I’ve dipped into the TBR Book Jar to find three new titles from which I’ll pick one to read by end of April.

Elmet by Fiona Mozley

Mozley was described as “an exciting new voice in fiction” when her debut novel Elmet was shortlisted for the Booker Prize in 2017.

Her novel is about two children who live on the outskirts of society, in a house built by their father, a bare-knuckle fighter. Its a form of refuge but soon it becomes clear that they will not be left to live in peace.

The Guardian called it “an impressive slice of contemporary noir steeped in Yorkshire legend.“

As the Women Lay Dreaming by Donald S Murray

One of the many books that have arrived on my bookshelves as a result of a browse in a charity book shop. I knew nothing about Donald S Murray when I bought this book but the description sounded interesting.

It takes inspiration from a real event. In January 1919, more than 200 servicemen on their way home from war, were killed when the Admiralty Yacht Iolaire smashed into rocks and sank. The Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides lost almost all its young male population as a result.

Murray uses this event to examine the effect of a tragedy on a small community.

Trust by Dominic Stallone

From the Italian author Domenico Starnone, comes a novella about a tempestuous relationship. Pietro and Teresa keep breaking up and getting back together until one day after yet another argument, she makes a suggestion. They will each tell each other something they’ve never told another person, something they’re too ashamed to tell anyone.  The idea is to bind themselves together but only a few days later they break up once more — this time for good. They go their separate ways but the secrets they swapped come back to haunt them.

And the vote goes to …….

Trust

This was a really tough decision because I would be happy to read any of these books. Trust just edged in over the Donald Murray because I’ve read and enjoyed a previous book by Starnone — Trick — and know he is very strong in depicting relationships. I was so tempted by As The Women Lay Dreaming —but our book club has just chosen to read Haven by Emma Donaghue which is set on an island so I thought two island-based narratives in the same month could be a mistake. But I’m making a note to myself to read it later in the year.