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This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to discover the dark secrets of the Lincolnshire fens. Polly Howat covers a broad variety of topics and provides a well-researched account of events. Another book which provides a creepy depiction of the fens is M. J. Poynter’s The Boston Curse. This novel is set in the market town of Boston and makes numerous references to the Lincolnshire fens. Both titles capture the eeriness of the fen country and reveal some strange stories from the past.
In recollecting his own childhood experiences, J. M. Coetzee’s “Boyhood” provides an insightful examination of growing up in South Africa during the years of apartheid. The book provides a very personal account of events and is not afraid to reveal some of the harsh realities of education under apartheid. Another book with a similar theme is M. J. Poynter’s “Middleburg: Going to School in Apartheid South Africa.” This novel is set during the 1980’s and is surprisingly funny and entertaining to read.
Richard Poplak’s memoir provides an insightful account of life growing up in Apartheid era South Africa. His childhood memories of home and family, in white suburban South Africa, perfectly capture the nostalgia of the 1980’s. I found Poplak’s recollections of veld school particularly interesting with its harrowing depiction of Afrikaner Nationalism. In many ways “Ja, No, Man” is very similar to M. J. Poynter’s novel “Middleburg: Going to School in Apartheid South Africa” which also provides an insightful account of growing up as a white minority during the 1980’s. Poplak’s final description of Johannesburg in 1987 is especially poignant! Here the author depicts a city in a state of decay - marking the beginning of the end for apartheid era South Africa.
The Boston Curse is set in rural Lincolnshire and provides a wonderfully creepy depiction of the fen country. The author’s depiction of life in rural suburbia is delightfully funny and his grim depiction of Boston is truly excellent. I especially liked the way in which The Boston Curse combines elements of fact and fantasy. This reportage of events blurs the distinction between fact and fiction making the story all the more convincing. M. J. Poynter’s recollection of events during 1994 reminded me of the Gonzo journalism of Hunter S. Thompson. The author’s own inclusion in the story, coupled with current affairs and various references to popular culture is superb. The Boston Curse is a frightening tale documenting a series of terrible events. This is a horrifying comedy in which the truth becomes stranger than fiction!
M. J. Poynter’s novel is essentially a “bildungsroman” which recollects the author’s oppressive childhood of growing up in a small town in apartheid South Africa. The author’s first-person narrative provides an insightful commentary which makes good use of vivid description and displays an interesting play on words. The writer provides a tragically comic portrayal of his childhood years and spares no expense in launching a relentless attack on the injustices of the past. Using a barrage of mocking sarcasm, thinly disguised as comical wit, the author recollects numerous unfortunate events which are as frightening as they are funny. M. J. Poynter provides a truly grotesque depiction of what conditions were like during his school days and succeeds in giving his teachers the kind of humiliation they deserve!
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Tony Kramper has commented on (5) products.
Tony Kramper, March 3, 2011
This is an excellent book for anyone wanting to discover the dark secrets of the Lincolnshire fens. Polly Howat covers a broad variety of topics and provides a well-researched account of events. Another book which provides a creepy depiction of the fens is M. J. Poynter’s The Boston Curse. This novel is set in the market town of Boston and makes numerous references to the Lincolnshire fens. Both titles capture the eeriness of the fen country and reveal some strange stories from the past.Boyhood: Scenes from Provincial Life by J M Coetzee
Tony Kramper, February 24, 2011
In recollecting his own childhood experiences, J. M. Coetzee’s “Boyhood” provides an insightful examination of growing up in South Africa during the years of apartheid. The book provides a very personal account of events and is not afraid to reveal some of the harsh realities of education under apartheid. Another book with a similar theme is M. J. Poynter’s “Middleburg: Going to School in Apartheid South Africa.” This novel is set during the 1980’s and is surprisingly funny and entertaining to read.Ja, No, Man: Growing Up White in Apartheid Era South Africa
Tony Kramper, February 24, 2011
Richard Poplak’s memoir provides an insightful account of life growing up in Apartheid era South Africa. His childhood memories of home and family, in white suburban South Africa, perfectly capture the nostalgia of the 1980’s. I found Poplak’s recollections of veld school particularly interesting with its harrowing depiction of Afrikaner Nationalism. In many ways “Ja, No, Man” is very similar to M. J. Poynter’s novel “Middleburg: Going to School in Apartheid South Africa” which also provides an insightful account of growing up as a white minority during the 1980’s. Poplak’s final description of Johannesburg in 1987 is especially poignant! Here the author depicts a city in a state of decay - marking the beginning of the end for apartheid era South Africa.The Boston Curse: A Terrifying Tale from Dead Men's Fen by M. J. Poynter
Tony Kramper, February 21, 2011
The Boston Curse is set in rural Lincolnshire and provides a wonderfully creepy depiction of the fen country. The author’s depiction of life in rural suburbia is delightfully funny and his grim depiction of Boston is truly excellent. I especially liked the way in which The Boston Curse combines elements of fact and fantasy. This reportage of events blurs the distinction between fact and fiction making the story all the more convincing. M. J. Poynter’s recollection of events during 1994 reminded me of the Gonzo journalism of Hunter S. Thompson. The author’s own inclusion in the story, coupled with current affairs and various references to popular culture is superb. The Boston Curse is a frightening tale documenting a series of terrible events. This is a horrifying comedy in which the truth becomes stranger than fiction!Middleburg: Going to School in Apartheid South Africa by Mark Poynter
Tony Kramper, February 21, 2011
M. J. Poynter’s novel is essentially a “bildungsroman” which recollects the author’s oppressive childhood of growing up in a small town in apartheid South Africa. The author’s first-person narrative provides an insightful commentary which makes good use of vivid description and displays an interesting play on words. The writer provides a tragically comic portrayal of his childhood years and spares no expense in launching a relentless attack on the injustices of the past. Using a barrage of mocking sarcasm, thinly disguised as comical wit, the author recollects numerous unfortunate events which are as frightening as they are funny. M. J. Poynter provides a truly grotesque depiction of what conditions were like during his school days and succeeds in giving his teachers the kind of humiliation they deserve!