Book Review: A Tiny Bit Marvellous by Dawn French



Dawn French’s first Novel, “A Tiny Bit Marvellous” if her first novel and has so far become a number one best seller in the UK. The story follows Mo Battle, a child psychiatrist who is turning 50, and is trying to manage her family. As is expected this is proving quite difficult with a rebellious 17 year old daughter Mo and a slightly eccentric younger son Peter or should I say “Oscar”. There is also the issue of her distant husband as she describes it and the outside comfort of her mother. This all come to a head with her realising the things have to change.

For me this was an entertaining read with several comical scenes scattered across the novel and amusing narratives that suited each character. The narrative of Mo and tirades of “oh my god” and “like so unfair” fit her character to a “t”.  You can easily imagine this becoming a sitcom sometime in the future. However I did find the storyline a bit predictable and would have liked to have heard more of a narrative from the father. But all the same it was a good read.

Artist: Barrington Watson

It's not often that I listen to Radio 4 or the World Service, but last Wednesday/Thursday (if was about 3.00am!!) I found myself doing just that. As I tried to fall to sleep, an interview with one of Jamaica's leading artists, Barrington Watson began. Personally I had never heard of him and I have a feeling that many people are equally unaware of his work.

Barrington Watson, now aged 80 is Jamaica's leading painter and can also add educator, author, philanthropist and writer to his many talents. He is celebrated for looking to accurately reproduce and capture the multi-tonal colors of the black person, communicating the pride and dignity of people in Jamaica, and recreating the female form. Watson himself describes his work as:

".. the light of Turner, the line of Ignes, the range of Rembrant, the techniques of Velasquez, the emotion of Goya and my birth right of Benin".

Hailing from Lucea, Hanover, Jamaica, Watson showed great promise in Art. After attending Kingston College he chose to study Art in Europe against the advise of his parents. They prefered the idea of him becoming a Lawyer. Initially he travelled to London, attending the London School of Painting and Graphic Art and then moving on to the Royal College of Art. After completing his studies in the UK he won a series of scholorships for art institutions across europe between 1957 and 1961.

He returned to Jamaica in 1961 and taught Art Appreciation in the Department of Education. It is from this point on his list of achievements begin. He became the first Director of Studies of the Jamaica School of Art in 1962, and worked to raise the profile and the value of full-time professional artists in Jamaica. He went on to found the Contemporary Jamaican Artists Association in 1964, Gallery Barrington in 1974, The Contemporary Art Center in 1984 and Jamaica Art Foundation 1985.

His most notable works are the "Spirit of Garvey" and the "Pan Africanists". He is also known for producing  portraits of notable black icons such as Marcus Garvey, Fredrick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, Kwame Nkrumah, Haile Selassie I, Malcom X, Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr.

"The Maroon Dance" by Barrington Watson

He has also written 3 books. His first "Shades of Grey" describes life through an artists eyes and teaches artistic techniques. Other titles published are "The Pan Africanist" and "Barrington".

He also owns the Orange Park Trust and Foundation, which provides a natural environment to stimuate the creativety of  artists.

A string of awards for his contribution of Arts in Jamaica have been giving to Barrington, including the Commander of the Order of Distinction, C.D. in Jamaica.

The National Gallery of Jamaica are currently hosting a retrospective exhibition of his work from January 8th to April 2012. I wish I could see it but unfortunetly I don't have the budget!!!

To learn more abour Barrington Watson, please visit the following links:
http://www.gallerybarrington.com/
http://arcthemagazine.com/arc/2011/12/barrington-watson-lecture-at-the-national-gallery-of-jamaica/
http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p00mmnjg/The_Strand_04_01_2012/

Book Review: Catch 22

Joseph Heller's novel Catch 22, is often mentioned as on of many books that should be read before you die. I'm quite skeptical of book lists forcing readers to conform to the tastes of cultural commentators. However having browsed books in Waterstones several times and seen this novel under the "3 for 2 selection", it was only a matter of time before purchasing it. Having recently completed the novel, I have to admit the critics may have a point. Catch 22 by all means is a roller coaster of emotions and confronts the reader with the kinds of physical and mental conditions that men serving in the Second World War were contending with.

The novel is based on the island of Pianosa in the Mediterranean Sea and tracks the plight of Captain John  Yossarian, a Bombardier in the US Army Air Force, who is terrified of flying another mission for his superiors but is constrained from escaping his dread by the ever-changing "Catch 22 rule" enforced by Colonel Cathcart. As someone who isn't a literary expert I was fascinated as to how Heller depicts the hierarchical system and amoral mind games that controls the air-force and prevents desertion and freedom of thought. Further, comedic interludes within the military hospital and in the mess also help to reduce the depressing setting the book is based in. The only main criticism of the book is the constant references to prostitutes and whores which is to be expected, but after a while became a bit tiresome.

For anyone else who continues to bump into Catch 22 each time they visit their local book store or on Amazon, I would highly recommend it.

Welcome!!!!!

Welcome to my Blog!! Starting my own blog is something I have been toying with for the past year. After speaking with family and friends, I finally decided to be brave and start writing. Fingers crossed this will be of interest to others out there and not a self serving blog. I plan to document interests of mine and review events, books I read and anything else that catches my senses here. As for me, I am a 28 year old Londoner. I've lived here all my live and love this city. Well let see how this goes. In the meantime, happy browsing!!!