ONE ARM SHORTER THAN THE OTHER

TITLE - ONE ARM SHORTER THAN THE OTHER 

WRITTEN BY - GIGI GANGULY

PUBLISHED BY - ATTHIS ARTS

PUBLICATION DATE - 5TH APRIL, 2022

 Described as speculative fiction, or “spec-fi”,  Gigy Ganguly’s two-part novella “One Arm Shorter Than The Other” is an imaginative and wildly original slice of sci-fi quirkiness. At first the book appears to consist of separate stories of people visiting an unusual repair shop, but they are in fact chapters in one single, stunning novella. Everything is interconnected and spans a vast timeline from the past to the far future. 

Set in Delhi, the proprietor (who has one arm shorter than the other) of a curious shop, “Repair Services”, called “Dadaji” (grandfather) by his granddaughter and assistant Jaya, helps people fix their items but also improves the objects and, sometimes, their lives in unimaginable ways. How he does this is revealed at the end of the story. 

In part one, we meet the shop’s diverse customers: an old man coming to terms with the loss of his wife and his own mortality has his film projector, and his heart, repaired; an ageing, resentful actor’s life changes completely, but ultimately not for the better, when he adjusts the settings of his recently fixed television; and a retired book lover receives a retirement gift of a broken radio and unwittingly lays the foundations for the future itself. 

In part two, we are in the far future, when time travel is a reality, and we are introduced to a young man who is forced to travel into the distant past to repair a terracotta vase. This section of the story is a sci-fi fan’s dream with at least three good ideas for future tech on each page. This is the heart of the tale, and everything that has proceeded it is finally explained. 

This book is a short read but the story is tightly plotted and concise and the characters are well-written and likeable. A story that is both heart-warming and mind bending, “One Arm Shorter Than The Other” is a startlingly original work. It is written in the present tense which gives the tale a sense of immediacy and timelessness. Ganguly’s writing is strongly reminiscent of Philip K. Dick in its use of speculation about the future, and I can’t think of a better compliment. It is science fiction, but not greatly so, and the story remains very human at its heart. I am so glad I took a chance on this magical book and strongly recommend it to lovers of imaginative fiction.

THIS IS MY OFFICE AND NOTES ON MY MOTHER'S DECLINE

TITLE - THIS IS MY OFFICE AND NOTES ON MY MOTHER'S DECLINE 

WRITTEN BY - ANDY BRAGEN 

PUBLISHED BY - NORTHERN UNIVERSITY PRESS

PUBLICATION DATE - 15TH JANUARY, 2022

 Andy Bragen’s book contains two short, autobiographical and quietly powerful plays entitled “This Is My Office” and “Notes On My Mother’s Decline”. 

“This Is My Office” is an unconventional, metafictional work where the fact that the play features an actor playing a character in a play is freely acknowledged. We follow Andy Bragen himself who delivers a monologue while taking the “audience” on a tour of his office space, and ultimately of his life. He often breaks the fourth-wall (or whatever it’s called in a stage-play) to address the audience, regretting his failure to get to the point of the play. Andy talks about unfinished screenplays, his childhood, his parents; sleeping in his office and binging on doughnuts. Along the way there is a funny reference to the film “Naked Gun”, personal confessions and a final reconciliation with his father which culminates in a very moving ending. 

“Notes on My Mother’s Decline” is a two-handler, equally unconventional in written form in that the text isn’t structured like a play. There is only one stage direction -  “Mother” speaks the lines in bold and “Son” speaks the lines that aren’t. The son speaks short sentences about what his mother is doing in her apartment - smoking, sleeping, drinking coffee - while the mother’s lines narrate her steady decline in health in the form of one-sided conversations, both on the phone and in person. This is only changed at the end of the play, when the mother and son are finally “together”. Like its predecessor, this play is incredibly personal, often embarrassingly so, with a shocking twist towards the end. The end itself is, once again, intensely moving. 

I found reading both plays an incredibly moving experience. They must be very powerful when performed. I haven’t encountered Andy Bragen’s work before but I am immensely glad that I took a chance on this wonderful book.

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1984 - THE GRAPHIC NOVEL

TITLE - 1984 - THE GRAPHIC NOVEL 

ADAPTED & ILLUSTRATED BY -  MATYAS NAMAI

PUBLISHED BY - PALZZO EDITIONS 

PUBLICATION DATE - 4TH NOVEMBER, 2021 

 Any new adaptation of “Nineteen Eighty-Four” is to be welcomed, and Matyas Namai’s graphic novel, rechristened “1984”, is a glorious addition to English literature’s dystopian library. It’s obvious from the lavish production values of this volume that this is a major adaptation of George Orwell’s timeless classic. 

Like most people I know the story well, so there’s no need to recap it here. Originally a commentary on Stalinism, it has become an eternal warning against the horrors of totalitarianism. The omnipresent Big Brother resembles a faded 1930s matinee idol, with a touch of Oswald Mosley, which is appropriate, and Winston Smith is aptly depicted as a downtrodden slave of the system. With the art mostly in harsh monochrome, Julia’s red sash is a vivid splash of colour, and she is drawn as a loyal party member, but she softens later on whilst remaining a strong character. O’Brien, the main antagonist, for want of a better word, is perfectly rendered as a ruthless and barbaric Party member.

The lettering throughout is small and not as bold as is usually the case with comics; this story demands your close attention-this isn’t a Marvel comic to be read in five minutes and discarded. The speech-bubbles are often densely packed with words, necessary to properly convey Orwell’s work. The script is rigorously faithful to the source material, even including prose extracts from Emmanuel Goldstein’s forbidden book.  

Namai’s art throughout is emotive and effective, spare and economical; reminiscent of the best artists of 70s. The panels depicting Winston Smith’s world are dark, cramped and dirty, while the scenes of Winston & Julia’s furtive trysts in the outside world are wildly free and refreshing. Later scenes of interrogation are forensically brutal and utterly haunting. And beyond all that is Room 101…

The book is rounded off with galleries, original character sketches, rough drafts of the excellent propaganda posters used throughout, etc. The amount of work that went into this graphic novel is staggering. 

Matyas Namai’s adaptation both respects and maybe even improves on Orwell’s original story. It brings “1984” to visceral, vivid life, kicking and screaming, and is doubleplusgood.

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THE CAT WHO SAVED BOOKS

 

TITLE -  THE CAT WHO SAVED BOOKS 

WRITTEN BY - SOSUKE NATSUKAWA

TRANSLATED BY - LOUISE HEAL KAWAI 

PUBLISHED BY - PAN MCACMILLAN/PICADOR

PUBLICATION DATE - 16TH SEPTEMBER, 2021

Combining two of my favourite things, cats and books, “The Cat Who Saved Books” by Sosuke Natsukawa was a pleasant, quirky surprise. 

Following the death of his grandfather, the proprietor of a secondhand bookshop, Rintaro Natsuki prepares to close the shop for good and move away when a tabby cat called Tiger saunters into the store and whisks Rintaro away on a bizarre quest to rescue “imprisoned” books from a succession of labyrinths. Tiger is, of course, a talking cat and sassy with it.

The intrepid and unlikely duo meet many colourful characters along the way, including a man who reads thousands of books but never rereads any as there are too many to get through, another who cuts up books to enable speed reading, and one who wishes only to sell books as disposable products. All are deemed by Tiger to have imprisoned, harmed or treated books badly and so must be put to rights by this odd couple and their books freed. 

Author Sosuke Natsukawa, a Japanese doctor, has already enjoyed success with his previous book, the title of which translates as “God’s Medical Records”, which was made into a film in Japan. It wouldn’t surprise me if his latest book received the same treatment; it has the feel of a Studio Ghibli-type film. 

Translated skilfully and sympathetically by Louise Heal Kawai, the book is written in what appears to be a fairly simple way; this is not a bad thing because it makes the true depth of the story more profound. Rintaro is a lost soul at the beginning, often repeating “Grandpa, this is messed up” to himself as he tries to come to terms with his grandfather’s passing, but by the end of the story he gains strength and purpose. Tiger is a catalyst for Rintaro’s growth as a person. I cannot fault this book, other than to bemoan the fact that it isn’t longer! 

Overall, “The Cat Who Saved Books” is a quirky, fun and touching joy for those who love books…and cats!

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CULT OF THE SPIDER QUEEN

TITLE - CULT OF THE SPIDER QUEEN 

WRITTEN BY - S. A. SIDOR

PUBLISHED BY - ACONYTE BOOKS

PUBLICATION DATES -  

PAPERBACK USA - 7TH DECEMBER, 2021 

EBOOK UK/USA - 7TH DECEMBER, 2021 

PAPERBACK UK - 20TH JANUARY, 2022 

Ah, spiders. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s lot of ‘em in “Cult of the Spider Queen”, the latest skincrawling story in the Arkham Horror series, so arachnophobes beware. I should know, I am one. 

A mysterious package takes plucky Arkham Advertiser reporter Andy van Nortwick to the jungles of the Amazon on the trail of missing actress and movie director, Maude Brion, who vanished a year ago but is rumoured to be alive. What Andy and his team of explorers find there will drive them to the edge of sanity and take the reader along for the ride. 

This is the first novel from the Arkham Horror range that I’ve read and if it’s indicative of the quality of the other books then I’ll be reading them ASAP. Author S.A.Sidor captures the era beautifully and writes so well that this book will definitely not be the one to make me love spiders. In one scene there are thousands of them which will test the resolve of even the most ardent arachnid lover. And, yes, there really is a Spider Queen, and she’s big, but Sidor keeps her mostly in the shadows which is very effective. There is also a strong Lovecraftian vibe which is a constant, oppressive presence in the background of the story. The characters are well-rounded and believable and the story is perfectly paced. Chapters are short and snappy making the book a real page-turner. 

From the gloriously schlocky (in a good way) title to the exacting 1920s period details, “Cult of the Spider Queen” is a note-perfect, pulpy rollercoaster that reminds me of those weekly cinema serials back in the day such as “Flash Gordon” and King of the Rocketmen”, and it would be awesome if it was developed now for TV or a movie. This book is a must for horror fans and masochistic spider-haters alike.

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DUSKBORN RADIANCE Vol. 1 - A MOTHER'S QUESTION

TITLE  - DUSKBORN RADIANCE Vol. 1 - A MOTHER'S QUESTION 

WRITTEN BY - PASQUALE DI FALCO 

PUBLISHED BY - ATMOSPHERE PRESS 

PUBLICATION DATE - 28TH OCTOBER, 2021 

In the opening chapter of “Duskborn Radiance Volume 1 - A Mother’s Question”, we are introduced to siblings Caterina, Dominic and Amadeus and their fellow villagers who are all Brethren. Watched from afar by a mysterious sorceress, all three are on the path to a destiny they cannot imagine, and may not even be ready for. This coming-of-age is set against the cosmos-spanning drama of good versus evil that is playing out in the universe around them. 

Pasquale di Falco has an interesting writing style; well-suited to the fantasy genre, it takes some getting used to but if you give it a chance, the story really flows as all the usual fantasy tropes are thrown into the mix; simple folk living a simple life in a rustic village with hints of faded magic and a shadowy enemy. But this is turned on its head in the next chapter as we’re thrust into a hard-boiled sci-fi story on a cruise-ship in space, and Di Falco proves himself adept at writing for this genre too. The reader is left wondering what this has to do with the world we have just been introduced to, but the relevance soon becomes apparent. Di Falco manages to create a palpable sense of growing power, both benign and malevolent. In this sense it is very much a slow-burning story that rewards close attention, and tasks the reader to patiently discover its secrets.

The story does feel a little bogged down at times with exposition and world-building, and the history of the world is sometimes a little hard to follow, but the characters are well-realised and the story is deep and absorbing so you don’t mind the odd slow paragraph. When you get properly into the story you realise the stakes are not just high, they are stratospheric. 

The story is blessed with a colourful cast of characters and alien species, including a female with a forehead a foot high. There are little character quirks such as Caterina having very long hair which she neither cuts nor washes, leading to her being admonished by her mother. The villain of the piece is wonderfully evil but also subtly nuanced, so he is much more than just a baddie.

Merely the beginning of an epic new fantasy fable, “A Mother’s Question” is a genre-busting triumph and I can’t wait to see where the series goes next.

 

BREZHNEV -THE MAKING OF A STATESMAN

TITLE - BREZHNEV -THE MAKING OF A STATESMAN

WRITTEN BY - SUSANNE SCHATTENBERG

PUBLISHED BY - I.B. TAURIS/BLOOMSBURY ACADEMIC

PUBLICATION DATE - 4TH NOVEMBER, 2021

Described as “Khrushchev without Khrushchev”, in 1964 Leonid Brezhnev replaced the “arrogant leadership” of that Russian premier with an ostensibly more democratic form of “collective rule” and a term in office of eighteen years - second only to Stalin’s in length. Fond of hunting, fast cars and male bonding sessions with the other members of the Politburo at his hunting lodge where he could be the alpha male, Brezhnev was a striking contrast to the previous leaderships. Forging strong relationships with his staff, he established himself as a leader that nobody had cause to fear. This would be played out on a larger scale with Brezhnev’s seemingly sincere desire to be “Europe’s greatest peacemaker”, a drive cut short by his own failing health and the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. 

My abiding memories of Brezhnev are of an inscrutable, bushy-eyebrowed and slightly scary man on grainy late 70s/early 80s news programmes - a distant, unknowable and oh-so Russian part of my childhood. I know much more about him after reading this excellent book, and even cautiously admire him. Brezhnev was a man of contradictions, an aspiring actor in his youth with many aspects of his life eventually being hidden from the public (such as his generally apolitical upbringing and early life ) and it is this side that Susanne Schattenberg explores in this scholarly, revealing biography, translated competently from the original German by John Heath. 

Schattenberg’s book joins a very small list of Brezhnev biographies, due to the man himself not attracting the same attention as some of his more “celebrated” predecessors, and also to the difficulty in accessing original files. With restrictions easing a little in recent years, the author was able to make an almost exhaustive trawl of the available archives, enhanced by the inclusion of diary entries and memoirs by Brezhnev’s contemporaries and colleagues at the time. 

Fully illustrated with photographs, some familiar - Brezhnev was the first party leader to have their own personal photographer - while other shots are candid and more revealing. It is that photographer’s own photos that have been used in this book, and they certainly show Brezhnev’s more human and charismatic side. Susanne Schattenberg discovers a man who strove to be more healer than hardliner, and someone who cared deeply for the working people and listened to their problems. She stresses that she hasn’t attempted to whitewash Brezhnev, but merely strove to show all sides of his character.

And in that respect, “Brezhnev: The Making of a Statesman” is a triumph. The writing is concise and lucid and this is much more than just a dry and boring political biography. For example, the chapter on Brezhnev’s foreign policy and his desire to build trust with foreign leaders is riveting and enlightening. The book is biography as archaeology, as Susanne Schattenberg has unearthed a wealth of firsthand knowledge about Brezhnev the man, and her book must be regarded as the definitive work on this much-maligned and misunderstood statesman.

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THE BOOK OF GRIEF AND HAMBURGERS

TITLE - THE BOOK OF GRIEF AND HAMBURGERS 

WRITTEN BY - STUART ROSS 

PUBLISHED BY - ECW PRESS 

PUBLICATION DATE - 5TH APRIL, 2022 

 Hamburgers have featured heavily in Stuart Ross’ poems over the years. Usually introduced, according to the poet himself, when emotions were running high and some levity was needed, they work overtime in this remarkable book. 

In the mostly autobiographical, aptly-titled “The Book of Grief and Hamburgers”, Stuart Ross discusses vegetarianism, Jewishness, Kafka, hamburgers and even people called Hamburger, but mostly he writes about grief; grief following the death of his brother, (something I can relate to), the death of friends and about famous writers who wrote about grief….and hamburgers. A book-length essay, written in verses much like a long poem, the text flows easily, its length unnoticed or irrelevant, like a conversation with an old friend. Famous quotes from films and notable last words pepper the book, albeit after having been “hamburger-fied” (my word for having key words removed and replaced with “hamburger”. Drawings, family photos and poems by other poets also make poignant appearances. 

If you hadn’t already guessed, this is a tough book. As it progresses, the reader gets the impression that Ross is using hamburgers as a “safe space” (to use a modern term) to avoid facing his grief. And there is a lot of it, as friend after friend contacts him to tell him they are either ill or already facing death. Being surrounded by death prompts him to consider suicide. Correctly identifying grief as more of a process of coming to terms, he invites the reader along for the ride. He asks difficult questions - what were his brothers’ last thoughts? Did they know they were dying? Questions that we have undoubtedly asked ourselves at such times. 

Ross makes the profound and affecting observation that he is alive in a world where he will never talk with his parents or brothers again, and wishes he could not be alive himself. At one point he realises that he is procrastinating about facing his own grief in the book, but the reader is happy to stick with him, especially when it’s this well-written.

This stunning work is a eulogy for those who have already passed, and a pained scream for connection with those who are still living. Cathartic, profound, remorseful and brilliant, “The Book of Grief and Hamburgers” is about grief and learning how to grieve, about seeing someone for what might be the last time, and as someone who has been very recently bereaved, at times the book is almost too much to bear. Anyone holding out for a happy ending will be disappointed, but as a way of working through grief this book is a therapy session that you’ll be glad you signed up for.

MURMURATION

TITLE - MURMURATION 

WRITTEN BY - BLAKE AUDEN

PUBLISHED BY - CENTRAL AVENUE PUBLISHING

PUBLICATION DATE - OUT NOW 

 Oh my…this is raw. 

To quote Blake Auden - “Some days poetry is the stitches other days it’s the wound”. 

“Murmuration” is a collection of untitled poems in three parts, (or three long poems) some lasting for only a few sentences, others longer. Each one is a tortured scream of emotion over a lost love. Approaching poetry as a form of cathartic healing, Auden uses spare, fragile words to puncture the page as he shares his constant pain. But as the quote above shows, sometimes poetry does more harm than good. Getting these emotions out on to the page seems to be an almost violent act. 

Interspersed throughout the book are drawings, like small boxes, containing short poems and doodles in black ink, deeply scratched circles of emotion and images of Auden’s ever-present ghosts. Mostly we get white pages with black text, but there are also black pages; these always come as a surprise making the sparse words on the pages more visceral. Auden has distilled emotion and meaning down to its barest, most potent form. 

I could easily quote the entire book, but here are just a couple of extracts - 

“…the word goodbye is no longer carrion  in my throat”

“your name is the softest word I have for suffocation. the gentlest way i know to drown.”

There are far too many breathtaking lines to quote; I should stop now as this pretty much killed me - 

“the truth is you fell in love with the words and not the broken hands that wrote them”

2021 is fast becoming a stellar year for poetry. I feel privileged to have discovered Auden’s work and I was truly shaken by this collection of stunning poetry. I urge everyone to read Blake Auden’s poetry, but prepare to have your heart ripped out. 

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SIR ALEX - SIMPLY THE BEST

 

TITLE - SIR ALEX SIMPLY THE BEST 

WRITTEN BY - HARRY HARRIS 

PUBLISHED BY - AD LIB PUBLISHERS 

PUBLICATION DATE - 14TH OCTOBER 2021

Often controversial, sometimes arrogant, intimidating but respected and with the achievements to back it up, Sir Alex Ferguson, known to nearly everyone in the game as The Boss or Gaffer, is widely regarded as one of the best football managers ever. A tough upbringing in one of the roughest parts of Glasgow filled the young Alex Ferguson with determination and a strong work ethic that helped him achieve his unprecedented success at Manchester United that may never be equalled. 

A book entitled “Simply The Best” is probably not going to be very critical about its subject, but it’s none the worse for it. Respected football writer Harry Harris errs on the side of caution regarding any unsavoury aspects of Sir Alex’s personality and methods but as an overview to Fergie’s life, “Simply The Best” is a solid and often funny read, and written fully in tribute to Alex Ferguson. 

Ex-players share their sometimes comical experiences of being on the receiving end of Fergie’s infamous “hairdryer”. Other footballing legends including “Pizzagate”, the “Tunnel of Hate” incident and Eric Cantona’s gymnastics are all covered. Fergie’s sweeping changes on joining United are explored; ending the drinking culture in the club, bringing in younger players, selling the Man U “brand” worldwide. Much of what he did was controversial at the time but Fergie had the backing of the MU board who gave him the time to turn the failing club around. The plaudits from the book’s contributors are almost entirely glowing and deeply respectful of Ferguson, even after they’ve been on the receiving end of his rage. To many young MU players he was a father figure. 

Due to it being very much a collection of anecdotes, the book doesn’t flow very well at times, but it is always interesting and there are nuggets to be found; there is a very revealing chapter on the players who nearly signed for MU, for example. Other chapters examine Ferguson’s love of fine wine and horse racing, and also his dislike of the media and his spats with players and managers such as Kevin Keegan. 

It is written without frills and many of the anecdotes are brutally honest and enlightening. We get a vivid picture of the real Alex Ferguson - relentlessly determined, passionate and honest. This isn’t the greatest Alex Ferguson book ever written, and isn’t really for casual readers, but it is recommended for fans of Fergie, Manchester United and football management.

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PETROGRAD

TITLE - PETROGRAD

WRITTEN BY - PHILIP GELATT

ART BY - TYLER CROOK 

PUBLISHED BY - ONI PRESS

PUBLICATION DATE - 11TH JANUARY, 2022

In 1916, in the midst of the First World War, the Russian city of Petrograd stands on the brink of revolution while Russia secretly attempts to broker peace with Germany. One of the most incendiary people in this powderkeg is alleged holy man Rasputin, the “mad monk”, trusted advisor to the Tsarina, and, as the official history dubs him, Russia’s greatest love-machine. Already the subject of gossip in the trenches and city streets, the Tsarina puts more and more faith in Rasputin’s advice. Eventually outstaying his welcome, the major players of the day plot to dispose of him in one of the most “extra” assassinations in history. “Petrograd” is the story of how a British intelligence agent gets caught up in these turbulent events. 

Tyler Crook’s artwork in “Petrograd” is quite stunning. It appears simplistic at first glance, but on closer inspection it blows you away. Some panels are filled with quiet emotion and depth, while others burst with kinetic action. Each one almost tells a story in its own right. The shape and positioning of the frames on each page is a masterclass in visual storytelling. The horrors of the Western Front and the faded grandeur of the streets of Petrograd and its people are vividly and memorably rendered. 

Philip Gelatt’s story is concise, tight and unflinchingly brutal when it needs to be. The shadow of Rasputin falls on every page even when he isn’t present. A story about secrets and conspiracies, it is a perfectly paced tale that leads up to the kinetic and brutal scenes of the assassination itself. The messy aftermath, which leads to full blown revolution in Russia, is powerfully intense. The characters are all well-rounded with believable motivations and distinct voices, from the conflicted Cleary to the hedonistic Rasputin himself. 

Presented here in a new edition, ten or so years after the original release, “Petrograd” is easily one of the best, most compelling historical graphic novels I have ever read and it comes highly recommended. 

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A SHORT HISTORY OF COFFEE

TITLE - A SHORT HISTORY OF COFFEE 

AUTHOR - GORDON KERR

PUBLISHED BY - OLDCASTLE BOOKS 

From the Boston Tea Party to the French Revolution, from business meetings to first dates, the humble bean has been the beverage of choice to accompany momentous and everyday events for hundreds of years. Gordon Kerr traces its history from its earliest appearance up to the present day.. 

The drink we know and love today dates back to prehistoric Ethiopia but was first mentioned in print in the 10th century, when an Arab physician discovered that it “fortifies the members…and gives an excellent smell to all the body.” And apparently the Prophet Muhammad could “unhorse forty men and possess forty women” after drinking an early form of coffee. Not exactly the kind of behaviour one is used to seeing in Costa, but anyone who has enjoyed a cup of black coffee first thing in the morning knows where he was coming from. Facts like this abound in this excellent book by Gordon Kerr. Comfy sofas in coffee shops? Introduced by two Syrian coffee-house owners in the 16th century.

Kerr also explores the darker side of coffee’s history, as its cultivation has often involved slave labour. The sections on this will shock you, especially when we are told that slave labour persists in some coffee-producing countries to this day. 

Coffee has also caused religious turmoil. In 16th century Cairo, when a preacher declared that coffee drinkers were not true followers of Muhammad it caused a riot, with worshippers attacking and burning a coffee house to the ground. 

Coffee has also played a significant role in the cultural history of Europe, and Kerr explores its growth in countries such as France, Germany and especially, as you’d expect, Italy. A chapter is also devoted to coffee’s impact on the Americas. 

The book is peppered with quotes from historical figures on encountering the miraculous drink. King Charles II, concerned about London coffee houses being used to spread gossip and “fake news”, sought to suppress them and coffee itself. He didn’t succeed. 

Gordon Kerr’s book is a well-written, meticulously researched, funny and thought-provoking history of our favourite beverage, with an astounding fact on every page, and is recommended reading for coffee lovers everywhere. 

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