Not having done any Chaucer at school, reading The Canterbury Tales is one of those things I promised myself I would find time for and am pleased to have done at last! Although some parts are rather tedious six centuries … Continue reading →
This is the first of Alexander McCall Smith’s books in this series, set in Botswana, in which he introduces his principal character Mma Precious Ramotswe. The book combines a fictional biography of Mma Ramotswe with a series of short-story style … Continue reading →
Frayn successfully captures the confusions and uncertainties of the adult world as perceived by children, and the difficulties of trying to piece together events from an adult’s memory of childhood. Which are real memories, and which are ‘memories’ of things … Continue reading →
Sequel to "Blood Rain". Not one of Dibdin’s best – rather contrived, episodic, and with superficially-drawn characters. But it does leave the way open for the next book … .
Continue reading →A rather odd book. I’ve only read two of Ishiguro’s books – this and Remains of the Day – and it left me wondering if all his pricipal characters have a deep-rooted personality flaw. It’s certainly true here. The most … Continue reading →
Having scoffed at David Whyte’s references to this Anglo-Saxon poem, I thought I’d better read it. Strong shades of Tolkien, which is not surprising, as he wrote possibly the most influential critique of the work in the 20th century.
Continue reading →Impressively well-researched thriller set in Arctic Siberia.
Continue reading →Policeman Aurelio Zen mixes with the mafia in Sicily.
Continue reading →Highly original first novel – a story of a place rather than a person, told in voices spanning two centuries.
Continue reading →Detective novel set in Venice.
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