February 21, 2013 
0 Comments
A brilliant idea for a book. The parents of twins rob a bank. They are ordinary folk who have fallen on hard times. The impact on their children when their caught is profound.
And yet this book to me, although very well written, seems just a little drawn out. It is a little too long.
February 4, 2013 0 Comments
The Poisonwood Bible (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
A tale of misplaced evangelicalism deep in Africa.
The setting is the Belgian Congo and an American family is stranded in the early 1960s at a time of independence.
This historical novel is a fascinating read and captures the uncertainty of the time and the threat and danger of violence.
The Baptist belief at that time had no place on this African soil. A good read.
February 4, 2013 0 Comments
A good yarn.
Historians are still not sure if there was ever a female pope or not.
But if there ever was then this would be a good story for her.
It is so likely that she would have to had to reign incognito given the male opposition to any sort of interference in what has always been a male dominion.
February 4, 2013 0 Comments
A psychological murder mystery with Freud as an investigator and Jung in the background too.
Surely psychoanalysis has to feature in the solving of the mystery and it does.
Well written novel with a clever plot.
See if you can guess who did it… before reading the last few pages.
October 8, 2012 1 Comment
Set in Cairo at the time of the Gulf War, this novel portrays the lives of some residents of a decaying Art Deco building that actually truly exists in the story, although the characters in the story are completely fictitious.
The characters live out their daily lives in a struggle to come to terms with the rife political corruption in Egypt. Some consider a more strict religious life as the solution to extremes of poverty, immorality, and injustice.
Unfortunately, there is resistance for change and violence ensues.
This novel deals with difficult topics and a difficult time in Egyptian history. It is insightful.
August 20, 2012 0 Comments
A story of an outsider emigrant in France. A Moroccan who has never truly left home and because of this he loses his children to LaFrance, as he calls it.
It is a sad story about how when we leave a place it does not stand still and the disillusionment of dreams that never become fulfilled. Ben Jelloun is a master writer.
August 20, 2012 0 Comments
This is highly stylised writing from Ishiguro as you would expect. A great plot, it is easy to empathise with the main character, and it is written with impeccable style.
And yet I struggled. I dont know why. It is probably a personal thing. I need to try again with him. I wonder if the ending was unsatisfactory…
June 28, 2012 0 Comments
Freedom (Franzen novel)
A truly great contemporary American novel. The Berglunds become the all-American family. We live their life together and despite the ups and downs there is hope or at least a semblance of it.
Despite the foundering of idealism that is more than often not misguided, the family survive, albeit just about. It is all about the survival.
Franzen writes with care and passion and, of course, in this novel there is love. I wouldn’t dare promise you a happy ending…that would give away too much. Great stuff.
The Corrections is way up on my to read list. I am a big fan.
June 28, 2012 0 Comments
Another Coe epic as Max heads on a ludicrous car journey northwards to the very tip of Britain he is also rediscovering the hidden history of his own family.
On this journey Max we feel is struggling with his own sanity and drawing parallels between the trip and a fated round the world sailing trip. We can but hope that for our hero Max the outcome is more pleasant.
Coe is a genius of yarns.
June 2, 2012 0 Comments
Persist with this and you will enjoy. It is a bit slow and stilted at the start and I have to say disappointing.
However, if you keep with it then it gets much better and is quite an enjoyable read even if some of the action in the background to the story now seems a bit dated. Perhaps because I lived in London for some of this time in London and that is why I feel this way.
!f 