There are some cities across the world which hold a certain fascination for many people – London, Paris, Rome, New York, Venice for example all conjure up very specific images which are burned into our collective consciousness. To that list I would also add New Orleans…
The Execution of Noa P. Singleton
19 March 2014 by Leave a Comment
I love living in Britain, for all of its faults I genuinely believe that it is a good country. Things do go wrong, but generally we have a just society and part of the cornerstones of that justice is our lack of the death penalty. I’m sure others would disagree but I’m not sure how a society can regard itself as fair when it is happy to kill people…
Someone Else’s Skin
10 March 2014 by 2 Comments
It’s been a while since I read a crime novel. Despite it being my favourite genre I hadn’t picked one up so far this year. Other books seemed to make it to the top of the to-be-read pile thanks to review schedules, book group and my desperation to catch up with A Song of Ice and Fire…
Autobiography of Us
22 July 2013 by Leave a Comment
This year seems to be a time for me to read lots of Americana. Earlier in the year it was Revolutionary Road, a classic look at suburban disillusionment, then it was bang up to date with Megan Abbott’s Dare Me – a scorching look at burgeoning sexuality and secrets in American High Schools today. My latest dip into American society is Aria Beth Sloss’s debut novel…
Jaded Rein
5 December 2012 by Leave a Comment
I started this year with good intentions. I had intended to read lots of science fiction and fantasy books in order to get to know the genres better. I had also intended to lose 4 stone but New Year’s resolutions hardly ever work out though do they? I read a couple of fantasy books which I enjoyed and one dystopian novel which was ok…
Before I Go To Sleep
26 April 2012 by Leave a Comment
Anyone who knows me well will tell you that I have one very annoying trait. I have a lousy memory. I can have a conversation and agree to do something and five minutes later I’ve forgotten whatever task I was given. If I don’t write things down I don’t remember them…
The Night Circus
19 March 2012 by 4 Comments
The longlist for this year’s Orange Prize for Fiction was announced a few days ago. The twenty books include a number of novels from first time authors as well as more experienced writers…
You Deserve Nothing
8 November 2011 by 2 Comments
It’s always difficult to get to know new authors. With so many books released each year it’s impossible to pick through the hundreds of unknown names. Often I end up just reading novels by the authors that I already know and love. It can’t be easy for new authors faced with the task of breaking down barriers and reaching readers like me…
Cutting for Stone
27 October 2011 by 1 Comment
A confession to begin with. My name is Louise and I’m a book-buying addict. It can be from Amazon for my Kindle, or in the supermarket or even in the charity shop. Anywhere I can get hold of an interesting looking book I will. One of the downsides of this is that I buy books on a whim and then take a long time to get round to them….
An Unlawful Order
19 September 2011 by Leave a Comment
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned it before but I love Twitter. In a society where it can be difficult to get to know neighbours or find people locally who share your interests social media is a great way to “meet” people. Indeed online friendships can become real life relationships. I love chatting to other book and movie fans….