2019 was a busy year for me when it comes to all things literature. I began work on my second novel, I completed and passed a master’s degree in Contemporary Literature, and somewhere in between i found time to read 68 books. This is a list of those books. Over the next few weeks, I’ll …
“An object. Confused, he lifts the thing in his hands to get a closer look. Cool to the touch, possibly metallic, adorned with small lines and symbols that he doesn’t recognise. Heavier than you would imagine for something so small.” This is taken from page 3 of The City Around the World, the debut novella …
“You can’t rape the willing.” The immortal words of Alison Poole, the star of Story of My Life. The more observant of you may recognise the name from American Psycho, but this is a girl in a class of her own. She’s young, beautiful, rich(ish), taking acting classes to better her future. Now, you may think Alison …
Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Halt! Draw! Take aim. Fire! The bodies hit the floor with a thud, and the machine rolls over to them, and begins to flatten them down. As it makes its way over, they move on. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. Left. Right. This is …
It’s difficult to know where to start with Vonnegut. His writings are so diffuse, so non-linear, so abstract, that to try and review them is almost a pointless exercise. Vonnegut’s writing makes him seem like an alien, someone with no experience or understanding of the human race trying to document it. When you read his work, …
Someone once told me that, after their partner had died, they read the Stephen King book Lisey’s Story and said they felt like King was writing their thoughts down on paper. They told me that it was eerie how much the book echoed their feelings, echoed their loss, hopelessness, confusion, sadness, bewilderment, everything. They said King must …
As you lay down in bed, gently settle under the blankets, roll onto your side. As you sigh, and gently slide towards sleep, you feel your body relax, and feel a slight muscle twitch. It’s as if someone is gently touching your shoulder, or your arm. But you know it’s only your muscles, and so …
I’m a sucker for a love story; I always have been, and I always will be. I can’t help it; perhaps it’s growing up watching films and TV where love always saves the day. Perhaps it’s having spent much of my life to date studying poetry. Or perhaps it’s just something in my DNA. Whatever …
When you think of a classic romance novel you might think of Nicholas Sparks, or someone of that ilk. You might go a bit more modern and think of EL James. But really, if you’re looking for a true love story, look no further than Stephen King. He may be posited as a horror writer, …
86 years. 86 years and for what? Nothing. He’s been sitting staring at the screen for nearly an hour, watching the vertical black line blinking on and off, on and off. He has nothing to write. It was going to be an epic saga, full of mystery and thrills, full of love and lust, full …