This is How pops up on another ‘best of 2009′ list. Anna Mundow, writing in the Boston Globe describes the novel as ‘fearlessly disturbing’: Hyland’s pared-down descriptions of Patrick’s life – as it once was and as he now endures it – convey excruciating tension and pain. Yet the claustrophobic world that she creates has [...]
Archive for the ‘this is how’ Category
The Boston globe includes This is How in its ‘simply the best’ fiction list of 2009
Sunday, December 6th, 2009The Times names This is How as one of the best books of 2009
Thursday, December 3rd, 2009The Times names This is How as one of the best books of 2009 in its Christmas Books Fiction Review. MJ Hyland appears alongside William Trevor and Margaret Atwood, in the Times list, which describes This is How as ‘ a pin-sharp examination of a young man’s troubled soul’ The full list is here
This is How makes it into the Irish Times books of 2009 list
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009This is How makes yet another appearance in a major newspaper’s ‘books of the year’ list. This time it’s the Irish Times, where poet Vona Groarke writes: “Patrick Oxtoby is a damaged, brittle, ordinary man: his actions and their consequences are presented in deceptively transparent prose that balances honesty with integrity, and brutality with a [...]
Financial Times chooses This Is How amongst its books of the year
Tuesday, December 1st, 2009More good news – Another major newspaper has picked This is How in its end of year roundup. The Financial Times has chosen This is How as one of its best novels of 2009. Financial Times fiction reviewer Angel Gurría-Quintana writes: “Hyland’s exquisitely crafted prose makes readers care for this emotionally stunted protagonist.” You can [...]
This is How is listed as a book of the year by the New Statesman
Sunday, November 29th, 2009John O’Connell chooses This is How as one of his best books of 2009 in the New Statesman, describing it as a “masterly disquisition on the problem of motive”. The full list can be read here
Hilary Mantel lists ‘This is How’ as one of her books of the year!
Saturday, November 28th, 2009This year’s Man Booker prize winner, Hilary Mantel, has chosen This is How as one of her books of the year! In a piece published in the Guardian, Mantel, the author of Wolf Hall, wrote: Mysteriously underrated among this year’s novels was MJ Hyland’s This Is How; but then, Hyland’s talent in itself is mysterious. [...]
MJ Hyland interviewed on Australian TV
Monday, November 16th, 2009Maria was recently interviewed by Australian TV (ABC), and the 9minute interview is now online. In it Maria talks about her goals as a writer, the difficulties she faced when writing This is How, and gives some advice to aspiring writers. You can view the interview online here.
This is How reviewed on ABC’s First Tuesday Book Club
Thursday, November 5th, 2009This is How is one of the books up for discussion on the November edition of Australian TV ABC’s First Tuesday Book Club, hosted by journalist and publisher Jennifer Byrne. Guests discussing the book are David Marr, Di Morrissey, alongside regular panelists Jason Steger (the books editor of The Age and The Sunday Age), and [...]
Video interview with Maria in Melbourne’s The Monthly
Tuesday, October 27th, 2009Maria returned to Australia for this year’s Melbourne Writers’ Festival, and Australian magazine The Monthly has posted online the video of this extensive interview with Michael Williams, where Maria discusses her approach to writing This is How, but also to writing generally. You can see the video online here
This is How shortlisted for the Guardian ‘not the booker prize’ prize
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009This is How has been nominated for the Guardian‘s ‘not the booker prize’ prize (thanks to any of you who voted during the longlist phase). Six titles were shortlisted, based upon votes received at the Guardian‘s book blog: Solo by Rana Dasgupta Tomas by James Palumbo The TinKin by Eleanor Thom Neverland by Simon Crump Intimacy by Jenn [...]