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Continue reading →: Book Review: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
This, arguably the most famous book of Coelho’s, is the second I’ve read of this author (the first being ‘Eleven Minutes‘). The novel is truly beautiful, simple and imbued with peace as seems to be the trademark of Coelho’s style. It deserves the fame it has received and is certainly…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho
This is the first book I’ve read by Paulo Coelho and, I suspect, it won’t be my last. The whole novel is, in many ways, a contradiction in motion and, true to that spirit, much of what I think of it is contradiction too. It is certainly one of the…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: Spies by Michael Frayn
I’m currently reading the set texts (and one or two recommended ones) from my daughter’s A level English Literature course to help her prepare for the exams (it’s always easier to discuss themes and arguments with someone who has actually read the books after all). I’m glad I did because…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: The Unbearable Lightness of Being by Milan Kundera
My introduction to Milan Kundera was ‘Slowness‘ and it was chosen entirely for pragmatic reasons – it was short. I wasn’t impressed, I have to say, and took my time to read his bestselling classic ‘The unbearable Lightness of Being’. My verdict? It’s definitely better than ‘Slowness’. I can see…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: The Bones of Grace by Tahmima Anam
I was long looking forward to Anam’s third book in this ‘trilogy’ but though I enjoyed the book from the beginning – she is a masterful storyteller, of that there is no doubt – I was, nonetheless, a little disappointed. Firstly, the book really didn’t seem to be part of…
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Continue reading →: Book Review: A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams
I’m late to Tennessee Williams. ‘A Streetcar Named Desire’ has been on the bucket list to read (and watch, of course) for a long time. Having watched the lesser-known ‘Suddenly Last Summer’ last year, I felt it was time to kick this one into touch. I’ll be honest from the…
