Book reviews

72 Articles
Book reviewsFiction

Demon Copperhead

This is my book of the year. I circled around this one for a while because it sounded worthy but depressing. It’s inspired...

Book reviewsFiction

Like I Can Love

This novel alternates between three narrators – Jenna in the past, Fairlie in the present, and letters from Evelyn to her daughter Jenna....

Book review - The Other Side of Beautiful
Book reviewsFiction

The Other Side of Beautiful

I woke up in the night with a head full of worries, unable to get back to sleep. That’s when I got up...

Book review - Against the Loveless World
Book reviewsFiction

Against the Loveless World

This is a remarkable book. It starts out in a ‘Cube’ which is a solitary confinement prison cell. The woman is rude to...

Lucy by the Sea - a book review by Debra Bradley
Book reviewsFiction

Lucy by the Sea

I first met Elizabeth Strout’s writing through the voice of Olive Kitteridge, and loved the acerbic, achingly honest tone of this character. Lucy...

Vigil Harbor - a review by Debra Bradley
Book reviewsFiction

Vigil Harbor

Julia Glass is one of my go-to writers. So, fresh from reading The Widower’s Tale, I was delighted to see that she has...

The Widower's Tale - a review by Debra Bradley
Book reviewsFiction

The Widower’s Tale

The central character in this novel is Percy Darling, a sprightly 70-year-old man, who has mostly kept to himself since his wife died...

Eddy, Eddy - book review by Debra Bradley
Book reviewsFiction

Eddy, Eddy

I love the set up of Eddy, Eddy … a young guy living with his uncle Brian in Christchurch, embarrassed by him but...

A review of 'Going AWOL' by Mary Somervell.
Book reviewsNon-fiction

Going AWOL

At first glance, ‘Going AWOL’ is a celebration of the walking, kayaking, diving and other activities available in beautiful natural environments around New...

Commonwealth - book review by Debra Bradley
Book reviewsFiction

Commonwealth

This novel begins with a bright, breezy tone – a district attorney at a loose end on a Sunday turns up uninvited at...