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Q: When does a series of short stories become a novel?: A When it is A Visit From the Goon Squad. First of all, let me be very clear: I love, love, love this book! In the same way that Robert Altman introduced us to the residents of LA in his 1993 film Short Cuts, in…
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As someone with a keen interest in photography – and its history – I’m saddened by the news that Kodak has been forced to file for bankruptcy. Producing the first film on rolls (1883), giving the world the first consumer camera (1880); with its pocket-folding camera (1897) it made photography portable, and, with the launch of the…
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Who’d have thought it? Literature, reading and ‘all things wordy’ are all the rage at Selfridges (note: no apostrophe and I don’t hear anyone complaining). The Words Words Words event ending 1st March will see a ‘pop-up’ library in store, where classes, workshops and lectures from people like The Idler Academy and It’s Nice That are also on offer. Have…
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In this age of apathy (and dropping book sales), it’s great to know how to get the great British public to sit up and pay attention: drop an apostrophe. Until today, who knew that there was an Apostrophe Protection Society? “It’s just plain wrong.” Mourned its chairman, John Richards. “It’s grammatically incorrect. If Sainsbury’s and McDonald’s…
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Roald Dahl and Quentin Blake have always been the perfect combination. Today, the Post Office has issued a set of six stamps to celebrate the work of author and illustrator. Now the envelope enclosing your first-class mail can be adorned with Charlie (of the Chocolate Factory fame) waving his golden ticket. What could be more perfect? (Apologies,…
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The wild and windy beginning to the new year puts me in mind of the Great Storm of 1987. I was on holiday in Cornwall where there was relatively little damage, and returned home by coach the following day, driving through scenes of devastation in London. It seems appropriate to publish an extract from my novel,…
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The new year is a good time for making lists and, inspired by Susan Hill, I have compiled my own list of the books that have influenced me, taught me the most about what a novel can be and form part of my writing tool-kit. I hope you find something here to inspire you to…
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The Christmas lights are packed away, the chocolate stash is depleted, and I am glad to be back at my writing desk (formerly known as the dining room table). Last week, the BBC aired a programme about people who have never seen Star Wars. Since much of the remainder of their air-time over the Christmas season has been…
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The park has an abandoned air, as if there has been a warning to stay indoors. A risk of severe weather. A chemical leak. There is an absence of sun, of breeze, of scooters whizzing by too close, of bicycle bells, of small yappy dogs straining on leads, of footballs ricocheting. It is too still;…
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Today, in mourning, in need of a transitionary book, not quite ready for a novel, I have turned to Susan Hill’s Howards End is on the Landing: a year of reading from home. I am not quite sure what it is yet, other than a love story to the book. “Huge, heavy, illustrated one. Small, neat, square hardbacks and pocket-sized…
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