After I interviewed M.R. Hall at the recent Meet the Authors event in Caerleon, I bought his newest novel ‘The Chosen Dead.’ I’d read a couple of the earlier books in the series which have as their central character, a coroner, Jenny Cooper. They’re enjoyable, non-pretentious thrillers, given an interesting twist by the fact that … More M.R. Hall, ‘The Chosen Dead’
It’s bucketing it down outside and this heat wave makes the heavy rain feel (with a little exaggeration) more like a tropical monsoon than a summer Sunday shower. Sometimes the weather is just right for a book and this was just right for ‘The End of the Affair’ by Graham Greene. I’ve never read it … More Rain and reading: Graham Greene, ‘The End of the Affair’
I’ve just finished re-reading ‘Orlando’ by Virginia Woolf. It always lifts my spirits to read it because it’s so funny and fun, joyful and playful (not words I often associate with Woolf, much as I love her.) I was prompted to read it again thanks to a lovely new Folio edition as you can see … More Virginia Woolf ‘Orlando’
My review of Paul Morley’s new book ‘The North (And Almost Everything In It)’ has been published in the latest Wales Arts Review. You can read it here. While you’re there, I’d strongly advise reading at least some of the other articles: there’s some terrific stuff there. Here’s the front page.
I like this from ‘One Day’ by David Nicholls on the nonsense men of my generation talk in pubs, ‘Spangles Disease.’ It sums up nicely many conversations I’ve had over the years. … the girls sitting and grinning while the boys did tricks with matchsticks and jammed on Children’s TV or Forgotten Confectionery of the … More Spangles Disease
It’s that time of year again, when the little village of Caerleon near Newport holds its Arts Festival. For the second year running, a literary weekend formed part of the festivities and I once again had the good fortune to host the Meet the Authors day. The authors this year were Jasper Fforde, M.R. Hall, … More Meet the Authors: Caerleon Arts Festival 2013
I do like to be confused by a book sometimes, and this certainly left me baffled and unsettled, unsure what to make of it. I read it in one sitting because the story it tells of witchcraft in Pendle in Lancashire in the early 17th Century is a gripping one and Winterson is a brilliant … More The Daylight Gate by Jeanette Winterson
I dug this out after Christmas because I was feeling nostalgic. I don’t remember if it was a present or came from the school book clubs we used to order books from. I must have been 9 or 10 when I read it and I must have wanted to see the film (which I … More Relics 6: Watership Down by Richard Adams
I’ve just come back from the first Wales Arts Review Critics Roundtable in Cardiff. An enjoyable afternoon of talking about arts ‘n’ stuff in the amazing surroundings of the Richard Burton theatre in the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. This was my view from the stage as the audience was filing in. It … More Wales Arts Review Critics Roundtable
Mrs M & I have just come back from the Dylan Thomas Prize dinner in Swansea. It was great to see such a glitzy occasion devoted to books and writing and in particular young writers. The winner of the £30,000 prize was, as you may know by now, Maggie Shipstead for her amazing novel ‘Seating … More Dylan Thomas Prize ceremony
Adrian Masters 