I’m beginning with the only one I’ve read from this second instalment of April paperbacks. Narrated by the self-deprecating Rocky, Catherine Newman’s Sandwich spans a week in the holiday let she and her husband have rented for almost twenty years. They and their grown-up children cram themselves into the tiny cottage, joined later by Rocky’s parents. It’s a holiday like any other over the past two decades but by the time the family goes their separate ways, secrets will have been revealed, an understanding that some things must end gained and the joy of new beginnings embraced. A thoroughly enjoyable novel, and that cover is so much better than the hardback edition’s.
For some reason, I missed Elizabeth O’Connor’s Whale Fall when it was first published. Set in 1938, it follows Manod who is contemplating what to do with her future when two anthropologists arrive on the Welsh island where she lives. As she becomes involved in their work and their odd relationship, the outside world takes on a dark tinge. ‘Elizabeth O’Connor’s beautiful, devastating debut Whale Fall tells a story of longing and betrayal set against the backdrop of a world on the edge of great tumult’ says the blurb promisingly.
Defne Suman’s Summer Heat begins in 1974, the year Turkish troops occupied Cyprus, when Melike is a child frightened by her parents whispering about the turn events have taken. Not long after they move to a village in the south of the island, her father disappears. Three decades later, she meets a man whose true identity reveals past secrets further unsettling a life with which she might have expected to be happy. ‘Summer Heat explores family secrets, tangled identities and one woman’s place in her country’s devastating history’ according to the blurb. It’s the setting that interests me with this one.
I’m not much of a crime fiction fan as regular readers will know but as a keen follower of Susie Dent on social media, I can’t resist her first novel, Guilty by Definition, which sees an anonymous letter delivered to the Clarendon English Dictionary hinting at secrets and lies linked to a particular year in which the new senior editor’s sister disappeared. Martha and her team become embroiled in a troubling mystery as more letters arrive. I’m expecting some enjoyable lexicographical fun with this one.
April’s second paperback short story collection is by another writer who’s a dab hand with words. I’d want to read Eley Williams’s Moderate to Poor, Occasionally Good for its title alone even if I hadn’t loved The Liar’s Dictionary. Williams explores relationships – both intimate and transient – in stories which range from a teenager’s crush on a saint to an essayist annotating thoughts on Keats using internet sex-tips. ‘Moderate to Poor, Occasionally Good hums with fossicking language and ingenious experiments in form and considers notions of playfulness, authenticity and care as it holds relationships to account: their sweet misunderstandings, soured reflections, queer wish fulfilments and shared, held breaths’ says the blurb. I’m sure it will be brilliant.
That’s it for April. A click on a title will take you either to my review or to a more detailed synopsis should you want to know more, and if you’d like to catch up with part one it’s here. New fiction is here and here.
I enjoyed the Newman with reservations. It was clever, witty, even thought-provoking but I found myself slightly irritated by Newman’s apparent awareness of just how witty she’s being. Your other choices? Looking good as usual!
I do see what you mean. I read We All Want Impossible Things after Sandwich and preferred it.
The Dent was fun and clever. I have Sandwich in my piles somewhere. I like the sound of Summer Heat.
I hoped it would be! I’m surprised Summer Heat’s published in April.
Keen to read Sandwich and I totally agree on the cover!
That hardback cover was dire wasn’t it. What were they thinking!
Love the cover of Summer Heat.
Of the others, I’ve read Sandwich (I was in the minority here – didn’t love it) but Whale Fall on the other hand, I thought was fabulous and it made my favourite books list for 2024.
It’s nicely done, isn’t it. That’s very encouraging about Whale Fall. Still puzzled as to how I missed it in hardback.
I’m still hesitating over Sandwich. Love the quotes I’ve read but not sure if the voice will be too much for me at length. I read Williams’ Attrib ages ago but didn’t get on with it – I’m not a huge fan of playing with language for the sake of it.
I enjoyed it but We All Want Impossible Things is better. I quite like that although much preferred Liar’s Dictionary to Attrib.
Good to know!
I have a 99p kindle version of Sandwich, so will definitely give it a go. I’m kicking myself, though for missing Whale Fall when it was the Audible deal of the day. I saw it in the morning, forgot it, missed it, etc. I think I’m going to have to give in and get Susie Dent’s book too, because she’s such an intelligent woman, she must surely have written a good crime novel? Well, also worth a try, I think.
Annabel loved the Dent. I’m sure it will be great. She’s one of the few people I seek out on social media. Always has a apposite word aimed at the latest political shenanigans.
I do enjoy Susie Dent’s cheeky social media posts. With celebrities I often assume their name is attached when they may not have even read the book, but I feel she will have genuinely written this one!
Definitely! She’s often so on the button with those posts. I don’t know how she does it.
I’m halfway through the Dent and it’s light and enjoyable. Funny you should place it next to Eley Williams as it does remind me a fair bit of The Liar’s Dictionary.
I thought they’d make a good fit, given Dent’s social media posts. I’m looking forward to reading it.
Whale Fall sounds really interesting. I haven’t read many books set in Wales, and have not seen this reviewed anywhere else.
I don’t remember it getting much coverage in hardback for some reason.
I don’t expect to feel a similar draw to each of the books you call out, because I am a moody reader, but every now and then there’s a group that feels wholly irresistble, entirely suiting my current mood, and this is one of those assortments!
Pleased to hear that, Marcie.
I really enjoyed Guilty by Definition and loved all the wordplay!
Good to hear. She brightens up my social media no end!