Richard Monatanari. This man, readers, is a genius of crime fiction.
Having read his novel 'Play Dead', I searched high and low for something else for another book by him so that I may be mesmerised and enthralled all over again. Then I found 'Kiss of Evil'.
Both books are similar in style: a detective protagonist, an array of interlinking stories and crime scenes, an undercurrent of magic (stage magic and the voodoo style). You sympathise with the main character, as you should, and find yourself attempting (without success) to predict what will happen next.
So, if you're in dire need of a fast-paced thriller and don't mind getting paper-cuts as the action in this page-turner accelarates, then I most definitely recommend any and all of Montanari's work.
Tuesday 19 October 2010
Sunday 3 October 2010
Thursday 30 September 2010
Africa 2010: First Day at School
Monday, 19th July 2010
My suitcase is missing a wheel, but I don’t mind ’cause the weather is beautiful and I’m just so darn excited to be stepping on African soil for the first time.
The first of us volunteers are picked up at the airport at 6am by Haji Saab, the man behind the school we will be teaching at. He takes us to his house, where we have breakfast, talk to some Iranian folk, have lunch and fall asleep on insanely comfortable beds. Later, we go to the beach and tour Dar-as-Salaam, returning to find the rest of the volunteers have arrived. Together, we go to Kibaha, which is about an hour from Dar and where we will volunteer.
The complex is 87 acres and, so far, only four acres have been built upon. The scope for development is immense. The girls are dropped of to their room, then us boys head to ours. The people here are so nice and always willing to help. A boy our age named Frankie helps carry our luggage up four flights of stairs to our rooms, which are nicer than the girls’, so we’re pretty smug. I’m sharing the smaller room with Rahim, whilst Jagani and Kanani (that’s their surnames – you’ll get to know them pretty soon) are sharing the larger one.
We rest, have dinner, then rest some more. Since it’s dark now, the organisers say that they will run the proper campus tour tomorrow. We pray with the secondary boys and are introduced to them in assembly, which is kinda embarrassing. After all that eating, praying and resting, we’re really tired, so we decide to rest some more. Night all.
Monday, 19th July 2010 continued...
OK, so I thought Monday was over, but it isn’t. Whilst the ‘proper’ tour will run tomorrow, there is a quick one tonight. The other boys aren’t up for it, but (being the insomniac that I am) I decide to go.
We meet Bashir Uncle, the school's unofficial headmaster, in the middle of a field with two working torches between twelve of us. He is aided by Hanna, his niece from America, who provides the vocals to his tour of the school buildings, football pitches, cow sheds, water tank and farming area. She seems really passionate about eggplants and the size of the Jack fruit and cows and the school in general. Her enthusiasm is pretty infectious. The school is self-sufficient, using internally-grown produce to feed the campus. They save a hell of a lot of money and the food tastes amazing.
We head back across the cow manure to our rooms after the tour ends, looking forward to tomorrow’s torch-free tour and to, hopefully, making some kind of difference :)
aj saul
My suitcase is missing a wheel, but I don’t mind ’cause the weather is beautiful and I’m just so darn excited to be stepping on African soil for the first time.
The first of us volunteers are picked up at the airport at 6am by Haji Saab, the man behind the school we will be teaching at. He takes us to his house, where we have breakfast, talk to some Iranian folk, have lunch and fall asleep on insanely comfortable beds. Later, we go to the beach and tour Dar-as-Salaam, returning to find the rest of the volunteers have arrived. Together, we go to Kibaha, which is about an hour from Dar and where we will volunteer.
The complex is 87 acres and, so far, only four acres have been built upon. The scope for development is immense. The girls are dropped of to their room, then us boys head to ours. The people here are so nice and always willing to help. A boy our age named Frankie helps carry our luggage up four flights of stairs to our rooms, which are nicer than the girls’, so we’re pretty smug. I’m sharing the smaller room with Rahim, whilst Jagani and Kanani (that’s their surnames – you’ll get to know them pretty soon) are sharing the larger one.
We rest, have dinner, then rest some more. Since it’s dark now, the organisers say that they will run the proper campus tour tomorrow. We pray with the secondary boys and are introduced to them in assembly, which is kinda embarrassing. After all that eating, praying and resting, we’re really tired, so we decide to rest some more. Night all.
Monday, 19th July 2010 continued...
OK, so I thought Monday was over, but it isn’t. Whilst the ‘proper’ tour will run tomorrow, there is a quick one tonight. The other boys aren’t up for it, but (being the insomniac that I am) I decide to go.
We meet Bashir Uncle, the school's unofficial headmaster, in the middle of a field with two working torches between twelve of us. He is aided by Hanna, his niece from America, who provides the vocals to his tour of the school buildings, football pitches, cow sheds, water tank and farming area. She seems really passionate about eggplants and the size of the Jack fruit and cows and the school in general. Her enthusiasm is pretty infectious. The school is self-sufficient, using internally-grown produce to feed the campus. They save a hell of a lot of money and the food tastes amazing.
We head back across the cow manure to our rooms after the tour ends, looking forward to tomorrow’s torch-free tour and to, hopefully, making some kind of difference :)
aj saul
Saturday 25 September 2010
Africa 2010: All Aboard AJ's Amazing, Astounding And Alliterative African Adventure ... Awesome!
Sunday, 18th July 2010
Both my parents are from East Africa, but I’ve never had a chance to visit. This will change as from today.
The morning is a mega rush. I don’t know why I always pack my bags at the last minute, because I always manage to forget/lose something. This time it’s my USB, which is definitely not good. I do, however, make it to the airport on time and met the rest of the volunteers. They’re a great bunch of people, which makes me happy. I’m looking forward to spending the next three weeks with them.
We say farewell to our families, board the plane and fly off to Tanzania. Half of us are on one flight, the other half on another and I’m in charge of looking after the girls (and Rahim) on the earlier one. Lucky them.
Rahim is one of my best friends. He is the one person I would choose to sit next to on a long-ass flight, just because he’s hilarious. We make the mistake of watching Twilight: New Moon. Not only is it a bad film, but now he and I have been dubbed Jacob and Edward, respectively, by the female contingent. Using the onboard phones, we prank call the other volunteers, realising more and more that these nicknames are of the permanent variety…
aj saul
Both my parents are from East Africa, but I’ve never had a chance to visit. This will change as from today.
The morning is a mega rush. I don’t know why I always pack my bags at the last minute, because I always manage to forget/lose something. This time it’s my USB, which is definitely not good. I do, however, make it to the airport on time and met the rest of the volunteers. They’re a great bunch of people, which makes me happy. I’m looking forward to spending the next three weeks with them.
We say farewell to our families, board the plane and fly off to Tanzania. Half of us are on one flight, the other half on another and I’m in charge of looking after the girls (and Rahim) on the earlier one. Lucky them.
Rahim is one of my best friends. He is the one person I would choose to sit next to on a long-ass flight, just because he’s hilarious. We make the mistake of watching Twilight: New Moon. Not only is it a bad film, but now he and I have been dubbed Jacob and Edward, respectively, by the female contingent. Using the onboard phones, we prank call the other volunteers, realising more and more that these nicknames are of the permanent variety…
aj saul
Sunday 19 September 2010
Sunday 29 August 2010
When I went to Africa...
Kibaha is a small village in Tanzania where the sun always shines and the people always smile. This summer, I was fortunate enough to volunteer there. I expected to teach the children whatever little knowledge I have gained, but came away having learnt a whole lot myself.
Now that I'm back in the UK I've decided to journal what can only be described as the best experience of my life. I hope to update this space every few days with posts about and pictures from my time in East Africa; from Day One to Day Last.
I met some truly amazing people and would like to share everything I learnt and was a part of with all of you.
Until then...
Take Care
aj saul
Now that I'm back in the UK I've decided to journal what can only be described as the best experience of my life. I hope to update this space every few days with posts about and pictures from my time in East Africa; from Day One to Day Last.
I met some truly amazing people and would like to share everything I learnt and was a part of with all of you.
Until then...
Take Care
aj saul
Wednesday 25 August 2010
Wordless Wednesday #1
I notice the irony and apparent contradiction in including words in this 'Wordless Wednesday' post, but it is merely to explain this new concotion of mine. No more words ... from .... now!
Tuesday 24 August 2010
About
"Be original as the day you were born"
It is only fair to begin with the two people who brought me into this world. Two people who I don't appreciate nearly as much as I should.
My mum is gorgeous, but camera-shy. I find this cute. She loves soppy books and even soppier films. She works too hard. She grows her own vegetables and loves hanging-baskets. I adore her. And her cooking.
I adore my dad, too, but not his cooking. He is gangster. If he's not on his computer working for us, then he's chilling with us. He's awesome at maths. He's not so awesome at DIY. He also forgets quite a lot. Mum dislikes this.
As for me…
I am a twenty-something year old little kid who has grown up way too quickly. I have twin brothers who are younger than me. We fight quite often, but we do love each other. Maybe. Just a bit.
AJ Saul is not my real name. It’s a pen-name I use when I’m writing becauseI think I’m cool.
I’m shy around beautiful people. I think everyone is beautiful. I like to be liked. I have a childhood fear of spiders, of falling, of the dark. Of falling on spiders in the dark.
I love travelling and learning new languages. It’s a good combination. I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited lots of amazing places, meeting lots of amazing people and making lots of unforgettable memories along the way.
I will write anything and everything: fiction, poetry, articles, letters to friends, essays (reluctantly), to-do-notes, shopping lists… This blog has been created simply as a place where we can think and write freely.
I enjoy most sports: soccer (or, correctly, football), tennis, cricket, badminton, squash. I swim regularly and I used to do Shotokan Karate. Even Chuck Norris is afraid of me. That's a lie.
In short, I love the simple things in life, as well as those rare moments that make this world perfect...
Starry skies and long summer nights; sitting in silence, watching the sun rise; peanut-butter spoonfuls, cocoa and that wet-grass smell; snowflakes that settle and shooting stars; random acts of kindness; scribbled poetry on paper scraps, getting lost down untrodden paths and the 'I-was-there’ of old photographs.
I have faith, but don't thank God nearly enough. When I do, it's for family, friendships, dreams, memories and the good times. For the smiles, the tears, the joy, the peace, the freedom and the laughter. Especially the laughter.
Welcome to my little corner of the internet. Put your feet up and make yourself at home...
It is only fair to begin with the two people who brought me into this world. Two people who I don't appreciate nearly as much as I should.
My mum is gorgeous, but camera-shy. I find this cute. She loves soppy books and even soppier films. She works too hard. She grows her own vegetables and loves hanging-baskets. I adore her. And her cooking.
I adore my dad, too, but not his cooking. He is gangster. If he's not on his computer working for us, then he's chilling with us. He's awesome at maths. He's not so awesome at DIY. He also forgets quite a lot. Mum dislikes this.
As for me…
I am a twenty-something year old little kid who has grown up way too quickly. I have twin brothers who are younger than me. We fight quite often, but we do love each other. Maybe. Just a bit.
AJ Saul is not my real name. It’s a pen-name I use when I’m writing because
I’m shy around beautiful people. I think everyone is beautiful. I like to be liked. I have a childhood fear of spiders, of falling, of the dark. Of falling on spiders in the dark.
I love travelling and learning new languages. It’s a good combination. I’ve been fortunate enough to have visited lots of amazing places, meeting lots of amazing people and making lots of unforgettable memories along the way.
I will write anything and everything: fiction, poetry, articles, letters to friends, essays (reluctantly), to-do-notes, shopping lists… This blog has been created simply as a place where we can think and write freely.
I enjoy most sports: soccer (or, correctly, football), tennis, cricket, badminton, squash. I swim regularly and I used to do Shotokan Karate. Even Chuck Norris is afraid of me. That's a lie.
In short, I love the simple things in life, as well as those rare moments that make this world perfect...
Starry skies and long summer nights; sitting in silence, watching the sun rise; peanut-butter spoonfuls, cocoa and that wet-grass smell; snowflakes that settle and shooting stars; random acts of kindness; scribbled poetry on paper scraps, getting lost down untrodden paths and the 'I-was-there’ of old photographs.
I have faith, but don't thank God nearly enough. When I do, it's for family, friendships, dreams, memories and the good times. For the smiles, the tears, the joy, the peace, the freedom and the laughter. Especially the laughter.
Welcome to my little corner of the internet. Put your feet up and make yourself at home...
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