Book news, reviews and recommendations
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. I was so impressed with Anthony Shapland’s use of language in A Room Above a Shop, I assumed he was a poet but he turns […]
Paperbacks to Look Out For in March 2026: Part One Read More »
I’m feeling very pleased with myself having kept my books of the year to twenty for the third time running. A long, dry summer probably helped, offering opportunities for getting out and about. Even at the start of the year, H and I had sunshine for our London break, much of which we spent outside.
Books of the Year 2025: Part One Read More »
Not my favourite prize but, for some reason, I can’t resist putting together a wish list for the Booker. To be eligible for this year’s prize all books must be published in the UK or Ireland between 1st October 2024 and 30th September 2025 and have been written in English. The judges usually stick to
My 2025 Booker Wish List Read More »
When I’m feeling particularly depressed about the state of the world, I remind myself that equal marriage has been enshrined in law for over a decade here in the UK and has been legalised in many other countries. Set in a small Welsh village in the late 1980s, not so very long ago, Anthony Shapland’s
A Room Above a Shop by Anthony Shapland: A love story Read More »