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[[Category:New Reviews|Literary Fiction]]==Literary fiction==__NOTOC__{{newreviewFrontpage|author=J M CoetzeeMatthew Tree|title=Scenes From Provincial LifeWe'll Never Know

|summary='Scenes Timothy Wyndham wants nothing more than to be different from Provincial Life' is his father, a compilation drunk and chronic underachiever whose dreams of being exceptional at any of JM Coetzee's three fictionalised memoirs: 'Boyhood' first published in 1997, 'Youth' published in 2002 his artistic passions all failed miserably and [[Summertime by J M Coetzee|Summertime]] published in 2009who had endless crises of self confidence. In one sense they clearly belong together in this single edition So Tim applied himself to his studies, cultivated his abilities rather than his daydreams and yet they were initially published separately. What strikes the reader of this compilation is the change in style and focus of the third book in the seriesset himself high but achievable ambitions.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846554853</amazonuk>B0CVFXPGP8

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Thomas E KennedyB0C47LV1PC|title=Falling SidewaysFragility|author=Mosby Woods

|summary=Kennedy, although Can you make a New Yorker''Yo birthing person'' joke? And if you could, has lived in Copenhagen for over twenty years so he'll have a good feel for is the European slant on question should you make it? Or is the novelquestion if you did, I would think. It it land? The catch is one of four called that the Copenhagen Quartetanswer for both could well be... The top brass, the movers and the shakers at the 'Tank' are introduced to the reader one by one and have a whole chapter devoted to their individual lives, both professional and private. So we get a very good idea indeed of their homes, their neighbourhoods, their families and perhaps more importantly, their thoughts on the Tank and of their colleaguesno.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408812398</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Henning Mankell|title=Daniel|rating=4|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=A young Hans Bengler has decided to leave his homeland of Sweden and make an expedition across the inhospitable Kalahari Desert. Brave - or extremely foolish. I'm sticking with the latter. My reasons are that Bengler 'Fragility'' is portrayed by Mankell set as a rather dullthe city of Portland, insular and unimaginative young man. He doesn't really get along with his family (such as they are) nor does he seem Oregon, cautiously begins to have many friends. It's also plain that he's desperate to leave his cold Sweden for warmer climes. But at what cost?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>009948143X</amazonuk>emerge from the restrictions imposed during the covid pandemic

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Mohammed HanifMosby Woods|title=Our Lady of Alice BhattiA Whirly Man Loses His Turn

|summary=Alice The West isn't the dominant force it once was. Nobody in the West is quite sure how to mend this or even if mending it is nervous. She's being interviewed for a job at the local hospitalbest course of action. Even although her nursing skills Governments are far from idealflailing. A war here, she believes she's in with a shoutpush for climate action there. She presents herself at her charming best and it seems to workA feeling that nobody is in actual charge. She's now employed and earning some much-needed moneyImagine then, there was a man with precognition. She knows she'll have to work really hard and probably long hours too. The hospital Imagine the strategic advantage in question is in downtown Karachi: this asset; a seething mass man who can tell you what will happen given any set of patients many of whom have no choice but to lie circumstances. That man would be valuable, right? Perhaps the most valuable asset in corridors etchistory.Imagine then, that this man loses this ability. What would governments do to get it back?|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0224082051</amazonuk>B0C9SNG8R1

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Evelio Rosero0571379559|title=Good Offices|rating=3.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Here is a church in Bogota nobody seems to want to leave. In part one it is a large group of the elderly, given a weekly, tasteless meal from the charitable funds, but bitterly refusing to quit the place, making our main character Tancredo fear for his passivity. In part two it is the congregation, as a rare need for a stand-in priest seems to be a blessing. And in part three it is that priest himself, stuck among the household The House of Tancredo, the girl who loves him, and chorus of three weird old women.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857050672</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewBroken Bricks|author=Barry Unsworth|title=The Quality of MercyFiona Williams|rating=45

|summary=''The Quality House of MercyBroken Bricks' picks up ' is the story of the authorfour people. Tess Hembry's Booker Prize-winning 'Sacred Hunger' although if you haven't read roots are in Jamaica: temperamentally she might be happier there, but instead, she lives in the house on the first bookriverbank, you won't be greatly disadvantaged built of broken bricks. Insubstantial as the relevant story lines are explained. What you it might miss out on is some of look, it's stood the feeling for a few passage of the main characterstime, most notably the Irish fiddlerstorms and floods. Her husband, Sullivan whoRichard, when this book picks up in spring 1767struggles to grow his vegetables, has just escaped from prison where to complete the remaining shipmates of the slave shipdelivery rounds - and to bring in sufficient money. They have twin boys - Sonny and Max, the rainbow twins. Sonny'Liverpool Merchants colouring reflects his mother' await their trial of piracys Jamaican heritage. Max takes after his father. Slavery People don't believe that they're related, much less twins and abolition thereof remains a central theme of this sequel, but the book draws some poignant similarities there's an assumption when Max is out with those in bondage due to poverty, and particularly those working in the coal mines of County Durhamhis mother that she's his nanny.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0091937124</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Zadie SmithClaire North|title=White TeethHouse of Odysseus

|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Some books sneak up on you. Others are thrown at you from every corner of the media to the extent that you almost make a conscious decision NOT to read them, or at least, not yet. Let the furore die down. If they're still around in a few years, your subconscious whispers, maybe we'll go see what all the fuss was about. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0241954576</amazonuk>}}What could matter more than love?''

{{newreview|author=Michael Ondaatje|title=The Catfollow-up to the excellent ''Ithaca's Table|rating=5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=For the first half or so of this book, which sees an 11 year old boy called Michael (or Mynah to his friends) leave his home of Ceylon to travel to school in England, I wasn't really sure if it even had picks up a plotfew months after where we left off. Focusing on his journey in In the 1950's aboard the ship palace of Odysseus, with delicate care Queen Penelope continues to Englandrule without her husband, although occasionally leaping forward who sailed to his later life where he gives us tantalising glimpses as to what happened to his fellow passengers after war at Troy and then by divine intervention never returned home. As ever she remains surrounded by suitors vying for the voyage, this originally seems to be nothing more than a series throne of incredibly well-drawn character sketchesthe Western Isles. In fairness, I should say that ''nothing more'' is rather harsh in this case Having survived – politically and physical – the men, women and children Ondaatje creates, from a supposedly cursed rich man seeking a cure, to a friendly thief, chaotic storm that Clytemnestra brought to MichaelIthaca's beautiful cousin Emilyshores, are so beautifully conjured that I could have lived without Queen Penelope is on the brink of a plot perfectly happilyfragile peace. HoweverOne that shatters however with the return of Orestes, we eventually realise there's a little more to this narrativeKing of Mycenae, and that this skilful author has been foreshadowing the events at the novel's climax all alonghis sister Elektra, seeking refuge.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0224093614</amazonuk>0356516075

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Patrick McGuinnessKay Chronister|title=The Last Hundred DaysDesert Creatures|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Dystopian Fiction|summary=With a world that is becoming increasingly inhospitable for humanity, post-apocalyptic fiction can become an almost masochistic thrill. Whether it is a robotic takeover, a world devoid of water or a nuclear holocaust, this genre is a way for humans to cathartically experience their most existential fears. ''The Last Hundred DaysDesert Creatures' in question here are the final days of Ceausescu's Romania in late 1989. Narrated by an unnamed young British expat who has Kay Chronister is a job offer from the English department new work of Bucharest University, despite never having interviewed for the job, we get an insight into the life under communist rule as Eastern bloc countries all around start to open up after the fall post-apocalyptic fiction that aligns many of the Berlin Wallfears that exist for humanity today. We are told It is a shocking novel that McGuinness lived in Romania in the years leading up still manages to the revolution, and this is no surprise as there is an authenticity here that could only have come from some level of inside knowledgefind hope.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1854115413</amazonuk>1803364998

 {{newreviewfrontpage|isbn=1803363002|author=Jane RogersEric LaRocca|title=The Testament of Jessie LambTrees Grew Because I Bled There|rating=3.5|genre=Literary FictionHorror|summary=The subject matter of Horror taps into something primeval within us. It is used as a way to reflect our darkest emotions and how we as humans react and process them. Most horror fiction feature a ''Big Bad'The Testament of Jessie Lamb' ensures , whether that this is not a comfortable read. Set in the near futurehome invader, Rogers has imagined a truly terrifying virus that affects pregnant women, known as Maternal Death Syndrome monster or MDS. Everyone carries this illness but the effectsa ghost, a cross between AIDS it usually something tangible and CJD, ensure that all pregnant mothers will die - without exception. Scientists have found a way to save some by the end of the unborn childrenstory, but only by placing their mothers in a chemically induced coma from which they wonbeatable. Eric LaRocca's ''The Trees Grew Because I Bled There''t recoveris not like that. Now though, the scientists have also discovered It is a way collection of immunising frozen, pre-MDS embryos which, if they can be placed short stories more interested in a willing volunteer, may ultimately allow the survival horrors of the human raceillness, grief and humiliation. However, the volunteers need Horrors that linger and are harder to be under 16½ or the likely success rates are too lowdefeat than any ''Big Bad''. Step forward one Jessie Lamb.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1905207581</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Sebastian BarryMadelaine Lucas|title=On Canaan's SideThirst for Salt

|summary=Each chapter of 'On Cannan's SideLove, I' represents d read, was supposed to be a day after the death of the narratorlight and weightless feeling, Lilly Berebut I had always longed for gravity's' Told from a retrospective view, grandsona young woman unravels the year-long relationship that once defined her. Overlaid with later wisdom, Bill. Initially the reader is bombarded by narrator relives the affair with a stream of half thoughts but soon Lilly begins to outline man twenty years her own life story senior from being its inception – the summer after finishing university – to its sorrowful end the daughter of a police officer in Ireland at summer after. Set against the end backdrop of an isolated Australian coastal town ''Thirst for Salt'' details the First World War, her subsequent flight to the USA, to ultimately living in retirement as a domestic cook to a wealthy American. It24-year-old narrator's a remarkable storydeepening relationship with her older lover, full of tragic events, but for depicting its all its hardships-consuming nature, Lilly is from a time when such things are to be endured rather than dwelt how it changed her perspective onboth romantic and familial relationships and how it altered her irrevocably.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0571226531</amazonuk>0861546490

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Chuck PalahniukMichael Grothaus|title=DamnedBeautiful Shining People

|genre=General Literary Fiction|summary='Are you there, Satan? It's me, Madison'. I'm a spunky, lively tweenage girl, except I'm a dead one, But fearing something and I'm in Hell, having it come to my surprisepass are two different things. While And I'm here I'll find out just where it is all those cold-calling telegraphers ring you from just while you're settling down willing to your evening mealbet most of what we fear will never happen, and where the world's wasted sperm and discarded toenail clippings fetch upor we can take steps to change it. I'll have very hairy encounters with demons of Satan's and mankind's making, and with some superlative plotting and flashbacks I'll find a clearer approach to why I was put here in the first place.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0224091158</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Alison Pick|title=Far to Go|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=At ''Beautiful Shining People'' revolves around the risk question of sounding trite, a story set in 1938 Czechoslovakia on the eve of Nazi occupation, centred on a Jewish family is always going to put the reader through an emotional journeyidentity and acceptance. Add in a young child and Of what it's almost certain that you are going means to be reaching for the Kleenex at some pointhuman. But Alison Pick makes some interesting creative choices that add more layers to this story. Some will surprise Of what is real and what is artificial, and whether the reader but the overall impact development of technology is a wonderfully moving story with wholly believable charactersexciting or frightening.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0755379411</amazonuk>191458564X

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Madeline MillerJennifer Saint|title=The Song of AchillesAtalanta|rating=4.5

|summary=Before ''I started the bookwas as worthy as any one of them. I would get on board that ship, I looked out vowed. I would take my copy of Homer's ''The Iliad'' and skim-read its one page introduction (yesplace, yet another book not just in the name of the goddess. It was for the sake of my 'must-read' pile but it's been on it for about ahemname, ten years)too. Having said that, it is rather dry and scholarly which didn't really inspire me to get on with this book as I wasn't really looking for a 'heavyAtalanta' read, especially on a nice summer's day. Onwards ...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408816032</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Tiziano Scarpa|title=Stabat Mater|rating=3|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Translated by Shaun Whiteside from Scarpa's 2008 Italian original, 'Stabat Mater' is set in a Venetian orphanage for girls run by nuns in what would have been around the 1700sPrincess. The girls at the 'Ospedale' are trained as musicians and singers who play from a hidden gallery in the adjoining church for the patrons of the Instituto della PietàWarrior. However, this is a highly stylised little book, bordering on the almost poetic, narrated from the point of view of one of the orphans, a young violinist named Cecilia who goes on to tell of the impact of the appointment of a new in-house composer, one Don Antonio, or Vivaldi as most of us know himLover. Hero.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846687691</amazonuk>}}

{{newreview|author=Christien Gholson|title=A Fish Trapped Inside Abandoned at birth for being born a daughter rather than a son, Atalanta is raised under the protective eye of the Wind|rating=3|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=The front cover is lovely with its blue goddess Athemis and turquoise suggesting languid watersfashioned into a formidable huntress, one who longs for adventure. The author of 'The Jane Austen Book Club' (which I've read incidentally) 'fell in love with this novel.' High praise indeed. I'm hoping When the opportunity comes – to do join the same. Everything about this book stinks (and I use the word explicitly). All Argonauts, a fierce band of warriors, descendent from the chapters have Gods themselves – Atalanta seizes the word 'fishchance to fight in Artemis' somewhere or other name and there's carve out her own legendary place in history. What follows is a quote right at the beginning which gives the book its quirky whirlwind of challenges and discovery and unusual title. (As Ithrough it, Atalanta must remember Artemis'm a fishy Piscean does fatal warning: that bode well for a good or sympathetic reviewif she marries, I wonder)it will be her undoing.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906998906</amazonuk>1472292154

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Patrick deWittAmanthi Harris|title=The Sisters BrothersBeautiful Place|rating=45

|summary=InvariablyPadma, a young Sri Lankan, has returned to the Booker Prize longlist contains one book that is more Villa Hibiscus on the side southern coast of light reading than the more worthy and overtly literary fare that it her home country. This is usually associated witha place she spent her formative years. 'The Sisters Brothers' It is not a place she was born into, but the 2011 choiceone she thinks of as home. Set in How she came to be at the US in 1851Villa, how it details the adventures of two brothersbecame her home, Eli and Charlie Sisters, who are hired hands the machinations that have flowed through her life ever since she first arrived there provide the ''score'' for a mysterious boss known only as this gentle and yet subtly violent novel. Padma's present fails to escape her past and much like the Commodore. Narrated by Eli, who has slightly more musical score of a conscience than his older brotherfilm, that strand weaves its way through everything that happens at the story starts with the Commodore ordering a hit, for reasons unknown, on a certain Hermann Kermit WarmVilla.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1847083188</amazonuk>1784631930

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alan Hollinghurst178563335X|title=The Stranger's ChildSea Defences|author=Hilary Taylor|rating=4.5

|summary=Alan HollinghurstWhen we first meet Rachel Bird she's Booker-nominated a trainee vicar, sitting in on a PCC meeting and long-awaited wondering why they'The Stranger's Child' is without doubtre held when you need to pick the children up. Her husband, as one might expect from this writerChristopher, beautifully written. Almost every page offers something to smile about either in terms of the comments of his characters orcollects six-year-old Hannah and her elder brother, more oftenJamie, the wry descriptions that the author offerswhilst Rachel holds a sobbing parishioner. The structure of the book is episodic, split into five parts covering pre Thelma's daughter-in-World War Onelaw won't let her see her grandson. Holthorpe, on the 1920sNorfolk coast, the 1960sis a lovely place, but Rachel is struggling to develop a real bond with the 1980s parish - and finally the early 2000s. It offers a thoughtful and well observed picture of changes she's in society and culture over this period and in particular awe of attitudes to homosexual relationshipsthe vicar, Gail, although admittedly Hollinghurstbut then she's subjects tend to fall into a narrow band of well educated, artistic and often aristocratic members of societybeen doing the job for more than thirty years. Writers, poets Rachel and artists are the subject matter rather than the man Christopher hoped that a walk on the streetbeach would do them some good - it was stormy but it was probably what they needed. His male characters are invariably homosexual while his females mostly either remain unmarried or have dysfunctional marriages And then Hannah went missing.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0330483242</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Lisa See1398515388|title=Dreams of JoyThe Boy and the Dog|author=Seishu Hase and Alison Watts (translator)

|genre=Historical General Fiction|summary=It's First of all, it was the earthquake, deep in the late 1950socean floor, which created the tsunami and America's teenagers (the very idea a brand new concept) are beginning to live this, in turn, caused the all-American dreamnuclear meltdown. For some of them however it isn't all 'Happy Days' diners The result was complete and rock'n'rollutter devastation. For the second generation Chinese immigrants there's an alternative: back 'home' there's a brave new world being forgedThe deaths were uncountable, a world where 'we'd work in and the fields and sing songsloss of livelihoods was widespread. We'd do exercises in The fact that many pets were separated from their owners came far down the park. We'd help clean list of priorities but - six months after the neighbourhood and share mealstsunami - Kazumasa Nakagaki discovered a dog outside a convenience store. We wouldnHe wasn't be poor a dog person but the convenience store owner's comment that he would call Public Health prompted Kazumasa to open his car door and we wouldn't be richTamon the dog jumped in. We'd all be equal.' |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1408822296</amazonuk>

{{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Christine Dwyer Hickey0989715337|title=The Cold Eye of Heaven|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=I reviewed Hickey's [[Last Train From Liguria by Christine Dwyer Hickey| Last Train From Liguria]] so was keen to see if I'd enjoy this book too. The front cover says that Farley ''unravels the warp and weft of his life'' which is a great phrase - wish I'd though of it. Hickey lives in Dublin so I'm kind of expecting good characterization (as the book's location is Dublin) and a nice line in put-me-down wit. But will I get it? Time to find out ...|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857890301</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Leon Jenner|title=Bricks|rating=3|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Let me start Papa on a positive: this slim volume is exquisitely presented and has a lovely 'traditional' feel about it. Very covetable for book lovers. The front cover is also a bit of a paradox - what with the workmanlike one-word title ''Bricks'' and the almost mystical/biblical-esque graphics. Will this all help to draw the reader in, well, I'm not too sure.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1444706284</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewMoon|author=David Almond|title=The True Tale of the Monster Billy DeanMarco North|rating=4.5

|summary=''This tale is told by 1 that died at birth by 1 that came Some frogs had gotten into the world in days of endles war & at the moment of disaster... I am not cleva, so forgiv my folts and my mistayks. I am Billy Dean. This is the truth. This is my talewell.''

The Monster Billy Dean tells ''Walter stood waist-deep in the story fragrant water, naked except for his beaten leather hat. Long strands of Billytheir eggs wove around him, a boy born into the dystopia sticky gray pearls with tadpoles inside them. Two of a war-torn town and the product of an illicit liaison between a young woman and her priest. His birth coincided with an apocalyptic bombing and his parents have hidden him away from dogs leaned over the ruins opening and barked down at the catastrophe in a single room, both out strange noise of shame and in the belief that his coming into the world and surviving at such a violent moment signifies a sacred futurebuckets as he filled them. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0670919055</amazonuk>}}''

{{newreview|author=Andrew Kaufman|title=How is that for an opening? The Tiny Wife|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=It all begins with a bank robbery. Only style of this isn't your typical sort of bank robbery since the robber demands not money but instead each person novel in the bank must give him the item form of most sentimental value that they have with them. These range interconnected short stories goes from photographs succinct and a key through laconic to wistful and musing, turning on a calculatorsixpence...and on taking these items he says he is also taking fifty percent of their soulsAnd author Marco North, and it is up to who has the victims to find the way to get their souls backmost wonderful turn of phrase, or starts as he means to die tryinggo on.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0007429258</amazonuk>

 {{newreview|author=Yvvette Edwards|title=A Cupboard Full of Coats|rating=5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=''He just knocked, that was all, knocked and the front door and waited, like the fourteen years since I'd killed my mother hadn't happened...'' Jinx is cold and she knows it. She cleans obsessively - a largely pointless task, since there is little mess to clean since her husband and young son, tired of her frigidity, moved out. She cooks beautifully balanced meals that look aesthetic on the plate. But her food offers sustenance, not comfort. In fact, Jinx feels most at home amongst the dead people she works with as a funeral home cosmetologist. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1851688382</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Claudie GallayDaisy Hildyard|title=The BreakersEmergency

|summary=The summary of this book is in the first person, told by a woman who is a relative newcomer doesn't come close to this tiny village, no more than a cluster of homes and a few basic amenities. The story opens in the lead-up to a horrendous storm. The narrator has seen nothing like it before and explaining what is both afraid and excited. The locals take it all in their stride. They're a hardy bunch of disparate individuals and we get to know more them, one by one, as done with the story developspremise.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1906694710</amazonuk>1913097811

{{newreviewFrontpage |author=Susan HillSally Oliver |title=The Woman Weight of Loss |rating=4 |genre=Literary Fiction |summary= Marianne is grieving. Traumatised after the death of her sister, she awakes to find strange, thick black hairs sprouting from the bones of her spine which steadily increase in size and volume. Her GP, diagnosing the odd phenomenon as a physical reaction to her grief, recommends she go to stay at Nede, an experimental new treatment centre in BlackWales. Yet something strange is happening to Marianne and the other patients at Nede: a metamorphosis of a kind. As Marianne's memories threaten to overwhelm her, Nede offers her release from this cycle of memory and pain—but only at a terrible price: that of identity itself.|isbn= 086154112X }} {{Frontpage|author=Natalia Garcia Freire|title=This World Does Not Belong To Us

|summary=Arthur Kipps is a young solicitor working in Early comments on this debut novel from Ecuadorian writer Natalia García Freire include Tremendous, a fog-bound London and soon to be marrieddelight. All looks rosy for Arthur until one day he I will agree with the first – tremendous is called into his bossno understatement – but 'a delight' office where he is tasked with the affairs of the deceased recluse Alice Drablow. Alice Drablow had lived in perhaps using the melancholy village of Crythin Gifford expression in an isolated house on the remote Eel Marsh, a house only accessible by a strange causeway when the tide is outway I'm not familiar with. It is here Arthur must travel to firstly represent his firm at her funeral and then to sift through Mrs Drablow's house I have to ensure all her legal paperwork is in order. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>1846685621</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Julian Barnes|title=The Sense confess my ignorance of an Ending|rating=4.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary='The Sense of an Ending' is almost more of a novella the Spanish- it's a slim volume but exquisitely written, as you might expect from Julian Barneslanguage literary tradition so forgive my generalisation here. It starts off describing From the relationships between four friends at schoollittle I have read (in translation, narrated by one of the friends, Tony Webster, but quickly it becomes clear that this is written many years later. Barnes has long been I don't read Spanish) there does seem to be a terrific observer of tendency towards the English middle classes and his style invariably contains satire and dry humour. And this being Barnes, this school clique is intellectual in interest, as fantastical – the narrator recalls English and History teachers and student philosophisingmystical realism.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0224094157</amazonuk>0861541901

 {{newreview|author=Adam Levin|title=The Instructions|rating=2.5|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=Now, I know that size isn't everything, but the first thing that strikes you about 'The Instructions' is that it is a brick of a book. It comes in at a wrist-challenging 1030 pages that almost encourages me to invest in an e-reader. It's also hugely ambitious for a first time writer not least that the book's action takes place over just a few days and the narrator is a ten year old child. While it starts encouragingly, it too rapidly becomes repetitive and dull and I found it a slog to get through. There are some great passages but these get too easily lost in this huge tome.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857861360</amazonuk>}} {{newreviewFrontpage|author=A L KennedyJennifer Saint|title=The Blue BookElektra

|summary=Despite not being 'quoits and gin slings and rubbers Elektra' by Jennifer Saint tells the story of three women who live in the heavily male dominated world of bridge people' Elizabeth and Derek have embarked on a cruiseAncient Greece. Derek is probably hoping to proposeCassandra, but things do not go as plannedClytemnestra, and Elektra are all bit players in the story of the Trojan War. From Yet Jennifer Saint shows us that often the moment they encounter a stranger as they board silent women have the ship, most compelling stories and the cruise proves to be revelationary for all concernedmost extreme furies.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>0224091409</amazonuk>1472273915

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Richard Beard8409290103|title=Lazarus is DeadIf Only|author=Matthew Tree|rating=4.5

|summary=The title certainly got my attention and when I read Twenty-one-year-old Malcolm Lowry had been sent abroad by his father, cotton-broker AO Lowry: he asked his accountant, Mr Patrick, to ensure that Beard is the Director of young man got on board the National Academy of Writing, London I boat and thereafter Patrick was expecting great things from to send hima monthly allowance. I'm also thinking in Patrick sent the very next breath how audacious to write money regularly and a fictional book correspondence - of sorts - sprang up between the two although we hear more about a towering biblical character but thenwhat Lowry has to say than Patrick. It wasn't that Lowry senior didn't care for his son, many it was that he didn't care to have done just thathim in this country where he might be a danger to his wife and other children. Will he pull it off though?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184655506X</amazonuk>The alcohol problem was obvious even before Patrick managed to get the young man on his way.

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Thierry JonquetAntoine Laurain, Le Sonneur and Jane Aitken (translator)|title=Tarantula: The Skin I Live InRed is My Heart|rating=3.5|genre=General Literary Fiction|summary=In a large French country [[:Category:Antoine Laurain|Antoine Laurain]] books have always been black and white and read in my house. And so was this one, although I could have spelled that more accurately – this one was, an expert in facial reconstruction surgery keeps a beautiful woman locked up in her bedroom. He placates her with opiumand is, but barks orders through hugely powerful speakers black and an intercomwhite and red. She tantalises him with her sexualityYes, which he tries to ignorehas an artistic collaborator on this piece, except for when he seems to abuse and I think it in a sort of S/M way when he does let her into society, as he forces her 's possible to prostitute herself. Elsewhere, a young, inept bank robber holes himself up in a sunny house, waiting for the heat to die. And finally, a young man is held chained up in a cellar at say not one page lacks the hands influence of an unknown possessorsome striking visual ideas.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>1846687942</amazonuk>1913547183

 {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Amy WaldmanB098FFFBH9|title=The SubmissionSnowcub|author=Graham Fulbright|rating=4.5

|summary=The front cover of the book that I received for review Fourteen-year-old Rachel is subtle (as befitting the sensitive contents) her school's animal rights project leader and she and I can see her friend are producing a competition entry to highlight the two twin towers (as was) depicted in grey way in which human beings exploit the title word submissionanimal world. The back cover announces that this novel will be ''Published in time for the 10th anniversary She gets a great deal of 9/11.'' No pressure thensupport from her family: father Pip Harrison, a lecturer at Imperial College, London, mother Kate and her twin, Nick. I open Kate runs the book with family business, a certain amount of trepidationtoy shop called Cornucopia in Putney, I have to admit and feel slightly as if Iwhich is where we'll meet Rachel'm about to tread on s main (literaryif unsuspected) eggshellssource of information: five soft toys. Heavens - what if I don't like the book?|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0434019321</amazonuk>

 {{newreviewFrontpage|author=Bernard BeckettYancey Williams|title=AugustCrosshairs of the Devil|rating=4|genre=Teens|summary=In an alternate world, Tristan and Grace come from The City, a closed and enclosed society in which religion dominates. Tristan had been an acolyte at St Augustine's. He spent a childhood being drilled in philosophical discussion of free will by the Rector. A star pupil, a single event made him question everything he had been taught. Grace had spent the first part of her childhood in the convent, but a single act of kindness led to her excommunication. |amazonuk=<amazonuk>0857387898</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Daisy Waugh|title=Last Dance with Valentino|rating=5

|summary=When I read Award-winning crime writer Eddie Jablonski is getting on the front cover that this book is described by the Sunday Times as ''A gripping, bittersweet love story'' it wasn't a particularly good statement for me to read. As a rule I don't generally 'do' love stories. If I happen to read one every once in a while then that's fine by me but I don't encourage them! Butyears and, both the lovely title and the front cover did their job and pulled me in - just a little.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>000739120X</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Maile Chapman|title=Your Presence is Requested at Suvanto|rating=4|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=American nurse Sunny Taylor needed to get away from home and everything familiar. She takes a gamble into the unknown despite his strenuous objections and ends up in Finland. The language barrier seems thanks to be the least of her problems. As a healthyhis daughter, relatively young female she sees on a daily basis ailmentsfinds himself living - or imprisoned, minor and major, imagined and otherwise. from Eddie''Suvanto'' (which gives the novel its title) is the name s point of the wellview -known and well-regarded hospital. It operates on a tier system - those who can pay well for medical care and those who are less well-off. And in room 315 of the accommodation, level Garden of Eden nursing and medical care and even the food also operate on this tiered system.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>0099548674</amazonuk>}} {{newreview|author=Steven Amsterdam|title=Things We Didn't See Coming|rating=4|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=This book has gained praise from the likes of the Washington Post and the Financial times so I was really looking forward to home, with only a good - even great read. But did I get it? I think that opening on the eve of the millennium (the most recent one) is pretty special in itself and should be a good 'hook' to draw the reader in. The narratortrusty nursing aide, youngJenkins, male (not named as yet) and his family are packing the family car for the journey aheadpalatable company. The poor car Nothing is full going to bursting. Dad is a sceptic and he's taking no chances with this millennium situation and he's instructed keep Eddie from his family to pack more than the usual festive presents this time. They've (well, dad has) made the decision to get as far away from London as they can stock- just in case. Just in case -trade of what exactly is never mentionedwriting though, so here, for his readers, only implied. So itare his wanderings through his life's New Year celebrations with the grandparentswork.|amazonukisbn=<amazonuk>009954704X</amazonuk>0986031658}} {{newreviewFrontpage|authorisbn=Alexander Maksik0008421714|title=You Deserve NothingMrs March|author=Virginia Feito

|summary=Does The problem began just after the world need another publication of George March'inspirational teacher lets down studentss most successful novel to date. Everyone but Mrs March (we know her first name only on the last page) seemed to either be reading it or had already done so. Every day Mrs March went to the local patisserie to buy olive bread but on that particular morning, Patricia asked, as she was wrapping the bread, ' story'but isn't this the first time he's based a character on you? It's debatable' She mentioned that Johanna, but the principal character had 'her mannerisms''. Perhaps this one would not have mattered, except for the fact that Johanna is really rather goodthe whore of Nantes - ''a weak, plain, detestable, pathetic, unloved, unloveable wretch.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>1848545703</amazonuk>''

{{newreview|author=Judith Hermann|title=Alice|rating=4|genre=Literary Fiction|summary=''Alice'' is a collection of five short stories, linked thematically since they all deal with the subject of death, but they are also linked because the central character, Alice, is the same in each story. So rather than feeling like short stories the book has a hint of the novel Move on to it, yet the stories are never completed or fully told so it's a novel where you're not always sure what's going on.|amazonuk=<amazonuk>184668529X</amazonuk>}}[[Newest Paranormal Reviews]]