Book news, reviews and recommendations
This is the latest in a series of occasional posts featuring books I read years ago about which I was wildly enthusiastic at the time, wanting to press a copy into as many hands as I could. I was a little sceptical about The President’s Hat which seemed a tad whimsical for me, but it
I’m always happy to see something new by Patrick deWitt in the publishing schedules. He’s still not leapt over the high bar set by The Sisters Brothers for me, but I always enjoy his novels. Set in 1967, Dodge City follows Lee Clarke who takes to the road, heading for Canada, after his draft notice
Dodge City by Patrick deWitt: ‘Is the motivation for your travel existential?’ Read More »
This second batch of October paperbacks begins with one I’m in two minds about. Anna North’s Bog Queen sees a homesick forensic anthropologist called to a coroner when a perfectly preserved body is found, buried in a bog in the north of England for thousands of years. Agnes finds herself trying to disentangle the puzzle
Paperbacks to Look Out For in October 2026: Part Two Read More »
I couldn’t have been more delighted when Louise Kennedy’s Stations dropped through my letter box. I was a huge fan of her short story collection The End of the World is a Cul de Sac and even more impressed by her debut novel, Trespasses, beautifully adapted by Channel 4 last year. Her second novel follows
Stations by Louise Kennedy: Love, friendship and redemption Read More »
Given its historical women’s fiction label, I took a punt on A. Rushby’s All Her Beautiful Deaths, not being at all keen on the idea of gendered descriptions, but I was attracted by the idea of Victorian memorial portraits. It follows Minnie, who becomes a companion to Edith in 1865, and Hadley, a young twenty-first
All Her Beautiful Deaths by A. Rushby: An art world historical page-turner Read More »
The first batch of October’s paperbacks begins with the latest reissue from Daunt’s publishing arm, first published in 1968. In Elizabeth Jenkins’s Honey, Roland meets the titular thirty-year-old at a film premiere and is captivated, marrying her in 1962. All goes well until Roland’s sixteen-year-old son arrives. Already bored with married life, Honey sets about
Paperbacks to Look Out For in October 2026: Part One Read More »
It’s a decade since I reviewed Emma Cline’s much heralded debut, The Girls, loosely based on the infamous Manson family and its horrific murders. Although I admired it, I’ve not read anything by her since. Switzy is very different following a man in his seventies as he travels to Zurich accompanied by his young assistant.
Switzy by Emma Cline: Leaving the party early Read More »
A new Kate Atkinson is always a cause for celebration for me. I’ve been a fan since Behind the Scenes at the Museum back in 1995. Set against the backdrop of 1951’s Festival of Britain, Our Noble Selves follows Harry Flynn who becomes involved in the organisation of the extravagant event aimed at reviving British
Our Noble Selves by Kate Atkinson: A very British treat Read More »
I was surprised to see another novel from Bernard Schlink quite so soon after his impressive The Granddaughter. The Late Life sees seventy-six-year-old Martin happily married with a six-year-old son, faced with a dire prognosis. With only a short time left to live, he thinks about his legacy, his love for his family and what
Books to Look Out For in October 2026: Part Two Read More »
I reviewed Laurie Petrou’s debut, Stargazer, four years ago, pleased to have found a new Canadian writer published in the UK. I’d been attracted by its female friendship theme which also runs through her third novel, The Rayburn Affair, albeit with a twist. In the glow of the light, they appeared to Ruth’s eyes like
The Rayburn Affair by Laurie Petrou: Be careful what you wish for Read More »
We’ve had a welcome change of season in the UK since my last snapshot. This month’s includes a book of healthy habits, a short story collection from a small Irish press and a novel from another, both with striking covers. The non-fiction book I’m reading is the much missed Dr Michael Moseley’s Just One Thing
A Snapshot of My Reading #19 Read More »