Mr. Abercrombie:Garden Pics.

Joe Abercrombie

Joe Abercrombie is one of my favourite authors. He writes grit and gritty stories containing memorable characters; usually scarred and often with a disability/  loss of limb; who battle across war torn medieval land and seascapes wielding blades and weapons of various types.

There is a touch of 'Catch 22" about his books; in that the lower order men join bands or groups or even the army, fighting for causes, they  don't understand to capture ground they know will be lost again; all because their jobs call for it. Meanwhile at senior level the shifting power game continues.

I like the fact that Joe writes in short chapters, each with a title.
I don't know about you, but I like to finish my read at the end of a chapter. It puts the book to rest and readies me for the next instalment .
On a minor point Joe uses his own font style for chapter headings, which I find appealing.

His dialogue is pithy, often coarse, but always entertaining. Here is a sample from the book above.

" Dogman sloshed out some more (drink).

The man with one arm had to set his spear down when he got handed his mug.

The boy came up last, and looked Dogman over, wary.

The old one nudged him with an elbow.' You sure your mother'd care for you drinking boy?'

'Who cares what she'd say?' he growled, trying to make his high voice sound gruff.

Dogman handed him a mug. 'You're old enough to hold a spear, you're old enough to hold a cup I reckon.'
'I'm old enough!' he snapped, snatching it out o' Dogman's hand, but he shuddered when he drank from it. "

This is great escapist reading, hugely enjoyable, full of phases, which stay in the memory---- "By the Dead! and " Back to the Mud ."

Joe is an award winner for "Half A King" ( best young adult novel ) and " Times all Over " ( short story) . Both awards by Locus 2015.

He can be contacted on Twitter @LordGrimdark.

He currently lives in Bath, England.

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Recently D. and I visited the National Trust property "Farnborough Hall " near Banbury, Oxfordshire.
It completed our tour of all the Cotswold sites.

Farnborough

It is  only open on Wednesdays and Saturday afternoons; being an occupied residence.

The interior  has,  as you would expect a comfortable lived-in feeling; very much a family house.

Photographs were not allowed inside (boo! ), which was a shame, because I was very enamoured by a round table, situated in the entrance hall. It had over 140 pieces of coloured stone, fitted together  and looked, to my eyes,  very attractive.

Outside , the property boasted a landscaped garden, including an english rose-garden, with lovely specimens.

The terraced walk took us to a water garden and waterfall.

On the lawn D. espied a venerable tree with remarkable bark.

The borders and grounds showed a pleasing sense of upkeep.

All in all,  a pleasing and satisfying visit.

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You may remember from last week's blog, I posted three photographs from Beer, in East Devon, which we had just visited.

 It really is the fishing village, that boxes above its weight.
Here is the website for further information:


Beer, Devon.

 With 'Le Tour'; British Grand Prix, Aussie Tests, Wimbledon finals and of course our gallant lady footballers, who take on Germany tonight (4/ 7),  it is most certainly a sporting week ahead.
As usual,
Enjoy.
Cheerio for now,
Ck.