This is every bit as good as the first Carofiglio I read. The Italian defence lawyer Guido has a client who is an African immigrant charged with murder on what seems unbelievably slim evidence, but with biased police, jury and judges. As Richard said in the review on Temporary Perfections, the lawyer is really well characterised and this time there is a love interest as well. An easy and entertaining read.
Having taken 65 years to read my first Marian Keyes, I am impressed. I was captivated by this family saga that is funny, complex and has a wonderfully rich cast of characters. A lovely escapist read.
Zakes Mda as always packs a powerful punch in a gentle easy-to-read story. This work of historical fiction is set in New York in the 1880's where Em-Pee who has been recruited in Cape Town by the Great Faranini, performs in a number of New York freak shows as a savage Zulu. He falls in love with a Dinka princess who is similarly on display in a cage in Madison Square Gardens. Talking about the book Zakes says “We don’t know who the Zulus were – not even their names. I’m aiming to restore their humanity in my novel – to give them a name, life and perspective. These characters were created for me by history but in history they didn’t have names and lives”. The characters really come to life in the story so I believe he has achieved this aim. Em-Pee who is delightful, will stay with you a long time after finishing the book.
Margaret starts a new life in Hermanus after her husband leaves her for a younger man. There she develops a friendship with a very interesting mixed-race young man, that ultimately results in her killing an intruder with a kitchen knife. There are so many exciting surprises and funny nuances in the story that it is difficult to review without spoiling it. Michiel Heynes at his best again.
Julian Barnes never disappoints. This is a collection of essays on his experiences in the kitchen. Coming from a home of very conservative English cooking where men were not welcome in the kitchen, he is reliant on recipes and follows them as a pedant. I love his dry humour and tight prose.