Emma Healey’s debut novel is a Christmas cake of a treat: a rich mix of detective, mystery, thriller, which gives an insightful rendition of the workings of a mind taken over by dementia and the effects of the condition on others. The imagery throughout is cleverly worked into the narrative, linking the vital elements of Read More
Former chef Simon Wroe presents the “write what you know” approach to full effect in his Costa shortlisted, debut novel Chop Chop. Having previously written for publications such as The Times and The Guardian, Wroe’s first novel proves to be a funny, dark and often touching story, bringing to light a behind-the-scenes depiction of the Read More
Do No Harm is a memoir of medical cases and personal anecdotes by the neurosurgeon Henry Marsh, who was made a CBE in 2010. While it may seem unsurprising that someone who saves lives on a regular basis is honoured for his work, the failure rate also detailed in Do No Harm is staggering. One Read More
I know you must be surprised, it says, but I will die soon and want to make contact. “Arrival of the Electric Eel” With these lines – the closing couplet of the collection’s first poem – Petit makes an immediate emotional impact, eliciting a sympathetic connection with her reader. Already a winner of the Manchester Read More
Nora Webster is Colm Tóibín’s first work since his subtle but seismic novella The Testament of Mary. Repercussions from that slim volume may well have cost him a Booker prize, and they continue to show no signs of abating in the now-dramatised form. Tóibín is no ingénue, and knew full well that the principal protagonist Read More
The renowned American artist Jim Campbell presents his first solo exhibition in the UK this winter with Indirect Imaging. After studying Mathematics and Engineering at MIT in the 1970’s, Jim Campbell has since worked in filmmaking, interactive video and LED light technology. His work is in the collections of major museums including the MoMA, the Read More
One can only imagine the enormous pressure and expectations that come with debuting as a novelist, or even starting out in other mediums or pursuits. How do you make a statement? How do you come up with something original in which people will invest ? And how do you keep them interested and eager for Read More
“Slit open, unfolded, written across, and handed over to chance, they reject the asylum offered by the lyric to probe the last privacies of our existence.” The so-called myth of Amherst continues to intrigue and perplex us, nearly 150 years after her death. Emily Dickinson’s reclusive life spanned 55 years, 1,800 distinct poems, 2,357 known Read More
“Is everything made of atoms?” The voice at the other end of the antique dial phone is gentle, pensive, and crackles with soft static. “Even thoughts? If not, what are they made of?” The phone sits on an imposing mahogany desk, beside a mahogany chair, both positioned upon a plush Persian-style rug. Beside the phone Read More
The latest collection of poems from Stevie Ronne is a challenge in its opening sections, but particular rewarding, when it reaches its final, ambitious prose poems. The collection is divided into three sections, “Manifestations”, where some of the more classically styled poems mingle with bold experimental pieces, followed by the epic prose poem “A Night Read More