MICROFICTION :
books
BOOK OF THE MONTH
THE YELLOW BIRDS
Kevin Powers ( Sceptre ) Based on the Iraq war , The Yellow Birds charts the story of Bartle and Murph , two soldiers who become friends , and Sterling , their slightly unhinged gung-ho sergeant . There ’ s a great deal of lyrical beauty in this book , with a dreamlike atmosphere being conjured in the midst of great tragedy . It can be overdone , but it ’ s also powerful and moving . The futility of war , of friendship , of promises , of life itself is beautifully drawn . And it ’ s that tenderness that makes it such an important novel . The tenderness in the friendships , the tenderness in the way nature is used , the tenderness in the telling itself . I haven ’ t read a book in one sitting for a long time but I did with this , and I was left with an ache for all the beauty we have been given and all we have done to destroy it . RHODRI JONES
AN ENGLISHMAN IN MADRID Eduardo Mendoza ( MacLehose ) Set in 1936 against the backdrop of the Spanish Civil War , Eduardo Mendoza ’ s intriguing story follows the life of art historian Anthony Whitelands , a humorous and eccentric character who unintentionally finds himself involved in hidden political dealings in Madrid . A previous winner of the prestigious Planeta Prize , An Englishman In Madrid is an engaging comic story with an entertaining fast pace and intriguing mix of themes such as love , violence and friendship . RH
PERFECT Rachel Joyce ( Doubleday ) The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry was a tough act to follow , having won the hearts of many readers . Set in 1972 and the present day , Rachel Joyce ’ s second novel is just as gentle and as moving . The stories of Byron and his best friend James and of the mysterious and lovable Jim come together in a finale which is both heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time . Perfect equals Harold Fry to ensure that fans will not be disappointed . CB
BLOOD MONTH William Vaughan ( Y Lolfa ) Blood Month is a thriller set in a boys ’ boarding school where the widely disliked headmaster is found dead . The subsequent investigation reveals a dark side to the school , with allegations of sexual misconduct fuelling the sense of mystery . The plot retains a breakneck pace from start to finish as the hidden culture of jealousy and deceit is unfurled . Two police officers identify a number of possible suspects , but there are twists aplenty before the truth is finally uncovered . JD |
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BRIEF LOVES THAT LIVE FOREVER Andreï Makine ( MacLehose ) It ’ s a terrible title – better suited to Tesco ’ s bestseller chart than one of MacLehose ’ s dinky hardbacks . If you ’ ve got the balls to add it to your Goodreads shelf , you ’ ll be rewarded with vignettes of love ( or the lack thereof ) in Soviet Russia . Makine ’ s belief in love ’ s transcendent power would be irritating if any of his characters actually experienced it : love is a dream , the book says , and it does more for the lover than the one on which it is bestowed . Light and poignant . MM |
THE RICE PAPER DIARIES Francesca Rhydderch ( Seren ) Set in both Hong Kong and West Wales during World War II , this is a highly emotive debut novel . Told from the perspective of Elsa , her husband Tommy , their daughter Mari and Chinese amah Lin , there ’ s a silent undertone to be relished as relationships are tested , only adding to the overall atmospheric prose . Inspired by the experiences of the author ’ s great-aunt , survival , betrayal and the impact of war are all explored in this compelling and moving story . RH |
WITCHES HATS AND PAINTED CHARIOTS Ed . Jon ‘ Mojo ’ Mills ( Shindig !) Presented as a spined magazine , the section in which you ’ ll probably find it in WH Smith , there ’ s a small book ’ s worth of info and ruminations on tumultuous Anglo-Scottish hippy collective The Incredible String Band herein . Their albums – mad flights of fancy which just happened to deteriorate after the group ‘ got ’ Scientology – are assessed with no rose specs , and other acid-folk icons like Comus , COB and The Wicker Man are also given max respect . NG |
MICROFICTION :
THE RICE PAPER DIARIES by FRANCESCA RHYDDERCH
BUZZ 44
I was up on the roof terrace hanging out the washing when the bombing started . Although I had wrung the sheets out by winding them tight , they were still heavy with water and awkward to pull up onto the line without letting the other end drag on the dusty tiles underfoot . The early morning sky was misty above Victoria , and over in Kowloon the rows of windows along the wharf glinted in the sun . At the bottom of the hill was the race course , grass rippling like a green lake . The first thing I heard was the drone of aeroplanes . I turned round to look , but my hands were full of damp linen so I couldn ’ t shade my eyes and had to scrunch them up against the sun . Flying in over the Peak like squat , gorged mosquitoes were six planes , so low I could see the burning red circles painted on their sides . As they flew over the apartment their undercarriages started to open . They must have been about halfway down the hill when they released their load . The first bomb fell on the cemetery on Ko Chiu Road , and the earth opened up like a flower , sending out a shower-burst of chipped slabs , metal vases , bits of wood and
incense sticks . After that there was another boom , and another , more smoke and debris floating up through the wooded hill that separated us from the rest of the city . I ran down the steps from the roof and through the apartment , pegs snapping against the linoleum as they scattered all around me , a bundle of washing still in my arms . I ran to Mrs Elsa ’ s dressing room , where she was sitting at her mirror doing her hair . She was still in her negligee , covered up by a house coat wrapped around her middle with one of her elegant sashes . “ Hide !” she said .
The Rice Paper Diaries by Francesca Rhydderch is published by Seren , and is available in all good book shops and online (£ 8.99 ) at www . serenbooks . com