THE PLOT: ‘Of Women and Salt’ by Gabriela Garcia is a multi-generational narrative about women in a Cuban family. In 1866, Maria Isabel’s life is torn apart as her country experiences political upheaval. One hundred years later, her descendant Dolores … Continue reading Review: Of Women and Salt
THE PLOT: ‘Stone Blind’ by Natalie Haynes is a retelling of the ancient Greek myths about Medusa. For the uninitiated, Medusa is the snake-haired Gorgon who can turn people into stone with a look. Told in multiple POVs, the novel charts … Continue reading Review: Stone Blind
THE PLOT: ‘The Mad Women’s Ball’ by Victoria Mas (translated by Frank Wynne) is literary fiction about three women in the Salpêtrière Asylum in Paris, 1885. Based on an historical event; once a year the asylum hosted a ball where the … Continue reading Review: The Mad Women’s Ball
THE PLOT: ‘Still Life’ by Sarah Winman is about a young soldier called Ulysses who meets 64-year-old Evelyn in Italy in the final months of WWII. In this brief encounter Evelyn introduces Ulysses to art, culture and the beauty of Tuscany. … Continue reading Review: Still Life
THE PLOT: ‘Daughter of Black Lake’ by Cathy Marie Buchanan is a historical novel set in Iron Age Britain. Hobble is a young woman with a lame leg, but she is blessed with the gift of prophecy. Her mother, Devout, blames … Continue reading Review: Daughter of Black Lake
THE PLOT: ‘Theatre of Marvels’ by Lianne Dillsworth is a historical novel about a mixed-race actress in Victorian London. Zillah has left the slums of St Giles to star as ‘The Great Amazonia’ – a savage from deepest, darkest Africa. However, … Continue reading Review: Theatre of Marvels
THE PLOT: ‘Cecily’ by Annie Garthwaite is a historical novel set during the Wars of the Roses. It follows Cecily, Duchess of York, throughout her marriage to Richard of York – de facto heir to the English throne. Though Cecily’s mother … Continue reading Review: Cecily
THE PLOT: ‘She Who Became the Sun’ by Shelley Parker-Chan is a historical fantasy novel about the origins of the Ming Dynasty. Set in Southern China in 1345, it re-imagines the life-story of one of the most powerful emperors in … Continue reading Review: She Who Became the Sun
THE PLOT: ‘Katheryn Howard: The Tainted Queen’ is the fifth book in the ‘Six Tudor Queens’ series by Alison Weir. Starting with her mother’s death, it follows Katheryn’s tumultuous upbringing as she’s shunted between different family members. She ends up … Continue reading Review: Katheryn Howard
The Plot: ‘At Night All Blood is Black’ by David Diop is a literary novel set during the first world war. It centres two Senegalese soldiers who are fighting for the French in the trenches. The novel opens with Alfa as … Continue reading Review: At Night All Blood is Black
Amina's Bookshelf 