Author Archives: drewsmith28

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About drewsmith28

Words, words, words...

Brooklyn by Colm Toibin (Penguin)

Posted on March 14, 2015 by drewsmith28

“Eilis Lacey, sitting at the window of the upstairs living room in the house on Friary Street, noticed her sister walking briskly from work.” Another major Irish talent. This one from County Wexford. A professor no less in creative writing. … Continue reading →

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Sleep in Peace Tonight by James MacManus (Duckworth)

Posted on February 3, 2015 by drewsmith28

“The seaplane came into view just as the winter sun had begun to settle into the English Channel.” WOLF Hall for another era. Bring up the Brogue. We are at the court of king Winston. Britain 1941. The empire is … Continue reading →

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Stalin by Stephen Kotkin (Penguin)

Posted on February 2, 2015 by drewsmith28

“Russia’s double headed eagle nested across a greater expanse than that of any other state, before or since.” Stephen Kotkin opens with this grandiose statement and proceeds to tell us this is not just a book about Stalin at all … Continue reading →

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10 Rules of Writing by Elmore Leonard (William Morrow)

Posted on January 23, 2015 by drewsmith28

“These are rules I’ve picked up along the way to help me remain invisible when I’m writing a book, to help me show rather than tell what’s taking place in the story.” YOU might like to follow the example of … Continue reading →

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The Children Act by Ian McEwan (Jonathan Cape)

Posted on January 23, 2015 by drewsmith28

“London. Trinity term one week old. Implacable June weather. Fiona Maye, a High Court Judge, at home on Sunday evening.” The BBC used to be very good at this kind of drama, a little unassuming well grounded plot that turns … Continue reading →

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The Search Warrant by Patrick Modiano (Harvill Secker)

Posted on January 23, 2015 by drewsmith28

“That is her secret.. A poor and precious secret which not even the executioners, the decrees, the occupying authorities, the Depot, the barracks, the camps, history, time – everything that corrupts and destroys you – have been able to take … Continue reading →

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The Guest Cat by Takashi Hiraide (Picador)

Posted on December 9, 2014 by drewsmith28

“At first it looked like low flying ribbons of clouds just floating there, but then the clouds would be blown a little bit to the right and next to the left.” IF you have friends who like cats. Who like … Continue reading →

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Ethel and Ernest by Raymond Briggs (Jonathan Cape)

Posted on September 15, 2014 by drewsmith28

“Monday, 1928” GRAPHIC novels as a genre can be more informed than screenplays. Film shoots with shot photos and dialogue always seem to end up shamefully in remainder shops, but illustration can also be a dangerous medium too often cliched … Continue reading →

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The Aftermath by Rhidian Brook (Penguin)

Posted on September 11, 2014 by drewsmith28

“The beast is here. I’ve seen him. Berti’s seen him. Dietmar’s seen him.” IT would seem to have taken a long time for writers to get to grips with all the emotions and smells of World War 11, as if … Continue reading →

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Hack Attack by Nick Davies (Chatto and Windus)

Posted on August 15, 2014 by drewsmith28

“This is the strangest story I have ever written.” This is also a brilliant piece of aggressive, personalised investigative, well written journalism, an expose of British high (and not so high or grand) grandees at work. There is an extra … Continue reading →

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