Book news, reviews and recommendations
This is my second post featuring novels I’ve enjoyed set in London, a city I’ve visited almost every year of my adult life but still find places I’ve not seen before to delight me as I discovered on my first post-lockdown holiday. It’s a city of many different faces some of which you’ll find in […]
Five More Novels Set in London Read More »
It’s seven years since I reviewed Jo Bloom’s debut, Ridley Road, based on a conversation she’d overheard between her grandfather and an old friend. You may have watched the BBC’s excellent adaptation of this novel about fascism in ‘60s East End London. I enjoyed it very much and was eager to read her new book
Permission by Jo Bloom: ‘We need to talk’ Read More »
My fourth and final selection begins with an award-winning novel. After differing with both the Baileys and the Man Booker judges I’ve finally found a set I can agree with: the Jerwood Fiction Uncovered Prize. Of course, they’d made their minds up in June and I only got around to reading Jo Mazelis’ utterly engrossing
Books of the Year 2015: Part 4 Read More »
There are some particularly tasty paperback treats to look forward to this September. I’ll start with the ones I’ve reviewed, my favourite of which is Helen Oyeyemi’s fabulous tale of race and identity Boy, Snow, Bird. Where to start with this complex, dazzling book? There are elements of fairy tale – a wicked stepmother, a
Paperbacks to Look Out For in September 2015 Read More »
It’s that time of year again. The Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction judges are putting the finishing touches to their longlist, due to be announced shortly. Only novels written by women in English published between April 1st 2014 and March 31st 2015 qualify for the award. It’s the one prize I pay attention to these
My wish list for the Baileys Women’s Prize for Fiction 2015 Read More »
Carnaby Street, mini-skirts, coffee bars and rock n’ roll: these are some of the things that make up the glossy vibrant Swinging Sixties we see portrayed on our TV screens in nostalgic documentaries. Flip that coin and you’ll find something nasty – racism and fascism alive and kicking almost twenty years after the Second World
Ridley Road by Jo Bloom: Fascism and anti-fascism in the ‘60s East End Read More »
December publishing schedules often have little or nothing to tempt me unless they’re titles published in the final few days when a few juicy morsels often appear designed to catch the book token trade and perk up readers jaded by family Christmas shenanigans. The following four buck that trend, though, all published at the beginning
Books to Look Out for in December 2014 Read More »