BOOKS Nic Bottomley heads east

BOOKS NIC BOTTOMLEY

Kremlins in the machine

Nic fi nds himself heading east to explore tales set in Russia

“...cutting music recordings of outlawed Western artists into old x-rays in lieu of vinyl”

Maybe it was this morning’s unexpected frost, or maybe it’s the political insanity playing out across the ocean to the west, but for some reason or other, this week, I am drawn east to recent writing in and around Russia.

Disappearing Earth by Julia Phillips (Simon & Schuster, £8.99) features an especially remote and, at times, inhospitable

Russia. This is Kamchatka, that far eastern peninsula that lies just north of Japan which is more familiar to most from the board game Risk than from any personal travels taken or considered. The key disappearance hinted at by the title takes place in a dramatic fi rst chapter. Two young sisters, Alyona and

Sophia make the inadvisable decision to accept a ride from a stranger. We are not witness to their fate, but we do stick with them long enough to see the driver ignore the turn to their home and then grab and dispose of

Alyona’s mobile phone.

From this abrupt beginning, the novel’s cast of characters grows steadily as interlinking chapters introduce more and more people who have been aff ected by the disappearances or who might, the reader wonders, be able to shed light on what happened. We meet those who grew up in the indigenous villages of the region, and those who eschew those traditional societies for the local capital of

Petropavlovsk, or have even spent time in far distant St Petersburg. Along the way we are treated to many perspectives on Kamchatka life – from those who believe that crimes like this are a symptom of a corroded modern world nothing like as certain as the Soviet days, to those who, despite appreciating the region’s stunning natural surroundings, rail against a still insular and misogynist society.

Though it meanders and explores so many aspects of Kamchatka life, the mystery that ignites the book remains its driving force, particularly as the book morphs tensely into crime-thriller territory for its fi nal sequences.

Good Citizens Need Not Fear by Maria

Reva (Little Brown, £14.99) is another multicharacter portrait in a principally urban environment, but here we are in Ukraine although, for the bulk of the book, we’re witnessing it under Soviet rule. This is one of those books which is diffi cult to clearly categorise as a novel or a set of short stories – not that there is any need for it to be labelled as either.

The darkly comic, and sometimes shambolic, stories of a group of citizens revolve around an apartment building that does not exist. At least not on paper. In reality though (although reality occasionally blurs throughout the book) the apartment block is full of life as citizens do their utmost to maximise living space, or earn a few rubles or home comforts on the side, beneath the radar of the secret police and their inquisitive neighbours. Smena, in the story titled Bone Music, has perhaps the most intriguing sideline – cutting music recordings of outlawed Western artists into old x-rays in lieu of vinyl.

The vast Russian wilderness is certainly visible in Disappearing Earth but because that story fl its between town and country, we are never get lost in its full majesty. If you’re after something truly remote then the incredible new nature adventure book Owls of the Eastern Ice by Jonathan C Slaght (Penguin, £20) will whisk you away to the remote region of Primorye, an unremittingly harsh landscape of snow, ice and thousands of miles of dense forest. Spanning Russia, China and North Korea this region is home to the world’s largest species of owl, the colossal Blakiston’s fi sh owl. Slaght has dedicated a huge chunk of his adult life to preserving these majestic and threatened birds and his book is a testimony to these elusive owls and his eff orts to help them as well as an attack on those who threaten their habitat.

Whether it’s through fi ction, non-fi ction or somewhere in between, you are never far from the remarkable or the jaw-dropping when reading Russia.

Nic Bottomley is the general manager of Mr B’s Emporium of Reading Delights, 14/15 John Street, Bath; 01225 331155; www.mrbsemporium.com

Charity will-writing scheme returns for November

Funds from the RUH Will Monthwill be donated to the FOREVER FRIENDS APPEAL…

The ever-popular RUH Will Month is returning in November to help the general public make or update their will at a reduced cost. You can now book your appointment for November to have your will written with local legal fi rms. Ten professional firms across Bath, Somerset and Wiltshire are offering their time and support towards the Will writing scheme in a bid to help raise awareness in their local community about the importance in planning for the future.

RUH Will Month will run throughout the month of November, with the participating solicitors helping as many local people as possible to put their affairs in order and provide them with peace of mind.

Costs for a standard single will have been discounted to £125 or £175 for standard mirror wills. This special fee is donated to the RUH’s fundraising charity, The Forever Friends Appeal to support patient care at the RUH.

Jan Witt, legacy manager for The Forever Friends Appeal says: “It may come as a surprise that fewer than half of the population have an up-to-date Will, despite its importance in offering you security for both you and your family. Often having a will written can be expensive, therefore, we’d like to urge people to take advantage of this scheme generously offered by will writing professionals at a reduced rate. This will ensure your savings and possessions go to the people and causes you love and care for.

“It is easy to take part in this offer, simply call any one of the participating solicitors listed on our website and make an appointment for November, quoting ‘RUH Will Month’. At the meeting the solicitor will guide you through the process and will ensure that your will refl ects your wishes.”

This year funds raised by the initiative will be put towards the charity’s Speech and Language Special Appeal. The Appeal is raising £50,000 to purchase a portable machine to enhance the care given to patients who have swallowing diffi culties.

Funds from this year's initiative will be put towards the Speech and Language Special Appeal

The equipment will enable speech and language therapists to provide an alternative bedside assessment – reducing the waiting time to attend the X-ray clinic which can sometimes take a number of weeks. However, participants can choose to support another campaign or special appeal if they prefer. ■

If you would like more information regarding the scheme please contact Jan Witt on 01225 825819 or email: jan.witt@nhs.net.

FOOD & DRINK

SNAPSHOTS OF BATH’S FOOD SCENE

Locally fuelled luxury will be on the menu at Leon Smith’s Plate Bathwick Restaurant & Bar

STEPPING UP TO THE PLATE Plate Bathwick Restaurant & Bar is now open. The brand-new space in The Bird has chef Leon Smith at the helm – returning to his West Country roots after a spell at fine establishments including Tom Aikens in Chelsea, Wild Honey, Berwick Lodge and The Royal Oak at Paley Street, where he earned three AA rosettes.

“I’m particularly excited to showcase our British tapas dishes, bursting with locally sourced produce. We’ve been out meeting the growers and the farmers, developing relationships to ensure that what we serve on your plate is going to be the very best possible,” says Leon. “That’s not forgetting the plate itself. We’ve hand-picked locally made crockery designed to make you smile. Having lived in Bristol and Frome previously, Bath is a city I’ve always loved. I’m excited for Plate to become a part of the vibrant buzz that Bath has to offer for locals and visitors alike, bringing some extra ‘The Bird’ flair.” For more: www.thebirdbath.co.uk

Rob Allcock: BREAD WINNER bringing bread and joy to South Rob Allcock, owner and head chef of The Wraxhall Longs Arms in South Wraxall was the surprise © HENRY KENYON winner of this year’s Tiptree World Bread Awards Heroes with Brook Food. He was crowned overall winner after scooping the individual award for the South West. Had you visited The Longs Arms before 2020 this might have seemed unlikely. But after Covid restrictions forced the pub to close back in March, Rob came up with a radical new business plan: he transformed the pub kitchen into a bakery for the local community.

“It’s simply very humbling that the village and our customers thought us worthy for nomination in such an amazing award,” says Rob. Hundreds of nominations for Bread Heroes were sent in from across the UK, with 12 regional winners announced at the online awards on 13 October before Rob was named winner overall.

“The entire village is reliant on his delicious output. He has certainly kept the village smiling,” says Charli Boddington, one of the locals who nominated Rob for the award. For more: www.worldbreadawards.com DREAM CREAM TEAS It’s starting to look distinctly festive at The Pump Room. This Hallowe’en the elegant restaurant is embracing spooky season with an autumnal four-course dinner, illuminated by candlelight and sound tracked with ethereal piano tunes performed live by Jules Scott.

Then, on 20 November they’ll launch their beloved Festive Afternoon Tea, the saving grace of many a tired Christmas shopper. They’ll have sweet and savoury selections available, so it is the perfect spot to pause, refuel and treat yourself in the stressful run up to Christmas. For more: www.thepumproombath.co.uk

This festive and indulgent festive cream tea at The Pump Room certainly has our mouths watering