Tereza, Tomas, Sabina and Franz navigate life and love in postwar Europe (and US, a bit) They experience Communism and soviet occupation, make life altering decisions and are plagued with existential questions, and meaning crises. Their entangled lives provide the meat for this novel-philosophical tale-romance-assay-psychoanalysis-satire. "Can proximity cause vertigo?It can. When the north pole comes … Continue reading The Unbearable Lightness of Being (TULOB), by Milan Kundera
It’s a been a while since my last post, so I thought I would come back with this quick review; a short and sweet way to ease back into my writing routine — as if I ever had one! This duology was recommended to me by a fellow bookstagrammer and I was happy to find … Continue reading Divine Rivals & Ruthless Vows by Rebecca Ross
"This is an enchanted place. Others don't see it but I do." It’s not easy to find the words to talk about this one. It’s a searing yet oddly gentle dive into a prison, focusing on its death row. It’s unlike anything I have read before. The hardest story, imparted with the most tender, lyrical … Continue reading The Enchanted, by Rene Denfeld
I stumbled upon this book as I was accompanying my son to the children’s section of the local library. I was intrigued by the title, and in the mood for some middle-grade/teen escapism. I read the first pages and decided to take it home. I am very glad I did! Sylvia is 13 year old. … Continue reading Sylvia Doe and the 100-year flood, by Robert Beatty
“I know that time for you feels finite. But you'll see it will stretch out. There's so much more to come.” This is the sequel to The Miniaturist, which I enjoyed a lot some years ago. It was intriguing, atmospheric and well, you can read all about it here. So why then did I let … Continue reading The House of Fortune, by Jessie Burton
"The southern slums of the great city of Mordew shook to the concussion of waves and firebirds crashing against the Sea Wall. Daylight, dim and grey through the thick clouds, barely illuminated what passed for streets, but the flickering burst of each bird flashed against the overcast like red lightning. Perhaps today the Master's barrier … Continue reading Mordew and Malarkoi, by Alex Pheby
A few days before embarking on my plane trip to my new dwelling across the Atlantic, I visited Penelope at my favourite bookstore in Paris, The Red Wheelbarrow . I asked her what my "last title" should be. She recommended this, the second installment of Deborah’s Levy “living autobiography”. I asked if I should not … Continue reading The Cost of Living, by Deborah Levy
What an odd and extraordinary little book that was. It follows the adventures of the narrator who wants to write a book about what famous figures were doing on the day of the end of the world. That is, the fateful day of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. He starts with one of the … Continue reading Cat’s Cradle, by Kurt Vonnegut
Over the course of a school year we watch as friendship and love bloom between Alice and Rémy, against the backdrop of a depressing little town called Starling. With a writing careful and lush without being too flowery, the author deftly conjures up the magic of childhood, this ability to wonder, always. "Leave behind what … Continue reading Starling, by Kirsten Cram
I recently finished reading Lean on Me and felt the need to put pen to paper (or rather fingers to keyboard.). Here is the blurb, my scattered thoughts follow. "When a flock of crows invades their shared apartment block, farmer-turned-debt collector Ludovic and fashion designer Aurore speak for the first time. With nothing but the … Continue reading Lean on Me, by Serge Joncour, translated by Jane Aitken and Louise Rogers Lalaurie
Kemy's bookshelf 