Tag: English author

Tatiana de Rosny’s—Manderley forever

For those who have read any of Daphne du Maurier’s books, this is a fascinating insight starting from her childhood when she was spellbound by her father’s acting until, in her teenage years, he became overbearing. To escape, she spent time at a French boarding school captivated by one of her teachers. Her writing was not only influenced by her eagerness to read, but her desire to become independent. When her father purchased a holiday home in Cornwall, her love of the English coastline developed and writing ideas poured out from her imagination.

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Susanna Clarke’s—Piranesi *****

What made this tale a five out of five read for me was that I had never read anything like it. Piranesi lives in a world where there is only one other human being—the Other. Within his house/world are huge statues in infinite rooms that he explores. The lower rooms are subject to tides that sometimes crash through the corridors. Piranesi is in awe of the Other whom he meets every week for an hour, but when he learns that there is someone else searching for him, the Other warns him of the danger. But will he be in danger? And why are there only two people in this strange world?

Lissa Evans’—Crooked heart *****

You might think this is yet another novel set in England during World War 11 and read no further. But don’t be fooled. This is a tale like no other I’ve read before, full of humour with an odd and dubious list of characters.

Ten-year-old Noel lives with his aging godmother until she dies, when he’s sent as an evacuee outside of London. There he’s paired with Vee, a single mother who is struggling to keep a roof over her head for herself, her helpless mother, and useless son, Donald. Nineteen-year-old Donald has a heart condition and can’t join up, but soon discovers an illegal way to make large sums of cash that he doesn’t share with his mother. Vee keeps failing at schemes to make money until she realizes that Noel isn’t the empty headed child she though he was. This well written novel is full of tongue-in-cheek laughs.

Naomi Alderman’s — The power *****

Roxy, the powerful, Margo, the politician, Tunde, the journalist and Allie, Mother Eve are the key characters who witness and are part of a new era exploding all over the world. Young girls develop a power that sends men rioting because they can’t accept they are now the weaker sex.

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