Affecting war-time novel by a master of straightforward story-telling. Last night Dr Wifey and I watched Sicario again. It is a brutal, cynical, violent tale, directed by Dennis Villeneuve, with great everything (performances, sound, cinematography). There's not a lot of hugging and learning. I knew this at the outset, but still found myself looking for... Continue Reading →
Two novels on undercovers and infiltration – #Spycops #Spycopsfiction
Books reviewed: Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad (1911) Demo by Richard Allen (New England Library, 1970) So, I am guiding my reading a bit, because I am Writing A Paper. These two are both about Russian secret intelligence operations overseas. about the infiltration and attempted disruption of dissident social movements. pretty tough to... Continue Reading →
Brilliant neglected book: “Ecological Pioneers” #Australia #environment
I like to believe I've read a lot these three and a half years (even by my own somewhat Rabelaisian standards). Specifically, on the Australian environment movement/climate change/climate policy etc. I've read a few excellent books, a few stinkers and lots in between (thankfully mostly at the 'excellent' end, and towering piles of journal articles... Continue Reading →
Guilty Pleasure: Jackson Lamb thrillers
Pointy end of the thesis is upon me. I am getting it done. I'd possibly be getting it done marginally quicker if it weren't for Mick Herron's "Jackson Lamb" thrillers. I stumbled on the first, Slow Horses in a charity shop in Glossop (as you do). The conceit looked amusing - what if MI5 had... Continue Reading →
Book Review: Clade – superior #climate fiction #clifi
When – not if, but when – I reread James Bradley’s wonderful set of linked short stories, ‘Clade,’ I will be on the lookout for two things; his references to the seasons, and his imagery of flight (in every sense). These short stories, which follow one family from about now, through roughly beyond the middle... Continue Reading →
“Bel-Ami” – brilliant brilliant book about journalism, life, image, etc
How did I not know about this book? Why was I not told? Eh? This is up there with The Wire as "cultural artefacts that everyone will have to engage with when I am chief fascist dictator". It's by Guy de Maupassant, a French writer (mostly of short stories) who died from syphilis in the... Continue Reading →
Books I definitely didn’t buy/get given
Chandler, A. 1977. The Visible Hand: The Managerial Revolution in American Business. Cambridge, Mass: The Belknap Press. [Chomsky rates this one highly. Definitely didn't buy this for 99p in Lancaster.] Fromm, E. 2003. Marx's concept of Mann. London: Continuum. [Definitely didn't buy this for 50p in Lancaster.] Lawson, N. 2008. An Appeal to Reason: A... Continue Reading →
Before the Hunger Games – Feminist scifi and “The Female Man”
The Female Man is the best, most important book you probably* never heard of. Written in 1970 but not published until 1975, Joanna Russ delivered a mind-bending and gender-bending work of genius. Think 12 Monkeys meets The Hunger Games with the sensibility of Thelma and Louise. Speaking as a man, and so accustomed to giving... Continue Reading →
Good bye to all schlock – #fictionbyfemales #lifetooshort #apocalypse
The only fiction I am reading this year is by women, with a presumed bias away from white western women (though there’s nowt wrong with the Barbara Kingsolvers and Margaret Atwoods of this world). However, I need another ‘rule’ – no schlock. Life is Too Short – I am not getting any younger, and the... Continue Reading →
Books by women, and even – darn it – about women
This year (starting last week) the only fiction I will read (novels and short stories) is by women, as per suggestion from the wonderful wife (7 years hitched!!). It occurred to me, both before and after reading Ursula Le Guin's comments on her 'The Eye of the Heron' that this might not mean I was... Continue Reading →
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