Reviews by Jenny (66)

Jenny 2025-01-24 Vladimir

Sharp, witty and warm

Vladimir

After the bleak disappointment of Kairos, I decided I wouldn’t even begin Vladimir which is a reversal of Nabakov’s Lolita in that the female protagonist is an older woman (also in acadaemia) who falls for a younger colleague – Vladimir. With nothing else to read I gave it a try and am so glad because I found it really funny and entertaining. Both characters, while dealing with their own problematic marriages, manage to conduct their illicit affair with humour and an uncompromising honesty. The power dynamic between the two is complex and nuanced, and cleverly explored. I loved it

Jenny 2024-09-04 The House of Doors

Tender and Complex

The House of Doors

This is a beautifully written story of historical fiction set in the 1920’s in colonial Malaysia. Lesley is married to a lawyer and they live a privileged life in the ‘Settlement Straits’ on the island of Penang. They are visited by W Somerset Maugham, and have been involved with a Chinese revolutionary and his team of supporters. There is also a thread of the story that refers to an Englishwoman convicted of murder at that time which is based on truth. Lesley’s transformation through her very unusual circumstances is related with breathtaking sensitivity. A joy to read- highly recommended.

Jenny 2024-09-04 The Creative Act

Sorry Rick

The Creative Act

After trying 3 or 4 time, I have given up on this book. I’m sure Rick Rubin is a very interesting and creative person and he has achieved great success in his musical career. But I find I cannot concentrate on his writing beyond a paragraph or two – it all seems quite trite and cliched and doesn’t really say anything so that I get bored and forget what I have just read. I hope someone else can prove me wrong on this one.

Jenny 2024-09-04 Faraway Nearby

Full of fresh ideas

Faraway Nearby

Discovering a new writer like Rebecca Solnit is one of the reasons I love our book club. (The company is another!). This is a collection of essays on a wide variety of subjects varying from Icelandic art to Frankenstein to Che Guevara. They defy categorisation but are loosely held together by the story of a time in her life that include a disappearing boyfriend, a cancer diagnosis and losing her difficult mother to Alzheimer's. She writes beautifully, honestly and insightfully. Looking forward to reading more of her.

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