4 BOOKS TO READ...
Blood Orange
By Harriet Tyce
Blood Orange is the debut novel from criminal barrister turned writer, Harriet Tyce. Unsurprisingly then, it is a psychological thriller which tells the story of 30-something criminal barrister, Allison Wood, who has just landed her first murder case. Blood Orange has all the vital components of a juicy thriller: jealousy, betrayal, lies, and twist upon twist. Allison’s marriage is crumbling, as her career takes off. She distracts herself from the misery of her personal life by way of an affair with one of her colleagues, and copious amounts of wine. This is essential reading for fans of Girl On The Train and Apple Tree Yard, and it is just as unpredictable and page-turningly good. It is as disturbing as it is gripping and not for the faint-hearted.
Late In The Day By Tessa Hadley
There are certain authors we all think we ought to read, whose works clamour to be bought, but who we never get around to devoting time to. Tessa Hadley is one such author for me. Much praised by the likes of Zadie Smith, Hadley has literary clout, and in Late In The Day spins a nuanced tale focused on a pair of married couples, shattered by the death of Zach, the gregarious soul of their friendship. It is clever and thoughtful, drawing out the frustrations of middle-life and the trials of long, protracted friendships. It’s also smattered with musings on art, literature, money – and in truth, is wholly impressive. Yet, I did not adore it, and instead, put it down feeling uneasy, raw and disliking almost every character. Hadley succeeds in making you feel something, even if it’s not what you’d hoped.
The Beauty Of The Wolf By Wray Delaney
Set in an Elizabethan England where belief in magic, alchemy, fairies and monsters still survives, the novel begins with a curse laid on a cruel lord by a vengeful eco-sorceress, saying the beauty of a son will cause his death. Billed as a retelling of the Beauty And The Beast, what follows is a rambling tale of hybrid beings, transformations and appearances, which adds little to the power of the classic fairy tale. A medley of theatre references includes cross-dressing, concealed identity, a troupe of travelling players and a pop-up appearance by Shakespeare himself, but the book’s message about the perils of both extreme beauty and beastliness feels lost amidst the plot’s many twists and turns.
Childless Voices: Stories Of Longing, Loss, Resistance And Choice
By Lorna Gibb
The question: ‘When are you going to start a family?’ is often greeted by eye rolling. But the asker’s intrusion could cause pain. In a candid mix of personal experience and research, professor Lorna Gibb collects stories about childlessness. She debunks the myth of “career-focused, selfish” women and shares personal tales of abuse and death in cultures that see no value in women who are not mothers. It is not an easy read – but Dr Gibb’s point that sharing experience is the only way to understand each other is true in all societies.