Rob Reports: Simon Van Booy and Kevin Barry at EdBookFest 2010

And so after weeks of bombarding you with uncontainable excitement, the day finally dawned when I would get to see one of my contemporary literary heroes ‘in the flesh’, along with another short story writer who has fast gained my respect. That’s right dear friends, Monday was the night that Simon Van Booy and Kevin [...]

Bookshelf of the Week: Voltaire & Rousseau Bookshop, Glasgow

For two years now I’ve almost exclusively featured the photographs of others as my Bookshelf of the Week. So to mark the return of the feature after the absence of a month, I thought I’d feature a picture of my own, taken of the higgedy-piggedly interior of the world-famous 2nd-hand bookstore Voltaire & [...]

Afterthoughts: Burning Secret by Stefan Zweig

In a Nutshell: Written with pin sharp perception and translated by one of best in the business (Anthea Bell), Burning Secret is likely to give you one of your most incredible reading experiences ever.
*****
A few years ago Vienna-born Stefan Zweig was largely unknown (the fact that he tragically took his own life [...]

Afterthoughts: Mysteries by Knut Hamsun

In a Nutshell: Dense and somewhat odd, Mysteries is a novel best suited to the more patient and thoughtful reader. Perseverance with this one can bring reward however, as Mysteries emerges as one of those few novels which has the ability to change a person after reading.
*****
Well dear reader I’m done and dusted with [...]

Afterthoughts: A Life Apart by Neel Mukherjee

In a Nutshell: Despite suffering slightly from being overambitious in its scope, this is a stunning debut novel from Neel Mukherjee – one which throbs with poetic and cultural resonance.
And so I’ve come to the end of what has been something of a remarkable journey with Neel Mukherjee’s A Life Apart (Constable & Robinson), [...]

Cover Love: The (RED) series from Penguin Classics

If you follow my Cover Love series then you would know that I have a bit of a thing for typography-based cover designs. In the past I’ve praised the virtues of the ‘Art of the Novella’ series from Melville House, hailed the glory that is [...]

Commonwealth Writers’ Prize 2010 regional shortlists unveiled

Get ready for a full on book feast because earlier today the regional shortlists for this year’s Commonwealth Writers’ Prize were announced, and I’m ready to give you the run down. Before I do that though, I’ll give you a bit of background info:
Presented annually by the Commonwealth Foundation, the aim of the Commonwealth [...]

Bookshelf of the Week: The Billy Bookcase Bondi Beach Bash

On Sunday 31st January, in celebration of the 30th anniversary of its Billy Bookcase, the creatives at Ikea descended upon the famous Bondi Beach in Australia, and planted 30 of their famous bookcases in the sand. They then filled the bookcases with books and invited surfers, swimmers and sun worshipers to come along and [...]

Afterthoughts: The House of the Mosque by Kader Abdolah

In a Nutshell: Once read never forgotten, The House of the Mosque is one of these rare titles that both nurtures the soul and informs at the same time. It’s perfect for those wishing to learn a little about one of Iran’s most tumultuous periods, without getting bogged down in scholarly text.
Before I began [...]

Afterthoughts: All That I Have by Castle Freeman

In a Nutshell: Although All That I Have won’t win any prizes for being an all-out action-packed thrillfest any time soon, it stands out as being a very well written crime thriller which comes with delicious literary undertones and a delightful infusion of ‘small town’ philosophy. Very highly recommended!
Well, All That I Have (Duckworth) [...]

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