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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Review of The Unfixed Stars by Michael Byers – and photos of Pluto
Looking at the pictures of Pluto taken by NASA’s New Horizons space probe reminded me of the excellent novel about the discoveryContinue Reading
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
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
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
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 writing style 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
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,Continue Reading
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
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
“Corner Gas” movie in production – Finally!
Ever since the Canadian sitcom series Corner Gas ended in 2009, people have been asking (1) why it stopped andContinue Reading
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
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
“Corner Gas” – The Comedy of Brent Butt and the Canadian Psyche
At the time that I relocated to Canada from South Africa, I thought that the situation down in Southern AfricaContinue Reading
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
Horrid but funny – Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk, by David Sedaris
Fables with Fangs Obviously fitting into the genre of Folklore, this collection of cautionary tales, Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk: A Modern Bestiary,Continue Reading
A querulous knight on a quest – The 100-Year-Old Man…, by Jonas Jonasson
This book’s wordy title, The 100-Year-Old Man Who Climbed out the Window and Disappeared (“The 100-Year-old-Man” for short) is partContinue Reading
Backstories Current events Discussion of genre Fairytales Humor Humour Review of modern fiction Review of novel
Easily digestible lessons for modern life – The 100-Year-Old Man and Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk
New spins on old fables The past few years have seen an increase in films and novels that rework andContinue Reading
Milking a franchise – Let Me Off at the Top! by Ron Burgundy
“Ron Burgundy” is of course not the actual author of this book – it was penned by Will Ferrell andContinue Reading
Umbrella, by Will Self – Writing as avant-garde Jazz
(Bloomsbury Publishing, 2012) You have to be determined to finish Umbrella. It’s 379 pages of text with no line breaks.Continue Reading
There’s another “Dear Life” out there – Comparing H.E. Bates and Alice Munro
TWO “DEAR LIFE” TITLES The other day, I was rereading one of my favourite short story compilations, My Uncle Silas,Continue Reading
The Pigoons are going to get you – MaddAddam Trilogy by Margaret Atwood
Man Booker Prize winner Margaret Atwood is famous, celebrated, much awarded, and justly so. One comes to expect that everythingContinue Reading
100 Reviews and counting
Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam Trilogy – coming up – will be the subject of the 100th book review I’ve written inContinue Reading
The astonishing politics of language – Embassytown, by China Miéville
This is a New Weird novel/thriller/sociological discourse (?) about Linguistics in society, or to be more precise – Semiotics – andContinue Reading
And the Mountains Echoed, by Khaled Hosseini
(Penguin Group, 2013) Introduction Khaled Hosseini’s latest novel has made me cry and made me miss my family. I knew,Continue Reading
Day of the Oprichnik, by Vladimir Sorokin
Day of the Oprichnik gave me nightmares – literally. The cover shows a bear, with a dagger and a watchContinue Reading
Best Wishes for the Season – In the words of Breyten Breytenbach
The best way to express my best wishes to my family, friends, followers and fellow book lovers for the newContinue Reading
Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers’ Hard-Hearted Nanny, the topic of new film
Update on this post: Here is an excellent analysis in the New Yorker of P.L. Travers’ youth, development as anContinue Reading
Art Art-themed Fiction Award-winning novel Discussion of current events Modern fiction Review of modern fiction Review of new novel
The Goldfinch, by Donna Tartt
Update The Goldfinch won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction. Amazon selected the novel as the 2013 Best Book ofContinue Reading
The Grass Was Singing – Goodbye Doris Lessing
Doris Lessing, the Zimbabwean-raised author who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 2007, died on 17 November 2013. Luckily forContinue Reading
William Shakespeare’s Star Wars – Verily, A New Hope, by Ian Doescher
Skip the poetry, go to the Full review A Review of This Fine Tale, in Blank Verse and A HeroicContinue Reading
Children’s Literature Current events Discussion of author’s portfolio Discussion of genre Review of new book Review of new novel Review of novel
Depicting the minutiae of life – Dear Life, by Alice Munro
– (Penguin Books Canada, 2012) The significant moments in Alice Munro’s latest collection of short stories tend to creep upContinue Reading
Happy birthday Dylan Thomas, you lovely Welshman
Dylan Thomas would’ve been 99 today. Born 27 October 1914, he died 9 November 1953, only 39 years old, muchContinue Reading
The Rosie Project, by Graeme Simsion
Overview I initially liked this novel, written from the point of view of a man who shows quite a fewContinue Reading
Detroit – An American Autopsy, by Charlie LeDuff
An autopsy is an examination to find the cause of death. From the title, you can assume the subject, Detroit,Continue Reading
Enlightenment for biking newbies
Bike Snob – Systematically & Mercilessly Realigning the World of Cycling, by Bike Snob NYC (Chronicle Books, San Francisco, 2010)Continue Reading
SEVEN CIRCUMSTANCES 