How to be Both - Ali Smith

67%
17.09.15

It's a tale of two characters and the one you get first is, apparently, randomly allocated. My copy began with the strange and wonderful stream-of-consciousness of a 15th-century fresco artist, a skilful and vivid voice. By contrast, the modern-day second half seemed dull and irrelevant, throwing insufficient light on the painter's tale. It's impossible, however, to resist Googling Francesco del Cossa and his (or her) majestic works.

The Enchanted April - Elizabeth von Arnim

73%
17.08.15

Enchanted, indeed, and witty and charming and delightful. Of its time (1923) but none the worse for that, and extraordinarily well written for what is at first glance a superficial story about the transformative powers of a holiday. I shall recommend this to anyone who needs a bit of cheering up.

Beautiful Ruins - Jess Walter

70%
11.10.13

With its flashbacking plot, and numerous narrative styles, stories and voices, this could have been a disaster. But, although it did strain at the seams at times, the quality of the writing saved it from, well, ruin, and made it a good, meaty read. Thanks to my librarian friend Andrew for recommending it. Fabulous cover, too.

Death at La Fenice - Donna Leon

61%

20.06.11

I went to Venice once. I didn't like it. Too much like a shabby overpriced theme park. But apparently some real people actually live there and sometimes they kill each other, or in this case... anyway, while I don't succumb to the romance of the place, Leon certainly creates a sense of atmosphere, and, more interestingly, shows readers parts that tourists never see. This was the first in the long series of Brunetti novels so a little unpolished at this stage, but it's a sufficiently diverting and undemanding thriller.