annethology
  • Home
    • About Annethology
    • About me >
      • A little more about me
    • About my books
    • Author talks
    • Contact me
    • Forthcoming events
    • World Mental Health Day
    • Privacy
    • Sign up for my newsletter
  • Debut novel and encore
    • Sugar and Snails >
      • Acknowledgements
      • Blog tour, Q&A's and feature articles >
        • Birthday blog tour
        • S&S on tour 2022
      • Early endorsements
      • Events >
        • Launch photos
        • Launch party videos
      • in pictures
      • Media
      • If you've read the book
      • Polari
      • Reading group questions
      • Reviews
      • In the media
    • Underneath >
      • Endorsements and reviews
      • Launch party and events
      • Pictures
      • Questions for book groups
      • The stories underneath the novel
  • Matilda Windsor series
    • The accidental series
    • Matilda Windsor >
      • What readers say
      • For book groups
      • Interviews, articles and features
      • Matty on the move
      • Who were you in 1990?
      • Asylum lit
      • Matilda Windsor media
    • Stolen Summers >
      • Stolen Summers reviews
    • Lyrics for the Loved Ones
  • Short stories
    • Somebody’s Daughter
    • Becoming Someone (anthology) >
      • Becoming Someone (video readings)
      • Becoming Someone reviews
      • Becoming Someone online book chat
    • Print and downloads
    • Read it online
    • Quick reads
  • Free ebook
  • Annecdotal
    • Annecdotal blog
    • Annecdotal Press
    • Articles >
      • Print journalism
      • Where psychology meets fiction
    • Fictional therapists
    • Reading and reviews >
      • Reviews A to H
      • Reviews I to M
      • Reviews N to Z
      • Nonfiction
      • Themed quotes
      • Reading around the world
  • Shop
    • Inspired Quill (my publisher)
    • Bookshop.org (affiliate link)
    • Amazon UK
    • Amazon US
    • books2read

Welcome

I started this blog in 2013 to share my reflections on reading, writing and psychology, along with my journey to become a published novelist.​  I soon graduated to about twenty book reviews a month and a weekly 99-word story. Ten years later, I've transferred my writing / publication updates to my new website but will continue here with occasional reviews and flash fiction pieces, and maybe the odd personal post.

ANNE GOODWIN'S WRITING NEWS

Looking back: This Is Happiness & This Tilting World

14/9/2019

9 Comments

 
Here are two novels in which the narrator looks back on past connections: the first a coming-of-age tale during Ireland’s electrification; the second a writer’s stream-of-consciousness(ish) look at her Tunisian roots. The colour-coordinated covers is pure coincidence. This week’s 99-word story in response to the prompt ‘the greatest gift’ follows my reviews.

Picture
Picture


This Is Happiness by Niall Williams

On leaving the seminary, seventeen-year-old Noel goes home to his father in Dublin and from there to his grandparents in the small village of Faha in County Clare. On the same day, in the run-up to Easter, a stranger arrives to lodge in the simple farmhouse: an older man named Christy, part of the advance troops commissioned to install electricity in the village. It’s also the day that the rain stops and an unprecedented heatwave begins.
 
Despite the age difference, the two become friends, cycling from pub to pub in the evenings in search of a renowned musician. A strong bond develops, albeit in the absence of personal disclosure on either man’s part. But we do discover that Christy is here on a mission to apologise to a woman he jilted fifty years before.
 
Unschooled in matters of love – and much else, apart from the Catholicism he’s recently renounced – Noel hopes for a happy ever after; Christy encourages him to give his doomed attraction to the doctor’s daughter everything he’s got. Meanwhile, the electricity poles – imported from Norway – are erected and the rain keeps away.
 
Narrated by Noel, looking back on his younger self, this is a slow-burn of a story, enlivened by the beautiful language and dry humour. Behind the times even in the 1950s, I detected a hint condescension in the portrayal of a simple life. But these aren’t simple people, and the predominant tone is of compassion and admiration of their stoic endurance and tolerance of each other’s foibles, even within the sometimes repressive culture of the Catholic Church.
 
I confess that I didn’t latch on to the themes of enlightenment and connection until the beautiful paragraph towards the end when the electricity is switched on. It’s a great symbol for a coming-of-age story, as Noel learns about life, love and himself. Particularly poignantly, alongside recognising the love between his grandparents, is how, in a friendship with a dying woman, he can begin to process his own mother’s death.
 
Thanks to Bloomsbury books for my review copy.


This Tilting World by Colette Fellous translated by
Sophie Lewis     

On the night after a terrorist attack on a tourist hotel in Sousse, a woman looks out to sea nearby and reminisces.  Born and raised in Tunisia in the Jewish minority, she now lives in Paris, but regularly returns to her roots, pulled back by a mix of love and despair. No wonder she’s thrown off balance by the massacre.
 
She’s also grieving for a friend, a fellow writer who’d swapped his pen for a boat and died on board. She grieves for her parents too, especially the father whom she imagines holding in her arms as a seven-month-old baby, perhaps because, as an anxious child, she felt responsible.
 
Like real reminiscence, hers emerges pell-mell with no regard for narrative arcs. It’s a ‘telly’ style I’ve encountered before in French translation; many love it, but I prefer to be ‘shown’ in a manner that lets me form my own opinions. There seemed too little distance between narrator and author (though there are also surprising gaps), as if the book were her own indulgence and not a gift to the reader. It felt like I’d chosen the wrong seat on a train, beside a woman determined to dump her thoughts on me with no interest in my own.
 
Thanks to publishers LesFugitives for my proof copy.     

Picture

I’ve followed the electrification theme for this week’s 99-word story, which is set, not in Ireland, but an undefined still-underdeveloped part of the world. I’m not sure if artificial light is the greatest possible gift, but it certainly helps smooth out the inequalities I wrote about last time.


Let there be light!

When I was small, the chores all done, I’d rest my head in my mother’s lap and watch the fireflies dancing, Grandfather’s stories music to my mind. But as I grew, the village shrank, the daylight hours too short for all I longed to learn. My teachers praised my intellect; they scolded me for homework half-done. Until I got the greatest gift: a lamp that caught the daytime sun and gave it back at night-time. Now I’m off to study in the city where neon never stops burning. When I’m trained, I’ll return as teacher to my classmates’ kids.
Thanks for reading. I'd love to know what you think. If you've enjoyed this post, you might like to sign up via the sidebar for regular email updates and/or my quarterly Newsletter.
9 Comments
Norah Colvin
15/9/2019 01:00:58 pm

So what is the greatest gift, Anne? Is it the lamp that 'caught the daytime sun and gave it back at night-time', is it the gift of learning, or is it the gift that is given in return to his classmates' kids? So many great gifts, how do we measure the greatest?
This is Happiness might appeal to me, I think. I'm not so sure about This Tilting World. I'm not a fan of stream of consciousness. Not that I've read much. I like the titles and covers of both though.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
17/9/2019 10:13:04 am

You could say I’m the kind of writer who likes to give readers some space to make up their own minds. Or you could say I flunked the challenge and went for “one of the greatest gifts”. You decide!
If it’s out as an audiobook, I think This Is Happiness would be great to listen to on one of your commutes. Regarding the titles, I prefer This Tilting World, glad you approve of the covers.

Reply
Norah Colvin
2/10/2019 12:05:04 pm

Thanks for the recommendation, Anne. I'll add it to the list. :)

D. Avery link
17/9/2019 03:13:43 am

Ha. Loved the seat on the train analogy in the review.
Now the push is to make sure rural places have internet though I might argue that it's absence wouldn't necessarily be a disadvantage. It and electricity certainly are taken for granted by many. A feel good flash when she knows it for a gift and plans to shine her own light.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
17/9/2019 10:20:08 am

Ha, we’ve probably been on the same train, or met the same character – or she has clones planted every couple of miles.
I didn’t think the analogy with the Internet. Thanks for pointing that out. Some might not need it in their homes, but speedy access is essential for small rural businesses – which is an issue in some parts.

Reply
Charli Mills link
19/9/2019 07:46:07 am

Deep into narratology at the moment, I'm focusing on the narration in your reviews. The author can choose varying degrees of intimacy with both the reader and between narrator and author. Some novels of the 19th century are telly with narrators that feel like their authors are on a rant. I like the theme of electrification in a coming of age novel.

Your flash catches the power of electricity for furthering education. What a wonder it must be to go from darkness to sunlight at night.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
20/9/2019 01:03:22 pm

Yes, the classics seem preachy nowadays, although if you have the patience, and I often don't, can be a good insight into how people thought at the time.

In your course reading is there any mention of different narration styles across contemporary cultures? I do think there's a difference between French and English narrative styles.

Reply
Susan Zutautas link
19/9/2019 06:06:53 pm

What a wonderful lamp! I cannot imagine how frustraing that must have been for her to want to learn, study, and do homework with too little light.

Reply
Anne Goodwin
20/9/2019 01:05:23 pm

Thanks, Susan, sadly all too common in some parts of the world. Thank goodness for solar-powered technology.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Free ebook: click the image to claim yours.
    Picture
    Available now
    Picture
    The poignant prequel to Matilda Windsor Is Coming Home
    Picture
    Find a review
    Picture
    Fictional therapists
    Picture
    Picture
    About Anne Goodwin
    Picture
    My published books
    entertaining fiction about identity, mental health and social justice
    Picture
    My third novel, published May 2021
    Picture
    My debut novel shortlisted for the 2016 Polari First Book Prize
    Picture
    Picture
    My second novel published May 2017.
    Picture
    Short stories on the theme of identity published 2018
    Anne Goodwin's books on Goodreads
    Sugar and Snails Sugar and Snails
    reviews: 32
    ratings: 52 (avg rating 4.21)

    Underneath Underneath
    reviews: 24
    ratings: 60 (avg rating 3.17)

    Becoming Someone Becoming Someone
    reviews: 8
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.56)

    GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4 GUD: Greatest Uncommon Denominator, Issue 4
    reviews: 4
    ratings: 9 (avg rating 4.44)

    The Best of Fiction on the Web The Best of Fiction on the Web
    reviews: 3
    ratings: 3 (avg rating 4.67)

    2022 Reading Challenge

    2022 Reading Challenge
    Anne has read 2 books toward their goal of 100 books.
    hide
    2 of 100 (2%)
    view books
    Picture
    Annecdotal is where real life brushes up against the fictional.  
    Picture
    Annecdotist is the blogging persona of Anne Goodwin: 
    reader, writer,

    slug-slayer, tramper of moors, 
    recovering psychologist, 
    struggling soprano, 
    author of three fiction books.

    LATEST POSTS HERE
    I don't post to a schedule, but average  around ten reviews a month (see here for an alphabetical list), 
    some linked to a weekly flash fiction, plus posts on my WIPs and published books.  

    Your comments are welcome any time any where.

    Get new posts direct to your inbox ...

    Enter your email address:

    or click here …

    RSS Feed


    Picture

    Tweets by @Annecdotist
    Picture
    New short story, “My Dirty Weekend”
    Picture
    Let’s keep in touch – subscribe to my newsletter
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture

    Popular posts

    • Compassion: something we all need
    • Do spoilers spoil?
    • How to create a convincing fictional therapist
    • Instructions for a novel
    • Looking at difference, embracing diversity
    • Never let me go: the dilemma of lending books
    • On loving, hating and writers’ block
      On Pop, Pirates and Plagiarism
    • READIN' for HER reviews
    • Relishing the cuts
    • The fast first draft
    • The tragedy of obedience
    • Writers and therapy: a love-hate relationship?

    Categories/Tags

    All
    Animals
    Annecdotist Hosts
    Annecdotist On Tour
    Articles
    Attachment Theory
    Author Interviews
    Becoming Someone
    Being A Writer
    Blogging
    Bodies
    Body
    Bookbirthday
    Books For Writers
    Bookshops
    CB Book Group
    Character
    Childhood
    Christmas
    Classics
    Climate Crisis
    Coming Of Age
    Counsellors Cafe
    Creative Writing Industry
    Creativity
    Cumbria
    Debut Novels
    Disability
    Editing
    Emotion
    Ethics
    Ethis
    Family
    Feedback And Critiques
    Fictional Psychologists & Therapists
    Food
    Friendship
    Futuristic
    Gender
    Genre
    Getting Published
    Giveaways
    Good Enough
    Grammar
    Gratitude
    Group/organisational Dynamics
    Hero’s Journey
    History
    Humour
    Identity
    Illness
    Independent Presses
    Institutions
    International Commemorative Day
    Jane Eyre
    Kidney Disease
    Language
    LGBTQ
    Libraries
    Live Events
    Lyrics For The Loved Ones
    Marketing
    Matilda Windsor
    Memoir
    Memory
    Mental Health
    Microfiction
    Motivation
    Music
    MW Prequel
    Names
    Narrative Voice
    Nature / Gardening
    Networking
    Newcastle
    Nonfiction
    Nottingham
    Novels
    Pandemic
    Peak District
    Perfect Match
    Poetry
    Point Of View
    Politics
    Politics Current Affairs
    Presentation
    Privacy
    Prizes
    Psychoanalytic Theory
    Psychology
    Psycholoists Write
    Psychotherapy
    Race
    Racism
    Rants
    Reading
    Real Vs Imaginary
    Religion
    Repetitive Strain Injury
    Research
    Reviewing
    Romance
    Satire
    Second Novels
    Settings
    Sex
    Shakespeare
    Short Stories General
    Short Stories My Published
    Short Stories Others'
    Siblings
    Snowflake
    Somebody's Daughter
    Stolen Summers
    Storytelling
    Structure
    Sugar And Snails
    Technology
    The
    The Guestlist
    Therapy
    TikTok
    TNTB
    Toiletday
    Tourism
    Toxic Positivity
    Transfiction
    Translation
    Trauma
    Unconscious
    Unconscious, The
    Underneath
    Voice Recognition Software
    War
    WaSBihC
    Weather
    Work
    Writing Process
    Writing Technique

    Archives

    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013

    Picture
    BLOGGING COMMUNITIES
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
Photos used under Creative Commons from havens.michael34, romana klee, mrsdkrebs, Kyle Taylor, Dream It. Do It., adam & lucy, dluders, Joybot, Hammer51012, jorgempf, Sherif Salama, eyspahn, raniel diaz, E. E. Piphanies, scaredofbabies, Nomadic Lass, paulternate, Tony Fischer Photography, archer10 (Dennis), slightly everything, impbox, jonwick04, country_boy_shane, dok1, Out.of.Focus, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region, Elvert Barnes, guillenperez, Richard Perry, jamesnaruke, Juan Carlos Arniz Sanz, El Tuerto, kona99, maveric2003, !anaughty!, Patrick Denker, David Davies, hamilcar_south, idleformat, Dave Goodman, Sharon Mollerus, photosteve101, La Citta Vita, A Girl With Tea, striatic, carlosfpardo, Damork, Elvert Barnes, UNE Photos, jurvetson, quinn.anya, BChristensen93, Joelk75, ashesmonroe, albertogp123, >littleyiye<, mudgalbharat, Swami Stream, Dicemanic, lovelihood, anyjazz65, Tjeerd, albastrica mititica, jimmiehomeschoolmom