by Fran Hill — A quiet domestic drama set in 1970s Britain. Moving and well written. A wealth of domestic detail plunges the reader into the era.
Tag: general fiction
Fyneshade
by Kate Griffin — A taut and dark gothic tale. Marta is sent to be a governess at Fyneshade, where she expects to find a rich man to marry.
Whether Violent or Natural
by Natasha Calder — A good premise (a world where antibiotics don’t work anymore) marred by overblown prose, lack of clarity and weirdness (not good-weird).
The Memory of Animals
by Claire Fuller — A group of young people are trapped in hospital during a pandemic that wipes through the population, leaving just them, alone and isolated.
Breakwater
by Marijke Schermer — A moving, painful exploration of traumatic memories of sexual violence. Beautifully written (and translated) in stark, precise prose.
Weyward
by Emilia Hart — Three women, three time periods, and always the same old shit of male coercion and violence. An absorbing, immersive story.
The Silence Project
by Carole Hailey — A gripping feminist novel of ideas about cults, power politics, female empowerment and utilitarianism: does the end really justify the means?
Shade of Violet
by Jackie West — A bit of low fantasy, a bit of crime mystery, a lot of entertaining characters and dialogue. A fun, light – but also well written novel.
Darling
by India Knight — A clever and up-to-date retelling of the classic The Pursuit of Love. It’s an absolute joy. Vivid, hilarious dialogue, wonderful characters.
The Darlings of the Asylum
by Noel O’Reilly — Gripping and exciting gothic novel. A wayward young woman is locked up in a Victorian asylum. Why? What happened? And how can she get out?
Email from the Future
by Michael Rogers — A compelling and thought-provoking speculative novel set in a future where things ARE better, where people managed to fix the world.
The Man Who Died Twice
by Richard Osman — Residents in a retirement community are back, solving murder again. More fun, plot twists and witty dialogue than ever.
Scenes of a Graphic Nature
by Caroline O’Donoghue — A clever, perceptive, well written and very readable novel about Ireland, history, lies and stories.
This Fragile Earth
by Susannah Wise — A dystopian novel and an implicit plea to take care of our precious, fragile planet. We’ll be sorry when we lose it.
Triflers Need Not Apply
by Camilla Bruce — There’s no excuse for being a serial killer… Or is there? Superbly written, captivating and vivid historical novel based on a true story.
The Answer to Everything
by Luke Kennard — A harsh look at modern, middle class people doing what people have been doing forever: cheating. In more ways than one. Great book club read.
White City
by Kevin Power — Moving and well written story of family dysfunction, the corruption of wealth and a life shattered by a series of poor decisions.
Lullaby Beach
by Stella Duffy — A rich, engrossing novel about women’s lives, abusive relationships, lifelong trauma, and speaking out.
The Course of Love
by Alain de Botton — The love story of a fictional couple serves as an argument for enlightened romantic pessimism: don’t marry for love, marry someone you like.
Extraordinary Hope
by Jessica Ryn — Plenty of sugarcoating in this feelgood novel about the homeless, junkies, alcoholics and people with mental health problems.