Sample Saturday is when I wade through the eleventy billion samples I have downloaded on my Kindle. I’m slowly chipping away and deciding whether it’s buy or bye. Of course, it’s all academic this year because of my self-imposed book-buying-ban (but I’ll keep a good record of what to buy on January 1, 2017).
The Past by Tessa Hadley
Why I have it: Because I liked what Claire Fuller (of Our Endless Numbered Days fame) had to say about it.
Summary: Siblings meet up in their grandparents’ old house for three long, hot summer weeks. It’s tense.
I’m thinking: Maybe (but will I feel like I’m eavesdropping on a family tiff…?).
Aquarium by David Vann
Why I have it: Ditto above.
Summary: Each day, twelve-year-old Caitlin visits the local aquarium after school, while waiting for her mother to pick her up. She befriends an old man at the tanks and also uncovers a family secret. Everything changes.
I’m thinking: Yes, I already love Caitlin.
Beside the Sea by Veronique Olmi
Why I have it: Ditto above above.
Summary: A single mother takes her two young sons on a trip to the seaside. She knows that it will be the last trip for her boys.
I’m thinking: Yes but I know it’s going to make me cry. A lot.
I feel a bit of pressure already with my recommendations! I hope you like those you read 🙂
Ha! *no pressure at all, honestly* I think Aquarium has wooed me the most so I’ll start with that (I’m quite partial to fish myself…).
Unrelated: I LOVED your book and looking forward to the next one.
Thank you! If you like quite ‘dark’ fiction, I also really recommend David Vann’s Legend of a Suicide. Interested to know though, what you think of the other three.
Thanks, I’ll check it out.
Normally I’d vote for Tessa Hadley as she is a such a great writer, but Aquarium sounds awesome too.
I haven’t read any Tessa Hadley – where should I start?
I thought her first novel was a strong debut ‘Accidents in the Home’ so you could start reading in order, but I read on another blog recently that ‘The Past’ is brilliant, so I’m keen to read that soon.
Accidents sounds good. Have added it to my already blossoming “Books I’ll buy on January 1st, 2017 when my book-buying-ban is over” list on Goodreads 🙂
Yes to all of them!
Ha! I’m trying to show restraint 😉
I like the sound of Aquarium. I look forward to reading your review, once you get around to reading it. 🙂
Thank you! I will get to it 🙂
I don’t know any of these so can’t help you decide whether to buy. But I do love the output from Pereine generally so If I had to make a choice it would be that one probably
Funny you mention the publisher because I noticed that they specialised in lesser-known European works (all short novels or novellas) – they have an interesting list!
Life’s too short for book-buying-bans. If you want it buy it.
Yes… But I already have 407 books that I ‘wanted’… Some of them I wanted so badly that I pre-ordered them and now they’re gathering dust. Have been somewhat smug about my decision to read from what I own because my first book of the year has turned out to be beyond brilliant (Wallace Stegner’s Crossing to Safety).
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