Set in the barren hills of the countryside, this sinister dystopian novel is a compelling read that explores the power of words. When everyday life has been thrown to the wind and an existence rooted in violence and survival takes over, The Last Good Man is a gritty look at what happens when a community
7 December, 2020 There is a pervasive argument today that writers should not represent other races, classes, genders, sexualities, disabilities, ideologies or religious persuasions in their fiction unless they have ‘authentic lived experience’ from which to draw. The argument is driven by a concern for social justice and a fear that institutions with power will
In a post-apocalyptic USA, sometime in the 25th century, the scattered remnants of humanity have formed themselves into several small communities. There is ‘The Commonwealth,’ a highly-organised and sophisticated group, who live in a Stadium on the edge of the desert, clinging to the remnants of old technology. They’re a society organised around a mission:
Well Read Beard reviews Tiffany McDaniel’s ‘Betty’ – this looks like it could be a book of the year, many reviewers have been pouring praise on this book, but this review by Kevin is just too good not to share… once you’ve watched it, go out and pick the damn thing up, you won’t be
Since I was little I’ve always had a fascination with the Vietnam War, I don’t know why, it probably has something to do with my father and his influence on me at a young age. We used to sit and watch so many war films (probably when I shouldn’t have been, I remember watching Full
As the tales of Ruby progress, one thing soon becomes apparent – this world is not as it first appears. Author Nina Allan pulls us down a rabbit hotel of intense possibilities, warping the narratives into bizarre, absorbing, stories in this beautifully written collection. Allan takes us a journey through opposing times, places, and genres,
Comma Press bring us a new collection of horror with ‘The New Abject’ and being such a fan and supporter of their first outing ‘The New Uncanny’ I for one couldn’t wait to get tucked into this offering. They have a few writers returning to the fold and have also added some stunning writers to
Brutally honest and illuminating, Having and Being Had by Eula Biss is the book we should all be reading, now more than ever. Described as a collection of short, interlinked essays, Biss’ dives into work, possessions, and art are shrewd, funny and yet alarmingly insightful. By aligning these topics with her experiences, Biss acknowledges her
Of Foster Homes and Flies is a Pandora’s Box of emotions; love, loss, despair, fear, abuse, hope, desire and transformation. Once you lift that lid (or cover in this situation) you can’t put those feelings back, however hard you try! It’s a book that explores the darkness of growing up in a house devoid of
Lot by Bryan Washington was my book of the year in 2019 and you can read that review here and I have been eagerly awaiting his novel Memorial for some time, staring wide eyed with delight at the announcements as they etched closer to a release date – and then the day was finally here,
