Review of ‘Reckless’ in Observer

A good prominent review by a fine writer, Justin Cartwright. He makes some critical comments, as he should, and of course I want to argue with him, explain to him exactly how he’s wrong, but I have to bite the impulse back. People’s responses are by definition correct, because it’s what they think. But oh God it can be hard to receive them. I so long for a review that gets what I’ve tried to do with this book, that perceives the extraordinary complexity of the structure I’ve woven, that links together high politics and private love stories. But all writers can be heard crying out like this. I suppose it’s the old cry of the child: please love me more. A little ridiculous. I should be grateful to be published at all, and to be reviewed at all; and I am, I am.