Book news, reviews and recommendations
When I spotted Freetown in the schedules, I put up my hand straight away. I’d come across Otto de Kat’s name several times, registering that he was probably an author whose writing would appeal, but somehow never getting around to reading anything by him. This beautiful, contemplative novella explores the lives and memories of Maria …
Freetown by Otto de Kat (transl. Laura Watkinson): Chasing the past Read More »
Five years ago, I read a short story by Kevin Barry in A Kind of Compass, an anthology edited by Belinda McKeon, author of the wonderful Tender. I was so impressed by his writing that I’m amazed that I haven’t got around to reading more of it particularly as, thanks to Kim’s enthusiastic review over …
That Old Country Music by Kevin Barry: Better late than never Read More »
After five failed attempts, largely due to bad timing, a broken wrist, oh, and the pandemic, we finally managed to get away for a couple of days hardly believing our luck having snapped up two nights in the New Forest B&B I’d been eyeing up for some time. Not only that but the weather looked …
Almost Two Days in the New Forest and a Bit of a Book Read More »
Back in the very early days of this blog, I reviewed Peter Ackroyd’s Three Brothers having not read anything by him for quite some time. I ended the review wondering if it was time to read his more recent novels. Seven years later, Mr Cadmus turned up. This prettily presented novella, all set to be …
Mr Cadmus by Peter Ackroyd: Something of a surprise Read More »
This second part of November’s new titles is a bit of a mixed bag in terms of themes which often promises more interesting reading if not easy linking. I’ll begin with a new novel by Anne Youngson whose debut, Meet Me at the Museum, I loved for its quietly thoughtful writing and characterisation. Hopes are …
Books to Look Out for in November 2020: Part Two Read More »
Given that Juan Gabriel Vásquez has not only won the prestigious International Dublin Literary Award but has also been shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize, together with his translator Anne MacLean, I feel I really should have read something by him before now. Songs for the Flames is his first short story collection for …
I was a big fan of Bill Clegg’s debut, Did You Ever Have a Family, back in 2015 although I know many others weren’t so impressed. He’s an American literary agent with quite a reputation resulting in publishers queuing round the block to get their hands on his first novel. I was keen to read …
The End of the Day by Bill Clegg: That old second novel syndrome… Read More »
Lots of interesting novels to look out for in publishers’ last big push for a place on your Christmas present list, although occasionally December’s schedules offer further delights which may well be the case in this strange year. I’ll begin with one I couldn’t resist reading almost as soon as it arrived back in the …
Books to Look Out for in November 2020: Part One Read More »
Six Degrees of Separation is a meme hosted by Kate over at Books Are My Favourite and Best. It works like this: each month a book is chosen as a starting point and linked to six others to form a chain. A book doesn’t need to be connected to all the titles on the list, …
Six Degrees of Separation – From The Turn of the Screw to Howard’s End Is on the Landing Read More »
Cathy Rentzenbrink has been a successful writer for some time but way back when Waterstones was still in full possession of an apostrophe, I was the reviews editor for their magazine and she was a bookseller who regularly reviewed for me. She was a joy to work with: enthusiastic, reliable, always happy to help me …
Dear Reader by Cathy Rentzenbrink: A bookish treat Read More »
Lucy Fricke’s Daughters is the second V&Q Books launch title I’ve reviewed in a week. Each is very different from the other, yet both are concerned with families and how they shape us. Whereas Sandra Hoffmann’s Paula was a moving piece of cathartic autofiction, Daughters is a road novel with a sharply comic edge which …
Daughters by Lucy Fricke (transl. Sinéad Crowe): Friends forever Read More »