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Literature Matters - Creative reading - Publications and resources - Literature - British Council - Arts

Granta revisited, we select our favourites and the ones that Granta missed.

Details of all the books mentioned in this issue, plus some extra reading propositions.

The Clearing by Tim Gautreux

The most recent work which hovers in my mind is Tim Gautreux's novel, . While it's a skilfully constructed, almost melodramatic saga of two brothers, the perfect descriptive writing and precision-placed metaphors really do deliver a vast sawmill from 1920s Louisiana into your imagination. celebrates the conservative strengths of the historical novel but does not shy from the dark, ugly truths of real life.

Landing Light by Don Paterson

Don Paterson's collection, proves him a major living poet. Some poems are in literary Scots (Lallans) with glossary but the majority are mysterious, varied and rueful perfections in English. The collection is triumphant on the strength of one stunning poem alone, titled, 'St Brides: Sea Mail'. Please read it.

Cold Water by Gwendoline Riley

As for 'younger' writers, I enjoy the work of Ben Rice and I was amazed Gwendoline Riley, author of the stylish short novel was not one of the recent Granta Best of Young British Novelists promotion. Riley's first novel set her out as an obvious talent and was published when she was just 21. I wait restlessly for her next novel.

Alan Warner is a Scottish novelist now living in Ireland. His novels include , which was recently made into a major feature film, and .

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