A Novel Review Book Podcast

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar" is the novel that delves into the mental intricacies of the human mind. The page by page decent of madness sees Esther become increasingly abstracted from the world, but as this is happening, I felt myself more and more abstracted from the story. Tune in this week to hear my thoughts on Plath’s only...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface. Complex to a degree, problematic to a degree, controversial to a degree. Kuang's narrative delves into the intricacies of racial identity and the absurdities of cultural appropriation with a finesse that leaves readers simultaneously chuckling and contemplating the nature of the publishing world and the i...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com A fantasy novel known for pushing the boundaries of what not only fantasy can do, but literature as a whole. A leper by the name of Thomas Covenant is cast into a fantasy land he disregards as a bad dream, after falling and hitting his head. But, if this is all a dream, are the consequences  of our actions void, or do they hold w...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com The second instalment into the Harry Potter series sees the book and story delve deeper into the magical world we all have come to love. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets explores the depths of the castle Hogwarts, it introduces us to some new faces and reveals some dark magic that will be explored across the remaining book...

  To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com A tale of shipwreck, mutiny, and murder. A tale of human endurance. David Grann’s ‘The Wager’ is the shocking true tale of the Wager, a ship that makes up part of the English fleet. In this seafaring adventure, the men are pushed to the limits and also push the limits of their own existence all in the name of survival. But what...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit… And with these words, we begin our journey into one of the richest fantasy worlds ever created, and our first glimpse into the world of Hobbits. Painting: I painted a hobbit door opening upon an acorn because I think the movie got this scene exactly right. The acorn is the love Bilbo...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com From Cyprus to England, the roots of this story are set in the heats of relationships, whatever form that takes. In this book, we journey across lives and times. From a civil war in Cyprus where two star cross lovers hide what is most natural, to the distant shores of England to learn that putting down new roots is sometimes hard...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com It is the story that defined so many of our childhoods. The story that swept the world, captured our hearts and imaginations. Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone is the first introduction into the magical world of Hogwarts and all that comes with it. A place of witches and wizards, and a dark lord thrown into the mix for a bi...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com In Virginia Woolf's "To the Lighthouse," Woolf's prose is a symphony of introspective musings, shifting perspectives, and the delicate dance between the seen and the unseen. The lighthouse, a distant beacon, as the characters strive to reach its elusive shores, much like readers reaching for the depths of Woolf's literary brillia...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com Three famous historical and literary figures materialise in front of you and tell you that you have been selected by the ‘Supreme One’ as the man to build the first Synagogue on Prince Edward Island. You think you might have gone crazy. This is the opening to Steven Mayoff’s latest novel, ‘The Island According to Samson Grief’, a...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com "The Man Who Was Thursday" by G.K. Chesterton is a  metaphysical thriller that unfolds in a surreal and anarchic world. The protagonist, Gabriel Syme, infiltrates a secret anarchist council only to discover that the members are not what they seem. Each member is named after a day of the week, and the narrative twists through enig...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com D'Artagnan, the ambitious country lad, stumbles into the chaotic world of 17th-century France, encountering the dashing trio Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. As they navigate political intrigue and romantic entanglements, their camaraderie becomes as legendary as their exploits. With a blend of humour, romance, and duels, Dumas concoc...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com In "Howl's Moving Castle," Diana Wynne Jones orchestrates a whimsical symphony of enchantment and eccentricity. As Sophie, the cursed young woman, finds herself in a predicament that turns her world topsy-turvy, the novel unfolds with charm and a healthy dose of mystery about how to set herself right. Sophie turns to the enigmati...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com A haunting hound is upon the moors. A family curse dances in the fog and sherlock Holmes is strangely absent from his first case back after being killed off. This is a case like no other, upon the uncertain moors in Dartmoor, where rumours swirl in the fog and an ugly truth that lies too close to home, rears its haunting head.  P...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com A penguin, Ukraine and the Mafia. "Death and the Penguin" is a darkly humorous novel that dances on the edge of absurdity. Set in a post-Soviet Ukraine, it follows the unlikely friendship between Viktor, a struggling writer, and Misha, his pet penguin. As they navigate a world of corruption and crime, their adventures unfold with...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com In the lead up to Christmas in a small silent town, Bill Furlong, a local coal merchant visits homes with their deliveries like Santa arriving early with gifts to warm the family. But this small town has a darkness to its silences. The church looms over them in unspoken authority and we learn about how the smallest details can sh...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Victor Hugo is a towering gem that combines romance, tragedy, and a dash of architectural history. With Quasimodo, the bell-ringer, as its centrepiece, the novel takes readers on a sprawling tale through the city of Paris. The novel delves into the complexities of human nature and the societal con...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com "Hercule Poirot's Christmas" by Agatha Christie is a holiday whodunnit. Set during the festive season, this intriguing novel follows the renowned detective, Hercule Poirot, as he unravels a web of family secrets and deceit. With Christie's signature wit and clever plot twists, readers are taken on a thrilling journey filled with...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com "Black Boy" by Richard Wright is a powerful memoir that fearlessly delves into the author's journey of self-discovery amidst racial oppression. With a sharp pen and unflinching honesty, Wright paints a vivid portrait of his experiences growing up in the Jim Crow South. Through his poignant storytelling, he challenges societal nor...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com "The Passion According to G.H." by Clarice Lispector is a mesmerizing and absurd literary journey that defies conventional storytelling. Lispector's prose dances with madness, exploring the depths of human existence and the complexities of identity. With poetic precision, she delves into the psyche of the protagonist, G.H., as sh...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com "Like Water for Chocolate" by Laura Esquivel is a tantalizing feast for the senses, blending the flavors of love, passion, and magical realism. Set in Mexico, this enchanting novel tells the story of Tita, a young woman whose emotions are infused into her cooking. As she navigates through forbidden love and societal expectations,...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com   In Zamyatin's dystopian masterpiece, We, D-503, an inhabitant of the One State, navigates a world of regimented order and enforced sameness. His life takes an unexpected turn when he encounters I-330, a woman who challenges his rigid worldview and awakens his dormant individuality. Together, they embark on a forbidden quest for...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com Station Eleven is a moving and thought-provoking novel about the power of human connection in the face of adversity. It is a story of hope, resilience, and the enduring power of art. The novel follows the intertwined stories of several characters, each grappling with their own loss and trying to find meaning in a world gone mad....

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com God visiting hell. Satan in a panic. Hell doesn’t look as hellish as it should all because Vincent van Gough has painted the Boulevard. Satan travels on a train to tell Vincent what has to be done to ensure hell gets back to being hellish, and joining us for the journey, Hemmingway along for the ride. That is the outrageous premi...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com Judge for yourself! To view the cover of the book, click here: https://art.nelson-atkins.org/objects/17593/interior-with-a-book This week I get a bit judgemental. I buy a book based off its cover, write down what I think the book will be about, and then read and review it to see how right or wrong I was. Tune in to see if it is p...