My darling Mum died in October 2017 after a short illness. Such stark words to describe so very enormous a loss. As she put it herself though, we all survive the most appalling things, things […]
Mum's Books
A journey through my Mum's library, reading, reviewing and gifting forward her beloved books
115. ‘Tall Man’ by Chloe Hooper, and ‘Dark Emu’ by Bruce Pascoe.
I’m so overwhelmed and emotional after reading these books. Also rather embarrassed, definitely very ashamed, and deeply apologetic that in thirty years living here in Australia as an immigrant I have never really questioned the […]
114. ‘Her Fearful Symmetry’ by Audrey Niffenegger.
I came home from doing the Sunday market last weekend exhausted and collapsed on to Mum’s sofa to read. I’ve been trying to get into a book I have been told I should read – […]
113. ‘Atonement’ by Ian McEwan.
I’m blown away, exhausted, and deeply completely satisfied once again by the intense narrative, exquisite prose, and deeply moving story within this novel. I dived into this wonderful book over the weekend with all the […]
112. ‘Blossoms and Shadows’ by Lian Hearn.
I’ve strayed away from your books recently, Mum, and been reading books I’ve purchased in charity shops when I’ve been out op-shopping for BeckyandVince. This was one of them – many, many years ago, Fourth […]
111. Two Remarkable Books By Owen Sheers, ‘Resistance’ and ‘I Saw a Man’.
Goodness me. I wasn’t expecting much when I picked up ‘Resistance’ for 50p in a charity shop in Kidderminster to read during my two week quarantine at Howard Springs in March 2021, but something about […]
110. ‘Accordion Crimes’ by E. Annie Proulx.
Massive, meaty, magnificent.
Blimey. I’m sixty!
Earlier this year I turned sixty. And I approached it with a great deal of trepidation – not because of the number, but because of where I find myself, both physically and mentally. I give […]
109. ‘Pachinko’ by Min Jin Lee.
What a surprisingly great read this turned out to be! I literally devoured it cover to cover on a rainy afternoon – knowing little but the basics of the history of the area, much of […]
108. ‘Into The Water’ by Paula Hawkins.
Paula Hawkin’s debut novel, ‘The Girl on the Train’, was a runaway success both as a novel and a movie and really, deservedly so – it had all the required elements for a good old […]
107. ‘We Need to Talk About Kevin’ by Lionel Shriver.
Oh my word. What an absolutely harrowing, enthralling, devastating book. I’m told there is a movie – I haven’t seen it and I’m glad of that as it would have entirely spoilt the unforgettable finale […]
Mum's Books 