September Dazzlers: Latest Books

Dear friends. It's been a while since I shared my latest reads with you. I'm glad to say today's crop is a stellar selection! New books from Elizabeth Strout, Clare Chambers and Sally Rooney for starters.

Let's dive in.

Tell Me Everything by Elizabeth Strout (5 stars)

I've written about American writer Elizabeth Strout's books several times. I'm a huge fan. The former Pulitzer Prize winner has written a series of books about life in the Maine coastal town of Crosby and nearby Shirley Falls. The characters make intermittent appearances, but each book can be read on its own.

What was highly exciting to me was that Tell me Everything features two of the main characters, the redoubtable Olive Kitteridge and the flighty writer Lucy Barton, meeting for the first time.

Lucy Barton, back with ex husband William, has a touching friendship with the wonderful Bob Burgess. Is it turning into something deeper?

Olive Kitteridge, now 90, has a deep friendship with a woman in her nursing home, who may be moving to live with her daughter. She is as irascible as ever as she forensically examines author Lucy on her first visit. She and Lucy start meeting occasionally to describe unrecorded lives. Their examples are very rich and varied, certainly better than anything I and my 92 year old mother could muster!

The ending was absolutely perfect with all the loose ends neatly tied. As always Strout conveys the emotions, the sighs, the unspoken word, with poignancy and empathy. I dreaded seeing the last page. I wanted to stay in Crosby.

Shy Creatures Clare Chambers (5 stars)

Finally a full length novel to savour from Clare Chambers. And what a beautifully written story it is.

In less sensitive hands, this 1960s story of a wild looking man who hasn’t been outside for decades, and the elderly aunt who kept him imprisoned, plus his subsequent life in an institution, could have been sensationalist or cruel.

After his existence comes to light William is sent to Westbury, the local psychiatric hospital, where Helen an art therapist, takes an active interest in his recovery, having been involved in the incident that led to his discovery.

Helen is having an affair with progressive psychiatrist Gil. There’s an interesting sub plot about early 1960s psychiatry, with Gil competing for a senior role against a more traditional pill-dispensing rival. Gil’s “progressive “ attitude naturally entitles him to befriend a vulnerable female patient, we learn. Helen becomes aware of this and fortunately there is a satisfying conclusion.

Helen unearths the background to William’s withdrawal from society, and learns about his life with three aunts. The story gently unfolds, shocking us at times. I felt quite invested in William’s future. A gentle and compassionate read.

Intermezzo by Sally Rooney (sampler) (5 stars)

I was given an advance sampler of Irish writer Sally Rooney's new book, Intermezzo.

I don't always love Sally Rooney's writing. The sampler of Intermezzo shows she is back on form. I loved the tender love scene between socially awkward Ivan and Margaret, 14 years his senior. I disliked intensely Ivan's older brother, who expects to turn women's heads. I can't wait to find out how the story develops, although I am not keen on reviewers being given incomplete copies. The book is published on 24 September.

The Grand Scheme of Things by Warona Jay (4 stars)

Eddie, an aspiring playwright, forges an unlikely friendship with posh Hugo, and they conspire to punish the publishing world for rejecting Eddie's play when she submitted it under own name (Relebogile Naledi Mpho Moruakgomo). Inevitably, it becomes a big hit under Hugo's name. "Hugo's" book wins a prize, and it becomes very complicated to reclaim it for Eddie.

Eddie was a hugely divisive character. I became impatient with how chippy she was, and then angry with myself for thinking that.

The plot may be a bit thin but the book is absolutely spot on in challenging our perceptions and exposing the reality of life for a black creative woman in supposedly liberal and understanding Britain.

Isolation Island by Louise Minchin (4 stars)

There have been quite a few thrillers about reality TV contestants trapped in a castle or on an island, amidst murders and skulduggery. I was expecting former TV presenter Louise Minchin's to focus more on the production crew, but everything on "Isolation Island" is remote controlled, no crew in sight. Instead it's the Scottish weather that plays havoc with the 8 celebrities.

The prologue and first chapter seemed to be written by someone else. My heart sank at the flowery and overly descriptive language about moody skies, gloom and heather. But we then dived into the plot and the embellishment ceased to give a good pacey read. The ending was a little drawn out but the story kept my interest.

The Camborne Killings by Sally Rigby (3 stars)

Having read all the books in this series it's fair to say Sally Rigby has a distinct formula for each book. A body at the start of each book; some sort of note or mascot insinuating the start of a spate of killings, and a reflection at the end of each chapter. In the final chapter, there's invariably some sort of inclusive activity for Lauren Pengelly's team, or with Matt' s daughter, to show she's making progress in her communication skills.

Fortunately the plot is well devised, although a clue quite early on led me to a swift identification of the protagonist.

I'd like to see Rigby and her Penzance coppers tackle some different crimes: Penzance is getting as bad as Midsomer for murders.

First Wife's Shadow by Adele Parks (4 stars)

I've been rejected twice by Adele Parks' publishers for an advance copy of her novel. As I have a high score on NetGalley (90%), I was taking it personally, but I imagine they must be looking for reviewers on Tik Tok which I don't do, as a grownup.

Anyway, I bought the latest Parks myself. First Wife's Shadow is about a wealthy and driven CEO, Emma. She meets Matthew when she's speaking at an industry conference and they begin a whirlwind relationship. But something is not quite right. Emma feels haunted by Matthew's first wife, who died just a year before their relationship started.

There are a few shocks, although the ending is a bit tame. All in all, a pacey and well written psychological thriller.

Non-Fiction: Beyond the Selfie by Rosie Hardy (4 stars)

@georgiarosehardy on Instagram is a self portrait artist. She has come a long way since she was, in her own words, "a tortured teenage girl, dealing with some pretty heavy things, uploading weird photos of herself onto Flickr. She documents some of her body struggles, EDS, alopecia and wigs, and how art has steered her through loss and grief.

The book is beautifully illustrated and full of tips and advice for anyone wanting to raise their selfie game.