Alaa Al Aswany’s novel, “The Yacoubian Building” is an endearing tale of life in Cairo, in the period of political and religious turmoil during the first Gulf War. The famous, formerly elegant Yacoubian Building is now a tad run down, and home to a host of characters, some of whom live in the elegant apartmens, [click here to read more]
Can there be many things better than reading 2 Alexander McCall Smith novels back to back ? One day “The Forgotten Affairs of Youth”. The next day, “The Importance of being seven”. The joys of being on holiday. Both of these novels are set in Edinburgh, but in different parts of the city, and they [click here to read more]
Reading an Alexander McCall Smith novel, from any of his many series, is both a delicious pleasure as well as a masterclass in elegant prose. His stories unfold slowly, at a natural pace, with ample time for his characters (and readers) to allow their thoughts to wander, to think about the coincidences of life, to [click here to read more]
I was the perfect choice to review this book, though I say so myself. I seriously need to lose weight. I cannot cook to save my life. Really & truly. I usually avoid cookery books like the plague. Have never knowingly sat down & read a cookery book. Before this one, that is. And so [click here to read more]
The first review of a shiny new year, and it has to begin with a confession. “The Stranger’s Child” was the first book by Alan Hollinghurst that I have read, which must therefore make me rather a literary lightweight, I imagine. But what a first meeting with someone who will certainly become a favourite author. [click here to read more]
One shouldn’t especially like a book because it is based in one’s home town, should one? Or is that lovely insider feeling of “Yes, of course, I remember that building,” or “Yes, yes, that is exactly the way it used to feel” reason enough to love a book ? Oh, the latter, I feel. Already [click here to read more]
Dec 182011
There is something deeply moving, reading an extraordinary book like Fergal Keane’s “Road of Bones” whilst staying in Kohima, the little town that is the centrepiece for the dramatic events of 1944. I was in Nagaland (incidentally the most in-Indian feeling place I have ever been to in 30 years of Indian travels), for the [click here to read more]
