Jonathan Falla was born in Jamaica in 1954 and brought up in Twickenham. He recalls holidays in Wales and taking tea with Bertrand Russell. He won a scholarship to Cambridge from Bedales School and after training as a nurse he worked for aid agencies in Nepal, Sudan, Burma and Uganda. A writer for many years, he still works as a nurse, sings baritone professionally and has studied screenwriting at the University of Southern California.
One of the main aspects of Blue Poppies is Falla's refusal to bow to Hollywood-sponsored cliches. Far from being the baby-eating Commies of popular imagination, the Chinese here are shown as tough but not unnecessarily cruel, preferring to win over the conquered with an open hand rather than a clenched fist - Falla is a fine and unflowery writer who delivers a punchy plot free of misty-eyed sentiment, yet [Blue Poppies] is crowned by one of the year's saddest endings. Sunday Herald Most authors appear to live on a very small planet; Jo Falla's world is a phenomenally big place. His vivid and authoritative fiction offers us the chance to experience - from the inside - life beyond Western frontiers, beyond Western preconceptions. In his company, we cease to be newspaper-skimmers or camera-toting tourists, and go straight to the heart of cultures that are exhilaratingly, sometimes frighteningly different from our own. Michel Faber, author of Under the Skin Jonathan Falla's debut novel confounds the stereotype of the first novel. It is assured, confident, without a trace of self-indulgence. It knows where it's going from the start, and that's nowhere near home - David Robinson, Scotsman A delightful debut novel - in what is at times a very dark and harrowing tale, Falla manages to enchant with his characters and to allow you to associate with their peculiarities. Jonathan Falla makes this a bewitching read which stirs up a multitude of emotions from love and longing to anger and disgust. You can't help but support this fine novel's characters in their long journey to freedom. The List This is a beautifully written story: sad, gently humorous and exciting and one can feel the affection of the author for the people and landscape - brilliant, I read it in one sitting and give it a five/five star rating! Sue Corbett, Wiltshire, newBOOKS.mag A dashed good thriller - beautifully written and good history too. Jack McLean, Herald This is one of the best books I've read in a very long time. The author's superb descriptive power drew me into the book so that it seemed as if I were actually present and could experience the sights, sounds and smells of the village and also the terrain and the bitter cold. Not only that; it's a brilliantly told tale, both tense and poignant, incorporating all the virtues of good old-fashioned story-telling (a lost art?). Mr M Simmons, Herts I cared very much about what happened Jamie and Puton. l found myself caught up in their lives and gentle love. A beautiful book, that left me satisfied yet wanting more. Reader Review, Amazon.co.uk
One of the main aspects of Blue Poppies is Falla's refusal to bow to Hollywood-sponsored cliches. Far from being the baby-eating Commies of popular imagination, the Chinese here are shown as tough but not unnecessarily cruel, preferring to win over the conquered with an open hand rather than a clenched fist - Falla is a fine and unflowery writer who delivers a punchy plot free of misty-eyed sentiment, yet [Blue Poppies] is crowned by one of the year's saddest endings. Sunday Herald Most authors appear to live on a very small planet; Jo Falla's world is a phenomenally big place. His vivid and authoritative fiction offers us the chance to experience - from the inside - life beyond Western frontiers, beyond Western preconceptions. In his company, we cease to be newspaper-skimmers or camera-toting tourists, and go straight to the heart of cultures that are exhilaratingly, sometimes frighteningly different from our own. Michel Faber, author of Under the Skin Jonathan Falla's debut novel confounds the stereotype of the first novel. It is assured, confident, without a trace of self-indulgence. It knows where it's going from the start, and that's nowhere near home - David Robinson, Scotsman A delightful debut novel - in what is at times a very dark and harrowing tale, Falla manages to enchant with his characters and to allow you to associate with their peculiarities. Jonathan Falla makes this a bewitching read which stirs up a multitude of emotions from love and longing to anger and disgust. You can't help but support this fine novel's characters in their long journey to freedom. The List This is a beautifully written story: sad, gently humorous and exciting and one can feel the affection of the author for the people and landscape - brilliant, I read it in one sitting and give it a five/five star rating! Sue Corbett, Wiltshire, newBOOKS.mag A dashed good thriller - beautifully written and good history too. Jack McLean, Herald This is one of the best books I've read in a very long time. The author's superb descriptive power drew me into the book so that it seemed as if I were actually present and could experience the sights, sounds and smells of the village and also the terrain and the bitter cold. Not only that; it's a brilliantly told tale, both tense and poignant, incorporating all the virtues of good old-fashioned story-telling (a lost art?). Mr M Simmons, Herts I cared very much about what happened Jamie and Puton. l found myself caught up in their lives and gentle love. A beautiful book, that left me satisfied yet wanting more. Reader Review, Amazon.co.uk
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