Blue Wolf Reviews

Tag: revolution

  • Tussaud

    Tussaud

    The French Revolution: It’s one of those historical moments that have spawned as many legends as there are truths. It’s almost like a real life version of Game of Thrones and House of Cards which is the setting of the latest book I have been reviewing; Tussaud by Belinda Lyons- Lee.

    The story starts off in picturesque France Though it would be more picturesque if it wasn’t for the mob violence and the public decapitations. Marie Tussaud is recovering from the trauma of almost being made short by a head during the French Revolution. Focusing on making of death masks, the deal she made to avoid the Louis XVI treatment, she is offered the chance to move to London by Philidor, a famous magician, in order to assist in the creation of a wax automaton show.

    The show falls apart but Tussaud and her business partner strike a deal with one William Cavendish, an aristocrat who you could politely describe as unique and idiosyncratic. The deal; come to his estate and make a wax automation in the likeness of a long gone girl, in return for the means to make a new show.  A simple enough deal but as the story goes forward, and twists and turns amount, Marie Tussad starts to understand that not all is what it seems.

    Now Tussaud is obviously a fictional story, but like all good historical fictions it is steeped in fact and research. Marie Tassaud is a real person. She is well known for creating the death masks of numerous victims of the French Terror (the name given to the politically inspired violence following the overthrow of the monarchy).

    Her wax museum is considered either a must see when going to London or an expensive tourist trap. Also the background of her character in the book rings true, she was indeed almost a victim of the French Terror. Apparently Welbeck Estate is a real place in the UK and indeed has an underground ball room (though having looked at the modern day photos of said ballroom I couldn’t help but feel a little disappointed).

    Though Tussaud is marketed as revolving around Marie Tussaud, it has a good portion revolve around both Philidor and the Duke.The book is written in first person and you’re able to get the point of view of all three of the main characters which provides an added layer to the story.  For me the most interesting character was the Duke.

    All up Tussaud is a mystery novel based in the aftermath of a very pivotal historical event. Is the book for everyone? Certainly not! However it is by no means terrible. The author Belinda Lyons- Lee certainly put alot of effort into writing a novel which is grounded in fact. I would say the book is more slanted to the teenage and young adult audience.

  • Rubik’s Revolution

    Rubik’s Revolution

    Rubik’s Cube look – alike lights up and makes a noise; this cube is rigid with no movable parts. The centre square of each of the six faces contains a recessed light which illuminates when firmly pressed. Unlike the original Rubik’s Cube which took the world by storm in the late 1970’s (early 1980’s), the Rubik’s Revolution is not a challenging puzzle to be solved but consists of a series of six addictive games. Although it received the 2008 TOTY Game of the Year award, it lost popularity; however in 2018 there was a revival and since then record numbers have been sold.

    Each of the six games – Light Speed, Pattern Panic, Light Speed Trainer, Sound Out, Multiplayer Madness and Full Charge – requires dexterity and coordination. After the on/off switch has been activated a loud female robotic voice reminds the player of the games and their matching colours.  At the conclusion of the game the player is informed of her/his score. Each activity becomes progressively more difficult, so in order to improve one’s score, the player is required to increase the speed with which she/he presses the light button; this involves swift movement of both hands.

    This game can be enjoyed by the whole family and keep boredom at bay during ‘lockdown’; delay playing Multiplayer Madness (Red Light) until after social distancing! Unlike the earlier Rubik’s Cube, there is little educational value in undertaking each game, however becoming engaged with this cube does improve one’s reflexes and can provided endless fun for the participant.

    It is packaged in a hard clear plastic and includes batteries and instructions, which fully explains each of the games. If however you are a visual learner, there are several tutorials on YouTube which clearly demonstrate each activity.

  • The Food Sharing Revolution: How Start-Ups, Pop-Ups, and Co-Ops are Changing the Way We Eat, 2nd Edition

    The Food Sharing Revolution: How Start-Ups, Pop-Ups, and Co-Ops are Changing the Way We Eat, 2nd Edition

    The changing face of food production over the years, in the race to produce more and more food to feed an ever-growing world population, has seen what was once historically a family undertaking turn into giant conglomerates, pressurising the earth to produce more and more while squeezing the small farmer out of business.

    Gone are the days when you owned your own land, your own plant and equipment and could produce from a holding a good and substantial living year after year, climate permitting. In the space this change left behind, there has begun to emerge a very different take on small hold farming, which does allow a good income to be created and from that perspective, the philosophy has had a flow on to small business across a broad spectrum.

    In The Food Sharing Revolution Michael Carolan has shown what is slowly emerging as the modern face of successful farming, returning control to the small hold farmers, showing how by adopting a slightly different strategy towards the growing, marketing and most importantly sharing, there is and has been a positive change.

    Although the case studies and legal aspects of food production are based on America, the over reaching facts can be transplanted to just about anywhere in the world, which makes this an ideal read for people who are investigating some very workable options to either growing and marketing their produce, going into a small business or similar. Carolan investigates that while the concept of sharing in not new, he looks at it as a modern-day alternative to conglomerates, one with very real benefits, not just from a financial perspective but also a community benefit.

    The many examples shared, from the Hog Farmer, who while owning all around him was steadily losing money, to the restaurateur Faye, slowly working her way into almost unrepayable debt, Noelle the labour attorney who gave up corporate life to work in the Sharing economy and Dorothy who opened her bakery through a wonderful crowd funding operation all show what can be achieved with the Sharing philosophy.

    All the case studies harness the most important factor of success, Community: the sharing, caring and supportive people who embrace change and by doing so, make a success out of their enterprises, large and small. The Food Sharing Revolution is a based-on sharing: sharing of plant, equipment, ideas and funding to achieve a common goal, that of business success.

    Throughout the chapters the thread is consistent that regardless of the complex web of laws around food production, particularly in the USA where major corporations rule the legal world, the way through it is to return to a more traditional way of progress, that based in community and collaboration.

    Collaboration is the new catch phrase; creating repayable crowd funding through a variety of non-traditional and realistic sources, all contribute to a real sharing economy and the massive benefits that will pay off in lifestyle, the food produced, shared, better relationships within the industry and community, are presented as the way forward, the pathway to future economic and business success.

    The food Sharing revolution is packed full with essential information looking as so many aspects of food production it makes essential reading for anyone interested in alternate and community-based living.

    Inspirational. A win wine concept that benefits everyone from the bottom up!.