The Dead by Sylvia Plath

The Dead

Revolving in oval loops of solar speed,
Couched in cauls of clay as in holy robes,
Dead men render love and war no heed,
Lulled in the ample womb of the full-tilt globe.

No spiritual Caesars are these dead;
They want no proud paternal kingdom come;
And when at last they blunder into bed
World-wrecked, they seek only oblivion.

Rolled round with goodly loam and cradled deep,
These bone shanks will not wake immaculate
To trumpet-toppling dawn of doomstruck day :
They loll forever in colossal sleep;
Nor can God's stern, shocked angels cry them up
From their fond, final, infamous decay.

Sylvia Plath

Medea and Other Plays : Medea; Hecabe; Electra by Euripides

Medea and Other Plays : Medea; Hecabe; Electra by Euripides

Genre: poet plays - classic Greek
Rating: Excellent *****

I'd forgotten how much I loved reading Greek tragedies until I re picked up this book to read.
Loved Medea the best - the story of Jason's spurred wife and mooter of his two sons...how she enacts revenge on him and all those who have wronged her.

As a feminist I'm on her side!!!

'These plays show Euripides transforming the awesome figures of Greek mythology into recognizable, fallible human beings.'

Plays 2010: 5
Challenges: Great Books Challenge 2010,

A thousand Suns - Alex Scarrow

A Thousand Suns by Alex Scarrow

Genre: fiction
Rating: Very Good ****

Synopsis:

Photographic journalist Chris Roland is sent to cover the story of a WW2 American B17 bomber plane discovered off the coast of the USA

What he discovers is not what he expected.
Chris finds himself embroiled in a historic conspiracy that the US have tried to keep under wraps.
Dead bodies, disappearing locals after the war, and a WW2 plot by Hitler to go ahead with his atomic programme, put his life at risk.... (it's difficult not to give the plot away too much here).

My thoughts:
Really good book using actual historical evidence of Germany's atomic programme to cleverly weave a plot of events that could potentially have occurred.
Once again well researched, written with style and a convincing plot.
Characters are believable and the WW2 Germany pilots are engaging - your sympathies lie with them.

Recommended.

novels 2010: 76
Challenges: Support your local Library reading challenge 2010, Thriller and Suspense Challenge 2010,

Afterlight - Alex Scarrow

Afterlight - Alex Scarrow

Genre: fiction
Rating: Excellent *****

Synopsis:
Follow up to the excellent Last Light, the novel is set 10 years after the oil crisis that effectively shut down the world.
Society has broken down and only small groups of survivors remain, fighting against disease and starvation, and the hoards of roaming thugs who kill and rape anyone for fun.
Jenny Sutherland heads a small group of survivors, fashioning a new way of life on a a series of decaying offshore oil-rigs, recycling water, growing food and fishing.
Yet there is unrest in the community, those who want to try to exist on the mainland again, unaware that dangers still exist.
For there is trouble coming, and once again it will be a fight for survival....

My thoughts:
A realistic look at what the world might be like if the oil does stop pumping.
A terrifying glimpse at how society breaks down, and a dog eat dog world comes into being.
Well written, with engaging characters, this book is not one for the squeamish, but definitely one to read!
You can read this novel alone, or read it after reading Last Light
A great thriller. Recommended.

A warning of what our lives may be like if we don't rethink and stop our reliance on oil consumption.
All hail renewable energy ....

Novels 2010: 75
Challeneges: Support your local Library reading challenge 2010, Part III of The End of the World Challenge.,