The April shortlist....
‘This man was a vortex - all rationality was devoured within him’Dave Eggers, 'The Parade' 5/5
This month's stack includes a cracking dystopian fable from Dave Eggers, the hugely anticipated second novel from Women's Prize for Fiction winner Tayari Jones and the debut novel from Jeanene Cummins that saw Oprah Winfrey's book club under fire.
The shortlist this month came thanks to Oxfordshire Library service's new arrivals, One World publications generous offer of a review copies and the brilliantly curated new Waterstone's store at Victoria.
The Parade by Dave Eggers
A dystopian fable set in a civil war ravished state where the Authorities commission a massive infrastructure investment to unify the country. Two men and a machine have the construction task. Read in one go for maximum impact!
Erudite, provocative and sophisticated 5/5
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
Silver Sparrow is most successful in exploring the theme of bigamy from the perspective of the women most closely involved. Tayari Jones implicitly understands the way histories are shared and uses this technique to shine a light on the complicity that exists in bigamous relationships.
A convincingly messy family drama told with real class. 4/5
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
An epic (if over ambitious) story for our time. Lydia and her son flee Acapulco for the promise of the USA. The tension is nail-biting as 'La Bestia' transports its human cargo to El Norte and the taste of American Dirt.
Cummins has been equally praised and pilloried 4/5
Silver Sparrow by Tayari Jones
Silver Sparrow is most successful in exploring the theme of bigamy from the perspective of the women most closely involved. Tayari Jones implicitly understands the way histories are shared and uses this technique to shine a light on the complicity that exists in bigamous relationships.
A convincingly messy family drama told with real class. 4/5
American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins
An epic (if over ambitious) story for our time. Lydia and her son flee Acapulco for the promise of the USA. The tension is nail-biting as 'La Bestia' transports its human cargo to El Norte and the taste of American Dirt.
Cummins has been equally praised and pilloried 4/5
