I have given a home to some fine pinches of Salt this year, lovely books from an innovative publisher and among my best reads of 2008, Elizabeth Baines's book of short stories, Balancing on the Edge of the World.
This was one of those neat little books that packs the huge punch and it captured my imagination completely. I'd read it hot on the heels of Richard Kelly's Crusaders and whilst his canvas was sweepingly broad, vast and enormous, great big lashes of paint, suddenly I was struck by the fact the Elizabeth was, in complete contrast painting in miniature.
'Suddenly my focus was narrowed down and my concentration total as I watched. Reading as an onlooker is such a treat and Elizabeth Baines positions the fulcrum of each story with absolute precision and then, with the most feather-weight whispers, proceeds to tip the balance of power first one way then the next. The whispers often so slight that I was often listening too loudly to hear them if that make sense.'
Elizabeth will be visiting here as part of her tour of the blogs to answer questions on Balancing early in 2009 but I didn't want to wait that long to offer a prize draw copy of this little masterpiece, and to go with this little treaure of a book Salt have very kindly added in one of their very big and very sought after hessian bags, you won't be disappointed with either gift I can promise you that.
Names in comments for a book in a bag to go anywhere in the world but only if you are sitting there wearing some tinsel...now be honest.
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