November did not go nearly as I thought it might but in terms of reading, when AnAn died I was reading a couple of really good books, the Hay and the Stokes-Chapman – having those to fall back on later was very helpful in getting me back to some sort of routine and I’m happy to say I completed four books.

Alex Hay: The Queen Of Fives – Quinn, the current Queen of Fives among a group of tricksters in Spitalfields takes on what will be her masterpiece, conning the richest man in the country into marriage in order to fleece him of his money. She has a few close friends helping her, however what none of them know is that there is a Man In The Blue Waistcoat and Lady In The Cream Dress that have their own ideas of what should happen. This is Hay’s second book and if you thought his first was excellent (I sure did!) you’re going to be blown away by this one. It’s got the same over all vibe in terms of this-is-an-Alex-Hay-book but has a lot of new concepts in it. It’ll be published late January and I highly, highly, recommend it.

Lee Seong-bok: Indeterminate Inflorescence – A book of aphorisms from university lectures by the famed South Korean poet, collected by his students. Strange comparisons made at times but over all a lovely book. I would recommend reading up to a couple of sayings a day as opposed to the all-at-once method I used given it was for review.

Raven Leilani: Luster – A young working class woman, Edie, looses her job after her team’s put up with ‘issues’ with her and she ends up moving into the house of the older man she had been seeing after meeting his wife and adopted child who, like Edie, is black. Said older man is in an open marriage (at least that’s what he says) and the wife seems to get on with Edie but Edie knows she needs to move back out but the occassional sex continues. This is quite a unique book, a bit like Megan Nolan’s Acts Of Desperation but more relatable and with more going on. I feel I may have ‘missed’ some of it, so to speak, which I put mostly down to not being American, but the vast majority of it was accessible. There’s a lot of good stuff here about the experience of Black Americans, subtle and overt racism, poverty and the difficulties of getting a job, and manipulation. There’s also fun to be had in video gaming and Comic Cons.

Susan Stokes-Chapman: The Shadow Key – In the mid-1700s, Dr Henry Talbot from London is given the position of doctor to a wealthy family in Wales. When he gets there he finds a community hostile to his arrival, a house full of secrets, his charge is a woman seemingly mentally ill but with off symptoms for it, and his employer is mysterious and at odds with his niece who favours the working people on their land. And Henry’s home, the gatehouse, has been destroyed. The Doctor needs to work out what’s going on and find out why the local people are trying to kill him. This is a wonderfully immersive and Gothic book with a strong sense of place and a steady use of pace and secret reveals.

I have already finished one book in December and have two more I want to complete by the end of the month if I can with others I’ll finish if I can.

I didn’t read quite as much in October as I’d hoped to, but there were life reasons for that and also, Fourth Wing is really long – it may not have as many pages as, say, The Priory Of The Orange Tree, but the smaller print means that the ‘true’ number of pages should be greater than it is.

The Books

Non-Fiction

Zachary Levi: Radical Love – Reading this was a massive journey. I hope he finds real healing one day.

Fiction

Natalie Jenner: The Jane Austen Society – When American Mary-Anne visits Chawton to try and see Jane Austen’s house (she can’t – the Knight family own it and aren’t into the whole idea) she inspires Adam to start reading Austen. Various others in the village like Austen, too, and sometime later the idea of turning the cottage into a museum comes up. There are some wonderful little studies on various aspects of Austen here and the character-driven and often Austen-esque story is fun and frankly gratifying – it’s a fictionalised take on the creation of Jane Austen’s House Museum, fully accounted for in the acknowledgements.

Rebecca Yarros: Fourth Wing – Violet’s one of the new first years hoping to become a dragon rider for their country to fight in the ongoing war… except Violet didn’t want to be a rider, she wanted to be a scribe but her Commander mother said no to that. To be a rider is to be in continuous peril with the first step being literal steps over a thin parapet a great many metres above the valley. I absolutely loved this, wasn’t prepared for how much I’d enjoy it.

Fourth Wing is going straight on my favourites list. All three books were also on my new non-podcast reading list so I’m glad to say I’m getting through the first use of it.

I’m currently reading three books – Alex Hay’s The Queen Of Fives, Susan Stokes-Chapman’s The Shadow Key, and a collection of snippets from poetry lectures taught by Korean poet Lee Seong-bok called Indeterminant Inflorescence. I’m enjoying my reading a lot.

Episode 109: Susan Muaddi Darraj (Behind You Is The Sea)

Charlie and Susan Muaddi Darraj (Behind You Is The Sea) discuss the Palestinian Christian community, her immigrant characters and their children, how she used the current conflict in her stories, and the segregation and working class in Baltimore, Maryland.

Please note this episode mentions domestic violence.

If you’re unable to use the media player above, this page has various other options for listening as well as the transcript.

I’m really, really, happy with the number of books I read this month. Due in no small amount to the quality of the books but also the choice I spoke about last week helped a ton. The last three books on this list were from the list, and while I may have been planning to read Paul’s book anyway, it all still helped. Knowing me, I’ll still have a reading slump sometime in the not-too-distant future (I’m on the high now, clearly!) but I expect that if I can keep going with it or, at least, when I keep doing it, it’ll lessen that problem.

All books are works of fiction.

C J Wray: The Excitements – Two nonagenarians are invited to Paris to receive the Legion d’Honneur award and, with one of them a jewel thief with a reason, the other with secrets, and a loyal great-nephew in tow, many ‘excitements’ may occur. Fabulously funny and full of heart; this book contains a lot of world war history, too, in an interesting, well-planned, structure.

Chloe C Peñaranda: The Stars Are Dying – Astraea can only remember the last five years and those have been spent at Hektor’s mansion, hiding from everyone under his command and staying faithful while he sleeps with any woman he wants. When she decides to slip away from the manor to visit her friend who is going to a (we might call it) Hunger Games-esque trial, Astraea starts a cascade of events that begin with her meeting an incredibly handsome man who may be a vampire who has the ability to converse in her head. This is the first in a dark romantasy series and has some basis in the Greek mythology. The only thing I’d bring up here is the pacing – it won’t work for everyone. Some will find it too slow but, certainly, others will adore it.

Éric Chacour: What I Know About You – Writing to Dr Tarek, our second-person narrator tells us Tarek’s history and over time we learn who our narrator is and why he is so into Tarek’s story. (I should note the plot is of an Egyptian man born in the 1960s who becomes a doctor like his father, later gets married, and then one day falls for his male assistant.) Stunning – the plot is well done and everything about the structure and writing is superb. This is the English translation; the author is from Quebec and the original title is Ce que je sais de toi.

Gill Paul: Scandalous Women – A somewhat fictionalised story of Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins, this tale looks at the literary journey of both women as well as the life of a editing-hopeful purely fictional character, Nancy. This is an excellently written story, where reality and fiction has been balanced beautifully (you’ll be surprised what is fact!) The research is evident and the look at the literary industry, particularly for women, in the decades (1970s mostly) is awesome – certainly it was my favourite aspect of the book, though learning about two women you could then look up on YouTube was thrilling.

Kaliane Bradley: The Ministry Of Time – A secret government ministry in near-future London has managed to develop time travel and is experimenting with the safety aspects by pulling historical people who were due to die in their own time forward. We follow our unnamed narrator, a guardian-type figure for one of the historical figures which, in her case, is Commander Graham Gore of an ultimately failed Arctic exploratory mission (Gore is, I believe, the sole real character in the book). The two must learn to live with each other, Gore must learn to live in the 21st century, and our narrator must work with the mysterious ministry she’s a part of and yet kept distant from. This is a stunning, stunning, book, often hilarious, and has a great use of narrative.

Kristy Woodson Harvey: A Happier Life – When Keaton’s relationship and career are upended she decides to take on the job of getting her family’s heritage home ready for sale. But travelling from New York to Beaufort in North Carolina becomes a journey she didn’t expect – she likes the house, she loves the town’s people, and the man living next door is very attractive. As she goes about preparing the house she starts to uncover the semi-mystery of her grandparents’ death and starts to feel she might want to stay in Beaufort. As well as this we have a narrative from 1976, the last months of Rebecca Saint James’ life. A nice feel-good story, for all of its mystery and ending – it was difficult to read in parts but overall good. Certainly, as I did Woodson Harvey’s The Wedding Veil, I enjoyed reading about the present day characters more than the past.

So, yes, I’ve really enjoyed this month. I’d say my absolute favourite was Bradley’s book because it’s just so unique even within its time travel genre (the nearest I’ve read is Kerstein Gier’s Ruby Red trilogy). It also totally lived up to the entirely self-created hype I had for it just based on the cover.

What did you read this month?

I didn’t finish quite as many books as I hoped this month, but it was a stellar month for reading. A whole heap of stories and talent to like.

All books are works of fiction.

Edward Carey: Edith Holler – Twelve year old Edith, permanent resident of the only remaining theatre in Norwich (because she may not leave) finds out many things about her city including the many cases of disappeared children. As she continues amongst the theatre folk she comes to understand that a monster of a woman has played a role. This is a completely fantastical novel where you’re never really sure what’s going on but can make some guesses – Edith is the ultimate unreliable narrator.

Eliza Chan: Fathomfolk – In a land where (to us, mythical) sea creatures/people can change into human form and face discrimination as immigrants, water dragon Nami comes to the semi-submerged city of Tiankawi to find the dragon pearl. Meanwhile, half-siren Mira is determined to be an excellent border guard and transform life for her people in the token role she has been given. And sea-witch Cordelia is looking to make bargains always, and to keep her unknowing human husband in her control. A fantastic high fantasy with lots to say about immigration and racism.

Maggie Brookes: The Prisoner’s Wife – Having fallen in love, Czech farm girl Izzy and British prisoner of war Bill make a run for it; they hope to avoid trouble but with Izzy having to pose as a male soldier there’s a lot more at stake. One of the best books I’ve read all year, this is an often brutal story but a very well told one.

Tasneem Abdur-Rashid: The Thirty Before Thirty List – Maya meets Noah on the Tube, he leaves, forgets his notebook, and they both forget to exchange numbers. Maya’s left with his ‘thirty things to do before turning thirty list’ and, together with the encouragement of her co-workers, she sets out to do the items on the list, too. Who knows, she might be able to find Noah again. Worth the fully-understandable-because-the-author-has-to-write-it-first wait.

I had an absolute blast with all four books. The first I finished, Fathomfolk, was a thrilling experience all round. I’d seen the book on Goldsborough Books’ website when I went to buy another, and totally fell in love with the cover. I thought it would be a bit impulsive to get it, and then I saw some negative GoodReads reviews, but something still said ‘buy it’. I did and found the negative reviews to be misinformed: if you look at negative reviews, there is no word on immigration, yet this is a key theme in the book. I don’t know what’s happened here, but I hope more people who ‘get’ it end up reviewing it (there was one which, like I have here, was baffled by the negative reviews). I think I’m going to have to review it myself!…

Next up was The Thirty Before Thirty List and my god, she’s done it again. It was so much fun. So much fun. Following was The Prisoner’s Wife which I originally started in April or May and had to put on hold for a while, chomping at the bit to get back to it. Brookes had told me about the inspiration and premise when we spoke about the book that followed it and I had a feeling then that I’d love it. Yep. I did, very much. It’s one of the best WW2 books I’ve ever read.

And lastly, Carey’s latest… I don’t know what to say that can be contained in a paragraph. It’s my previous post – I waxed lyrical about it. It’s incredibly open-ended, in a way I’m happy with and I know from speaking to him that he’s fine with it, too.

I have two currents reads. Firstly, Gill Paul’s Scandalous Women and after a slow start (caused by my reading Carey’s book in tandem) I’m flying through it. I’m actually finding myself liking the fictional character’s thread most, I think because it is indeed completely fictional and I find that addition, slotting this character in amongst two real people’s lives, fascinating. I am loving reading about Jacqueline Susann and Jackie Collins, however, and may have to read at last one each of the books Paul chronicles the publication of. Secondly, I’m reading Kaliane (‘Cull yan’) Bradley’s The Ministry Of Time which I thought was probably going to be literary fiction when I saw the cover, then expected historical fantasy, and can now say it’s literary historical fantasy (I see no reason not to bring ‘literary’ into genre). Loving it.

I’ve read some good books this summer (I’ll leave chronicling August until later). I remember some years ago, a blogger called Judith said that she doesn’t write many negative reviews any more (by that time) because she’d got really good at knowing whether she’d like a book or not prior to choosing it. I remember being mystified by this, but now I feel I’m getting there myself.

All books are works of fiction.

Elaine Chiew: The Light Between Us – Tian Wei lives in 1920s China; he finds a letter from a woman from the next century. In 2019 in Singapore, archiver Charlie finds a letter from a 1920s man, written to someone else. By placing their subsequent letters in the way they found their firsts, both Tian Wei and Charlie are able to begin a correspondence across time, and over time it may develop into something more as the pair share their worries and successes. Fans of The Lake House/Il Mare, and The Time Traveller’s Wife will enjoy this in particular, but the subject matter, especially in terms of Tian Wei’s time and life, will interest many others. Chiew’s writing style is focused on details but not at all in a way that becomes overly much – it’s difficult to describe, but her prose is singular and her focuses appealing.

Emma Cowell: The Island Love Song – Ella, Georgia, and Georgia’s daughter, Phoenix, have travelled to the Greek island of Hydra to spread their mother’s/grandmother’s ashes. For Ella, the trip is very difficult – she was last on the island as a teenager, one beautiful holiday with the love of her life before he suddenly and intentionally disappeared; he was a musician and years later she still has to bear listening to his hit song that was written about her. For Georgia it all needs to go strictly to plan but at the same time she probably needs this time away from her husband. And Phoenix is along for the ride. Ella’s turmoil comes to a head when she makes a surprise discovery, and the trip for her mother morphs into something else entirely. There’s a lot to appreciate here – setting, characterisation, and Cowell’s deft decisions when it comes to letting the reader know more; I shan’t be more specific than that to avoid spoilers, but suffice to say it’s a page turner and enjoyable.

Mark Stay: The Crow Folk – Wartime Britain. Faye Bright has grown up in Woodville, Kent (fictional village, real county). She helps her dad with his pub, she’s a local volunteer for the war effort, and she’s a bell ringer at St Irene’s. She’s also started to have some strange experiences and has found a spell book of her late mother’s which has left her, unsurprisingly, with a heck load of questions. One day animated scarecrows approach a group of villagers but none of the villagers believe what they’ve seen. Except Faye… and perhaps Miss Charlotte, the woman commonly thought to be a witch… and maybe also Mrs Teach, there’s always been something about her. So now not only is there a war on, but Faye’s got this book she wants to learn from (which also includes a recipe for jam roly-poly for some reason), and she’s got to work with the bonkers situation of scarecrows coming to life, led by a demon – who’s a scarecrow, too – while the fair number of villagers who saw these scarecrows don’t believe it happened. But they better do at some point – that demon’s not joking. This is a wonderfully comedic low fantasy fairly similar in tone to Terry Pratchett and Claire North’s The End Of The Day.

Mark Stay: Babes In The Wood – Pretty much straight after the episodes with the crowfolk, and getting towards the Battle of Britain, Faye and co have situation on their hands involving Kindertransport children, creepy artwork, and secret meetings. Brilliant again, this time with a little more darkness and specific WW2 themework.

Mark Stay: The Ghost Of Ivy Barn – We reach the Battle Of Britain. It’s coming soon to a witches’ circle near you (well, they hope). Also, there’s the ghost of a pilot in one of the villager’s barns that Faye needs to help. This book has the best dialogue in the series, I’d say, wherein the plan to get the Nazis not to bomb Britain is to communicate to them, in chant, ‘you cannot cross the sea’. In English.

Mark Stay: The Holly King – Book four sees the season of Christmas and the attempt by an ancient god to take over the village. Less travelling this time, if you count Kent to the coast as ‘travelling’, but as always, lots of fun.

Susan Muaddi Darraj: Behind You Is The Sea – A book of connected short stories about which I’ve been using the term ‘fractured narrative’, Muaddi Darraj’s story in stories focuses on American Christian Palestinians as they find their identities, as they work with horrible truths they discover, as they work with wonderful truths they discover, and as they work with the different generations. Focusing mostly on the same family and featuring a good few extremely poignant stories, this is a stunning book told in lovely prose that necessarily differs per point of view.

Was it a ton of reading? No, but it was a ton enjoyable and so far August has been just as good.

Episode 104: Matt Ottley

Charlie and Matt Ottley (The Tree Of Ecstasy And Unbearable Sadness) discuss Matt’s type I bipolar disorder and how it has influenced this, his latest book, and his life in general. As Matt is also a composer and illustrator and the book involves both, we also discuss in detail the creation of the music and artwork.

Please note that there are mentions of child sexual abuse and attempted suicide in this episode.

If you’re unable to use the media player above, this page has various other options for listening as well as the transcript.