I'm a snob. There, I said it. I have a prejudice towards books; real, physical - wonderful! - things you can hold in your hands, flick through, weigh, sniff... Books are one of the vessels through which people open doors onto the world, their ideas, their souls. I love books. Which means - doesn't it? … Continue reading Wake up and smell the Kindle…
Category: Reading
“The Bedlam Stacks”
As a writer, Natasha Pulley's "The Bedlam Stacks" annoys me - because it's so good. As a reader, I love it. I hope that contradiction is permissible... She has a talent of effortlessly taking you on a journey in such a way as to let you know that you are safe in her hands. Her … Continue reading “The Bedlam Stacks”
FREE BOOK to say ‘Thank you’
In order to say 'Thank you' to those of you who have read and followed Writeral.com and my blog over the past two years or so, I would like to offer you a free copy of one of my books in ebook format. The choices are either my collection of short stories, "Secrets & Wisdom", … Continue reading FREE BOOK to say ‘Thank you’
It’s been far too long…
...since I updated some of the pages on my site. With that in mind, I set myself the task to do so this weekend. Here's a summary of the updates: My Writing Diary It has been far too long since I updated this page. Indeed, since I updated a number of my pages. A job … Continue reading It’s been far too long…
“The History of Bees”
When I started reading Maja Lunde's "The History of Bees" I immediately took against it. 'Here we go again,' I thought, 'another book that goes: excerpt from story A, then B, then C. Then back to A...' But a number of things redeemed it for me: it was never always A,B,C, A,B,C. Lunde mixes it … Continue reading “The History of Bees”
Not quite the winter of discontent…
September 1st. The first day of autumn, at least for us in the northern hemisphere. Where I live they say it will be warm again next week. Kids back to school, of course... As time gets shorter - both in the sense that it seems to travel faster, and that there's inevitably always less of … Continue reading Not quite the winter of discontent…
“The Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth”
This may be damning with feint praise, but William Boyd's "The Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth" is the kind of book you should take on holiday with you. Inoffensive, easy-to-read, unchallenging; perfect for the beach or to snuggle up with by a fire in a country cottage. It's well written - which is one of the … Continue reading “The Dreams of Bethany Mellmoth”
“Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods”
There is a great deal in Tishani Doshi's "Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods" that, one might argue, has more the narrative than the poetic about it. Snapshots from Doshi's life, travels, encounters. In spite of this almost semi-prosaic style, there is a great deal here that is engaging, warm. I confess that part … Continue reading “Girls Are Coming Out of the Woods”
What’s in a number?
I now have the grand total of six ratings on Goodreads.com for "Losing Moby Dick". Not many, I know, but you've got to start somewhere. I had hoped - after a 'Goodreads Giveaway' - more of the 100 people who'd received the e-version of the book would have read and rated it, but beggars, choosers … Continue reading What’s in a number?
“The Road”
They should make Cormac McCarthy's "The Road" compulsory reading for every politician of every hue in every country. Right now. For all their protests, groups like Greenpeace would do well to buy a few copies and mail them out to Presidents, Prime Ministers and Dictators with a simple instruction: 'Read this!'. It is the most … Continue reading “The Road”
Ian Gouge - Writer 