It just goes to show that in this small country nearly every family has undergone a loss. Even minor psychological scars run as deep here as bullet holes but, without them, our writing would not have its passion and depth. Northern Irish writer Rosemary Jenkinson in The Irish Times One by One in the Darkness…
Read more No 468 One by One in the Darkness by Deirdre Madden
I’m not quite sure how long The History of Love has languished in the old 746, but I am so glad that I included it in my most recent Reading Roulette (where it came a close second) as it is a beautifully written, moving novel about love, loss, literature and self. The novel focuses on…
This week I am taking part in Karen and Simon‘s 1920 Club – a week dedicated to reading the literature of a particular year within the 20th Century. I can’t always take part in their celebrations, but do enjoy it when I have something in the 746 that corresponds to their chosen year. And unsurprisingly,…
Read more No 489 The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie #1920Club
Brian Friel is known now to the world as one of Ireland’s preeminent playwrights. However, in the mid 1960’s he was more concerned with the short story. It was a brief dalliance as, by 1968, Friel had stopped writing short stories altogether, in favour of writing plays. It is said that Friel found the process…
Read more No 490 The Diviner by Brian Friel #readingirelandmonth20
Ablutions is my third time reading Patrick deWitt and he does not disappoint. I adored The Sisters Brothers and highly enjoyed French Exit, so was interested to see how his debut novel would measure up. Ablutions is told in the second person from the point of view of an unnamed young barman in LA…
I’ve long been a fan of Paul Auster’s work – since I was blown away by the New York Trilogy which I read – too many years ago – at university. For some unknown reason, I haven’t read any of his recent work so I was delighted to see the brilliant Annabel at Annabookbel introduce…
Read more No 496 Invisible by Paul Auster (for Paul Auster Reading Week)
Beside the Sea (Bord de Mer) is Véronique Olmi’s debut novel. First published in France in 2001, it went on to become a bestseller across Europe. This was the first book published by Peirene Press and it was a brave choice for a publisher that has now become synonymous with producing quality work in translation.…
Read more No 497 Beside the Sea by Véronique Olmi, translated by Adriana Hunter
Mother says there are rats in the rockery. ‘You’ll have to do something about them,’ she says, ‘or they’ll over-run the whole place.’ Ratman’s Notebooks was published in 1968 and was one of only four books that Stephen Gilbert wrote before he stopped writing altogether. The fact that it is still in print is probably…
Read more Northern Exposure: No 498 Ratman’s Notebooks by Stephen Gilbert
who knows if the moon’s a balloon coming out of a keen city in the sky–filled with pretty people? (and if you and I should get into it if they should take me and take you into their balloon, why then we’d go up higher with all the pretty people EE Cummings, The Moon’s…
We went to France ..... and then we came back.
I'm Katy.
For mostly adult, literary, fiction; focusing on historical, contemporary, biographical, and women.
"There is a stubbornness about me that never can bear to be frightened at the will of others"
Writing, reading, on upward path to being published. Believer in "all things are possible".
Science Fiction & Fantasy book reviews
