When the TV makeover people come to call, forty-something green campaigner Tessa is mortified at what they rake up, not only about her wardrobe but also her youthful stay at Greenham Common. Love and Fallout is a hugely entertaining novel from debut novelist and award-winning poet Kathryn Simmonds.
Kathryn Simmonds was born in Hertfordshire and worked in children's publishing before taking a creative writing MA at the University of East Anglia in 2002. Her collection Sunday at the Skin Launderette won the Forward Prize for best first collection in 2008 and was shortlisted for the Costa Poetry Award and longlisted for the Guardian First Book Award. Her short stories have been published in a number of magazines and broadcast on Radio 4, and she has written an afternoon play for Radio 4 called Poetry for Beginners. She published her second poetry collection, The Visitations, in 2013.
Industry Reviews
'Engrossing and engaging. This is a funny and acutely observed book about an often overlooked moment in history. The expectations women have of themselves and each other are exposed in Simmonds' wry story of friendship and loss.' - Catherine O'Flynn A blast from the past - beautifully told - Maureen Lipman Kathryn Simmonds draws us effortlessly into the world of Greenham Common, and the result is unexpected, and compelling. Love, sisterhood, guilt and grief - she understands them all. I read it in a single sitting.' - Francesca Segal, author of The Innocents This is a really good read and a reminder of Greenham Common at a time when the world is again risking nuclear confrontation. It's also the story of waning love and the challenge of maturity. - Clare Short A fantastic debut, captivating, funny, brilliantly observed and a great read. -Bookgroup.info A tale of love and loss - engrossing and compelling. - The Lady This novel transported me and I have vowed to buy a number of copies of Love and Fallout to send to old associates to see if it works its restorative magic and reacquaints me with lost friends too. - Wales Arts Review There's a real sense of authenticity as the formative experiences of youth shape family and relationships. Great character observations; sometimes excruciating, often heartbreakingly sad, frequently funny. - Which Book