2015: The Year in Books
2015 has been an interesting and sometimes controversial year in the world of literature in English. (I am not equipped to comment on the rich and varied non-English-language literary scene, so this...
Tag: book reviews
Review: “The Secret Chord” by Geraldine Brooks
Geraldine Brooks’ latest novel, an account of the life of King David told by his prophet, Nathan (Natan), takes its title from Leonard Cohen’s beloved and much-covered song, Hallelujah. Although...
Review: Satin Island by Tom McCarthy (Man Booker Shortlist #4)
(For other Man Booker shortlist reviews, see: A Spool of Blue Thread, The Fishermen, and The Year of the Runaways). Satin Island is Tom McCarthy’s second grab at the Man Booker ring – his book C...
Man Booker Shortlist 2015: The Year of the Grim
The shortlist for the Man Booker Prize was announced on Tuesday. The six titles that made the cut are: Satin Island (Tom McCarthy) A Spool of Blue Thread (Anne Tyler) The Fishermen (Chigozie Obioma)...
Review: Dietland by Sarai Walker
Dietland, Sarai Walker’s first novel, is a filling read. Its premise – the journey of a young woman towards accepting her fat body and rejecting patriarchal beauty norms – should promise an...
Review: Ian McEwan’s The Children Act
When picking my holiday reading this year, one book that was front and centre on my list was Ian McEwan’s latest, The Children Act. I was intrigued by the premise, had seen some positive reviews...
Review: Donna Tartt’s The Goldfinch
It’s been a fair while between drinks for Donna Tartt. Her previous novel, The Little Friend, came out in 2002; The Goldfinch, her latest (and, as I will argue below, certainly her greatest to...
Review: Alexis Wright’s The Swan Book
“Even true stories have to be invented sometimes to be remembered…” The winner of Australia’s premier literary prize, the Miles Franklin Award, was announced last week – it went to Evie...
Review: Karen Joy Fowler’s We Are All Completely Beside Ourselves
“Man is the only creature that refuses to be what he is.” (Albert Camus) Karen Joy Fowler is a writer that I thought I had not encountered before reading her most recent novel, We Are All...
Review: Annamarie Jagose, Orgasmology
Annamarie Jagose, Orgasmology, Duke UP, 2013. Does orgasm have a history? Queer theorist Annamarie Jagose’s new book attempts to answer this question with a carefully researched journey through the...