Books reviewed by Theo Hobson
|
Heaven's Edge by Romesh Gunesekera |
A cautionary tale about the perils of chasing dreams, Heaven's Edge tells the lyrical and semi-mythical story of an island ravaged by war. Everything, from the whitewashed underground city of Carnival to the lofty paradise of Farindola, is rendered in exquisite detail, and while the narrative may seem to miss out big chunks of explanation, you find it only adds to the magic of a deeply compelling love story. Right up to the explosive finale.
(bwl 52 July 2009) |
|
|
The Bone Clocks by David Mitchell |
The fantasy subplot with its good vs evil may seem like an odd choice by the author. Personally, though, I quite enjoyed its juxtaposition with the far more morally ambiguous conflicts tackled in each episode of the story. In addition, I found these episodes entertaining as individual character studies, leading to an engaging novel overall.
(bwl 80 Spring 2016) |
|
|
The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck |
A stark social commentary painfully relevant to modern times, The Grapes of Wrath is as beautifully written as it is thought provoking. The story of one family's ill-fated struggle to reach California and find work during the 1930's depression, it exposes you to the noblest and the darkest of human nature. Above all, though, it taught me the value and power of hope. And how sometimes having nothing makes you appreciate the suffering of others.
(bwl 48 November 2008) |
|
|
The Spirit Level: Why Equality is Better for Everyone by Kate Pickett & Richard Wilkinson |
Here, a compelling and optimistic argument is presented - that equality, not wealth, is the key determinant of quality of life in a society. If you don't quite need a deluge of data to convince you of this, you could skip to the absorbing latter half, where the possible mechanisms behind this phenomenon are tackled.
(bwl 80 Spring 2016) |
|
|
