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These ten new reviews might be condensed, but the books they represent are vast in scope. The settings range from a small town half an hour’s drive from me (where I hope to go tomorrow to sing choruses from the Messiah) to Scotland, Belgium, Libya, Southern Africa, the Philippines and North America, from past atrocities to a hi-tech future. Themes range from scarred families, writers’ fragile egos, identity, corruption and the climate crisis. My selection includes one memoir, one literary translation and two novels aimed at young adults. Let me know if any take your fancy.
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The Breath of Night by Michael ArdittiMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
A man is sent from England to the Philippines to collect evidence about a deceased missionary priest whose family hopes he'll be made a saint. A mystery story exposing corruption and injustice, described as a psychological thriller that didn't get exciting until towards the end.
The Water Garden by Louise Soraya BlackMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
In rural Surrey, a man's infidelity has unexpected repercussions for daughter and granddaughter. Beautiful descriptions of the setting.
The Night Porter by Mark BarryMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
I read this because it was recommended and I know the hotel where it is based. I liked the opening and the ending was fun, but it was three times longer than needed for the story.
Under the Tripoli Sky by Kamal Ben HamedaMy rating: 2 of 5 stars
Tripoli in the 1960s, recovering from Mussolini’s occupation and Gaddafi’s changes yet to emerge. Citizens segregated by gender, religion and ethnicity, I’d have preferred the women’s stories without the mediation of the young boy’s narration. Translated from the French by Adriana Hunter.
Green Rising by Lauren JamesMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Teenagers growing plants from their bodies: freaks, troublemakers or the saviours of the planet? Hopeful YA cli-fi.
Travels with My Father - An Autobiographical Novel by Karen JenningsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Following the death of her father, the author reflects on the history of her extended family and of her home in Cape Town and her travels to Australia, India and Europe. I haven't read her most recent novel, longlisted for the Booker prize, but I enjoyed Upturned Earth. Enjoyed this too, even though I’m no great fan of memoir.
Martin by Paul K JoyceMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
America's driverless cars malfunction, trapping their passengers inside. Caren's about to discover the grievance behind the sabotage, but she has a grievance to settle with her sister first. I particularly enjoyed the quirky first half; the second is more of a thriller. Fine writing and plenty of action throughout.
Sophie Someone by Hayley LongMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
A YA novel, recommended to me because the protagonist has an idiosyncratic vocabulary and I have a WIP that does something similar (but different). Sophie seemed much younger than 14 to me.
Shuggie Bain by Douglas StuartMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Poignant coming-of-age novel about a gay Glaswegian boy growing up with an alcoholic mother. Could have been about 100 pages shorter: the beginning is especially ponderous. An accomplished debut novel, but I expected more from a Booker Prize winner.
Water Must Fall by Nick WoodMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
A cli-fi novel set in South Africa and North America, showing the all too credible consequences of allowing capitalists control the natural resources on which we all depend. Cleverly constructed, and encompassing my favourite themes of mental health (in this case a man with autism), (gender and race) identity and social (in)justice, with lots of tech, it's a cracking read. But beware of the paperback – the print is tiny!
View all my reviews
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While a cancelled flight is no doubt frustrating for those whose travel plans are interrupted, with the climate emergency it’s good news for the planet. So that’s where I went with this week’s 99-word story, and had a lot of fun in the process.
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Ms Thunberg regrets
She’d been an oddball, a lone protester, Donald Trump’s nemesis, the most famous climate-crisis activist in the world. But now? Greta’s grown up, say her former critics. She’s sold out, say her former friends. But no-one imagined she’d accept Jeff’s invitation to board the flying penis. Why not? he says, as they don their spacesuits. She missed out on being a teenager. Let her have fun.
The media show the countdown. They screen the aborted launch. Jeff being unavailable, journalists ask Greta what went wrong. Nothing, she says. I told him I was on my period, exactly as planned.
She’d been an oddball, a lone protester, Donald Trump’s nemesis, the most famous climate-crisis activist in the world. But now? Greta’s grown up, say her former critics. She’s sold out, say her former friends. But no-one imagined she’d accept Jeff’s invitation to board the flying penis. Why not? he says, as they don their spacesuits. She missed out on being a teenager. Let her have fun.
The media show the countdown. They screen the aborted launch. Jeff being unavailable, journalists ask Greta what went wrong. Nothing, she says. I told him I was on my period, exactly as planned.
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I don’t come across many stories about menstrual blood but, if you click on the image, you’ll find another of mine on the theme. |
And talking of short stories, I’m celebrating the third anniversary of the publication of my collection this week. Here I’m reading the shortest story in the book, which started with one of Charli’s flash fiction prompts.
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