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jo_bookworm's review
4.0
Remember the days when you trusted the things you read in the newspaper. Reliable sources of information from reliable journalists. It seems that the truth has got lost in some other version of it and as the way we get our news has changed into the twenty first century we have to now stop and think about what we are being told.
Marika Cobbold takes this concept and weaves a novel for the here and now and even probably a bit of future forecasting as well. Thorn Marsh is a journalist and she has fought hard for her role, the arbiter of the truth at the cost of everything else in her life including her marriage.
But when a new proprietor of her newspaper doesn’t want old fashioned journalism any more she is side-lined to the more good side of news with a large helping of the best wallpaper; places to eat; what to buy your mother in law for Christmas type of journalism.
When faced with potentially losing your job or diluting her own principles an integrity, Thorn seeks solace with alcohol and her ex husband Nick. He unwittingly shares a photo he took of someone jumping off a bridge on Hampstead Heath, the photo makes it look like an angel. When Thorn wakes the next day, it seems that the photo is news everywhere and the story of the Angel on Hampstead Heath saving someone’s life is big news.
Big news written by Thorn, but not true.
Thorn is suddenly drawn into maintaining a lie and telling the truth and when she goes in search of who this man is, she suddenly finds herself finding out about him and in turn herself. Of course bubbling away always is the truth and the real truth might need to be hidden to protect everyone – and Thorn struggles with that concept.
This was an interesting premise for a book and was woven with other threads of stories within the book, which Cobbold does so effectively, they might have seemed irrelevant but when you close the final page you can see that they have all been thought out and put together with care.
I like being challenged and especially reflecting on how the media has changed over time and what we can expect from what is almost being thrust at us on an hourly basis – is it true? Where is the truth? I do know that this is a true book to showing you that all is not what it seems, whether it be photos in papers or your own next door neighbour. There is always a story but it is finding the true one which proves to be the most difficult in life.
On Hampstead Heath is out now
Thank you to the publisher and Georgina Moore at MidasPR for the opportunity to read this book.
Marika Cobbold takes this concept and weaves a novel for the here and now and even probably a bit of future forecasting as well. Thorn Marsh is a journalist and she has fought hard for her role, the arbiter of the truth at the cost of everything else in her life including her marriage.
But when a new proprietor of her newspaper doesn’t want old fashioned journalism any more she is side-lined to the more good side of news with a large helping of the best wallpaper; places to eat; what to buy your mother in law for Christmas type of journalism.
When faced with potentially losing your job or diluting her own principles an integrity, Thorn seeks solace with alcohol and her ex husband Nick. He unwittingly shares a photo he took of someone jumping off a bridge on Hampstead Heath, the photo makes it look like an angel. When Thorn wakes the next day, it seems that the photo is news everywhere and the story of the Angel on Hampstead Heath saving someone’s life is big news.
Big news written by Thorn, but not true.
Thorn is suddenly drawn into maintaining a lie and telling the truth and when she goes in search of who this man is, she suddenly finds herself finding out about him and in turn herself. Of course bubbling away always is the truth and the real truth might need to be hidden to protect everyone – and Thorn struggles with that concept.
This was an interesting premise for a book and was woven with other threads of stories within the book, which Cobbold does so effectively, they might have seemed irrelevant but when you close the final page you can see that they have all been thought out and put together with care.
I like being challenged and especially reflecting on how the media has changed over time and what we can expect from what is almost being thrust at us on an hourly basis – is it true? Where is the truth? I do know that this is a true book to showing you that all is not what it seems, whether it be photos in papers or your own next door neighbour. There is always a story but it is finding the true one which proves to be the most difficult in life.
On Hampstead Heath is out now
Thank you to the publisher and Georgina Moore at MidasPR for the opportunity to read this book.
kate66's review
5.0
The last time I read anything by Marika Cobbold was "Guppies for Tea" which had made it onto the BBC's Top 100 Reads (back in the very early noughties). I couldn't now tell you anything about the book but looking at notes I gave it 5 stars so it must have been enjoyable.
I was lucky enough to get On Hampstead Heath on approval from Netgalley as an audio book. It is read by Tracey-Ann Oberman who I've never really rated as an actress. However her narration is superb. She strikes the perfect balance between the characters voices so you're never confused about who you are listening to. So narrator gets a big star.
The next 4 stars are purely for the story. It's a sort of love story but nothing soppy (I loathe soppy). The characters of Thorn/Rose, Nick, Lottie and Rufus are wonderfully drawn. Just enough detail to give you a flavour of who they are but still some left back for your imagination.
The story centres mainly on Thorn (also known as Rose) who is a journalist. Her newspaper is turning into a tabloid style celebration of the mediocre celebrity and Thorn is a serious journalist. She is told to change or lose her job but what fluffy feel good story can she write? The answer comes during a drunken meeting with her ex-husband, Nick. Nick shows her a picture of an angel he had taken that morning on the heath.
The day after Thorn wakes up to her worst nightmare - a happy editor, pleased that she has embraced the notion of an optimistic news story. But what does he mean? What has she done? With fear in her heart she takes a look at the front page. There is Nick's "angel" but with her words ... and the story she has made up.
We then follow Thorn as she tries to make things right with the angel, her next door neighbour, her estranged mother and her ex-husband.
I laughed out loud. I cried. I shouted at the characters. I had my heart in my mouth. It was a wonderful ride. Marika Cobbold is back on my to read list. I really enjoyed this. It won't change the world but it will most definitely entertain you. It does delve into some interesting subjects not least of which is the use of fake news and the OTT knee-jerk reactions of people who don't do their homework into how true any story really is.
I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys a smart rom-com style novel. It is head and shoulders above quite a lot of so-called rom-coms I've read. That Marika Cobbold can write beautifully is not in doubt and if you're lucky enough to get the audio then Tracey-Ann Oberman does not disappoint as a narrator.
I was lucky enough to get On Hampstead Heath on approval from Netgalley as an audio book. It is read by Tracey-Ann Oberman who I've never really rated as an actress. However her narration is superb. She strikes the perfect balance between the characters voices so you're never confused about who you are listening to. So narrator gets a big star.
The next 4 stars are purely for the story. It's a sort of love story but nothing soppy (I loathe soppy). The characters of Thorn/Rose, Nick, Lottie and Rufus are wonderfully drawn. Just enough detail to give you a flavour of who they are but still some left back for your imagination.
The story centres mainly on Thorn (also known as Rose) who is a journalist. Her newspaper is turning into a tabloid style celebration of the mediocre celebrity and Thorn is a serious journalist. She is told to change or lose her job but what fluffy feel good story can she write? The answer comes during a drunken meeting with her ex-husband, Nick. Nick shows her a picture of an angel he had taken that morning on the heath.
The day after Thorn wakes up to her worst nightmare - a happy editor, pleased that she has embraced the notion of an optimistic news story. But what does he mean? What has she done? With fear in her heart she takes a look at the front page. There is Nick's "angel" but with her words ... and the story she has made up.
We then follow Thorn as she tries to make things right with the angel, her next door neighbour, her estranged mother and her ex-husband.
I laughed out loud. I cried. I shouted at the characters. I had my heart in my mouth. It was a wonderful ride. Marika Cobbold is back on my to read list. I really enjoyed this. It won't change the world but it will most definitely entertain you. It does delve into some interesting subjects not least of which is the use of fake news and the OTT knee-jerk reactions of people who don't do their homework into how true any story really is.
I'd recommend it for anyone who enjoys a smart rom-com style novel. It is head and shoulders above quite a lot of so-called rom-coms I've read. That Marika Cobbold can write beautifully is not in doubt and if you're lucky enough to get the audio then Tracey-Ann Oberman does not disappoint as a narrator.
kazza27's review
5.0
Thorn is going through a tough time, her married has broken down and now her career that she treasured has been replaced by a role that she does not want.
She has given herself fully to journalism, in some cases overly, and she can’t understand the new world of digital news and click bait. Drowning her sorrows with her ex, Nick he shows her a photo that he took of an angel on a bridge, the image is not all it seems but she is so inspired by it that she goes home and writes a story for ‘The Bright Side’ the new publication she has been made to work on and sends it over to her new boss Mira.
She can’t really remember doing this as she was quite drunk and it’s only when she arrives at the office she finds out that she has created a bit of a social media frenzy. Everyone wants to know more about the ‘angel’ and so does she. She locates him and its through this side of the story which I don’t want to disclose to much of we delve into Thorn’s life, including her relationship with her mother Nancy which is not a harmonious one. Her journey to find her ‘angel’ brings unexpected challenges to Thorn and also
This book made me laugh so many times and I really had not expected that. When she visits her mother and she has a visitor Joan Pyke who really is something else. This was my first book by the author but I absolutely loved the sharp wit, humour and realness of the book. I enjoyed the strong women friendships in the book, which compensate Thorn for her own relationship with her mother.
This book had me engrossed really early on and I really felt for Thorn, she really is passionate about her job and is devastated by her employers action and this causes her to do somethings that go against the very thing that she holds true. She tries her hardest to remedy this, although funny in places, the book also really moving as we discover the stories behind the people and I really loved this really gradual uncovering of the story. So much packed into a little book of just over 200 pages.
5 stars ***** for an unique and special read.
She has given herself fully to journalism, in some cases overly, and she can’t understand the new world of digital news and click bait. Drowning her sorrows with her ex, Nick he shows her a photo that he took of an angel on a bridge, the image is not all it seems but she is so inspired by it that she goes home and writes a story for ‘The Bright Side’ the new publication she has been made to work on and sends it over to her new boss Mira.
She can’t really remember doing this as she was quite drunk and it’s only when she arrives at the office she finds out that she has created a bit of a social media frenzy. Everyone wants to know more about the ‘angel’ and so does she. She locates him and its through this side of the story which I don’t want to disclose to much of we delve into Thorn’s life, including her relationship with her mother Nancy which is not a harmonious one. Her journey to find her ‘angel’ brings unexpected challenges to Thorn and also
This book made me laugh so many times and I really had not expected that. When she visits her mother and she has a visitor Joan Pyke who really is something else. This was my first book by the author but I absolutely loved the sharp wit, humour and realness of the book. I enjoyed the strong women friendships in the book, which compensate Thorn for her own relationship with her mother.
This book had me engrossed really early on and I really felt for Thorn, she really is passionate about her job and is devastated by her employers action and this causes her to do somethings that go against the very thing that she holds true. She tries her hardest to remedy this, although funny in places, the book also really moving as we discover the stories behind the people and I really loved this really gradual uncovering of the story. So much packed into a little book of just over 200 pages.
5 stars ***** for an unique and special read.
emvoor's review
dark
emotional
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Child death
nd2712's review against another edition
3.0
I was very kindly given an e-ARC of this book via Netgalley and Quercus Audio.
3.5/5
I feel a little bit conflicted. Because I really enjoyed this book. However - I don't think I can give it more than 3 stars.
'On Hampstead Heath' follows Thorn, a journalist in a dying medium who has just been 'removed' from her position in the news desk and sent down to pen a column about the lighter side of life. In amongst this change, part of many, she is given a photograph of a mysterious man jumping into a pond on the Heath to save a woman's life. It goes viral. Except it's all a lie...
I loved the writing style of this book. It is delightfully sharp and witty, as the tagline suggests. The first half is caustic and surprisingly heartfelt in moments - I didn't want to put it down. It's the kind of writing that I like to think I could one day produce. And the plot set-up is fascinating too - a 'series of funny misunderstandings' in the world of print journalism with a wholesome tinge that gives it an odd Richard Curtis vibe, just without the romance clogging up the arteries.
Where I began to lose interest was the second half. The story evolves into a different narrative after the 50% mark and whilst I can understand the pay-off it had for the character; I was far more interested in the plot than I was our protagonist. Things get revealed and sort of solved quite quickly and then there's another half of a book where we have to keep reading. I wanted things to get crazier, to get more complicated. There were sparks, but I sort of wish it had kept on one narrative path, rather than switching to the other.
To try and be as spoiler free as possible - I wish he'd stayed unconscious a bit longer. If you read the book, it makes sense.
Read this book for the writing. Because that's it's biggest selling point. I loved the first part, didn't get on so well with the second half, but there is no denying the prose is funny and sharp and rather sweet at certain moments. Dare I call this novel heartwarming? I think I just might.
'On Hampstead Heath' is available now.
3.5/5
I feel a little bit conflicted. Because I really enjoyed this book. However - I don't think I can give it more than 3 stars.
'On Hampstead Heath' follows Thorn, a journalist in a dying medium who has just been 'removed' from her position in the news desk and sent down to pen a column about the lighter side of life. In amongst this change, part of many, she is given a photograph of a mysterious man jumping into a pond on the Heath to save a woman's life. It goes viral. Except it's all a lie...
I loved the writing style of this book. It is delightfully sharp and witty, as the tagline suggests. The first half is caustic and surprisingly heartfelt in moments - I didn't want to put it down. It's the kind of writing that I like to think I could one day produce. And the plot set-up is fascinating too - a 'series of funny misunderstandings' in the world of print journalism with a wholesome tinge that gives it an odd Richard Curtis vibe, just without the romance clogging up the arteries.
Where I began to lose interest was the second half. The story evolves into a different narrative after the 50% mark and whilst I can understand the pay-off it had for the character; I was far more interested in the plot than I was our protagonist. Things get revealed and sort of solved quite quickly and then there's another half of a book where we have to keep reading. I wanted things to get crazier, to get more complicated. There were sparks, but I sort of wish it had kept on one narrative path, rather than switching to the other.
To try and be as spoiler free as possible - I wish he'd stayed unconscious a bit longer. If you read the book, it makes sense.
Read this book for the writing. Because that's it's biggest selling point. I loved the first part, didn't get on so well with the second half, but there is no denying the prose is funny and sharp and rather sweet at certain moments. Dare I call this novel heartwarming? I think I just might.
'On Hampstead Heath' is available now.
aftereliza's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
annarella's review
5.0
It was a very interesting read: it's entertaining and full of food for thought at the same time.
The uplifting, compelling, and well written story of a journalist and how she invented a story and the web of lies.
It's a reflection on the world of news and the story of a person whose only interest is work.
i liked the style of writing and the character.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
The uplifting, compelling, and well written story of a journalist and how she invented a story and the web of lies.
It's a reflection on the world of news and the story of a person whose only interest is work.
i liked the style of writing and the character.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine
thereadingparamedic's review
4.0
I’ve never read any of Marika Cobbold’s books but I’m going to start now! On Hampstead Heath is a brilliant book about truth & fake news & how we can get caught up in both & lose sight of the reality. A great book for our current social media controlled lives! Loved it!
professorchickpea's review
emotional
relaxing
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.25