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The BookViral Review:
A genuinely affecting novel The Tattered Black Book approaches its adult themes with intelligence, maturity, and rare authenticity.
Duck’s writing is light and easy to read, her plot vibrant and a pleasure to follow, but what sets her novel apart is a clear understanding of how family dynamics, in their differing guises, shape our years, with character development at the heart of her narrative.
There’s real soul to this family life story as she beautifully renders the sights and sounds of a bygone era. All are meticulously observed as she explores the veracities of love, family, and calamity. But Duck’s most remarkable achievement in The Tattered Black Book is her ability to find the right narrative balance between uplifting and sad events and moments of deep truth whilst remaining so firmly in control of its tone that we believe we are reading about real people.
Duck doesn’t go for a raft of big melodramatic revelations but rather for the accumulation of emotional investments and although there are parts of The Tattered Black Book that are heart-achingly sad, she is ever mindful to keep a kernel of hope alive.
To this end, Duck gives us wholly endearing characters that exude strength of personality and purpose. Reminding us of the different spheres we inhabit as our lives evolve and not to take any given day for granted, leading to the realisation that our relationships, for good or bad, are ultimately defined by the choices we make.
A timeless story with all the hallmarks of a classic, The Tattered Black Book is nothing short of superb and is recommended without reservation.
Fast-paced, and with as many twists and turns as a Mediterranean coast road, ‘How Long is a Mouse’s Tail’ weaves swiftly and captivatingly through an intricate plot, whilst the foremost murderous mystery keeps the reader guessing.
A far cry from the kiss-and-tell memoirs of dubious celebrity memoirs Wingham’s journey feels true to life and it’s the raw honesty with which she writes that will strike a chord with many of her readers.
You know the ones! The edge of your seat, knuckle gnawing, nail biting books. So, what makes for a good plot. Is there a magic recipe? Or is it just potluck?
An enduring memory of my teenage self sneaking into my mother’s bedroom in search of Mills and Boon still brings a slight blush to my cheeks.
While the occult is a broad umbrella, hiding its many forms under its silky black folds, it’s concepts have endured through time, enjoying many a resurgence through the ages. The term ‘occultism’, is relatively new, not used in French or English literature, for instance, until the 19th Century, although the term ‘occult sciences’ was commonly used in the 16th Century to describe practices such as astrology, alchemy, mysticism, and natural magic.
As writers, we knowingly place ourselves in a position where we will undoubtedly face more rejection than the average person and it seems to me that how we handle that part of the creative process is often key to our success.
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