The Marshwood Vale Magazine

Sep 27, 2024 | marshwoodvale.com | Rebecca Ross

Divine Rivals By Rebecca RossPublished by Magpie Books/HarperCollins Paperback £9.99Review by Nicky MathewsonAt the busy train station, surrounded by soldiers in crisp new uniforms, Iris Winnow is holding back her tears as she says farewell to her older brother Forrest. He gives her his coat and she wears it like a hug. As the train pulls away she reaches into the pocket and finds a note: Just in case you didn’t know…you are by far the best sister I’ve ever had. I’m so proud of you.

Sep 27, 2024 | marshwoodvale.com | John Davis

Apologies if there seems to be a common thread running through the John Davis book reviews this month (see also The Book Thief) but the Second World War, and the events that also preceded it and followed it, still holds a fascination for many writers. One of them is Rory Clements who has set this historical whodunnit in Munich during 1935 as the Nazi Party were beginning to take a real stranglehold on German life.

Jul 30, 2024 | marshwoodvale.com | Michael McCarthy

By Michael McCarthyOne of the few compensations for the wetness of the first half of summer 2024 has been the pageant of summer flowers. Flower lovers in Dorset are used to stunning outbursts in the spring, the primroses and wood anemones, the bluebells and wild garlic; but the blooms which follow in June and July are rarely so spectacular in their displays. This year, however, has been different.

Jul 30, 2024 | marshwoodvale.com | John Davis

By John DavisThe arena that staged the final of the Euro 2024 Football Championships recently—or the Olympiastadion to use its correct title—was built on the same site where the Berlin Olympic Games were held in August 1936. Germany had missed out on staging the games in 1914 because of the onset of the First World War.

Jul 2, 2023 | marshwoodvale.com | Fergus Byrne