Reading Giveaway: “The World’s Wife” by Carol Ann Duffy I picked up a free copy of this in New Beacon Books – there was a stack of them left over from World Book Night earlier this year.…
Literary events And the winner is… I had an interesting experience tonight at the launch of Alex Wheatle’s new book Brenton Brown at Brixton Library. There was a…
Reading “Too Loud a Solitude” by Bohumil Hrabal The narrator of Too Loud a Solitude is an idiot. His boss despises him, others laugh at him. He drinks beer all…
Literary events Tomorrow Pamplona Blog Tour 2011, Gig 12 Dutch author Jan van Mersbergen is on a blog tour to promote his new book Tomorrow Pamplona, visiting a different literary blog…
Reading Summer reads Nice list of summer reads posted by largeheartedboy, linking to all the “books you must read this summer” lists. I like lists,…
Thinking RIP Brian Haw Was saddened this week to hear of the death of peace activist Brian Haw. There are not too many people in these times who live completely honest lives.…
Literary events In conversation with Preeta Samarasan I spoke recently with Malaysian writer Preeta Samarasan, and am posting the conversation up here for you to listen to. In part…
Reading “Irma Voth” by Miriam Toews I enjoyed this tale of a young Mennonite girl marooned on a claustrophobic family compound in rural Mexico. At 19 she has…
Literary events Questions for Preeta Samarasan? I am interviewing Preeta Samarasan this week, author of Evening is the Whole Day. If there are any questions you’d like me…