Top 5 Books for February 2009
- number9dream by David Mitchell
After a stint in the past, present and future worlds ‐ so imaginatively depicted in Cloud Atlas, I said a little prayer that this offering from Mr Mitchell would also be akin to brain sex. It was. number9dream delivers the goods with a crash course introduction to the life and times of nineteen year old Eiji Miyake. A tragic, small island upbringing in Japan leads to our hero leaving home and heading for Tokyo, in search of a father he’s never met. The result is a book that makes like a food blender, mixing dream sequences with superbly fertile day dreams and a healthy smidgen of reality, here and there. Think Kill Bill with a little less violence and a lot more plot.
number9dream by David Mitchell is published by Sceptre (paperback; £7.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk
and all good booksellers.
- Black Swan Green by David Mitchell
This offering ‐ also courtesy of David Mitchell, is as far removed from number9dream as number9dream is from Cloud Atlas. In this corner of the literary world you become enthralled in the tide of British nationalism during the Falklands conflict of the 1980s and you see it all from the perspective of thirteen‐year‐old Jason Taylor. This semi‐autobiographical offering is set in the small Worcestershire town of Black Swan Green and among other things, it wonderfully details the special bond between younger brother and older sister. Small town trivialities harangue the adults in Jason’s life, school yard politics set the tone for later life and money matters in a 1980’s economy not too dis‐similar from today, strain family dynamics to breaking point. Throw in an intoxicating sextet from an enlightened elder and you’ve got yourself a top read.
Black Swan Green by David Mitchell is published by Sceptre (paperback; £7.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk
and all good booksellers.
- The Rough Guide to Travel Online by Samantha Cook and Greg Ward
Imagine what would happen if two people sat down and brainstormed every useful tit bit of travel information that they’d accumulated online, during their collective lifespan. Now image authors Samantha Cook and Greg Ward doing this, throw in some little known but massively useful websites on everything from diving to writing retreats and you have this handy, large pocket ‐ sized guide, down to a T. Alas like most web based guides that go to print, you’ll undoubtedly come across dead links and dated data, but as a rough point of reference, this Rough Guide is an excellent starting point
The Rough Guide to Travel Online by Samantha Cook and Greg Ward is published by Rough Guides (paperback; £7.99). It is also available through roughguides.com and all good booksellers.
- Everything but the Squeal by John Barlow
As far as travel books go this badger is less of a guide and more of a humorous reflection on a year long culinary extravaganza in Spain. Nevertheless it works and fellow Yorkshire man Barrow successfully mixes gluttony with a streamlined syntax that’s high in syllabic fibre and low in verbose fat. The setting is Galacia ‐ North West Spain, and the people here worship the humble pig to the extent that they eat every single part of it! There are some superbly tasty cuts from this book but equally, there are some cringe worthy descriptions guaranteed to shock even the most desensitised reader. That aside ‐ it’s hard not to love a book that has a chapter entitled ‐ Exaltation of the Sausage. The book’s out in May 2009, so position your finger over the pre‐order trigger.
Everything but the Squeal by John Barlow is published by Summersdale (paperback; £7.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk
and all good booksellers.
- Sardinia by Lonely Planet
The funny thing about this title is the average exchange rate between the pound and the euro on page one. Sadly for us Brits one pound is no longer equal to one euro and forty cents, but here’s hoping that by the re‐issue this summer, things are a little more stable. Recession tangents aside this book is an essential aid when it comes to planning any trip to this beautiful Italian island. Its history of occupation is conveyed with gusto and the accommodation guide for Cagliari, in the south is rather good too. The chartered itineraries also give the more active traveller a chance to pick up the pace on this sun strewn island and indulge in diving, biking and a spot of tennis ‐ among other things.
Sardinia by Lonely Planet
is published by Lonely Planet (paperback; £13.99). It is also available through lonelyplanet.co.uk and all good booksellers.
‐ Rob Savage
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