Astonishing Splashes of Colour by Clare Morrall is the latest read. She's from Birmingham, where this book is set. I remember seeing her on telly at the Booker presentation dinner. She looked like a very nice, ordinary Brummy woman who was a bit astonished to be there. She had no reason to be astonished, however, as the book is staggering - it's not flashy, it's not clever, but that somehow gives it impact that a flashy, clever (Hari Kunzru type) book would never have. Real people have big feelings.