Intimacies by Lucy Caldwell is one of those collections that you’ll remember for a lifetime, a collection that you remember exactly where you where when you read it – it’s memorable and masterful and proves yet again what a force Caldwell is when it comes to the short story form and why she is one
I first came to know of the name William R. Soldan when I picked up his collection ‘In Just The Right Light’ which was brilliant. So when the opportunity arose to read ‘Houses Burning and Other Ruins’ another collection, I jumped at the chance – and boy is it good. ‘Houses Burning and Other Ruins’
“ Did you remember to get the milk?” “Yes” “It’s not in the fridge or on the table” ‘Well what happened was … when I went outside, the sky was a beautiful powder blue and the afternoon was wonderfully warm. It reminded me of when I lived in Cadiz. I started thinking about that chord
A story for Ieva We move in right before new year. Glasgow, Scotland, as the Americans say. Top-floor flat. Cold, bare, tall ceilings. I am used to terraced houses in a way I don’t quite understand, and the tenements impress me. They are surprisingly solid, hard – like the first time you punch someone’s face.
When I was about sixteen / seventeen it was a different time, it was a time without gadgets and phones, it was a time when you went exploring with friends or by yourself, it was a simpler time, a time I sometimes long for for my children, a time when you didn’t have to conform
“You ok mate? You look a bit down. Everything alright? What’s up? What’s happening? Nothing. It’s ok. I’m ok. Honest. It’s just, well, I didn’t want to put all my problems onto you. It’s not fair. You’ve your own problems to deal with. You don’t need mine too. Come on mate. Don’t be like that.
I am a huge fan of Myers’ work having read many of not all of his published works and I was delighted to hear that he was releasing a short story collection with Bloomsbury Books and when I could I requested that book. Ben Myers is one of my favourite British writers, his work on
He is distracted by the empty cigarette case. The room is otherwise preserved as he remembers. The stained mattress. The sunburnt curtains. The shredded carpet, its threads snaking beneath the mouldy bedframe. But the cigarette case. Where did that come from? The smell is wrong too. Staler, but that’s to be expected. Could someone else
Doug liked his volunteer gig driving Barney to hospital appointments. The guy made him laugh, the way he flipped wildly from one topic to another like a human pinball machine. A fast talker for a guy dying slowly. Doug had Deb to thank for suggesting that he volunteer in the first place. He just couldn`t
From: k*****@*******.com Sent: Monday, 15 May, 20— 6.38 pm To: m*****@*****.com Subject: vase Dear M, It was such a surprise to bump into you at the fair on Saturday. To be honest, I nearly didn’t go over to your stand, but I overheard you talking to another customer about your process and your favourite glazes,
