Alice Munro – Runaway

16Feb10

As some of you may already know, I’m not a big fan of short stories. So, when I started this collection, I was almost prepared to be underwhelmed and dissatisfied. Yet, I had heard wonderful things about Munro, and figured I really should give at least one collection a try. Worst case, I’ll shelve it […]

Filed under: Alice Munro, Books 2010, Commonwealth Writers Prize, General Fiction, Giller, Governor General's Award, Review, Short Stories   |  25 Comments
Tags: Alice Munro, Canada

Lloyd Jones – Mister Pip

07Sep09

Set in Papua New Guinea, in the 1990s, this book is narrated by Matilda, an adolescent, who witnesses the horrors of civil war first hand. The book opens with many people fleeing the island, and it being lost to the outside world, as the ‘redskins’ (the government soldies) and the ‘rambos’ (rebels) advances. One white […]

Filed under: ALA Best Books For Young Adults, Booker Prize Shortlist, Books 2009, Commonwealth Writers Prize, General Fiction, Lloyd Jones, Review, Richard & Judy Book Group   |  12 Comments
Tags: Civil Unrest, Lloyd Jones, Papua New Guinea

J.M. Coetzee – Disgrace {Weekly Geeks Q&A}

11Jul09

This is the final post on the Weekly Geeks Q&A from 13th June. It’s taken me about a month to ‘catch up’, and I will still have a trilogy to go. As I’m planning on re-reading His Dark Materials in August, I’ll hold off until then. Yes, I tend to procrastinate ever so often. I […]

Filed under: 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, Booker Prize Winners, Commonwealth Writers Prize, General Fiction, J.M. Coetzee, National Book Critics Circle Award finalist, Nobel Prize Winners   |  4 Comments
Tags: J.M. Coetzee, South Africa

Margaret Atwood – The Handmaid’s Tale {Weekly Geeks Q&A}

05Jul09

I’m still playing catch-up on 13th June’s Weekly Geeks. I know, I know, it’s been about a month, and that’s ample time to catch up! However, after this, I’ll just have two more to do: Disgrace, and His Dark Materials. Am planning to re-read the latter this month, so might end up doing that one […]

Filed under: 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, Arthur C. Clarke Award, Booker Prize Shortlist, Books 2009, Commonwealth Writers Prize, Governor General's Award, Guardian 1000, Los Angeles Times Book Prize, Margaret Atwood, Prometheus Award, Review, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Waterstones Books Of The Century, Waterstones Top 25 Books Of The Last 25 Years   |  4 Comments
Tags: Dystopia, Margaret Atwood

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie – Half Of A Yellow Sun

16May09

War destroys all that is left of innocence. It pulls people together, and it drives them apart. People are left asking questions, as they pine for their loved ones, as they try and contemplate the horrors of war, and as they struggle to survive – just so that they can see a better day. And […]

Filed under: 1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die, Booker Prize Longlist, Books 2009, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Commonwealth Writers Prize, National Book Critics Circle Award finalist, New York Times Notable Book Of The Year, Orange Prize Winners, Review, War Stories   |  4 Comments
Tags: Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Civil Unrest, Nigeria

Rohinton Mistry – Such A Long Journey

04Feb09

This book is not in the same league as A Fine Balance, or even, for that matter, Family Matters. However, the more I think about this book, the more I appreciate it. Mistry has this amazing knack of bringing to life a realistic Indian society, and how they handle various crises and catastrophes that life […]

Filed under: Booker Prize Shortlist, Books 2009, Commonwealth Writers Prize, General Fiction, Governor General's Award, Review, Rohinton Mistry   |  Leave a Comment
Tags: India, Rohinton Mistry