Kate’s 2¢: “Beyond Black” by Hilary Mantel  

“Beyond Black” by Hilary Mantel  

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   I enjoyed listening to Martha Harmon Pardee dramatically read this lengthy story, however, I mussed have missed the point of the narrative.

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Dame Hilary Mary Mantel DBE FRSL (/mænˈtɛl/ man-TEL;[4] born Thompson; 6 July 1952 – 22 September 2022) was a British writer whose work includes historical fiction, personal memoirs and short stories.[5] Her first published novel, Every Day Is Mother’s Day, was released in 1985. She went on to write 12 novels, two collections of short stories, a memoir, and numerous articles and opinion pieces.

Early life[edit]

Hilary Mary Thompson was born on 6 July 1952 in Glossop, Derbyshire,[7] the eldest of three children, with two younger brothers, and raised as a Roman Catholic[8] in the mill village of Hadfield, where she attended St. Charles Roman Catholic Primary School.

Her parents, Margaret (née Foster) and Henry Thompson (a clerk), were both Catholics of Irish descent, born in England. When Mantel was seven, her mother’s lover, Jack Mantel, moved in with the family. He shared a bedroom with her mother, while her father moved to another room. Four years later, when she was eleven, the family, except for her father, moved to Romiley, Cheshire, to escape the local gossip. She never saw her father again.[9]

When the family relocated, Jack Mantel (1932–1995)[10][11] became her unofficial stepfather, and she legally took his surname.[12][13] She attended Harrytown Convent school in Romiley, Cheshire.

In 1970, she began studies at the London School of Economics to read law.[5] She transferred to the University of Sheffield and graduated as a Bachelor of Jurisprudence[14] in 1973.[11] After university, Mantel worked in the social work department of a geriatric hospital and then as a sales assistant at Kendals department store in Manchester.[15]

In 1973, she married Gerald McEwen, a geologist.[15] In 1974, she began writing a novel about the French Revolution, but was unable to find a publisher (it was eventually released as A Place of Greater Safety in 1992). In 1977 Mantel moved with her husband to Botswana, where they lived for the next five years.[16] Later, they spent four years in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.[17] She later said that leaving Jeddah felt like “the happiest day of [her] life”.[18] She published memoirs of this period in The Spectator,[19] and the London Review of Books.[20][21]

Her 2005 novel, Beyond Black, was shortlisted for the Orange Prize and longlisted for the Booker Prize in 2005.

Set in the late 1990s and early 2000s, it features a professional medium, Alison Hart, whose calm and jolly exterior conceals grotesque psychic damage. She trails around with her a troupe of “fiends”, who are invisible but always on the verge of becoming flesh.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

Beyond black DB61533

Author: Mantel, Hilary

Reading Time: 13 hours, 47 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Martha Harmon Pardee

Subjects: Occult and Horror Fiction, Psychological Fiction

For five years divorcée Colette has lent her business skills to professional psychic Alison, a clairvoyant beleaguered by spirits of the deceased. The women attempt to reinvent themselves in the English countryside, where they face material and metaphysical obstacles including nosy neighbors and ghostly adversaries. Strong language. 2005.

New York : Henry Holt and Co., c2005.

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Kate’s 2¢: “All That’s Left To Say” byEmery Lord  

“All That’s Left To Say” byEmery Lord  

NOTE: There is a plethora of in-depth biographies of authors and reviews of their books, that state the title, author, published date, and genre; as well as, describing what the book is about, setting, and character(s), so, Kate’s 2¢ shares her thoughts about what she’s read. In her opinion…

   Krystal Hammond did a good job reading this story. I like the way the debate strategy was applied to so many situations. The ending was inspirational and helpful.

A few take-aways:

–It’s possible to acknowledge a clever play  and resent it at the same time.

–I didn’t attempt recovery….because I thought I was better off drunk.

–Secrets mean shame or resentment, which makes it harder not to drink.

–I think it is better to drag things out into the light.

–Sometimes I thought I’d lost my instinct for the realethical truth.

–Recovery from any thing requires supportI don’t have to go it alone.

Featured snippet from the web

Emery Lord biography

Emery Lord is an American author of contemporary young adult fiction. Her novels often explore themes of friendship, identity and resilience, set against realistic backdrops. Her debut novel, Open Road Summer (2014), follows a teenage girl on tour with a country singer friend.Jul.

From NLS/BARD/LOC:

All that’s left to say DB122434

Author: Lord, Emery

Reading Time: 12 hours, 50 minutes

Production: National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Library of Congress

Read by: Krystal Hammond

Subjects: Mystery and Detective Stories, Psychological Fiction, Young Adult

Downloaded: 11/17/2025

“A year ago Hannah MacLaren’s cousin and best friend Sophie died of an overdose. Drowning in grief, Hannah became obsessed with one question: Who gave Sophie those pills? She enrolls at her cousin’s fancy private school with a new look and a mouthful of lies, determined to uncover the truth. She didn’t expect Sophie’s friends to be so complicated. She didn’t expect to fall for her longtime enemy. Will Hannah see her search through to its end– even if it means destroying herself?” — Adapted from jacket Unrated. Commercial audiobook. For senior high and older readers.

New York : OrangeSky Audio, 2024.

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