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”
Tag Archives: Book Review
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 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”
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”
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”
Brief Thoughts on Woman Writer by Joyce Carol Oates
The usual disclaimer, that this is not an academic review. Published in 1989, with an eclectic mix of essays moving from thoughts on writing, writing process, nineteenth-century literary themes, and popular culture, this was an enjoyable and engaging read. I predominantly purchased this for the essays exploring Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, and Charlotte Brontë’s Jane Eyre,Continue reading “Brief Thoughts on Woman Writer by Joyce Carol Oates”
A (non-academic) review of The Marriage Question by Clare Carlisle
The Marriage Question by Clare Carlisle My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is not an academic review, although some of my thoughts are influenced by my PhD research on divorce law reform in the nineteenth century. This is a wonderfully entertaining, well-written, and thoroughly researched book exploring the issue of marriage as it impactedContinue reading “A (non-academic) review of The Marriage Question by Clare Carlisle”
A Quick Review of The Little Match Girl Strikes Back
LITTLE MATCH GIRL STRIKES BACK by Emma Carroll My rating: 4 of 5 stars This is an empowering re-telling of a Hans Christian Anderson story of an impoverished match-seller struggling to make a living selling matches on the freezing streets. Subverting the tragedy of Anderson’s tale, this transposes the story onto the streets of London,Continue reading “A Quick Review of The Little Match Girl Strikes Back”
The Idea of North by Peter Davidson: Some Thoughts
Books about the North seem to have a magnetic attraction for me at the moment as I continue to explore what it means – for me – to be a Northerner following my return to live in the North East of England. I was drawn to this book, sitting on a bookshelf in a giftContinue reading “The Idea of North by Peter Davidson: Some Thoughts”
Mothered by Zoje Stage: Some Brief Thoughts
At this stage, I don’t even know why I read psychological thrillers any more. I don’t know how to explain it other than it was on my Kindle and I was on holiday. But really… Mothered by Zoje Stage My rating: 3 of 5 stars Anyone who reads my reviews knows my views on psychologicalContinue reading “Mothered by Zoje Stage: Some Brief Thoughts”
Deborah Siddoway 