Regulars here know that I enjoy short stories, and that I review them regularly. Most of these reviews, though, are of Australian writers. I was therefore pleased when blogger roughghosts, in his review of a novel by Ognjen Spahić, provided a link to a Spahić short story titled "All of that". As I haven't reviewed many Balkan writers … Continue reading Ognjen Spahić, All of that (Review)
Translated works
Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and punishment (Review, hmm)
Part way through my reading of Fyodor Dostoevsky's Crime and punishment I wrote in my book - because, yes, I am a marginalia writer - "Who does Dostoevsky agree with?" It's a somewhat naive question, I know, because the author doesn't have to agree with anyone - and very often doesn't. You just have to look at Humbert … Continue reading Fyodor Dostoevsky, Crime and punishment (Review, hmm)
More on Simone de Beauvoir’s Memoirs of a dutiful daughter
My recent review of Simone de Beauvoir's Memoirs of a beautiful daughter was a little dry, focusing on some specific ideas or issues that interested me, rather than on her writing. It's a pretty dense book, containing detailed description of her life and thoughts, but her fearless and often evocative writing carries it. I'd like to share a few … Continue reading More on Simone de Beauvoir’s Memoirs of a dutiful daughter
Simone de Beauvoir, Memoirs of a dutiful daughter (Review)
I have only read one other work by Simone de Beauvoir - and I'm ashamed to say that it wasn't The second sex (which still sits in my long-in-the-tooth TBR pile). It was, instead, one of her autobiographical novels, She came to stay. I enjoyed it as I recollect, but that was a long time ago. … Continue reading Simone de Beauvoir, Memoirs of a dutiful daughter (Review)
Diego Marani, The last of the Vostyachs (Review)
Italian writer Diego Marani's The last of the Vostyachs was originally published in 2002, but the English translation was not published until 10 years later in 2012. How lucky we are that it was, because this book is unlikely to have been written by an English-language writer. Its focus on the relationship between language, culture and … Continue reading Diego Marani, The last of the Vostyachs (Review)
Valeria Luiselli, Faces in the crowd (Review)
Mexican writer Valeria Luiselli's Faces in the crowd was, as regular readers here might remember, one of my two Bah Humbook virtual gifts from Stu of Winston's Dad. I ordered it on Christmas Day for my Kindle - after all, it was a Christmas present - and have now read it. Wow, what a read, … Continue reading Valeria Luiselli, Faces in the crowd (Review)
Yan Lianke, Dream of Ding village (Review for Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize, 2011)
As I started reading Yan Lianke's Dream of Ding Village, I was reminded of a favourite novel of mine, Albert Camus' The plague. However, as I read on, the similarity started to fade - or, perhaps it's just that the particularity of Lianke's conception took over. Both books explore a community living with a highly contagious, … Continue reading Yan Lianke, Dream of Ding village (Review for Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize, 2011)
Kyung-Sook Shin, Please look after mom (Review for the Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011)
Image by Matt Todd of A Novel Approach Am I right in thinking that mothers are more often the subject of novels and memoirs than fathers? Or, is it just that I'm a woman and am subconsciously (or even consciously, if I'm honest) drawn to the topic? Of course, with the Shadow Man Asian Literary … Continue reading Kyung-Sook Shin, Please look after mom (Review for the Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011)
Banana Yoshimoto, The lake (Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011)
Image created by Matt Todd of A Novel Approach When I saw that Banana Yoshimoto's novel The lake was shortlisted for the 2011 Man Asian Literary Prize I knew that it would be a high priority for me to read, because I like Japanese literature and I have read and enjoyed Yoshimoto (her novel Kitchen) … Continue reading Banana Yoshimoto, The lake (Shadow Man Asian Literary Prize 2011)
André Gide, The immoralist (or, L’immoraliste)
Reading synchronicities strike again - though on the surface it wouldn't seem to be so. That is, could there really be synchronicities between Geoff Dyer's Jeff in Venice, death in Varanasi and Andre Gide's The immoralist? I think there are. Besides some comments on art - its value and meaning - in The immoralist, there is … Continue reading André Gide, The immoralist (or, L’immoraliste)
Whispering Gums 