Book news, reviews and recommendations
If you know more about French poetry than I do which, frankly, would not be difficult, you may well recognise the title of Nathacha Appanah’s The Sky Above the Roof as a reference to Paul Verlaine’s Le Ciel, written when he was in prison. Fortunately, Geoffrey Strachan’s translator’s note helped me out, setting the tone […]
Fewer paperback goodies than I’d like in February’s schedules, just about enough for a two-part preview beginning with a title that’s been all over my Twitter timeline for well over a year. Caleb Azumah Nelson has had a very good year so far. Not only did Open Water win the 2021 Costa First Novel Award,
Paperbacks to Look Out for in February 2022: Part One Read More »
I was delighted to spot Lily King’s Five Tuesdays in Winter on Twitter having enjoyed both Writers & Lovers and Father of the Rain. It’s her first short story collection, comprising ten pieces many of which explore themes of love, relationships and parenthood, some with a darker edge than I remember from her novels. He
Five Tuesdays in Winter by Lily King: Astute observation plus a few dark surprises Read More »
It was its premise that attracted me to Sara Freeman’s Tides when it was pitched to me: a debut about a woman who flees after suffering a devastating bereavement drawn into a relationship with a man suffering his own loss, and there was mention of a spare writing style, always my favourite. I’d expected a
Tides by Sara Freeman: ‘Not feeling is a feeling too’ Read More »
February’s first instalment kicked off with a highly anticipated novel as does this one. Monica Ali’s Love Marriage sees Yasmin engaged to a fellow doctor and looking forward to a bright future. Her family’s reaction to her prospective mother-in-law’s feminism sparks revelations and a reassessment by Yasmin of her family and what her marriage might
Books to Look Out for in February 2022: Part Two Read More »
Despite the many protestations on this blog that I’m not an historical novel fan, I usually read at least one a year that hits the spot for me, often in autumn or winter. Last year’s was Lucy Jago’s A Net for Small Fishes. This year’s looked set to be Susan Stokes-Chapman’s Pandora. Set in Georgian
Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman: Opening the box Read More »
I spotted Laird Hunt’s Zorrie on Twitter, its quietly lovely jacket catching my eye, and made a note to buy a copy. Then Cassie at The Longest Chapter listed it as one of her top ten books of 2021 which decided me to put in a NetGalley request and I’m so glad I did. It’s
Zorrie by Laird Hunt: Echoes of Elizabeth Strout and Robert Seethaler Read More »
February’s often the gloomiest month in the UK weather year but at least there are lots of bookish goodies on offer, certainly enough for a two-part preview. I’m kicking off both with long awaited novels. For some reason I’ve never got around to Hannah Kent’s The Good People having very much enjoyed Burial Rites but
Books to Look Out for in February 2022: Part One Read More »
Billed as a novel, Michelle de Kretser’s Scary Monsters is split in two rather like Carol Shields’ story of a marriage from both sides, Happenstance. One part is set in early ‘80s France, the other in a near-future Australia. I could have tossed a coin to decide which half to read first or made a
Scary Monsters by Michelle de Kretser: A tale of two parts Read More »
My reading year’s off to a great start with a book by an author whose name I’ve spotted frequently in my Twitter timeline but somehow never got around to reading. Given that I wasn’t entirely persuaded by its premise, it was those tweets from so many readers I trust that tipped the balance in favour
The Raptures by Jan Carson: ‘You people can’t see anything but yourselves’ Read More »
I tend not to read much in the way of comfort books but back in the worst of the pandemic I found myself reaching for something heartening. Assuming others might feel the same, I put together one of these posts which proved very popular. Given that it seems that covid has not done with us
Five More Comfort Reads I’ve Read Read More »