The Literary Sofa
Isabel Costello
Guest Author – Mary Beth Keane on Fictionalising a Historical Figure
Most writers say they learn from every book they read and I’d agree with that. Whilst it’s very valuable to observe how others handle a similar theme, style or genre, for me there’s a particular fascination, often mixed with admiration, to reading something I wouldn’t attempt myself, and that includes the fictional portrayal of a historical … Continue reading
Guest Author – Karl Taro Greenfeld on his 10 Favourite Novels-in-Stories
Any novel set in New York City, whether historical or contemporary, stands a good chance of catching my eye but two things in particular attracted me to Karl Taro Greenfeld’s first novel Triburbia: the chance to discover Tribeca, a neighbourhood I know only very superficially, and an interest in novels which tell the same events … Continue reading
Book Review – Wise Men by Stuart Nadler
The buzz and excitement surrounding debut author Stuart Nadler in the United States has gone global. To call it hype would suggest that it’s not justified and believe me, it is. Nadler is a graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop (alma mater of no fewer than 17 Pulitzer Prize winners), has held teaching posts both … Continue reading
Guest Author – Karen Campbell on writing beyond her own experience
Many people say they read fiction because a book gives them the chance to step into lives other than their own. Sometimes this comes in the form of escapism, sometimes anything but. In fact, novels are often judged on the author’s ability to draw the reader into a world which is believable and that can only happen … Continue reading
Guest Author – Tracy Chevalier on writing about the Underground Railroad
Given my love of US fiction, it’s surprising that I haven’t hosted an American guest author before now, but it’s been worth the wait – I’m thrilled to welcome international bestselling author Tracy Chevalier to the Literary Sofa. Tracy has written seven novels including Girl with a Pearl Earring which sold over 4 million copies. I … Continue reading
Book Review – Life After Life by Kate Atkinson
Kate Atkinson is one of Britain’s foremost literary novelists writing today – of this there is no doubt. Unlike many other writers of that rank, she doesn’t subject her fans to long waits between titles. Since her debut Behind the Scenes at the Museum won the Whitbread (now Costa) Book of the Year in 1995 … Continue reading
Book Launches & Black Vodka
‘You go to a lot of book launches,’ people say to me. It’s true. It’s one of the many wonderful things, all the more so for being totally unexpected, which have come about since I started the Literary Sofa blog. The timing was just right too because my sons were old enough to be left … Continue reading
Book Review – Five Star Billionaire by Tash Aw
I’m struggling to think of more than one book I’ve read set in China and I suspect it’s the same one everyone else has read: Wild Swans (1991) by Jung Chang, a historical masterpiece and international bestseller published a good while ago. So much about China has changed since then including global perceptions – it’s opened up considerably and … Continue reading
Keeping Up with the Literary Joneses (or The Tyranny of the TBR)
Before I joined Twitter and started blogging (both less than two years ago) I had never even come across the term TBR (To Be Read). Once I’d finished reading the novel for my monthly book group, I’d take a casual look on my shelves (always well stocked because the book stall at the school jumble … Continue reading
Guest Author – Claire King on A Child’s Point of View
Although there’s been a trend for books with child narrators over the last few years, not many have appeared on the Literary Sofa. Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman demonstrated the potential rewards for authors who succeed in capturing a child’s voice for the adult fiction market. No wonder it’s so notoriously difficult to pull off: the voice has to … Continue reading
My new novel SCENT – out in paperback on 19 May 2022
The Literary Sofa 