Alienora Taylor – Lit World Interviews

Review of ‘Long-Leggety Beasties’ by Alienora Taylor

I recently interviewed author Alienora Taylor and was interested to read one of her books, Long-Leggety Beasties, which I discovered focuses on a young teacher’s experiences in the classroom. As Alienora taught for many years, I came to the swift conclusion that many of the events described might possibly or even probably be based on fact. I’m one of life’s realists, and ‘faction’ is right up my street!

Worldwide book purchase link: http://bookShow.me/B00RZ49HKI

Alienora writes with that dry British humour that I love. There were children in my own school which were just like the long-leggety beasties that the author describes, and all I can say is that anybody who tries to teach that kind of wayward child is very brave indeed!

The protagonist, Geraldine, is young and naïve, and is just waiting to be taken for a ride by her fifth formers. However, the reader giggles quite a lot as the pages are turned and the children discover just how soft their new teacher really is.

Ms Taylor writes with a grasp of vocabulary and wit which reminds me of Noel Coward in his prime. I take off my hat to somebody who survived in this job for so long! I give this book 5 stars. Recommended for fans of faction and dry wit.

It’s Thunderclap Time for Author @AlienoraTaylor

http://thndr.it/1JDvCB9 Pay it forward for when you need help. It’s easy. It’s free. All you do is click it and forget it.

Authors Supporting Authors

‘The Lyre of Logres’ is my fifth novel and I have organised a Thunderclap (launching on April 27th) in order to promote it.

It is a book of forty-five short pieces, each relating, in some way, to the landscape. I use the lyre as a metaphor for Mother Earth, and Logres is used deliberately as it is the name of Britain’s Inner Landscape. My image is of a huge lyre which is acted upon by the emotions, actions and thoughts of mankind – and we all, by the way we behave, cause the strings to vibrate, producing songs haunting, sad, joyous, scary and so forth.

The stories are my songs to, and from, the Earth.

http://thndr.it/1JDvCB9

Thank you,

Alienora Taylor

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A @COLLEENCHESEBRO #BOOK #REVIEW “RIDING AT THE GATES OF SIXTY-VIRGINIA WOOLF” by @ALIENORATAYLOR

Title: Riding at the Gates of Sixty – Virginia Woolf

Author: Alienora Taylor

Website: https://alienorabrowning.wordpress.com/

ASIN: B00UJFIE6I

Published: March 10, 2015

Pages: 153

Genre: Fact-based Fiction, Drama

Virginia Woolf’s last days before her tragic suicide in March 1941, at the age of 59 years, is the setting for this partly true/fictional account told through the eyes of her family and friends. This haunting novel is written much in the first person, and you get a firsthand account of the events from her husband, Virginia herself, and her friend, Vanessa Bell. This in depth character study shows Virginia Woolf, as she truly was, a woman comprised of more than just the tragedy of her early demise.

Virginia Woolf was one of the most respected British writers of her time. Self educated at home by her father, she developed a particular writing style that was intriguing in her ability to write dream like sequences within the orderly plot line of her stories. This non-linear writing style allowed Virginia to be more creative, a form of writing that had never been done before by other authors.

In true form, Alienora Taylor employs the same non-linear writing style in her account of Virginia Woolf’s last days. At times, I felt like the author must be channeling the memories and feelings of Virginia, the writing was so engaging. Virginia came alive for me. I like to think that I now better understand her depression and the demons that pursued her. I got to know the real Virginia Woolf.

Author, Alienora Taylor

The happenings in the book are based on fact. The author studied in detail, letters belonging to Virginia Woolf in preparation for writing this novel. The only speculation can be, as to what really existed in the minds of the characters. I felt the author’s attempt to understand and empathize with Virginia’s consuming depression portrayed her, as a successful woman filled with many self doubts, much like modern women today. Virginia seemed to have it all – success, a loving husband, family. It just was not enough to help her in the end.

I loved this book. I knew little about Virginia Woolf, other than that she was a successful author who committed suicide. What I found reading this novel, was that Virginia Woolf was a strong determined soul, a creative genius, tortured by her madness. I cannot wait to read her novels!

RATINGS
Realistic Characterization: 5/5
Made Me Think: 5/5
Overall enjoyment: 5/5
Readability: 4.5/5
Recommended: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5.0

Buy it at: Amazon
Format & Pricing:

Kindle: $2.99 US

Goodreads

@ColleenChesebro

www.SilverThreading.com

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