Alex Preston

A visually gorgeous and intelligently written compendium of references in literature (mostly poetry) to over 20 varieties of feathered spirits. The author has chosen birds who mean something to him personally, and shares memories in which their significance to him is explained. Preston is from the UK, and has traveled, so some of the birds he mentions are native to places other than the US, or are slightly different than their US cousins with the same or similar names, such as the English show more robin or the collared dove (a newcomer to North America in the late 20th century). Illustrations are by Neil Gower, both portraits in full color plates, and simple black-and-white vignettes. An absolute treasure for bird- and book-lovers, like so many of us. show less

This is an excellent first book. Mr. Preston has wisely decided to write about a world which he knows; that of the city trader. It is a foreign country to me and this novel does what any good representative of the genre should do - it puts the reader into the author's domain.

This is not the only book written about 'fat cat' traders, but it is by far the best that I have read. Preston's characters are real people instead of, as so often, figures out of a pantomime. The feel of the book is show more bleak and the city destroys all she touches and yet, the people are like you and me, they have their shameful moments but they are balanced by noble ones; and most of their time is spent simply existing.

Obsession is perhaps the theme of the work. Charlie Wales does not love his job but he cannot escape the adrenaline rush that it offers. Charlie's relationship with Vero appears to be the one truly, unquestionably good thing in his life: but is she; or is such perfection just another chimera?

The character of Henry, Charlie's closest friend, is the perfect foil. He represents us, the timid reader (ME!!!), who hasn't got the bottle to take on this high stress lifestyle, but envies those that do. Charlie takes both of the women in his life, Vero and Jo, from Henry. Charlie may waste their love, but Henry, for all that he is the nice guy, doesn't have the backbone required to fight for them.

This is a sombre book, which lets the reader know from the first few pages that things are not destined to end well but, the light poetic style of the writing always steers it from the danger of becoming morbid.

I eagerly anticipate a string of books with the name Alex Preston engraved upon the spine, and hope that Mr P is slaving over a hot PC keyboard, as I type, and that his next work will be published soon. show less

I read a review copy as part of the Amazon Rising Stars programme and found this a quite extraordinary first novel. It takes us deep inside the world of the credit crunch from the perspective of a trader heavily involved in it. What I found astonishing was the maturity of the voice and - as has been mentioned in other reviews here - the fact that we empathise with the main character - Charlie - whilst never sympathising with him. Perhaps it's because I could see very clearly how one's head show more could be turned by the promised riches, and how deeply ingrained the kind of puritan ambition Charlie exhibits is, that I couldn't put this book down. It's a tragedy and the ending is quite unexpected. If I could give it six stars I would. show less

I was left strangely dissatisfied by this book. I found the writing to be fine, and the topic was clearly well researched, and worth reading about, but there's something about the whole that misses the mark.
The core of the book is the activities of a pirate gang operating in the Winchelsea area in the mid 1700s. The author gives enough information without becoming a history text.
But the vehicle for telling the story is the problem. The protagonist is a 16 year old woman. Unusual for a pirate show more gang, but not to be excluded. The pirate girl then becomes gay, and then trans, and then inter-sex. Again, not necessarily a problem, but the cumulative odds against this having a place in the historical era are starting to become a little fantastic. And then the pirate girl becomes a player with the Jacobites - spends time with the Bonnie Prince, and is at Culloden.
It's the Forest Gump problem - it's just too much for a single character too carry in a story.
So, good attempt, but not quite right for this reader. show less