Bettie's Books

bookshelves: spring-2015, shortstory-shortstories-novellas, published-2014, radio-4x, lit-richer, under-500-ratings

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b054c6gr

Description (BBC): When this volume of short stories was published in May 2014 , Christobel Kent in the Guardian described how it is Gardam's gift -

''for showing us what a place of wonders is the world and the hearts that dwell in it, that endows this collection with a dangerous and formidable energy, richer and more concentrated than any novel. She gives us miracle heaped upon miracle, and insists that they should each one be handled with care.'.

The Great, Grand, Soap-Water Kick: A tramp, unused to speaking, describes the occasional ritual of taking a bath. Remarkable story read by Paul Copley.

Stone Trees: A widow grieving for her recently dead husband spends an afternoon with some old friends. Read by Sylvestra le Touzel.

Grace: Clockie Gosport has a diamond under the skin at the back of his neck. Unlikely mysteries and miracles, read by Paul Copley.

Missing the Midnight: A woman looks back on the train journey when she left university and travelled home for Christmas. Read by Sylvestra le Touzel

Miss Mistletoe: A large family 'welcomes' a regular Christmas visitor, but one year Miss Mistletoe doesn't join them. Read by Rachel Atkins.

4* Old Filth
4* The Man in the Wooden Hat
3* Bilgewater
4* Stories