An extremely cleverly written story, albeit a little strange at first, the principle on which Nutshell is founded is fantastic and highly original. Just days away from being born, the unlikely narrator of the novel is a nine month old foetus, whose curiosity means he has heard all manner of…
What does it mean to be rich? Is it being able to buy a lot of kitsch? Maybe it is choosing to fly in a private jet, Or making an incomprehensible bet. Lots of diamonds, dripping off you, Along with a gold ring, or a few. Perhaps it is five…
Although Graham Norton is better known as an expert television presenter and entertainer, this debut novel proves that he is a man of many talents. This story is thoughtful and gentle, easy to read and has something for everyone to relate to. It is all at once funny, sad, thought-provoking,…
From discovering new and exciting books and authors to revisiting some old favourites, the number of books I have read in 2017 is much less than I would have liked (it always is!), but it is surprisingly more than I thought I had got around to. Here is the list…
Every week, Hazel did the food shopping on a Wednesday evening and every week, the food shopping was rather unremarkable. This week, the regular shopping schedule was thrown out of sync. Like buses, social events were often either rare, or all came together. That week the trip got moved…
As the chilly breeze grazes my cheeks, The leaves crunch under my feet, The air smells of leaves and trees and woodenness, The array of oranges, ambers and browns dazzling. The evenings draw in sooner, Some days with glorious sunsets, others with no announcement. Smelling of wood burning and crisp,…
Did You Ever Have a Family? is founded on an incident that for most people would be too much to bear thinking about. On the morning of what had been due to be a joyous occasion that most mothers dream of, the morning of June Reid’s daughter’s wedding, a fire engulfs…
Like several of Oscar Wilde’s plays, Lady Windermere’s Fan is fun to read, easy to keep up with and very relatable, despite the fact that the plot revolves around an aristocrat: wife and mother, Lady Windermere. On the night of her birthday ball, Lady Windermere has overwhelming suspicions that her husband is…
Mr Sniffles was dozing off on the pile of laundry in the sunshine when Lucy picked him up and took him into the living room with her. She put him on the sofa and then climbed up onto it herself. Mr Sniffles stretched his back and his legs, before he…
Get an education, Get a job. Get a better job. War in the Middle East; #savethecivilians Buy a car. Buy a better car. Throw a big wedding, Was it better than your friend’s wedding? War in Africa; #savethechildren Buy a house. Buy a bigger house. Isn’t it time for a…