But What If We’re Wrong? – Chuck Klosterman
Which artist is the essence of rock music? Who is the greatest writer of the last hundred years? Are we living in a simulation? These are all interesting questions. This book is about these questions and many more, but mainly … Continue reading
The Ministry of Time – Kaliane Bradley
Government-controlled time travel: what could possibly go wrong? The setting is pretty much the modern day, with the addition of time travel: occasional government-controlled time travel, enabling the titular Ministry of Time to research the physiological effects of time travel … Continue reading
Gould’s Book of Fish – Richard Flanagan
I do like a bit of fanciful historical fiction. The narrator finds the titular book, which is unique and strange and possibly magical, and tries to find out about its provenance. The tale goes back to a convict transported to … Continue reading
The Diary of a Young Girl – Anne Frank
Most people’s diaries are probably pretty boring to everyone else. (I’m pretty sure mine would be.) But not this one! During an incredibly difficult and stressful two years, Anne Frank chronicles her life cooped up with a bunch of other … Continue reading
Birnam Wood – Eleanor Catton
This is what happens when a guerrilla gardening collective called Birnam Wood meets an amoral billionaire who is up to no good (typical amoral billionaire stuff). Birnam Wood is set in New Zealand, partly in Auckland, and it’s always exciting … Continue reading
Audition – Katie Kitamura
This starts as a tense and austere description of an ambiguous relationship, as a young man comes into the life of a successful older actress. He’s a bit odd – his story doesn’t quite seem to add up. Just as … Continue reading
Precious Rubbish — Kayla E
I believe this is autobiographical, even though it would be better for all concerned if it were fiction. As she was growing up, Kayla E’s family were actively neglectful, when not subjecting her to emotional and sexual abuse. The whole … Continue reading
The Trial
Orson Welles’ adaptation of Franz Kafka’s The Trial was screened at the Capitol Cinema Film Club near my house. What an amazingly stylish film – it really played up the “nightmare” aesthetic. Everything looked a bit surreal, including Anthony Perkins … Continue reading
The Book of Anna – Carmen Boullosa
In Leo Tolstoy’s Anna Karenina, it is mentioned in passing that Anna is writing a book. Carmen Boullosa has taken this idea and written what amounts to a fan fiction. The main characters are new, but they do interact with … Continue reading
Plumb — Maurice Gee
Plumb comprises the reminiscences of one George Plumb, covering the first half of the 20th century. He starts out as a clergyman but his strict, even fanatical, adherence to his own idiosyncratic principles gets him into trouble with his church. … Continue reading