Mature Times - Book & Audiobook Reviews

'The Refuge and the Fortress' - Britain and the flight from tyranny, 1933 - 2008

Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:42:27 +0000

Published to mark the 75th Anniversary of CARA (Council for Assisting Refugee Academics), 'The Refuge and the Fortress' by Jeremy Seabrook describes the profound and measurable contribution to the life of Britain that refugees have made ever since Hitler forced Jewish academics out of German universities within weeks of coming to power in 1933.

"Shadows of the Workhouse" - a classic in the making

Fri, 29 Aug 2008 15:20:03 +0100

Best selling author Jennifer Worth has written another classic depiction of the lives led by those in the poorest parts of society - not so very long ago, taking the lid off of life in the dreaded workhouse. Jayne Warren asks her: "Just how did people survive the experience?"

How to be a Merry Widow

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 10:02:36 +0100

The subtitle of Mary Rogers' delightfully funny yet practical book "How To Be A Merry Widow" is "Life after death for the older lady" - but her words could apply equally to men or women who suddenly find themselves living on their own later in life. Written with candour in a deeply personal style, chapters include 'Farewell Loneliness', 'Someone For The Weekend, Madam?', 'Moving On' and the all-important ability to say 'No'.

Ageing - does it make a woman invisible or liberated?

Fri, 30 May 2008 11:52:55 +0100

Jayne Warren talks to Keren Smedley, author of "Who's That Woman In The Mirror?" - a practical, candid guide through the minefield of often painful and confusing experiences encountered by women in middle age and beyond.

Hearing loss - telling it like it really is ...

Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:06:46 +0000

The charity Hearing Concern has published "Life After Hearing Loss: Telling It Like It Is" - a wonderfully practical, honest and up-to-date book for the UK's nine million deaf and hard of hearing people, their families, colleagues and healthcare professionals.

Free download "tasters" of new novels

Tue, 18 Mar 2008 16:59:17 +0000

For six months Penguin has been trialing PDF "taster" downloads of books - allowing readers to browse the opening pages of each book as a sample. As of March 17th 2008 they will have over fifty titles available online, and will continue to upload the first chapters of every single new fiction title each month.

Life after losing a child

Sun, 16 Mar 2008 16:38:20 +0000

A group of parents who have lived through the death of their child have told of their experiences in a new book called "Farewell, My Child" - a collection of over 25 stories about life after the death of a child.

The ultimate hand book for "non-retirees" released

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 11:17:09 +0000

The annual classic "The Good Non Retirement Guide" is an invaluable handbook for anyone who wants to plan for retirement, manage their finances wisely - and live life to the full in their mature years.

Great Scots!

Mon, 25 Feb 2008 14:34:43 +0000

Tyres, TV and telephones... bicycles, radar and cloning... just why have the Scots been such prolific inventors? A new book thinks it has the answer.

'The Vietnam War Experience' by Gerry and Janet Souter

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 14:21:55 +0000

'The Vietnam War Experience' examines the history and politics of the Vietnam War, beginning with the end of the Japanese Occupation in 1945 until its conclusion and aftermath following the fall of Saigon in 1975.

St Peter's Church, Tickencote

Mon, 10 Mar 2008 14:16:30 +0000

Tucked away in a little valley in those mysterious hills in the north-eastern corner of Rutland, and a few miles west of Stamford, Tickencote Church is literally one of the hidden gems of British architecture.

For women historians...

Sun, 30 Dec 2007 10:13:51 +0000

All women who love their history will really enjoy a new little book called "Sussex Women". It tells the stories of 30 Sussex women united by the fact that they were either born in Sussex or were drawn to the county for one reason or another. And they all made a considerable impact on their community or society at large which, in some cases, continues to this day.

Satish Kumar: "unity, not uniformity"

Wed, 19 Dec 2007 12:18:45 +0000

Jayne Warren interviews Satish Kumar, perhaps best described as a modern day Ghandhi inspired by Betrand Russell and the internationally renowned speaker on Ecological issues, author and Editor of Resurgence magazine. A regular contributor to Thought for the Day on Radio 4, he recently appeared on Desert Island Discs with Sue Lawley. His new book "Spiritual Compass" explores themes he has been developing throughout his life on the issue of spirituality in an increasingly materialistic world.

"Playing It Safe": The Crazy World of Britain’s Health And Safety Regulations

Wed, 05 Dec 2007 11:01:55 +0000

This is a great light-hearted, off-beat book to make everyone laugh over Christmas. If you are one of the many people whose life has been affected by the ever-burgeoning rules of Health and Safety, this book is essential reading.

Jayne Warren speaks to author Alan Pearce.

"In Stitches" - life on the coal face of the NHS.

Tue, 04 Dec 2007 10:16:06 +0000

I'll have to front up on this review - I am going to be unashamedly gushing about this brilliant book, "In Stitches: The Highs and Lows of Life as an A&E Doctor". Not only did it make me laugh my socks off, it was also informative, gritty, touching, and above all, so honest!