Tower and Town, April 2018

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White Horse Bookshop Reviews

My novel pick this month is Miss Boston and Miss Hargreaves by Rachel Malik, which I suspect is going to be one of those slow burning word-of-mouthers, and will eventually feature on every reading group's list. Elsie Boston is a farmer, Rene Hargreaves is an initially unwanted and unwelcome Land Girl, on Starlight Farm (lovely name!) in Lambourn. Loosely based on a true story, it’s a book of quietly unfolding detail about determinedly private lives, incrementally coming together to form a relationship of respect and loyalty. Much is unsaid, it's a book that makes the reader do the work of reaching conclusions (don't be put off, it's not onerous, and so very much worth taking the time over). An unusual, thoughtful, satisfying novel to read slowly and carefully, and then to re-read – as I plan to do soon.

Some non-fiction now. A Sweet, Wild Note, by Richard Smyth considers birdsong and what it means, to the birds and to humans, acoustically, ornithologically, and culturally. Smyth has a relaxed and conversational style, with footnotes and asides contributing to the sense of enthusiasm that comes off the page. I started by thinking it was quite a slight, insubstantial little book, but soon found it enjoyable, engaging and informative (A Sweet, Wild Note is on the shortlist for the Richard Jefferies/White Horse Bookshop Nature Writing Prize.)

It may be just me, but I have a sense that The Essay is having a bit of a revival at the moment. Zadie Smith's collection Feel Free is a book to dip into, and to come away from feeling that you've spent time with the bright, confident friend who always makes you up your game. Wryly self-mocking she links and reviews Pop culture and high culture, and she's clear-eyed and sensible about social media and 'snowflake' sensibilities. You may be irritated by some of her comments and conclusions, and you may entirely agree with some of the things she says. That's fine. In her introduction Zadie Smith says she offer these essays “to be used, changed, dismantled, destroyed or ignored as necessary!”

Finally, you can't have missed all the reviews and interviews around Educated by Tara Westover, so I don't need to add anything, but do, please, read it.

Debbie Guest