Bookended by the events of March 2020, when the world went into pandemic lockdown, the novel lands lightly on the major happenings of British life, from the queen’s coronation to Diana’s funeral and the 75th anniversary of VE Day. Coe (Middle England) deftly encapsulates 80 years of British history in this tender portrait of a woman, based on his mother, who lived through it all.
Lagioia’s literary thriller provides a more complicated picture of crime and punishment than many crime novels, and the vivid depictions of Rome leap from the page, but readers will require a firm resolve to wade through the detailed horrors of Varani’s murder.
This title is excellent for book clubs. Highly accessible, with a variety of engaging topics to discuss (racism, Catholicism, disability, bullying, death), it will resonate with fans of psychological thrillers and dark academia.
This interesting take on novel writing creates a world of studied introspection, mixed with social commentary, that will appeal to lovers of language and patient readers of incisive ennui; recommended for fans of the author and of all things literary.
Not only a significant contribution to our understanding of the Holocaust but a moving reflection on loss, memory, and the past, in equal measures heartwarming and heartrending. Highly recommended.
Olmi’s novel evokes deep thought: What is humane, what it means to be free, and what happens when tradition and modern thought collide. This bittersweet story of emancipation, and forgiveness will appeal to readers who have a passion for activism.