May Books

 

Dear friends. Another fine selection of books today featuring some very memorable women. There are the women of the Ladies' Circus, in 1930s Scotland;  a wealthy heiress with a congenital muscle disorder and a secret life, and two actresses at different stages of their career, both victimised by men and determined to see justice. There is also a beautiful book about life and travel in Greece.

A Family Matter by Claire Lynch (5 stars out of 5) - Book of the Month 

A stunning debut. An important book that shines a light on an injustice against women which persisted until fairly recently. Heron brought his daughter Maggie up on his own, with the help of his mother. Maggie knows very little about her own mother. She has a precious relationship with Heron but they don't talk about many things, including this. Heron shows his love by fixing things at Maggie's house.

The timeline flits between 2022, and a life changing diagnosis for elderly Heron, and 1982, when Maggie's mother Dawn meets Hazel, who brings joy into her life.

A gentle and beguiling story, beautifully written. A fantastic debut from Claire Lynch.

Hunchback by Saou Ichikawa  (4 stars out of 5)

Long listed for The Booker Prize, this is a slim novella of 100 pages that packs a powerful punch. Shaka Isawa is a wealthy heiress: she has a congenital muscle disorder and hasn't left the care home where she's lived since age 14. She has a very active life freelancing as a porn writer, studying as a student and sending tweets into the abyss,  convinced no-one reads them.

The first few pages were a graphic group  sex encounter which had me pursing my lips at all the exclamation marks, but it then became clear this was Shaka's writing hustle. 

It's a battle for Shaka to stay alive as she needs to constantly clear her lungs. She wants to live, and feel, like a "real" woman. She is in her 40s and has never had sex, although she writes about it.

I won't tell you anymore because we'll be in spoiler territory.  It's not a novel you enjoy per se, but you marvel at the writing and the dark humour. The ending caught me unawares. The author, Saou Ichikawa, has the same condition as her fictional creation. 

The Show Woman by Emma Cowing (4 stars out of 5)

Who hasn't wanted to run away to join the circus? I was enthralled by the ladies' circus of The Show Woman. I even looked up Vinegarhill, to see that it was a residence and place of business for travellers, with 190 people registered to vote there between 1928 and 1930.

The 4 women in the ladies circus are strong characters, ahead of their time, and consequently persecuted at times. Beautifully written, you can almost smell the fried onions, candyfloss, horses and sawdust.

A Beautiful Way to Die by Eleni Kyriacou (4 stars out of 5)

Women in the movies have certainly suffered for their art. A Beautiful Way to Die exposes the dark side of Hollywood, where men facilitated each other in treating female "talent" like commodities.

Set in the early 50s, the novel focuses on two women at different stages in their career. Ginny has arrived in Hollywood from London with a one-way ticket after winning a beauty contest. She turns the head of an established male star - who happens to be married to top actress Stella Hope. While Ginny is undergoing "improvements" at the studio's request, Stella is being forced to star in mediocre films in Ealing after being sent to London. Her stardom is no deterrent to male actors who grope and humiliate her.

Without giving spoilers, the plot has many twists and turns and involves a private investigator and police. The drama builds and comes to a head at a glitzy party where anything goes.

The book has been meticulously researched and true life incidences of female stars abused by their studios and directors are mentioned: Frances Farmer, for example, who was committed to an asylum.

The Missing Ones by Anita Waller (4 stars out of 5)

Ray Eke has always found peace in his job, collecting litter for the city council. Until the day he finds the brutalized, bloodless body of a girl on his round. He recognizes her immediately: Lauren Pascoe, who went missing three years before.

It’s also clear she hasn’t been lying on the roadside verge all this time. Someone has clearly been holding her prisoner. 

This is Anita Waller's best book to date. It has all the ingredients for a rip roaringly good crime thriller: believable police officers racing against time, a gruesome MO, and some amazing twists in the plot. Loved it.

Lifelines by Julian Hoffman

A travel memoir focused on the wonder of nature. Sumptuous writing by Julian Hoffman, who tells the story of how he and wife Julia decide to move to Prespa, a remote part of Greece.  Memorable moments include a stare-down with a bear surrounded by Spring wildflowers, and a deep-winter meeting with fourteen wrens sheltering above a frozen doorway. 

Julian seamlessly weaves an intricate web of stories of conflict and possibility. 

A book to dive into when you want to escape from the cruelty and avarice of today's world. 

BOOK BLOG TOURS IN MAY

Human Remains by Jo Callaghan 

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