, bythe Irish writer, critic and broadcaster Sinead Gleeson, ismy novel of the year so far. It's an intensely atmosphericlook at art, solitude, community, folklore, human nature,the mysteries of faith and the magic of the naturalworld. It's set on an unforgivingly wild and remoteisland off Ireland's harsh west coast, and is about anartist named Nell who is commissioned to make acommemorative artwork to celebrate a mysterious commune ofwomen who live high up on the cliffs.
is charged with an eeriness, and the romance of wildlandscapes and art. Fans of Margaret Atwood and the classic1973 folk horror film will loveit. OliviaLaing is my favourite writer.
I'll read anything by her, soit's thrilling she has a new book out. Like all of herother books like and is a work of ecstatic beauty. Ilove the enchanting way she so deftly weaves togethersocial, cultural and natural history, biography, memoir andcriticism in her work.
Here, she explores the searchfor utopias and paradise through gardens. Gardens as placesof radical change, as rebel outposts steeped in the idealismof communal dreams. It looks at beauty but also landownership and the politics of these spaces.
And in hercustomary way, it's such a vital, generous and hospitablebook. This is one to luxuriatein. by New Zealand author Emily Perkins won the Jann MedlicottAcorn Prize for Fiction at the .
This compellingpage-turner is set in Wellington and follows Therese, whohas married into wealth. But her glossy, comfortable worldis ro.
