4 The Creative Process – Performance enhancement for writers
In the previous article, I discussed the link between psychopathology and creativity. So here is a shortlist of authors whose bodyContinue Reading
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54-second review of Insomniac City, by Bill Hayes
Compact Crits #7: 54-second review of Insomniac City, by Bill Hayes Read the whole story here. Make no mistake, thisContinue Reading
To read if you’re bone-tired, lonely or blue – Insomniac City, by Bill Hayes
Insomniac City made me cry – but in a nice way. I am an incurable romantic and Hayes’s revealing memoirContinue Reading
by MMB
March 9, 2018
3 The Creative Process – The redemptive power of fiction
In the previous article, part 2 of the Long Read about the creative process, I looked at the link betweenContinue Reading
by MMB
March 5, 2018
46-second review of The Last Kind Words Saloon
Compact Crits #5: 46-second review of The Last Kind Words Saloon, by Larry McMurtry
by MMB
March 2, 2018
The Fine Art of Economical Prose – The Last Kind Words Saloon, by Larry McMurtry
The title is probably one of the longest phrases in the novel, which is a mere 191 pages, including illustrationsContinue Reading
Review in a 48-second video – You Took the Last Bus Home, by Brian Bilston
Compact Crits #6: 48-second review of You Took the Last Bus Home, by Brian Bilston (poetry) Here’s the full reviewContinue Reading
2 The Creative Process – Unreliable authors and narrators
Does an unreliable narrator mean the author is also unreliable? In the previous article, about “mad, bad and dangerous toContinue Reading
Authors to watch Backstories Discussion of poetry Discussion of writing style Poetry Publishing technologies Review of poetry collection Web series and vlogs
Manipulating words like Legos – You Took the Last Bus Home, by Brian Bilston
Brian Bilston’s first anthology of poetry contains more than 200 poems, and despite some of them being only four linesContinue Reading
The funny, thoughtful poems of Brian Bilston, the Twitter poet
Brian Bilston’s saucy, witty and insightful poems on Twitter (@brian_bilston) have made him famous. In this podcast (recorded in 2016,Continue Reading
Backstories Cold Climate Novels for Summer Current events Detective fiction detective novel Discussion of film/TV series Mysteries and Thrillers Review of Mysteries and Thrillers Trending
Classic crime fiction with a Canadian twist – The John Cardinal Series, by Giles Blunt
I watched the final episode of the second season of Cardinal, based on the books by Giles Blunt, on Feb. 8,Continue Reading
1 The Creative Process – Mad, bad and dangerous to know
In Charles Bukowski’s famous novel, Hollywood, one of his many famous cult classics, his alter-ego “Henry Chinaski” describes actors asContinue Reading
Share the stunning view of the Starman – and DON’T PANIC
“A thing of beauty is a joy for ever”, John Keats wrote in his poem “Endymion” in 1818 – aboutContinue Reading
Review in a 60-second video – Caroline, by Sarah Miller
Compact Crits #4: 60-second review of Caroline, by Sarah Miller Here’s the long list of all the novels – apartContinue Reading
Backstories Discussion of film/TV series Discussion of writing style Review of historical fiction Review of new book Trending
A portrait of stoicism and fortitude – Caroline, by Sarah Miller
What is the appeal of the old-fashioned stiff upper lip? Of a person with backbone, inner strength, dogged determination? Caroline,Continue Reading
Discussion of current events Humor Humour Review of new book Review of new non-fiction Subjective non-fiction Video Web series and vlogs
Review in 50-second video – Rhett & Link’s Book of Mythicality
Compact Crits #3: Rhett & Link’s Book of Mythicality, by Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal
Current events Discussion of current events Humor Humour Publishing technologies Review of new book Review of new non-fiction Subjective non-fiction Trending Web series and vlogs
Will it…Print? – Rhett & Link’s Book of Mythicality
I have been watching Rhett and Link, a.k.a Rhett McLaughlin and Link (Charles) Neal, on their YouTube channel, Good MythicalContinue Reading
What does it take to create something new every day?
One of my favourite marketing professionals, Seth Godin, wrote his 7,000th post on Nov. 14, 2017. That’s quite something. TheContinue Reading
Review in a 57-second video – Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders
Compact Crits #2: 57-second review of Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders.
Authors to watch Award-winning novel Best of 2018 Constructed World Novel Discussion of writing style Review of Biographical Fiction Review of historical fiction Review of new book
A Triumph of Imagination – Lincoln in the Bardo, by George Saunders
This is one review I composed carefully, as the novel is in a format I have never seen before, inContinue Reading
Detective fiction detective novel Mysteries and Thrillers Review of modern fiction Review of Mysteries and Thrillers Review of new book
Review in a 47-second video – The Thirst, by Jo Nesbo
Taking a lesson from one of my favourite bloggers, Seth Godin, I am from now on going to compact myContinue Reading
Best of 2018 Detective fiction detective novel Discussion of film/TV series Discussion of writing style Mysteries and Thrillers Review of Mysteries and Thrillers Review of new book Trending
It’s all about the blood…and how it drips! – The Thirst, by Jo Nesbo
The film adaptation of The Snowman by Jo Nesbø (Nesbo outside Norway) came out last year October. Directed by TomasContinue Reading
The Year in Books – Fancy yourself in a crowd?
Book blogs and book review aggregators exist because people like being part of a community that shares their interests. ThisContinue Reading
Required Reading – The Emperor of All Maladies, by Siddhartha Mukherjee
Sometimes reading is work, and the more I read to review the rarer it is that I discover a bookContinue Reading
Backstories Current events Discussion of film/TV series Discussion of writing style Humor Humour Modern fiction Review of modern fiction
Just way too wordy – The Hippopotamus, by Stephen Fry
I did not think that I would get tired of reading the heavily stylized and very British English of StephenContinue Reading
Backstories Current events Discussion of current events Discussion of writing style Review of new book Reviews of short stories Trending
Debut fiction from Tom Hanks – “Uncommon Type” – is a labour of love
Tom Hanks’s debut work of fiction, a collection of short stories, came out on October 17, 2017. It has beenContinue Reading
Afrikaans Discussion of writing style Mysteries and Thrillers Review of Mysteries and Thrillers Review of new book
Taut, tense, snappy and shocking – Die Onaantasbares (The Untouchables) by Steve Hofmeyr
Readers who can manage Afrikaans will get a real kick out of reading Die Onaantasbares (“The Untouchables”) by South African authorContinue Reading
Backstories Current events Discussion of current events Modern fiction Review of modern fiction Review of new book
The food is better than the family saga – The Prodigal Daughter, by Prue Leith
Prue Leith, as Anglophiles and food show fans would know, replaced Mary Berry as the co-judge with Paul Hollywood whenContinue Reading
Current events Discussion of current events Discussion of writing style Humor Humour Review of modern fiction Review of new book
Making Light of Autism and Lust – Best-laid Plans, by Kathy Lette
In popular author Kathy Lette’s latest novel, Best Laid Plans, her writing style is a torrent of words, which you eventuallyContinue Reading
Scoundrels, crooks and high rollers – “Boereverneukers”, by Izak du Plessis
Izak du Plessis’s non-fiction dive into the fascinating if mortifying world of Afrikaans scoundrels, crooks and high rollers should alsoContinue Reading
Backstories Current events Discussion of current events Discussion of writing style Humor Humour Modern fiction Review of modern fiction Review of new book Trending
This is what being old is really like – The Secret Diary of Hendrik Groen, by…?
There is a current trend for novels with long titles about eccentric old people: The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed OutContinue Reading
Art Backstories Current events Discussion of current events Discussion of film/TV series List of similar books Review of historical fiction
It’s all in the timing – Film of Tulip Fever and exhibition of Vermeer’s paintings
With books, as with films, success depends a lot on the timing and the tie-ins. Whether it will resonate withContinue Reading
Backstories Detective fiction detective novel Discussion of poetry Discussion of writing style Mysteries and Thrillers Review of Mysteries and Thrillers
Lovely verses and violent deaths – Shanghai Redemption, by Qiu Xiaolong
It has been said that the problem with poetry is that whatever poem you come up with, due to theContinue Reading
Angela Merkel’s take on Julian Barnes’s novel about Shostakovich, The Noise of Time
Julian Barnes October 8 at 7:03pm · Angela Merkel, Chancellor of Germany, on Julian Barnes’s novel The Noise of TimeContinue Reading
New photo book: A Thousand-Year Silence – Iceland, 2017
Iceland is a rocky, harsh, windy island, packed with ravening tourists, but the scenery is spectacular. This book is theContinue Reading
Author of The Buried Giant, Kazuo Ishiguro, awarded Nobel Prize for Literature
I know a good thing when I read it! Yesterday, 5 Oct. 2017, the British author Kazuo Ishiguro was named thisContinue Reading
Authors to watch Discussion of writing style Review of historical fiction Review of novel Review of previously published novel
Wrathful Icelandic sheep – From the Mouth of the Whale, by Sjón
I went to Iceland in August 2017 in the company of a Geologist to see volcanoes and other spectacular geologicalContinue Reading
Art-themed Fiction kunstlerromane Review of new book Review of new novel Review of novel Unlikeable Protagonists
It’s a family thing – but is it art? The Family Fang, by Kevin Wilson
It says on the cover that The Family Fang is a comedy – but I did not find it funny.Continue Reading
Backstories Detective fiction detective novel Discussion of film/TV series Discussion of writing style Literary analysis Mysteries and Thrillers
In the footsteps of fictional detectives – The rise of literary tourism
Popular TV shows that are based on series of books are often favourite sources for “literary tourism”, but when fansContinue Reading
Backstories Discussion of writing style Literary analysis Review of literary fiction Review of memoir
It’s no use getting mad – The pact between reader and writer
On principle, I never respond when authors write to me to either complain about or say thank you for myContinue Reading
Pulping Your PC or Publishing Posthumously – Future Options for Authors
Icelandic writer Sjón has spent the first half of this year in Lillehammer, Norway, where, on June 2, 2017, heContinue Reading
Cold Climate Novels for Summer Detective fiction detective novel Discussion of writing style Modern fiction Mysteries and Thrillers Review of modern fiction Review of Thriller
Straight to the jugular – Blood on Snow, by Jo Nesbo
Update In June 2017 it was announced that the Italian production company Cattleya had picked up the rights for theContinue Reading
Ooh, what a horrible man – The Book of Human Skin, by Michelle Lovric
The title is a fair indication of what lurks inside the covers of this book. It has been compared toContinue Reading
Current events Discussion of current events Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style Review of new book Review of science fiction Reviews of short stories
Reality from a different perspective – Giants at the End of the World, Finnish Weird anthology
At the 75th World Science Fiction Conference (Worldcon 75) held in August 2017 in Helsinki, Finland, the bag of goodiesContinue Reading
Current events Discussion of current events Discussion of film/TV series Discussion of writing style Humor Humour Reviews of Screenplays and Dramas
When the film is better than the book – A Man Called Ove
I think people fall into three categories: 1) those who read the book first, then go see the film ofContinue Reading
Backstories Current events Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of current events Discussion of film/TV series Discussion of writing style Review of Autobiography Review of memoir
Goodbye, Sir Roger – My Word Is My Bond, by Roger Moore
You could be tempted to dismiss Roger Moore’s autobiography, My Word Is My Bond, as a bit of a joke,Continue Reading
Six rules for writing about AI set out at Worldcon 75
AI, Artificial Intelligence, is the one element that many SF writers like to work into their stories, particularly robot-human interactions.Continue Reading
Backstories Current events Discussion of author’s portfolio Literary analysis Review of science fiction
Readers set the critics right at Worldcon 75
On day 2 of Worldcon 75 in Helsinki, I finally got to have a word with one of the “insider”Continue Reading
How Chinese SF writers deal with “the invisible” – Worldcon 75
Day 2 of Worldcon 75 delivered an Academic Track session that was on par, at least in terms of content,Continue Reading
Poor presentations detract from the messages at Worldcon 75
The first Academic Track session on the first day of Worldcon 75 (the 75th World Science Fiction Conference), on theContinue Reading
Splashes in a suikinkutsu – Experiential content on the Internet
See me, hear me and walk with me – that’s what many websites try to achieve; in other words, connectContinue Reading
Disreputable. Person. Mostly? – Worst.Person. Ever. by Douglas Coupland
Douglas Coupland, the artist, is terribly famous, not only in Canada. He has won heaps of awards. When I wasContinue Reading
by MMB
July 20, 2017
Constructed World Novel Discussion of writing style Fairytales Review of new book Review of new science fiction Review of science fiction
Mental-floss on a grand scale – Death’s End by Cixin Liu
It has been said that many authors seem to be unable to grasp or describe how big outer space is.Continue Reading
by MMB
July 13, 2017
Weird and funny – The Rapture of the Nerds by Doctorow & Stross
Sci-Fi and Fantasy writers often present original concepts in their novels, but Cory Doctorow and Charles Stross not only inventedContinue Reading
by MMB
June 29, 2017
Depicted like a painting – The One-Eyed Man by L.E. Modesitt, Jr.
You know the colour “octarine”? It’s the colour of magic, visible only to magicians and cats, a sparkly, glowing combinationContinue Reading
by MMB
June 15, 2017
The magic didn’t work for me – All the Birds in the Sky, by Charlie Jane Anders
If I can use one term to describe All the Birds in the Sky it would be “uneven”: uneven inContinue Reading
by MMB
June 8, 2017
Why we think that fictional characters are real
The reboot of the TV series Twin Peaks, Twin Peaks: The Return premiered on the 21st of May, to a hugeContinue Reading
by MMB
May 31, 2017
Backstories Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of current events Discussion of writing style Review of new book Review of new science fiction
What makes an AI human? – A Closed and Common Orbit by Becky Chambers
This novel is on the shortlist for the 2017 Hugo Awards which will be handed out at Worldcon 75 inContinue Reading
by MMB
May 26, 2017
The trolls Ūgh and Bõögâr are getting their own perfume
In the previous post I discussed Ūgh and Bõögâr, the creations of Berlin-based Icelandic artist Egill Sæbjörnsson. The two trolls areContinue Reading
by MMB
May 25, 2017
Mythology Meets Art in Venice – Trolls and Gods
Sometimes artists use themes or characters from Mythology, and currently, two artists have done this in Venice, Italy, in exhibitionsContinue Reading
by MMB
May 20, 2017
Poetry that mixes mother tongues – and my poem about my Grandma
It is very hard to make two different languages rhyme. This struck me again when I was researching the phoneticContinue Reading
by MMB
May 13, 2017
Discussion of current events Discussion of writing style Review of modern fiction Review of new novel Review of new science fiction
Flummoxed by a “J” – J – A Novel, by Howard Jacobson
Sometimes a novel just flummoxes me. I have tried my best to get to grips with “J” by Howard Jacobson, whichContinue Reading
by MMB
May 5, 2017
Not much of a mirror – You Don’t Look Your Age, by Sheila Nevins
Update: On Dec. 18, 2017, the New York Times reported that Sheila Nevins is exiting HBO after 38 years. TheContinue Reading
Twists on famous opening lines
(Above: Spot the possum details on these re-imagined book covers. Graphics by M. Bijman) I wondered what would happen ifContinue Reading
Book reviews in published magazines, vs review aggregator sites
Dum-dah-dah…Another one bites the dust…♬ (Sorry, Queen.) A few months ago I announced that my reviews will be published inContinue Reading
Discussion of writing style Modern fiction Review of modern fiction Review of new book Review of novel
A questionable method of child-rearing – Perfect Little World, by Kevin Wilson
I imagine a woman must’ve sat Kevin Wilson down and explained to him in excruciating detail what pregnancy, childbirth, breast-feeding andContinue Reading
This guy knows food – Appetites, by Anthony Bourdain
Sometimes you have to admit you don’t know enough to give an opinion. For Appetites – A Cookbook, I askedContinue Reading
by MMB
April 2, 2017
Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of writing style Review of modern fiction Review of new book Review of new novel
Nice but Light-Weight – Britt-Marie Was Here by Fredrik Backman
I did not like Backman’s previous novel, A Man Called Ove, but was spurred on to buy book no.3, Britt-MarieContinue Reading
Award-winning novel Discussion of writing style Review of literary fiction Review of novel Review of previously published novel
A masterful depiction of boredom – The Evenings by Gerard Reve
This is the first English translation, published in January 2017, of the famous Dutch novel. It is a novel about boredomContinue Reading
Current events Detective fiction Discussion of writing style Modern fiction Review of new book Review of new science fiction
Hard-hitting Alt-history novel – Underground Airlines by Ben H. Winters
Ben H. Winters wrote the acclaimed, award-winning Science Fiction series, The Last Policeman. I called the hero of the series,Continue Reading
Award-winning novel Backstories Discussion of writing style Published books Review of literary fiction Review of previously published novel Review of science fiction Romances and Love Stories Video
Finnish Weird at its best – Troll, by Johanna Sinisalo
“Madam, I’m afraid he’s come down with a bad case of Trolls.” If you’ve never imagined that trolls are anContinue Reading
Backstories Children’s Literature Current events Discussion of writing style Published books Review of previously published novel
“The Little Prince” – The tricky business of fan fiction versus copyright, Part 4 of 4
Here is the last part in a series of four posts on the subject of fan fiction versus copyright rules.Continue Reading
Backstories Comic books Current events Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of current events Published books
The Unfinished “Tintin” – The tricky business of fan fiction versus copyright, Part 3 of 4
On the subject of fan fiction versus copyright rules, I am discussing examples of three cases of what seems toContinue Reading
Current events Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of current events List of similar books Published books
“The Aleph” – The tricky business of fan fiction versus copyright, Part 2 of 4
To continue the discussion on fan fiction versus copyright, here follows the case of the two “Alephs”, one by Jorge Luis BorgesContinue Reading
The tricky business of fan fiction versus copyright, Part 1 of 4
The Era of the Reboot and Sequel Whenever an author adds a new book on to a successful novel orContinue Reading
Printed books are not only for old fogeys like me
Comic artist and illustrator Lucas Levitan’s particular talent is to superimpose his bulbous-nosed cartoon figures onto actual photos he has found, mostlyContinue Reading
Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style Modern fiction Review of literary fiction Review of new book Review of new novel
From the inside looking out – A Gentleman in Moscow, by Amor Towles
This is a stylized, studied novel, about a stylish gentleman, written in elegant style. It has a fin-de-siècle feel to it,Continue Reading
GoodReads 2016 – A Year in Books
This is the report of my year on GoodReads.com, where I repost short versions of my reviews. Goodreads still hasContinue Reading
2016 Review – A Year in Books, by the numbers
Another year has passed on the Seven Circumstances book blog. Here are the site stats, courtesy of WordPress’s StatsMonkeys whoContinue Reading
Award-winning novel Discussion of writing style Modern fiction Review of literary fiction Review of new book Review of new novel
“Kǔ lé”, a state of both joy and sorrow in Do Not Say We Have Nothing, by Madeleine Thien
This important novel about two families of brilliant musicians in China during the “Great Leap Forward” (1958 – 1961), the “Cultural Revolution” (1966 –Continue Reading
Doesn’t work, bestseller or not – 300 Days Of Sun, by Deborah Lawrenson
Some magazines don’t publish negative reviews because they want to review books that people will buy. The problem with that argument isContinue Reading
Who’s up for some Surrealist warfare? The Last Days of New Paris, by China Miéville
To give some background on this peculiar novella, The Last Days of New Paris, consider this: No dedicated Science FictionContinue Reading
Into the mind of a dead composer: The Noise of Time, by Julian Barnes
Julian Barnes is a writer who does not waste words. While his subjects are often difficult and his novels contain references to specializedContinue Reading
Avoiding the reviewer’s fate of “praising trash”
As of this month, I’m going to be contributing book reviews to Fairlady magazine. For those who don’t know, it’s anContinue Reading
Books for Summer Current events Discussion of writing style Published books Review of literary fiction
Suffering and sublime beauty – The Famished Road, by Ben Okri
This novel, first published 1991, won Ben Okri the Man Booker Prize for Fiction. You might wonder what relevance aContinue Reading
A perfect world you’d kill to escape from – The Heart Goes Last, by Margaret Atwood
The Heart Goes Last held no surprises for me. Dystopia set somewhere in the future? Check. All doomed to implode due toContinue Reading
With love and fatigue from writer and reader – Report from the interior, by Paul Auster
Paul Auster has been one of my favourite authors for many years, but not one whose name would come directly toContinue Reading
Read to your children – they will thank you for it
This is the Information Age and the Social Age. Whether on a tablet, PC, ipad or smart phone, people wadeContinue Reading
Current events Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of writing style Review of historical fiction Review of new book Review of new novel Review of previously published novel
Prepare to have your head messed with, brilliantly – Icelandic writer, Sjón
Sjón: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the Reader of Sjón. Her current mission: to explore strange new worlds,Continue Reading
Books for Summer Discussion of writing style ebook Review of historical fiction Review of new book Romances and Love Stories Video
A sexy idea that moves you – The Gods of Tango, by Carolina de Robertis
There is a lot of tango-ing in this novel, The Gods of Tango, as well as an eyebrow-raising amount ofContinue Reading
The Viceroy of Ouidah, by Bruce Chatwin
While I was reading The High Mountains of Portugal, which I reviewed in my previous post, I was also re-reading The Viceroy of OuidahContinue Reading
They don’t exist: The High Mountains of Portugal, by Yann Martel
Let’s just get one thing out of the way: the title of the book and the setting: First, there areContinue Reading
by MMB
July 20, 2016
Too many “glittery encrustations” – Two Years Eight Months and Twenty-eight Nights, by Salman Rushdie
Not worth the effort, frankly This is part two of the essay about “readability” that I published yesterday. This timeContinue Reading
by MMB
July 19, 2016
Award-winning novel Books for Summer Discussion of current events Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style Review of modern fiction
Almost incomprehensible English – The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Díaz
Hard to read but worthwhile reading Some books are hard to read and hard to finish. It could be becauseContinue Reading
by MMB
June 20, 2016
One personal piano – A remarkable bundle of inventions
My piano It has been said about inherited upright pianos that they are “1200lb heirloom paperweights”, unless they are keptContinue Reading
by MMB
June 18, 2016
Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style Review of historical fiction Review of new book Review of novel
The Piano Maker by Kurt Palka – Review: How does artistic consciousness connect with the world?
The Piano Maker could have been so much less, and in that way, been so much more. I thought that the author,Continue Reading
by MMB
June 3, 2016
Discussion of writing style List of similar books Review of new book Review of new novel Review of novel Romances and Love Stories
The Buried Giant – It remains in the mind long afterwards
I have found that truly memorable books have something in common: they make you think. As Science Fiction author Neil Gaiman says of KazuoContinue Reading
by MMB
May 2, 2016
Discussion of author’s portfolio Review of new book Review of new science fiction Review of science fiction
Imprecision with purpose – This Census-Taker, by China Miéville
Like it says on the title page, this novella is mystery fiction. I could not figure out, even though IContinue Reading
by MMB
April 8, 2016
Furiously Happy, by Jenny Lawson
I read Jenny Lawson’s first autobiography Let’s Pretend This Never Happened, with a sense of having made a happy discovery,Continue Reading
by MMB
April 1, 2016
Cold Climate Novels for Summer Detective fiction Discussion of writing style List of similar books Mysteries and Thrillers Review of historical fiction Review of new book Review of new novel
An Excellent Cold Climate Mystery: Wolf Winter, by Cecilia Ekbäck
Murder on an imaginary mountain I wondered, when I read this, how Cecilia Ekbäck came to know Blackåsen Mountain inContinue Reading
The White Road – Journey Into An Obsession, by Edmund de Waal
Today I added the 153rd author to my list of reviewed authors. Only a few stand out, and here is one:Continue Reading
Afrikaans Current events Discussion of current events Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style List of similar books Review of new book
Authors in deadpools and recent obits – Umberto Eco, Harper Lee and others
Two days ago, 19 February 2016, both Umberto Eco and Harper Lee died. Both their names were probably in theContinue Reading
Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of writing style List of similar books Review of Autobiography Review of Children’s Literature Review of new book Review of new non-fiction When Grandma Was a Little Girl
Laura Ingalls Wilder – Pioneer Girl, the Annotated Biography, by Pamela Smith Hill, et al
Laura Ingalls Wilder – Pioneer Girl, the Annotated Biography by Pamela Smith Hill, et al I grew up with the LauraContinue Reading
Welcome to Marwencol, by Mark Hogancamp and Chris Shellen
Welcome to Marwencol, by Mark Hogancamp and Chris Shellen Mark Hogancamp is a celebrity – and for good reason. Obscure peopleContinue Reading
Discussion of film/TV series Discussion of genre Non-fiction Review of new book Review of new non-fiction
All the Best Lines, by George Tiffin
For New Year 2016 I engaged my brain to delve into some interesting new non-fiction. These are not obvious choicesContinue Reading
Happy New Year and May you read many more books
As famous film director Werner Herzog explains in an interview with Stephen Sackur on the BBC’s HARDTalk program on 24thContinue Reading
2015 in review
The WordPress.com stats Helper Monkeys prepared a 2015 annual report for this blog. Here’s an excerpt: A New York City subwayContinue Reading
Discussion of writing style Review of new book Review of new novel Review of new science fiction Review of science fiction
J.J. Abrams and Doug Dorst’s love letter to the written word: “S.” or “Ship of Theseus”
This year I’ve read highly forgettable, beautifully written, distressing, hilarious and puzzling books. For me, S., by Doug Dorst and J.J.Continue Reading
Current events Discussion of film/TV series Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style Modern fiction Review of historical fiction Review of modern fiction Review of novel
The Big Business of Erotic Romances – Fifty Shades of Grey, by E.L. James
For the last in my series of festive season books, the theme is romance and erotica, and I have someContinue Reading
Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style Review of historical fiction Review of new book Review of novel
A Harsh Beauty – Island of Wings, by Karin Altenberg
In part 2 of good reads for the festive season, my choice is Island of Wings, by Karin Altenberg, which hasContinue Reading
Detective fiction Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style Review of science fiction
The Impossibility of Unseeing – The City & The City by China Miéville
For the festive season reading list, I’d like to get back to books that can stand up to frequent re-readings.Continue Reading
Of wars and remembrance
Today, Remembrance Day, I am remembering – unwillingly – the wars of the country I was born in, South Africa. EuropeansContinue Reading
The lighter side of craziness – Let’s Pretend This Never Happened
Let’s pretend this never happened by Jenny Lawson I laughed ’til I cried when I read this book. I reallyContinue Reading
Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of writing style Humor Humour Non-fiction Review of memoir The Grim Reaper
Forensic analysis of death – Nothing to Be Frightened Of, by Julian Barnes
Death is a difficult subject to write about, but particularly when it is not coincidental but core to a book’s theme orContinue Reading
Henning Mankell has died – No more Wallander
The Swedish crime writer Henning Mankell (born February 3, 1948) died of cancer on 5 October 2015. His most famous creation wasContinue Reading
Why I hate and love poetry
The fatal problem with poetry: poems Poetry is everywhere. Just when you think poetry is dead, there is rap. IContinue Reading
Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style List of similar books Modern fiction Review of modern fiction Review of new novel
Still feels fresh 60+ years on – Go Set A Watchman, by Harper Lee
This novel cannot be discussed without reference to Lee’s first and famous novel, To Kill a Mockingbird. However, as Go SetContinue Reading
by MMB
July 31, 2015
Discussion of writing style Modern fiction Review of modern fiction Review of new novel Romances and Love Stories Unlikeable Protagonists
Hausfrau, by Jill Alexander Essbaum – A Modern Parable with Switzerland Substituted for Moral Subtext?
The lead character in Hausfrau, “Anna Benz”, must be one of the most disagreeable people I have had the misfortuneContinue Reading
by MMB
July 18, 2015
Review of The Unfixed Stars by Michael Byers – and photos of Pluto
Review of The Unfixed Stars, by Michael Byers And photos of Pluto this week Looking at the pictures of PlutoContinue Reading
by MMB
July 12, 2015
Art-themed Fiction CanLit kunstlerromane Review of historical fiction Review of new book Review of new novel
Awkward love scenes but lovely music – Vienna Nocturne, by Vivien Shotwell
A nocturne, as in the title of this novel, is a musical composition that is inspired by, or evocative of,Continue Reading
by MMB
May 29, 2015
References, inspirations and book titles
Inspiration has to come from somewhere To make a short story long: Borrowing or infringing? In 1947, Malcolm Lowry’s novelContinue Reading
by MMB
May 28, 2015
A face you’ll never forget, a story that will move you – Mary Coin, by Marisa Silver
Recently, while PBS was airing the documentary The Dust Bowl by Ken Burns, I bought Mary Coin by Marisa Silver. IContinue Reading
by MMB
May 28, 2015
Red Herrings, Murders at Mealtimes and Mystery Recipes
The Mystery Writers of America Cookbook Considering the quality and quirkiness of books published by Quirk Books, I was expecting somethingContinue Reading
Discussion of author’s portfolio Humor Humour Review of previously published novel Review of science fiction
Where did that quote come from? – Making Money & Unseen Academicals, by Terry Pratchett
After Terry Pratchett’s death (my previous post), his daughter Rhianna tweeted from her father’s Twitter account: “AT LAST, SIR TERRY, WE MUSTContinue Reading
Discussion of author’s portfolio Review of new book Review of new novel Review of new science fiction Review of science fiction
Leaving a sense of wonder – The Long Earth by Terry Pratchett and Stephen Baxter
Terry Pratchett (Sir Terence David John Pratchett, OBE) died on 12 March 2015. Last week Thursday. He was only 66Continue Reading
Investigative Journalism Modern fiction Review of modern fiction Review of new book Review of new novel
An old hack remembers “The Dismissal” – Amnesia by Peter Carey
In Peter Carey’s new novel, Amnesia, the subtext of press freedom is woven through a plot about hacking, love, eco-terrorism,Continue Reading
Letting go at last – The Quarry, by Iain Banks
Three novels I recently read have a plot in common: an individual’s urge to ferret out the truth, come hellContinue Reading
A child comes from Alaskan woods – The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey
Eowyn Ivey was raised in Alaska, was educated there, and lives there. Ivey was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize forContinue Reading
A Year in Books – From Rich Asians To Snow Maidens
Goodreads, bless their little algorithmic socks, let me know this week that I’ve read 14 books this year. Yep, allContinue Reading
More famous than ever – Jane Austen Cover to Cover, by Margaret C. Sullivan
Even if you know nothing about Jane Austen, never read one of her novels, and never seen a movie adaptationContinue Reading
Remembrance of horrors past – “The Fat Years” and “The Zone of Interest”
Remembrance of horrors past Here are two novels suitable for Halloween – the real Halloween: The Fat Years by Chan KoonchungContinue Reading
Constructed World Novel Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of writing style Review of Fantasy The Grim Reaper
Death and the Flight of Birds in The Discworld – Reaper Man, by Terry Pratchett
Death is a difficult subject to write about, but particularly when it is not coincidental but core to a book’s theme orContinue Reading
Poor Vlad Ţepeş, sadly misrepresented – The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova
Despite being 676 pages of dense text accompanied by glowing reviews from major newspapers and magazines, this biographical novel aboutContinue Reading
Discussion of genre Discussion of writing style List of similar books Review of new book Review of new novel
Stick Out Your Tongue – Getting the hang of the Chinese novel
Reading Chinese novels in English After many years of being tasked to read and review novels (translated into English) by Chinese authors, IContinue Reading
Happy Autumn!
A Google Doodle for First Day of Autumn I love Autumn – it’s a beautiful season. Today is the firstContinue Reading
Artists turning into authors – Worst. Person. Ever. by Douglas Coupland
Swapping art forms is tricky I am acutely aware of the fact that having a talent or skill in one lineContinue Reading
To Kill a Mockingbird goes digital – other classics to follow – world e-book base grows
Last year I wrote about why old books, long-playing records and other non-digital media are gaining value, and why some unlikelyContinue Reading
A “tint of indefinable substance” – Rhino Ranch, by Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry knows how to write, that’s for sure. His technique is perfectly suited to the settings of many ofContinue Reading
Detective fiction detective novel Review of Mysteries and Thrillers Review of new science fiction Review of science fiction
And it all ends with a…hug?! – World of Trouble, by Ben H. Winters
In books I and II of The Last Policeman series, by Ben H. Winters, we met the last policeman inContinue Reading
by MMB
July 30, 2014
Books for Summer road trips – Stories from Iceland, Denmark and Canada’s small towns
Books for Summer road trips This past month I travelled south into the USA, down through Washington State, into Oregon, turningContinue Reading
by MMB
June 27, 2014
No more death by PowerPoint – Prezi HOTSHOT, by Hedwyg van Groenendaal
Here’s a prezi for you – “Prezi HOTSHOT”, by Hedwyg van Groenendaal Everyone who’s up-to-date with apps for business knows ofContinue Reading
by MMB
June 13, 2014
Famous Men for Father’s Day: An Author, an Astronaut and a dead Absurdist
Manly books about famous men In celebration of Father’s Day coming up, here are some books about men I admire thatContinue Reading
by MMB
May 30, 2014
Corner Gas movie in production – Finally!
Since the Canadian sitcom series Corner Gas ended in 2009, people have been asking why it stopped and when itContinue Reading
by MMB
May 29, 2014
DBC Pierre’s Lights out in Wonderland – Not the Wonderland you’re thinking of
Vicariously living the drug-addled, suicide-obsessed life of the delinquent first-person narrator, “Gabriel Brockwell”, in DBC Pierre’s Lights Out in Wonderland, wasContinue Reading
by MMB
May 12, 2014
The visual language of painting – Landscape Painting by Mitchell Albala
Update, Jan. 7, 2017 Corrected spelling of “[en] plein air”, French pronunciation: [ɑ̃ plɛn ɛːʁ], which is from the FrenchContinue Reading
by MMB
May 10, 2014
The Comedy of Brent Butt and the Canadian Psyche – Corner Gas
In some countries, comedy is a serious business At the time that I relocated to Canada from South Africa, IContinue Reading
by MMB
May 7, 2014
Current events Discussion of author’s portfolio Non-fiction Published books Review of historical fiction Subjective non-fiction
Have you read People of the Deer? You should, especially now
Grand old man of Canadian literature dies Just last week I gave my copy of Farley Mowat’s Eastern Passage to a friendContinue Reading
The Last Policeman & Countdown City, by Ben H. Winters
The Last Policeman Series To my surprise, I liked both books in “The Last policeman” series rather a lot. IContinue Reading
Comic books Current events Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of lyrics Review of classical fiction
Happy birthday William Shakespeare – 450 years on
It’s the 450th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare, who is traditionally believed to have been born today, 23Continue Reading
Homage to Hennie Aucamp
South African author, poet, lyricist and playwright Hennie Aucamp died on 20 March 2014, aged 80 years, from a heartContinue Reading
