Forum / 'Wild: a collection' by Gill Hoffs now published

Marcus Speh
Jun 14, 07:42am

In my blurb for this book, I said: "In her tales, Gill Hoff’s unique voice has tamed the wild creating narratives of raw beauty. When I put the book down, I could taste the salt of the green sea on my tongue." For this mini-review, I'd like to add that there's a sweetness here, not just sea salt, which is rather rare these days. Fear and bitterness sells so much better. But Gill's sweetness is of an even rarer kind: it's not sentimental, soccer-mom sweetness, but it's gritty. Gill has gargled with sugar water, spat it out and written well. In this collection, you'll find non-fiction pieces, too which reveal some of the roots of the tales, and the first chapter of her debut novel, The Perfection Of Ten, which begins thus: «The first thing Jericho Comstock did was grab the hemp rope coiled like an ammonite by his feet and jump. Jump high. Jump clear of the towering bulk of the sperm whale’s flukes as it crushed the craft and crew that killed it.» I don't want to analyze this bit to death, but the lyrical tension held here makes me think we're waiting for a winner here. Such a good book.

Susan Gibb
Jun 14, 04:33pm

Knowing Gill and her writing, I'm sure this will be a hit and will lead to more!

Claire King
Jun 14, 04:58pm

This looks absolutely wonderful, and thanks Marcus for the review insights!

Gill Hoffs
Jun 15, 12:50pm

Thanks everyone! If you order today and enter the code CRACKED or CRACKEDUK [depending on where you live] then you'll get either 13% [UK] or 20% off your order - so if you felt like reading some brutally funny yet touching flash you could purchase Vestal Aversion by marvellous Matt Potter too for even more of a bargain! Hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it.

Susan Tepper
Jun 15, 02:30pm

Gill wishing you Big Congrats and all Good Luck with your debut book!!!
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