“A veritable Tonypandemonium, full to the brim with bright life and vivid character, all told with oodles of humour and tongue-in-cheek self-awareness.
With a Chaucerian cast of characters such as Dai Toads, the dictatorial teacher, and dedicated layabouts MauMau and Parrot, this novel places Tonypandy Square as the centre of the universe and witnesses life whirl all around it.
It’s a pulsing story for the ages gathered from a small town which claims a big place in Welsh history just as it does in one boy’s clearly aching, breaking heart.”
I loved reading about Megan, a young Welsh girl growing up on the border with England in a farming community. Set in the 50s and 60s it showed the prejudices of the time - women couldn't be farmers, they had to be wives and mothers. Megan does her best to buck this trend and even manages to go to London for a time, where she learns more about equality, fairness and marching for what you believe in.
Lots of good characters and a story where you are really rooting for Megan and what she wants and believes in.
Thank you to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this book. The story of Megan Owen and her family on the farm in Wales. Megan grows from a young girl to 17 by the end. Great descriptions of Wales and life on the farm, Megan’s love for gypsy Iolo, a visit to London where life becomes bigger. A great coming of age story
A fabulous read. Couldn’t put it down… fully formed characters you can empathise with, dialogue that made me chuckle, and a plot which lends itself to any number of twists and turns.
The whole book affirms the importance of education for the individual and for society: every school child, student and professional educator should read this book; it is an inspiration.
The reflections on growing up in a south Wales valley resonate with my own early years recollections of a close knit family severely impacted by traumatic loss.
5 Stars. Excellent gripping read.
This book is quite captivating. Vivid yet subtly written characters draw you into Flora's story(ies). Written with warmth,honesty,insight and a great eye for detail The Wedding Thief is a great read,involving and gripping. Not afraid of a difficult subject,there are tears,anger and humour. It will stay with you. Highly recommended.
5 Stars. Fascinating insight into a woman's journey through mental health challenges.
So much to think about, process and ponder on with this fascinating and gripping book. It will stay with me for a while as I try to disect all the threads, causes and affects. Be a great book club choice! Plenty to discuss. A brave write and a great read.
Simon has the most wonderful writing style reflecting his thoughts, about so many aspects of life. Whether you enjoy fishing or not these reflective thoughts which aren’t all directly fish related can so easily apply to all of us. Simons observations of the world around him are beautifully put into words.
The novel has a wonderful sense of time and place. Having grown up in the valleys in the 1960s and 70s , the dialogue reflected the cadences of elderly great aunts and uncles, who would have been young adults during the Great War. Oh, the hiraeth!
Phil Morgans really is a first class storyteller. The story is skilfully woven around the hardships of the time and the horror of life in the trenches. A well written and entertaining book.
Overall I thought the book was exceptionally well written and portrayed a good mix of light humour and joy but also much heartbreak. An amazing story excellently told.
A fantastic new sci-fi book with great characters and amazing world building. Fast enough paced to keep the reader engaged, and to be honest I would love to read more of this sort of story.
The Great Welsh Auntie Novel
“A veritable Tonypandemonium, full to the brim with bright life and vivid character, all told with oodles of humour and tongue-in-cheek self-awareness.
With a Chaucerian cast of characters such as Dai Toads, the dictatorial teacher, and dedicated layabouts MauMau and Parrot, this novel places Tonypandy Square as the centre of the universe and witnesses life whirl all around it.
It’s a pulsing story for the ages gathered from a small town which claims a big place in Welsh history just as it does in one boy’s clearly aching, breaking heart.”
On the Border
I loved reading about Megan, a young Welsh girl growing up on the border with England in a farming community. Set in the 50s and 60s it showed the prejudices of the time - women couldn't be farmers, they had to be wives and mothers. Megan does her best to buck this trend and even manages to go to London for a time, where she learns more about equality, fairness and marching for what you believe in.
Lots of good characters and a story where you are really rooting for Megan and what she wants and believes in.
On the Border
Thank you to the Pigeonhole for the opportunity to read this book. The story of Megan Owen and her family on the farm in Wales. Megan grows from a young girl to 17 by the end. Great descriptions of Wales and life on the farm, Megan’s love for gypsy Iolo, a visit to London where life becomes bigger. A great coming of age story
The Land, The Land
Beautifully written… complete with a few astounding surprises… an absolutely enjoyable novel from beginning to end.
The Land, The Land
A fabulous read. Couldn’t put it down… fully formed characters you can empathise with, dialogue that made me chuckle, and a plot which lends itself to any number of twists and turns.
The Journey Within
The whole book affirms the importance of education for the individual and for society: every school child, student and professional educator should read this book; it is an inspiration.
The Journey Within
The reflections on growing up in a south Wales valley resonate with my own early years recollections of a close knit family severely impacted by traumatic loss.
The Wedding Thief
5 Stars. Absolutely Brilliant
I cannot praise this book too much, I read it in one sitting it was so well written and captivating.
The Wedding Thief
5 Stars. Excellent gripping read.
This book is quite captivating. Vivid yet subtly written characters draw you into Flora's story(ies). Written with warmth,honesty,insight and a great eye for detail The Wedding Thief is a great read,involving and gripping. Not afraid of a difficult subject,there are tears,anger and humour. It will stay with you. Highly recommended.
The Wedding Thief
5 Stars. Fascinating insight into a woman's journey through mental health challenges.
So much to think about, process and ponder on with this fascinating and gripping book. It will stay with me for a while as I try to disect all the threads, causes and affects. Be a great book club choice! Plenty to discuss. A brave write and a great read.
Waiting for a Hunter's Moon
Simon has the most wonderful writing style reflecting his thoughts, about so many aspects of life. Whether you enjoy fishing or not these reflective thoughts which aren’t all directly fish related can so easily apply to all of us. Simons observations of the world around him are beautifully put into words.
Loss is More
The novel has a wonderful sense of time and place. Having grown up in the valleys in the 1960s and 70s , the dialogue reflected the cadences of elderly great aunts and uncles, who would have been young adults during the Great War. Oh, the hiraeth!
Loss is More
Phil Morgans really is a first class storyteller. The story is skilfully woven around the hardships of the time and the horror of life in the trenches. A well written and entertaining book.
Loss is More
Overall I thought the book was exceptionally well written and portrayed a good mix of light humour and joy but also much heartbreak. An amazing story excellently told.
Doom of Stars
A fantastic new sci-fi book with great characters and amazing world building. Fast enough paced to keep the reader engaged, and to be honest I would love to read more of this sort of story.