Tell us about your latest read
Rachel Gallehawk from Thurrock Community Business Radio (TCBR) reporting on behalf of Essex Book Festival. Rachel chats to readers at Thurrock Libraries about the books they’re reading…
Amy – Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens
Set on the marshlands of South Carolina (I think) about a lovely young girl who has a troubled childhood. Fast forward to her teenage / early adult years and it turns into a murder mystery. Alongside the mystery you discover the beautiful place where she lives. It is very very good. The film is an excellent adaptation, but the book is even better. [Grays Library]
Andrew – Caledonian Road by Andrew O’Hagan
A state of the nation novel, about an art professor who hires an art student to help him. Covers wide-ranging topics such as bitcoin, gangland London, student hackers, Russian oligarchs. It’s a very good story! [Grays Library]
Cheryl – Spy by Danielle Steel
This is not my usual genre, I usually read crime, but I was interested in it as it is about an English girl who became a spy in World War II. I do like to vary what I read but I usually choose a book which has some historical content, so although it is a fiction book it is based on fact. [Belhus Library]
Jo – The Animals of Farthing Wood by Colin Dann
I remember reading this book when I was a child and it was the first book that really captured my attention. I was really captivated by it and so it became a stepping stone to me beginning to enjoy reading. I wanted to get it out to remind myself why I enjoyed this book so much. I think it is where my love of nature came from too. [Corringham Library]
Joe – The Ipcress File by Len Deighton
It’s quite an old book, from 1960s. I thought that the writing was a bit hard to penetrate at first but once you get used to it then it starts to flow nicely. I like spy stories, the intrigue, the conspiracy, who do you trust? I liked it very much. It is set during the Cold War about scientists that go missing. It’s the first Len Deighton book I’ve read but I may read more. [Grays Library]
Laura – Quick Reads, Ann Cleves
I’m returning some quick reads. They’re very good because if you have a busy life like I do, I love to read but I don’t get a lot of time so the quick reads are great for that. They’re also very good for when you want to try a new author as you get a little sample of how they write. One I particularly liked was Ann Cleves. I also like books with short chapters. [Aveley Library]
Laura – The Cosy Cottage in Ireland by Julie Caplin
It’s a nice little book. I’m only a little way in so far and it’s quite enjoyable and quite easy to read. I chose it because I recently went to Dublin and I wanted to read something set in Ireland. I was searching for tourist books on borrowbox and came across this one so I downloaded it to read. It’s about a lady who goes to Ireland to take a cookery course and learn to cook. I have read The Northern Lights Lodge, also by Julie Caplin, which is an absolutely wonderful book.
Rob – Valley of the Dolls by Jacqueline Susann
The book focuses on the lives of three women in post-war America. It’s brilliant. It’s a modern classic. The way that Jacqueline Susann writes dialogue and develops characterisation through that dialogue is beautiful. The titular dolls are medications and it is something that is eerily prescient in our modern day lives. As a society we are becoming very reliant on taking pills to resolve certain problems and this echoes back all the way to mid-40’s and you can see it mirroring today’s society. [Corringham Library]
Local Authors
Rachel Gallehawk from Thurrock Community Business Radio talks to writers at the annual Thurrock Local Authors Fair held at Grays Library as part of Essex Book Festival 2025. They discuss the inspiration for their books, their next writing projects and what they like about Thurrock.
Bunmi Darlington, Thriving Together: A Self-Care Guide for Families Raising Unique Children
Bunmi talks about why she wrote this book and the importance of giving parents the right skills to support their children.
A compassionate and practical resource designed to support families caring for children with special needs. This guide offers actionable strategies and heartfelt insights to help parents navigate the challenges and celebrate the joys of their journeys. With a focus on self-care, resilience, and finding balance, Thriving Together encourages parents to prioritise their well-being while building a nurturing and supportive environment for their children. It’s a reminder that every family’s path is unique, and with the right tools, they can thrive together.
Veda Guttha (8 years old), Open Door
Veda talks about her inspiration for her latest book and ideas for her next writing project.
Open Door is the journey of an imaginative eight year old girl who feels the weight of loneliness in her heart. One day she stumbles upon a magical door. What’s behind the door? Can she find joy through the magic? Join her on this enchanting quest.
Synthia Zarreen, Life Lessons and Love
Step into the realm of introspection and enlightenment with Synthia Zarreen’s compelling collection, Life Lessons & Love. Within these pages, readers will embark on a profound journey of self-discovery, guided by Synthia Zarreen’s poignant reflections on the human experience. From the highs of love to the lows of adversity, each poem serves as a beacon of hope, offering solace and wisdom to all who seek it.
Steven Blows, Tales of the Forthcoming
It is impossible for anyone to know what the future will bring or even what is lurking behind the next corner, but it is possible to wonder, to question, to imagine. Have you ever imagined?
Machines with science beyond compare, intergalactic relics possessing unlimited power, creatures of nightmares, troubling family dinners, and more are included in this enthralling anthology of the awe-inspiring, the wonderous and the bone-chilling. Examining topics of greed, love, and fate, there are stories designed to make your heart race, others designed to melt it.
Possible futures and the horrors of today, Tales of the Forthcoming is a collection of ten short stories like no other.
So make a cuppa, sit back, and forget the world for a short while as you dive into a world of make-believe where imagination rules.
Sanja Lukic, SaMoRa
Samora, the central figure, is a girl, a woman, and a mother, imbued with divine powers from start to finish. She is akin to Eve or Saint Mary, a figure from ancient times transplanted into our modern world, much like a masterpiece by Michelangelo. She embodies absolute perfection.
Comparative art is a valid approach. In this context, ‘SaMoRa’ evokes a character of great distinction: Prince Mishkin from Dostoyevsky’s ‘The Idiot ‘.
‘SaMoRa’ presents a unique existential space where religions coalesce and coexist harmoniously. Muslims, Christians, Jews, and other communities in the mountainous setting are intricately connected, fostering a sense of unity in diversity.
Pursher William, A Different Kind of Me
Spike is autistic child who loves going to nursery on his bike. When Spike gets to nursery, his adventure begins as he opens the door. It’s bright; it’s loud and liberating too. There are bangs, there are cuddles and colourful play dough treats.
A different kind of me is about the joys and struggles of an autistic child and the ways in which he responds to his environment, teachers and peers as he spends his day at nursery. This sweet little book can be used as a carpet time resources for teachers and early years workers. Parents and carers will also find this book useful in enlightening their children about the challenges autistic children face and how they can help.
Mary Davies – Grandfather Thames by Ronald Hitchin
Grandfather Thames: A History of the Gravesend to Tilbury Ferries details the history of a stretch of the River Thames has been released thanks to the efforts of a family with a rich sailing heritage.
Mary Davies, using research compiled by her late father Ronald Hitchin before he died in 2008, put the finishing touches on a book about the Gravesend to Tilbury ferries.
Grandfather Thames: A History of the Gravesend to Tilbury Ferries
Jacqueline Ashdown, Craven’s Story
In Jacqueline Ashdown’s Craven’s Story, a ten-year-old boy, Craven, and his mother, face life’s challenges after his father betrays them and leaves them with heavy debts. Forced to leave their home, they struggle with money and the necessities of life, but they tackle these difficulties with courage and patience. When they think things can’t get worse, their hearts are broken again. Yet, this incident changes their fate in a way they never dreamed of. This is Craven’s journey of survival and hope as he discovers that even in the toughest times, brighter days will come.
Emma Robinson, The Favourite Child
An absolutely unputdownable and tear-jerking read about the strength of a mother’s love.
Emma Robinson, We Both Have Secrets
A totally gripping and heartbreaking page-turner full of family secrets.
Colin B Wade, Trevor Saves Christmas
When Santa’s sleigh crashes into the home of Trevor Philpott on Christmas Eve, it is down to him and his new trusty sidekick, Sparkle Twinkletoes the elf, to finish off delivering the rest of the presents to the good children of the town.
Join Trevor on an adventure filled with humorous encounters, unexpected twists, and lots of challenges as he tries to complete his mercy mission of goodwill at this festive time.
Will he succeed? Or will the holiday season be ruined by their combined failure?
Dive into this tale that proves that sometimes even the most unlikely of heroes can make a difference!