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Jump to navigationJump to searchA Word Glittering with Spikes by Nigel McClea (view source)
Revision as of 09:54, 20 March 2018
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{{infoboxinfobox1
|title=A Word Glittering with Spikes
|sort=Word Glittering With Spikes
|reviewer=Sue Magee
|genre=General Fiction
|summary=A long, indulgent, romantic read from an author who knows his background and develops realistic characters. Nigel McClea popped into Bookbag Towers to [[The Interview: Bookbag Talks To Nigel McClea|chat to us]].
|rating=3.5
|buy=Yes
|date=September 2014
|isbn=978-0993025501
|website=|videocover=0993025501|amazonukaznuk=<amazonuk>0993025501</amazonuk>|amazonusaznus=<amazonus>0993025501</amazonus>
}}
Bill Challenger was a little more circumspect when he met Charlotte Woods. He was a newly-qualified solicitor - and newly-arrived in the firm's offices in Leeds - when he encountered Charlotte, who was a pupil, but a very unusual one. Some people might have described her as 'unlovely' with her sturdy build and a face that wasn't usually described as pretty. Her love life wasn't much better either; she'd been determined to lose her virginity the night before - and failed. Bill wasn't doing much better either. He was still mourning his dead girlfriend - and had been doing for an unconscionably long time.
It is ''such'' a relief to meet leading characters who are not six foot three, blond and good looking - and that's before we get to the men. David are and Bill are - well, I'd hesitate the use the word ''gormless'', but they're innocents abroad and sometimes you wonder if they should be allowed out without a responsible adult. Jenny was definitely on the rebound when she met David - she'd ''just'' been dumped by her boyfriend, but perhaps her expectations of him had been too high - and Charlotte is only just getting over the sudden death of both her parents and even her ferocious intelligence hasn't really enabled her to deal with men other than in the workplace.
Nigel McClea has wisely stuck to what he knows best. In another life he was a solicitor and he's made three out of the four main characters either study or practice law and it's obvious that he's ''comfortable'' with what his characters are doing and saying - obvious too that he knows lots more which he ''could'' say, rather than cramming in every bit of research as far too many authors do. He obviously knows Leeds too. So do I - and he brings it to life perfectly.
{{amazontext|amazon=0993025501}}
{{amazonUStext|amazon=0993025501}}
{{interviewtext|author=Nigel McClea}}
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{{commentheadcomment|name=Malcolm Butterworth|verb= said|comment=Looks like a great read, turn the telly off, lock the door and put the cat out, looks like I'm going away for awhile, hope I make it back in one piece.}}
