"Granta 119: Britain"

Published in 2012 by Granta

Granta is a win-some-lose-some books by mail subscription. Four times a year I receive a compilation of Hirt stories that all focus in some way on a specific topic.

This quarters topic was Britain; the stories, poems, and photos ranged in style and composition but were all somehow clearly linked by the overarching theme.

This was a win-some.

Quotes:
"She paid twenty quid for a private dance with a girl named Clover, who had pigtails and purple nails and a tattoo of a unicorn just above her groin.
'Its my power animal,' she said.
'I'm pregnant,' said Katherine."

"Living in a racist society has a profound psychological impact. It produces in it's victims a sort of hyper-vigilance, as the individual attempts to read those around them and so anticipate the hostility that might assail them."

"Granta 117 - Horror"

Published in 2011 by Granta Magazine

"Horror is everywhere" and this collection of short stories shows that it isn't always something that goes bump in the night.  Authors ranging from Stephen King to Will Self give us sneak peeks into the many forms that Horror can take in our lives.

While some were not quite my style, a majority of the stories were exciting and engaging, urging me to just read "one more page."

Rating: ***