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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
LONG AWAITED FOLLOW-UP OF VILLAGE REMINISCENCES,
By
This review is from: East of Varley Head: Stories from Port Isaac, North Cornwall, 1944-1950 (Paperback)
The following review appeared in the "Cornish Guardian" newspaper, issue of 15th January 2004, written by "Cornish Guardian" staff reporter Alistair Wreford. "Former Port Isaac lad James Platt's long-awaited follow-up to his first book of reminiscences of life in the village in the 1940's, has just been published. His first book, "Skittery Grass", was published at the beginning of 2003, and consisted of poems current during James's childhood. It proved a great success and prompted his second volume, "East of Varley Head", in which he writes with obvious affection and amazing attention to detail of the Port Isaac of his early youth. James left Port Isaac in 1957 for a career as a mining geologist. He now lives in Holland, but returns regularly to the village to visit family and friends. He recently organised a reunion of "the Class of '44" for his former classmates at the village school, among whom the new book is sure to find a ready market. In "East of Varley Head" James is at his best when describing the village characters, which he does with great affection and a neat turn of phrase. Although the contents are specific to Port Isaac, readers from further afield will recognise the "good old buggers" from the villages of their own childhoods, epitomising the characteristic Cornish irreverence and stoicissm in the face of hardship, of which James and his contemporaries appear to have had their full share. All aspects of life are covered in the book - the celebrations of "Guy Fox Night" and Christmas, the arrival of the first television in the village, beachcombing, and even a graphic account of catching rabbits at harvest time, a delight which came to an end, along with the delicacy rabbit pie, with the arrival of myxomatosis. "Everything in 'East of Varley Head' is 'according to me', by which I suppose that the way I remember people and events won't necessarily be identical to the recollections of others!" said James after his recent return to the village for the school reunion. "I hope that readers will find some humour on the pages, as, although I have always tried to tell it as it was, I tried to see the humour in situations as well". East of Varley Head is a treasure for anyone interested in Cornwall as it used to be, a time not so long ago, remembered by anyone over 45 but now long, long gone".
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I was there also: a magical childhood.,
By
This review is from: East of Varley Head: Stories from Port Isaac, North Cornwall, 1944-1950 (Paperback)
"It seems like it was only yesterday", is a phrase so often used about one's childhood and yet when one attempts to recapture those vivid experiences of childhood by visiting the places where these crucial and formative experiences have taken place one finds that the passage of time has often eroded the essence of the place. The colours have become altered, the smells and sounds gone and the atmosphere dulled by the fumes of cars,the" buzz" of tourism and the rush of modern living.Even the shadows of the past have retreated to dim alleys and can only be found on a wet evening in winter when just occasionally the memories of the place re-inhabit the place and alone one can be transported back to "times past". But all is not lost in the case of Port Isaac. James has rekindled the embers of the memories of " childhood in a small Cornish Village, just after the Second World War. How can I be so sure? I was there, my father was the Village Vicar! His World was my World and although it's more than 50 years ago after reading this book the memories came tumbling back like bright flickering flames. Memories of the people and times I had almost but not quite forgotten. If you also grew up in North Cornwall at that time you will delight in this evocative book. If you are on holiday there and want to know what life was like in those tiny streets and terraces leading down to the Harbour in this book you will meet the people of the village. The Doctor going about his daily visits,the Vicar in the church, the hairdresser in his shop and many more. Like Mr Hillman's tin of broken biscuits which stood on the shelf in front of the counter in the grocers if you 'dig' deep enough there are tasty treasures to be found. Do buy this book and write to encourage James to add a second volume. After all there's nothing about the football team, the Village carnival, visiting circus and last but not least Port Isaac Road Station !
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not quite frozen in time, but close enough,
By A Customer
This review is from: East of Varley Head: Stories from Port Isaac, North Cornwall, 1944-1950 (Paperback)
I have been a frequent visitor to Port Isaac over the years, it is a home from home. Wherever you go there will be little books detailing the place's history, but none quite like "East of Varley Head". The best way to read this enthralling book is actually in Port Isaac - I would recommend reading in bed and in the morning explore the hidden alleyways and see the places described in detail in the book. Or even take the book for a stroll - The "witch's" house is a must on your tour, the exterior having all the character of the house you always saw as a child, believing it to be inhabited by a witch. If you stick to the old village you will see very little has changed, though the "old buggers" have given way to the likes of Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen and pilgrims coming to see where Doc Martin and Saving Grace were filmed, but there will nearly always be a small dog belonging to the Pisky Shop that will trot up and down the road to the beach, greeting all he meets.
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