Romance among The Night Owls
Because this is by Curtis Sittenfeld, I didn’t even ask what the book was about, I just dived right in when I got my hands on it. 70 pages in, I was starting to ask myself if I should just...
Lisa
A massive literary accomplishment
There will be many like me who cannot help but compare Lee’s writing with Ishiguro’s; there is such precision, decorum, formality, and elegance which characterises the style and pace of both. A Gesture Life is a joy to read, a...
Politics and social oppression
This novel has left me thinking that in India, principles/morals are a luxury seemingly few can afford. The story illustrates how the political system in India works, mostly at ground level, how favours are exchanged, how preferential treatment is given...
It is impossible to tell the truth here and live
The prologue: A man, who had gone to fight for his homeland in some senseless war and came back with his legs truncated, “in reality, only half a man” is pulling himself along a train station platform, pitiably begging but...
Mycelium: “a way of life that challenges our animal imaginations”
On one hand, I am a little hesitant to review this book because I feel very unqualified to even discuss let alone review a book on fungi; on the other hand, the title already pretty much tells you everything you...
The diasporic expat life: A 2nd-generation Chinese American in France
This is the kind of book which sounds like it should make good reading. Ann(-Marie) Mah is a Chinese American who has married Calvin, an American career diplomat, and in their 5 year marriage thus far, has accompanied him on...
Giving the victims a voice
There is seemingly no way to review this book without spoilers, so I apologise and caution readers in advance, that if you do not want a spoiler, please stop reading the review now! The book is not a work of...
Black and British and a teenager
Having been widely acclaimed on the Black British Writing scene for I Am Not Your Baby Mother and Sista Sister, which dealt with the challenges of being a young black woman in modern day urban Britain, I expected good things...
A feminist scientist in love
Since this is a bestseller with such a promising title, I was keen to read it in the hope of some ‘pseudosciency’ content. Alas, it turns out not to have much to do with science despite its protagonist being a...
“Elegies and epitaphs, but also signs and wonders”
I just know I am not going to be able to do this book justice because I suspect I did not fully grasp the topic matter and all its implications, but I will review it anyway because I enjoyed it...
Excellent Penang fantasy
At first reading of the blurb, I was none too sold on this book; it came across as being in the fantasy genre with ghosts and hauntings – the supernatural is not really my scene. However, since it is set...
A dedicated, thoughtful, doctor
Having thoroughly enjoyed Henry Marsh’s first book, Do No Harm, and also quite enjoyed his second, Admissions, I was pleased to hear of the publication of his third book, And Finally. Marsh is a neurosurgeon, and his first two books...
Multiracial Britain
Adekoya is a Nigerian Polish man, married to a Nigerian woman, and who identifies strongly with his Christian faith too. These identity factors are important to him, he tells his readers. He sets out to investigate and tell the story...
Dickensian Appalachia
The perennial problem with getting one’s hands on a new release by a favourite author, is the reining in of expectations, so as not to unfairly set up a novel for failure/disappointment. It is hard however, not to get excited...
“I don’t see color”
This book is definitely not intended to amuse, but I could not help but be amused as I read; being entertained while being educated is surely no bad thing. Diangelo’s Nice Racism followed on from her 2011 White Fragility, which...
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