THE PARADISE GHETTO | BOOK REVIEW
Fergus O’Connell (Accent Press) There is an argument that art is nothing more than delusion, and perhaps history repays this notion. At Theresienstadt, the ghetto established for ‘privileged’ Jews during …
Books
Whether it's paperback, hardback or audio, we’ve got it covered when it comes to all the best new writers, authors and book releases.
THE OLD KING IN HIS EXILE | BOOK REVIEW
Arno Geiger, trans. Stefan Tobler (And Other Stories) Geiger’s memoir details his father’s Alzheimer’s and the effect it has on the whole family. Told through snapshots of his own …
NOCILLA EXPERIENCE | BOOK REVIEW
Agustin Fernandez Mallo (Fitzcarraldo Editions) This is a wonderful, mesmeric book. It is a book of ideas – how they arise, who has them, where they lead to, how all …
THE BOY | BOOK REVIEW
Wytske Versteeg (HopeRoad Publishing) Translated fiction has seen a rise in popularity during recent years and the latest offering from Dutch author Wytske Versteeg, The Boy is a feast to add …
LIT | BOOK FEATURE
Newly published, and soon to be published, poets spout their stuff at Little Man Coffee in Cardiff on Thurs 1 Dec. Host Christina Thatcher will provide a warm and welcoming …
THE LAST POETS | BOOK REVIEW
Christine Otten (World Editions) Anyone with strident opinions about the issue of appropriation in literature may be intrigued by this: a quasi-biographical novel about the lives of The Last Poets, …
WONDERS WILL NEVER CEASE | BOOK REVIEW
Robert Irwin (Dedalus Books) Not quite the Medieval zombie tale expected from the blurb which states: “…Hell is now full and consequently the dead stalk the land…” but Irwin’s …
CARDIFF BOOK FESTIVAL | REVIEW
Cardiff Book Festival came to the Welsh capital from the 28th of October till the 30th of October, and for its first time did a great job. The event had big British …
THE TRANSMIGRATION OF BODIES | BOOK REVIEW
Yuri Herrera (And Other Stories) Discussions pertaining to Latin and Central American literature in the West have revolved around the same stale stereotypes, writers and motifs: until now, that is. …
THE IMMIGRATION HANDBOOK | BOOK REVIEW
Caroline Smith (Seren) Poetry and immigration may not be topics you’d usually associate with each other, but Caroline Smith, an asylum caseworker, shines a light on the world of bureaucracy …
MAMETZ | BOOK REVIEW
Aled Rhys Hughes (Seren) For five years, photographer Aled Rhys Hughes visited Mametz on the anniversary of the battle which claimed the lives of over 4000 Welsh soldiers, and Mametz …
AGAINST NATURE | BOOK REVIEW
Joris-Karl Huysmans (Dedalus) Originally published in 1884, Huysmans’ book instantly divided critics between those who saw it as a masterpiece and those with more disparaging opinions. Brendan King’s new translation …
MORFFIN & MÊL | BOOK REVIEW
Sion Hughes (Y Lolfa) Delving into the subject of espionage during the Second World War, this Welsh-language story is the second novel from author Sion Hughes. The story follows Richard, …
THE GREAT ROALD DAHL ROUND UP| EVENT PREVIEW
Jacob Mier takes a gander at the gloriumptious and squiffling surprises on offer this month as part of the Roald Dahl 100 celebrations. Roald Dahl – author of {The BFG}, …
THE SEAMSTRESS AND THE WIND | BOOK REVIEW
César Aira (And Other Stories) A journey through the plains of Patagonia sets the scene for this intriguing and innovative story. Aira weaves a fantastical tale of a missing boy …
I’LL SELL YOU A DOG | BOOK REVIEW
Juan Pablo Villalobos (And Other Stories) The highly acclaimed and much-loved Mexican author Juan Pablo Villalobos is releasing his third comedic novel this August I’ll Sell You a Dog. Having …
THE FAMILY MAN | BOOK REVIEW
T.J. Lebbon (HarperCollins) Set in the beautiful Monmouthshire countryside, this dark and bloody thriller is something of an oxymoron: from dinner parties and school runs to suspenseful car chases and …
COUSIN BAZILIO | BOOK REVIEW
Eça de Queiroz (Dedalus) Cousin Bazilio was a popular novel when it was first released in 1878, first published in Portugal and then translated around the world. Margaret Jull Costa, a …
FLORENCE GRACE | BOOK REVIEW
FLORENCE GRACE Tracy Rees (Quercus) Set in Cornwall and London during the late 1800s, Florence Grace is a charming and captivating tale. The title goes some way to give away the …
KICKING OFF IN NORTH KOREA
KICKING OFF IN NORTH KOREA Tim Hartley (Y Lolfa) For a book that literally has a football reference in the title, it’s about much more than just football. If anything, …
WALES BOOK OF THE YEAR | BOOK FEATURE
Celebrating the written word has become a popular pastime as the abundance of literary awards would suggest, and it’s no different in Wales with the winners of the annual Wales …
THE GREASY POLL | BOOK REVIEW
THE GREASY POLL Mike Parker (Y Lolfa) The Greasy Poll is an insider’s account in diary form of the ups and downs of the murky world of Welsh political life, as …
THE HATRED OF POETRY | BOOK REVIEW
THE HATRED OF POETRY Ben Lerner (Fitzcarraldo Editions) For generations, poetry has been said to be something of a dying art, but in reality it has changed and morphed with …
FOOTBALL | BOOK REVIEW
Jean-Phillippe Toussaint (Fitzcarraldo Editions) Belgian writer Toussaint begins with a self-effacing disclaimer: that this compendium of intellectually-minded essays about football will be a turnoff to both intellectuals and football buffs. …