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First Novel Published May 2004 by Diva Books
The Dying of Delight
"This is a novel that pulses with guts, energy and wit" - Julia Darling
"A wild, psychedelic ride … energetic and unconventional" - Rainbow Network
On August 11th 1999 a dragon swallowed the sun.
Like much of the rest of Britain, Silver Bergman looked forward to witnessing the unique phenomenon of a solar eclipse. It was the culmination of a six month period which had already seen this stroppy and unpredictable woman give up a lucrative IT career, joining her friends in the carefree lifestyle of an artist: a life characterised by radical love, leisure and politics. In this chaotic world, Silver’s drug-fuelled new life was spiralling out of control.
For Edna, the eclipse is only the beginning. A mysterious wraithlike figure, she will join a band of idealistic eco-protesters in their defence of an ancient forest. She is a woman without history, living in a community without questions. And Edna can fly.
Meanwhile in a cellar in Manchester, the police have discovered a body…
The Dying Of Delight is a contemporary tale of the search for identity. As the intriguing histories and mysterious motivations of Silver and Edna gradually unravel, two very different women emerge, and their respective efforts to escape their pasts and control their futures make for a spectacular and gripping novel.
The past and future tenses are used to distinguish two narrative threads on either side of the eclipse. It is a sophisticated yet accessible structure, building to a climax that will have readers gripped to the last. Something marks the end of Silver’s tale and the beginning of Edna’s, and it may not be what you think.
This is a funny, occasionally dark and at times surreal debut novel. There is clearly an element of suspense, but it is not simply a thriller. It is a spirited portrait of lives gone astray, and of people living on the edge.
Follow this link to see what the punters have had to say about The Dying of Delight, or to post your own feedback. Scroll down or follow the links on the left to find out what the reviewers thought.
About The Birth
In 1999, I started writing a book. Four years later, I came back from a weekend break to find a message on my answering machine. The Dying of Delight was published by Diva Books on May 25th 2004.
Unfortunately, Diva Books are no more. They were a brilliant little publishing imprint. Their aim was to publish books of interest to lesbians and bi women, and their interpretation of that remit was wonderfully broad. What they specialised in was finding quirky well-written literary fiction that wouldn't have been taken up by the big guys.
I was surprised when they published me, because my book isn't obviously "lesbian fiction" - it just happens to have a bisexual protagonist. But the last thing Diva were about was pigeonholing. Still, their parent company (Millivres Prowler) couldn't get their heads around the idea of a loss-making enterprise. Even though the losses were small, and getting smaller. Even though Diva kept winning awards. It didn't make them money, and that was the bottom line.
But you can still buy my book, from me. This gives you (or me) the added pleasure of knowing the profits all land in my pocket.
Some Quotes:
Julia Darling (Man Booker longlisted, 2003, for The Taxi Driver's Daughter):
“This is a novel that pulses with guts, energy and wit.
Morvern Callar move over... here comes Silver!”
Helen Walsh (author of Brass, Canongate 2004):
“Sudbery's irresistible debut steals up on you like sunlight on a winter morning. She dissects the vicissitudes of a queer post-chemical generation with a powerful subtlety. Her prose aches with humour, drips with the melancholy of its heroine and moves along with an exquisite wit and energy. She writes with gut wrenching accuracy about the everyday complexities of love, friendships, loss and yearning. A beautifully crafted debut.”
Aine Duffy, GCN (Gay Community News):
“The Dying of Delight begins with one of the best opening sequences I've encountered ... striking and poignant ... Sudbery's description of life at the [Nine Ladies] camp is astonishingly gentle ... a strong debut ... Dying of Delight is a remarkable novel - go on, stretch your horizons and check it out.”
Diva Magazine:
"An engrossing post-chemical generation thriller that resonates whether you're a queer pill-popper or not. Her wry, penetrating observations about a culture that struggles with its dependence on drugs and escapism provide a refreshing framework for the writer's first gutsy novel."
Student Direct Magazine:
"Sudbery is able to assume the intelligence of her readers and gets it spot on ... The writing is modern, intriguing and the narrative immediately grabs your attention. The book has all the skills and interest of a modern novel combined with the mystery of a spiritual tale. Sudbery has managed to blend the supernatural of a children’s story with the maturity of an adult novel to produce a novel that is at once familiar and unnerving.
It’s hard to imagine that all this came out of our very own city. Sudbery lives in inner city Manchester and lends her varied life experience to this book with vigour and energy. This is Sudbery’s first novel and she achieves everything with energy, enthusiasm and it sparkles as a first novel should. The book is a modern thriller; it’s well written and unusual in its content. Readers will find elements of science-fiction, crime novels, thrillers, modern psychological dramas and much more in this multi-genre witty piece."
The Big Issue in the North:
"Told in an exuberant style, with Silver as its sympathetic heroine, Sudbery conveys the highs and lows of a drug-enhanced existence, not least the bleak realisation that there comes a point when the drugs don't work."
Alma Fritchley (author of Chicken Run, Chicken Feed, Chicken Out, etc – Women’s Press):
"Fantastic title, and the opening lines are among the best I've ever read. Clare Sudbery weaves a complex web involving all that is grim and fun when loving, laughing and loathing. Grab this gem with both hands, it has the feel of the Next Big Read."
Chloe Poems, poet:
"An eclectic and eccentric journey through the history of now, and a damn fine read."
The Rainbow Network:
"A wild, psychedelic ride …
The Dying of Delight is not your average lesbian potboiler … This is a book that transcends styles and expectations. Sexuality is a strong part of the story, but it's not the sole hook.
What I like about The Dying of Delight is that it's an experimental piece of work. The fact that it's out on the bookshelves is amazing given these Harry Potter saturated times in which we live. The writing is energetic and unconventional.
… it's an interesting trip, and an exciting development in British dyke fiction."
City Life magazine:
"Silver and her mates are larger than life and the story is powered by their funny, vivacious personalities. Like all extroverts, there are times when you want them to sit still and be quiet for a moment, so the calmer eco-camp sections are sometimes a welcome break ... on the whole this is an original, vivid and energetic novel."
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