SENSITIZE ©

• My friend Brian loaned this book to me and I recently finished reading it then spent about three weeks making many observations on life and how we all take people for granted...
  
  Manfred's Pain (1993) is a captivating, harrowing but wonderfully crafted tale that doesn't shy away from the underbelly of society where deception, menace and violence lurk.
  
  As the story developed I found I had equal amounts of compassion and contempt for the central character (Manfred) an old, Jewish man living in London. The book recaptures his youth, war stories, employment, marriage, birth of his son, a life of bitter memories mixed with new encounters and how Manfred observes his experiences, revealing why he is so miserably content now.
  
  Brian also loaned me Ripley Bogle by the same author. I'm really looking forward to getting into it and The Burn by James Kelman (Great short story writer from Glasgow and someone whose writing I would recommend to almost everyone)...

• This is a delightful tale about the lives and loves of a group of friends that took this reader down a nostalgic path and re-awakened my own self-discovery. Frequently while reading The Sand In The Painting. By Catherine EdmundsI reflected upon past relationships and the hopes, joys, pains and wonders of simply being alive. I found myself relating to all of the characters in one way or another and the entire story an absolute pleasure to read.
  
  Songs, old and new popped into my mind while reading; The Sand In The Painting. By Catherine Edmunds and in all honesty I can see the full potential of this book being adapted to screenplay.
  
  Catherine Edmunds has a natural talent for designing believable characters, strong settings and a powerful mastery of the complexities and inner workings of the 'human condition'.
  
  I guarantee, you will find yourselves while reading; The Sand In The Painting. By Catherine Edmunds.

• Actually, this was my second reading of the book. It is a truly numbing account of the criminal underworld in Ireland that has on both readings held me captivated. Evil Empire by Paul Williams is a case study on John Gilligan the former leader of the most ruthless criminal gang to ever emerge out of Ireland. They were responsible for the murder of crime journalist; Veronica Guerin.
  
  What I found particularly intense and highly disturbing was his description of the manouvres of certain Irish Garda detectives investigating a car thief in Dublin. The car ringer (thief) had passed on vital evidence that the Real IRA were transporting a bomb up to Northern Ireland but they did nothing to stop this. Rumours abound about the events of that day but one thing is clear. The intelligence services both North and South of the Irish Border knew an attack was enroute but they let it through. Twenty-nine people were killed and to date there has never been a reasonable explanation for the intelligence service's actions.
  
  Another interesting fact to emerge from this book is that the Irish Garda detective who had this information from the Dublin car thief was later charged along with some of his colleagues for placing weapons on an Irish Republican's land in Co. Donegal.
  
  To read about the book on amazon.com click the title at the top of this post.

• I have long been an admirer of this man's work so you won't be suprised when I say that his book is without doubt an absolute 'must-read' for anyone who considers themselves an activist. If you have a conscience or if you've ever struggled to confront corruption and make this world a better place you will find this book invaluable. If you've ever listened to the radio or turned on your pc / television to see countries ripped apart by warfare and people displaced and starving while living in refugee camps, then this book is one you simply have to read.
  
  Mark gets right into the heart of the Arms and Torture Trade from the UK and reveals the lies we all half suspect the British Government to be telling us. He reveals the open sale of weapons from the UK to places like Darfur and people like Robert Mugabi; President of Zimbabwe and all-out mass murderer. He spends time in the company of a self-made millionaire who famously sold a gun used by Michael Ryan in the Hungerford Massacre of 1987.
  
  As Used On The Famous Nelson Mandela by Mark Thomas is loaded with Mark's amiable humour and high-brow satire that has entertained and informed us all for a good many years now. I am of the opinion that one of the best ways to learn about the world around us is to enjoy that learning process. What Mark has written is a book that delivers all of this essential data and information. Oh, and on his journey writing the book, he managed to have several laws on the sale of weapons from Ireland changed. Genius. Pure genius...
  
  As Used On The Famous Nelson Mandela by Mark Thomas
  
  Buy it folks. You won't be disappointed.

• on the publication of her latest book of poetry; Wormwood, Earth and Honey, published by Circaidy Gregory Press ISBN 9781906451042.
  
  
  
  This is a superb collection of poetry by Catherine, some of which I am already familiar with, and others that have entertained or made me think on people or the nature of all things. I'm a huge fan of her writing and have benefitted greatly from her editing skills on my own poetry and short stories over the last few years here on Sensitize ©. In the covering pages of Wormwood, Earth and Honey there is even a quote from the review I composed for her last book, the novel; The Sand In The Painting. That really made me smile ...
  
  I have found myself going back to several of the poems in Wormwood, Earth and Honey already. I have also read the other reviews on Catherine's website and agree that her writing is delightful and multi-layered. I would say what stands out for me is the comedy (in some). The depth, quality and/or quirkiness of each piece also holds me captivated. So, like a good CD, film or story that can be heard, watched or read over and over again, pleasure is added to with each reading of Wormwood, Earth and Honey by Catherine Edmunds.
  
  Wormwood, Earth and Honey by Catherine Edmunds can be bought directly from Circaidy Gregory Press ISBN 9781906451042

guardian.co.uk wrote:"Former Booker prize winner James Kelman has won the Saltire Society's Scottish book of the year award for his novel Kieron Smith, Boy, which is told from the perspective of an 11-year-old Glaswegian child.

Kelman was the judges' unanimous choice from a strong shortlist that included Mick Imlah's Forward prize-winning poetry collection The Lost Leader; Ali Smith's retelling of the myth of Iphis and Ianthe, Girl Meets Boy; and Andrew O'Hagan's essay collection, The Atlantic Ocean. The Saltire award is given to a work either by a writer with a Scottish connection, or with a Scottish subject.

Chair of judges Ian Campbell said Kelman had "caught and ventriloquised" the essence of a boy from Glasgow.

"It's an exceptionally sensitive reflection – his ear is tuned to perfection," he said. "We liked it for its reflection of Glasgow life, and for the way it summed up so many of Kelman's gifts."