by William Boyd
The third title involving Gabriel Dax and his reluctant involvement in the murky world of ninety sixty spies. This novel includes all of the normal suspects plus some and takes in Moscow, Oslo and the Greek Islands along with a start in the US. Full paced caper and a lot of fun 8/10
by Didier Eribon
A memoir by a gay man who now is a successful academic, it tells the story of growing up in a working class family and having to leave to fully discover his sexuality and realise his academic aspiration.
There is a lot of points in crossing class barriers that rang true. The difficulty and outright violence faced by being part of a minority group was painful to read.
I felt at times it tripped over itself as to whether this was a book about sexual awakening or about leaving family but I guess that was partly the point - the two were intertwined and difficult to separate,
It was very good on the shift in working class voting behaviours from left to right and what may have brought that about. 7/10
by Rose Tremain
An imagined tale of how Daphne Du Maurier has an affair with the Polish housekeeper of a large Cornish estate. The story is told by Danni - the housekeeper of the title, and details there meeting, falling in love and eventual ending of the affair when du Maurier becomes scared of her reputation being harmed. She draws on Danni to create the evil Mrs Danvers in Rebecca.
It's a great idea but it never quite worked for me. The supporting characters were never real enough and the love affair was awkward. Maybe the film will be better 6/10
by Elif Shafak
One thing I love about Elif Shafak's writing is her empathy with the downtrodden and minorities. In this book, based loosely around the life of Gustave Flaubert we hear from the women who knew him be they family, lovers, people he met or sought out, or even characters he brought into being in his novels.
In her notes to readers she calls this book her love letter to literature, and in more than one instance it felt like the author had put the story down and addressed the readers directly. I am not sure I liked this but it is a quibble.
It is not a novel I would consider her best, but it was a good read and I would recommend it to others. 8/10
by Emma Cline
A man with dementia is travelling to Dignitas to end his life. He calls off in London to see his daughter and tries to see an old friend in France. It was absorbing but I did not enjoy it that much I may have had Booker fatigue by the time I read this. 6/10
by Anne Cleeves
The first novel featuring Matthew Venn. It is set in North Devon and involves a murder of a man on a beach followed by the abduction of two women with Down's syndrome. A good mystery that kept you guessing until the end. 8/10
by Julian Barnes
Great collection of short stories by Julian Barnes dealing with the interaction between the French and the English at various times through history. Very funny in places and thoughtful in others. I really enjoyed it 9/10
by Ben Lerner
An interesting book which starts with a comical loss of a phone following a drop into a sink, something which many of us can identify with. It goes on to examine how things get remembered and transcribed through memory or electronic devices and raises the question of what is true and how is truth remembered. Not great but thought provoking 7/10
by Marlon James
Where to begin. This is a long book and at times feels like a relentless flow of violence and gay sex which was just too much at times.
The basic story is about a group of gay men who in 1988 in Kingston, Jamaica are rehearsing a "gay" play when they are brutally attacked by a mob, leaving one dead, one blind and six injured. Two disappear but this is the tale of the months leading up to and the years following the attack and how the individuals dealt with it. The story is told by means of diary entries, interviews and letters and holds your attention to the end but not a story to raise your spirits! 7/10
