Uncategorized – A Pearl Clutcher

Review: Bright Burning Things: Portrayal of addiction strikes a delicate balance

Lisa Harding’s new novel, Bright Burning Things, is a challenging yet cautiously optimistic exploration of motherhood and addiction, and one which I thoroughly enjoyed reviewing for the Irish Independent back in March. The novel, in fact, has the feel of a monologue, held together by Sonya’s mesmerising voice, a glorious mix of barely-held-together sanity andContinue reading “Review: Bright Burning Things: Portrayal of addiction strikes a delicate balance”

Review: I Want to Know That I Will Be Okay: Deirdre Sullivan’s hypnotic mixture of real pain and the paranormal

I had the immense pleasure of reviewing Deirdre Sullivan’s new collection of short stories, I Want to Know That I Will Be Okay, for the Irish Independent last weekend. There is something luscious and intriguing in Deirdre Sullivan’s voice, which fuses fairy-tale logic to a real-world earthiness with breathtaking results. In her new short storyContinue reading “Review: I Want to Know That I Will Be Okay: Deirdre Sullivan’s hypnotic mixture of real pain and the paranormal”