This year seems to be a time for me to read lots of Americana. Earlier in the year it was Revolutionary Road, a classic look at suburban disillusionment, then it was bang up to date with Megan Abbott’s Dare Me – a scorching look at burgeoning sexuality and secrets in American High Schools today. My latest dip into American society is Aria Beth Sloss’s debut novel…
Astray
18 June 2013 by Leave a Comment
One of the best books that I’ve read in the last couple of years was Emma Donoghue’s amazing Booker nominated Room – the story of a young woman kidnapped and imprisoned and her son, a child has only ever known life in one small room. I adored the book…
Dare Me
4 June 2013 by Leave a Comment
Growing up and going to secondary school in Britain in the late 80s and early 90s cheerleaders were not a part of my teenage years. In fact, everything I know about cheerleaders comes from Sweet Valley High, Glee and Cordelia in Buffy the Vampire Slayer…
Tigers In Red Weather
13 May 2013 by Leave a Comment
This summer’s Richard & Judy Bookclub picks have been announced and as usual there’s a mixture of romance, crime and literary fiction. The books that the duo select are normally designed in some way to tug at the emotions and these titles look as though they are continuing in the tradition…
Red Dust Road
6 May 2013 by Leave a Comment
If there’s one thing that’s guaranteed to make me pick up a book or watch a film it’s a connection, real or perceived, to my own life. I would probably not have bought Andrea Arnold’s Red Road if I hadn’t been brought up in the eponymous street. A similar thing happened with this year’s World Book Night list…
Warren Peace
30 April 2013 by Leave a Comment
When it comes to foxes I’m one of those woolly, liberal tree huggers that the Daily Telegraph loves to hate. I like foxes, I don’t think they are the enemy. When I read stories about rampaging red beasties eating our babies in towns and cities across the nation I tend to let my cynical side run riot…
The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency
23 April 2013 by Leave a Comment
Today, April 23rd, we are celebrating the UK’s third annual World Book Night. Last year I participated for the first time distributing copies of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road. It was a fabulous experience and as soon as the opportunity to sign up as giver for this year opened up I grabbed the chance…
Little Face
22 April 2013 by Leave a Comment
Over the past couple of years I’ve spotted several Sophie Hannah novels that appeal to me but because of that ever-growing list of unread books I’ve been loathe to actually buy any and open myself up to a new author. If I love the first book I read of any author I tend to get a little obsessive…
The White Queen
16 April 2013 by Leave a Comment
We’re just a couple of weeks away from World Book Night 2013 and I’m heading to Waterstones this week to pick up my 20 copies of The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency. I was determined this year to read more than just the book I was giving out…
Think of the Children
25 February 2013 by Leave a Comment
When I first got my Kindle I went through a period of downloading many, many free and cheap books. More than I could possibly read in a decade and with no quality control whatsoever. There was a flurry of mindless downloading of books onto my new and special machine. I was, I admit, greedy. In some cases I discovered gems that I would previously never have found…