Mussolini in Myth and Memory by Paul Corner arrived, ker plonk, on my desk and I am so pleased it did – totally fascinating and illuminating

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I kept thinking as I read that I should know this, know that, know the other. That I should have thought more deeply, understood for myself the depths of a particular point. So thank heavens for Paul Corner’s  illumination of the past for us all, and for highlighting the tricks memory, or the transfiguring of memory plays, leading us into a perilous preferred acceptance of what amounts to a myth.

I suppose these days it’s called ‘my truth’ , which alarmingly is gaining credence as an  explanation of a lie, or something at least which bears little or no relation to the facts. What it does do is fit in with what others are saying, in other words, their preferred memory, in which facts have been ignored.

So, on to the book: an examination of the brutal reality of the Italian dicator’s fascist regime. Well quite.

For some reason Mussolini has more often than not had a better press than Hitler and Stalin. Indeed, there has been a certain indulgence in that yes, he was a Fascist, but a kindly one, or at least a less than awful one. One that certainly was not like ‘the others’.

In Italy, as elsewhere, he is ofte remembered as strong decisive leader, and who did many good things.

Paul Corner argues against this rehabilitation, not shying away from the corruption, inefficiencies, and the violence of a deeply repressive regime, but for me what was most important was that Mussolini in Myth and Memory went some way to discussing the vagaries of memory, the tendancy in so many of us to rework the facts to fit in with what is comfortable for us.

Is this why some citizens still choose dictatorships? Have they created a mythical memory of the past? Gone is the repression, instead the memory of order and peace overlays the reality.  But this preferred view ignores the burgeoning reality of the pressure to conform, to join in group think, to think as others think, or pretend to do so out of fear of ostracisation, cancellation. In the name of this new dogma texts are deemed unacceptable if they refute the group think dictat. Texts are therefore altered, books are burned, the main stream media is biased. From here, the slippery slope to the Totalitarian regime begins. Totalitarianism is not pretty, there might be a strong leadership, strong forces of law and order which rewards  rigid obedience but at what cost?  None of these beginnings into totalitarianism should be remembered through the lens of ‘my truth.’ The facts must be writ, clear and loud.

Mussolin in Myth and Memory is a warning, a revelation, a profound study of the realities of dictatorships which with time, can merge into acceptable and appealing myth.

Buy it: Mussolini in Myth and Memory – The First Totalitarian Dictator by Paul Corner. OUP Hardback £20.00

Paul Corner is Emeritus Professor of Euopean History and former Director of the Centre for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes at the University of Siena

Makeup expert reveals why mixing Jojoba Oil with your Foundation makes the Perfect Makeup Base

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We’re all loving the ‘Glazed Doughnut Skin’ and No-Makeup Makeup looks, but UK makeup artist Wayne Goss revealed in a Youtube video that has over 3.4 million views, how adding a drop of Jojoba Oil to your foundation “changes the texture of your foundation… the coverage is still beautiful but you can see real skin, it’s luminous.” Will this take Glazed Doughnut Skin to the next level?
We’ve asked Makeup Expert, and founder of OPV Beauty Opeyemi Adeyemo to explain how it works…
“Adding Jojoba oil to foundation can make the foundation look more radiant, undetectable and melt into the skin, whilst also giving you beautiful coverage.
We all know that any oil texture doesn’t really work underneath makeup, however adding Jojoba oil specifically to foundation is a match made in heaven. This is because Jojoba is not an oil; it’s a wax. The jojoba bean is similar to the protective wax produced by human skin, which means that jojoba oil can mimic the skin’s natural oils and can penetrate deep into the skin layers.
This also means this technique works on all skin types – yes even oily!”
HOW TO
“Adding oil only works with cream or liquid foundation, this method will not work with powder or mineral foundation.
If you’re using a liquid foundation, simply pump some onto the back of your hand and add a single drop of Jojoba oil and mix in together. For a stick or cream foundation, you can scoop some of the product onto the back of your hand or add a drop of Jojoba oil directly into the cream foundation pan.
Next apply it delicately in a gentle tapping motion with your brush, sponge, or fingers. You can apply as usual but you also want to be a bit delicate with it as the formula will be a bit sheerer, meaning any brush marks will show up if not applied/blended in properly.
After applying, sit back and enjoy the glow.”
THE PRODUCTS
The Jojoba Company Australian Jojoba from £13.99 thejojobacompany.co.uk
Versatile pure Jojoba first-press, cold pressed, extra virgin that will help building blocks in the skin cells, strengthening the skin’s surface layers for a smoother, healthier, and younger-looking complexion. This makes it more effective to use on your face and body.
OPV Beauty Stick Foundation £15 opvbeauty.com
Drying to a natural matte finish, OPV Beauty Stick Foundation is a multi-tasking cover-up that blends effortlessly, conceals, evens, and enhances the complexion.

Joffe Books’ pick of the week, oh how they spoil us

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This is a corker of a  ‘ book of the week’ from Joffe who are thrilled with HIDDEN ON THE MOORS by acclaimed author Priscilla Masters. It’s out now for 99p/99c:  a man is seen lingering outside the gates at the local school. Then a five-year-old girl goes missing. The team begin a desperate search for the little girl, but she could be hidden anywhere on these moors.   The clock is ticking . . . Can Detective Joanna Piercy find the girl before it’s too late?

CLICK HERE TO BUY HIDDEN ON THE MOORS BY PRISCILLA MASTERS FOR JUST 99P | 99C.

Silent Death by Volker Kutscher really appeals to me. Priced at £2.99

AT THE DAWN OF TALKING FILMS, A MOVIE STAR IS SILENCED FOREVER . . .

“Ingenious . . . a portrait of an era through the lens of genre fiction.” New York Times“Atmospheric and immersive.” Sunday Herald*Please note our edition of The Silent Death is only available in the UK.

Such excitement:: Beachy Head by Adam Lyndon is coming soon:

BEACHY HEAD, the brand-new Detective Rutherford Barnes mystery by serving police-officer Adam Lyndon is launching next week and is available to pre-order now for just 99p | 99c.

DC Barnes, back on the job after an eighteen-month suspension, is in no position to refuse a case no-one else wants: a one-punch homicide. But soon Barnes’s no-win case becomes something deeper and darker than anyone could have imagined

Joffe Books Publishing Director Kate Lyall Grant says: 

“Adam Lyndon played a blinder with his stunning debut, DEVIL’S CHIMNEY.  But he has surpassed himself with his second novel, BEACHY HEAD. From the tension-fuelled opening scene, I was drawn in right away and held gripped throughout this intriguing, multi-stranded read, with its plentiful twists and turns.  There is one particular twist, about halfway through, which took my breath away, and changed everything I thought I knew about what had gone before.”
CLICK HERE TO PRE-ORDER BEACHY HEAD BY ADAM LYNDON FOR JUST 99P | 99C.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH A COVER REVEAL FOR BEACHY HEAD BY ADAM LYNDON.      Readers LOVED Adam Lyndon’s debut novel, which introduced the character of the young and ambitious — perhaps too ambitious for his own good — DC Rutherford Barnes.  Get your copy today and prepare to be hooked! 

CLICK HERE TO BUY DEVIL’S CHIMNEY BY ADAM LYNDON FOR JUST 99P

NEWS

Joffe Books Publishing Director Kate Lyall Grant has signed two novels from bestselling author McGarvey Black, who is joining Joffe Books with two psychological thrillers.

McGarvey studied voice at Manhattan School of Music and was later a theatre major in college. She pursued an acting career but later moved into a magazine and digital media career. During that time, she sold advertising and managed sales teams for companies like Conde Nast, WebMD and worked for brands including GQ, Travel + Leisure, and Allure.

In between, she took a year off and backpacked alone around the world. Later, after having two children, she left media and became an executive recruiter for internet companies. In 2017, she began writing full time and has since published six novels.

McGarvey Black says: 

“I saw a podcast interview of Jasper Joffe and was really taken by his outlook on publishing. He was incredibly positive and normal and I liked his philosophy. He mentioned that Kate Lyall Grant had moved to Joffe Books and when I looked at her background, I thought I want to work with them!  Joffe Books has had remarkable success publishing high quality fiction that include a slew of bestsellers. I’m hoping mine will be one of them.”

Kate Lyall Grant says:

“I’ve never come across an author with quite such a darkly inventive imagination as McGarvey Black.  She comes up the most ingeniously twisted plots which pull you in from the outset and keep you gripped until the end.  I’m absolutely delighted to have acquired her next two books, TRUST ONLY ME and TWICE ON CHRISTMAS for Joffe Books.”

Kate adds: Watch this space and be among the first to read Black’s thrilling new suspense novels in early 2023! 

For more on Joffe’s latest releases – Joffe Books

 

SUNDAY SCENE: COLETTE DARTFORD ON HER FAVOURITE SCENE FROM THE MORTIFICATION OF GRACE WHEELER

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At the heart of my novels are relationships at a point of turmoil or crisis, because that is when they are most interesting. In Learning To Speak American, Duncan and Lola Drummond try to celebrate their twentieth wedding anniversary in sun-drenched California, while still grieving the loss of their daughter two years earlier. In An Unsuitable Marriage, Geoffrey Parry loses his business, his family home and his dignity. He is forced to move in with his elderly mother, testing their relationship, while his wife Olivia, takes a position at houseparent at their son’s prep school, testing their relationship too. In my third novel, The Mortification of Grace Wheeler, Grace is faced with a lonely empty nest when her only child, Josh, goes to university. For eighteen years they have been a family – Cal, Grace and Josh – but now Grace and Cal are a couple again, and she can’t see how that will work. The story begins the day before Josh – a keen fisherman – leaves home. Grace has taken him to one of his favourite fishing spots and watches wistfully from the grassy bank.

In many ways it was a perfect day. Late summer sun, buttery and low, showered gold dust on the river as it rippled over shallow rocks. A riot of insects flitted over the deeper water, tempting unsuspecting fish to the surface. Josh stood knee-deep in his waders and cast out with a long swish of his rod.

Grace sat on the riverbank, a tartan blanket spread out beneath her. The book her mother, Ruth, had given her lay face down on the picnic hamper – The Empty Nest: A Survival Guide. Ruth meant well, but even the title troubled Grace. It foreshadowed the vacuum Josh’s absence would create, and the spotlight it would shine on her marriage. From tomorrow, Grace’s own nest would be empty, and reading about it wasn’t how she wanted to spend this last day with her son.

Grace misses Josh terribly and is upset that Cal doesn’t. For him it’s a case of ‘job done’, an attitude that only highlights the distance between them. When she is advised to take up a hobby, Cal suggests she join his golf club, but she wants to spend less time with him, not more. Instead, she has fly-fishing lessons as a surprise for Josh when he comes home. Her instructor is a chilled and charming millennial, a complete contrast to Cal, more than twenty years her senior and unrepentantly set in his ways. Despite having always been true to her marriage vows, Grace finds herself drawn into a brief affair that has devastating consequences not just for her, but her entire family.

Rivers and lakes are the setting for some of the book’s more poignant scenes. As the story began by a riverbank, I wanted it to finish there too. ‘Bookend all the bad stuff’ is how Grace put it. I can’t say any more about what happens between these two excerpts, or how this particular day’s fishing will end.

Josh strode out into the gin-clear water and made his first cast. Grace watched from the bank and remembered the empty-nest book Ruth had given her. She had dumped it into the recycling, unread. No great loss, she told herself. Nothing could have prepared her for the trauma of her empty nest. Even now, she could hardly believe everything that had happened.

 

 

A SAFE PAIR OF HANDS

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Jane Cable reviews three books from authors from whom quality is a given

The Rising Tide by Ann Cleeves

I love it when you pick up a book and you know you’re in safe hands; seamless writing you cease to notice within minutes, credible characters, a beautifully bound together plot. I know it sounds strange to say so for a writer of Ann Cleeves’ experience, but not every author stays on top of their game in such an emphatic way.

This is the tenth Vera book and the first I have read. I don’t like crime books in general as I find them terribly formulaic and predictable, but, encouraged by my husband, I hoped for more. And The Rising Tide delivered in spades.

Fifty years ago a group of teenagers spent a retreat weekend on Lindisfarne and although their lives diverged, most of them return every five years, even though the first reunion was blighted by tragedy.  Now they are in their late sixties and make unlikely murder suspects, but when one of their number is killed they are all in the spotlight. Their backstories make them fascinating characters with so much depth, which is one of the things I enjoyed most about this fabulous book.

 

A Perfectly Good Man by Patrick Gale

It’s a long time since I read Notes From on Exhibition and I had forgotten what a convincing writer Gale is. His characters spring quietly from the page and somehow seep into your life so that you believe in their existence almost without knowing it. And for this book the setting was my adopted county of Cornwall and the author’s own home; the real Cornwall too, and not the sugar-coated touristy one.

The book opens with a young man’s suicide, and it isn’t hard to guess there is more than meets the eye to his relationship with the priest he calls to pray for him as he dies. Their stories, and the stories of those close to them, are then unwound, backwards and forwards, forwards and back in time, in a way that could feel disjointed, yet in fact makes perfect sense. This is a book I will remember for a long time.

 

Ordinary Thunderstorms by William Boyd

This was a book club pick and not the sort of thing I normally read. But that was my reason for joining a book club – to try new things. And guess what? I loved it.

A thriller set in the underbelly of London that most of us hope not to see, it follows the world of middle class academic Adam Kindred from the moment his world unravels when he’s accused of murder. At first one poor decision follows another and within days he is homeless and hungry, pursued not only by police, but by a ruthless hitman.

The story is told from multiple points of view that weave seamlessly together. Adam, the hitman, the boss of a pharmaceutical company that may be at the centre of it all, a policewoman and a prostitute. An unlikely cast of compelling characters who create a faultless narrative only a really skilled an experienced novelist could pull off.

 

 

Award winning author, Anthony Etherington’s novel Europia has a cracking jacket, but it’s the inside that matters- so how does it stack up?

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Set in Caradea, Eastern Europe, in the future, 2030 to be exact. Marta, 34 and single, lives alone on the dingy Goval estate. In spite of her good friends, a secure job, her spirits are flagging as her mother is showing her age. In addition her boyfriend, Arpad is not only often absent, but is drinking heavily. Is it anything to do with the images she has discovered, images  that suggest Arpad is involved in sex trafficking?

Well, frankly, enough is enough and Marta decides to ditch Arpad and find someone she can love, who will give her the solace, and the family she has always wanted. But will Arpad let her go? To make matters worse, Marta agrees to help a widower Michael, with his teenage daughter, who is deeply troubled. Without realising it, Marta sets off a chain of events that threaten not only those she loves, but her own life.

So, we’ve agreed, a great jacket. What else?

Let me reassure all Frost Magazine’s readers. Etherington’s crisp pacy writing swings into action from line one, and we’re off, fully engaged, hauled in by the neck to not only be in the drama, but turn the pages, and wonder quite, crikey, is going to happen, and how can it be resolved?

Etherington won best screenplay at the European Independent Film Festival and the International Film Festival of Wales in 2014, and his understanding of scenic action is excellent. Evocative writing, superb plotting and dialogue, what’s not to like. Buy it, devour it. Bravo Europia, and Etherington of course.

Europia by Anthony Etherington available here

Know More about Hair Extensions

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Hair gives a human being so much personality and features. People always want flawless and tangle-free locks with stylish hairdos, but not all are born with naturally flawless locks. But is there a way to get that? So many options are available in the market providing good, sustainable, artificial locks that could save a person’s special days like office meet-ups, parties, dates, birthdays, etc.

 

What is an artificial extension?

Clip in hair extensions, weaves, or fake locks are natural or synthetic locks used to add length and thickness to a person’s original tresses. It is used to alter a person’s appearance by adding length, volume, and thickness or changing the existing hair’s overall texture. Extensions for your locks can improve their look and make them appealing. They are also ideal for those with thin or delicate locks.

 

Different Types

Such products are applied by several methods like tape-ins, clip-ins, fusions, weaving, wigs, and many more.

Tape-ins typically last four to eight weeks. These are applied with the help of glue tape and can be removed by applying a glue remover. Specialized styling products are available to keep these extensions in top conditions.

 

The most popular method, clip in hair extensions, is also the safest since there is no use of a chemical or glue to attach them. These products can be integrated seamlessly to provide thickness and volume with the help of small clips sewn into the original strands. These are also the cheapest options available. These are temporary and are applied and removed easily without visiting a salon or the help of a hairdresser.

Other methods, like Bonding or Fusion, are notorious for causing Traction Alopecia and hair loss caused by pulling them.

 

Characteristics of Human Curls

Human locks consist of Keratin in three layers. The inner part is the medulla, which is covered by the cortex and takes up most of the shaft. Pigment cells present in the cortex give the hair its color. The cuticle is the outermost layer. A healthy cuticle is a protective layer that controls the water content of fiber.

 

The extensions of true virgin and Remy’s hair are the most durable and easy to apply. These are soft, shiny, and have a natural wave pattern as they use 100% genuine human hair without any harmful chemicals that can damage one’s natural curls. It is also very sturdy, making it a popular choice for those who want to try various styles.

 

Maintenance and Styling of These Products

 

Mild shampoo and a light conditioner are recommended to wash and reduce the tangling of the product.

 

When applying shampoo, it is suggested that a sulfate-free and alcohol-free product be used as sulfate and alcohol can frizz and dry the fake curls.

 

Cool water can also be ideal while shampooing to reduce matting.

 

Even the use of a top-down motion while shampooing can help decrease hair degradation a lot.

 

Conclusion

Everyone can enjoy their desired looks with these wonderful items. There are many types and colors of extensions available to find one that suits you. If you are considering extensions, consult a professional stylist to find the best type and color for your hair.

 

Several reputed online stores provide genuine products with exciting discounts, deals, and free shipping if people buy in bulk. Hence, before buying, please search for those sites on the internet.

 

 

 

 

What a week it was at Columbia Community Association and the first thing is, they have an email! columbiavillagecommunityassoc@gmail.com

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Three cheers, the doors have all been hung – the lads worked over the weekend, the swing doors in the corridor are fantastic. A makeover for any 83 year old is a lengthy task, but just look at these beauties now.

The new brass handles, name plate and a knocker are on order for what will be the best front door in Brady Square and Marion has ordered me to come and see them. I will, I promise. She also says, ‘Corey from CJ Carpet fitters is arranging a date for fitting the new flooring in the communal room and our computer room. Once this is laid, Equan are going to decorate the hub room and install wall units etc. When completed the community can come along and use the computers and tablets.

On a roll now, Marion continued: ‘Did I happen to mention that I negotiated with Stu the Equan boss man to have new flooring laid in our toilets. He asked how much we would charge for the lads to use our facilities during the ongoing refurb programme in Columbia so I suggested we did a deal and we both came away quite happy. Our committee too.’

Margaret thinks Marion is terrifying.

It was a week for meetings, chats and donations, bingo, sewing, singing and dancing, exercise classes and a booking for a 5-piece band to rehearse, Columbia Community Association is certainly the place to be. 

The first community visitor arrived and he was so helpful in helping Bob to move the units we are keeping for our computer room. Thanks John, you deserved that cup of coffee.

Bob also started dismantling a notice board left over from the 1939 old dole office. In its place will be the television. The wall might have to be skimmed. Thankfully, Justin and Dave were only too pleased to help with the plastering of the wall on top of the kitchen walls. Which is promising to be as wonderful as everyone hoped.

Dave

Marion said, ‘During the week Shake that Boogie arrived and the centre became alive with music and laughter, leaving the lads from Equan outnumbered and I caught young Michael singing away to YMCA. (gotcha). Of course he denied it’.

Then, surprise surprise, Marion’s grandson arrived. Everything stopped, tears started, and hugs. Marion was so thrilled  because she misses him, but he has a good life in Texas and is happy there. On this visit, he also gifted Bob and Marion some stunning news – she will be knitting bootties for a while. Congratulation from Frost Magazine, Grannie.

FYI Shake that Boogie are starting a Thursday class and the Bingo ladies were ‘at it’ again. Denise from Sunderland Voluntary Sector Alliance popped in, and is always available for advice.

                       

Denise                                                          Tom

We hear that Tom, has volunteered to decorate the embryonic computer room. In return Marion has to constantly replenish his tea mug. This is a job that must never be given to Margaret Graham, who makes a dreadful cup of tea, her son in law says. Dick agrees. Margaret just says,’Make it yourself then.’ Margaret is BAD.

Pouring rain alerted the team to a leak in Communal Room 2 which was reported to the Council. But, never fear, Equan stepped in and identified the problem (oh lord, a bad one) so back onto SCC for an urgent callout…30mins and they arrived. Temporarily fixed.

Hazel from “Plain N Purl” kindly agreed to display a poster in her shop, asking for volunteers to knit woolie hats for Sister Mary’s beloved Seafarers. Whereupon ‘The wonderful Meg Barber called in to drop some hats off that she had knitted for the Seaman, Sister Mary will be delighted,’ said Marion.

‘How lucky are we in dear old Brady square to be surrounded by such special people.’

Lynn Johnson from Equan came in May with a donation of toiletries for our Ukrainian appeal and she is the person responsible for starting the ball rolling for our new kitchen. Without this beautiful human, Marion told Frost, none of her wheeling and dealing would have been possible.

Lastly, from the Columbia Community Association, together with Frost Magazine, please raise your glasses to our beautiful Queen Elizabeth II, may you rest in peace ma’am.