Monthly Archives: June 2022

Oh William! by Elizabeth Strout

Posted on June 28, 2022 by Susannah J. Bell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars A masterclass in minimalism. I’ve not read Elizabeth Strout before and wonder if I may have benefited from reading earlier works which could have enhanced this story. However, even without them, this is a … Continue reading →

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Late bloomer or withered petal?

Posted on June 27, 2022 by Susannah J. Bell

Someone commented on one of my blog posts recently.  This was totally amazing because (a) I don’t get many/any comments and (b) the post was ancient.  I mean, really ancient.  I had to google it to find it because I … Continue reading →

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The Three-Body Problem by Liu Cixin

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Susannah J. Bell

My rating: 3 of 5 stars While I enjoy a strange read, this was so strange as to be alienating. The science was intriguing but the story, I’m afraid, was not. Characterisation was virtually non-existent, except perhaps for the policeman … Continue reading →

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Everybody Died, So I Got a Dog by Emily Dean

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Susannah J. Bell

My rating: 4 of 5 stars When I started reading this book, I found myself envying Emily Dean. For a start, she’s a fabulous writer. Very funny, very engaging, with wry observations and an ability to paint a wonderfully colourful … Continue reading →

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Redundancy in the time of a British Apocalypse

Posted on June 21, 2022 by Susannah J. Bell

I have just been made redundant.  I can’t think of a more terrible time to lose a job.  The economy has gone to hell in several handbaskets and the future looks bleaker than the bleakest bleak thing.  If you ever … Continue reading →

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Haunted by a moment of excruciating embarrassment

Posted on June 14, 2022 by Susannah J. Bell

I have an issue with my buzzer.  Everyone rings it.  The postwoman who can’t get in.  A delivery guy for someone else.  Students at 3am who forgot their keys and are off their faces so just ring all the buzzers … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Confusion (Cazalet Chronicles #3)

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Susannah J. Bell

I first listened to the radio adaption of The Cazalet Chronicles several years and finally got around to reading the first one last year over Christmas.  It was the most perfect time of year for that sort of novel – … Continue reading →

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The story that refused to write

Posted on June 7, 2022 by Susannah J. Bell

I’ve been battling with a short story for what feels like a thousand years.  It’s actually been less than three months which is probably not THAT long given that it has quite a high word count but it’s going so … Continue reading →

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