Pittenweem Library reviews
The Hierarchies is the debut novel of local resident Ros Anderson. It has been published to much acclaim, so do try reading this one. Our library member's enthusiastic recommendation is very persuasive.
Alan Warner is a Scottish author who has been seen as one of the most exciting voices in contemporary literature. His latest novel Kitchenly 434 is a magnificent novel about the Golden Age of Rock set in the English countryside.
We Are Bellingcat, tells the gripping story of how a collective of self-taught internet sleuths exposed some of the gravest state crimes of our era.
Mother’s Boy, is by Patrick Gale, an author that may be known to you for his books which often feature his adopted home county of Cornwall. This, his 17th published novel, is no exception and is based on the life of the Cornish poet Charles Causley.
An interesting review of The Europeans by Orlando Figes, who is Professor of History at Birkbeck College, University of London. He is a British historian and writer well known for his works on Russian and European History including Natasha’s Dance and Crimea: The Last Crusade. The subject of The Europeans, while set in the 19th century, is very relevant to the politics of the world today.
Half of a Yellow Sun is a compelling read that draws you into the story of a family set against the history of the devastating conflict. This novel is included as one of the 70 books that have been announced this week as the Great Jubilee Read, 10 for every decade of Her Majesty The Queen’s reign.
Pilgrims by Matthew Kneale, who may be known to you for his novel English Passengers which won the Whitbread Book of the year in 2000. He is the son of Judith Kerr who wrote one of the most well-known children’s books The Tiger Who Came To Tea.
Rory Clements has published two series of books with historical themes. One series features the protagonist Professor Tom Wilde and is based around the espionage and events of World War II. His other series is the John Shakespeare books which are set in the sixteenth-century court of Elizabeth I.
Jane Gardam is a prolific author who is well known for her nPat ovels for adults such as Old Filth and The Man in the Wooden Hat. She also writes for children and young adults and a number of these novels cross over into adult fiction. The Hollow Land, which won the 1983 Whitbread Children’s Book award. So do encourage younger readers that you know to try out this author who may be new to them.
You may be familiar with Susanna Clarke’s debut novel Jonathan Strange and Mr Norrell which was published to great acclaim in 2004 and was dramatised by the BBC. Her next novel and subject of our first review, Piranesi, was nominated for various literary prizes and won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in 2021.