Our latest reviews
Britten: Cello Symphony, Orchestral Works, Paul Watkins
As an overview of Britten’s orchestralwriting, this disc makes for an interestingcompilation, contrasting the edginess of hisfamous symphony for cello and orchestra –written originally for Rostropovich – withsymphonic suites drawn from two operaticworks, Peter Grimes and Gloriana. The latter,rarely…
A History of the World by Dominic Streatfeild
There is no doubt that the events that occurred in America on September 11th, 2001 created widespread political, foreign and defence policy issues for much of the world. Dominic Streatfeild does not attempt to address these issues in any depth…
My Little World by Julia Cooke & Marjorie Crosby-Fairall
Sssh, be very still. It helps if you are small(if tall, bend down quietly) – look closelyand carefully and you will see a world ofinsects and plants that most people miss.For budding young naturalists, this bookis a delightful introduction…
Art for Baby
Child research suggests thatbabies see images inblack-and-white moreclearly than coloured ones– and of course it’s easy tosee why, even as an adult.The simplicity and clarity of black-and-whiteis visually more striking; colour can confusethe eye and the mind. In Art for…
My Korean Deli by Ben Ryder Howe
Ben Ryder Howe is formereditor of* The Paris Review*.Yet it seems he had a highercalling in life. After spendinga good part of a year living inhis parents-in-law’s basementin order to save for a house,his wife Gab one dayannounced that she…
Collected Stories of John Cheever
John Cheever’s CollectedStories, first awarded thePulitzer Prize for Fiction in1979, is a magnificent,inspiring collection, andone that has resolutelystood the test of time.Spanning from his earliestwritings in the mid 1940s to the late1970s,* Collected Stories* features Cheever’smost iconic works, including…
You Think That's Bad by Jim Shephard
A new story collection fromJim Shepard is one of thetreats of my reading life. Hisnew book, You Think That’sBad, is as original and diverseas the previous three, andreminds me most of hisbrilliant second collection,Love and Hydrogen. What makes Shepard…
22 Britannia Road by Amanda Hodgkinson
World War II is always apainful subject to tackle andin her debut novel,* 22Britannia Road*, AmandaHodgkinson doesn’t shyaway. She writes not onlyabout the terrors of war andsecrets people hold once it’sover, but also has a frank and open look atwhat…
Bearings by Leah Swann
The newest addition to thedivine Long Story Shorts –and one that will neatlycomplete the S-H-O-Rcollection on your bookshelfwith the T on its spine – isanother example of Australia’sknockout talent when itcomes to short stories. Leah Swann’sinvolving tales are perfect little…
A Man of Parts by David Lodge
David Lodge’s latest novelopens in 1944 as London isbeing hit by the Blitz andH.G. Wells – once but nolonger the most famous writerin Britain – discovers he hascancer. Approaching deathevokes in Wells an internalinterviewer, who draws out his life story…
Browse our reviews by category
