Red Room Book Reviews

GENRE - Children's fiction (9-11 years), adventure, fantasy.  FIRST PUBLISHED - 1961 PUBLISHED BY - Alfred A Knopf (Our version published in 2016 by Puffin Books) THEMES - Friendship. Magic. Adventure. Child neglect/abuse. Bereavement/parent loss. Isolation. Acceptance. Travel.  PLOT - At four years old, James lost his parents, who were eaten by a rhinoceros that escaped from London zoo. An orphan, he goes to live with his horrid aunts who keep James a prisoner in their house, making him do chore after chore. They do not allow him to go anywhere, not even to school. James is sad and lonely.  One day, after three years of living with his aunts, something magical happens and James is filled with hope. A giant peach begins to grow in the garden, and inside it live giant bugs, who are ready to escape with James, far away from his mean aunties. James begins a magical adventure of friendship, wonderous discoveries and dangers he must use bravery and creativity to champion....

GENRE - Coming of age, historical fiction, novella. FIRST PUBLISHED - 31/10/2024 PUBLISHED BY -  Jonathan Cape, London THEMES -  Coming of age, status, post-war Britain, social class, society, relationships, parents, romance, parties, youth, marriage, patriarchy, male vs female. PLOT -  The setting is post-war Bristol. It's winter time, and sisters, Moira and Evelyn go to a party at a dockside pub where they meet the equally sophisticated and irritating, Paul and Sinden. Sinden later invites them to Paul's mansion which he shares with his brother and sister. Evelyn is reluctant but agrees to go for Moira, who is eager to show off her design work and make an impression. The party ends in an unexpected way for the sisters and they leave a little differently to how they arrived. MY REFLECTIONS -  This is the kind of book that may feel as if nothing much is happening plot wise, however,  emotionally, psychologically, a lot is going on. Fans of Virginia Woolf's writi...