We Love This Book

BEING LONGLISTED FOR THE DESMOND ELLIOTT Robert Allison has just been long-listed for his debut novel, The Letter Bearer. Here he tells us about the experience of being recognised by such a prestigious prize.  The fact is that writing a novel is an intimidatingly lonely business and it’s not easy to put faith in your own judgements. What a relief then – and what a reward – to discover that the critical perception of the book marries with your intentions, and that those decisions you took might after all have been the right ones. Not that the second-guessing ever really stops, which is why most writers loathe reading their own novels once they are in print! Being nominated for a prize also has the effect of making you ponder exactly what character of book it is that you’ve written.   READ MORE >

	FEATURES

	BRANFORD BOASE SHORTLIST The Branford Boase Award celebrates the best debut novel for children, honouring both the author and the editor. The chair of judges for the prize, Julia Eccleshare, said: "This year's shortlist is exceptionally diverse."   MORE >			10 QUESTIONS: CLARE FURNISS The author of new children's book The Year of the Rat answers our 10 questions. Claire tells us about where the initial idea for the book came from, as well as the books she wish she'd written and her favourite book when she was a child. MORE >

	BOOK OF THE WEEK

ANIMALS by Emma Jane Unsworth Laura lives in Manchester with her uninhibited and reckless best friend Tyler. She's engaged to Jim, a teetotal concert pianist, and spends her time not writing her novel - about a priest who falls in love with a pig - and taking copious amounts of drugs with Tyler. Animals is a window into Laura's life and while there are key events that shape the plot, it is largely a character portrait and an exploration of being a young woman today. It is reminiscent of How Should a Person Be? by Sheila Heti or TV programme "Girls". As much as anything, this is a celebration of female friendship. Tyler and Laura's friendship is messy and complicated but powerful and all-consuming. MORE >