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
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
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
It is hard to know where to start with Mortals, as it is a book of epic proportions. Set in Botswana, in the early 1990s as the Cold War is drawing to a close, the novel traverses the innermost thoughts of Ray Finch, a Milton Scholar, secondary school teacher, and bit part CIA operative. Norman Read More
A ghost moon… “You traced its outline, hardly daring to press your fingertip on the chill glass, afraid the sliver of unexpected light might melt to nothing at your touch.” Ron Butlin’s latest novel,Ghost Moon, takes its title from the phenomenon of the daytime moon, first observed by central character Maggie as she pushes her son, Read More
Think of your closest circle of friends. Think of how much time you spend in one another’s company. Think of how long you have been friends and how well you all get along. Now imagine that this group has cut you off. Completely. Without any explanation. You can’t think of any possible reasons as to Read More
Not only is Cry Uncle the first of Russel D. McLean’s novels I have read, it is also the first crime fiction I’ve read set in Dundee. Having previously turned away crime plots set locally, thinking that familiarity would somehow dampen the thrill associated with the genre, McLean surprises with his new novel, dragging me Read More
Reading a new book by an author whose work you have never encountered before is, in many ways, like meeting someone for the first time. We can certainly think of an author’s work as an extension of themselves where their thoughts, ideas, values and points of view are displayed. Just like many things in life, Read More
Outside Verdun is Fiona Rintoul’s translation of the German war classic Erziehung vor Verdun. It narrates the story of Private Bertin, a Jewish soldier who, following an act of compassion towards a French war prisoner, is ostracised by his anti-Semite superiors. As a consequence, he is buffeted between various danger zones on the western front, Read More
The mainstreaming of Out There, an anthology of prose and poetry by lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender writers from Scotland, is a sign of the times, receiving, as it did, a contribution from the Royal Society of Edinburgh. There’s a stellar cast of writers, including Ali Smith, Jackie Kay, Val McDermid, Louise Welsh, Jo Clifford, Read More