lisa guidarini: freelance writer/reviewer
So much for leaving Hannah Kent's book for last, as I'd planned. Picking it up for a short peruse, I found it such an easy read I finished in a couple protracted reading sessions. The Good People is set in County Kerry, Ireland in 1825. Beginning with the sudden, unexpected death of Martin Leahy …
Continue reading Walter Scott Prize shortlist: Hannah Kent’s ‘The Good People’
I've been trotting around Scotland over the past few days, traveling to the Isle of Arran and riding through the western coast of the mainland. Though I took along a book, I didn't have much time for reading. There's just been too much to see, like this: And this: Also, lots …
Continue reading Walter Scott Prize Shortlist: Rose Tremain’s ‘The Gustav Sonata’
My distraction throughout the reading of Barry's book is no reflection on it, nor its quality. The same happened when I read Graham Swift's Walter Scott-nominated Mothering Sunday, though in reading back through a second time I was moved by its beauty. The inability to fully fall into Days Without End is about my current life …
Continue reading Walter Scott Prize Shortlist: Sebastian Barry’s ‘Days Without End’
You may want to cover your ears if you don't already know this: I sold off hundreds of my books before I came to Scotland, keeping only two or three dozen. Even for a temporary move, ownership of that sheer volume of books was problematic. I had nowhere to store them. My daughter was moving, …
This year's Shortlist for the Walter Scott Prize consists of seven novels: four by female authors, and three by men. There's Sebastian Barry, who's Irish, Hannah Kent from Australia, and the rest are English. Interesting no Scots made the Shortlist - not that there must be. I am, as I said earlier, hoping to …
Continue reading Walter Scott Prize 2017 Shortlist: Graham Swift’s ‘Mothering Sunday’
Coming to you live from Bonnie Scotland. I'll be reviewing for UK publishers and venues through the next few months, up and running here at Bluestalking. You'll find me at the Edinburgh International Literary Festival in August, attending events, standing very close to authors, reading and buying books, enjoying the roar of the grease …
Hardcover: 304 pages Publisher: St. Martin's Press (January 17, 2017) Language: English ISBN-10: 1250113326 ISBN-13: 978-1250113320 It's New Year's Eve 1984. Once the most celebrated poet and highest paid female advertising writer in America, Lillian Boxfish is now 84 years old, her fame forgotten. Most of her friends now dead, she's left only with …
Continue reading Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
Paperback: 288 pages Publisher: The Overlook Press; Reprint edition (November 22, 2016) Language: English ISBN-10: 1468313622 ISBN-13: 978-1468313628 My first read of 2017 did not go as planned. I should have fallen in love with this retelling of The Great Gatsby, set in 21st century London and featuring Russian characters in place of Fitzgerald's …
For all that 2016 was a shite year in general, reading-wise it was actually pretty great. Though I didn't finish as many books as I'd have liked, only 50ish, the majority were above par. Loads of top-notch writers published new books, literary award offerings were impressive, and I scored more review copies than …
First, let me qualify: I am not a fan of historical novels based on real, high-profile figures. I haven't had good luck with them. I chose to review this book based mostly on my great interest in the Victorian period, its literature and history. My curiosity got the better of me, my hopes raised …
