D: The Taxi Queue by Janet DAVEY

Chosen because

That always intriguing premise of two strangers whose paths cross; how will their lives change as a result of that chance encounter and a single, possibly unwise, decision made on impulse?

The Review

From a chance encounter in a taxi queue and its immediate aftermath the lives of a chain of characters emerge. Their stories don’t so much interlock as bump up against one another. We get a first hand account of their largely joyless existence as they struggle to resolve their personal demons.  Set in modern London the sense of place is strong and feels authentic, but the overall impression is of lives caught in the capital’s currents; either unable or unwilling to do anything other than follow the lines of least resistance.

The action is limited; the dramas are of the everyday sort; the lives and characters are therefore real, but a bit dull. Their thoughts, motives and relationships are reported without exaggeration. As the Guardian put it “it eludes the novelistic norms in favour of something more like life”.

Read another?

Unlikely – I think I prefer novelistic norms

C: The Other Hand by Chris CLEAVE

Chosen because

Unusual and persuasive introduction from the publisher’s editor, backed up by good review bites and a COSTA prize short listing.

The Review

This is a book with a strong narrative hook. We know something dramatic happened but it takes a while to uncover what and a bit longer to uncover why. Even then the question remains how will it all end? Importantly, by then we actually care.

The story unfolds with alternating contributions from the two strong lead female characters. Although from widely different cultures their relationship and mutual support develops almost into dependence and takes us through dramatic events towards their unknown destiny

It’s a good read for the story alone but also includes challenges to preconceptions, insights into unimaginable situations, and possibly (but I may not have quite grasped this) a plea for global peace and harmony.

Read another?

Will definitely look out for “Incendiary”