Book news, reviews and recommendations
Back in 2018, I was sent a beautifully jacketed novella with an interesting premise. The press release included a puff from Jon McGregor which swung it for me. Its pared back, evocative description of the Spanish landscape and fable like story landed Luis Carrasco’s El Hacho on my books of the year list. His second …
Ghosts of Spring by Luis Carrasco: Homelessness and hope Read More »
One of the very few silver linings to the coronavirus is a reported upsurge in book sales. We have booksellers, publishers, warehouse staff and posties to thank for getting hard copies to us, despite risks to themselves. You’re probably in the habit of browsing your local bookshop or maybe buying from online booksellers but small …
Ten Small But Perfectly Formed Publishers Who Will Post Books to Your Home Read More »
Jamie Guiney’s collection first caught my eye at What Cathy Read Next. It was its striking jacket that snagged my attention, perfectly fitting its theme with four figures of different ages making their way up a staircase towards a halo although several of Guiney’s characters are more likely to be travelling downwards towards a rather …
The Wooden Hill by Jamie Guiney: Stairway to heaven? Read More »
Back in May I reviewed Luis Carrasco’s El Hacho, the first publication from époque press, with which I was very impressed. Lynn Buckle’s novel is their second and could not be more different. Not that it isn’t impressive but whereas El Hacho was a timeless, fable-like novella written in clean, spare prose, The Groundsmen explores …
The Groundsmen by Lynn Buckle: A Greek tragedy of a novel Read More »
I’m always a little wary when small publishers approach me to review a book, and époque press is tiny. If a book from a large conglomerate turns out not to suit that’s one thing but for a press as small as this one it’s entirely different. Sporting a ringing endorsement from Jon McGregor on it’s …