Melanie, according to the invitingly brief dust jacket blurb of The Girl With All the Gifts (based on the Edgar Award-nominated short story Iphigenia in Aulis), “is a very special girl”. And the novel of which she is the moral and emotional core, is extraordinary too, a highly original take on Continue Reading
Books
On the 12th day of Christmas 2013 … I read (and wrote about) Twas the Night Before Christmas
Christmas eve. It’s one of the most magical nights of the year, with Christmas so tantalisingly close you can almost taste it – unless you’re a child impatiently waiting for Santa Claus to arrive in which case it’s the longest night of the year – replete with all kinds of Continue Reading
Judging a book by its cover #6: “Rosewater and Soda Bread”
The object of this series, which I am running in conjunction with my wonderful friend, Elle, who blogs at Inkproductions.org (well-written, entertaining and thoughtful articles on all things writing and blogging-oriented) is to grab a long-neglected unread book off our shelves, speculate on what we think the book’s about based solely Continue Reading
Judging a book by its cover #5: “Existence” by David Brin
The object of this series, which I am running in conjunction with my wonderful friend, Elle, who blogs at Inkproductions.org (well-written, entertaining and thoughtful articles on all things writing and blogging-oriented) is to grab a long-neglected unread book off our shelves, speculate on what we think the book’s about based solely Continue Reading
Rip’d from the pages of my childhood: Agaton Sax by Nils-Olof Franzén
The Agaton Sax series by Nils-Olof Franzén was one of the major literary touchstones of my childhood. Yet another Scandinavian author who reeled me in hook, line and quirky sinker, Franzén crafted a protagonist in the short, round Swedish detective I grew to love, who was intelligent, resourceful and just quirky Continue Reading
Judging a book by its cover #4: “Beneath the Shadows”
The object of this series, which I am running in conjunction with my wonderful friend, Elle, who blogs at Inkproductions.org (well-written, entertaining and thoughtful articles on all things writing and blogging-oriented) is to grab a long-neglected unread book off our shelves, speculate on what we think the book’s about based solely Continue Reading
Judging a book by its cover #3: “The Windup Girl” by Paolo Bacigalupi
The object of this series, which I am running in conjunction with my wonderful friend, Elle, who blogs at Inkproductions.org (well-written, entertaining and thoughtful articles on all things writing and blogging-oriented) is to grab a long-neglected unread book off our shelves, speculate on what we think the book’s about Continue Reading
Judging a book by its cover #2: “The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake”
The object of this new series, which I am starting in conjunction with my wonderful friend, Elle, who blogs at Inkproductions.org (well-written, entertaining and thoughtful articles on all things writing and blogging-oriented) is to grab a long-neglected unread book off our shelves, speculate on what we think the book’s about based Continue Reading
Judging books by their covers #1: “Room”
The object of this new series, which I am starting in conjunction with my wonderful friend, Elle, who blogs at Inkproductions.org (well-written, entertaining and thoughtful articles on all things writing and blogging-oriented) is to grab a long-neglected unread book off our shelves, speculate on what we think the book’s Continue Reading
Books from my childhood: E L Konigsburg, author of “From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler”, dies aged 83
* This post originally appeared on writingbar.com Books, like music and certain scents, possess a potent ability to conjure up long-dormant memories. Just how potent was brought home to me when I read that E. L. Konigsburg, author of From the The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil. E. Continue Reading