Seascraper by Benjamin Wood, and more Jenny Nimmo

 I've been following Benjamin Wood's literary career since his first, very good novel, The Bellwether Revivals, and have reviewed a few of his novels, including The Ecliptic (ten years ago) and, more recently, The Young Accomplice.  His new novella, Seascraper, is excellent, and I wrote about it for The Spectator. 

Meanwhile, over on Substack, I've been writing more about Jenny Nimmo, and the mysteries of magic and influence.  

 

Paper certificates, and Ivy Compton-Burnett

 Over on Substack, I've written more about Ivy Compton-Burnett's inimitable, spare,  intriguing work, having read Parents and Children. 

 

And I've also written a piece for The Spectator about the need for physical certificates as rites of passage. 

 

 

Summer Children's Book Round Up, et alia

 

I've reviewed five children's / young adult titles for my Summer Children's Book Round Up in Literary Review: 

How To Train Your Dragon School by Cressida Cowell

The Narzat and the Shifting Shadow by Luke Marchant

The Wood Where Magic Grows by Andy Shepherd

Live by Luke Palmer

Aphrodite by Bryony Pearce.  

Also, over on Substack, I've been writing about AI (again), as well as re-reading Thomas Kyd's The Spanish Tragedy.  

On Pseuds Corner

 I wrote about Private Eye's Pseuds Corner for The Spectator. Meta!

 

 

Lording Barry: Pirate and Playwright

 I've written a little substack on Lording Barry. 

What All Teenagers Should Read: Part 3

 Over on Substack, I'm doing a series on what all teenagers should read. Here is part 3, on Ursula Le Guin.

On the decline of reading

 I've written about growing illiteracy in The Spectator. Read it here.