Book news, reviews and recommendations
I’m pleased to report May’s bursting at the seams with goodies, a few tried and tested although not the one I’m kicking off with. I was a huge fan of Jen Beagin’s idiosyncratic Pretend I’m Dead and enjoyed the follow up, Vacuum in the Dark. Her third novel, Big Swiss, sees Greta entranced with the
Books to Look Out For in May 2023: 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 – Born to Run to Mouth to Mouth Read More »
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. Abdulrazak Gurnah’s By the Sea is a slim novel but it made quite an impression on me, perhaps
Blasts from the Past: By the Sea by Abdulrazak Gurnah (2001) Read More »
I reviewed Stephanie Bishop’s The Other Side of the World back in 2015 describing it as an unexpected treat. The novel’s cover had suggested a light diversion but it turned out to be much more than that which is what made me want to review The Anniversary despite its chunkster proportions. Bishop’s new novel sees
The Anniversary by Stephanie Bishop: ‘There is never only one version’ Read More »
The second instalment of April’s paperbacks begins with a favourite from 2022. Set in a small New England town, Sarah Manguso’s Very Cold People sees a woman explore her childhood, brought up by two people desperately ill equipped for the job. Affection is rare, and when it happens isn’t repeated no matter how much Ruth
Paperbacks to Look Out For in April 2023: Part Two Read More »
A proof of Charmaine Craig’s new novel turned up shortly after I’d mentioned it in my March preview, neatly solving the ‘what to read next’ problem. Craig’s book is a novella, and a brief one at that, which had me assuming that I’d be facing the same dilemma shortly, but it took me quite some
My Nemesis by Charmaine Craig: ‘An insult to womankind’ Read More »
Given that I live with an historian whose PhD we both suffered through, it was inevitable that I would read Icelandic writer Sigrún Pálsdóttir’s History. A Mess. That and it’s published by the excellent Peirene Press who have recently moved to my hometown. Pálsdóttir’s novella follows an unnamed narrator convinced that she’s discovered the identity
I’ve read all but one of the first instalment of April paperback goodies, several of which turned up on my books of 2022 list beginning with acclaimed short story writer Louise Kennedy’s first novel, Trespasses, which sees a Catholic teacher falling in love with an older man, a prominent barrister, married and a Protestant. Michael’s
Paperbacks to Look Out For in April 2023: Part One Read More »
I wasn’t at all sure about reading Fiona McFarlane’s The Sun Walks Down – it’s an historical novel weighing in at just over 400 pages, two things which usually put me off but I’d enjoyed both The Night Guest and The High Places very much so decided to take the plunge. Set in September 1883,
The Sun Walks Down by Fiona McFarlane: Third time not so lucky Read More »
Having read Jo Bloom’s Permission which explores very similar territory not so long ago, I was in two minds about reading Sophie Berrebi’s The Sharing Economy which sees woman pushing the boundaries of her open marriage but there was mention of art and Amsterdam in the blurb then another blogger spurred me on. Set in
The Sharing Economy by Sophie Berrebi: ’Unlimited access to the cookie jar’ Read More »
April’s second instalment begins with a novel no doubt eagerly anticipated by Curtis Sittenfeld’s many fans despite a mixed reception for her last one. I loved American Wife but passed on Rodham after it disappointed so many whose opinions I trust. Romantic Comedy sounds more of a sure bet with its story of a TV
Books to Look Out For Out for in April 2023: Part Two Read More »