Capsule book reviews in 255 characters or fewer. Ish. A reading diary (1st Jan 2019 onwards) by Eamonn Griffin.
Challenged to write a memoir, a stand-up comedian instead hires a ghostwriter. A meta spin on the celebrity autobiography. As with much of his career, the impression here is that Macdonald’s prime audience is himself: that’s a good thing, as this is funny, challenging in places, and wholly dishonest throughout. I loved it.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A sneak thief fresh out of jail is coerced by the woman who framed her to pull another job. Zippy crime novella with an eye for procedure. Doesn’t waste time, and works in part because it focuses on doing simple things well. Plus: clear, straightforward prose that makes you want to read on. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A small-town doctor’s routine is disturbed by the discovery of a mass grave. Excellent slow-burn quasi-thriller which blends relationship study, community portrait, and something more ambitious in scope. Understated throughout, and impeccably narrated. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A young woman, abducted as a child, begins to search for her birth parents. Not quite a crime novel, not quite literature, but a great autumnal read nevertheless. A book about what it’s like to be alone in the world, and about making your peace with it. Recommended.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
Former Hull PI Joe Geraghty finds unwanted trouble in Amsterdam. A sharp stand-alone short story – and a precursor for a new Geraghty novel in 2020 – that works as a fine entry point to the series and its author’s work. The first of Fahrenheit Press’s Fahrenzine imprint of lo-fi zine-style limited edition noir chapbooks, designated #FHZ001. A series to watch.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
A man on a pub crawl; he might write a book, might not. Tremendous stream-of-consciousness/tone poem/scabrous pop culture reference-littered journey through a long dark night out on the piss of the soul. Splendidly observed/experienced; like a half-pissed James Joyce cadging a smoke outside a Preston Wetherspoons.
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My own books here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
An overview of Spartan military and related philosophies. A clear and straightforward introduction, intended both as a primer for soldiers and to those addressing other conflict areas (creative struggles, etc). Useful and direct, not least if you appreciate the same author’s fiction and wider writings on creativity.
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My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
Three days of observations of the same Paris street. A mesmerising, poetic, futile and charming go at capturing everything that happens – more or less – in a single place over a short space of time. Makes you want to have a crack at the same thing yourself, which can only be a recommendation.
My own books are here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England. But if you like the idea of this book, then chances are that you’ll like Benches of Louth.
An extended essay on David Milch’s 2002-2004 HBO series. Detailed examination of the TV series up to its early cancellation but before the 2019 TV movie conclusion), exploring characters, themes, and Milch’s approach as a showrunner.
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My own books here, if that’s your thing. Newest is noir thriller East of England.
LBC phone-in host O’Brien discusses a range of topics (Brexit, gay and trans rights, Islamophobia), drawing on his radio experiences and his developing political identity. Not quite the book I was expecting, but some interesting points raised about critical thinking in the modern era, in a light, accessible way.
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