Reviewing the Situation with Lena Davis
“Watching You” by Lisa Jewell (published by Century Press)
“China’s Oasis” is co-written by David Gotts and Richard Harris (Monarch £8.99)
Please grab your £12.99 and rush out pronto to buy a copy of “Watching You” by Lisa Jewell (published by Century Press). Chances are you will soon be watching a mini-series of this great book on your telly and, much as I would like the lead to be played by Keeley Hawes, it will probably be transported to America by Reese Witherspoon.
By the way, an apros of nothing, I would like to officially tell the grey men now running BBC TV why “The Bodyguard” was so successful. They seemed to be under the impression it was because of the wonderful script and Richard Madden’s bare bum. The truth is quite simple. We all tuned in to watch Keeley Hawes. We are happy to watch Keeley Hawes in anything at all, even her recent car commercial. When our Keeley was suddenly killed midway through the series, we all stayed watching in the mistaken belief that she would suddenly reappear.
Now, back to “Watching You”. Lisa has been writing novels since she was twenty-seven and now, fifteen best-selling years later, she is still tapping away on her laptop in her local café rather than an office. It is not only the coffee that attracts her but her love of people-watching. Well, “Watching You” is a superb thriller based virtually entirely on the characters surreptitiously watching each other.
I’ve always been a big fan of Lisa and wasn’t too keen on her joining the ever growing list of female novelists trying their hands at psychological thrillers. However, I am now completely converted. So, if this is a genre you enjoy, I suggest you trot off right now to your nearest independent book shop. Remember – I’ll be watching you!
Now, for something completely different, “China’s Oasis” is co-written by David Gotts and Richard Harris (Monarch £8.99). David has devoted most of his life to helping find love for the children with disabilities abandoned in China. He was only twenty-two when he discovered the shocking conditions at a Chinese welfare centre. China Concern was born that day and in 2007, Oasis House was opened. Of course, Chinese attitudes towards disability have changed for the better and David was instrumental and inspirational in showing the way.
Some years ago, a good friend of mine and his wife travelled to China to find, and eventually adopt, an unwanted girl baby. The Chinese Government had deemed that no family could keep more than one child and so impoverished families would often abandon girl babies in the hopes of eventually producing a boy. The powers-that-be did not have the sense to realise the eventual outcome, when later the boys grew up in communities almost devoid of girls to marry. By the way, my friends little girl has grown up into a wonderful young woman, beautiful in every way.
Now, on the other hand, wouldn’t it be equally wonderful if representatives of those countries, like China, who love and cherish the old would come over here on a rescue mission. They could return home with buses full of some of our elderly abandoned by the state and their families to the deeply dubious “care industry”. Think how they would benefit from a culture of love and respect.
