… Read More
This is a book of 12 short stories by P.G. Wodehouse. The first six are excellent as they involve the familiar characters of Blandings Castle such as Lord Emsworth, his son Freddie Threepwoo… Read More
The star of this book is the treacherous Skeleton Coast where the action takes place at two different periods in history, in the 1950s and during WWII.
Geoffrey Peace is the skipper of a… Read More
Graham Greene wrote The Tenth Man in 1944 when he was under a two-year contract with MGM. The manuscript lay forgotten in their archives until 1983 . It was published two years later.
Thi… Read More
John Creasey wrote more than six hundred novels using twenty-eight different pseudonyms during his career as a novelist.
This is one of the Chief Inspector Roger West books known alternat… Read More
Frank Close is Professor Emeritus of Theoretical Physics, and Fellow Emeritus at Exeter College at Oxford University. He was formerly Head of Theoretical Physics Division at the Rutherford A… Read More
This novel is set in a small town in Ireland and follows the thoughts of Bill Furlong, a coal and timber merchant who is married with five daughters. He works hard but life is still a strugg… Read More
The Shipping Forecast is a much-loved part of the British cultural landscape with an avid following of listeners, most of whom aren’t affected by the news it provides.
This book des… Read More
These places will NOT be found an any map or in any atlas.
This book describes a large number of little-known tourist sights from around the world. A book for the discerning traveller who… Read More
The Greeks were going to use a real horse at Troy until…
This is the diary of a time-travelling health and safety executive who tries to stop accidents through history before they… Read More
Aldous should have toned down his inclination to use his wide vocabulary in favour of a more mantra-like style that would have been more in keeping with the ideas in the book.
This book d… Read More
I’m a bit behind in reading my New Statesman magazines, so it was only on 8th April that I read the above article from the 10-16 March 2023 edition of the magazine written by Adrian Pa… Read More
This is a superb book written by a very brave man.
The background is this. Bill Browder is an American-born British financier and political activist. He is the CEO and co-founder of Hermi… Read More
A superb PG Wodehouse story where aged golfer Sir Hugo Drake falls for the shot-making abilities of a beautiful woman doctor called, you’ve guessed it, Dr Sally Smith.
The thing is… Read More
This is a real page turner.
An old wooden ship is trapped in the Antarctic ice. It set sail from Argentina to the Falkland Islands two years after the war between the UK and Argentina was… Read More
Karl Braun is a cultured German gentleman who works as a piano tuner in the London of the mid 1960s. Many of his fellow emigres assume like them he fled to England to avoid the Nazis.
In… Read More
This is the third novel in the original Laidlaw trilogy.
The death of his brother Scott in an apparent accident – Scott was drunk and hit by a car driven by a newsagent – has… Read More
5 Days in the life of an English office – you can buy it here
There’s lots of banter and insults flying around in this story.
One person goes to the wrong place for the weekend… Read More
The first James Bond book that Ian Fleming wrote and I recognised some of the details from the 2006 film of the same name.
Le Chiffre is a nearly bankrupt member of the secretive SMERSH o… Read More
Do YOU have trouble putting IKEA furniture together? Yes? There’s a Buddhist group who can help in this book, which is available at a discount between 28th February and 7th March.
Thes… Read More
Thomas Paine was one of the greatest advocates of freedom in history and his Declaration of the Rights of Man, first published in 1791, is the cornerstone of his reputation.
Christopher H… Read More
How did the Yeti receive its name?
Find out in this book – available at a discount between 17th February and 24th February.
You can also read:
an obituary of a WWII flying ace who fell… Read More
Lawrence Durrell had a lifelong interest in and sympathy for the philosophy of Taoism. Since he read the Tao Te Ching which contains a description of the great motor of the universe and its… Read More
This was the first time I’d read a book by Neil Gaiman.
This is more of a fairy tale than say Terry Pratchett’s books.
In Stardust we have the story of Tristan Thorn who li… Read More
This is a fine read, a really good story, set in 1934 in which we’re introduced to the character called Ginger, who’s a really imaginative thinker and notices things that Biggles… Read More
Scholarship.
I’m seriously thinking about putting all my other books that I want to read in a massive pile somewhere and just reading this author’s work one after another unti… Read More
First published in Great Britain in 1937, The Hobbit must be one of the most influential books of the first half of the 20th Century and should be read by anyone who enjoys a good story… Read More
Nicolas Whistler is a young man who lives in digs in London and spends most of his spare cash on his car. He has a girlfriend that he rather likes and a job he doesn’t like. He regular… Read More
Who would have thought that the number of cats in a particular area would impact Red Clover density?
He who believes in the struggle for existence and in the principle of natural selectio… Read More
This story is not what I was expecting.
In general usage, Kraken refers to a sea monster such as a large octopus or squid. In this story, there is something in the oceans of the world but… Read More
Gwynne Dyer is a superb writer and I feel tremendously informed after reading his work. It’s no different with this superb book on the history of warfare in terms of tactics, technolog… Read More
This is the first Biggles book I’ve ever read and I am genuinely impressed.
Obviously, Biggles is always going to triumph and isn’t going to be shot dead or shot down in his a… Read More
A book on life in an English office called Office Life is available at a discount from 8th December to 14th December. 5 Days in the life of an English office There’s lots of bante… Read More
Where is Freddie?
Is he in the washing machine or under the bath, behind the dry stone wall, or trying to climb the tall tree in the corner of the garden?
Freddie was a cat who loved b… Read More
My book Keeping in Touch is available here at a discount from 6th December to 13th December.
We are closer to those further away than to those nearer to us.
A story about communication… Read More
This is an extremely long thriller at over 550 pages. It needs to be though as there are so many characters not all of whom are what they seem to be at first appearance.
The good people a… Read More
This is a superb story from Alan Bennett. As I read this, I was able to imagine listening to an audiobook of this story narrated by the author and loving the inflections of his voice.
The… Read More
I’ve read a few books about Rorke’s Drift and this is one I will be keeping in my library. The book covers aspects of the battle not previously covered in anything else I’v… Read More
This is a book mainly set in The Balkans in the middle of World War II. Three Yugoslavs set out from Rome to warn The Partisans about the German battle plan that will soon be launched agains… Read More
This is Julian Barnes’s first book and it’s in three parts.
The first and third sections are set in Metroland – a strip of suburbia in outer London – in 1963 and 1… Read More
The original text for this book first appeared in Punch magazine but was turned into a book and published in 1892.
Weedon Grossmith drew the illustrations that illuminate this book.
Th… Read More
I really do appreciate the Blandings Castle books of PG Wodehouse.
The characters are larger than life and magnificent in their individual traits.
Here both of the pigs vying for the S… Read More