A Saint in Swindon

It's 2030 and the days are getting hotter and hotter. A mysterious man arrives at a B&B, carrying nothing but a lumpy bag. He checks into his room; days pass and he does not come out. He does nothing but read and ask for more books. Soon questions are flying around the town and speculations spread like a virus. Is he a criminal? A celebrity in hiding? A saint? Is he reading to show others the way? As crowds begin to gather, and the urge to read becomes contagious , the outside world moves ever closer to its doom...

I adored this funny little novella and can't wait to read more by Alice Jolly. Her prose was crisp and clever and the plot and characters engaging. I also enjoyed the foreword explaining how the collaborative process used to create the story.

Highly recommended for anyone looking for a slightly strange story to read in these slightly strange days of 2020.

Thank you to NetGalley and Fairlight books for the chance to read this book in exchange for a fair review.

Along with a rather comedic and insightful dystopian short story, the reader will also learn about the mechanics of how it was conceived and created.

This was in fact a commisioned work that Alice Jolly wrote for the Swindon Artwords reading group, who through their editorial meeting helped to shape the work. As Alice states in the Afterword, the members of the reading group became no longer consumers, but creators, having now an emtional investment in the story.
Given this background, it is no surprise therefore, that it is a book about the power of books and the impact that reading can have in an increasingly troubled world.

The book is set, fittingly enough in Swindon, in the year 2030.

It is a dry, very hot Summer, a hosepipe ban has been announced and things will get very much worse.
Arriving at a B & B comes a stranger with a bulging blue bag. He stays in his room reading all day and demanding more books. Meals are to be left outside and he is not to be disturbed.

Who is he and what relevance has he to the increasingly crumbling world outside?

This is certainly well worth a read and can be easily read in one sitting. It may even at some point be the choice for discussion by a book group.

So well written Alice Jolly writes so well never fails to draw me in.Will be recommending to my friends a special author a special book.#netgalley#fairlightbooks