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1000 Years of Joys and Sorrows: The story of two lives, one nation, and a century of art under tyranny by Ai Wei Wei |
Ai Wei Wei's memoir is a very satisfying read for anyone like me who has an interest in his work, contemporary Art in general, and Chinese history since Mao. Apart from finding the book enjoyable and informative, I can't help admiring his ability to capture the epoch without self-pity or rancour.
(bwl 104 Spring 2022) |
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A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles |
It is beautifully written, and lives up to all of the cover endorsements and praise! It is indeed a tale "abundant in humour, history and humanity", while relating the certain material downfall of an unrepentant aristocrat after the Bolshevik Revolution, during which surprising compensations rewarded his resilience and generosity.
(bwl 92 Spring 2019) |
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A Suitable Boy by Vikram Seth |
I missed this when it won prizes several years ago, but certainly recommend it as a great fireside companion for the remainder of winter! Don't be put off by the daunting thickness of the tome! It is an engaging tale of the intertwining of families, their personal and political relationships after Partition in India. I haven't finished it yet, but have friends waiting to borrow it, and one of them has read it twice already!
(bwl 87 Winter 2018) |
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All That I Am by Anna Funder |
A gripping account of the real-life efforts of the Anti-Nazi movement in the early 1930s in Germany and London. Told as a novel, but using the authentic names of movements and Underground leaders of the time - all acknowledged in an extensive bibliography - it is largely the reflection of two survivors. It is intimate while at the same time dealing with some of the most cataclysmic events of the 20th century. Unputdownable!
(bwl 64 Spring 2012) |
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All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr |
In spite of the current spate of fiction and non-fiction centring on stories from both world wars, this one manages to engage and beguile. The overlapping stories of two young people are deftly conveyed: one a blind French girl who flees the German occupation of Paris on an extraordinary mission with her father, and the other an exceptional young German boy, orphaned and in the grip of the Hitler war machine. Much more than a war story!
Ed. note: Winner of the 2015 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
(bwl 78 Autumn 2015) |
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American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins |
And if you are in lockdown and want an engrossing read that will convince you that you really have nothing to complain about, download this book on your Kindle! Totally absorbing story, and some stunningly beautiful writing.
(bwl 99 Winter 2021) |
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Breath by Tim Winton |
Short-listed for prestigious literary awards this year, Winton impresses with lyrical descriptions of a beautiful and literally breath-taking, wild natural environment. One almost surfs on the rhythms of the prose! While on one hand this is another insightful visit to youthful rites of passage in a coastal town in Western Australia, it also explores with convincing immediacy, compulsive behaviour and addictions of one kind or another.
(bwl 51 May 2009) |
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Carpentaria by Alexis Wright |
A many layered, absorbing tale set in N. Australia's Gulf Country where multi-national mining interests disturb both the indigenous and white settlers' relationship with the land and the sea. The narrative uses the local vernacular which is gradually refined as the subjects become more complicated, culminating in some of the most beautiful and evocative writing I have ever read, reminiscent of Marquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude (bwl 41) or his Love in the Time of Cholera (bwl 20).
(bwl 45 April 2008) |
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Crossroads by Jonathan Franzen |
Like his philosophical contemporary Marilynne Robinson with Gilead, but without being so doctrinaire, Franzen in Crossroads examines the dilemmas and relationships in one family, where the dichotomy is highlighted due to the head of the family being a suburban pastor. Often bitingly funny, and therefore a bit light-on when it comes to compassion and empathy, he still manages to make his characters relatable. Ever thought-provoking, Franzen has produced yet another engrossing read.
(bwl 104 Spring 2022) |
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Freezing Order:A True Story of Russian Money Laundering, Murder,and Surviving Vladimir Putin's Wrath by Bill Browder |
For those prepared to be horrified, and confirmed in their opinion that the Russian state is indeed in the hands of an evil emperor and his retinue, this book is a staggering testimony. It is the true story of the pursuit of an individual who uncovered and reported large-scale money laundering, murder and revenge, implicating not just the oligarchs, but Putin himself. I agree with Stephen Fry that this book has a stunning plot, real heroism and is a cracking read.
(bwl 110 Autumn 2023) |
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Gilead by Marilynne Robinson |
A first-person narrative, Gilead is a contemplative and engaging story of an aging Protestant pastor, examining his faith and indeed his life, for the benefit of his son. He is expecting it to be read after his death. As well as reviewing the complexities of the notion of faith, his own, and that of his small town congregation with its varied challenges, he aims to connect his son to his father's roots and sense of belonging, and so, maybe, to his own.
Ed's Note: Winner 2005 Pulitzer Prize - the first in the Gilead trilogy - see previous bookswelike
(bwl 102 Autumn 2021) |
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Great Circle by Maggie Shipstead |
An engaging and intriguing saga that explores heroic achievements and adventures in aviation in the first half of the 20th Century. Told as two parallel stories, this novel retraces from the beginning, the choices and sacrifices made by a young accomplished female aviator. It also tells the story of the actress who portrays her in a Hollywood film, becoming obsessed with discovering the manner of the heroine's disappearance while attempting to circumnavigate the globe, flying over both North and South Poles.
(bwl 107 Winter 2023) |
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Love is Eternal by Irving Stone |
An entertaining fictionalised account of Lincoln's marriage to the daughter of a wealthy Confederate family, which gives well-researched insights into his motivation and struggles for election to the US legislature, his commitment to the abolition of slavery and the hardships of pioneering life in the United States. The conduct and devastation of the Civil War are also featured, not merely as historical accounts, but with added dramatic tension from the unavoidable divided loyalties in the President's household. A gem.
(bwl 67 Winter 2013) |
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Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan |
Set largely in the waterfront areas of New York during WWII, and in particular the Brooklyn Naval yards, we follow the fortunes of Anna Kerrigan and her family, their struggles and some extraordinary triumphs. Characters convincingly drawn, and background material exquisitely researched, from gangland and dockside protection rackets, to touching and tender depictions of family and workplace relationships forged and disrupted in this challenging place and time. Unputdownable! Great holiday read.
(bwl 89 Summer 2018) |
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Oracle Night by Paul Auster |
Narrated by New York author Sidney Orr - the central figure in a convoluted set of mysterious events - this reads at times like a detective novel. It is distinguished however by the intriguing if sometimes irritating devices employed by Auster. They are innovative and engaging, and reinforce his exploration of complexity and ambiguity in human emotional relationships, particularly with regard to commitment and trust.
(bwl 47 September 2008) |
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Prima Facie by Suzie Miller |
A reflection on the UK Justice system, particularly as it serves women, and on anyone who may not have the financial and social connections to buy the best representation. Related as first person narrative, it is honest, raw, personal and passionate. For its advocacy for integrity and change of gendered biases relating to issues of consent, sexual abuse and harassment, this book should be on the reading list at every school for both boys and girls.
(bwl 111 Winter 2024) |
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The Broken Shore & Truth by Peter Temple |
Having recently read The Broken Shore, a fast-paced totally engaging story about a police investigation in Melbourne, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the next offering from this writer, and was lucky enough to receive Truth - which won the 2010 Miles Franklin Award* - as a Christmas present. The Broken Shore has a flawed but not unattractive cop as its main protagonist, and one of the strengths of the new novel, Truth, is that it focuses on and develops one of the earlier book's characters. This is a great hook and the little nod of familiarity is very satisfying. Once over the confronting use of the colourful vernacular, one recognises a distinct if awful lyric gift in this author. A good duo, especially if you are snowed in!
*Editor's note: This annual Australian award is comparable to the Booker Prize. As Margaret says: Not usual for Crime to even get a look in.
(bwl 59 Winter 2011) |
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The Casual Vacancy by J K Rowling |
I don't totally agree with Melvin Bragg's opinion that this is a wonderful novel! It was however, accomplished, as one might expect of this author. With something of the insight of Jane Austen and the apt characterisation of Oscar Wilde, it is a keenly observed portrayal of the full range of pretensions and prejudices to be found in a typical conservative small English town. With its dialogue delivered in the vernacular of a much-maligned Housing Estate culture, might make this novel not a suitable Xmas gift for Granny!
(bwl 110 Autumn 2023) |
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The Chemistry of Tears by Peter Carey |
Without being at all depressing, it somewhat quirkily examines personal grief and loss, it also comments on the nature and spirit of human hope, faith, fidelity and integrity. Set in contemporary London in a museum of horology, it expands in a typical Carey excursion, into other times and places, with enthralling attention to scientific, chronological and geographical detail. An intriguing and satisfying read.
Ed's Note: Also reviewed in bwl 65
(bwl 66 Autumn 2012) |
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The Edith Trilogy: Grand Days; Dark Palace; Cold Light by Frank Moorhouse |
Grand Days
Historical fiction, reflecting the author's pre-occupation with peace-keeping and international relations, after WW1, in his own words, "writing about the League of Nations because it is a trunk in the attic of history which has not been properly opened. It contains haunted, bitter and embarrassing stories for the world, but also a human experiment of immense grandeur." Still contemporary, as it happens, a beautifully written, warm and funny, sexy novel, told through the adventures of Edith Campbell, a young woman from the Antipodes, intimately involved in its foundation years.
Dark Palace
Continues the saga of idealism first explored in Grand Days, cleverly mixing real life characters with imaginary ones, sees cracks appear in the League, and the decline of international appetite for pacifism and disarmament. The horrors of WW II, eventual dismantlement of the League, and foundation of the United Nations in San Francisco in 1946 are explored through the ongoing personal relationships, bewildered disillusionment but enduring commitment of the protagonists.
Cold Light
Return to Australia of Edith Campbell and her involvement in the evolution of post-war Australia. This is a richly complex observation of a society in transition and is engaging story-telling, with a satisfying mix of the personal and political.
(bwl 84 Spring 2017) |
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The Family Frying Pan by Bryce Courtney |
A biographical novel based on the experiences of the grandmother of the woman who eventually became the author's wife. It is an illuminating, entertaining delivery of the real life travails of a group of survivors fleeing Russia on foot, which occurred during the months just prior to the eventually successful if bloody, Bolshevik Revolution.
(bwl 107 Winter 2023) |
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The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt |
Gripping yarn, and much more accessible than her first triumph, The Secret History.
(bwl 92 Spring 2019) |
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The Gospel According to Jesus Christ by José Saramago* |
In this amusing depiction of the probable life of Christ, he becomes the firstborn of seven children to a poor Jewish carpenter. The scepticism is never heavy handed. The questions that arise from analysis of the frequent appearance of angels, demons, and miracles, throughout Christian mythology, are never answered pedantically. The nature and purpose of their God, and his inscrutability when dealing with His chosen people, are enigmas to them. As indeed they remain to us!
*1998 winner of the Nobel prize in literature
(bwl 66 Autumn 2012) |
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The Heart's Invisible Furies by John Boyne |
Although some of the subject matter and behaviour are confronting, Boyne's writing conveys with his trademark empathy and humour, some of the pathos and gritty reality of life and love in Ireland in the first half of the 20th century. This is contrasted and balanced with possiblities allowed in a more liberal culture, not all of them desirable, which Ireland slowly embraced decades later. His characters are vivid and memorable, and while their escapades might be unique, their experiences are essentially universal, and universally moving.
(bwl 100 Spring 2021) |
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The Improbability of Love by Hannah Rothschild |
The title might imply this is just another romance but Rothschild's affection for and deep knowledge of art and its history are obvious. Set in roughly contemporary London, it is a witty reflection on the manipulative major players in the art world, and an attempt to define the true value of great art, no matter what the genre. Sometimes whimsical, other times dark, the intrigue surrounding a vanished 18C painting was entirely satisfying though it narrowly missed descending into farce at the denouement. A thoroughly entertaining read.
(bwl 95 Winter 2020) |
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The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak |
Set in Cyprus and London, this novel explores the lives, loves and griefs of a family forced to flee as a result of the clash of cultures during the withdrawal of Britain, decades of civil war and administration by the United Nations. Charming and tender and ultimately hopeful, the story is based on personal experience and extensive historical research into the conflict. The weight of human and environmental damage are elicited with compassion and skill.
(bwl 108 Spring 2023) |
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The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende |
A very young Polish immigrant arrives in California at the outbreak of WW II, her story becomes intimately intertwined with the travails of a Japanese/American family during that time and that of the life of another European émigré in modern San Francisco. This presents something of a quest novel, in the beginning straight narrative which reads almost as documentary but which concludes with an intriguing and very satisfying, quirky twist. Insightful, surprising and warm!
(bwl 85 Summer 2017) |
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The Last Migration (or in some places just Migrations) by Charlotte McConaghy |
A compelling read, set in an imagined near-future, when most animals and nearly all birds have become extinct. A damaged young woman makes it her mission to follow the last migration of the Arctic Tern, from Greenland to Antarctica. The story makes a powerful statement about human behaviour over preceding decades, presenting the resulting damaged world through the eyes of an intelligent, if disturbed character, as her background reveals ample provocation and explanation of her erratic behaviour. The drama of her journey, including her terror being at sea in dangerous waters is convincingly conveyed and development of story and characters evolve seamlessly.
(bwl 112 Spring 2024) |
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The Lincoln Highway by Amor Towles |
Remember A Gentleman in Moscow (bwl 92)? - this is another engaging read, which in a way mirrors the eponymous highway across America. A very different Coming of Age tale, following the experiences of a handful of finely drawn characters with wry humour and compassion. With many surprising twists and turns, this is exceptional story-telling!
(bwl 104 Spring 2022) |
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The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy |
In spite of being a sprawling, passionate tale of damaged souls in a damaged land, it is neither depressing nor hopeless. The central, intriguing love story develops unexpectedly. Roy's insight into the motivations of her characters and their acts of kindness, often in the face of unspeakable brutality, is masterful and humane. It possibly could have done with a bit more editing, but I was really pleased to have this long-awaited offering from the author of The God of Small Things (bwl 2 & 21).
(bwl 86 Autumn 2017) |
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The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel |
Having psyched myself up for months I have just begun to read Mantell's latest. I tend to inhabit her world once I have gotten into the mood. We shall see. Watch this space . . . .
(bwl 97 Summer 2020) |
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The Mirror and the Light by Hilary Mantel |
Many thought this overblown with its diversions into diplomatic tensions, even hinting you need to be a student of European history to understand the complexities instigated or combatted by Thomas Cromwell. But others became engrossed in the drama and avidly followed the fortunes and inevitable bloody conclusions of the protagonists. Having thought that France's revolutionaries and present-day terrorists are the extremes of barbarism, I realise now that 16C England was in the same league. Nevertheless, a very satisfying conclusion to the Trilogy, lockdown or no lockdown.
(bwl 98 Autumn 2020) |
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The Regeneration Trilogy (Regeneration; The Eye in the Door; The Ghost Road) by Pat Barker |
This is absolutely addictive fiction which explores, among other equally controversial issues, the various personal, moral and social consequences of the Pacifist movement at the time of the Great War. It is particularly poignant relating the stories of War Poets, Seigfried Sassoon, and Wilfred Owen, sometimes using actual notes and biographically accurate depictions of their physicians and therapists, and the treatment processes. I couldn't wait to begin each succeeding volume!
Editor's Note: The Ghost Road won the 1995 Booker prize.
(bwl 50 March 2009) |
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The Seven Daughters of Eve by Brian Sykes |
Written and published about 10 years ago, Professor Sykes an Oxford geneticist outlines his theory about our origins based on decades working in his labs and on archaeological sites all over the world. He takes us from the 5,000 year old iceman discovered in N. Italy to the colonisation of Polynesia and by examining mitochondrial DNA creates a genetic map of W. Europe which shows we are all descendants from one of seven women. Fascinating, challenging but compelling.
(bwl 82 Autumn 2016) |
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The Signature of All Things by Elizabeth Gilbert |
This is a surprising, engrossing, detailed historical novel, which successfully manages to cross genres. Its exploration of the history of Botany, women in Science and the conduct of Global Business is deftly woven through the family relationships, dreams and disappointments of some pretty impressive British and American characters.
(bwl 74 Autumn 2014) |
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The Slap by Christos Tsiolkas |
Winner of a couple of this year's Australian literary prizes. All I can say is that the judges must have very boring lives at the moment. Every few pages the characters experience spontaneous priapic eruption! This focus makes it hard to get close to them. When clothed, the protagonists could be anyone! A shame, because the social issues the book attempts to explore - multiculturalism and child abuse - tend to drop out of sight.
(bwl 52 July 2009) |
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The Tolstoy Estate by Steven Conte |
This was a surprisingly good read, especially for lovers like me of the supreme Russian novelist and with interest in and knowledge of European history. This was a very effective attempt to imagine some of the tolls of the attempted advance on Moscow, by German infantry and also on the resident Russian population.
(bwl 101 Summer 2021) |
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The Wren, The Wren by Anne Enright |
This was a quirky gambol through multi-generational dysfunction in an Irish family, all talented and educated, but deeply affected in some cases by minor celebrity, and in others by excessive introspection, depression and poor self-esteem. If this sounds bleak, don't be deterred. The writing is assured, with unexpected wry humour in its observations of family affections, disaffections and loyalties, and the bird metaphor quite literally extends and binds the whole story to a satisfying conclusion.
(bwl 111 Winter 2024) |
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Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin |
A group of gifted, computer-engineering students on the East Coast of America turn their recreational gaming into a successful international business. The examination of their diverse goals and backgrounds, their evolving relationships, passions and betrayals, make a totally engaging contemporary story, despite my innate prejudice against what I would have labelled time-wasting on devices, I accepted that the references to the multitude of games created, was actually essential to the resolution of the relationship between the two main characters.
(bwl 109 Summer 2023) |
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Wanting by Richard Flanagan |
This imaginative portrayal of episodes in the lives of two prominent 19th C Englishmen - Charles Dickens and Sir John Franklin - at first in parallel then intertwined, is moving, and ultimately compassionate. The collateral damage to everyone in the spheres of influence of both famous men, at different times adored and reviled, is revealed to be tragic, but not entirely surprising. After persevering with the first expositional chapters, I couldn't put it down. Worth the read!
(bwl 83 Winter 2017) |
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Willowman by Inga Simpson |
The Willowmen are the bat craftsmen of course. This is a clever tale, interweaving history of the game and the craft, with the personal heartaches and triumphs of two main protagonists, one a young gifted batsman and the other a bat maker, who would have been a classical musician if fate had not intervened. After a slow start - with more details of matches that I had to skim a bit - I found it a very satisfying mixture of fact and fiction.
(bwl 108 Spring 2023) |
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Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks |
An excellent read, despite being set in an isolated English village during the Plague year,1666! Although it's peppered with apt literary, religious and historical facts and allusions, these do not distract from the flow and focus of the narrative. Brooks' experience as a war correspondent, and thus largely journalistic writing is perhaps evident in that there is no attempt at deep character development. A good story, well-researched and well-told compensates for this in my view.
(bwl 30 June 2005) |
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