Northerners: A History, from the Ice Age to the Present Day by Brian Groom My rating: 3 of 5 stars I really, really wanted to like this book. Northern publisher publishing a Northern author writing about the North. Sounded like a winning formula to me. And yet… there was something missing from this book asContinue reading “Review of Northerners: A History by Brian Groom”
Author Archives: Deborah Siddoway
Dickens in the Pits: My Paper from the Dickens Symposium 2022
What follows is the text I prepared for the presentation of my paper. I know I digressed from the text at times, but I think I stuck to what I had planned to say – for the most part: Those of you who know me are probably aware that the main area of interest forContinue reading “Dickens in the Pits: My Paper from the Dickens Symposium 2022”
On the overturning of Roe V Wade…
Over the last two days, I have veered between despair and disbelief as I contemplate the overturning of the decision of Roe v Wade by the Supreme Court of the US this week. I have already heard countless people, mostly men, saying it is a US problem, and therefore should not impact on those ofContinue reading “On the overturning of Roe V Wade…”
Deborah Levy and The Cost of Living
The Cost of Living by Deborah Levy My rating: 5 of 5 stars Having read and very much enjoyed the first in Levy’s autobiographical triptych, I was really looking forward to delving into her second. I love Levy’s writing, both her works of imaginative fiction, but now, also her, more reflective work. Levy, in TheContinue reading “Deborah Levy and The Cost of Living”
The Kindness of Catherine Cookson
Those of you that follow my blog know that I have recently made quite an effort to read some of Catherine Cookson’s extensive catalogue of novels. Having recently moved back to the North East, I wanted to read books that evoke the heart and the spirit of the land that I now, once more, callContinue reading “The Kindness of Catherine Cookson”
Pandora and the Decline of the Historical Fiction Genre
Pandora by Susan Stokes-Chapman My rating: 3 of 5 stars I think, more than anything, this book encapsulates what I see with one of the most problematic aspects of modern publishing’s obsession with the debut novel. Heavily hyped (and indeed a book that caught the attention of both the Cavendish Prize and the Bath NovelContinue reading “Pandora and the Decline of the Historical Fiction Genre”
My Thoughts on Home Going by Yaa Gyasi
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi My rating: 5 of 5 stars I came across this book after a recent episode of This is Us featured Rebecca and Randall discussing it. Both Randall and Rebecca confessed to sobbing at a key moment in the book. Deciding that I needed to get a hold of this book, IContinue reading “My Thoughts on Home Going by Yaa Gyasi”
Review of The Homecoming by Anna Enquist
The Homecoming by Anna Enquist My rating: 2 of 5 stars I really, really wanted to like this book. Having grown up in Australia, with Captain James Cook so much a part of the history of the land (whether this is viewed as for good or for bad) I was really looking forward to seeingContinue reading “Review of The Homecoming by Anna Enquist”
The Instant by Amy Liptrot
The Instant by Amy Liptrot My rating: 3 of 5 stars This book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. At times the writing was beautiful. At other times, the only words that came to mind were self-indulgent and twaddle. I came to this book because of the author’s previous work, The Outrun,Continue reading “The Instant by Amy Liptrot”
The Branded Man by Catherine Cookson
The Branded Man by Catherine Cookson My rating: 4 of 5 stars Continuing on with my immersion in the works of Catherine Cookson, I delved into The Branded Man. Published in 1997, one year before she died, I think in this work, more than in her previous, we can really tell that she was strugglingContinue reading “The Branded Man by Catherine Cookson”
Deborah Siddoway 