A 2014 Reader
Posted 21:39, 9 December 2014
Not 'best of' or 'new in' but great reads in additon to Books of the Month. Not in any particular order.
Pig Iron Benjamin Myers
a writer deserving of more attention, great reviews all round, the "Ron Rash" of Cumbria, winner of the 2013 inaugural Gordon Burn prize
Hold Your Own Kate Tempest
if you're a South Londoner you will have heard about Kate and her astonishing verbal and musical feats, poetry is for performance
Swimming Home Deborah Levy
a conjuror, a master of characterisation, a dramatist, shiningly brilliant and shocking
The Assassination of Margaret Thatcher Hilary Mantel
there is no better demonstration of her genius than the title story in this collection
The Wake Paul Kingsnorth
a challenge but jesus christ almighty what a reward
The Peculiar Life of a Lonely Postman Denis Theriault
a lovely literary interlude, a soft breathy haiku of a novelette
Darkling Laura Beatty
the very best othis year's crop of bifurcated present/past narrative tales
In the Forest Edna O'Brien
dark nasty brilliant insight into the psyche of the seriously disturbed
Bel Canto Ann Patchett
a swooping operatic love story, winner of the 2002 Orange Prize