‘Rooted in a decolonised narrative style where every turn of phrase brings forth the weight of its cultural implications, A River Called Time is a deeply thoughtful, surprising and rewarding read … In short, much of the novel is less an imagined reality than a conditional one: a status quo that could well exist, had major historical events panned out differently. The achievement of Newland is to convey this reality so convincingly.’

‘To me, this book thematically is all about the importance of truth telling, particularly in uncertain times … And I think in each parallel Markriss has to tackle that, whether he should be involved in truth telling or not’ Courttia Newland speaks to Front Row about his new novel, A River Called Time

‘A Derry writer’s powerful, unflinching account of her war-torn childhood and her quest for peace is part hymn to nature, part Troubles memoir’

Salena speaks to Nihal Arthanayake about Mrs Death Misses Death

‘Told in sparse, affecting prose interspersed with poetry, Godden produces a thought-provoking novel that travels across time and place to question the value of life, the experiences of womanhood, and grief in all its forms.’

‘I’m sure many of us have sought solace and healing from the wonders of the living world during the anxious months of lockdown. This past year has been a golden one for nature writing … The most affecting book for me, though, was Rootbound: Rewilding a Life in which Alice Vincent, a champion of urban gardening who founded Noughticulture, delivered a poignant testimony to the joy and hope greenery brings to your life.’

‘If we re-frame lockdown as an opportunity to hibernate until spring, things begin to look a little less bleak … Look closer and you will see hope: green tips of spring bulbs pushing determinedly through the ground; the sugary pink and heady hit of viburnum, sarcococca and daphne blossom; the swelling, fuzzy buds of magnolia. For the first time in my life, I’ve had the time to notice these little wonders.’

Alice Vincent, author of Rootbound discusses reframing the lockdown, and the unexpected joys found along the way.

Kate Grenville’s website has information on all of her books – from her very first (the short story collection Bearded Ladies) to this year’s A Room Made of Leaves – as well as essays available to read now.

‘One idea that does come through effectively is how very far away, how very foreign the recent past seems. Those early 1990s might have seemed pretty humdrum at the time, presided over by John Major, but these days we look back on a politics that was “grey with sunny intervals — the frustrating weather of a functioning democracy” with almost tearful nostalgia … God knows we need a bit of a laugh and a thrill these days, books like this that are driven firmly by characters, setting and story.’