Short Stories, Irish literature, Classics, Modern Fiction, Contemporary Literary Fiction, The Japanese Novel, Post Colonial Asian Fiction, The Legacy of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and quality Historical Novels are Among my Interests








Friday, August 6, 2021

Writers & Lovers by Lilly King - 2020

 

Writers & Lovers by Lilly King - 2020 - A Novel


Set in 1997 in New England, the central character is Cssey Peabody.  She is a trying very hard to finish her first novel for the last six years.  She is bogged down by $73,000 in student loans and credit cards bills.  She is overwhelmed with grief for the unexpected death of her mother. 


She lives in her landlord’s garage.  She walks his dog for a discount on rent.  She works as a waitress.  A lot of the novel is devoted to her work place.  No body wants to make working there a life time career and this area of her life is well pottrsyed.


Casey is, when we first meet her, involved in a love affair with a famous writer she met at a workshop. It is not what she needs. She has been unlucky in love. Her father is far from perfect.


Her friend Muriel takes her to a book signing where she meets to more romantic interests.  One an older writer, Oscar,with three popular novels and a young poet, a student of the writer.  We see Casey struggle to either pick one or stay single.


The book shows how hard it can be to focus on finishing a novel. The book does take an exciting turn when she at last finishes the novel, mails it off and gets a very positive response.



I would have liked to have been taken future into Casey’s future than we were.


There are numerous very well done bookish conversations I really enjoyed. If it had been set just a few years in the future the internet would change everything for aspiring writers.



New York Times, 100 Notable Books of 2020

Washington Post, 10 best books of 2020

NPR’s “Fresh Air,” Maureen Corrigan's Top 10 Books

NPR, Best Books of 2020

People, Top 10 Books of 2020

Los Angeles Times, 10 best books of 2020

Amazon, Best literature and fiction of 2020

Kirkus Reviews, Best Fiction Books of 2020

Electric Literature, Favorite Novels of 2020

Chicago Public Library, Best Books of 2020: Top 20

New York Public Library, Best Fiction Books of 2020

Guardian, Best books of 2020 – picked by our acclaimed guest authors

Times (UK), Best Fiction Books of 2020

Exile in Bookville Bookstore, Favorite Books of 2020 


https://lilykingbooks.com/bio


Her website has a bio and details on her other books. 


 I hope to read more of her work.

1 comment:

Mystica said...

I read this one and I was so drawn into the story. I will be keeping a look out for more from this author.