Review: A series of 13 short rural vignettes... masterpieces all.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 09 17, 2013
"Under the Apple Boughs" is a short work by author Peter Maughan. This Kindle e-book was approximately 54  printed pages and sold for $2.99 at the time of writing this review.Please Note: the author provided me with a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.Some thoughts on "Under the Apple Boughs"...Set in the locale that borders the UK between England and Wales. A place called Batch Magna, where time has seemingly slowed so that everything there appears to move to a beat that is a couple of decades or so behind the present day.Each chapter gives the reader a short independent vignette, resulting in a rustic collage if you will, as the landscape changes over the course of the four seasons. This collection starts in winter and ends the following Xmas. But change is not really an accurate word, because nothing really ever changes in Batch Magna, it's really the same scene that is painted a different hue by the January frost, the spring rain, the summer sun or autumn's color etc. Then add to each unique setting, the musing of a couple (or several) of its denizens and you get a short sketch reminiscent of an old painting or aging photograph that somehow has magically come to life for a few precious moments... before returning to still life or crumbling to dust.Beautiful and often touching glimpses of life from the pen and the genius that is Peter Maughan.My only complaint (and a mild one at that) was the rather bland and nondescript cover art chosen for this work. Surely there was a better choice.As it is... 5 Stars.Ray Nicholsonraynicholsonsreviews@hotmail.com@ralannicholson