Books reviewed on Friday 28 July 2017:
Exile by James Swallow. Published by Zaffre. 488 pages. A vicious Serbian gang whose profits come from fake nuclear deals. A disgraced Russian general with access to real nuclear weapons. A vengeful Somali warlord with a cause for which he’d let the world burn. Only one man can see what’s coming, but even Marc Dane might not be able to prevent it.
This is the second Marc Dane thriller. On Nomad, the first, Wilber Smith said “Unputdownable. A must read.”
Greek Theme:
Adults in the Room: My Battle With Europe’s Deep Establishment by Yanis Varoufarkis. Published by Bodley Head. 550 pages.
What happens when you take on the establishment? In this blistering, personal account, world famous economist, Yanis Varoufarkis blowd the lid on Europe’s hidden agenda and exposes what actually goes on in its corridors of power. Varoufarkis sparked one of the most spectacular and controversial battles in recent political history when, as Greece’s financial minister, he attempted to renegotiate his country’s relationship with the EU, provoking the fury of Europe’s political, financial and media elite. Here are records of brinkmanship, hypocracy and betrayal that will shake the deep establishment to its foundations. The Guardian asked “one of the greatest political memoirs ever?”
For the Winner by Emily Hauser. Published by Doubleday. 353 pages.
Abondoned at birth on the slopes of Mount Pelion, Atalanta is determined to prove her worth to the father who rejected her. Having taught herself to hunt and fight and disguised as a man, she claims a place on the greatest voyage of an heroic age: with Jason and his band of Argonauts in search of the legendary Golden Fleece. And it is here in the company of men who will go down in history as heroes that Atalanta must battle against the odds and the will of the gods to take control of her destiny.
A beautiful retelling of ancient Greece’s most exciting legend from a woman’s perspective.
The Children of Jocasta by Natalie Haynes. Published by Mantle. 335 pages.
A magnificent retelling of the legend of Oedipus, the prince of Thebes the oracles predicted would kill his father, King Lauis, and marry his mother, Jocasta. The ancient world is painstakingly recreated from the perspectives of the overlooked Jocasta and her youngest daughter, Ismene. The ancient Greeks have no rivals when it comes to tragedy and the story of Oedipus is the most tragic of all. In her reworking of the myth, Haynes has created something unique and magnificent.
Books mentioned by Vis Chetty:
The Ministry of Utmost Happiness by Arundhati Roy. Published by Hamish Hamilton.
It has been a twenty year wait for the follow-up novel from the Booker prize winning author of The God of Small Things.
The Choice by Edith Eger. Published by Ebury.
In 1944, 16 year old Edith was sent to Aushwitz. There she endured unimaginable experiences including dancing for Josef Mengele. Over the coming months Edith’s bravery helped keep her sister alive and led to her bunkmates rescuing her during a death march.
In The Choice, Dr Edith Eger shares her experiences of the Shoah and the remarkable stories of those she has helped ever since.
Fierce Kingdom by Gin Phillips. Published by Doubleday. 276 pages.
When an ordinary day at the zoo turns into a nightmare, Joan finds herself trapped with her beloved son, Lincoln. She must summon all her strength to protect him at all costs, even if it means crossing the line betweem right and wrong, between humanity and animal instinct. As powerful as Room and We Need to Talk about Kevin.
The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce.
Classic storytelling that will pull at your heartstrings from a beloved author.
The Softness of the Lime by Maxine Case.
Spoils by Brian van Reet.
A Gap in the Hedge by Johan van Louw.
Don’t Close Your Eyes by Holly Seddon.
Final Girls by Riley Sagar
Here and Gone by Haylen Beck
