There is what can only be described as a war of words going on here in the UK regarding Roald Dahl and his works.  The Publisher, Puffin Books, has decided to appoint Sensitivity persons (!) and given them licence to edit Mr Dahl’s words as they see fit, chopping, altering and adding where necessary to bring his books in line with contemporary sensibilities!  So a few examples are :

Ladies & Gentleman become Folks    /   Chambermaid becomes cleaner   /  Handbags becomes bags (!)  / This woman’s mad becomes This woman is not in her right mind.

There are a million other changes but you can probably see from the above they are just silly.  My opinion on this is that they are putting adult neurosis of words, descriptions, actions onto children and yet if a child was asked about these words they would have no problem at all about it! 

I suppose that if these publishers want to be politically correct then new Authors need to produce books with politically correct words in, however you must not go back and re-write works that have been around for ever.

It is the same as the people who want to re-write history because they do not like what it says.  Most countries have a history of slaves and eventually it was ended but it is history, yes a bad history but we in 2023 cannot do anything about it but they want to take down statues and erase the history of the slaves!  Some people want to erase the Holocaust from history and say it did not happen and yet that surely then is letting down all the people who died during that dreadful time.  We need to remember these parts of history so that we do not repeat them again. 

Roald Dahl as a person had his own issues but that is nothing to do with the books he has written.  Our Boys loved the books but the Publishers should not be allowed to change them in this way.  As you know I buy a lot of books and because of this I will not be purchasing anything by Puffin/Penguin/Random House Books. 

There has been a lot of discussion about the above and likening it to “1984” by George Orwell, especially Big Brother and the Thought Police.  I really hope that we take a stand against this and other forms of “woke” white washing of our lives because if we don’t then we will be living in Mr Orwell’s 1984 before we know it!

Hugs & Love, Susie & Coco  xx

PS if you have any of Roald Dahl’s books from years ago hang on to them as they may be worth something if they carry on changing things!

If you follow me you will know that I have already read and reviewed some of Edward Marston’s “The Railway Detective” and have really enjoyed them.  Inspector Colbeck the hero of the stories and his partner, Sgt Leeming, are a little like Holmes & Watson but on the Railways.  The books are set in Victorian times amid the rise of the Railways, which were making getting around the United Kingdom a lot faster than ever before.

The Christmas Case begins with an Excusion Train, being hired by a local Mill Owner in the Black Country to take his staff and their families to his country estate in The Malvern Hills for tea and to see real reindeer and a visit with a present for the children from Santa Claus.  Whilst the train is going through a long tunnel it comes to a stop and the factory manager Cyril Hubbleday gets out of his carriage and walks to the engine to see why they have stopped, the weather being very cold and icy he is annoyed at the delay.  As he reaches the engine a single shot is heard and Hubbleday falls to the ground dead. 

It is decided to get the train moving and cover the body telling the families on the train that a cow had been struck by a train so they were not upset and the excusion continues.  The local constabulary are ready and willing to get the investigation under way until they are told that Her Ladyship who resides in the big house in Great Malvern has called in Scotland Yard, in the form of Inspector Colbeck and Sgt Leeming so that the matter can be handled and solved before Christmas. 

Colbeck & Leeming are given their orders by their boss Chief Inspector Tallis but before they leave he tells them that he will be accompanying them this time as he wants to visit Great Malvern as he is intending on retiring from the Force and move there.  Colbeck & Leeming know that this will add days if not weeks to the investigation as Tallis has a habit of interfering and they are both hoping to solve the matter and be home with their families in London for Christmas. 

Will they succeed or will they miss Christmas entirely with their families?

I love these books they have the charm of the mystery novel without any of the angst that some can have.  I have not quite finished it yet but can’t wait.

Happy Reading Everyone. 

Hugs & Love Susie & Coco xx

I am still reading my Christmas Books about Christmas!  This is the book I have just finished.

Mrs Hudson, that quiet presence in the home of Holmes & Watson, has learnt a thing or two over the years.  So much so that Holmes relies on her and the housemaid, Flotsam, to help on some of his cases.

The Christmas Canary is a fabulous piece which sits atop the Christmas tree in a wonderful private house when it is stolen, never to be seen again.  Twenty three years later a famous violinist goes missing, live chickens are being delivered to notable men around the City of London and various Christmas Trees are being damaged, how are these events connected?

Holmes and Watson are busy in The Highlands so Mrs Hudson & Flotsam set off to Frawling Hall to try and find out who stole the Christmas Canary and find out what the chickens have to do with it.

Loved the book, it is well written and very much in the style of Holmes & Watson but is now Hudson & Flotsam. 

Happy Friday you lovely lot and hope you have some reading time over the coming weekend. 

Hugs & Love, Susie & Coco xx