Your Easter Reading
Maciej Matuszewski recommends five books to take you through the Easter break (if you’re not revising, that is)
The City and the City
China Miéville
One of Miéville’s more recent works follows Inspector Tyador Borlu as he investigates a murder in the city of Beszel. Eventually his investigation leads him to Ul Qoma – a separate city that somehow occupies the same site as Beszel. This is a highly acclaimed novel, having won the Hugo, Nebula, Locus, Clarke and the World Fantasy Awards. If you want an introduction to Miéville’s impressive body of work you can’t go wrong with this book.
A Game of Thrones
George R.R.Martin
The first in George R.R. Martin’s Song of Ice and Fire series, now adapted into hugely popular HBO television series. A high fantasy epic following the Wars of the Roses-inspired power struggles on the continents of Westeros and Essos this is a gritty and compelling read. With five books, each having over 700 pages, having already been published, the long Easter break is the perfect opportunity to catch up on this must-read series.
Heart of Darkness
Joseph Conrad
Widely agreed to be one of the greatest English language novels, Heart of Darkness follows Joseph Conrad’s recurring character Charles Marlow as travels down the Congo River working as an ivory trader. This is a masterful and brilliantly written exploration of racism, savagery and Western hypocrisy. Best known as the inspiration for the acclaimed Vietnam War film Apocalypse Now this novel is a true masterpiece.
The Windup Girl
Paolo Bacigalupi
Set in the twenty-third century, Bacigalupi’s debut novel follows a cast of characters trying to survive in a Thailand ravaged by global warming and controlled by giant bioengineering companies. Both a hugely imaginative novel and astute social commentary, this The Windup Girl has won multiple awards. Selected as one of the 101 best SF novels of the last 25 years by Damien Broderick and Paul Di Filippo, this is certainly worth checking out.
More Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops
Jen Campbell
Long-time bookshop manager Jen Campbell’s Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops was one of the funniest things that I read last year. Now she returns with her second instalment, due to be published on April 18. At just over 120 pages this is a very slim volume – perfect for those swamped by exam revision and looking for some light relief. Highly recommended for everyone.
