Book news, reviews and recommendations
Some very tempting paperbacks to look out for as we head into proper spring in my part of the world, beginning with one of my books of last year. Caleb Azumah Nelson’s achingly beautiful Small Worlds proved to be even better than his Costa First Novel Prize-winning Open Water. Beginning in 2010, it follows Stephen, […]
Paperbacks to Look Out For in April 2024: Part One Read More »
After last year’s surprisingly sunny visit to Manchester we decided we’d probably used up our Northern spring good weather luck, heading off to St Leonards-on-Sea in Sussex for a short break to see family in April. The month’s reading got off to a brilliant start with ex-bookseller Alice Slater’s Death of a Bookseller which took
Books of Year 2023: Part Two 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 – Western Lane to Water Read More »
Not my favourite prize but I seem unable to resist putting together a wish list for the Booker, quite possibly because I know very few will be fulfilled but I’m keen to give some more neglected titles an airing even though they’re unlikely to have been nominated let alone make the judges’ grade. To be
My 2023 Booker Wish List Read More »
I finally got around to reading Caleb Azumah Nelson’s Costa First Novel Prize-winning Open Water just before putting my hand up for a copy of Small Worlds. Like many bloggers I follow, I was very taken with it. Hard to imagine that Small Worlds would be better but, for me, it was. Beginning in 2010,
Small Worlds by Caleb Azumah Nelson: A place of safety and love Read More »
The second instalment of May’s new fiction includes books by two novelists previously shortlisted for the Sunday Times Young Writer award, which I shadow judged back in 2018, beginning with Naoise Dolan’s The Happy Couple. Luke and Celine are to marry in a year’s time. Luke’s best man seems to be in love with him,
Books to Look Out For in May 2023: Part Two Read More »
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 »
This second part of February’s new fiction preview kicks off with two novels which explore something on which I spend far too much of my time. I’ve already read Patricia Lockwood’s No One is Talking About This which explores the seductive, addictive world of social media through a woman who finds herself a celebrated internet
Books to Look Out for in February 2021: Part Two Read More »