Books in Brief

visionary, her tale draws the attention of the locals and the media, and soon scientists are looking into the cause of this miraculous phenomenon.

Set in the rural Appalachian backdrop, Orange Prize winner Kingsolver weaves her magic in this beautifully written story that gives an insight into the effects of climate change while touching upon modern American consumerism.

Brilliantly narrated, it is full of poetic charm. by Mark Evans THOSE WHO haven’t had the pleasure of catching the Radio 4 show will be unfamiliar with the plight of young Pip Bin.

Following the popularity of the programme is Mark Evans’s new novel, a pastiche of arguably Dickens’s most iconic works – Bleak House and Great Expectations.

Written as a collection of memoirs from the brilliant but uncelebrated writer and inventor Sir Philip Bin, Bleak Expectations has all the ingredients of a good, old-fashioned Victorian adventure. Unlikely inheritance, a jovial sidekick and menacing guardians all make an appearance, with Evans shining a satirical light on Dickens’s familiar plotlines.

As Pip’s life continues its downward spiral, both Evans’s plot and use of adjectives become more and more obscure.

What results is an engaging and highly amusing tale, just the right side of ridiculous.