BOOK OF THE WEEK with Charlie Richards
Star Wars, Galactic Atlas, Lucasfilm and Tim McDonagh, ISBN 978-1405279987(Egmont) BD9.800 for Gulf Weekly Book Club members
The Galactic Atlas, illustrated by TimMcDonagh in superb full colour, covers everything from Alderaan and Naboo toTatooine and Yavin 4, taking in the epic stories, strange creatures andglorious vistas of the entire saga.
Taken from the holdings of the Graf Archiveand found in the underground Shadow Stacks, these ancient hand-drawn maps wereunearthed from the Shadow Stacks.
The Head Curator’s theory is that they arethe work of the great Ithorian artist Gammit Chond. Chond never travelledoff-world but he was fascinated by travellers’ tales, and many of his worksdepict their stories of adventure and discovery in the rest of the galaxy.
While we know that many of the things hehas included are a matter of fact, some may merely be tall tales spun byexplorers...but all presents a unique view of a fascinating slice of history.
The atlas also contains a useful timelinethat describes the period of history covered in these maps, from the Clone Warsbetween the Republic and the Separatists, to the Galactic Civil War between theEmpire and the Rebel Alliance, and beyond.
The Rogue One spread introduces fans to awhole new terrain. Set before Star Wars: A New Hope, Rogue One follows arag-tag group of rebel commandos who must steal the plans to the Empire’s newsuper weapon, the Death Star. This standalone story transports fans to unseencorners of the Star Wars universe and strange new planets not to mention anencounter with a familiar adversary, Darth Vader.
With dozens of maps, star charts, characterprofiles, and a timeline of the entire saga, this book is the perfect gift forStar Wars fans of all ages.
READ IT NOW IN PAPERBACK
The Christmas Card, Dilly Court, ISBN978-0008137380 (Harper) BD3.400 for Gulf Weekly Book Club members.
She turned the picture of the Christmascard over with her frozen hands, a pretty picture of a family gathering atYuletide. How different from her own life; stiff with cold on the icy cobbles,aching for shelter.
When her father dies leaving Alice and herailing mother with only his debts, the two grieving women are forced to rely onthe begrudging charity of cruel Aunt Jane. Determined to rid herself of anexpensive responsibility, Jane tries forcing Alice into a monstrous marriage.And when Alice refuses, she is sent to work in a grand house to earn her keep.
Finding herself in sole charge of theuntameable and spoilt young miss of the house, Alice’s only ally is handsomeUncle Rory, who discovers that Alice has talents beyond those of a mereservant. But when someone sets out to destroy her reputation, Alice can onlypray for a little of that Christmas spirit to save her from ruin.
MY FAVOURITE READ OF THE WEEK
Small Great Things, Jodi Picoult, ISBN978-1444788006 (Hodder & Stoughton) BD7.300 for Gulf Weekly Book Clubmembers Coined as ‘To Kill A Mocking Bird of the21st Century’ by Real Reader Review.
When a newborn baby dies after a routinehospital procedure, there is no doubt about who will be held responsible … thenurse who had been banned from looking after him by his father.
What the nurse, her lawyer and the fatherof the child cannot know is how this death will irrevocably change all of theirlives, in ways both expected and not.
Small Great Things is about prejudice andpower, it is about that which divides and unites us. It is about opening youreyes.
