DuncanH

You know when someone you don't know very well regales you with tales of when they went 'travelling'? And rather than recognising them as some funny holiday stories, they treat their 'experience' as a higher calling that completely altered their outlook on life? And you know how all this is usually when you're trying to squeeze out of the kitchen at a below average house party?

Well, that.

Except this time it's not a recently graduated student who's just had a house bought for them in south London, it's a middle aged Italian woman.

The Other Language isn't terrible in the slightest. It's not her, it's me. The short stories are well written and often begin quite intriguingly. I just don't think that I'm its target audience.

Roman female has strained relationship with siblings/partner, event occurs that seems small but leads to seismic change. Often away from home. Repeat x 9.

Maybe it's all too subtle for me. I'm not the biggest fan of short stories anyway, but while I like the writing, I just can't warm to the stories at all. Nothing of any interest grabs me. I've got other things I want to be reading.