Tag Archives: British

Blank Canvas by Grace Murray

Posted by Kate W in Fiction and tagged with , , , , , , , , ,

I’m always drawn to campus-lit, so I didn’t need much convincing for Grace Murray’s debut, Blank Canvas. And then I read the blurb –

…Charlotte begins her final year with a lie. Her father died over the summer, she says. Heart attack. Very sudden. Charlotte had never been close with her classmates but as she repeats her tale, their expressions soften into kindness.

– and I carried the book straight to the counter (at the always lovely Ramona Books). Continue reading →

Helm by Sarah Hall

Posted by Kate W in Fiction and tagged with , , , , , , ,

Helm by Sarah Hall was my book group’s last pick. Our host, the wonderful Katie at Ramona Books, sent out a reminder email which made me laugh –

Helm, or Hmmm? … I’ll be pouring generously for all who managed to wade through.

In summary, it’s a story spanning hundreds of years, told from many perspectives, including that of a most unusual narrator – the wind. More specifically, the wind is the Helm, a strong, cold, northeasterly Foehn wind that blows down the slopes of Cross Fell in Cumbria, England. Helm is the only officially named wind in the British Isles and it is notorious for bringing freezing temperatures, roaring noise, and wrecking damage across the valley. Continue reading →