Brett Pugh
A perfect ending to the queue. Starting ironically with A Perfect Ending and ending with The Queue, Vivien Varga's book of ten short stories is a book to look out for. Her writing is spare and compelling. She covers a wide range of subjects. Some stories are adventures- occasionally amorous- in sunny climes. Others deal with gritty subjects of our age: bullying, poverty, loneliness and mental illness. In one story we hear about a hundred years of family history from the point of view of a chair! There is even a ghost story. Many stories are set at or concern the seaside. But the common theme is optimism and hope. Vivien Varga has a sure style. You feel you are in safe and experienced hands even though you take some unpredictable and unexpected turns. You can dip in and out of this book or read it from beginning to end as I did. Whichever way you choose, I thoroughly recommend it.
