Title: To Start The Year From Its Quiet Centre

Victoria Bennett founded Wild Women Press in 1999 and has spent the last 21 years facilitating creative experiences and curating platforms for women to share ideas, stories, inspirations and actions for positive change, including the global #WildWomanWeb movement and #WildWomanGamer. She holds and MA in Creative Writing from Lancaster University (2002). Previous awards include the Northern Debut Award for non-fiction (2020), the Mother’s Milk Writing Prize (2017), The Writing Platform Digital Literature Bursary (2015), Northern Promise Award for Poetry (2002), and the Waterhouse Award for Poetry (2002). 

Her work-in-progress memoir, ‘All My Wild Mothers’ was long-listed for the Nan Shepherd Nature Writing Prize 2019 and the Penguin #WriteNow2020 programme. 

Victoria is currently undertaking her MRes in Creative Practice at the University of Highlands and Islands (Shetland), exploring narratives of absence within landscapes of personal and ecological loss. She is a director of The Wizard and The Wyld Ltd, creating imppersive playable poetry within video-game platforms. A frequent digital collaborator, she is interested in how poetry and new technologies can be used to creative meaningful and authentic narratives. http://beewyld.co.uk/

Title: Another Man

Author: Leslie Croxford

Price: £9.99

Publisher: Paper+Ink

Hello all! Today I have the pleasure of sharing with you my review of Leslie Croxford’s ‘Another Man’ as part of a blog tour. Massive thanks to Kelly at Folk. and Paper+Ink for my gifted copy of the book!

Synopsis:

Frank Ward, a research historian troubled by his own past and a sense of emptiness, returns to a Spanish pueblo to celebrate the publication of his first book. Unexpectedly, discovering that Albert Speer’s wartime driver had convalesced there after years as a Russian POW, Frank plunges into an attempt to penetrate the mystery of Speer - the so-called “Good Nazi” - beyond the extent of his crimes.

Consequently, he is drawn into a series of intense encounters in the pueblo where Speer and his driver, although deceased, continue to influence events. Amongst the people he meets are the cheerful owner of his pension; a malevolent archaeologist; an Argentine pianist and his estranged ballerina wife … and Paloma, their captivating daughter, with whom Frank stands a chance to rediscover love.

From the very first chapter, Croxford’s writing and descriptive imagery transport you to a Spanish pueblo. He really brings the setting and atmosphere to life which make you feel like you’re watching a movie and not actually reading. Croxford brilliantly set the foundation for the rest of the story.

I have to admit that at first, the alternating points of view in the novel were a bit strange to me, especially as I don’t recall reading a book with both first and third person before. However, after a few chapters I got used to the points of view and found the book somewhat more fast-paced. As a writer myself, I don’t think I could master the technique of alternating points of view so well; I’m in awe of Croxford’s talent!

Furthermore, I found the characters to be well developed and easy to remember - I do have to say though that I was most absorbed when reading about Frank’s interactions with the various female characters, in comparison with others. An aspect of the novel that I enjoyed was the psychological exploration, and the way Frank lived in the present but how he recounted his past to evaluate himself. Much of the story is focused on Speer, who I didn't know much about, and I found it incredibly interesting to read about him through Frank’s, and other characters’ points of view.

The novel is a cross between literary and historical fiction, and Croxford's excellent writing and ideas make it stand out from other books that are currently being published. Whilst you might feel that the constant conversations between characters about Speer can get a bit boring, it's worth reading the book to the end as it's satisfying to find out how Frank's life developed.

The book can be purchased in paperback on Amazon - it’s currently discounted so why don’t you grab yourself a copy!

Rating: 4/5 stars

_________________________________________

About the Author

Leslie Croxford is Senior Vice-President of the British University in Egypt. Born in Alexandria, he obtained a doctorate in History from Cambridge University, where he knew E.M. Forster. He is the author the the critically acclaimed Solomon’s Folly (1974) and Deep Sahara (2017).

Make sure to check out the other reviewers on the 'Another Man' blog tour!

Hello everyone! Today I wanted to share with you all my review of ‘Simple Passion’ written by Annie Ernaux and translated by Tanya Leslie. I have been kindly gifted a copy of the book by Clare at Fitzcarraldo Editions in return for an honest review; a massive thank you for this! This is the first piece of Ernaux’s work that I’ve had the pleasure to read and it certainly won’t be the last!

Synopsis:

Annie Ernaux documents the desires and indignities of a human heart ensnared in an all-consuming passion. Blurring the lines between fact and fiction, an unnamed narrator attempts to plot the emotional and physical course of her two-year relationship with a married man where every word, every event, and person either provides a connection with her beloved or is subject to her cold indifference. The narrator seeks the truth behind an existence lived entirely for someone else.

‘Simple Passion’ is an essay which recounts a female narrator’s thoughts and feelings over the course of a two-year affair. Ernaux has captured perfectly how a woman might feel and behave when she is possessed by love. The title of the book refers to passion being simple however the narrator's accounts of her affair prove that it’s certainly much more complicated than that.

I thought the essay would focus more on the physical passion between the unnamed woman and her lover but Ernaux delved into much more than that. She managed to paint a clear picture of how someone might be mentally affected by their desire and how it can dominate their life. Although I couldn’t relate to the affair, I definitely related to the way the narrator described planning your life around events, or a person, which can make you feel like your at a standstill. It’s certainly easy to get wrapped up and become obsessed with something intense that can cause you to lose your ambition and independence. Although this is not a healthy way to live, Ernaux managed to showcase the experience in an honest way.

In most books you may come across, more often than not if a woman is having an affair with a married man, what is portrayed in the story is the woman’s guilt. What makes ‘Simple Passion’ unique is that the narrator is shameless and doesn’t feel guilty but instead focuses on the deepness and rawness of her passion. Many of you will definitely think that this is not morally right but the book is not trying to please anyone, instead, it’s clear that Ernaux is trying to convey the complicated and not easily comprehensible part of the affair.

Rating: 4 stars

Overall, at only 48 pages, ‘Simple Passion’s is definitely a quick read, however it is also intimate and thoughtful. Ernaux’s writing is beautiful and even if you may not entirely emphasise with the narrator of the story, you are bound to put yourself in her situation and think about how you would feel and behave. If you haven't ready any of Ernaux's writing before then I have to say that you are definitely missing out!

It wouldn't be right if I didn't also mention the translator of the book, Tanya Leslie. It's not an easy task to translate a book and make it compelling but Leslie definitely did a fantastic job!

‘Simple Passion’ can be purchased in physical format and as an ebook on the Fitzcarraldo Editions website.

About the author

__________________________

Annie Ernaux grew up in Normandy, studied at Rouen University, and later taught at secondary school. From 1997 to 2000, she was a professor at the Centre National d'Enseignement par Correspondence. Her books, in particular 'A Man's Place' and 'A Woman's Story', have become contemporary classics in France. 'The Years' won the Prix Renaudot in France in 2008, the Premio Strega in Italy in 2016, and was shortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize in 2019. In 2017, Annie Ernaux was awarded the Marguerite Yourcenar Prize for her life's work.

About the translator

____________________________

Tanya Leslie was the first translator of Annie Ernaux into English and translated a number of her works, including 'A Woman's Story (1991), 'A Man's Place' (1992), 'Simple Passion' (1993), 'Shame' (1998), 'I Remain in Darkness' (1999) and 'Happening' (2001).

I hope you enjoyed this review. Let me know in the comments below if you've read any of Annie Ernaux's work. If not, then I'd love to know what you think of honest and intimate books like 'Simple Passion'!

The anthology starts off with an essay describing Preece returning to his birth town and home; the essay is personal and heart-warming and it's also a great introduction to Preece's great writing and descriptive imagery. There are various screenplays in the anthology: in 'Nightclub' you don't know what's real anymore. Are the characters awake or dreaming? 'Diary of a Madman' is bizarre yet brilliant and 'Here We Are Nowhere' is bound to teach you a lesson. The stand out screenplay is definitely 'Everybody's Happy Nowadays' - Preece managed to bring the characters to life on the page so it's easy to imagine how well the story would play out on screen.

Moving on, there is a number of short stories, the foundation for which is set by the story titled 'Million-Story City' which transports us to a city that is 'a living reality, distinct in a way that so many other cities no longer are; but it is also a dream'. What follows are stories of various characters living in Million-Story City, stories which are full of imaginative ideas and which showcase vivid imagery. The anthology also includes some of Preece's poetry - the poems are moving and emotional; one of the poems that really touched me was 'Black Bread'.

In addition, the anthology features some statement comics. The comics are of a genre I normally wouldn't read but I thoroughly enjoyed them. I absolutely loved the pop song references in 'The Moonheads', and 'Some Men and 'The Immigrants' are comics which are creative and original. If all of the above wasn't enough, the anthology also contains pub quizzes! Preece held regular Saturday-night quizzes at a bar in Hanoi which are fondly recalled in the collection by his friend. I quizzed myself but unfortunately I didn't get many answers right. The questions are certainly clever and the quizzes are a fun addition to the collection. The anthology also offers us a glimpse into Preece's music journalism and enables us to get to know his background and personality through his friends' reminiscences. 

'Million-Story City' is a definite 5 star anthology as it contains so many outstanding pieces of writing! Screenplays, fiction, poetry, quizzes, comics - what more would you want? Preece really is 'one of the most interesting writers you've never heard of'. It saddens me that I didn't know of his work previously but I'm glad that the editors compiled the anthology and the world is able to get a glimpse into Preece's brilliant mind.

Rating: 5 stars

____________________

About The Author

Marcus Preece was a British writer born in Australia in 1964. He grew up in East Grinstead and lived in Birmingham. He received an MA in scriptwriting from Leeds Beckett University's Northern Film School and wrote for Yorkshire TV and The BBC. Later, he became a certified teacher of English as a second language, and lived in Prague and Hanoi. He died in 2017.

Make sure to check out the other blog tour reviews of 'Million-Story City'!

Hello lovelies! I am lucky enough to have had the opportunity of reading and reviewing 'On Borrowed Time', which is being published tomorrow. My review is part of the blog tour organised by Isabelle Kenyon at Fly On The Wall Blog Tours – massive thanks to Isabelle for my gifted copy of the book!

Synopsis: 

In Hong Kong, Emma Janssen discovers the truth behind the death of her brother four years earlier. Meanwhile, in Shanghai, a PhD student meets a woman with an unusual degree of interest in his research. These storylines converge at the time of the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, and Emma finds that she has to choose between revenge or the future happiness and safety of both herself and those close to her.

'On Borrowed Time' is set in Hong Kong and Shanghai over the period 1996/1997 - including the handover of Hong Kong to China. The novel explores the choices that people have to make; in particular between doing what is easy and what is right.

'On Borrowed Time' is the first work of fiction by Graeme Hall that I had the pleasure to read and it is one that is a definite favourite! The novel has everything I look for in a story - interesting characters, a fascinating plot and a beautiful setting. 

The story is written from multiple points of view and consists of multiple storylines that are all intertwined together. There's a number of intriguing characters that are well constructed and which appear realistic. Every character makes you feel some type of emotion which makes you even more invested in the story. 

The story is fictional, however it is inspired by the author's experiences of living and working in Hong Kong from 1993 to 2010, in particular the final years of British rule and the transfer of sovereignty back to China. The author's connection to China and Hong Kong is visibly clear through vivid descriptions of the setting, as well as his knowledge of the places and the history.

'On Borrowed Time' was quite an educational read for me as it was set in the year before I was born and I have to admit that I didn't know much about the history of China and Hong Kong before this novel. I was extremely absorbed by the story and the setting which made me want to learn more about the transfer of sovereignty. 

I thoroughly enjoyed reading the novel and if I could, I would have read on as I'd love to know the characters' fate. There were still a number of unanswered questions at the end but I think this showcases how the novel reflects the realities of life as no one’s future is clear and it can steer in a different direction at any time.

Overall, 'On Borrowed Time' is a brilliantly written book that is more than worthy of a five star rating as Hall perfectly incorporates history and intrigue within the plot, making the novel not only enjoyable but also educational. If you're a fan of historical thrillers, mystery and espionage then this novel is definitely for you!

The novel is available as an ebook and can also be purchased as a paperback from all major retailers.

Rating: 5/5

________________________________

About the author

On Borrowed Time is Graeme Hall's first fictional novel and it is set in Hong Kong and Shanghai, a part of the world that Hall loves and which inspires his writing. Graeme first visited Macau in 1993 and he quickly became fascinated by the oldest European settlement in Asia. His short story collection, 'The Goddess of Macau' was published in August 2020 by Fly on the Wall Press.

Hall has previously won the short story competition of the Macau Literary Festival and the Ilkley Literature Festival, and his writing has been published in anthologies by Black Bear Press and the Macau Literary Festival. He is an active member of the Leeds Writers Circle whose members have been a constant source of advice, support and encouragement. Graeme Hall lives in Calderdale, West Yorkshire with his wife and a wooden dog.

Make sure to check out the other stops on the blog tour on Twitter and Instagram!