reviewed by Chris Richards. This is the first of a new, incredibly special series of children books called the Monstrous Me Collection written by Liverpool based author Natalie Reeves-Billing and illustrated by Lisa Williams. I read this with my children (5 & 8) in week 5 of the Lockdown....
Book Review: Dark Mirror: Edward Snowden and the Surveillance State by Barton Gellman
reviewed by Charlie Hislop. It was one of those moments, not unlike Wikileaks and Chelsea Manning, or the Panama Papers, when the sordid workings of the powerful are laid bare for everyone to see. In the case of Edward Snowden and the US National Security Agency, it was the...
The Children’s Isolation Book Project
EDITED: New deadline, updated to state 1st June 2020. by Chris Richards. May Day! May Day! Juliette Jones: Editorial Services are compiling a book of stories written by our children and the closing date is approaching fast! Juliette Jones is a wonderful woman with a name reminiscent of a...
Book review: The Mayflower Missing by Ed Harris
reviewed by Richard Jones. For a man who loves maritime history, I didn’t know much about the Mayflower until recently save for the basic facts. I was delighted to finally get a chance to read about this important period of history that is arguably, a household name. Picking up...
Book review: Watching From the Dark by Gytha Lodge
reviewed by Chris Richards. I like this book; I think if you like police procedurals, whodunnits and murder mysteries of the digestible, moreish ilk then you’ll like it too. It opens with a chilly, neurotic prologue. It reads as a fly on the wall account of the murder report....
Event: There is no Planet B, Southampton University
by Chris Richards. UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE CURRENT CONCERNS OVER COVID-19, THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED. If you have applied for tickets, you will receive an email directly. There is no Planet B Sat, 14 March 2020. 19:00 – 20:30. University of Southampton, Highfield Campus Ask the experts! An...
Last night’s review: Swan Lake, Mayflower Theatre
reviewed by Chris Richards. Birmingham Royal Ballet dance while Royal Ballet Sinfonia play – a winning formula which produces engaging and dramatic characterisation. The exquisitely executed artistic performances tell a heart felt, tragic love story. Tchaikovsky’s musical score and Sir Peter Wright and Galina Samsova’s production are inseparable in...
Book review: The Book of Echoes by Rosanna Amaka
reviewed by Frances Churchward. This is Amaka’s first novel and is somewhat unusual because it is narrated by the spirit of a slave woman, taken from Africa, who managed to escape from the plantation, where she had been a slave over two hundred years ago and who has been...
Entertainment Review: Dick Whittington, Theatre Royal Winchester
by Chris Richards. Dick Whittington at the Theatre Royal Winchester is the very best example of a modern, festive, family pantomime. It’s difficult to put into words what exactly made this performance so right and joyful. It was not too political, not too cynical and there was absolutely no...
Book review: A-Z of Southampton: People-Places-History, Martin Brisland
by Sarah Groszewski. Martin Brisland is a highly experienced, qualified local tour guide and founder of See Southampton, so it stands to reason that his latest book, A-Z of Southampton Places-People-History is full of interesting and little-known facts. There seems to be a booming market for local history and...