nitroglycerin's Reviews (952)

Oh my. This has had me hooked! Growing up at the same time as Rachel (she graduates in 2010, and i did in 2009, meant that reading this took me back to my alcohol fueled days of my early 20's. The drama of the book kept me wanting to know how it would all  work out. In essence,  I loved it.

Listening on audio probably made this a better read. I enjoyed the multiple perspectives of Deakins own journals, as well as those of his friends, family and lovers as well as biographical information.  
Deakin is of a generation that had so much handed to them compared to nowadays, and his middle class entitlement was a bit off putting. However he touched many peoples lives, made a great teacher, fought for nature and the environment and wrote some really good books. It just shows that humans are human, and therefore flawed. 

Genuinely fun to read with drama and ridiculous plot points to boot. 

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Each essay brings its own perspective on allotment tending, from the history of the old boys who kept them going, to the community or lack of community in modern allotmenteering. 
My personal favourite would be the interviews with the Newcastle allotmenteers in the 1990’s which just took me back to the city and had me searching for the plots (of which one no longer exists due to road building). In second year of university I lived opposite a patch of Newcastles allotments and remember watching out my attic bedroom window. At 20 I had no interest in gardening, but the allotments fascinated me. 
Rob Cowen poem was also a stand out, as well as Sarah Venn’s passion for land guardianship and it’s accessibility. 

I really liked this.
The concept of time-travel and butterfly effects was great. 
I liked that the ending went a different way to my expectations (in a happier way than my darker predictions!)

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Short story collections are always a risky read to me. Some will be great and others not so great. This is in general a good collection but not stand out. 

My first Stephen king in such a long time. I’m reminded how much I enjoy his writing, even when it’s long and meandering. 
Firestarter is a great story though, and I loved the whole dramatic tale.