Back from Copenhagen (more of which later in the week) with March’s first paperback preview which begins with two favourites from last year: one a novella, the other a chunkster.
Catherine Airey’s Confessions is an involving tale of two Irish sisters, one of whom emigrates to New York to take up an art school scholarship ticking two of my literary boxes. Máire and Rósín’s stories span several decades beginning in the 1970s when they’re growing up in an Irish village not far from the house which one will paint and the other will eventually live in, making it the setting for a choose-your-own-adventure computer video game. There’s a coincidence that may irritate some, but I was so engrossed by the time I got to it that I was more than happy to continue the ride. A long, intricately plotted, luxurious read.
In Florence Knapp’s debut, The Names, a mother needs to register her son’s birth shortly after the great storm of 1986 but can’t quite decide what to call him. Her choice will determine the course of his life whether it be Bear, as his sister would like, Julian, the name she favours, or Gordon, following his domineering father’s family tradition. ‘Powerfully moving and full of hope, this is the story of three names, three versions of a life, and the infinite possibilities that a single decision can spark. It is the story of one family, and love’s endless capacity to endure, no matter what fate has in store’ says the blurb rather portentously. I’m a sucker for that The Versions of Us structure.
I remember Canadian writer Holly Brickley’s Deep Cuts picking up lots of praise when it was first published. Its premise reminds me a little of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s Daisy Jones and the Six with its tale of musical heartbreak and life lived in the spotlight, Percy watching from the sidelines as Joe’s songs propel him to stardom. ‘Deep Cuts is an irresistible novel about passion and obsession, love and longing and, above all, our need to be heard’ says the blurb of what I hope will be a nicely turned-out piece of absorbing, easy reading.
That’s it for the first batch of March’s paperbacks. A click on a title will take you either to my review or to a more detailed synopsis should you want to know more. If you’d like to catch up with new fiction, it’s here and here.
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Loved A Room Above a Shop! I hope the paperback brings it to lots of new readers.
Me, too, and I’m so glad you loved it. Beautiful writing!
I got Confessions from the library when it first came out … and had to return it before reading a single word. Must Try Harder. This and the Shapland are my first choices from what looks like a strong field this week.
Room Above a Shop is a good option for ReadingWales month – just hinting LOL
I think those two would suit you best. Confessions is a doorstopper, a good bad weather read.
Bad weather read? Who could possibly need one of those ….??
Looking out of the window…
I have read and reviewed Shapland and Knapp books on my Substack. I really enjoyed both debut novels. Different styles. The first is a quieter type of book than the second. Both deal with secret lives, search for love and peace, and are heartbreaking in their own ways.
Pleased to hear that about the Knapp, Lucy. I had wondered if it lived up to the hype.
Absolutely have to read the Anthony Shapland since he originates town where `i lived as a child. You’ve actually sold me on all of these books Susan
Hurrah! The Shapland’s perfect for you then.
The Names is on my shelf, but I would love to read all of these.
Excellent! Hoping my expectations aren’t too high for Deep Cuts.
Hesitant over The Names. I love Sliding Doors books in general but disliked The Versions of Us.
My concerns are more about the hype surrounding it.
Oh god, definitely that too!
I got Room Above A Shop for Christmas so am really looking forward to it. I also quite enjoyed The Names, but didn’t find it as ground-breaking as others did.
I hope you enjoy the Shapland as much as I did, Cathy. I think I’ll read The Names but I’m in no great rush to get to it.
I admired A Room Above a Shop. I thought The Names was a good read but didn’t fully deliver on its interesting premise.
That’s a shame. It’s such a good setup.
I’ve been wanting to read Confessions since you did; eventually they did purchase it for the library so, after the melt, I’ll be able to do so!
I hope it warms up soon for you, Marcie. You’ll have a treat waiting when it does.