Book Notices.

Northland Age, Volume 27, Issue 44, 4 November 1927, Page 3

Book Notices.

‘The Little Gentleman from Okehamstead” : E Phillips Oppenhiem (Hodder and Stoughton) If you feel tired of the ordinary novel and need something quite different, read “The Liltte Gentleman.” The story is of a mild little American clerk who has always lived a quiet, well-ordered life, but who, in a sudden outburst ot slumbering longings, leaves his work and his loudvoiced wife and sets out on a life of adventure. How he pulls off little schemes of finance, how he joins up with an American millionaire’s son and a tilled,English lady make humorous reading But the book is not all tun, it is really a strange mixture of hum our and pathos. "ASonot his Father”: Harold Bell Wright (Hodder and Stoughton). Those who have read any of Harold Bell Wright’s stories wdl recognise in this his perculiar way of twisting a sentence so as to impress it on the readers mind. To those who saw the film version which was screened last year, the story will prove as delightful as the picture produced from it. Nora is a typical, optimistic Irish girl, who as her brother says, “ ’twas you that could always laugh when anyone else would be cryin’.” “The Call of the Canyon”: Zme Grey (Hodder and Stoughton). Interwoven with his usual full and vivid description of the outdoors is a delightful story of how love is really the main thing in life. In this book Zane Grey shows up the unrest, the striving

after pleasure, of the American middle class, just after the war. “Graustark”: George Barr McCutchedn (Hodderand Stoughton). The ever-fascinating story of love and trouble in a small state in Europe forms .the therpe of this book. Tne frank, blundering, easy-going, American, nature in Grenfall Lorry and his friend Harry Anguish, is quaintly contrasted witli the courteous diplomacy of the nobles ot Graustark. Those who like books full of romance will find Graustark one of the best.