Prepare yourself for a magical, lyrical, poetic journey as you wind your way from the end to the beginning and back again in this stunningly original novel. I read it slowly, returning to passages and sentences, mulling over words, constantly astounded. “And I learnt in that moment that love is a document that has to […]
Full disclosure: I purchased this book for the sole purpose of examining the structure, after discovering that the whole novel is set over a time period of just one hour. I wanted to see how the author managed it. What I discovered is that she achieved it with finely-crafted, exquisite skill. Walker etches characters with […]
‘Doll Parts’ is a dual timeline suspense involving goth girls, the poetry of Sylvia Plath, a string of suicides, and a fractured, yet resilient, friendship. Cleverly entwining poetry and popular music with lyric prose, Zang takes us on a beautiful journey through girlhood and beyond. “‘It was the kind of pink-hazed sky that called for […]
What a fabulous debut from Diane Clarke. Meticulously researched and evocatively set in North Wales and England, it explores the plight of WWII child evacuees through dual timelines. Through its tight cast of perfectly imperfect characters, the author showcases the damage that secrets can cause, especially within families. I confess to minimal sleep as I […]
Sidelines features football (soccer) at its core, but the essence of the novel translates easily to all sports and, indeed, to life in general, particularly life as a teenager or as a parent of a teenager. I expect it will be a popular read in schools, where it may spark debate about winning and its associated […]
I was lucky enough to hear Shadley Fataar speak about Fury and Revenge in Cape Town recently. It was sobering to listen to his recollections of the experience of living under South Africa’s apartheid. From the shooting of protesters by police, to a father in exile, the author bore witness to escalating violence. No wonder, then, […]
True to the blurb, Stone Yard Devotional is ‘meditative and deeply moving’. Absolutely. The novel explores complex relationships, using an austere but well-defined landscape. The author has a gentle touch, luring the reader into stillness and contemplation. Definitely a standout. A blurb outtake: “Can a person be truly good? What is forgiveness? Is loss of hope […]
I’ve been looking forward to Lucy Treloar’s latest novel, after swooning over her award-winning Wolfe Island. I am delighted to say I’m not disappointed. There’s an exquisite tenderness to the way the author handles complex characters, revealing their stories through the prism of time with precision and economy. From the blurb: When someone is taken […]
Kate Mildenhall’s latest took my breath away. I will likely re-read it straight away as I retrace the fine connective threads the story is shaped by. Publishers Simon and Schuster have bravely backed their author, and Mildenhall has oh-so delivered. From the publisher’s website: An epic, kaleidoscopic story of four women connected across time and […]
Edit: I’ve come back with my thoughts, after reading this page-turner. It was addictive; ‘high-octane thriller’ is an apt description. I hope the author brings us a sequel. I’ve just ordered my copy of this tech thriller after reading Andrea Barton’s interview with the author. I was interested to hear of an app Timo has […]
