When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson

 

The Day of the Locust by Nathanael West

 

Amazing novel, less about Hollywood than about existential despair, more Dostoevski than the Pat Hobby stories.

Miss Lonelyhearts by Nathanael West

 

Re-read this after, say, 45 years. It was de rigeur as a tortured undegratuate - and is even more bleak to read now. The alcoholic advice columnist tormented by his boss, whose wife he's dallying with, and further confused by his own thoughts. It's known as a "black comedy" but I counted exactly zero fun.

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox by Maggie O'Farrell

 

Started Early, Took My Dog by Kate Atkinson

 

A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry

Return to Barry after some months. a young Irishman signs up for WWI and ships off to Belgium. An exruciating four years is served, his loyalty to Ireland and to the British crown, his father and his girl friend and his faith, are all tested. Unshockingly, the war takes everything from him. Descriptions of mustard gas attacks are particularly terrifying.

The Words of Dr. L and Other Stories by Karen E. Bender

 

Only read the title story and "The Extra Child." Fascinating sci-fi dystopian concepts baldly done.

Case Histories by Kate Atkinson

 

Tore through 100+ pages late last night without a pause. Brilliant as usual - and a whodunit!

Transcription by Kate Atkinson

 

Another WWII novel from the master. I liked it but didn't love it. It still went down easy though. Another obscure young woman protaganist caught up by forces that are beyond her, starting up with MI5 in 1940 and then with the BBC in 1950.

Spies, counter-spies, and maybe counter-counter-spies. I got lost but enjoyably!