Those who love the movies, know the author of this collection of 21 candid, funny and absurdist short stories for his reviews in The Guardian. But now you’ll love him even more for his witty tales.
Peter Bradshaw is the film critic most of us consult, online for yours truly, whenever we wish to watch a movie. His no-nonsense reviews always get to the heart of the story and pull out the must-watch reason for going to view something, or the absolutely perfect argument for staying home. He’s like a thermometer for movie audiences and I’d call his reviews short, non-fiction stories based on filmmakers’ work.
Bradshaw is also a published author. The Films that Made Me, made up of essays and reviews from his writing in The Guardian was published in 2019.
And, it turns out, Bradshaw is also a great author of fiction stories, starting with his 2013 book, Night of Triumph, based on the adventures of teenage Queen Elizabeth and her sister Princess Margaret when they were let out to celebrate among the people on VE night 1945 in London. Well, while the story may be based on their adventures, Bradshaw does take some, eh hum, liberties with the it, I’m sure.
These days, his book of short stories, titled The Body in the Mobile Library, is available at your local bookstore. Though I got mine from Bookshop.org, which helps independent book sellers. It is a collection of gems which will make you laugh, tear up a bit and think of your own absurd adventures. And dive into the next story with gusto.
Personally, I always start reading short stories out of order, it’s a habit of mine and the first I dove into is titled ‘Reunion’ about a man who thinks he’s reunited with his first love. You definitely won’t see the ending coming and it will create a gusto for diving into the next story, and the next. Short little gems these are. Perfect for our communal ADHD and just the right size to read on your train trip home from the office, or on a bus.
The book is available everywhere, even on Amazon, if you must. Or you can go pick up a copy in your local bookstore, and make it an outing.
And you can hear Bradshaw reading one of the stories on the BBC’s Short Works here.
Oh and if you’re still craving some of Bradshaw’s cinematic writing, it’s all in the book there, trust me!
Book cover image courtesy of Lightning Books.