Electric Eden: Unearthing Britain’s Visionary Music, by Rob Young

Be not afeard. The Isle is full of noises, Sounds, and sweet airs, that give delight, and hurt not. Sometimes a thousand twangling instruments Will hum about mine ears, and sometimes voices, That, if I then had wak’d from a deep sleep Will make me sleep again, and then, in dreaming, The clouds methought would [...]

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An Interview with Brother Guy Consolmagno: Part II

For Part I, click here.  For Kirsty’s review of God’s Mechanics, click here. The idea of a religious university as they exist in the US is not a familiar one for those of us in the UK, although of course our university system has deep confessional roots.  Could you tell us something about the idea [...]

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An Interview with Brother Guy Consolmagno: Part I

Brother Guy Consolmagno is a planetary scientist, Jesuit brother and sci-fi enthusiast.  In addition to his own research, he is Co-ordinator for Public Relations at the Vatican Observatory and curator of the Vatican meteorite collection.  Needless to say, he is a very busy man, but he kindly set aside time to answer a few questions.  [...]

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God’s Mechanics: How scientists and engineers make sense of religion, by Brother Guy Consolmagno, SJ

If there’s one thing I hate about religion books, it’s that arrogant attitude of smug satisfaction that we get when we think we’ve produced the ultimate answers to all the deep questions that have bothered the greatest thinkers of the ages.  If the answers were so simple, those questions wouldn’t still be with us. – [...]

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A Girl’s Guide to Modern European Philosophy by Charlotte Greig

I picked up this book for light relief. I wanted something quick and easy to read and given the pink swirls on the front cover, I thought this book would guarantee me a few smiles and a happy ending. How wrong I was! This is not your average chick lit. It’s the 1970s and Susannah [...]

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Coming up on Vulpes Libris

The Foxes are looking to the heavens this week as they contemplate the really big issues: philosophy, religion, science and folk music. On Monday, Nikki wonders if philosophy really can solve your problems when she reviews Charlotte Greig’s Brighton-based A Girl’s Guide to Modern European Philosophy. On Tuesday, Kirsty reviews God’s Mechanics: How scientists and [...]

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Diary of a Juvenile Delinquent by Steven Berkoff

When writing about Steven Berkoff it’s traditional to reach for terms like “thorn in the side of the theatrical establishment”, “enfant terrible” or “bête noire”.  “Arrogant”, “vituperative” and “driven” pop up on a fairly regular basis too, along with “maverick”, “iconoclastic” and just plain “mad”. He’s been bemusing, terrifying and aggravating people for nigh on [...]

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The Poison Diaries by Maryrose Wood: of passions, poisons and the power of plants

A dark, gothic tale of romance… and murder. In the right dose, everything is a poison. Jessamine has spent her whole life in a cottage close to her father’s apothecary garden, surrounded by medicinal plants and herbs that could kill her — although her father has never allowed her into the most dangerous part of [...]

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Our Betty: Scenes from my Life by Liz Smith

Anyone looking for a traditional autobiography won’t find one here. This series of vignettes, illustrated by the author herself, starts with her next-door-neighbour and ends with Jimmy the donkey via the woman that sold our Liz her sweets. But Our Betty, despite the little it tells us about Liz Smith, brims with the same warmth [...]

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The Method and Other Stories by Tom Vowler + GIVEAWAY

As our Founding Fox Leena noted when reviewing my own novel, Prince Rupert’s Teardrop, writing about a book written by a friend or acquaintance can be a little awkward. I have found that such an endeavour is an odd mix of hopefulness and nervousness. When the first page is turned, a slight queasiness can develop. [...]

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