I had the luxury of reading an entire book in a weekend this month – something that never happens usually. It was due to a combination of Bank Holiday at my in-law’s house, losing the knitting pattern I was working on and nothing on the TV. What bliss. Otherwise the month was as usual –… Continue reading August reads
Tag: book reviews
January – the read pile
A belated post but here’s what I read in January. Bill Bryson – The Road to Little Dribbling I once had dinner with Bill Bryson. I worked for Waterstone’s events team, he was on a book promotion tour and we had a two-performance night at Newark Theatre. We had a tight turnaround for food between… Continue reading January – the read pile
2015: Books of the Year
I am expecting masses of hardbacks as a Christmas gift – the bonus of cycling to work means that I mainly read at home and therefore don’t have to worry about carrying them – so this books of the year list is not going to feature many published this year. Instead I’ve had a look… Continue reading 2015: Books of the Year
Review: Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell
I was walking to work through a university campus the other morning, wearing a tatty pair of sandals I can’t be bothered/ can’t afford to replace and listening to my ipod on shuffle. On came Britpop favourite Nice Guy Eddie by Sleeper and I sang to myself as I made my way down the road.… Continue reading Review: Instructions for a Heatwave by Maggie O’Farrell
Review: All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
Here’s a warning: if you are close to your sister, you may find parts of this book upsetting. Well, I did anyway. (I always cry at books in embarrassing places – usually public transport. It was the case here.) Anyway… Yolandi, our narrator, and her sister Elfrieda, grow up in a Canadian Mennonite community where… Continue reading Review: All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews
Review: Elizabeth is Missing – Emma Healey
Elizabeth is missing. That much is certain. The rest of the story is not so clear. This is down to the narrator, Maud, an old lady struggling with the first stages of dementia. Maud lives alone following the death of her husband and is frequently visited by carers and her daughter Helen. To these people… Continue reading Review: Elizabeth is Missing – Emma Healey
The Secrets We Left Behind by Susan Elliot Wright
Susan Elliot Wright’s work sits very much in the ‘Like Maggie O’Farrell? You love this!’ genre. Serious women’s lit, I suppose. Chick lit for grown ups. I don’t know. Please not ‘Mum lit.’ Anyway, I can see where the comparisons are coming from – both writers feature female protagonists who deal with personal issues, often… Continue reading The Secrets We Left Behind by Susan Elliot Wright
Susan E Barsby 