Category Archives: Book

Book Review: Michael Cunningham’s The Snow Queen

Posted on 9 October 2015 by andyq

The Snow Queen by Michael Cunningham My rating: 5 of 5 stars Michael Cunningham has always been one of my favourite authors and his latest book, The Snow Queen, reminded me why: I think it will be one of my … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Carmen Aguirre’s Something Fierce

Posted on 5 September 2015 by andyq

Something Fierce: Memoirs of a Revolutionary Daughter by Carmen Aguirre My rating: 4 of 5 stars On my last visit home to Vancouver, a friend gave me this book; I think he knows the author. When I first became friends … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Patrick Gale’s Notes from an Exhibition

Posted on 20 May 2015 by andyq

Notes from an Exhibition by Patrick Gale My rating: 5 of 5 stars This is a novel about the death of an artist that allows an exploration of her family, with key themes of manic depression, the Quaker religion, artistic … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Gary Shteyngart’s Super Sad True Love Story

Posted on 2 May 2015 by andyq

Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart My rating: 2 of 5 stars My real rating for this book would be one star, but I think that’s unfair of me because I didn’t finish it. I used to always … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Andrew O’Hagan’s ‘Be Near Me’

Posted on 16 April 2015 by andyq

Be Near Me by Andrew O’Hagan My rating: 3 of 5 stars Because I’d raved about O’Hagan’s Marilyn Monroe book (as narrated by her dog, Maf), a new literary friend loaned me one of his favourite books, ‘Be Near Me’. … Continue reading →

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Book Review (of sorts): Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall

Posted on 12 April 2015 by andyq

Wolf Hall by Hilary Mantel My rating: 4 of 5 stars I understand the fuss, and also the frustration. The writing in this book is simply beautiful, and the portrait of Cromwell, and his negotiations, machinations and dealings, is complex … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Michel Houllebecq’s The Elementary Particles

Posted on 10 November 2014 by andyq

The Elementary Particles by Michel Houellebecq My rating: 2 of 5 stars When in France… Well, I’d heard about Houellebecq for years but never picked up anything until ‘The Elementary Particles’, much celebrated and much discussed, though I stayed away … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Roddy Doyle’s Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha

Posted on 24 October 2014 by andyq

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle My rating: 2 of 5 stars Sigh. The last time I was suckered into reading a Booker Prize winner and disliked it was Ben Okri’s Famished Road. When I was in university, … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Sarah Turnbull’s Almost French: A New Life In Paris (Memoir)

Posted on 19 October 2014 by andyq

Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris by Sarah Turnbull My rating: 3 of 5 stars Written in a breezy journalist’s style and with the brief to write about culture shock in Paris, this book was interesting and … Continue reading →

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2014 in lists (art, books, entertainment, shows)

Posted on 31 May 2014 by andyq

Aha. New organisational system for 2014… Rather than continue to add to the same big posts of shows and concerts I’ve EVER seen, I’ve organised the old lists into separate archival posts either by the year, or before that… And … Continue reading →

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