As I get sent books all the time and I simply can’t read them all I began these ‘staying in with…’ posts to feature books that I would love to read or that I think deserve more attention. Today Glenn Bryant has agreed to stay in with me to tell me about a book I think sounds utterly wonderful. See what you think…

Staying in with Glenn Bryant

Welcome to Linda’s Book Bag Glenn. Thanks so much for agreeing to stay in with me. Tell me, which of your books have you brought along to share this evening and why have you chosen it? 

I have brought along my own book this evening, A Quiet Genocide. Why have I chosen it? It is very topical for me right now and was only published in August [2018]. It is a story very close to my heart, which is what motivated me to write it.

(Oh, how exciting. Congratulations Glenn. So tell me a bit more about it.)

What is it about? On one level, it has a dual narrative – about a boy growing up and a mother and wife trapped in an unhappy marriage. The narratives start together; then split apart; then finally come back together at the end of the story.

On another level, A Quiet Genocide is one family’s story among an estimated 5,000-25,000, who were victims in the Holocaust in the Second World War [1939-45]. Why were they targeted by the Nazis? Not because of religion or race or political views, but because they had a mental or physical impairment – and because they were children.

(And I think it’s an era we do well to remember and learn from Glenn.)

What can we expect from an evening in with A Quiet Genocide?

Hopefully, a tense and emotional family drama. Yes, the ultimate backdrop to the story is dark subject matter, certainly. But that certainly is not the book’s or story’s focus. The focus is on a little boy, uncertain of himself and a middle aged woman, too uncertain of herself for different reasons. In discovering and accepting their true history, they accept who they really are and who they might become. It is a story of self-discovery and of hope in that sense.

(I think A Quiet Genocide sounds wonderful.)

It has received some wonderful early reviews from bloggers. One, Cathy Johnson wrote:

“Books such as A Quiet Genocide perform an important role in ensuring that such atrocities are never forgotten. Compelling, factual, chilling.”

(You must be so pleased with that assessment.)

That is absolutely why I was first so moved and motivated to try and write a novel about it. Writing a novel – and then pitching it to agents and potential publishers – is such a huge undertaking, you have to be massively motivated otherwise you will never reach the finish line.

But, as we have already talked about, I also wanted to write a story people feel in love with as much as I did as the author. Another review, by Barbara Searles, commented:

“Bryant writes like an author with many more books to his credit. A Quiet Genocide is absorbing. Its truth-telling is subtle and unfurls like a big black umbrella on a rainy day.”

(I really do think I need to add A Quiet Genocide to my TBR pile Glenn.)

What else have you brought along and why? 

I have brought along a photo of me and Juliet, an artist, who inspired me to write the story. A Quiet Genocide is dedicated to her ‘work and spirit’. The photo says more than I ever can.

What a glorious photo. And how brilliant to have a book dedicated to her. Juliet must be thrilled. Thank you so much for staying in and telling me all about A Quiet Genocide Glenn. It sounds such a good book and I wish you every success with it.

A Quiet Genocide

Jozef grows up in a happy household – so it seems. But his father Gerhard still harbours disturbing National Socialism ideals, while his mother Catharina is quietly broken. She cannot feign happiness for much longer and soon rediscovers love elsewhere.

Jozef is uncertain and alone. Who is he? Are Gerhard and Catharina his real parents?

A dark mystery slowly unfolds, revealing an inescapable truth an entire nation is afraid to confront. But Jozef is determined to find out about the past. And a horror is finally unmasked which continues to question our idea of what, in the last hour, makes each of us human.

Published by Amsterdam Publishers on 22nd August 2018, A Quiet Genocide is available for purchase here.

About Glenn Bryant

Glenn Bryant grew up in Grimsby, the north of England. He has a master’s degree from the University of Dundee, Scotland in modern history where he studied the Warsaw Ghetto 1940-43. He is a qualified and experienced senior journalist. A Quiet Genocide is his first novel.

You can find Glenn on Facebook and follow him on Twitter @GlennMBryant.