This is a brilliant and highly emotional read, which
made me smile often - and also weep at the vulnerability of its young
protagonist and the scrapes he gets into through no fault of his own.
The skill
of an older female author in capturing the voice of the teenage boy, Demon, is impressive
and sustained throughout. I especially loved the line, "A kid is a terrible thing to be, in charge of
nothing."
I learned about Appalachia, about the Melungeon people, and about
the drug scandal facing vulnerable young people in the USA.
The novel is
loosely based on David Copperfield by Charles Dickins, but the fact that I have
not read this did not detract from my enjoyment. It’s a very long read but a very
worthwhile one!
Demon's story begins with his traumatic birth to a single mother in a single-wide trailer, looking 'like a little blue prizefighter.' For the life ahead of him he would need all of that fighting spirit, along with buckets of charm, a quick wit, and some unexpected talents, legal and otherwise.
In the southern Appalachian Mountains of Virginia, poverty isn't an idea, it's as natural as the grass grows. For a generation growing up in this world, at the heart of the modern opioid crisis, addiction isn't an abstraction, it's neighbours, parents, and friends. 'Family' could mean love, or reluctant foster…
Danny
Boy made me laugh out loud and also shed the odd tear. Such is the skill of the
author. Set in 1960s London, it’s a coming-of-age story about a boy in his
late teens who grapples with life and love over one hot summer.
Danny is a
loveable character who washes his mum’s hair for her. He is also one of the
lads but is now painfully aware of the girls on the estate where he lives.
Every character is skillfully drawn, physically and emotionally, with the flick
of a pen. Both the writing and observations are highly original. A smile for
the reader - be it poignant or comical - is to be found on every page.
Danny Boy is 'gloriously nostalgic' My Weekly Books of 2023 choice
'A terrific, edge-of-the-seat story ... whose ending had me in the right kind of tears' Maggie Gee
'As evocative as Graham Green's iconic Brighton Rock ***** Amazon reviewer
'Fantastic storytelling' ***** Amazon reviewer
'Gripping story - engaging, entertaining and moving. A terrific read' ***** Amazon reviewer
Danny Byrne has grown up on a sprawling council estate in Pimlico. He knows every stone of it, and until now, his life has followed the same pattern as all his friends.
Danny is heading for A-levels and then university. Dodds is following…
The
Three Graces is set in Tuscany, and I could feel the sunshine on my face as I
read this sumptuous novel.
Set over just two weeks in May, with the planning of
a wedding at its heart, it embraces a huge cast of characters (young and old,
rich and poor, kind and mean) and a wide range of issues (including racism,
refugees, immigration and generation rent versus baby boomers). All of which
are woven skillfully into a delightful story.
The eponymous Three Graces are
three elderly ladies who have moved separately to Tuscany to live out their
retirement. "Between them, they had 4 breasts, 5 eyes, and 3 hip replacements." Ultimately, this is a tale of friendship.
'She's such a skilful storyteller who vividly dramatises our lives with wit, wisdom and compassion' BERNARDINE EVARISTO
'I revelled in The Three Graces - such an intriguing cast, so convincingly presented, and a narrative that continually surprises' PENELOPE LIVELY
'A brilliant piece of storytelling... it should be the book everybody's reading this summer' ANDREW O'HAGAN
'Gorgeous and generous... rich with characters and suffused with sunlight' LISSA EVANS
When Enzo shoots an illegal migrant from his bedroom one night, it triggers a series of events that embroil old and young, rich and poor, native and foreign. His elderly…
It is 1994, and an idealistic Vanessa
enters the world of international aid, bringing with her youth and passion to
do good in Ukraine after the sudden collapse of communism. The country and its
people completely win her heart. As does Dan, a jaded American aid worker.
Older, wiser, Dan laughs at Vanessa’s naivety.
Corruption is rife. The mindset of the Ukrainian people is, at times, impenetrable. Her efforts to coordinate millions of dollars worth of aid are
met with ridicule, whilst the British aid experts throw up smoke screens.
At times thwarted, Vanessa’s determination to
help is set when she meets the resourceful, magnificent wives of a Donetsk
mining village threatened with pit closures. But then Dan springs a bolt from the blue.
