Harriet Waugh
The best first novel of the year is undoubt- edly Fraser Harrison's High on the Hog (Heinemann, £13.99). It follows the fortunes of the Albion family, who are pig farmers, over Christmas. Relatives reluct- antly foregather at the manor house for what they know will be a gruesome Christ- mas under the frantic, parsimonious ministrations of Georgina Albion. Few of the characters are likeable, but over the two days they change and develop and the reader comes to have sympathy for them. It is also funny.
The best crime novel is Simon Shaw's Bloody Instructions (Gollancz, £13.99). It
reintroduces his murderous actor hero, Philip Fletcher who this time is innocently in danger of being accused of murders he has not done. It is very funny.
The best book of the whole year, though, is the poet Paul Durcan's reponse to 137 pictures in the National Gallery of Ireland. Each poem of Crazy About Women (National Gallery of Ireland, £9.95) is illustrated by the picture and is a delight. They are funny, witty, surreal and full of unexpected insights. The book has already sold 10,000 copies in Ireland. Not bad for poetry.
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