Book Reviews
Historian and biographer Richard Davenport-Hines’s approach is so effective that at the end, one feels distress over the premature deaths of some of the people one has got to know.
Titanic sank with the loss of 1,517 lives on its maiden voyage in April 1912, after hitting an iceberg. Only 711 people were saved.
Snobbery, greed, wealth, and machismo, alongside dire poverty, were prominent features of those times and were encapsulated on board the ship. Scandal, criminality and even male gay relationships among the posher passengers are revealed.
Davenport-Hines demolishes many myths about the tragedy, which was subsequently glamorised to absurd levels. Bravery there certainly was, but the carelessness, bungling and even heartlessness, of the captain and some of his officers that night are what stick most in the mind.
Roopa Farooki Headline Review; £16.99
Review: Janine Rasiah
THE eagerly-awaited fifth novel from Orange prize long-listed author fully demonstrates her ability to conjure up memorable, affecting characters.
Majid, who is based on the author’s memories of her father, moves frequently from one continent to another, choosing to reject conventionality for a life of crime.
His charming lack of repentance at discarding his wives and children, and his ease in creating new personas makes him a likeable rogue, albeit one who is a mass of contradictions.
The compelling story is one that makes a lasting impression as Farooki excels in her depiction of his tensely fraught relationships.
However, at times the wayward lifestyle Majid chooses to lead results in the novel feeling fractured, especially as it is subdivided into different periods of his life.
Geling Yan Harvill Secker; £10
Review: Shereen Low
THE Nanking war, when Japanese troops occupied the Chinese city in the 1930s, remains a controversial, yet Shanghai-born author Geling Yan has courageously tackled it in The Flowers Of War. She served with the People’s Liberation Army during the Cultural Revolution as a teenager.
In this short novel, the war is seen through the eyes of 13-year-old schoolgirl Shujuan, who lives with 15 other classmates in an American church run by US priest Father Engelmann.
With the Japanese fast approaching, the group’s safety on the neutral ground is jeopardised when prostitutes from a nearby brothel and injured Chinese soldiers seek refuge from the massacre happening beyond the walls.
Powerful and poignant, this story’s potential has been picked up by Chinese filmmaker Zhang Yimou, who adapted it for the big screen. The movie is China’s entry for the 2012 Oscars.
Kathy Reichs Arrow; £12.99
Review: Sarah Warwick
THE second book in Reich’s new series for young people centres around a group of South Carolina teens infected by a wolf-DNA-giving supervirus.
Like a Famous Five for the post-Twilight generation, this multicultural bunch of four plus dog, led by reluctant debutante and tomboy Tory Brennan, go off in search of pirate treasure, using their super powers along the way. Ludicrous plot point follows ludicrous plot point as the gang tackle armed enemies, break into local monuments and communicate with wild animals — all behind the backs of their unsuspecting parents.
But no doubt teenage readers will find it to be a pacy thriller with enjoyable banter and likeable characters.
It’s just a shame this title has little to offer the more mature Reichs fan, looking for a dose of well-researched forensic-based airport fiction.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
