bendi

A truly impressive novel that thrusts readers first-hand into the life of an African child soldier. Written from perspective of the child himself, poorly constructed English and all, Beasts of No Nation pulls no punches in detailing the hopelessness and pure vile that too many young people face in war-ravaged countries around the world. Between the writing style and the sheer brutality this is an incredibly difficult book to read but as hard as it is it's equally as important, as it forces the reader to confront a modern reality that is so easy to overlook.

A quick read and an interesting revision/interpretation of the werewolf genre. While at first Sharp Teeth may seem contrived, between the “werewolf” tag and the unique format of the writing it's hard not to infer a gimmick, but through the depth of the novel proves these early notions incorrect and ultimately quite satisfying. While not mind-blowing by any stretch, this is an impressive debut novel from Barlow and possibly a perfect summer read.

A well thought out mystery with a uniquely Canadian slant.

Quaint and complex but far from the gritty, urban crime novels that populate most bookstore shelves, this novel will satisfy mystery fans but it certainly lacks the depth and creativity I find myself most attracted to in contemporary fiction.