Review: The Last of the Wine

The Last of the Wine by Mary Renault
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was one of the finest and most involving historical fiction "journals" I've read in a while. I would say it is on par with Memoirs of Hadrian.

Of course, the subject matter here is very different, not only because it is a different place and time and culture, but because the narrator isn't an emperor, or even necessarily someone of particular note, but rather a citizen who interacts with many different characters of his day.

And after having read it, I was surprised to see this was written in 1956. It really reads as a modern day rendition, and I wonder why I hadn't heard of this book earlier.


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Review: Small World

Small World by Martin Suter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I'm embarrassed to say this is the first novel I've read by this Swiss author, and it was excellent. At first I thought it would be unbearably slow, but that's only because I assumed I knew what was coming, which I was very wrong about.

I look forward to reading more by Martin Suter




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Review: Murder at the Black Cat Cafe

Murder at the Black Cat Cafe by Seishi Yokomizo
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I have to admit I didn't find either of these stories to be particularly interesting, innovative, surprising or involving. Even giving leeway for the time period, etc. It's too bad.


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Review: The Man Who Loved Dogs

The Man Who Loved Dogs by Leonardo Padura
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is a tour de force that is basically about three different people, all while covering one story (about the man who assassinated Trotsky) and, as far as I can tell, is very historically accurate.

What is curious is how, despite being a Cuban novel, it seems so Russian in feel and format. I can't help wondering if that was on purpose for this novel or if Russian literature influenced Cuban literature to some extent.

Regardless, I admit it got confusing at times. And by the end it seemed to drag on somewhat (especially in leading up to the assassination).



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Review: Alla rivoluzione sulla due cavalli

Alla rivoluzione sulla due cavalli by Marco Ferrari
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a journey for me. I had no idea what to expect. At all. For some reason I thought it was a murder mystery, and it seemed like the slowest murder mystery to ever get started. After an embarrassing number of pages I realized I was probably wrong, and the book got better. Turns out they made a movie about it as well. The premise is a road trip from France to Portugal of two old friends right after the fall of Salazar.

Anyway, I'm taking advantage of the new partial star rating system. 3.5 stars.



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Review: le forbici

le forbici by Giorgio Cimasoni
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting autobiographical essays about growing up in Ticino (mostly around Bellinzona-Claro and a bit around Lugano lake) in the 1930s-1940s.

Most are interesting reminisces, and then suddenly the chapter Don Angelo discusses a pedophile priest molesting children over night. Since these stories are autobiographical, I assume the people involved are all deceased, but I'm surprirsed this didn't create more of a scandal when it was released.

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Review: Pista nera

Pista nera by Antonio Manzini
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Interesting protagonist. Not bad as a mystery and talking about Aosta.


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Review: The Habsburgs: To Rule the World

The Habsburgs: To Rule the World by Martyn Rady
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Excellent overview (at least for me) of this family, which functioned as a state, or empire, but unlike Germany, France, etc. did not survive World War I. In many ways it was like the Ottoman empire, although one could argue that became Turkey. A fascinating read.





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Review: Akbar: The Great Mughal

Akbar: The Great Mughal by Ira Mukhoty
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I confess I knew next to nothing about Akbar before reading this book, so for me it was perfect. I see many other reviewers complaining how it skipped this or that, or how it is repetitive. Regardless, I found it rather fascinating and, though I'm not sure how much will stick with me, I enjoyed it throughout.


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