Book 74 - The Magic of the Scottish Islands

The Magic of the Scottish Islands by Terry Marsh (author) and Jon Sparks (photographer) - first published in the UK in 2002

This is a lovely book with more photographs than text.  The photographs are stunning and showcase the Scottish islands in a wonderful way.  Although there are a huge number of islands to cover and not that much space for text, the author has achieved a good balance between providing information about the human and natural history and geography of the islands and summing up what makes each island special.  The title of the book is The Magic of the Scottish Islands and Terry Marsh has managed to convey this.  I met him by chance while I was geocaching on Shetland Mainland in June 2017 and he told me about this book, which had escaped my notice until then.

These quotations about 3 of my favourite islands explain beautifully what makes them magical places:

"Fair Isle is magically fair: a resilient place with resilient people.  The weather comes and the weather goes but the subtle magic of Fair Isle remains."

With regard to the seabird colonies at Hermaness, Unst, Shetland:
"The impact is awesome, breathtaking, lasting and humbling.  You sit.  You watch. You listen. You feel privileged.  Because that's how to behave in this kind of company.  You don't ever want to leave,"

"There is an aura of calm and friendliness about North Ronaldsay, a small island beneath a huge sky."

North Ronaldsay Lighthouse, Orkney

 

Puffins on Fair Isle

 

North Lighthouse, Fair Isle

 

Muckle Flugga and Out Stack from Hermaness, Unst

Book 73 - Canvey Island

Canvey Island by James Runcie - first published in the UK in 2006

The book opens on the night of 31^st January 1953 when there was a huge tidal storm surge in the North Sea, which led to extensive flooding of coastal areas on the eastern side of England from Lincolnshire to Kent and also in the Netherlands.  Much of Canvey Island off the south east coast of Essex lies below sea level and large parts of the island were inundated by seawater on that night and 58 people died there.

Martin Turner's mother Lily drowns as she is trying to escape from their bungalow with Martin while her husband Len and sister Violet are out at a dance together.  Martin is swept to safety and reunited with his father and aunt.  Violet's husband George is mentally fragile as a result of his experiences in the Second World War and after Lily's death Len and Violet become very close. 

The novel follows Martin through his life as he goes to Cambridge University to study engineering in order to prevent events like the North Sea Floods from reoccurring, separates from his Canvey Island girlfriend Linda, marries fellow Cambridge student Claire, moves to Brighton and has a daughter Lucy.  In 1983 Claire suddenly leaves her teaching job and takes Lucy to live at the Greenham Common Peace Camp.  Martin temporarily gets back together with Linda.  George's mental health continues to deteriorate and Len begins to age.

The novel has many short chapters, which are told from the perspectives of the main characters in turn - Martin, Len, Violet, George, Linda and Claire.

This is what James Runcie has to say about his own book "Canvey Island tells the story of changing times in post-war Britain through one family’s tragedy and loss. It is a novel about past wounds and past passions, about growing up and growing old, about love, hope and reconciliation."

St Katherine's Church - now Canvey Island's Heritage Centre

 

King Canute Pub - formerly called the Red Cow and used as a rescue centre in 1953, as it is located on slightly higher ground

 

Post 1953 Sea wall on the coast of Canvey Island