Undoubtedly one of the best overlooked novels that should be read by everyone, ‘O Caledonia’ is republished today by W&N in their ESSENTIALS collection. It gave me such joy to read it, every page filled with emotion and colour, recognition and admiration, that I want to give a copy to every bookish person I know, and […]
Today the new novel ‘Whereabouts’ from the Pulitzer-winning and Booker-shortlisted Jhumpa Lahiri is out. Written in Italian, but translated into English by the author herself, it reads like a memoir. We follow a middle-aged, solemn woman through an unnamed, ‘run-down’ city. She takes us in short bursts of observative descriptions through the places that belong […]
Backlist publishing has grown more popular these days, and the trend is welcome – it helps to take a breather from constantly chasing new titles and rediscover what’s been good for a long time. Taeko Kono’s stories were first published in post-war Japan in the 1960s, translated into English in the 90s, and now W&N […]
Хорошо к любой книге подходить с чистой оперативной памятью и открытым сердцем. К сожалению, в случае с Рифом Алексея Поляринова у меня не было шансов на отстраненную объективность. Объясню. Хоть и узнала я о творчестве Алексея только прошлым летом (через Бесконечную Шутку), я глубоко прониклась тем, какой он клевый и продвинутый и эклектичный чувак. Мне […]
Story of a Zimbabwean woman looking for her place among the people who are better adapted and clear headed about what they want.
First translated work of Izumi Suzuki – her collection of stories ‘Terminal Boredom’ – review from Yelena (Foliovore.com).
In Public Enemies, his exchange of letters with philosopher Bernard Henri-Lévy, Houellebecq describes himself as “Nihilist, reactionary, cynic, racist, shameless misogynist… an unremarkable author with no style.” (Guardian) You have to admire his ability to see himself with such crystal clarity. Submission, Houellebecq’s novel published in 2015, in which he presents an alternative future in France, one […]
I read this at the time of Covid 19 pandemic, and the fact that two orphan children in this novel are trying to survive on an island by fishing and growing their food and foraging, put a lot of things into perspective. It is an atmospheric read, don’t expect incredible plot twists or a crowd […]
If the world as we know it were to end tomorrow, would you be able to take care of yourself? (I think the lockdown gave us all a glimpse of helplessness, but still) Can you light a fire? Do you know which mushrooms are poisonous? How to catch fish without a spinner? Wait, forget about […]
What to read on the experience of self-isolating