Looks are deceptive.....

.... for two slight books from small publishers that are so full of intensity that they were shortlisted for the 2012 Booker prize. And deservedly so.

The Lighthouse by Alison Moore follows the journey and thoughts of Futh as he takes a walking tour in Germany. It is what is not stated rather than what is written that is so effective in this short novel. This story leaves a haunting impression of sadness and missed opportunity. The motif of the lighthouse is very significant and adds to the eerie atmosphere.
To find out more watch Carole Beu's review on Triangle TV.

Swimming home by Deborah Levy is a tense description of a summer holiday in a gite in the South of France. There is something unnerving about each of the characters and an underlying tension that surprises when it snaps. Very cleverly written and again there is a significance in the title.