book reviews Remember My Name

by Jennifer Pulling

It is Amy Armstrong's second year in Rome. The vibrant city has captured her heart, but so has the handsome, enigmatic Davide, whose inexplicable absence after their whirlwind romance has left Amy bereft and insecure.

With his parting words “remember my name” etched indelibly on her heart, Amy has thrown herself into work, selling her original blends of spices from her stall in a local market and volunteering at Largo Argentina cat sanctuary, where she finds solace among the displaced felines.

Her loyalties are tested, however, upon the arrival of Giorgio Bevacqua. Relaxed and easy going, Giorgio coaxes Amy, little by little, back into enjoying life in the city she calls home.

Around the same time as Giorgio's appearance a spate of fatal attacks on Rome's feral cat population is causing deep concern among the cat rescue community, as well as those like Father Bruno of St Michael's Church who cares for a small colony of cats. In the absence of any official action to track down and stop this insidious cat poisoner, Amy and her cat-loving cohorts take matters into their own hands. Several brief sightings and near encounters confirm that they are closing

Meridian

A Walk from Sussex to Yorkshire

by Matt Birch

In July 2021 Matt Birch set out to walk along the Greenwich Meridian, a route determined by an abstract concept rather than natural features, and completed in stages over four seasons.

When bookshop owner Matt Birch made the decision to walk from Sussex to Yorkshire his reason for undertaking such an excursion was unclear. Was this a burning desire to conquer the wilds of Eastern England? Perhaps he was doing it for charity. Or was it to challenge his own fitness and navigational ability? Apparently not. It was, as he explains in the book's Introduction, “because I simply liked the idea of a long walk”.

The result is a fascinating account of his journey, done in four stages across four seasons and written between these stages in his own bookshop in Lewes. “An episodic style emerged,” says Birch, “mixing local in on their target, but rather than encouraging Amy they throw up more questions, adding to her doubt and confusion.

Then, out of the blue, a phone call from Davide put the proverbial cat among the pigeons. Was he coming back? What about Giorgio, of whom Amy was becoming more and more fond? Who would the cat-killer turn out to be, and would he be brought to justice? More than ever before Amy needs the support and understanding of her close friends.

The sequel to Jennifer Pulling's novel 'If You Loved Me', 'Remember My Name' revisits key themes, old enmities are brought to the present and opportunities for resolution arise, but questions still remain. Above all, the author has once again evoked the unique blend of classical traditions and architecture, modern café culture, Italian family values and fast-paced living that is Rome, the Eternal City, a worthy backdrop for this romance-whodunit. More than ever, a spell in Rome is on my bucket list...

Remember My Name is available from Amazon and for more information about the author visit www.jenniferpulling.co.uk history and en route anecdote; prosebreaking with my own photographs and verse.”

With each page of text facing an accompanying photograph we follow the author along the Prime Meridian, from the familiar (to me) Sussex coast up over the Downs and into the Weald, where he paints a brief but evocative image of meadows gone by and muses on their current fate.

His writing, concise yet rich and full of intriguing, and often humorous, snippets painted such a picture that I immediately felt an urge to visit the places more unfamiliar to me; the Hertfordshire village of Braughing, for example, with its Iron Age roots and story of a parishioner being very nearly buried alive, leading to a custom practiced to this day. The flat Cambridgeshire fens, this leg walked in chilly February, harbour compelling stories of 'Fennish rebels', a slice of this country's history I knew nothing about.

Interspersed with his observations of the passing landscape and its historical or cultural significance are moments of interaction with others: fellow walkers, an old friend who accompanied him for part of a leg, a surprise visit from his wife; as well as his own internal musings. Engaging from first step to final destination and bookended with an Introduction that sets the tone beautifully and an Afterword that left me with a lump in my throat, Meridian is the perfect coffee table book, beautifully laid out, replete with photographs, helpful maps and several poems it transports, amuses and augments one's appreciation for this corner of England.

Meridian is available from The Frogmore Press www.frogmorepress.co.uk or pop into Skylark at Needlemakers in Lewes and buy one from the author himself. www.skylarkshop.com

The Girl who Escaped

by Angela Petch

Italy, 1940, and in her beloved home city of Urbino, medical student Devora Lassa and her close-knit circle of childhood friends were enjoying life and looking forward to the future. Benito Mussolini, however, had other plans.

The daughter of German Jewish immigrants, Devora had her heart set on being a doctor, but much to her frustration the recently introduced racial laws had put a stop to that. Her anger turned to fear, however, as Italy entered WWII alongside Germany and further racial laws were published. Her parents, amid much distress, were sent to an internment camp in northern Italy, leaving Devora to fend for herself and her twin little brothers, with the help of their loyal servant Anna Maria.

Missing her parents and becoming increasingly aware of the mounting hatred creeping insidiously through the city, Devora reluctantly left Urbino and took her brothers to join their parents. Although not free per se, the internees were treated with dignity by the camp commander. Life was not so bad if they could just ride out the war here. But when Italy switched allegiance to the Allies news started to filter through of unspeakable acts of persecution and, once again, the Lassa family were forced to flee for their lives.

Packing up their few remaining precious belongings they set out for Switzerland. Their transport and false papers had been arranged by Devora's old school friend Luigi, who had risked everything to help them. The journey was long and fraught with danger but finally the border was in sight. But as they approached Devora found herself in an untenable position. Her medical knowledge was desperately needed in a sudden life or death situation. She let her precious family go on ahead, she would meet up with them in Switzerland.

But in times of war things don't always go to plan. Devora heard nothing from her parents and constantly worried for their safety. As the Allies pushed ever forward more and more disillusioned and exhausted men deserted. Some joined the growing Italian Resistance network, whose actions triggered horrific reprisals by the desperate fascisti, leaving behind a fractured society. At length, impatient at having to remain in hiding and galvanised by continued reports of brutality against innocent people, she resolved to join Luigi and his fellow partisans in their desperate fight for liberty. Dismissing the huge risk to herself she contrived to infiltrate the local German HQ. The thought of what her family could be enduring and the desperate hope that they might still be alive motivated her, but would her courage overcome her lack of experience?

Utterly heartbreaking and emotional, The Girl Who Escaped is a masterclass in dramatic tension, building steadily and inexorably to its denouement, yet perfectly paced to let you catch your breath. I was completely invested in this feisty girl, this ingénue who had to grow up so fast.

It requires, I think, a fine balance to write a novel set in the midst of an historical event about which a great deal is already known. Not to make it contrived or obvious, to avoid the trap into which Hollywood so often falls of dishing up the same old formula but with its components rearranged. Angela has avoided all these pitfalls adroitly. Her story is fresh, alive and engaging. The fact that we may be familiar with the overarching drama in this particular theatre of war only augments the authenticity and tension of the story, spotlighting this one family and their ordeal. And the fact that the story is based on real life events experienced by the author's grandfather-in-law adds immeasurably to its impact.

At the end of the book, just before the 'Author's Note' (which in itself is fascinating and revealing) is 'A Letter from Angela'. In it she thanks the reader for reading The Girl Who Escaped. She hopes I enjoyed reading it. I absolutely did. She asks 'Did it make you cry?' It did, several times! 'Did you fall in love with Luigi?' Yes, quite early on actually. And yes, one day I would love to visit Urbino – like the other beautifully drawn characters in the story it had become three dimensional and I was captivated.

The Girl Who Escaped is available from Amazon and www.bookouture.com. For more about Angela visit www.angelapetchsblogsite.wordpress.com, you can also find Angela on Facebook and Twitter.