Terence Blacker: Waterlog

Terence Blacker is an author, song-writer and columnist. His first novel Fixx (1996) won critical acclaim and he has subsequently written five novels. He is also an award-winning children’s book author, including the Ms Wiz series and The Transfer which have been published in eighteen languages. Since 2012, Terence has released five albums and is currently touring his musical celebration/investigation into ageing in the 21st century called The Shock of the Old.

Terence was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature in 2017. Terence’s recommendation is also featured in this month’s Finding a Good Read, in the national newspaper for prisoners, Inside Time. Finding a Good Read is a monthly column written by Prison Reading Groups (PRG), to help readers with remote orders. We adapt it as a handout that can be included with library deliveries or made available on the wings.

A man in his fifties decides to swim the rivers, lakes, pools and lidos across England. The result of this ‘otter’s-eye view’ of our country is part wildlife reportage, part environmental call to arms, part celebration of defiantly being your own man. A joyous, celebratory book.

I find books set in the natural world are often rather self-absorbed, doomy, or sentimental. Waterlog is fascinatingly informative about the wild, literature and the past and Deakin’s own feelings. It’s about freedom – the freedom to swim, to have your own thoughts and to live your life on your own terms.

 

Thank you, Terence,  for recommending this book!

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