Since the moment I began reading, books have entranced me. Throughout my life, they have provided me with solace, companionship, laughter, and hope. I have been surrounded by books my whole life, from saving my pocket money to buy books when I was child, to spending my Saturdays in the library when I was teenager,Continue reading “Reflections on my Journey to Publication: Failure and Festivals”
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My Thoughts on The Fall of Roe by Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer
The Fall of Roe by Elizabeth Dias My rating: 5 of 5 stars I remember the day when Roe fell. I had sensed that Roe was under threat for years, my fears for Roe even being reflected in my novel, yet on the day that the Supreme Court of the United States overturned their decisionContinue reading “My Thoughts on The Fall of Roe by Elizabeth Dias and Lisa Lerer”
Reviewing My Sister’s Novel: Before You Say I Do.
Before You Say I Do by Sharon Ibbotson My rating: 5 of 5 stars There are two disclaimers I need to give before writing this review: 1. I am not usually a romance reader. While I do indulge in the odd romance novel, the genre is not one I usually reach for when searching forContinue reading “Reviewing My Sister’s Novel: Before You Say I Do.”
Writing Dickens – Week 6
As I am about to post chapters 11 and 12 of my version of Hard Times, shadowing Dickens’s instalments from 170 years ago, I wanted to shared where I got the idea for writing it, as well as talk about where the two songs that were sung in last week’s instalment by Kit and AiliseContinue reading “Writing Dickens – Week 6”
Writing Dickens – Week 3
I don’t know how Dickens did it. Right now, I am on week 3 of writing in instalments, exactly as Dickens did, 170 years ago. So far, I have written chapters 1 to 6, publishing them in the same increments as Dickens did: 1 April 1854 1–3 Book I 8 April 1854 4–5 15 AprilContinue reading “Writing Dickens – Week 3”
Writing Dickens
Today marks 170 years since Charles Dickens advertised what would become his latest novel to his public. That novel was Hard Times, one that he would serialise between April and August 1854 in his periodic journal Household Words. We are so used to reading Dickens’s novels as whole books that it is sometimes difficult toContinue reading “Writing Dickens”
My World of Dickens
It started with a message. It was from my sister, telling me that my nieces were to appear in their latest theatre school production, and asked me if I would like tickets. The show in question, Oliver. Of course it is. When I caught up with my nieces later that week, their talk was ofContinue reading “My World of Dickens”
Thoughts on The Book of Desire by Meena Kandasamy
The Book Of Desire by Meena Kandasamy My rating: 5 of 5 stars In translating Simone de Beavoir’s Le Deuxième sexe (The Second Sex), the translators, Constance Borde and Shiela Malovany-Chevallier, in their note at the beginning of the Vintage Classic edition raise the difficulties any translator faces, commenting: ‘different times have produced different conceptionsContinue reading “Thoughts on The Book of Desire by Meena Kandasamy”
A Sign of Her Own by Sarah Marsh: Thoughts
I received this book as part of a launch party with New Writing North, where the author, Sarah Marsh, treated us to a reading of the beginning of the novel. I thought I was going to love the novel, especially as the reading initially put me in mind of Hetty Sorrel from George Eliot’s AdamContinue reading “A Sign of Her Own by Sarah Marsh: Thoughts”
Spoilt Creatures by Amy Twigg
I was lucky enough to attend a proof party hosted by New Writing North recently, where I received an uncorrected proof copy of this book. It is definitely one to look out for next year. Spoilt Creatures: ‘A simmering debut, heady with the righteousness of female rage’ Kiran Millwood Hargrave by Amy Twigg My rating:Continue reading “Spoilt Creatures by Amy Twigg”
Deborah Siddoway 