Approaching the end of his long life George suffers a number of strokes. These bring on memories and make him reflect on an eventful and at times terrifying life that has spanned over 70 years of world events. Seen through his eyes and sometimes the eyes of those around him and close to him we stand as spectators as he and his beloved wife Rachel battle the curse of dementia and old age. The ever-present crows on the farm act as a backdrop and are eerie fellow watchers to this moving story of love, life and loss.Following the seven ages of man and woman we see George as a young boy during World War Two with Italian prisoners of war and suffering bombing raids from the Luftwaffe on the munitions railway line that runs alongside his father’s farm.
Richard was born and grew up at Horton Farm and enjoyed the rugged life of a farmer’s son growing up in Shropshire. When he left school, he at first worked on the farm alongside his father before going to the RMAS Sandhurst as a TA Officer Cadet. He then joined the Regular Army and served with the 10th Bt Gurkha Rifles in Hong Kong and Borneo and then the Light Infantry in Northern Ireland and Germany. When he left the Regulars in the mid-1990s, he again worked on the farm for a few years before joining the Police in which he now still serves. Richard remained a Reservist and has seen operational service in Kabul, Afghanistan in 2002-03.
Very happily married to Louise to whom Chasing Crows is dedicated and in memory of his parents. Richard now runs the farm with his wife and three children where they run a small Aberdeen Angus herd and breed Shire Horses.
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Reviews
4 reviews
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A light hearted easy read ideal for an evening with a glass of whisky in front of the fire. Jones brings the characters to life mixing descriptive prose with realistic vulgarity to make a thoroughly entertaining read.
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I am currently half way through this book In one afternoon.of reading It's a poignant reflection of a man's life, and all he experiences. I am impressed with the authors description and knowledge of dementia, and how it impacts on relationships. The book is compelling and is beautifully written, managing to convey the reality of life through 2 world wars
I have already given thought to who would play George, Ruby Rachel and Tommy in a film! I look forward to completing this book, which should be very soon!
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Chasing Crows is a book of just over 100 pages but it is an excellent example of the old adage that “less is more”. Through the character of George and others Mr. Jones describes the story of one family’s experiences over a number of generations. It is essentially an insightful glimpse into the human condition in its achievements and frailties and he shows a deep understanding of his native Shropshire countryside and the farming life.
Rachel’s dementia is, I think, the emotional core of the book. His description of this appalling condition and its effects on both patient and loved ones is very well written and deeply felt.
The appearances of the crows at salient points in the story give a sense of continuity and presence throughout, reflecting the passing of the seasons and of time.
An up-lifting and fascinating story of one family’s experiences over a short eighty years - I really enjoyed reading it.
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Chasing Crows is a marvellous read, in fact I read it twice. I was totally immersed in the story and felt i was watching over George and his family throughout his life. This novel takes you through life on the farm during WW11 and world events through the decades. You can see the author clearly understands the emotional struggle military life and ill health and the impact it has on members of the family. All in all this is an absorbing read and look forward to a future novel.
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