Julia by Sandra Newman is magnificent. Ditto literally anything by Becky Chambers. Oh, and anything by Hanna Jameson. The Last Days of Jack Sparks by Jason Arnopp is the best ghost story of the 21st century so far. Hunters & Collectors by Matt Suddain is incredible and HAS to be read to be believed.
I really enjoyed The Other Valley by Scott Alexander Howard, which is a kind of coming of age novel with time-travel, but not time travel in the sense you typically encounter it.
It compares to the way Kazuo Ishiguro uses sci-fi in Never Let Me Go, in that it's integral to the plot, but it's much more enmeshed into the society it's set in in a way that doesn't jar. If that makes sense. I'm trying to sell it without giving too much away.
Nobody is suddenly appearing and warning of dire consequences for humanity if you don't come with me immediately, if that helps. Nobody gets sucked into a wormhole.
Ah, then you might be in for a treat. For tragi-comedy, her Brontë conference-centred Five Dreamers and Emily; for feminist critique of militarism, Arms and the Girl; for sexual and spiritual awakening, Impassioned Clay; for age and moral obligations try The Web of Belonging. For sisterly rivalry
The Hero of this Book by Elizabeth McCracken, about the relationship between mother & daughter, fiction & memoir, London & America, ageing & youth & intelligence & character, done with affection and wit in less that 200 pages. It’s one of my go-to recommendations
I don't know whether I should or not, @davidgunkel.bsky.social & @coeckelbergh.bsky.social It claims to reject autofiction, which apparently "sounds like something written by a robot". But I wrote three or four sentences the other day on my vaguely similar essay and daren't put myself off... again.
I think I'll get the book and slip it next to The Comforters by Muriel Spark (still unread and awaiting its own moment, about a novelist who "starts hearing voices and the sound of a typewriter. The words she hears seem to coincide exactly with her own thoughts."). Trouble is, I have a space crisis!
Added another two or three sentences to my essay, too. Usable sentences! I have about 6,000 words but less than a dozen usable* sentences. I can hardly conceive how you and Mark can be so prolific, compose so effectively.
* Usable to me - which by no means translates into being readable to others.
Your loss, pal. It distills everything wonderful about the subject matter in such a way that reads so effortlessly. I do admire writing like that. Rekindled my waning love a bit
Just read Sybille Bedford’s A Compass Error, which was so, so good - lesbian coming of age novel set in the twenties but written in the sixties. It’s the sequel to A Favourite of the Gods, which I haven’t read, but is probably worth attempting first.
Just read and enjoyed The Wedding People, also love Jane Casey's police procedurals (the Maeve Kerrigan series) which just has the 12th book out, and v. much enjoyed Piglettes on holiday recently.
It's just a lovely fun sweet novel! I also liked Pineapple Street by Jenny Jackson, Young Jane Young by Gabrille Zevin, and Nora Goes Off Script by Annabel Monaghan, all which you might like if you liked WP.
Just read 'Falling' by Elizabeth Jane Howard but don't read late at night. Or 'Fundamentally' by Nussaibah Younis, 'John & Paul' by Ian Leslie, 'The Streets' by Anthony Quinn. Or of course see my pinned post. 😀
I know his latest is supposed to be brilliant but ... I don't know why I don't love him more. (Also, I always listen to non fic and read fic and I'm definitely looking to read.)
unhesitatingly recommend it. The best novel people don't know. I read it first when I was off with ptsd and have been back to it three times since. Seemingly simple but so much in it.
John Banville recommended it when he was asked to pick something from the Booker backlists
Comments
City of Last Chances by Adrian Tchaikovsky (it's not part of a book series but very much stands well on its own)
And no worries with the second!
Made me laugh out loud.
And looking forward to the Kickstarter for “Crowley”.
Though personally I think the team should be investigating George Cowley and the mysterious CI5. ;)
Else The Inheritance by Cauvery Madhavan
* Usable to me - which by no means translates into being readable to others.
it is most excellent
https://bsky.app/profile/pussellrarker.bsky.social/post/3lmq2aumans2s
John Banville recommended it when he was asked to pick something from the Booker backlists