Sam Selvon’s The Lonely Londoners was written in the 1950s in a climate of change for the West Indies and Britain. As the British Empire slowly lost grip of its ‘acquired’ colonies, the British population found themselves with the confronting prospect of their colonial subjects ‘invading’ their white spaces and homeland. The Lonely Londoners tells … Continue reading
Category Archives: Book Reviews
Fire and Clay: a Review of Helen Wecker’s “The Golem and the Djinni”
The Golem and the Djinni is, like many fantasy stories, long. With close to 700 pages it’s a commitment sort of book. Nothing you would hastily rush into, something that requires diligence and effort. Something that requires patience. For a long time, it was a book that I could not read because I lacked the time … Continue reading
True Crime in South Africa: a review of Antony Altbeker’s “Fruit of a Poisoned Tree”
Fruit of a Poisoned Tree is from New Journalism author, Antony Altbeker. Over 2005-2007, Altbeker followed the infamous trial of Fred Van der Vyver, the man accused of killing his girlfriend, Inge Lotz, in one of South Africa’s most brutal murders. The story is anything but simple. South Africa is a country in crisis and … Continue reading
“Stones Against the Mirror”: Review of Hugh Lewin’s ficto-memoir
Stones Against the Mirror is written by Hugh Lewin, a South African anti-Apartheid activist who spent seven years in gaol for crimes of sabotage against the state. Hugh was sent to gaol by his best friend Adrian, also an anti-Apartheid activist. This is a story of friendship, betrayal, and forgiveness. The book begins at a … Continue reading
A Review of the Third Book in the All Souls Trilogy: “The Book of Life”
I felt relief when I saw that this book was coming out this Summer. I have started many a trilogy/series where I have waited, painstakingly, as the years go by and still no new release (George R.R. Martin and Patrick Rothfuss, I’m looking at you both!). Deborah Harkness, thankfully, did not put me through such … Continue reading
Look Who’s Back by Timur Vermes: Vergangenheitsbewältigung in Germany today
I bought Timur Vermes’ book, Look Who’s Back, as an ebook just because I felt uncomfortable about the looks that I might get for reading a book that has an outline of Hitler’s famous comb-over and the title molded into his iconic moustache. The main idea behind the book is that Hitler miraculously comes back … Continue reading
Top Secret Twenty-One: a review of Janet Evanovich’s newest Plum adventure
Janet Evanovich has released two new covers for her latest Stephanie Plum book. I am extremely picky about books in series matching so I went for the lime green cover instead of the purple. I didn’t realise that I had bought the large print edition online until it arrived in the mail. The fact that … Continue reading
A Review of Laurie Penny’s “Unspeakable Things: Sex, Lies, and Revolution”
If there is one book that you should read this year then this.is.it. No I’m serious. You need to go out and get this book straight away. As soon as I started to read the book, I couldn’t put it down. Reading Penny’s words felt like she had somehow read my mind and put my … Continue reading
Things I’ve Learned From Reading Neil Gaiman
1. There are things in the world that would have us believe that money is everything. “Someone’s just trying to give people money, that’s all. But it’s doing it very badly…” – The Ocean at the End of the Lane 2. Never stop being a child. “Adults follow path. Children Explore.” – The Ocean at … Continue reading
“The Grapes of Wrath”: a review of classic Steinbeck
I’ve always wanted to read The Grapes of Wrath. I think it is important to immerse oneself in a wide variety of literary genres from all over the world. I also think that it’s important to read a Nobel Prize winning author every now and then. John Steinbeck’s book won the National Book Award and … Continue reading
You must be logged in to post a comment.