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Was able to get some reading done this month which was nice - I mean I was in the headspace for it which before Christmas was just not there. No rhyme or reason to the list, they were just all in the 'to read' pile. So. Starting from best to worst...
Stunning. In awe of the artisanship. A writer completely in command of her subject and technique. Heart-breaking, horrifying, and deeply moving. An incredible achievement.
A joy and a half. Made me want to go out and get everything Tokarczuk has written. Brilliant writing, with a great dry wit and something to say.
Really loved this. Frees up socialist thought from the philosophical biases and anglocentric assumptions that Marxs and Engels were prey to, while still placing marxism within the wider tradition.. A lot of Irish socialists (and marxists) could benefit from what it has to say imo
This was so much fun. Enjoyed it immensely. Reminded me of Gogol but it's in its own class.
This book has really stuck with me. I keep on thinking about it and just how tragic it is - not only in terms of the story itself but also about its reflections on humanity (which ring true). A lot more depth to it than I expected.
An authoritative voice on a subject matter that lends itself towards chancers. Barkun has been researching and writing about US conspiracy cultures for decades and it shows. Although it predates Trump it serves as an excellent introduction to what is now the mainstream.
Deserves all the awards and accolades it gets. Jay Bernard's poems about the New Cross and Grenfell fires are full of anger and love in equal measure, and with lines so sharp they'll take your breath away. Had me in tears
Equally fascinating & horrifying with a flowing journalistic style, Gunn tries to humanise jones but it's too much. The man murdered hundreds through manipulation. a cautionary tale - if one is needed - of what can happen when the social net is left to conmen to provide
Post-apocalyptic SF from the 1950s but didn't feel or read dated at all. It's really stood the test of time and deserves to be treated as a classic.
On my 'to read' list for years and so glad I finally got round to it. Barker has a fantastic talent for painting a scene, and creating three-dimensional characters. Her prose style is so elegant as well. A joy to read.
I got this because of Tarkovsky as it was the book he based Stalker upon. The Strugatsky brothers have Earth being visited by aliens that have no interest whatsoever in humanity. No monoliths here, just scraps scavenged. Despite its bleakness, surprisingly affirming!
Richard Evan's account of his involvement in the David Irving libel trial is also a stirring defence of the importance of historical research and sources. Facts matter.
A poignant and heartfelt commentary on work and social division - as much in our cities as in Tokyo where the book is set.
Got this purely because of lockdown and although the writing style is certainly not my thing (I hate sentences that last an entire paragraph), once I got used to it the parallels possible to make with today were fascinating.
Engaging and thoughtful essay on Ozu's 1949 classic that positions the movie as a study of the effect of post-war trauma on the main character Noriko. Maybe a little long in that it makes its point and then some. Still, enjoyed it.
A great novel. Explores the experience of the Japanese community in the US during and after WWII.
Darkly humorous tale of 1990s post Soviet Ukraine. A struggling writer ends up as a deceptively successful writer of obituaries, with a penguin he bought when the local zoo sold it off. Gangsters, oligarchs, and penguins. Can't go wrong.
A look at the Irish who fought on the Republican side which strives to place them within an international context. Exhaustive research and use of Russian archives.
Innovative narrative structure where the dead interact with the story as much as the living, slowly revealing the nature of the titular character. The horror creeps up like boiling a frog.
I don't know why this is a penguin classic. The story of 1950s British scientists smoking pipes & downing afternoon tea while they tell the Americans what's going on with the black cloud blocking out the sun. Very dated boys own type stuff. Well written but a museum piece.
Didn't enjoy it at all. The last sane man in the world and he's a Guardian reader. Reads like it's written for people who have Nigel Slater dinner parties. Adrian Barnes' passing is sad. Way too young. But I'm sorry, the book is just irritating.
Christ on a fucking bike. This is so shit. A book written for 'this is more of a comment than a question' guys so they can now talk about critical theory. If you foist The Corrections on people as a present and still watch Bill hicks videos this is the book for you.
This one I only got as far as p.62 before I gave up. What is it with Verso? This book has more self-belief than actual insight, spouting off analysis that's at least 40yrs out of date. Nothing new to say here. Avoid like the plague.
