Eva Jordan | Fenlandphil's Blog

Archive for the ‘Eva Jordan’ Category

12 Nov

A Gift Called Hope by Eva Jordan a review.

Posted by fenlandphil in A Gift Called Hope, Book Review, Eva Jordan. Tagged: Book, Book Review, Novel, The Catcher in the Rye. 6 comments

Jill who is estranged from her husband, has moved to a seaside town to run a mobile, beachside, vegetarian, snack bar.

She is caring for her young grandson, Jack but grieving for her son, Davey, Jack’s father. As Christmas nears; the anniversary of her son’s death, Jill struggles to cope with her conflicting emotions, trying to give Jack the best possible Christmas she can while dealing with the still rawness of her grief.

I am certain this story will stay with me for a very long time. It moved me in a way that surprised me. It is beautifully written, the characters are believable and well-drawn. The end is satisfying, living up to the title

The only other book that has affected me in the same way as A Gift Called Hope; is “The Catcher in the Rye” by J D Salinger.

That I remember so much of The Catcher in the Rye after reading it just once, fifty years ago, speaks volumes.

Like Catcher in the Rye, this story is about loss and the grief that accompanies the loss of a loved one.

Reaching an accommodation with loss is a bumpy road; this book describes that journey with tenderness and humanity.

It is a truly remarkable book.

26 Mar

Writing a book? My advice? Let’s Ask The Experts

Posted by fenlandphil in Eva Jordan. 1 comment

A mention from an author I admire greatly and this after a fantastic review from the same lady, I am so chuffed.

Eva Jordan

“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”––George Orwell

Over the last few years, I’ve had the privilege of interviewing some amazing authors. Each one different, but all equally fascinating. However, I always end my interviews with the same question, namely, what’s your advice to anyone thinking of writing a book or taking up writing? So, this month, I thought I’d take some of those fabulous responses and put them here, in one helpful, and hopefully inspiring article.

The only advice that is guaranteed to be correct is to pick up your pen and begin. Then you are a writer, whatever anyone says. ––Ross Greenwood

It’s a real cliché but read. Read in your genre and out of…

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26 Nov

Book Review – Killing Time in Cambridge by Philip Cumberland

Posted by fenlandphil in Book Review, Cambridge, Eva Jordan, Killing Time in Cambridge, Stephen Hawking. Tagged: Book, Book Review, Cambridge, Ely, The fens. 3 comments

A book review and a Q&A, thank you for your kindness and generosity Eva.

Eva Jordan

“AI is likely to be either the best or worst thing to happen to humanity”––Stephen Hawking

This month I interviewed local author (to me) Philip Cumberland (see here), who is also one of the coordinators and founding members of a local U3A Writing Group, Whittlesey Wordsmiths. As well as a contributing author of several anthologies written by the group, Philip has also recently published his debut novel, KillingTime in Cambridge, and this is my review.

The story opens with an axe wielding knight of old, dressed in full body armour, clanking down the corridor of a software company, who then hacks down the office door of the managing director, demanding to know who the ‘master’ is. The poor MD then has a heart attack, the knight disappears, and a short time later the building is besieged by medieval catapults. At this juncture, we are introduced to…

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22 Nov

Eva Jordan in conversation with writer Philip Cumberland.

Posted by fenlandphil in Book, Book Review, Eva Jordan, Killing Time in Cambridge. Tagged: Book Review, Cambridge, Ely, Novel, The fens. Leave a comment

A fantastic review from the outstanding author Eva Jordan.

Eva Jordan

This month I’m chatting to local author Philip Cumberland. As one of the founding members of a local writing group, Phil reached out to me several years ago to ask if I’d be interested in reviewing a book the group had put together called Where the Wild Winds Blow: an eclectic mix of fact and fiction, featuring short stories, poems, and memoirs, contributed by the various members of the Whittlesey Wordsmiths. Honoured, I said I’d love to. Since then, Philip has released his own debut novel, Killing Time in Cambridge, which was also my choice for this month’s book review.

Welcome Phil, thanks for being my guest. Can you tell everyone a bit about yourself?

Thank you for inviting me, Eva.

I grew up in Huntingdon and have lived in Cambridgeshire all my life, the last thirty-five years in Whittlesey.

I was originally a motor mechanic, then an…

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11 Jan

183 Times A year a review

Posted by fenlandphil in 183 Times A Year, Book, Book Review, Eva Jordan. Tagged: All the Colours in Between, Book, EvaJordan, Time Will Tell. 3 comments

183 Times A Year by Eva Jordan

Although 183 Times a Year is Eva Jordan’s first novel I read All the Colours In between, her second book, before reading this.

First novels aren’t often as good as later work, a writer improves as they practice their craft. I was not therefore sure what to expect of 183 Times A Year.

We are introduced to Lizzie and her blended family, their daily struggles and Lizzie’s challenges in caring for them. It is beautifully told and her finely drawn characters inhabit the imagination of the reader with their presence. The mark of a master story teller for me.

It is a cracking read, a brilliant first novel, as excellent as, All the Colours in Between, itself a masterpiece, certainly one of the best books I have read.

Time Will Tell, Eva’s third novel, is in my “To be Read” pile and I fully expect it to be as good as Eva’s other two books.

My fiction reading is usually crime or espionage novels and some science fiction, my nonfiction reading, mainly history.

Eva’s books are ones that in the past I would not normally read, these are a departure for me.

I am pleased to have read 183 Times a Year and All the Colours in Between, they are fantastically well written books and more moving than I thought possible, certainly for a man of my advanced years.

Eva Jordan is an exceptionally good writer, I look forward to seeing more of her work. if you haven’t read anything by this talented lady you need to remedy that straight away.

19 Jan

All the Colours in Between

Posted by fenlandphil in All the Colours in Between, Book, Book Review, Eva Jordan. Tagged: author, Book. Leave a comment

Book cover of All the Colours in Between

All the Colours in Between

Written by Eva Jordan

Lizzie Lemalf is an author, a mum, a step mum and daughter of ageing parents.

Her parents, children, husband, ex-husband and those she cares for jostle for her time as she pursues her writing career. A career embarked on later in life. Her success and growing recognition as an author are balanced by the trials, pressures and joys of family life.

The reader becomes immersed in lives of the finely drawn characters inhabiting this novel’s pages. All the Colours In Between gives us the opportunity to share the pleasures, triumphs and emotions of Lizzie and her family; making their way not only in the world but through life.

The story deals with the contemporary difficult issues that affect many of us, our families, friends and those we care for. Eva’s observations are keen, incisive and informative.

It is a long time, a very long time indeed that I have experienced the empathy or shared the feelings I felt for Lizzie and her family. Eva has highlighted the permanent nature of parenthood. She explores the complex emotional nature of relationships, doing so with great insight, skill and eloquence.

All the Colours in Between is an exceptionally well-written book. I could pile superlative, after superlative on top of that sentence but those few words sum it up: It is for me at least, truly exceptional.

This is one of the very best books I have read.

Fenlandphil's Blog A blog from the low country

Archive for the ‘Eva Jordan’ Category

A Gift Called Hope by Eva Jordan a review.

Writing a book? My advice? Let’s Ask The Experts

“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”––George Orwell

Book Review – Killing Time in Cambridge by Philip Cumberland

“AI is likely to be either the best or worst thing to happen to humanity”––Stephen Hawking

Eva Jordan in conversation with writer Philip Cumberland.

183 Times A year a review

All the Colours in Between

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Fenlandphil's Blog A blog from the low country

Archive for the ‘Eva Jordan’ Category

A Gift Called Hope by Eva Jordan a review.

Writing a book? My advice? Let’s Ask The Experts

“Writing a book is a horrible, exhausting struggle, like a long bout with some painful illness. One would never undertake such a thing if one were not driven on by some demon whom one can neither resist nor understand.”––George Orwell

Book Review – Killing Time in Cambridge by Philip Cumberland

“AI is likely to be either the best or worst thing to happen to humanity”­­––Stephen Hawking

Eva Jordan in conversation with writer Philip Cumberland.

183 Times A year a review

All the Colours in Between

Search

Archives

Blogs I Follow

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Recent Posts

Copyright Notice

“AI is likely to be either the best or worst thing to happen to humanity”––Stephen Hawking