by Mohsin Hamid    published by: Hamish Hamilton (a Penguin imprint), March 2017 My review:   ‘We are drawn like lovers to the unreachable past, to imagined memories, to nostalgia.’ In the Guardian (Saturday 25 Feb, 2017) Mohsin Hamid argues that in uncertain times, with technology advancing inexorably, we look back to a golden past … More Exit West

  by Mark Mayes   published by Urbane Publications, February 2017   Genre: Literary fiction/mystery and thrillers   Sometimes only a stranger can give the gift of hope.   Late one night, Thomas Ruder receives a strange package: a small blue box. Another such item is delivered to his friend Liselotte Hauptmann. These ‘gifts’ will … More The Gift Maker

by Luke Kennard, published by 4th Estate, 2017 My review: Luke Kennard is already a successful poet and academic. His debut novel is a witty, funny and tender take on the plight of the generation stuck in rental property with huge financial debts and uncertain job prospects. Feckless hero, Karl is in his thirties, has … More The Transition

by William Nicholson published by Quercus, Jan 2017 My review: Set in the genteel town of Lewes in East Sussex, the latest novel from William Nicholson, successful screenwriter, playwright and novelist, takes place against the background of the 2015 general election. His middle-class, middle-aged characters have mid-life crises in all their forms, but what makes … More Adventures in modern marriage

  by Susanna Beard published by Legend Press, Feb 2017        Genre: psychological crime drama   Review Lisa is recovering from a violent attack which leaves her with memory loss and PTSD; she is also grieving for her friend, Ali who died in the incident. As she tries to come to terms with what has happened, she … More Dare to remember

by Claire Fuller published by Fig Tree/Penguin, 2017 My review: The Sunday Times described a ‘singing simplicity’ in Claire Fuller’s first novel, Our Endless Numbered Days. This holds true for her second novel, Swimming lessons where it evokes the landscape of the sea that permeates this very accomplished and fine literary mystery: you smell the … More Swimming lessons

by Yaa Gyasi published by Penguin My review: So when you study history, you must always ask yourself, whose story am I missing? Whose voice was suppressed so that this voice could come forth? Once you have figured that out, you must find that story too. From there, you begin to get a clearer, yet … More Homegoing

by Kit de Waal published by Penguin books, 2017    A brother chosen. A brother left behind. And a family where you’d least expect to find one. My review: The story of one boy’s search for a family. Set in the early 1980’s, Leon looks after his baby brother, but increasingly has to care for his … More My Name is Leon

My review: Speak Gigantular is a fascinating collection of surreal, and sexually charged short stories from Irenosen Okojie. Strange and unexpected elements of nightmare and magic merge with everyday urban life and heighten the predominant themes of loneliness, alienation and mental breakdown. Set mainly in London, but with a few further afield these are narratives … More Speak Gigantular

The Evenings by Gerard Reve translated by Sam Garrett published by Pushkin Press My review: Originally written in Dutch in 1946 The Evenings will be unfamiliar to most English-speaking readers. In Dutch-speaking countries it is considered a classic, coming of age novel of (late) adolescence ranking with The Catcher in the Rye or On the … More The Evenings