Category Archives: fiction

My brilliant friend by Elena Ferrante (Europa)

Posted on February 25, 2016 by drewsmith28

“This morning Rino telephoned. I thought he wanted money again and I was ready to say no.” WE start with a mystery, a disappearance. And also a set of family trees, in case you might need to flip back quickly … Continue reading →

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In the cafe of lost youth By Patrick Modiano (MacLehose Press)

Posted on February 18, 2016 by drewsmith28

“Of the two entrances to the cafe, she always used the narrower one, the one they called the shabby door.” CLEVER, this. Modiano drills down into a euro-psyche of paranoia, of living in a world of secret policemen, of secrets … Continue reading →

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The wallcreeper by Nell Zink (Fourth Estate)

Posted on January 27, 2016 by drewsmith28

“I was looking at the map when Stephen swerved, hit the rock, and occasioned the miscarriage.” A WALLCREEPER is a small, blue grey mountain bird, similar to a nuthatch except it has striking crimson wings which only show in flight. … Continue reading →

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Intermission by Owen Martell (Windmill Books)

Posted on January 18, 2016 by drewsmith28

“It was late in the evening, after dinner and Debby, before Harry got a chance to open the paper.” OWEN Martel told me that Dylan was probably not the greatest Welsh writer called Thomas, but only the second, or perhaps … Continue reading →

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The paying guests by Sarah Waters (Virago)

Posted on January 12, 2016 by drewsmith28

“The Barbers had said they would arrive by three. It was like waiting to begin a journey, Frances thought.” SARAH Water’s writing career follows the trusted big crimo formula. She does not have a central hero/ine but her themes are distinct. … Continue reading →

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City of Bohane by Kevin Barry (Vintage)

Posted on December 9, 2015 by drewsmith28

“Whatever is wrong with us is coming in off that river. No argument: the taint of badness on the city’s air is a taint off that river.” A GANGLAND fantasy set in the tenements of some futuristic Irish city. The … Continue reading →

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Young skins by Colin Barrett (Vintage)

Posted on November 26, 2015 by drewsmith28

“My town is nowhere you have been, but you know its ilk. A roundabout off a national road, an industrial estate, a five screen Cineplex, a century of pubs packed inside the square mile of the town’s limits. The Atlantic … Continue reading →

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A concise Chinese-English dictionary for lovers by Xiaolu Guo (Vintage)

Posted on November 18, 2015 by drewsmith28

“Usually the man says a thing, and the woman questions it.” AN easy, very literal conceit: young Chinese girl meets middle aged white Englishman. Be my guest, he says. And so she moves in with him. Unfortunately for her he … Continue reading →

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The burning room by Michael Connelly (Orion)

Posted on November 17, 2015 by drewsmith28

“Deep down Bosch knew the dead were the dead and they no longer suffered the cruelties of life.” I lIKE Harry, he is the sort of detective you might want on your block, ex-Vietnam ‘gator, single parent, coffee obsessive, jazz-listener, … Continue reading →

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Under major domo minor by Patrick deWitt (Granta)

Posted on October 29, 2015 by drewsmith28

“Lucien Minor’s mother had not wept, had not come close to weeping in their parting.” THE much anticipated (in these quarters) second book from Patrick deWitt, the follow up to Scissor Sisters. The two share striking graphic covers, and sharp … Continue reading →

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