Oh, this has been a difficult bunch of books to keep quiet about. And I haven’t really managed it, looking back, but I could have been much less restrained. Now that Shiny New Books is unveiled, I can finally start linking to my Century of Books reviews – and I have to kick off with the Penguin Classics reprints of Shirley Jackson’s novels. (Incidentally, they tick two dates on my Century of Books list.)
Best among them is The Sundial. If I didn’t already have a Shirley Jackson title in my 50 Books You Must Read list, then this would be on it. Annoyingly (and these are the sorts of things I keep quiet from Shiny New Books, but can’t hide from you, dear friends) I’d spent a mini fortune on a copy of The Sundial three years ago, back when it was very scarce… and yet hadn’t got around to reading it until the reprints came out. Oops.
So this is what I’ll do with my links to SNB reviews. A little bit of intro, and then the first line or two of the review, to hook you in… click on the link to read my review of Hangsaman, The Bird’s Nest, and The Sundial.
I will definitely have to invest in some more Shirley Jackson. I've only read We have always lived in the castle – but loved it. These new Peng Mod Classics editions are lovely.
After my success in recommendation Comyns, I've got my fingers crossed for another success :)