Top 5 Books for September 2008
- The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid
Before this book I ashamedly knew nothing about Pakistan and Afghanistan, or the culture of these countries, before and after the war on terror. The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a great cure for this affliction and it achieves said enlightenment with just the right quantity of literary shock tactics. Changez, our central character and narrator not only romances New York but expresses a surprising mixture of joy and worry after the attacks on the twin towers. This shocks and enthrals not only the reader but also one captivated American chracter, drawn into the telling of this tale in a Pakistani eatery. Hamid draws you into literary slip streams of varying velocities and it's not unusual to finish this book in one sitting. It's a thriller from an unexpected perspective - that dares to tell it as it is.
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid is published by Hamish Hamilton (hardback; £14.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers. - Cat On A Hot Tiled Roof by Anna Nicholas
A fair few moons ago I reviewed a book by Ms Nicholas called A Lizard In My Luggage. This witty little romp exposed the duality of living in rural Mallorca and handling high profile PR campaigns in London. Cat on a Hot Tiled Roof sees Anna's double life return and just like a super hero, this time she's doing it for a good cause. Apparently there's a cat problem on the island and in true Mayfair style, this author and PR guru presents a one of a kind solution – a luxury cattery. I kid you not. It's a great read about a truly unique and unilateral thinker, long distance commuting and a life lived in a lucid and humorous spotlight. This read will give you a series of blissful, chapter long, escape windows from the daily rat race and leave you eagerly anticipating the next instalment.
Cat On A Hot Tiled Roof by Anna Nicholas is published by Summersdale (paperback; £7.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers. - Shalimar the Clown by Salman Rushdie
There's a reason why Mr Rushdie won the Booker Prize and the Booker of Bookers Prize (twice) for Midnight's Children. That reason is his slightly overwhelming and ultimately moreish writing style - which shines through rather prolifically in Shalimar the Clown. Like many modern greats this book isn't linear and only when you get past the opening present day chapter and absorb the past tense body of the book - do you appreciate just how clever this really is. Shalimar is an assassin, a husband, a lover, an entertainer and something of a peripheral character after you get to know the other main players. It's exciting, appalling, and educational all in one. It's also a tiny bit dark, just like the oh so addictive style or Tim Burton, up next.
Shalimar the Clown by Salman Rushdie is published by Random House (paperback; £7.99). It is also available through rbooks.co.uk and all good booksellers. - The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy by Tim Burton
I wouldn't ever take a child (under the age of twenty) to see The Nightmare Before Christmas. I also wouldn't hand them this book but I would recommend it to readers like you. This collection of short stories includes everything from the robot baby, born out of a sexual encounter between a microwave and its mother, to the toxic gas breathing boy who dies from exposure to fresh air. The depths of Mr Burton's imagination once again defy convention and if you have a spare few minutes between tourist attractions, then these make for a refreshing little break. It's deliciously dark and the servings of tiny bite size snippets make it hard to stop. Just one more you say.
The Melancholy Death of Oyster Boy by Tim Burton is published by Faber and Faber (paperback; £7.99). It is also available through amazon.co.uk and all good booksellers. - A Year of Festivals from Lonely Planet
If you've ever sat down in a stupor and though to yourself, I wonder what festivals are going on in the world this week - then this book is perfect for you! I've never seen anything quite like it and in true Lonely Planet fashion, the listings in here are quirky, off the beaten track and described in an amusingly interesting fashion. My favourites include the Day of the Dead in Oaxaca, the demons on Lake Titicaca, the World Marbles Championships and the naked festival in Japan. It's a new title from the travel experts and it isn't year specific, so it won't be dated the minute you buy it.
A Year of Festivals from Lonely Planet is published by Lonely Planet (paperback; £16.99). It is also available through lonelyplanet.com and all good booksellers.
- Rob Savage
