5.0 out of 5 stars Not your typical war novel, 30 July 2013 By Jacques Desrosiers - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?) This review is from: The Circling Song (Kindle Edition) I had heard that The Circling Song was well worth a read but was reluctant as I don't really enjoy violent and sad stories of the young men who went to war and inevitably did not return. It was obvious from the start, however, that this was not that kind of novel. Told through a series of letters (again, not previously my favourite literary device), the story unfolds of a soldier with a head wound and the resultant unexpected, bizarre consequences of this wound and the effect it has on the people around him and ultimately the war itself. Each voice in the story was distinct and believable, bringing the characters to life. I really enjoyed it and heartily recommend The Circling Song, especially to those who enjoy the mysteries of equations and synesthesia, set against a most unusual background. Looking forward to Russell Cruse's next novel!
Susan Desrosiers

5.0 out of 5 stars Genius or Insanity?, 15 Mar 2013 By bertiejf "Nothing is impossible. The very wo... - See all my reviews This review is from: The Circling Song (Kindle Edition) Private Henry Lawrence is just a guy who finds himself in the trenches in WW1. There is nothing special about him. He is an average soldier, of average intelligence. He is a likable man, but nothing really special.

But then, Pvt Lawrence survives a gunshot wound to the head.. It is really quite a miracle that he survived, but the true miracle is in the changes that this injury has apparently made to the way the Pvt Lawrence now sees the world.

Modern medicine is in its infancy, and his doctors are nonplussed as they attempt to explain, or even decide if Pvt Lawrence has simply become shell-shocked, or a savant. Pvt Lawrence himself finds that he does not have the language to describe the world that he now sees, and senses.

The first clue comes when he explains to his new physician the music of the song-thrush. He can actually see the patterns of the bird's song and that not once in the nearly fifteen minutes that he stands listening to it has it repeated itself.

As time goes by, with the help of his doctor and many friends, Pvt Lawrence begins to understand this new ability, and to find uses for the ability to see in near perfect mathematical terms in war. A marksman now, and a hero, he finds himself torn by the necessity of killing other men, recognizing that the 'enemy' are just other people caught up in the war. Is it possible that this ability might be useful in bringing about an end to the war?

The story is written as a series of letters and diary entries between Pvt Lawrence, his doctors, his friends and their families. It is well written, easy to follow and impressive. The premise is fairly new, and very well laid out.

In Circling Song by Russell Cruse you will find the mystery of the human mind, the hell of war, the strength of friendship, the beauty of love and the courage of the human heart.
  5.0 out of 5 stars An extraordinary novel, 14 Jan 2013 By Suchea - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?) This review is from: The Circling Song (Kindle Edition) This is the story of Henry Lawrence, wounded in the head in WW1, a wound which has given him a whole new perception of the world. The story is told through letter between Lawrence, his doctors, his friends in the trenches, and others. The examination of the effect of injury to part of the brain is fascinating and the authors knnwledge of WW1 and the society of the time is always totally convincing.
Recommended for anyone seriously interested in WW1 or indeed the workings of the brain.
A really impressive novel.

4.0 out of 5 stars Creative approach to 1st WW, 28 Aug 2012 By A Marie - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?) This review is from: The Circling Song (Kindle Edition) A very interesting read evoking the horrors and social norms of WW1. I grew up listening to true stories of WW1 and visiting battlefields as a result of my father's keen interest. This book does not disappoint in terms of historical detail or atmosphere created. The fascination with the human powers of the brain is particularly interesting given recent research in neuroscience. I wanted the book to go on longer and wanted the story to be true!

  5.0 out of 5 stars Unexpected turns, fascinating, 17 April 2012 By J. Cooper "Jacky" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)    Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?) This review is from: The Circling Song (Kindle Edition) I waltzed through this little book - it fascinated me. Presented as a seies of excerpts from various letters/documents it traces the path of an injured soldier through the Great War, and beyond. Fascinating reading, and truly perceptive.

  5.0 out of 5 stars A fine piece of writing., 16 Feb 2012 By Paul T. (West Midlands, UK) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?) This review is from: The Circling Song (Kindle Edition) The basic premise of 'The Circling Song' is deceptively simple. A man suffers a head injury and develops unusual abilities as a result. But the lengths to which this is taken, and the manner in which it gets there, make this novella one of the finest pieces of writing I've come across.

The structure is unusual. Rather than a straightforward narrative, the story is told through a series of letters, extracts from journals, official reports, and so on. The technique has been used before, though its not common, but I was impressed by how well these disparate elements have been woven together. The writing is not only coherent, it has a smooth flow, a pace and tension that swiftly drew me in and got me absorbed in the story.

Set in the First World War, the style is authentic, and each character has their own distinct voice. The appalling conditions of life in the trenches is portrayed convincingly through the words of the various protagonists.

Through it all, the mystery of what has happened to Private Henry Lawrence slowly unfolds. As he and those working with him come to understand the extent of his new abilities, our eyes are opened to the possibility of entire levels of reality beyond our normal perception. Yet in spite of the immense potential that these abilities give him, Lawrence is still very much a person of his time, caught up in the horror and waste of war. The irony is that the very conflict that gave him his new talent (through a bullet wound) also dictates how he must use it, and where it will take him. Is that, I wonder, part of 'The Circling Song' referred to in the title?

I wouldn't want to risk spoiling this for other readers, so I will just say that this is one of the best things I've read in a long time. Brilliantly conceived, wonderfully well crafted, beautifully worded and with deep and intriguing implications. Highly recommended! Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you?

4.0 out of 5 stars 'The Circling Song', 10 Jan 2012 By Kirsty Hewitt - See all my reviews This review is from: The Circling Song (Kindle Edition) Review by freelance writer and reviewer Kirsty Hewitt

The Circling Song begins in 1914, the outbreak of the First World War, and tells the story of Private Henry Lawrence. Lawrence is told to keep a record of what he deems `meagre marks' and `scribblings', and thus the novel opens using the format of a journal.

In The Circling Song, there is a constant `before' and `after' sense of an at-first unknown event. We find after a while that Lawrence has a head injury sustained from a `projectile'. The span of the story itself deals with Lawrence's struggle of returning to his unit, and the toil of the doctors who wish to study him as a `nervous case' who is `worthy of study'. Lawrence soon becomes a hot topic of discussion within medical circles and much of the correspondence within the book details his case.

Lawrence is clearly the protagonist of The Circling Song, and others in the story orbit around their involvement with him or his case. The reader is introduced to several other characters as the story picks up speed. Perhaps most notable of these characters is Professor Maxwell Cavendish who specialises in the treatment of head injuries. Another character, Pennyworth, is intent on making it common knowledge that shell shock is a real condition which affects many thousands of soldiers on the Western Front.

The story is split up into relatively small sections which deal with a certain time period - for example, Winter 1914-1915. This makes it incredibly manageable to read and it is also incredibly easy for the reader to keep track of the timescale of the events which occur.

The Circling Song is clearly well-researched, and much of the scientific and medical terminology used throughout is thorough and correct. Cruse's description of the equipment used by a typical World War One soldier and the conditions which he has to encounter on a daily basis is technically precise, which adds a realistic depth to the story.

The Circling Song does not just use the simple structure of a monotonous daily diary. It also contains officers' reports, correspondences between doctors and a seemingly knowledgeable Major, casualty forms, transcripts of interviews and extracts from other works. All of these narratives blend together effortlessly. The mixture of styles work very well and no method used detracts from another. The characters themselves are all believable, and their voices are all distinct. A love even begins to blossom within the letters which is a nice touch.

The narrative itself is incredibly poetic. Lawrence's turns of phrase are startling and sometimes beautiful. He appears to have an alternate perception of the world around him and an uncanny knack for stating things that are not obvious to others. He focuses on minute details - for example, how many breaths he has taken during an interview and how many stars are above him in the sky.

With regard to the author, Cruse's writing is harrowing and evocative. He has certainly mastered the art of both fictional and factual writing. The novel itself is executed incredibly well.

To conclude, The Circling Song is an incredibly interesting novel. Even the most minute details in the correspondence and other narrative styles contribute to the overall story. It is an incredibly masterful piece of prose which sets strong foundations for Cruse's future literary efforts. It is currently available in Kindle format.

  5.0 out of 5 stars A brilliant book, 2 Aug 2011 By Ignite (East Yorkshire, UK) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    This review is from: The Circling Song (Kindle Edition) I really enjoyed this book. It was gripping from the start and its premise that a head wound can give rise to various traits such as visions, synaesthesia, and an understanding of higher order mathematical concepts was intriguing. I believe that we can't predict what can arise when a brain injury heals and new connections are made in the brain. The use of letters to and from the soldier, a doctor of mathematics and a number of medical personnel allowed for a change in viewpoint and gave different opinions a chance to be aired. I felt it was a clever device and the letters and journal entries moved the tale along.

I was most impressed with this book and would heartily recommend it.

5.0 out of 5 stars original and intriguing, 4 July 2011 By dj foster-smith "daze" (kent uk) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)    This review is from: The Circling Song (Kindle Edition) I came to this as it was at the top of another chart, and i can see why.The intriguing beginning gradually entwines into the bigger and fascinating plot.I wholeheartedly reccomend this. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? Yes No Report abuse | PermalinkComment Comment

5.0 out of 5 stars An original and absorbing novella, 1 July 2011 By H Hamblin - See all my reviews This review is from: The Circling Song (Kindle Edition) I hadn't heard of Russell Cruse before but I bought this book on the insistence of a friend. It was so absorbing that I read it in a single sitting. Although it only appears to be the author's second book, he is clearly a story teller of the highest order. The unravelling of plot was so deftly done it puts most popular writers to shame, while the language and dialogue really brings the period to life. It's obvious that the author has a keen sensitivity to the period and has done his homework on the historical research.

I couldn't disagree more with the reviewer below. The prose are not difficult or pretentious, the author just doesn't patronize the reader like the vast majority of thriller writers do today. This is still an accessible and thoroughly enjoyable piece of escapism. If you are looking for a stimulating historical novella that will fascinate and engage, look no further than The Circling Song.

I look forward to reading more of Russell Cruse's work in the future.

5.0 out of 5 stars Circling song an excellent read, 5 Jun 2011 By D. M. Dickson (Dordogne France and Solihull UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)    Amazon Verified Purchase(What is this?) This review is from: The Circling Song (Kindle Edition) Anyone fearing a decline in the standard of reading material due to the rise of indie and epublishing need only read this work to be reassured. The style and layout is excellent and the story is mesmerising and captivating. Although there is much of mathematics and calculation not to mention medical references it is enjoyable and accessible reading. The flow is great and the characters are well rounded and believable and so the reader cares for their wellbeing. The author has obviously researched the subject well and is able to present it in an entertaining and enjoyable fashion even for one such as myself with absolutely no "gift" for calculus. This is a super book and I thank Mr Cruse for making it available to us.


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