I love Tessa Hadley. Recently, I did a bit of research into what people were saying about her as a writer. It seems others have noticed that while prose is…
Pearls Before Swine by Margery Allingham
This was my first Marjorie Allingham and it was a fun Blitz era romp set in a London worn down by the war. Published in 1945, it would have been…
Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench
This was a really great read that I hoovered up. I actually listened to it in audio, which was a really great way to appreciate Shakespeare’s language! Judi herself reads…
The Invisible Man by H.G Wells
My final February read to review, this short novel by H.G Wells was an interesting look at that famous childhood wish: to be invisible. It’s published in 1897. The narrator’s…
Kudos by Rachel Cusk
I’ve read a lot of Rachel Cusk, and I was really surprised that I had never actually finished the Outline trilogy! It was fun to visit my “lockdown” author and…
After the Funeral by Tessa Hadley
I love the confessional and documentarian style of Hadley. It’s precise, intelligent, and never frivolous. Her style shines through in these short stories where she really gets to the heart…
The Travelling Bag and Other Ghostly Stories by Susan Hill
A collection of five spooky short stories from the master of classic horror with a contemporary twist, I loved the different themes Hill gets into in this collection. You may…
Dracula by Bram Stoker
What a joy to read! I think the legend built around this book sometimes obscure what a great read it really is… Some beautiful plotting in this 1897 bestseller. I…
84 Charing Cross Road & The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street by Helene Hanff
Two books in one, and what a treat these are! These works are absolutely iconic, and the first one catapulted Helene to instant cult fame. I can really see why….
It Lasts Forever and then It’s Over by Anne De Marcken
So this was a weird one for me! Have you ever read a book you respect and like, but maybe don’t always enjoy so much? I think some of the…