July’s Substack highlights

"when you see anything of mine that you don’t like remember that I’m sincere in doing it and that I’m working toward something." - Ernest Hemingway A selection of recent posts from my Substack site. Also, on the same site, don't miss the free serialisation of my magic realism novel, The Big Frog Theory. If … Continue reading July’s Substack highlights →

Upcoming event!

“Sensitive Information” – a new volume from Coverstory books

I am delighted to be publishing Zanna Beswick's debut poetry collection, Sensitive Information, under my Coverstory books imprint. For more information on the collection, please visit HERE.

“Twist”

Twist is the fifth novel from Colum McCann I've read - and I daresay it won't be the last. A fluent narrative with just enough in terms of 'teasers' to keep you reading. Interestingly, many of these come at the beginning of chapters rather than at the end; a kind of trailer for what could … Continue reading “Twist” →

“Life A User’s Manual”

I should start by confessing that it has taken me more than two years - if not three or four! - to finish reading Georges Perec's novel, Life A User's Manual. And why is that? Although it weighs in at 500 pages (in my 2008 Vintage paperback edition), it's not the size of the book … Continue reading “Life A User’s Manual” →

May & June’s Substack highlights

“The Second Chance Convenience Store”

I really must stop trying to read Korean novels (in translation). It seems to me that they are too simple, repetitive, predictable, moralistic, and positive. If that generalisation is correct then I suspect it must be a cultural thing - allied to the fact that I don't like my novels written that way. Indeed, I … Continue reading “The Second Chance Convenience Store” →

“Live a Little”

Simply excellent. For me there are two reasons Howard Jacobson's Live a Little shines: the more minor of the two is that he doesn't let the religious backgrounds of the characters overpower the story; the major is the marvellous Beryl Dusinbery. What a marvellous confection of a character! Without doubt one of the best portrayals … Continue reading “Live a Little” →