Six months after paperback publication, One of Us continues to remain on both the VIntage and Richard and Judy bookclub bestseller lists. Vintage also continue to recommend the novel as one of its essential fiction reads. BBC Audio books have recently recorded a full, unabridged length CD of the novel – playing time 10 hours… Continue reading…
Writings
‘You’re wicked, you’re insane’
Sitting in his warmly furnished living room in Regent’s Park, in central London, Nicholas Mosley evokes an air of elegant bohemianism. A celebrated Booker-nominated novelist, winner of the 1990 Whitbread prize for his richly experimental Hopeful Monsters, he is also a skilled memoirist and has worked as a scriptwriter for the film directors Joseph Losey… Continue reading…
Playing catch up
It might be too early to call, but the rather bold education white paper, published this week, looks like giving Labour a surprise lead in the political battle over public service reform. Only a week ago, the idea of a fresh vision from Labour on any policy area was being belittled by a largely cynical… Continue reading…
The cost of progress in schools
Gordon Brown said earlier this week that parents could expect a private school-style education under plans unveiled in yesterday’s white paper, an extraordinarily bold claim given the current political and economic position. But should Brown’s statement be taken with a pinch of cynicism or just a smidgin of realistic hope? Read the rest of Melissa’s… Continue reading…
That all important short list…
As the holidays approach, my attention is focussed on what music and books to take. My elder daughter has fervently promised to load all the music I could possibly desire onto my i-pod, in return for ‘borrowing’ it for the last couple of years, so that’s taken care of ( what a dream to simply… Continue reading…
Graft and craft.
Last Thursday, I was invited to dinner with a book group in London – the hundredth meeting of this group as it happened- in order to discuss my novel One of Us. I sat, under a small but persistent IKEA style spotlight, at the centre of a long table groaning with food, for about two… Continue reading…
Breaking through the silence
Please come to a special event, Breaking Through the Silence, put on by the English PEN Writers in Prison Committee and JAM, an organisation set up to nurture, promote and perform new music in the UK, in support of imprisoned and persecuted writers throughout the world, but particularly highlighting the situation of Aung San Suu… Continue reading…
Honest MP’s. Yes, they most certainly do exist!
Very thoughtful piece by Linda Grant in Comment is Free today on the existence – and existential difficulties – of honest MP’s, and the role played by the unholy triangle of politicians, press and communications experts aka spin doctors in making a life of reflective policy and law making far more difficult than it should… Continue reading…
Whatever happened to Holland Park?
People often ask me what my old school, Holland Park comprehensive, was like and what it is like now. For the moment, I will direct people to Michele Hanson’s excellent article in The Guardian about the school in recent years. Enough said. I will be returning to this subject again, in this, Holland Park’s fiftieth… Continue reading…
A Good Read
Listen to Melissa on A Good Read, Radio Four’s book programme, Tuesday at 4.30 and repeated on Friday at 11 pm. Continue reading…
