The bookshop strikes back - Ann Patchett

It's tiny, a whole 20 mini pages. It is, however, highly attractive to avid readers who are desperate not to

have their reading choice narrowed by chain stores haggling over margin.
Yes, we pay more in independents but we get diversity not dictation.
This is all about Ann Patchett's decision to open her own bookshop and her admittance that she's not the one to run it. It's a success with it's authors stopping by and it's famous name backing.
Good to see an author backing the industry in a money where your mouth is kind of way.

Publisher - Bloomsbury

She Rises - Kate Worsley

Local and good.

Kate Worsley has based her book in the coastal town of Harwich, it's surrounding villages and on travels on

a merchant ship.

It's not as simple as a naval story, focussing on the life of the main character, Lou. Initially she's a maid in a grand(er) house but is moved to be a lady's companion in Harwich to a much loved daughter.

It's a great eye-opener for her as she struggles to attend her lady's every wish. Although she's aware of the mistress' self-absorption she's still in awe of her.

While she's in Harwich it's an opportunity to search for her brother and father, both at sea, possibly by being 'pressed' into service.

There's something in this book from just about every social strata, high society down to revelling bordellos.

It is very cleverly presented with the story flipping between Lou and her brother as they continue in their roles. His story is told as he is on board ship having been pressed. He finds himself the subject of attention due to his young age and the length of time the sailors are asea.

However the book is far trickier than this but to say any more of their lives would give away the sheer pleasure of the complexity in this well researched, highly atmospheric book.

Very unusual. Also a very stylish physical book, up there in the challenge to keep readers buying paper.

Publisher - Bloomsbury

Valeria's last stand - Mark Fitten

Described on the back of the book as 'a caustic old woman' Valeria lives up to the description.

But then she decides that a certain man in the village will be hers. No wondering or dreaming about it, just simply 'will'.

Great one liners in the book and some brilliant scenarios as she goes about her mission dismissing the local blowsy barmaid as irrelevant almost.

Well worth a read for a break in routine.

Publisher - Bloomsbury

One million tiny plays about Britain - Craig Taylor

There's not one million :(

 Should I get a refund?

As much as I liked Londoners and it remains in my permanent collection this is not as impressive.

It has a feeling of riding on the back of Londoners.

There's the occasional blast of recognition but nothing really to get your teeth into. But then there wouldn't be, it's tiny plays.

Snippets of life and conversations painting a social portrait this one will probably come into it's own in about 50 years time when it becomes a historical record.

Not for me this time but I'll still try Craig Taylor's next book and see if it's back on track.

Publisher- Bloomsbury

The Night Rainbow - Claire King

Bittersweet I think is the word I'd use for this book.

After a family bereavement the child tries hard to both be noticed and also not to be noticed. The first for herself and the second for her mother. With some help from a lonely man in the area she gets through her days in an imaginary world.
There's occasional intervention from neighbours in the area but nothing consistent.
It's an interesting tale in a year that seems to have produced a fair number of books published by authors with unusual tales.
It's alongside My Imaginary Friend and Snow Child and The earth hums in B flat for surreal strangeness.
I'm not sure I'd try another one.

Publisher - Bloomsbury

Clay - Melissa Harrison

Is this this year's Night Circus? Or Snow Child?

It has the delicacy of Snow Child and the mystical essence of Night Circus.

Unlike Night Circus the landscape is very real and around us all at all times. Written by acclaimed nature writer Melissa Harrison the book takes 3 very different characters in an urban landscape and a relatively short time period.

Jozef is an immigrant of several years standing working to maintain a mean existence. TC is a child of a broken home who is a reader and adventurer/explorer in an age of xbox. Lastly, Sophia, a pensioner widow, living in her marital home long after it's show home glory has been eroded.

Gradually the three lives interconnect in an innocent manner reminiscent of times long past. Society, however, has moved on and sideways glances are inferred throughout the story.

What makes this book stand out is the setting of the tale. The urban landscape is painted over with the description of nature which abounds including the changes in the seasons – the new arrival of life, plants surviving, trees coppiced and sprouting. There's an element of nature to be admired in every layer of brick, crack in the pavement and derelict property.

That doesn't mean the reader is spared the harsher realities of urban warfare. There are tattoos, pit bulls, broken families, sadness and hunger present in the narrative.

This is a beautifully written book, not an off note in it at all, by a writer with an enviable vocabulary.

This one is my pick to soar high in 2013.

Would I buy another? Yes

Publisher - Bloomsbury