Book Club and other stuff.

Marshside book club's new read is 'The Island' by Victoria Hislop. The next book club meeting isn't until 24th November, so there's loads of time to buy the book and read it.

This week I've been reading 'The Gathering' by Anne Enright and 'The Children's Book' by A.S Byatt.


I've had another kindly worded rejection letter expressing enjoyment and (very helpfully) suggesting other publications that may take the story. I can't decide which is worse - a form rejection, or a we-almost-liked-this-enough-to-publish-it-please-submit-to-us-again rejection.

Summer Holiday reading

     

                                                               

      

In the interests of my MA manuscript I won't be blogging much this month, but I will be making time to read the above books.

The Uncommon Reader is our summer book club choice. People wanted something short and funny to read during the holidays and I'm hoping it lives up to the reviews.

Raymond Carver, Italo Calvino and Jeremy Dyson have all been on my 'must read' list for some time. I've started each book and I'm looking forward to reading more.

I've just finished Living Dolls which is reviewed here and here. I hope to review it myself at some point, although it won't be until next month because I'll need some time to organise my thoughts.

Nude is an interesting collection of short stories. Here is a review which leads with a quote from the story 'Unmothered', a startlingly beautiful account of the loss of a child: the language and imagery in this story are breathtaking - it's a story I will definitely come back to. I had mixed feelings about some of the stories; each was undoubtedly well written, but I felt unsatisfied at times. 'An Amarna Princess Up North' and 'Night Fishing' are particularly memorable and absolutely satisfying, beautifully written and surprising in the way that I like short stories to be. The opening lines of each of the stories are showcased on Nuala Ni Chonchuir's website here.

Reading ~ A Kind of Imtimacy

Last night I went to see Jenn Ashworth read at the Rose Theatre (Edge Hill University). She read from her novel A Kind of Intimacy. The chapters which she read to us were both funny and touching and it was fabulous to hear the opening of the novel in the voice of its author. Jenn is only 27 and has just completed her second novel which she also read from last night. I was simultaneously inspired and depressed by her brilliance! I bought a copy of A Kind of Intimacy this morning, along with a couple of collections of Helen Simpson’s short stories. It will be very quiet in our house after that particular parcel arrives.