Leslie Thomas (1) (1931–2014)

My friend Justine passed me this little portal to winds, waves and seabird calls. As I recall, she simply said, “charming”. It was held together by a thick rubber band, having fallen apart in the middle: at the pages of black and white photographs. So, perhaps appropriately as the book is about ten islands, I read it in slices. The first island felt a bit like a travel guide, but it’s so well written that there is a magic about it and, by the time I picked up the second half I felt as though Leslie Thomas, a seeker of remote places, could take me anywhere.

We seemed to fix on the exact seam where the Atlantic and the North Sea meet and don't take to each other. One ocean buffeted us, the other rolled us and threw us back on the first. It was July. p. 36.

Each of the ten islands is a journey (a world) in itself and the stories gather, like gulls over fish, to create a sense of presence, even familiarity, with the hard lives and resolve of the island people. These lives, interrupted by modern times and comforts, tend towards a sense of loss or nostalgia without a whiff of complaint. Most of the islands are introduced at a distance before we arrive on some craft, most notable being the currach before the vertiginous climb up Skellig Michael. The understated title of this book is an apt preparation for this warm-fire-with-Guinness treat. Thanks Justine.… (més)

In Other Times by Leslie Thomas we see the early days of World War II through the eyes of James Bevan, a young captain of a small anti-aircraft unit that is guarding the south coast of England. This is the early days of the war, the period that eventually became known as the Phoney War as nothing was happening. The soldiers become involved with many of the local citizens, some helping out at a local orphanage for displaced European children, while others getting romantically involved with girls from the area. The author recreates the atmosphere, the sights and sounds of this time and lures the reader into the quiet of this lull. It is all the more shocking then, when a small unit, with Bevan in command, is assigned to a naval ship and set to Norway to help with the retreat. The noise, violence and danger is brought to the forefront as the ship is repeatedly attacked by German aircraft.

Along with the current situation, we are also given insight into James Bevan’s life. His mother’s suicide, his separation from his sister, his placement in a boy’s military school, all these events helped to shape the man he was to become. The author’s descriptions of both people and places are detailed and he spikes his story with plenty of laughter, tears and cups of tea.

Except for being a little wordy, Other Times is written with depth and heart. The book ends just as the Battle for Britain starts in the late summer of 1940 but the author was able to bring the early days of the war to life and I found the book to be an enjoyable, informative read.… (més)

A saucy series of semi-carnal adventures all dealt with in Thomas' customary wry humour and acute observations of personality and character through perplexingly odd situations.
The anti-hero Arthur McCann is one of my favourite literary characters - he's a seamen of the 'any port lady in a storm, war, accident' type depositing semen when the opportunity arises - however, he is also lonely and behind his adventures he's looking for a loving relationship (something his fickle, sharp wife back in England will never be): The closest he gets is someone that wants the same, but they could never be for some quite revealing reasons... which I'll leave to the reader to discover.
Like all the much respected author's work it is a very entertaining read.… (més)