10-second reviews: Books
This week’s recommendations are from Jomari, whom we kept running into at restaurants and bookstores carrying books we had read, were reading, or were planning to read. After many months of this we ended up talking about books, and now we consult Jomari for his expert opinion.
1. The Family Fang by Kevin Wilson: Two children growing up with performance artist parents. Life as Art as Life—insane, but in a good way.
Available at National Bookstores, we forgot to check the price.
2. The Tragedy of Arthur by Arthur Phillips: Erudite, compelling and almost too clever, and there is an undiscovered Shakespeare play at the end. Or not.
Php475 at NBS
3. At Last by Edward St. Aubyn’s: The latest in the Patrick Melrose saga. So brilliant and brittle, it wounds.
4. Harbour by John Lindqvist: The latest Nordic noir-chiller from the author of Let the Right One In. Atmospheric, well written.
Php995 at NBS. Read our review here.
5. Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D.James: Death intrudes on Ms. Bennett’s and Mr. Darcy’s ‘happily ever after’.
Php735 at NBS (earrings not included)
6. Bring Up the Bodies by Hilary Mantel: We know how the tragic Anne Boleyn ends after three years, but the author brings us into the middle of Tudor intrigue, elegantly evoking power plays and the role of Henry VIII’s libido on the shaping of English religion and politics.
Answers to questions you might be asking, unless you wandered onto this site purely by accident >>>
July 1st, 2012 at 12:25
These are the books I’ve been meaning to read too. A couple of months ago I saw the collected Melrose series in NBS Glorietta 5 and decided to buy it the next month. Then it was gone when I came back for it. This always happens but of course I never learn.
I’m finishing the latest Flavia de Luce (I’m Half-Sick of Shadows), while juggling with Norwegian Wood, Memories of My Melancholy Whores (both lent by a friend–so there’s a deadline, hence the juggling), Camille Paglia’s Vamps and Tramps, and Umberto Eco’s Turning Back the Clock. Oy.
July 1st, 2012 at 14:30
balqis, we’ve always enjoyed your reviews. May we give you a copy of the Melrose series (or if there are no more copies, At Last) to review?
July 2nd, 2012 at 13:14
Yes you may, Domina. Such an honor! My heart leapt. With pleasure I will carry out the task (a pleasurable task is no task at all). Thank you. (Pardon the pretentious Latinate syntax, just finished GOT on DVD. I grieve for Renly.)
July 2nd, 2012 at 13:59
Chos! Will leave the copy at the drop (NBS Customer Service, Power Plant Rockwell). Will alert you when it’s there.
Poor Renly. So suddenly, and just when we’d noticed he was cute.
July 2nd, 2012 at 15:41
Char! Haha! Thanks again.
Kaya nga, kainis, na-imdb ko na nga siya e tapos bigla na lang pinatay. I was staring at my screen just like I did when they killed Ned. Then cussed like a sailor with Tourette’s. Hay.
Looking forward to your alert.
July 2nd, 2012 at 20:04
Found Mother’s Milk and At Last. Will send them tomorrow. Thanks!