Up Close

by Shelagh Weeks

When Owen and Jan take their three children on holiday in North Wales their life as a family is already unravelling. As relationships are made and broken a carefully pieced patchwork of events unfolds; seen from the different perspectives of parents and children, each sealed in with their own perceptions. Years pass and the family meet again on holiday in South Wales. As the pattern of relationships shift and family secrets are revealed, new resolutions must be negotiated.

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Shelagh Weeks has worked in many jobs, including as a market stall seller in Cambridge and in community education. She currently lives in Cardiff with her partner and children and works as a lecturer in creative writing at Cardiff University. She also writes short stories and her award winning story ‘Mint Sauce’ won the Cinnamon Pres short story prize in 2007 and was published as the title piece in an anthology.

Reviews

[Nikki Magennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an accidental read - one of a lucky dip from Cinnamon Press.
I really enjoyed it - some gorgeous descriptive writing and a long, messy tangle of family relationships. Not the kind of book I'd normally read, and the ending maybe veered towards exposition, but some of the insights were acute and the writing was clear and sharp for the most part, with some lovely scene setting.
Very subtle tensions and interesting characters.

Hm, an unexpectedly nice surprise!