Right. After a full-on week of work, I've now installed resident cat sitters and am soon heading off to @Benslow_Music for a weekend of learning to play Dvorak 9. Escapism and total immersion. Bring it on.

Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger's Drift (Susan Elkin reviews) - Susan Elkin Midsomer Murders: The Killings at Badger’s Drift Caroline Graham, adapted and directed by Guy Unsworth Richmond Theatre and touring.   Star rating: 4   This stage version of one of ITV’s all time favo...

My review of last night's show. susanelkin.co.uk/articles/mid...

Reader just told me she liked my story "Aaron" and will now read Silas Marner. This is EXACTLY the response I was hoping for. Hurrah! If you haven't read my Unheard Voices: Tales From the Margins of Literature maybe give them a whirl this weekend? I promise they're entertaining.

Unheard Voices: Tales from the Margins of Literature Buy Unheard Voices: Tales from the Margins of Literature by Elkin, Susan (ISBN: 9781805881155) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

Sales are creeping up and feedback is very positive so far. Care to see what you think? Or maybe you're Christmas shopping? You can order it, btw from any bookshop if you don't fancy Amazon. Or if you know me personally, I have copies for sale.
www.amazon.co.uk/Unheard-Voic...

Julius Caesar (Susan Elkin reviews) - Susan Elkin Julius Caesar William Shakespeare Tangle Theatre Directed/Adapted by Anna Coombs Omnibus Theatre, Chatham   Star rating 3   This visceral, succinct, African-inspired, five hander version of Julius Cae...

My review of last night's show @TangleTheatre @OmnibusTheatre susanelkin.co.uk/articles/jul...

If you ask me tomorrow it will probably be different, but for today:
Dvorak 8
Haydn 104
Beethoven 7
Brahms 2
Mendelssohn 3
Mozart 35
Tchaikovsky 5
Sibelius 2

I really love "guesting" on this lovely site. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com

The Hawk is Dead by Peter James is rather good. Different from other Grace novels. Real life characters and locations you're not expecting. Good fun. Thanks @peterjamesuk

Susan's Bookshelves: The Choice by Michael Arditti - Susan Elkin I’ve tried reading Michael Arditti before and, frankly, not warmed to his fiction. But I was curious about The Choice because it was handed to me by a friend who said it was a novel for intelligent, g...

New today on Susan's Bookshelves. susanelkin.co.uk/articles/sus...

Guest review by Susan Elkin: DRAYTON AND MACKENZIE by Alexander Starritt

Lovely to be "guesting" (by invitation!) here again. reviewsbywriters.blogspot.com/2025/10/gues...

Susan's Bookshelves: Tricked by the Kippers' Knickers by Dick Dixon and Reine Mazoyer - Susan Elkin I met Dick Dixon at interval drinks for the Great and the Good (not sure which I am) at a recent Brighton Philharmonic concert which I was reviewing. Instead of “Have you come far?” his opening gambit...

Currently on Susan's Bookshelves. Next up (Weds) will be The Choice by Michael Arditti. susanelkin.co.uk/articles/sus...

Everyone I tell about this says "What an interesting idea!". Lovely feedback is beginning to come in. Try it and see what you think. Amazon and all good (are there any bad ones? bookshops.

Safe Space (Susan Elkin reviews) - Susan Elkin Safe Space Jamie Bogyo Directed by Roy Alexander Weise MBE   Minerva Theatre, Chichester   Star rating: 3   Jamie Bogyo’s first stage play, is a sassy and perceptive exploration of the vexed debate ab...

My review of yesterday's show. susanelkin.co.uk/articles/saf...

And because I've spent several hours on trains today I have finished The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny by Kiran Desai. Compelling account of Indian-ness, exile, corruption, displacment, friendship, marriage and more but too long.

Chichester today for Safe Space by Jamie Bogyo. Interesting play. Review tomorrow.

"[Mira] is the kind of short story that lingers in the mind long afterwards. So many felicities too in the diction - exceptionally fine writing ... indubitably, a formidable well of experience and sensibility within [this author]"
I'm in bits 😀😀😀

Music to a writer's ears. Someone on Facebook has just declared one of my stories "marvellously done" and says he'll read the rest at rate of one a day. Want to join him? www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1805881159

The Wanderers (Susan Elkin reviews) - Susan Elkin The Wanderers Anna Zeigler Directed by Igor Golyak Marylebone Theatre Novel Productions and Grapevine Shoot Productions   Star rating: 3.5   It’s a refreshing change to see a thoughtful, grown-up, dia...

My review of last night's show @MaryleboneTHLDN susanelkin.co.uk/articles/the...

My review of Frankenstein at @PengeTheatre www.londonpubtheatres.com/review-frank...

Susan's Bookshelves: Tricked by the Kippers' Knickers by Dick Dixon and Reine Mazoyer - Susan Elkin I met Dick Dixon at interval drinks for the Great and the Good (not sure which I am) at a recent Brighton Philharmonic concert which I was reviewing. Instead of “Have you come far?” his opening gambit...

New today on Susan's Bookshelves. susanelkin.co.uk/articles/sus...

Unheard Voices: Tales from the Margins of Literature Buy Unheard Voices: Tales from the Margins of Literature by Elkin, Susan (ISBN: 9781805881155) from Amazon's Book Store. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders.

The moment you've been waiting for - or at least I have. Published yesterday. If you love classics, want an accessible intro to them or just like a strong story this is the book for you. : www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1805881159

It's out! Please buy it, folks. The a review on Amazon sit really helps drive sales. Self publishers don't have a marketing team behind them. So tell everyone you know and share this post. THANK YOU.
Unheard Voices: Tales from the Margins of Literature
amazon.co.uk

Susan's Bookshelves: In Search of Beethoven: a Personal Journey by John Suchet - Susan Elkin I have long argued that you have to separate artists from their art. I can admire the Eric Gill frieze above the entrance to Broadcasting House without for a second condoning the sexual abuse that app...

Currently on Susan's Bookshelves. Next up (Weds at 7.00am) will be Tricked by the Kippers' Knickers by Dick Dixon and Reine Mazoyer susanelkin.co.uk/articles/sus...

Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra 19 October 2025 (Susan Elkin reviews) - Susan Elkin Brighton Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor: Alice Farnham Violin: Elena Urioste Brighton Dome, 19 October 2025   Entitled “The Romantics” this concert presented two works written within in a few years ...

My review of yesterday's concert. @BPO_orchestra @BatonAlice @ElenaUrioste susanelkin.co.uk/articles/bri...

Maidstone Symphony Orchestra 19 October 2025 (Susan Elkin reviews) - Susan Elkin Maidstone Symphony Orchestra Conductor: Brian Wright Mezzo soprano: Susan Legg Mote Hall, Maidstone 18 October 2025 This imaginatively programmed, quite full, concert made a pleasing start to MSO’s 11...

My review of last night's concert. susanelkin.co.uk/articles/mai...

Brno Philharmonic (Susan Elkin reviews) - Susan Elkin Brno Philharmonic Conductor: Dennis Russell Davies Pianist: Maki Namekawa Cadogan Hall   Part of Cadogan Hall’s Zurich International Orchestra series, this concert presented an unusual programme in wh...

My review of last night's concert. susanelkin.co.uk/articles/brn...

There is a perfectly good English verb: to die. Can we PLEASE stop this ghastly "passing" nonsense?

My goodness Flashlight by Susan Choi is an arresting novel. Huge, ambitious & compelling as it ranges across migration, war, family and much more as it plays with time, narrative voice and a lot more. Really liked it.

Tonight I've been to @PengeTheatre. And I swear @BridgehouseSE20 does best pub tea in London: pot, tray, china cup. I know people laugh at me but I can't drink because I've got car outside and tea fits the bill perfectly.

EIGHT: The One (Wo) Man Drag King Musical Parody (Susan Elkin reviews) - Susan Elkin EIGHT: The One (Wo) Man Drag King Musical Parody Written, performed, designed and produced by Hannah Clift Bridge House Theatre, Penge   Star rating: 3.5   Imagine Henry VIII back 478 years after his ...

My review of tonight's show @PengeTheatre susanelkin.co.uk/articles/eig...