Dylan Palmer

Calvino and his imagination is a thing of beauty. I could fly by descriptions of the many cities he had conjured, at times not taking much in but this doesn't mean I wasn't hooked. It has a unique way of gripping and relaxing you, of opening your mind up and for that, Calvino is a master.

A finely crafted novel. It tells a tale of how corruption once set can rot even what seems the hardiest of places that leads to grave consequences. Or does it? Although I enjoyed reading this novel about a third of the way through I thought to my self, what is the pay off here? It felt like I had ascended the peak of the story and was carefully making my way back to base camp for the finale, only to be left wanting when I got there. What was it I wanted? I'm not even sure, but no matter how well written or put together I still felt like I was wanting more from this book. Not in a read on give me a few more pages can't believe this has ended but a oh, is that it?

Nonetheless, I still flew through it and enjoyed it for what it was, even if I was left wanting.

A unforgiving, unrelenting punch-drunk hurricane of a book. It does not treat the readers as if they were born yesterday because why should it? It grips a hold of you and if you don't like the vulgarness then it will happily show you the door. A harsh realisation for sure, but akin to other great American writers who have trodden similar paths, it sets you up for a fantastical experience of the inner and real workings on the underbelly of the USA.

An extremely profound story that twists its dagger over and over again but rewards you with a little bit of that special something.

A fast paced shock of a book that is truly a brilliant read, albeit a tad confusing towards the last 1/3.

Quite startling. I had never read any Javier Marias to this point but the recommendation from somewhere seemed perfect. Not being hugely into what I pre-determined the 'espionage' world my expectations were not fully set so I leapt into the novel excited for a somewhat blank slate. Marias however, was not writing anything to be expected from the genre and the reflective and mediative nature and tone stirred a curiosity that would tumble up and down throughout the novel.

It wasn't all easy. At times, I wondered 'where is all of this going?' and struggled through large portions of reflection on literal past lives and destructive past decisions. However, I slowly shrugged this idea off as Marias' guided a weary Nevinson to the story's conclusion and ultimately his own also. Why do we make the choices we do? What is the impact of guilt in our lives and our thoughts? Do consequences have meaning? These are a fraction of the questions that occured to myself throughout the tumbling experience of the novel and I'm unsure if they were answered, if they even require a necessity to be answered that is

An interesting end note though that came up while readying the translators note. How Marias' had 'impeccable English' and while Margaret Jull Costa reflects on this she uses a couple of passages from the novel to illuminate the point of how Marias' delights on using the flexibility of the English language to expand on his inner thoughts and feelings to the fullest. Throughout the reading of the translators note I couldn't help but thinking I was reading a note about a work of Borges, who's mastery of English was blatant and well-known and how he commandeered the language to suit his wonderful needs. What is the point in this comparison? When brilliance in prose obvious, comparison becomes obvious too, but does that demean Marias' work? Not at all, it shows that wonder is wonder and skill of this level comes rarely.

A lovely novella from one of the masters.

A stunning, twisting and wholly unique tale that is truly unlike anything I've read before. Perseverance is rewarded and the winding tale takes turns that do not seem believable, but hold-on and go with it, for what else could you do?

A tale that hits to the heart of so many poignant issues that we still struggle with even to this day, however, what Roberts has done here is pinpointed a certain uniqueness in it's time and place to create a story that is rich and relevant.

Roberts uses her native surroundings to give a story that is entirely Welsh. As I was reading it I could hear and feel the textures and layers that she added and the time stretched story structure shows the Welsh world changing and warping to the brave new world that the 20th century would become.

That feeling of being utterly and uniquely Welsh shares many a common trait with 'One Moonlit Night' by Caradog Prichard in terms of it's placing and it's narrative but also with other writers such as Dylan Thomas for it's lyrical bounce.

If you've never read any Welsh literature before give it a go, there'll be plenty of names and words you might see for the first time but you're eyes will be opened up to a whole new part of our old world.

A great read that can I feel is a good supplement to Bolano's other major works, and works well in conjunction with them. It doesn't pack the punch that maybe 2666 or the Savage Detectives does but that's not necessarily the point.

In classic Bolano fashion, it rewards you for staying with the story or stories for this matter. It therefore picks up momentum as you slide further into it and you can slowly grasp your own personal readings.

Bolaño is truly one of the most gifted, unique writers of his generation. What a journey through life, twisted, agonising, refreshing and truly special. This was not the read I thought it was going to be, the three part structure holds a very different tale to the one you would first except but as the tale unravels you are slowly awarded for your patience.

This is hardcore, and it warms you up for 2666 perfectly, another Bolano perfect misdirect.

Decent little book that doesn't compare to Marquez' other works. Controversial yes and taxing to read at times but if you have read any Marquez and other South American literature then you can hardly be surprised by what happens here. Nonetheless, still difficult read no matter how well put together.

Page turning brilliance. Garland has achieved something quite remarkable here, putting his finger on a feeling, or the search of one and has conjured up quite a fine book. I have never seen the film so all my imagination was my own, and I could feel each page and each character and each scene come to life. Definitely recommend.