Letting a book settle, by Elizabeth Kay
It’s only since I’ve been regularly reviewing two books a month for a magazine that I’ve started to think about how I read, as well as how I write. I have reviewed one AE book – TheSurvival of Thomas Ford by John A. A. Logan. I could fill every slot with books by friends and associates, but I don’t think that would be terribly ethical! The children’s review is written by a nine-year-old, so I’m limited to adult books and I’m meant to select ones that I have enjoyed. Easier said than done. Although I occasionally choose a classic - Cold Comfort Farm and The Day of the Triffids , for instance, I’m mainly meant to be looking at work that’s been published fairly recently, for people who read a lifestyle magazine. This has meant buying a lot of books for my Kindle, frequently by authors who are new to me, and it’s pot luck as to whether I’ll end up reviewing them or not. I find that many of them start off well, and then tail off, which is always disappointing. What has surpris...