Book Reviews
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Book ReviewsThe Pacific by Hugh Ambrose
It's a horrible irony that the OED defines “pacific” as “characterized or tending to peace; tranquil”; between 1941 and 1945,... Read more »| 19 Apr 2010 -
Book Reviews
The Two Kinds of Decay
While still at college, Sarah Manguso caught what she thought was a head cold. A member of a choir with a solo in an upcoming concert, she fought it ... Read more »| 31 Mar 2010 -
Book ReviewsThe Lilac Thief by Young Dawkins
The Lilac Thief is a collection of Young Dawkins’ spoken word beat poetry. Normally that description would indicate two strikes against –... Read more »| 25 Mar 2010 -
Book Reviews
The Nigger Factory by Gil Scott-Heron
It’s an incendiary title, but that’s just because it’s making an angry political point about the state of education for black Ameri... Read more »| 25 Mar 2010 -
Book ReviewsJ.D. Salinger: A Life Raised High by Kenneth Slawenski
When J.D. Salinger died earlier this year, a glut of rushed, cash-in biographies could have been expected. However, A Life Raised High is much better... Read more »| 24 Mar 2010 -
Book ReviewsThe Pregnant Widow by Martin Amis
The Pregnant Widow, Martin Amis's best book since his memoir Experience (2000), presents itself as a disquisition on the victories and defeats of the... Read more »| 23 Mar 2010
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Book Reviews
Hitler's Private Library by Timothy W. Ryback
Contrary to popular perception, Adolf Hitler did frequently cherish books rather than char them. That revelation is not the only original element of this ou... Read more »| 02 Mar 2010 -
Book Reviews
Sunday Daffodil and Other Happy Endings by Paul Robert Smith
The optimistic title of this book is not only deceptive as a title, but also masks the true depth of Smith’s literary genius. The title is symbolic of ... Read more »| 01 Mar 2010 -
Book Reviews
Loss by Tony Black
It must be annoying for Scottish crime writers to be constantly compared to Ian Rankin. Similarly, Ian Rankin must find it quite annoying to be compared to e... Read more »| 26 Feb 2010 -
Book Reviews
Taking the Medicine by Druin Birch
Taking the Medicine sets out to demonstrate how ‘doctors, for most of human history, have killed their patients far more often than they have saved the... Read more »| 25 Feb 2010 -
Book Reviews
At The Water's Edge
Contemporary ‘wilderness literature’ lacks writers who have the ability to stand outside the shadows of the seminal heavy weights, Emerson, Thore... Read more »| 25 Feb 2010 -
Book Reviews
Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It by Maile Meloy
Never mind that Maile Meloy's last novel was on the Orange shortlist, or that Richard and Judy liked it, whichever way that nugget of information mig... Read more »| 24 Feb 2010 -
Book ReviewsNever After, by Dan Elconin
Since his first appearance back in 1902, many people (including Steven Spielberg) have attempted to produce a follow-up to J. M. Barrie’s iconi... Read more »| 24 Feb 2010 -
Book Reviews
A Fair Maiden by Joyce Carol Oates
Katya Spivak is a young nanny working for the summer amongst the privileged splendour of Bay Harbor. Approached by the elderly Marcus Kidder, she allows hers... Read more »| 24 Feb 2010 -
Book Reviews
Pride and Promiscuity
For all the modern fashion for humour and openness, some books ought still be kept from servants and ladies. Read more »| 23 Feb 2010