MAKING SENSE

On Wednesday 15th October there were two books launched. Kevin Crossley-Holland's King Of The Middle March (in chandeliered, club-fender splendour at the London Oratorium - see below) and Nadia Marks's Making
Sense (at the brightly modern Hellenic Centre).

'My friend wants to shag your brother,' opens Marks's novel. However, Making Sense is a much gentler, subtler novel than this would suggest. Set in North London a few decades ago, the book is narrated by a 14 year-old Cypriot girl who has just been brought to England by her family. Coming to terms with the brash lack of manners symbolised by the opening exchange is one aspect of the girl's 'sentimental education', but this is no heavy-handed exploration of the immigration/prejudice theme. Based on the author's own experiences - Nadia Marks was born in Nicosia but grew up in North London - the book is an enjoyable evocation of being young and alive in an unfamiliar big city.