The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

It is not a badly written book. But not one “that” well written to deserve an award, and least of all one as prestigious as the Booker. So why did The Inheritance of Loss win the Booker?
Answer:
a) The rest in running were no better
b) The judges blundered
c) My perceptions are, well, questionable.
 
I [...]

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Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle

Paddy Clarke is not a funny story. The overwhelming feeling is one of palpable sadness, despite several humourous episodes, especially towards the earlier parts of the book. Ten year old Paddy, the eldest son of a large Irish family in fictitious(?) Barrytown of the sixties, thoroughly enjoys the company of his friends – Kevin, Liam, [...]

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Book Awards Reading Challenge

Here’s motivation for the coming days.

The ones finished have links to review pages.
Commonwealth Writers’
1992 – Rohinton Mistry, Such a Long Journey

1994 – Vikram Seth, A Suitable Boy
1996 – Rohinton Mistry, A Fine Balance
 
Booker
1974 The Conservationist by Nadine Gordimer
1981 Midnight’s Children by Salman Rushdie
1989 The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
1993 [...]

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