Books
Among other things, I got my first cold in years for my birthday.
Some of my favourite books read this year:
1) "The Yiddish Policeman's Union", by Michael Chabon.
In a parallel universe where the Jews of Europe weren't nearly exterminated, but were settled in Alaska, this novel has a mystery about potential messiahs, orthodox thuggery, an oy-vey noir detective and much grim humour.
2) The Bernie Gunther Novels of Phillip Kerr:
A private eye in pre and post-war Germany, with a coda in Argentina.
"March Violets"; "The Pale Criminal"; "A German Requiem"; "The One From The Other" and best of all, "A Quiet Flame", which is not only a great detective story, but a great book in any genre.
3) "A Lion Among Men" by Gregory MaGuire.
This, the third book in the "Wicked series, is a return to form after the disappointment of "Son of a Witch", funny, rueful and slightly depressing, but in a good way.
4) "Porterhouse Blue" & "Grantchester Grind" by Tom Sharpe ... two nasty, hilariously funny satires on English University life.
5) "The Victorians", by A.N.Wilson ... what an interesting bunch they were.
6) "Red Harvest"; "The Dain Curse"; "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Thin Man", by Dashiel Hammett.
What a terse, exciting writer he was, the inventor of hard-boiled crime fiction ... "Red Harvest" was the stand-out for me.
7) "Have Mercy On Us All" and other mysteries by French author Fred Vargas. Her eccentric mysteries have such interesting characters, the mystery becomes a secondary consideration.
8)"Double Indemnity', "The Postman Always Rings Twice" "Mildred Pierce" by James M. Cain.
The master of sleaze until the advent of James Ellroy... and still well worth reading.
9) Shakespeare's Complete Works.
OK, I admit "Timon of Athens" and "Love's Labours Lost", (must have been hilarious in 1596), were a little hard-going. but Old Will is still my dream-boat ... and have you seen the scrummy re-discovered portrait?
10)"Midnight's Children" by Salman Rushdie.
Rushdie's tragi-comic epic masterpiece amply rewards re-reading. If you haven't already read it, do yourself a favour ... and persevere, it takes a bit of getting used to.
Some of my favourite books read this year:
1) "The Yiddish Policeman's Union", by Michael Chabon.
In a parallel universe where the Jews of Europe weren't nearly exterminated, but were settled in Alaska, this novel has a mystery about potential messiahs, orthodox thuggery, an oy-vey noir detective and much grim humour.
2) The Bernie Gunther Novels of Phillip Kerr:
A private eye in pre and post-war Germany, with a coda in Argentina.
"March Violets"; "The Pale Criminal"; "A German Requiem"; "The One From The Other" and best of all, "A Quiet Flame", which is not only a great detective story, but a great book in any genre.
3) "A Lion Among Men" by Gregory MaGuire.
This, the third book in the "Wicked series, is a return to form after the disappointment of "Son of a Witch", funny, rueful and slightly depressing, but in a good way.
4) "Porterhouse Blue" & "Grantchester Grind" by Tom Sharpe ... two nasty, hilariously funny satires on English University life.
5) "The Victorians", by A.N.Wilson ... what an interesting bunch they were.
6) "Red Harvest"; "The Dain Curse"; "The Maltese Falcon" and "The Thin Man", by Dashiel Hammett.
What a terse, exciting writer he was, the inventor of hard-boiled crime fiction ... "Red Harvest" was the stand-out for me.
7) "Have Mercy On Us All" and other mysteries by French author Fred Vargas. Her eccentric mysteries have such interesting characters, the mystery becomes a secondary consideration.
8)"Double Indemnity', "The Postman Always Rings Twice" "Mildred Pierce" by James M. Cain.
The master of sleaze until the advent of James Ellroy... and still well worth reading.
9) Shakespeare's Complete Works.
OK, I admit "Timon of Athens" and "Love's Labours Lost", (must have been hilarious in 1596), were a little hard-going. but Old Will is still my dream-boat ... and have you seen the scrummy re-discovered portrait?
10)"Midnight's Children" by Salman Rushdie.
Rushdie's tragi-comic epic masterpiece amply rewards re-reading. If you haven't already read it, do yourself a favour ... and persevere, it takes a bit of getting used to.