This is a fascinating exploration of the world underneath us that we never really think about. I especially loved the parts describing the natural underworld that as Richard said, complement 'The Overstory'. What happens under cities, though really interesting, did not grab me in the same way. Really well written with colourful characters and an easy flow.
This is the most exciting new book I have read for ages. It starts with Ella who is an old woman, who finds herself on a yacht with her grandson and then traces her life through the 'Seven Ages of Man'. The yacht is called Mnemosyne who is the goddess of memory and mother of the muses. The 7 ages are also echoed with 7 ancient modes of musical notation, she is a guitarist, showing how music and memory are linked. I cannot do this book justice in this review. It is about love and loss, and after reading I think you will find that those you have lost are somehow closer to you again. For me it was a remarkable book and I hope that everyone enjoys it as much as I did.
This is every bit as good as the first Carofiglio I read. The Italian defence lawyer Guido has a client who is an African immigrant charged with murder on what seems unbelievably slim evidence, but with biased police, jury and judges. As Richard said in the review on Temporary Perfections, the lawyer is really well characterised and this time there is a love interest as well. An easy and entertaining read.
Having taken 65 years to read my first Marian Keyes, I am impressed. I was captivated by this family saga that is funny, complex and has a wonderfully rich cast of characters. A lovely escapist read.
Zakes Mda as always packs a powerful punch in a gentle easy-to-read story. This work of historical fiction is set in New York in the 1880's where Em-Pee who has been recruited in Cape Town by the Great Faranini, performs in a number of New York freak shows as a savage Zulu. He falls in love with a Dinka princess who is similarly on display in a cage in Madison Square Gardens. Talking about the book Zakes says “We don’t know who the Zulus were – not even their names. I’m aiming to restore their humanity in my novel – to give them a name, life and perspective. These characters were created for me by history but in history they didn’t have names and lives”. The characters really come to life in the story so I believe he has achieved this aim. Em-Pee who is delightful, will stay with you a long time after finishing the book.