Loving the actual, physical book just as much as the words and meaning of The Riddle of the Sands. “Beautifully produced with gilt edges, a ribbon marker, bespoke illustrated cover and real cloth binding,” promise publishers Pan Macmillan. They don’t let us down. It’s the early 20th century. Sardonic civil servant Carruthers is finding it … More Riddle of the Sands
Women Talking by Miriam Toews, August 2018, Alfred A. Knopf Women Talking, [15], 2022, director Sarah Polley, scriptwriters Sarah Polley and Miriam Toews In both the film and book of this name, the women do rather more than just talk. Which is good, considering the horrors they’re facing. Yet you can’t help but sympathise deeply … More Women doing rather more than just talk
Nineteenth century London and modern-day Appalachia don’t sound like they have much in common. After all, there’s two hundred years and several thousand miles between them, with different mores, linguistic idioms and politics only heightening the apparent differences. Yet Demon Copperhead shows how suffocating poverty works pretty much the same wherever it occurs, regardless of … More Demon Copperhead’s many houses offer no real home
Marina Hyde and Jonathan Freedland, Guardian Live, 1st June 2023 A relief to have a laugh about modern politics. The two Guardian columnists entertained us royally by making fun of our esteemed leaders, surely the best way of cutting demons, gorgons and other assorted monsters down to size. What just happened, asks Hyde? ‘She is the … More What just happened?
Helen Fowler Writer 