I read this novel again over the last few days. It bears comparison to any other novel you can name. Set in Dublin, this matchless story encompasses history, philosophy, heartache; it gives a glimpse of the kind of poverty that … Continue reading →
There is no reason to berate a book for failing to do things it never sets out to do. This is a romance novel, straight up. There are scenes that are affecting and work well. The writing in some of … Continue reading →
While I am reading romance novels of various kinds at the moment, I have not been tempted to read any sequels, until this one. In some ways I think that was a mistake. Having enjoyed Boyfriend Material, I was curious … Continue reading →
By the time I finished reading this novel I was a fan. One reason for that is the comedy, the other is Oliver. The comedy works really well often enough that I found myself laughing out loud, often during the … Continue reading →
This is one of those books that defies category, being science fiction in conception but handled in such a way that people who don’t read science fiction won’t notice. It’s the premise that makes it work. The title would be … Continue reading →
When you read a Saramago novel you have to adjust to his way of doing things. He punctuates in his own way, he does not capitalize words, at least in this book, and of course he writes dialog in a … Continue reading →
This is what you want a reading experience to be, a clear strong voice, a writer who stays out of the way but makes great decisions, characters that emerge, a compelling beginning, a through-line of energy, and an ending that … Continue reading →
Reviews of this book and many other of Hollinghurst’s books note the fine writing. The sentences in this book are well done, as usual, and the book has a goodly number of moments like those to be found in his … Continue reading →
The subtitle of the book is “An LGBTQIA Rivals-to-Lovers Road Trip Romance,” which serves as a reassurance, a summary, and a pitch. The breadth of the spoilers would be a problem if Annabeth Albert were not a good writer, but … Continue reading →
During the reading of this book I was constantly reminded of Mary Renault’s Fire From Heaven. What I was reminded of was how much better that book was than. Well. The similarities are many. The mad mother. The destiny of … Continue reading →