Dec 23, 2009 Posted by booktiger

Farewell Borders…

Last night I attended the closing sale of Borders UK – a company which has gone into receivership and finally closed it’s doors on 22nd December 2009. It was a grim picture – with everything selling for 90% off, the scene was one of carnage. Books were placed randomly on the few shelves that were left, and crowds of people were pushing past one another to see what they could find. I... read more

Nov 6, 2009 Posted by booktiger

The Night Watch – Sarah Waters

The Night Watch follows the intertwined lives of 6 young people living in London during the war. All of them are experiencing their own struggles and none of them quite ‘fit in’ to the norm. Kay, who dresses in men’s clothing and longs for a wife, is a night time ambulance driver during the Blitz. Helen, constantly searching, fights her own demons.  Duncan spends the war in prison, and... read more

Oct 27, 2009 Posted by booktiger

30 Years of Stunning Writing, and Still Going Strong

I was pleased to find this article on the Guardian website this morning about The London Review of Books. I am a regular subscriber of this exquisitely written publication and although I probably have about a year’s worth of backlog to read, it never goes out of date and I am never disappointed when I pick up a copy and immerse myself in one of the essays therein. To me, The London Review of Books is... read more

Oct 26, 2009 Posted by booktiger

Revolutionary Road – Richard Yates

Revolutionary Road can be summed up as a depressing book written in beautiful, poetic prose. I hadn’t expected to enjoy it, but despite the darkness of the subject matter and the full awareness of how it was going to end up (tragically -that was clear from the first page), I was riveted. It is a rediscovered American classic which, I believe, has recently been made into a film. I can see why –... read more

Oct 26, 2009 Posted by booktiger

What happened????

Hello… Remember me? I’m that person who used to read lots and lots of books and then would write reviews about them which were hopefully interesting and intelligent, always personal, and generally timely…i.e. shortly after I finished the book. And then…I vanished. I have had to apologise on my other blogs as well. Over the summer, things just got away from me – life and work... read more

Jul 17, 2009 Posted by booktiger

A Full House – But Empty – Angus Munro

This is the first autobiography that I have been asked to review. I will confess, biographies don’t appear within my preferred genres although many of the ones I have read I have enjoyed very much. The beauty of the autobiography is that the life that is being recounted is very personal and infused with meaning that only the author could have known or deduced. I don’t always relate to... read more

Jun 3, 2009 Posted by booktiger

La Symphonie Pastorale – Andre Gide

La Symphonie Pastorale was written in 1919. The copy that I own also contained a second story, Isabelle which complemented the original story perfectly. Both were suffused with longing, loss and tragic disappointment but both were beautifully written (and translated) despite the darkness of their themes. The title story is about a pastor who, upon attending the bedside of a dying woman, discovers her... read more

May 27, 2009 Posted by booktiger

The Hidden – Tobias Hill

Life has gone somewhat wrong for Ben Mercer. His wife has left him for a man who was their archaeology professor at university, taking his daughter and any plans for a future he may have had. Ben is aware that this is something that he invited – through his own behaviour towards her and the world in general. He escapes to Greece, not knowing where he is headed but finding himself drawn there thanks... read more