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Review: Snowdrops
Snowdrops by A.D. Miller My rating: 4 of 5 stars Ah, another one finished, my Man Booker 2011 pile is getting lower! This one, without a doubt, is my favourite yet. The writing is succinct and full of great descriptions: “With a boy-band fringe, a ten-thousand dollar suit, and a murderer’s smile. He was equal…
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Review: The Sisters Brothers
The Sisters Brothers by Patrick deWitt My rating: 4 of 5 stars I finished this book at the weekend, having only pulled it off of my Man Booker pile during the middle of the previous week. This says a lot; normally books take me weeks to complete, but this one got me hooked and kept…
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Twisted Tales
It’s been a while since I’ve posted here, so I’m pleased to say I’ve got something new for you all. The novel was taking up a large part of my spare time so I decided to take a little break and return to writing a few short stories. ‘Twisted Tales’ presents eight unique stories united…
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Review: The Moonstone
The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins My rating: 3 of 5 stars The Moonstone is a who-dunnit, told through various people’s diaries and reminisces. I loved the start of the book. Betteridge’s descriptions were excellent, especially when he briefly talked about his wife, but once his voice was reduced, the story started to plod and I…
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Platform
Pacing on the far platform, arms bundled for protection against the dawn chill, her every movement, each expression, beguiled me. That day, and the next, the train stole her. On the third, she saw me. On the fourth, she smiled. Groomed after a forlorn weekend, I catch my enchantress frantically scanning the platform whilst her…
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Review: The Sense of an Ending
The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes My rating: 4 of 5 stars I was poorly today so picked a novel off the shelf and curled up on the sofa with a Lemsip. Julian Barnes’s “The Sense of an Ending” probably wasn’t the lightest choice I could have made, but the writing, particularly in…
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Course Decisions
At school, timetable clashes forced me to choose between art and biology. I told my wife this to justify my ignorance, but she was intolerant, shouting obscenities and slapping me at every opportunity. We had organised a water birth, so a rainy afternoon, gridlocked on the North Circular wasn’t a substitute. Nevertheless, helped by Google and memories…
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Father
My father went to buy a paper when I was six and never returned. Occasionally I wonder how he is, what he’s doing. My memories are of a giant, cradling me during a bedtime story, kissing my forehead, whispering secretively into my ear that I’m his favourite. I can’t picture how he’d look now. One day,…
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Review: Plot & Structure: Techniques and exercises for crafting a plot that grips readers from start to finish
Plot & Structure: Techniques and exercises for crafting a plot that grips readers from start to finish by James Scott Bell My rating: 5 of 5 stars I did love this book. I read it from cover to cover within a week of buying it, and am fairly certain I’ll be returning to it again…
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Review: Hostile Witness
Hostile Witness by Rebecca Forster My rating: 4 of 5 stars I tried really hard not to like this book. I happened to stumble over it whilst searching for something else, noticed it was free and without expecting too much, decided to give it a pop. The first few chapters introduced cliches typical of the…
Got any book recommendations?