Scarlett Thomas
Author of The End of Mr. Y
About the Author
Scarlett Thomas was born in London in 1972. Her novels include The Seed Collectors, PopCo, The End of Mr.Y which was longlisted for the Orange Broadband Prize for Fiction 2007, and Our Tragic Universe. She teaches creative writing at the University of Kent.
Image credit: 3:AM Magazine
Series
Works by Scarlett Thomas
All Poets are Liars 1 copy
Caffeine 1 copy
Do't Close Your Eyes 1 copy
Associated Works
Significant Objects: 100 Extraordinary Stories about Ordinary Things (2012) — Contributor — 57 copies
The Tomorrow Project: Bestselling Authors Describe Daily Life in the Future (2011) — Contributor — 19 copies
Tagged
Common Knowledge
- Other names
- Czerniak, Gaby
- Birthdate
- 1972
- Gender
- female
- Nationality
- UK
- Birthplace
- London, England, UK
- Places of residence
- Kent, England, UK
- Education
- University of East London
- Occupations
- novelist
creative writing teacher - Short biography
- Scarlett Thomas, born in London in 1972, author of the novels Bright Young Things, Going Out, PopCo, The End of Mr. Y, and Our Tragic Universe. Scarlett’s work has been translated into more than 20 languages, and she has been longlisted for the Orange Prize, and shortlisted for the South African Boeke Prize. In 2001 she was included in the Independent on Sunday's list of the UK's 20 best young writers, and in 2002 she won an Elle Style Award for the novel Going Out. She has written short fiction and articles for various anthologies and publications, including Nature Magazine, the Guardian and the Independent on Sunday. She has also had stories broadcast on BBC Radio 4. She currently lives in Kent, UK, where she teaches Creative Writing. In her spare time she is studying for an MSc in Ethnobotany. She is currently working on her ninth novel, The Seed Collectors.
Members
Reviews
1 
RidgewayGirl | 1 other review | Apr 22, 2024 |
RidgewayGirl | 1 other review | Apr 22, 2024 | 
The Sleepwalkers by Scarlett Thomas is a recommended epistolary novel that eventually becomes a mystery.
In the opening lengthy letter Evelyn (Evie) is writing to Richard, her new husband. The two are on their honeymoon on a Greek island and staying at the Villa Rosa, which Richard's mother booked for them. Isabella, the hotel's owner makes it obvious she plays up to Richards and actively despises Evie. It also seems clear that Evie and Richard dislike each other and there are weird things going on at the hotel.
The narrative opens through a very lengthy letter written by Evie to Richard. It is at this point many readers are going to realize that the novel seems populated by unlikable characters and that they will have to suspend disbelief because the letter is so very, very, extremely lengthy. Also trying of my patience were the sudden gaps in the flow of the letter. Richard eventually gets to reply to Evie with a letter of his own along with various other notes, audio transcripts, and letters.
Normally I tend to like epistolary novels, but that is when the letters are actually the length of normal letters or even long emails or text messages. I appreciate the interplay between them to build a plot and different points-of-view. I also like it when the voice of the various characters are distinctive rather than all in the same dialect and tone. The writing is very descriptive but it is also similar in every piece of writing. I struggled along to the end where there are some twists and some closure but also open questions. Thanks to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advance reader's copy via . My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/03/the-sleepwalkers.html… (more)
In the opening lengthy letter Evelyn (Evie) is writing to Richard, her new husband. The two are on their honeymoon on a Greek island and staying at the Villa Rosa, which Richard's mother booked for them. Isabella, the hotel's owner makes it obvious she plays up to Richards and actively despises Evie. It also seems clear that Evie and Richard dislike each other and there are weird things going on at the hotel.
The narrative opens through a very lengthy letter written by Evie to Richard. It is at this point many readers are going to realize that the novel seems populated by unlikable characters and that they will have to suspend disbelief because the letter is so very, very, extremely lengthy. Also trying of my patience were the sudden gaps in the flow of the letter. Richard eventually gets to reply to Evie with a letter of his own along with various other notes, audio transcripts, and letters.
Normally I tend to like epistolary novels, but that is when the letters are actually the length of normal letters or even long emails or text messages. I appreciate the interplay between them to build a plot and different points-of-view. I also like it when the voice of the various characters are distinctive rather than all in the same dialect and tone. The writing is very descriptive but it is also similar in every piece of writing. I struggled along to the end where there are some twists and some closure but also open questions. Thanks to Simon & Schuster for providing me with an advance reader's copy via . My review is voluntary and expresses my honest opinion.
http://www.shetreadssoftly.com/2024/03/the-sleepwalkers.html… (more)
Some incredibly clever plot ideas and narrative form. I love the blending of philosophy in a kind of sci-fantasy type story. Very original work…
The problem with the text is it needed some editor work, there are inconsistencies and scenes that feel a bit tacked on, not as realistic.
The problem with the text is it needed some editor work, there are inconsistencies and scenes that feel a bit tacked on, not as realistic.
Lists
At the Library (1)
A Novel Cure (1)
Awards
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Statistics
- Works
- 23
- Also by
- 5
- Members
- 5,719
- Popularity
- #4,321
- Rating
- 3.6
- Reviews
- 281
- ISBNs
- 209
- Languages
- 15
- Favorited
- 35
Thomas is a skilled writer and she's managed to pull off a novel that begins as one thing and ends as another. It's best to go into this novel knowing as little as possible about it. All I will say is that the novel is both a portrayal of the sexual dynamics between a newly married couple and something else entirely.… (more)