Glorious Exploits by Ferdia Lennon
I was recommended this book by my sister, and it did not disappoint.
A historical novel, set in ancient Sicily in the aftermath of war, but written in Hiberno-English sounded very peculiar and I began reading with skepticism, but this is a fantastic book. I have certainly never read such a funny tragedy.
Captured Athenians are left in a squalid makeshift prisoner of war camp in a quarry, and despite being near to death and in the direst of circumstances they are still able to recall lines of Greek tragedy. And so an idea is hatched by Lampo's idealistic friend Gelon, an idealistic dreamer and devotee of theatre.
This is a love song to the power of art and theatre, and to friendship, and love, and what sustains us in dark times. But that sounds very earnest, just go and read this and enjoy it.
Marianne
The Other One by Colette
I happened upon an old Penguin copy of The Other One in a very lovely bookshop in Derbyshire (Scarthin Books of Cromford) and snapped it up as I've read most other Colette titles and return to her writing often.
This concerns Fanny Farou, her casually adulterous husband and playwright, her stepson Phillipe and her friend, confidante and help Jane, who is also Farou's mistress.
This is a brief novel, yet covers the fragility of women's social status when reliant on a husband for stability and income, and the jealousies and intricate dynamics between women. It is written in Colette's languid style, and will transport you to a different time and place, but if you've never read any of her work I wouldn't recommend beginning with this one.
Marianne
The Long Way to a Small, Angry Planet by Becky Chambers
While I do love fantasy and dystopias and end of the world scenarios, I’ve never much been into sci fi or space operas. Whether it’s books, movies or shows they just have never been quite my jam. I will say though, this book might change my mind on it. It was really approachable for a newbie like me and with the main focus being on the characters and they dynamics, it made the space and more out there science elements so much easier to digest.
It starts, as most of my favourite books do, with a new member joining an already very rambunctious crew. The plot is pretty straight forward, you join the crew on their next mission aboard the Wayfarer as they tunnel wormholes and travel to distant planets. The heart of the book really lies in how much you come to love the crew and their chaotic lives in between. It is gorgeously written and doesn’t shy away from heavier topics and how it could effect different species, races, sexualities etc. It’s a hopeful story full of love, trust and respect and I can’t wait to read more of the series.
Aishah
We Run the Tides by Vendela Vida
Vida’s debut novel We Run the Tides is a funny, dark, and nuanced portrayal of female friendship in the affluent Sea Cliff community in San Francisco in the mid-1980s. 13 year old Eulabee and her best friend Maria Fabiola know San Francisco like the backs of their hands, but when a strange incident occurs on the walk to school one day, their friendship fractures and sets off a chain reaction of mysterious events. It’s a book about the loss of childhood innocence, the loneliness of finding your place in the world as a young teenager, and the fallibility of memory. The whole thing is infused with the pop culture of the pre-tech 1980s and is surprisingly light in tone, with a splash of surreal melodrama, despite its undertone of menace. If you like reading nostalgic, coming-of-age stories, pick this one up.
Olivia