Meet the author: Tamar Hodes

by Carolyn Thomas.  This occasional In Common series introduces authors with a connection to Southampton or  Hampshire – they may have been brought up here, or live here now, or use the area as a setting for their work. Kicking things off is Tamar Hodes, currently living in Bassett,...

Short story: Love Among the Branches

by Tamar Hodes. Love among the Branches, by Southampton author Tamar Hodes, was originally commissioned for Radio 4 back in 1999. Look out for an author profile on In Common, coming soon. Richard stood at the open door, planks of timber stacked at his side like skis. “I’ve come...

Books column: Under the Covers – the Christmas wish list

by Carolyn Thomas. While my Christmas ‘to-do’ list is probably much like anyone else’s, I do have one particular and selfish tradition of my own… which is to buy myself a book. This is, after all, the season of goodwill to everyone – so why shouldn’t I include myself...

New books column: Under the Covers

by Carolyn Thomas. Since ruining my eyesight by reading under the covers as a 10-year-old wielding a torch, I’ve loved books. I can’t really remember a time when there wasn’t a pile of TBRs (to be read) next to my bed – although the topics and authors have naturally...

Book review: Churches of Hampshire, by John Vigar

reviewed by Martin Brisland. Churches are time capsules containing many graves, artefacts and curiosities that act as a window on the people and events of the past. Following a career in academia John Vigar worked for the Churches Conservation Trust and he is a Trustee of a national charity,...

Book review: The Map of Leaves, by Yarrow Townsend

by Alex Thurley-Ratcliff. From the opening, I threw myself into this new children’s book by first-time author, Yarrow Townsend, a writer with strong family and personal connections to Southampton and the New Forest. Though I do already have a love of fantasy stories, they have to be innovative and...