This is just a quick hello and update as you haven’t heard from me in a while and it’s lovely that the blog is still getting readers and new followers despite my absence. I hope you are coping OK in these times of fear, frustration and rage, and for many, terrible hardship and sadness. It’s not easy, is it? As I said at the beginning of the lockdown, I’m not going to dwell on the subject here (there is a LOT I could say but I take it you’re getting your fill elsewhere.)
It’s taken 4 weeks, but I have now fully recovered from what I and several doctors (my husband and friends – I didn’t need medical treatment) thought was highly likely to be Covid 19. Thank you to everyone who sent me messages, checked up on me and especially the wonderful guest author who sent me these beautiful flowers. (I had symptoms affecting my vision but fortunately not my super-sharp sense of smell.) I spent one week flat out in bed, and one on the (actual) sofa feeling like I’d been mentally drugged and weighed down with lead. Since then my energy levels have slowly returned to normal. You can imagine how shocked I was to test negative for CV19 antibodies after all that.
Mini book/culture update: Like many others, I found it hard to read when the pandemic kicked off, which has never happened to me before. To my relief it didn’t last, and I have really enjoyed the entire Patrick Melrose series by Edward St Aubyn; Calypso, my first but definitely not last David Sedaris, and The Light Years, first volume of Elizabeth Jane Howard’s Cazalet Chronicle. All of these were highly recommended and for good reason. I thought the BBC adaptation of Normal People by Sally Rooney was outstanding, with moving performances that uncovered more emotional depth than I personally found in the words on the page. There are characters the same age (20) in my next book.
Speaking of which, I’m now hard at work on the edits for Scent which is out next April with Muswell Press. It’s a real joy and privilege to work with a publisher who gets my novel and provides expert guidance to strengthen it – the role of editors who really engage with the manuscript is undervalued in the book world. I’m really missing the French side of my life and the people in it, so it’s been great to lose myself in the Paris and Provence settings of the novel and I hope it will have the same effect on readers.
Clearly my usual blog schedule has gone out the window as I normally post my Summer Reads selection, the biggest of the year, the week before half term (i.e. last week). Rest assured that I will be doing it, and will be on the case as soon as my work commitments allow – probably mid June at this rate. It’s going to be a strange summer for most of us but as always I’ll be featuring several titles that take you to another place. Until then, the titles on my Spring Spotlight are excellent choices to be going on with and there are some fabulous guest contributions from the authors too.
See you soon!
The Literary Sofa 
Glad you’re feeling better. Strange times we live in, but this too shall pass, I hope. 🌹🌹🌹
Posted by M. L. Kappa | May 26, 2020, 20:06Gosh, I hope so too! Thank you.
Posted by Isabel Costello | May 27, 2020, 10:58Hey Isabel! Good to see you. 🙂
Posted by Relijen | May 26, 2020, 21:03Thanks – I miss the blog when I’m unable to do it.
Posted by Isabel Costello | May 27, 2020, 10:58Sorry to hear about your illness. Good that you’re back up writing and blogging.
Posted by MIke Clarke | May 26, 2020, 22:22Thanks, Mike. Just as well where the edits are concerned as I have a deadline…
Posted by Isabel Costello | May 27, 2020, 10:59So glad you’re back and how frustrating about the antibody test…I’ve been fortunate to be reading tons of books and look forward to seeing your picks soon!
Posted by Jennifer Grigg | May 27, 2020, 09:54Thanks, Jen. UNbelievably frustrating, especially after the whole family isolating for 14 days for no reason, which as you know is hard. Stay tuned for the picks and hope to see you soon IRL xx
Posted by Isabel Costello | May 27, 2020, 11:00Thanks for the update. Glad you’re okay but so frustrating re the antibodies. Go easy on yourself!
Posted by Anne Goodwin (Annecdotist) | May 28, 2020, 10:50Thank you, Anne. I’m not sure I trust the result actually – may repeat the test in due course. It doesn’t change anything in the meantime.
Posted by Isabel Costello | June 3, 2020, 11:23Hi Isabel, so glad you’re feeling better. I’m not sure any of these tests are that reliable. I’ve been ill, 5 weeks now, still struggling to get back to normal. I tested negative for the virus, but my GP thinks I had it. If it wasn’t, I’d like to know what the hell it was! It’s horrible, even a mild form. I’m inclined think you know when you’ve had it, regardless of tests. Take care love Avril x
Posted by avriljoy | June 3, 2020, 22:23So sorry to hear you’ve been ill, Avril. I will email you x
Posted by Isabel Costello | June 4, 2020, 10:06So sorry you had a horrible few weeks, Isabel. Sounds awful. But I’m very glad you are feeling better. Looking forward to your Summer Reads, but make sure you go at your own pace. Take care! x
Posted by Juliet | May 29, 2020, 16:23Thanks, Juliet! It’s nice to hear so many readers say they’re looking forward to my selection.
Posted by Isabel Costello | June 3, 2020, 11:22Glad to hear you’re feeling better. Take care Isabel. x
Posted by helenmackinven | June 2, 2020, 10:34Thanks, Helen. Back to normal now!
Posted by Isabel Costello | June 3, 2020, 11:21Hello, I just started a blog and would love to know your opinion. I love your blog and I wish to learn from you
Here is the link to my blog
https://yarathebookaddict.wordpress.com
Posted by Yarathebookaddict | July 5, 2020, 03:39Hi Yara, glad you’re enjoying the blog. Good luck with yours, it looks great!
Posted by Isabel Costello | July 8, 2020, 10:32Thank you Isabel. That means alot
Posted by Yarathebookaddict | July 8, 2020, 13:57