Woodworking - Emily St James

69%

02.01.26

The new year's off to a strong reading start with this engaging, funny, moving and ultimately satisfying character-driven story that uses every type of narrative voice to convey many types of identity. I was less keen on the underplaying of the inappropriateness of the teacher/student relationship, and the lack of trans men amongst the vivid queer cast, but overall a good read.

Black Sheep - Georgette Heyer

 

67%

11.07.22

Heyer's characterisations and amazingly in-depth research (which we'd call 'worldbuilding' today) make her books stand out, and this was one of her better examples. You know what the outcome will be, but not how it will come about, and that, too, adds to the pleasure.

The Masqueraders - Georgette Heyer

 

67%

09.04.22

As long as you can make allowances for being of its time - both 1928 and 1745 - this is one of the better Heyer novels. OK, so cross-dressing always adds an extra frisson but there's also the impeccable research, the clever dialogue and, most of all, the vivid main characters. 

Heyer has been shockingly betrayed by some ugly covers over the years. This recent one is at least pretty but the designer clearly hadn't read the book, showing a woman (presumably not a man!) in a dress from about 150 years after the story is set.

How to be Both - Ali Smith

67%
17.09.15

It's a tale of two characters and the one you get first is, apparently, randomly allocated. My copy began with the strange and wonderful stream-of-consciousness of a 15th-century fresco artist, a skilful and vivid voice. By contrast, the modern-day second half seemed dull and irrelevant, throwing insufficient light on the painter's tale. It's impossible, however, to resist Googling Francesco del Cossa and his (or her) majestic works.