Todd Shimoda: Oh!: A Mystery of 'Mono No Aware'
A disillusioned young American travels to Japan to find, well, something different. Anything different. I was reminded of our very own Attention Deficit Disorder by Brad Listi as I read the opening chapters - cool, clever and a little left of centre. It also happens to be a stunning illustrated hardback. (****)
Edward Vallance: A Radical History of Britain: Visionaries, Rebels and Revolutionaries
Another first-rate study from one of our best young historians, this time looking at the history of radicalism in this country from King Alfred to the present day. Eminently readable and a fascinating subject that is highly topical. (****)
Sean O'Brien: Afterlife
If Picador have entered this then I am willing to bet on a Booker longlist at the very least for this tale of poets, murder and betrayal. A gripping story of literary life from an insider (the author is an award-winning poet himself) that the judges will love. (****)
Pauline Melville: Eating Air
A former ballet star returns from self-imposed exile in Brazil after 30 years. Re-united with her former housemate they find themselves embroiled in an Islamic extremist plot. The new novel from an Orange-shortlisted writer. It certainly has something but hasn't quite won me over completely. (***)
Bryony Doran: The China Bird
The winner of a competition judged by book groups. The prize: to have your book published. I applaud the concept, and this book groups clearly know what the are doing - this is a subtle story about a young art student who persuades an older man with a twisted spine to pose for her and their subsequent relationship. Doran is clearly a writer of promise but with a cover as bad as this is anyone going to actually buy the book? Worth overcoming that hurdle if you can. (***)
Alan Campbell: God of Clocks (Deepgate Codex Trilogy 3)
This is volume three of The Deepgate Codex. I have no knowledge of volumes one or two and I am not entirely sure what a codex is. Nonetheless, this was a genuinely imaginative piece of fiction and a remarkably well realised world. I just wish I knew what was going on. (***)
Lia Levi: Jewish Husband, The
An old man writes letters from Israel about growing up in Italy in his parents' hotel, about falling in love during the height of facism and how he later fled to start a new life in the promised land. Europe Editions have a good strike rate when it comes to picking out good books to translate and this one is certainly promising so far. (***)
Chuck Palahniuk: Snuff
Palahniuk is the king of the high concept novel. Unfortunately, he doesn't always deliver the goods in terms of content. This one works though, narrated by three men waiting to partake in a porn movie gang bang that goes unpleasantly wrong. May cause chaffing. (****)
Chris Hannan: Missy
A boisterous and bawdy Western about a young woman from the wrong side of the tracks who tries to make a fresh start with with help of someone else's stolen loot. Strong and memorable female characters throughout this enjoyable novel. (***)
Meg Gardiner: The Dirty Secrets Club
I am by no means averse to a mass-market thriller but they need to hook me early on. This one didn't. (**)
Neal Asher: Orbus
I know I am a bit anal about these things but I need to read books in the correct order. This is clearly superior SFF but is part of a series I am unfamiliar with. I will need to check out the others first. (***)
Adam Thirlwell: The Escape
Politics, Thirlwell's debut, was a reasonable, if immediately forgettable attempt to emulate Kundera - slight but charming. This follow up after a seven year wait lacks that charm and is, instead, a bit irritating. (**)
Richard Asplin: Conman
With a quote from Tony Parsons on the front and a comparison with Ben Elton on the back this is a book I wouldn't normally touch with a bargepole but it is much better than those namedrops would suggest. When Neil's business falls on hard times he befriends a dodgy conman - and then things really start to go breasts uppermost. More Jake Arnott than Tony Parsons - thank god. (***)
Max Frisch: I'm Not Stiller
Kafka-esque novel about a man in prison who claims not to be Anatol Ludwig Stiller despite all the evidence to the contrary, including the fact that his wife, mistress and brother all say that he is. I must find out where this one goes. (****)
Megan Abbott: Queenpin
The wonderful retro cover reflects the wonderful retro content full of mobsters, casinos, women with legs to die for and other assorted cliches handled with aplomb. (****)
Chuck Palahniuk: Pygmy
Whether you go for this or not pretty much depends on how you respond to the broken pidgin English used by the narrator - an exchange student visiting the US from some strange invented hybrid Communist state. It annoyed me, so I gave up. You may have more patience. (**)
Robert Twigger: Dr Ragab's Universal Language
An unusual, surreal and genuinely intriguing novel from a writer more used to non-fiction. This gorgeous hardback has lured me in and I plan to read on. (***)
David Denby: Snark
Oh this is good. A measured, amusing and incisive attack on 'snarking' - the low-grade, insult-based journalism and humour which seems very much the rage at the moment. Essential reading for Nick Cohen and Tim Adams methinks. Oh, and probably for me too. (****)
Yael Politis: Lonely Tree
An engaging and enlightening novel set around the formation of the state of Israel. Politics, history, family and love are combined well with echoes of Louis de Bernieres at his most readable. (***)
William Shakespeare: The Tempest
Another take on the Shakespeare graphic novel. I realise it is sacrilegious to say this but, for me, there was too much of the text and not enough of the pictures. I would have preferred for more of the story to be told through the images. (***)
Josa Young: One Apple Tasted
Far too much pink on the cover to be aimed at me, and clearly designed for the classier end of the women's fiction market, but an entertaining read nonetheless. Three narratives - one each from the 1930s, 50s and 80s - combine to explore how past events can impact on future generations. (***)
Jacob Polley: Talk of the Town
It's a personal thing but I often struggle with books written in the vernacular. I either have to skim read so that it doesn't bog me down or go extra slow to work out what it all means. Either way removes a great deal of the reading pleasure. This debut, set in 80s Carlisle, has too many affternoons, watters and dropped G's for my liking. (**)
Stan Cattermole: Bete De Jour: The Intimate Adventures of an Ugly Man
Stan Cattermole is an ugly man. A very ugly man. Join jim as he searches for love, although a quick shag would do. This is a true story - painfully honest and painfully funny. I hope to welcome the author to the blog very soon. (****)
Terri Wiltshire: Carry Me Home
This confused me as it has a similar opening to Scottsboro by Ellen Feldman which is also published by Macmillan. Where this one differs is that it adds a parallel modern narrative and after my initial deja vu moment this did grow on me. (***)
Emma Vieceli: Manga Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing
All the wit and energy of Branagh's film adaptation but in comic book form. Perfect study aid. Almost made me like Shakespeare. (****)
Megan Abbott: The Song is You
I love how Pocket Books has packaged this series of crime novels. Both cover and contents hark back to pulp classics of the 40s and 50s. Great entertainment. (****)
Maggie Dana: Beachcombing
An edgy romance about getting back with an old flame - 35 years on! At the more sophisticated end of the genre this will appeal equally to chicklit fans and those of a more literary persuasion. Perfect summer reading. (***)
Dale Peck: Sprout
A gay teenager with green hair moves with his father from New York to Kansas. They do things differently there. A coming of age novel with some verve and edge. A great books for teenagers to read. (***)
Shannon Burke: Black Flies
A novel about a paramedic set in 1990s Harlem. Lots of gore and action. I am a bit suspicious of the lack of boring and pointless calls that Tom Reynolds describes so well in Blood Sweat & Tea but this is a compelling read so far. (***)
Aleksandar Hemon: Love and Obstacles
I tried three of the stories but just couldn't get in to any of them. (**)
Jessica Ruston: Luxury
Remember the guilty pleasure of reading a Harold Robbins or a Judith Krantz? Jess has brought the old-fashioned blockbuster bang up to date. This could be quite a ride. (***)
Diana Mosley: The Pursuit of Laughter
A worthy addition to the ever-growing Mitford library. This collection of articles, reviews and diary entries is perfect for dipping into on these long summer evenings. (****)
China Mieville: The City and the City
Mieville has carved a popular sci-fi/fantasy niche with his books to date. This is more of a crime thriller but still set in an imagined world. Can't say it has grabbed me so far but I should probably read some of his other stuff first. (***)
Tim Murgatroyd: Taming Poison Dragons
An epic novel of old China. I confess I found the narrative a little stilted, reading more like an old-fashioned translation, which was probably what the author was trying for but it bugged me. (**)
Tim Burrows: From CBGB to the Roundhouse
'Why do so many music venues close when art galleries and museums are preserved?' - a good question from the author which sets the tone for this interesting and entertaining study. (***)
Julian Evans: Semi-invisible Man: The Life of Norman Lewis
I have never read any Lewis, although I have his final book on my shelves. The preface of this book, which reads like the perfect essay on the art of biography, impressed me so much that I will have to read more. (****)
Jenn Ashworth: A Kind of Intimacy
I have two friends who are obsessed by morbidly obese people and they will love this. I enjoyed it too. Narrated by an XXL woman as she tries to make a fresh start in life. Funny, sexy and slightly odd. (***)
Caroline Rance: Kill-Grief
18th century Chester. A young nurse with a secret to hide starts work at a new hospital. This reminded me of The Observations by Jane Harris and is recommended to anyone who enjoyed that book. I will read more of this soon. (***)
Muriel Barbery: The Gourmet
In a wonderful example of linked novels, this prequel fleshes out the story of the food critic from current bestseller The Elegance of the Hedgehog. Here we find him on his deathbed, desperate to recall a forgotten flavour from his youth. A small tasty morsel and the perfect accompaniment to one of the sleeper hits of this year. (***)
Giancarlo de Cataldo: Father and the Foreigner, The
The fathers of two disabled sons become friends but their relationship takes a sinister turn. A most intriguing Italian novel. Quite short too, and one I shall definitely be finishing off soon. (****)
Chris Simms: The Edge
Simms writes gritty, down to earth crime fiction to rival the very best of them. And he isn't scared of killing off a major recurring character in this latest instalment. If you like crime and have yet to read his work then might I suggest you get your bloody finger out. (***)
Chris Ewan: The Good Thief's Guide to Paris
A crime series narrated by a thief who is also a crime writer. Like a circle in a circle like a wheel inside a wheel. One of the more imaginative and original crime writers around at the moment and a series of books (the first one is set in Amsterdam) that I am sure is destined for big things. (****)
I had some time to kill at the end of the day before I could head off home so I popped into the nearest bookshop and purchased a copy of The Secret History
That is a wonderful story. Am quite dewy eyed.
Posted by: Em | September 09, 2008 at 07:53 AM
That's a wonderful story. Congratulations on your anniversary-of-meeting.
Posted by: Rob | September 09, 2008 at 08:29 AM
Didn't read the last comment before I posted my own. I think we can safely say it's a wonderful story!
Posted by: Rob | September 09, 2008 at 08:31 AM
That's a wonderful story
Posted by: TJ | September 09, 2008 at 08:36 AM
Nice post. But does your wife know about this? ;)
Posted by: Yampie | September 09, 2008 at 09:21 AM
congratulations dear sir. i share your vision of happiness. as you know, the SH has a very firm place within my heart too....my better half has her own annotated edition, and i still own a first ed. and a proof copy (with a few differencies). we both wish you well. have a slice of manor house cake on me x
Posted by: mr bourne | September 09, 2008 at 11:58 AM
ah......that's a wonderful story. 14 years seems such a long time ago.....
Posted by: AJ | September 09, 2008 at 12:28 PM
I love the idea of a thriller acting as a matchmaking device. I myself bought my wife to be a copy of Denis Johnson's 'Angels' when we first met. It's the tale of a man and a woman who meet on a greyhound bus. It does not have a happy ending. She didn't think I was completely mental when she finished it and on such strong foundations we've been married for 3 years and have a lovely boy. Books: bringing people together since, well, since they've been around I reckon. Not sure the 'Kindle' will be doing the same in the future.
Posted by: William Rycroft | September 09, 2008 at 01:08 PM
Awwww, what a lovely story and I might just have to nick that "note in back of novel" idea for a story...
Posted by: Calistro | September 09, 2008 at 02:03 PM
That is soo romantic, i love it!!
Posted by: Adele/Toast | September 09, 2008 at 07:20 PM
Congratulations to both of you. This was beautifully told.
Posted by: Pierre L | September 09, 2008 at 09:26 PM
pass the sick bag
Posted by: bob | September 09, 2008 at 09:58 PM
When i started reading this I thought 'my god he must have an understanding wife' and then i realised... and, yep, it brought a tear to my usually-very-dry eye. Sigh! You lucky bugger. Rx
Posted by: Ray Robinson | September 10, 2008 at 12:03 AM
Thank you everyone for the kind words. The blog post made MOTC's day, which was the main point. She baked me a lovely banana and cherry cake.
Posted by: Scott Pack | September 10, 2008 at 11:57 AM
Bleurgh. If I didn;t feel sick before I do now. Banana and cherry cake?! Any banana cake has to be wrong. Banana Banofee pie? Bleurgh. Still I hope you enjoy it. Just goes to show there's no accounting for taste...
Posted by: | September 10, 2008 at 05:16 PM
I found you through my widget. I love this post. How amazing!!!!! Ahh I love romance stories!!!!!
Posted by: SSC | September 10, 2008 at 07:50 PM
Wait a mo, you shared a book about a group of sick students killing a fellow-student in a dionysiac frenzy, and that set off the romance?
What other first-date novels are there out there? 'Crime and Punishment'? 'A Clockwork Orange'? 'The First Circle'?
Posted by: jaytt | September 11, 2008 at 03:14 AM
That's a lovely story - much better than Donna Tartt's book. I read 50 pages of it and then dropped it. Couldn't take the pretentiousness. Worse than a film by Poliakoff.
Posted by: Bela | September 12, 2008 at 01:12 AM