Kololo Hill by Neema Shah

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Kololo Hill by Neema Shah

In Kololo Hill, Neema Shah has brilliantly explored the concept of home, what we mean when we talk about it, and what it takes to start over again. Her enthralling debut novel is based on a historical event which, although it took place well within living memory and had deep significance for the UK at the time, seems to have been almost forgotten, except by those directly affected. The author’s empathic writing style, supported by personal experience and detailed research, will raise awareness of the emotional trauma and economic disaster endured by many.

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The Lockdown Diary of Tom Cooper - Review and Q&A

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The Lockdown Diary of Tom Cooper - Review and Q&A

For loveable loser Tom, Lockdown is like being in a situation comedy with no script, and his attempts to ad-lib his way through it are hilarious. Trapped in a torture chamber of home-schooling, overwhelmed by his girlfriend’s knack for home-made soft porn, he rants about, amongst other things, online quizzes, schools, exercise gurus, Zoom and, notably, senior citizens. Elderly relatives, his own or other people’s, can really wind Tom up. However, when his cage is not being rattled, he is philosophical. At one point, he reflects on the nature of parenthood down the generations. ‘No parents, no children – just caretakers for….love….’

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Music to Eat Cake By by Lev Parikian

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Music to Eat Cake By by Lev Parikian

Victoria sponge should be scoffed to the accompaniment of music by Gilbert and Sullivan. This is one of many imaginative and entertaining opinions Lev Parikian puts forward in his latest book. Before I learned that he’s an orchestral conductor and author, I used to follow, on Twitter, Lev’s live birdsong broadcasts, for which he’s widely known and admired. He appears to be the kind of person who’s always up for a challenge, whether it’s patrolling the hedgerows while hoping the local chaffinches are in good voice, or writing a set of essays on random topics.

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The Coral Bride by Roxeanne Bouchard

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The Coral Bride by Roxeanne Bouchard

Roxanne Bouchard writes like a poet who has known back-breaking manual labour. Reeling in lobster nets was how she researched her critically acclaimed first novel, We Were The Salt of the Sea, which is currently top of my to-be-read list. David Warriner’s superb translation enhances the lyrical language of The Coral Bride. Sentences like ‘The sea is a liar and all men are traitors!’ can make a susceptible reader’s heart beat faster.

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The Creak on the Stairs by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir

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The Creak on the Stairs by Eva Bjorg Aegisdottir

Winner of the Blackbird Award for new Icelandic fiction, Aegisdottir’s multi-layered tale of small-town life, with its threatening undertones of abuse and murder, shows all the signs of being the first in an addictive series. Faced with what appears to be a random, motiveless act of violence, a young female detective feels compelled to seek justice for the victim.

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This Green and Pleasant Land by Ayisha Malik

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This Green and Pleasant Land by Ayisha Malik

What I liked most about Malik’s entertaining third novel is the way she asks questions about significant issues, without demonising any of her engaging cast of characters. What is home? Does economic progress change who we are? When we speak or write about religion and culture, are we driven by underlying attitudes? How can we identify our unconscious biases?

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The Stray Cats of Homs by Eva Nour

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The Stray Cats of Homs by Eva Nour

Street cats, crying from hunger, instantly claim our attention, but to understand what a fellow human being has suffered, we have to walk a mile in their shoes. Before we can do this, we must get to know them. In the first few chapters of Nour’s bewitching book, we learn about Sami’s early life, when Syria was at peace: growing up in a close-knit family, keeping a pet turtle on the roof, winning calligraphy competitions, helping his mother feed stray cats, falling in love, setting up a small business. Then, a merciless civil war and enforced military service shattered his world.

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Note to Boy by Sue Clark

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Note to Boy by Sue Clark

In her beautifully written debut novel, Sue Clark tells a story that will make you laugh a lot and cry a little. She has created two convincing, realistic characters, each of whom is on the point of succumbing to an impossible situation. By introducing Eloise and Bradley, and making them bounce hilariously off each other, she not only saves them both, but also gives them hope for the future. I recommend Note to Boy to book clubs, not only because of its high entertainment value, but also because it bridges the generation gap and presents decades of social history, in a style as light and digestible as a macaroon; or, as Eloise would call it, a ‘Cameroon’.

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When's Daddy Coming Home by Peter Margetts with John Cookson

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When's Daddy Coming Home by Peter Margetts with John Cookson

‘When’s Daddy Coming Home’ is a heartbreaking real life story that demands to be told. Anyone who is thinking of starting a business, in a country where they do not understand the legal system, must read this book. Also, in our current situation of emerging from a pandemic, it is timely to remember the ripple effect of the international financial crisis of 2008. Margetts’ experiences are narrated in first person, expressing the genuine feelings and emotions of an ordinary parent in an unbearable situation. This is not an easy read, and some of the phrases he uses may offend.

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Blackwatertown by Paul Waters

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Blackwatertown by Paul Waters

If you like quirky crime novels, you’ll love Blackwatertown. I relished every page, because I was born in Northern Ireland, where my ancestors were farmers and police officers, and my grandfather marched with the Orange Order. Rural Ulster communities, like the 1950s townland sensitively described by Paul Waters, are part of my family history. When I read the account of Catholic Constable Macken’s enforced attendance at a social event in the Orange Hall, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. I had many questions for Paul, and I’m delighted to present his thoughtful answers.

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Murder on the Downs by Julie Wassmer

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Murder on the Downs by Julie Wassmer

‘A controversial new property development is planned in Whitstable, to the dismay of Whitstable residents who view it as a threat to local wildlife. A campaign is spearheaded by Martha Laker, a committed environmentalist and no stranger to controversy. The resulting tensions strain local restaurateur Pearl's close relationship with London-born police officer, DCI Mike McGuire. The protest goes ahead, and residents claim a moral victory. But the victory is short lived when Pearl discovers a dead body on the Downs.’

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One Year of Ugly by Caroline MacKenzie

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One Year of Ugly by Caroline MacKenzie

No-one is a mystery to their beautician. Working in the glamour industry will teach you more about personality and motivation than any academic study. I’d love to tell the story of Troy from the point of view of the slave girl who threaded Helen’s eyebrows, describe the Napoleonic wars in the voice of Josephine’s maid or describe the challenges facing Lady Macbeth’s manicurist. ‘Out, out, damned liver spot!’

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Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman

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Separation Anxiety by Laura Zigman

I enjoyed Separation Anxiety throughout, but it was only when I arrived at the book’s finale that I came to appreciate its true quality. While reading the first few chapters, I found Judy, the main character, a trifle annoying. An author suffering from writer’s block, she is warm, funny and open-hearted, but if, like me, you suffer from stiff-upper-lip syndrome, also a tad irritating until you allow yourself to get on her wavelength.

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