The importance of others

Recently longlisted for the Orange Prize is American writer Leah Hager Cohen with her fourth novel The Grief of others.

At first I thought that I might not manage to read this book; the prologue describes the death of a new born baby and the first chapter concludes with a ten year old child "slipping into the water". Having respect for the Orange Prize I persevered. This novel dissects the lives of one family in a year that sees the death of two babies. It explores individual feelings and responses and also familial approaches to difficulties. The narrative begins in the present and looks back one year and then also flips back to eight years ago when things were good. The family members, adults and children, have credible voices and reasonable reactions and are described sympathetically.

This novel shows that although we have the ability, through ignorance, despair or fear, to mess up our lives, we also have the power to restore balance and create a better future.

This is definitely worth reading.

Round and round

A book that is character driven and appeals to me for its roundedness. The title refers to Quinn who has made his home on a motorway roundabout. Who is he and why is he there? Clare Morrall's fifth fascinating novel, The Roundabout man, criss-crosses time and space to describe a childhood of privilege and neglect and to suggest an adulthood of lost opportunities. The characters, mostly family members, are well drawn with their own back stories and serve to underline the special nature of Quinn's position. Amanda, the manager of the motorway service station is similarly a complex character; remote at first and then influential. The development of the novel is slow but steady and definitely satisfying.



A perfect book club read; there is so much to discuss. Start with the front cover!

I can also recommend all of Clare Morrall's previous books especially Astonishing splashes of colour, that was shortlisted for the Booker prize, and The language of others.

Unlikely?

Unlikely may be the key word in the title of Rachel Joyce's first book but the events, problems and feelings that unfold are highly probable. The Unlikely pilgrimage of Harold Fry follows the steps of recently retired Harold as he walks the length of Britain and reveals his hidden character. His wife Maureen is similarly revealed from her reflective spectator's position at home.
Harold, without any necessities or comforts, walks from Devon to Cornwall; 627 miles in 87 days. Why? Well, that's the whole story. Along the way he meets a multitude of needy people but eventually continues his self-assessing journey on his own.
This is a gentle, heart-warming read with substance and surprises - you really want to follow the journey to the end.