'Mr Cassini' is a remarkable follow-up to 'Mr Vogel'. This Welsh Arabian Nights takes the reader on a journey through the present and past of Wales, on an exploration of the sometimes painful, sometimes humorous, reality and dreams of the main characters. Wales Book of the Year 2007.

Dilyniant nodedig i 'Mr Vogel'. Caiff y darllenydd ei dywys ar daith trwy orffennol a phresennol Cymru ar siwrnai drwy freuddwydion y prif gymeriadau, taith sydd weithiau'n boenus, weithiau'n ddigri. Llyfr Saesneg y Flwyddyn 2007.

It’s rare that one picks up a novel that is a rollicking good tale, an enigmatic mystery, a learned guide to a number of fascinating historical tales – and still manages to squeeze itself into just slightly over 300 pages. And Mr Cassini is not only that, but an absolute page-turning joy to behold.

Furnishing us with two exuberant protagonists, Olly and Duxie, who express themselves through their larger-than-life personalities and unpredictable trains of thought, Jones provides eye-catching narrative commentary that is not only carefully constructed to appear unreliable (thus allowing the reader to enjoy a freedom to make up their own minds on topics discussed), but particularly personal. However, it is through his delectable, discursive prose that meanders throughout the tale that Lloyd Jones etches depth into the unmistakable descriptive semantic ability he possesses.

Flitting from the rather humorous tales of PC 66 and his scrapes with the local troublemakers, to a discussion about Mr Cassini’s crudely sculpted Golem that resides in his house, Jones brings to life the mysteries and legends of Wales within a well sculpted backdrop of paragraphs that evokes the true atmosphere of the vast and inspirational Welsh landscape. Then, interspersing his own text with chunks of inspirational text from everything from Haruki Murakami’s epic The Wind up Bird Chronicle to infinitely charming words from the Caernarfon & Denbigh Herald, Lloyd Jones ensures that the reader is exposed to plenty of wisdom other than his own.

And there are other little twists that Jones utilises too, switching narrative effortlessly between characters, seamlessly merging fantasy and reality and layering a sizable proportion of the text with an exceptionally dry humour that hints at times at darkness. I really cannot recommend this book enough – and, in fact, recommend it as the best book I have read so far this year. There is only one real piece of advice I will leave you with for those fortunate enough to find themselves with a copy of this novel – and that is to keep a notebook handy, as Jones mentions so many tantalising tales, legends and stories that I will guarantee you’ll want to write them down and look them up in further detail! It could be an absorbing couple of months in store . . .

Jack Clothier

It is possible to use this review for promotional purposes, but the following acknowledgment should be included: A review from www.gwales.com, with the permission of the Welsh Books Council.

Gellir defnyddio'r adolygiad hwn at bwrpas hybu, ond gofynnir i chi gynnwys y gydnabyddiaeth ganlynol: Adolygiad oddi ar www.gwales.com, trwy ganiatâd Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru.