Category: Romances and Love Stories

by MMB June 11, 2019

Someone else calls it “indelibly awful” – The Mister, by E.L. James

It gives me great pleasure to re-post a review of E.L. James’ latest romance novel, The Mister, because I justContinue Reading

by MMB August 17, 2018

Discussion of writing style Review of literary fiction Review of modern fiction Review of new book Review of new novel romance Romances and Love Stories

It’s not about mixed doubles at all – The Only Story, by Julian Barnes

Julian Barnes’ latest novel is called The Only Story and, despite the subject (the “scandalous” love affair between a manContinue Reading

by MMB May 26, 2018

historical romance List of similar books List of top books literary romance romance Romances and Love Stories

Romantic novels to put you in the mood for love

It’s Spring, love is in the air and it’s wedding season, so now is the time to revisit some excellentContinue Reading

by MMB March 12, 2018

Backstories Discussion of writing style Review of memoir Romances and Love Stories

To read if you’re bone-tired, lonely or blue – Insomniac City, by Bill Hayes

Insomniac City made me cry – but in a nice way. I am an incurable romantic and Hayes’s revealing memoirContinue Reading

by MMB February 6, 2017

Award-winning novel Backstories Discussion of writing style Published books Review of literary fiction Review of previously published novel Review of science fiction Romances and Love Stories Video

Finnish Weird at its best – Troll, by Johanna Sinisalo

“Madam, I’m afraid he’s come down with a bad case of Trolls.” If you’ve never imagined that trolls are anContinue Reading

by MMB August 21, 2016

Books for Summer Discussion of writing style ebook Review of historical fiction Review of new book Romances and Love Stories Video

A sexy idea that moves you – The Gods of Tango, by Carolina de Robertis

There is a lot of tango-ing in this novel, The Gods of Tango, as well as an eyebrow-raising amount ofContinue Reading

by MMB June 3, 2016

Discussion of writing style List of similar books Review of new book Review of new novel Review of novel Romances and Love Stories

The Buried Giant – It remains in the mind long afterwards

I have found that truly memorable books have something in common: they make you think. As Science Fiction author Neil Gaiman says of KazuoContinue Reading

by MMB July 31, 2015

Discussion of writing style Modern fiction Review of modern fiction Review of new novel Romances and Love Stories Unlikeable Protagonists

Hausfrau, by Jill Alexander Essbaum – A Modern Parable with Switzerland Substituted for Moral Subtext?

The lead character in Hausfrau, “Anna Benz”, must be one of the most disagreeable people I have had the misfortuneContinue Reading

by MMB October 17, 2013

Discussion of genre Review of modern fiction Review of new novel Romances and Love Stories

The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion

Overview I initially liked this novel, written from the point of view of a man who shows quite a fewContinue Reading

How do you know when you have written something worthwhile? What is your process? January 14, 2021
Dear Goran, In Issue #87 I wrote about my favourite line from the New Testament — “Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained standing there in front of the tomb.” To me, this line seems to sum up, among other things, the process of songwriting. William Blake said ‘Jesus is the imagination’ and these words […] The post How do you know when you have written s […]
Molly Cairns

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? (1957) January 14, 2021
“Of course, the great thing about television is that it lets you see events live as they happen, like old movies from thirty years ago.” — Rock Hunter "I wanted to make a picture where I got a laugh faster than anyone else – I guess that's where it started,” said director Frank Tashlin, explaining the opening sequence to Will Success Spoil Rock Hud […]
Top 10 Title Sequences of 2020 (2020) December 27, 2020
The Best Title Sequences of 2020 It’s been a year like no other. A year when so many of us turned to screens to connect or, indeed, to disconnect; when we ached for a dollop of entertainment, a moment of escape or a dose of comfort, for something familiar or something completely new. This year, for Art of the Title’s seventh annual list of the year’s top 10 […]