Ford’s love of his parents and struggle with his parentages is exquisitely constructed with prose that is written in such a poignant, elegant and poetic way it’s brilliance becomes somewhat of a page turner. ‘Between Them’ is more than a memoir about Richard Ford’s upbringing – it’s in essence a brilliantly woven account of parenthood told in a rawness that is as striking as it is tragic. Letters to a Young Writerįrom the fabulous publishing house, Bloomsbury, comes another jewel in their very big and very decorative crown from critically acclaimed author Colum McCann the author of the National Book Award winner ‘Let the Great World Spin’ comes the brilliantly insightful ‘Letters to a Young Writer’. Based on forensic and circumstantial evidence, this is a clear cut, open-and-shut case which convicts him for the murder. This man has been accused of the murder of a young gang member named Jamil. This sharply inventive novel opens with an unnamed defendant who sacks his lawyer and is about to give his own defence speech. Knowing the sexuality of Oscar Wilde highlights the innuendos he tried to cloak from those likely to take offence, whilst the elusiveness and limited output of J.D.Salinger brings a mystique to his famous book The Catcher in the Rye. But in other cases it can’t help but get in the way. How much does the identity of an author matter when considering a novel? Often the backgrounds or indiscretions of authors never much affect the way audiences consider a work. She survives 334 pages of pretty mean action, from her home town through to California, via a petrol station ambush in West Virginia, a couple of shoot-outs and a long and perilous chase in the underground tunnels of an amusement park.

Deep Down DeadĪny lover of John McClane or Jack Reacher is likely to get a crush on Lori Anderson for she is as tough as it gets, super-human tough, a little bit unrealistically tough. He explores the intricacies of the relationship between the two genders: either through romances, friendships, one night stands, or work partnerships. The tales detail men with and without women.

But, if you’re even mildly familiar with contemporary Japanese author Haruki Murakami, you’ll know that is not all he has to offer. Men Without Women is a collection of seven stories about, as its title predicts, men without women. Hairy hands and devil dogs, ready to pull you down into hell or portend your imminent death. I mean really scared you, kept you up all night, or made you make an excuse so you could sleep with your mum and dad. When you are a kid most things are scary, or can seem so merely because we have no frame of reference – everything is unknown. Do you remember it, that thing in your childhood that terrified you? I don’t mean things that scared you.

The Beloved by Alison Rattle