books
John L. Williams (Quercus) An acquaintance of Marilyn Monroe, T.S. Eliot and Albert Einstein, and once described by Orson Welles as “the most exciting woman in the world,” Eartha Kitt was not your average black girl from America’s Deep South. Born on a South Carolinian cotton plantation, she transcended the stereotypes of the era to achieve extraordinary popularity across the US as a singer, dancer and actress. John L. Williams’ biography traces Kitt’s rise to stardom and describes how, despite winning the affection of millions of white people, her persona isolated her from her roots and ultimately damaged her sense of identity. A true pioneer for black women, the surprise that won her adulation and riches also highlighted the gaping wounds of segregation and the plight of the civil rights movement. Williams describes how 1950s America was not ready for this charismatic woman, and how maybe Kitt was not ready for 1950s America. JON DOYLE
BOOK OF THE MONTH
AMERICA’S MISTRESS: THE LIFE AND TIMES OF EARTHA KITT
DEMONS WALK AMONG US
Jonathan Hicks (Y Lolfa) On leave from the horrors of Ypres, military policeman Thomas Oscendale is drawn into the investigation of a savage murder in his hometown of Barry. The German shells can be felt thudding in the background of every scene. They are the drums of war, drowning out the world that was known before and corrupting every place, every action. Love and religion are peculiarities in this quagmire of mud, metal and bodies: unceasing but impotent. The Great War has seldom felt so profane. An exemplary work. MM
NEVER GO BACK
Lee Child-Bantam (Bantam Press) Probably the best thriller writer in the world today, Child knows his business from A to Z. Jack Reacher is a massive brand only spoiled by letting Tom Cruise play him on film. But with Never Go Back, all is forgiven. Classic, page-turning stuff, which will be going straight to number one on the charts and deservedly so. Oh by the way, Reacher is drafted back into the US army, and the US army pays in spades. MT
AN ARMENIAN SKETCHBOOK
Vasily Grossman (New York Review of Books) With good style, fun and wit, Grossman brings us to a small state below Soviet Russia – a land where life’s hard, but not short of beauty. The book reads like a tale; with odd folk and strange beasts. You see the past, you taste the food and you hear the jokes of a proud people. His piquant thoughts about life, death and nature make you to want to muse , though it would be preferable if you were looking over the rising shores of Lake Sevan. DJ
UNBROKEN BOND
Tommy Porter (Grosvenor House) A true story of two brothers growing up in Liverpool, and the hardship faced following a family tragedy. Separated from their siblings, an emotional journey is at the hand i ?F?W6R6???G&V?( ?2???W2?v??6?&RFW67&?&VB??f?f?BFWF???FWFW&??F????B??fR&R7G&??rF?V?W2F?&?Vv??WB??B?F??Vv?BF??W2&WWF?F?fR?F?W&R&R???'F?B?W76vW26??fW?VB??Bv?V?B&R??G&?wV??rF?&VB6WVV?&?WBF?R?FW"?V'2?bF?Rf??( ?2?fR?$???D?R4?R?bd?$U5@??V???????r?'F???F??2FV'WB6???V7F????b?WG'?6?fW'2v?FR&?vR?b7V&?V7B?GFW"v?F??V?Vv?BF?V6??g&??F?RF???F?F?R?&vR66?S?6GW&??r????RvRF?R?V??6????b&?&??FVB??F?R6??r?????F?W"F?RgFW&?F??bF?R???v????f6???2?F?&?Vv??WBF?R&?????RvWB6V?6R?bF?RFW7G'V7F???F?B?67W'22f?&6W2?BvV?G26???FR?GW&?????rF?V?"?v?6WBG&?V7F?&?W2??B?B?2??F??2?'G&???bF?776???FR?GW&RF?BF?R6???V7F???&V??6???W2????4?T?E2??R???D????T%2?b$?4??U4?2??D?R4?D??????B'&F?W??6W'V?N( ?2F??v?BV?v??N( ?2G&V??r?2F?V???????B'&F?W?( ?2&Wf??W2&????&727V?GW&R?2F?&VvvR?v?F?6?V?G2??R???F??'&F?W?G&6W2F?R??7F?'??b&?6??W6?2??F?R6?F?&6?F??7B?f?'7Bv?&?Bv"?????R'&??w2WfW'?F???rW?F??FFRv?F?w&??Rf?7FVV?&?G2?6????fW'2&?6??'&?BgV???B6?V???6?V??F??2?2f66??F??r&VBF?B&?fW2F?Bv?F??WBF?R??f?VV?6R?bvW7B??F??7V?GW&R?fW"F?R?V'2'&?F??v?V?B&RG'V?G&"?6RF?&R?D??5$?d?5D???4??t?4???p?'??$t$UB?T?@??2?v2v?f?"6WfW&??V'2??g&?6??V?FV6?FVBF?B?6??V?B?v?2&R??f?&?VB?b?Ww2g&?????R?BF?Rv?FW"v?&?B??Bv2'&?vVBF?B?v?V?B&V6V?fR6??W2?b?V?"?Ww7W"??BF?W6RvW&RF?7F6?VBF??R????Rf?W"F??W2?V"?????v??F?R&6V?2v?V?B?v?2'&?fRV?F?vVB??fV??R7GVFV?B?W'6W2V????VB66????rF?Rf6????vW2?bF?R?Ww7W'2v?V?F?R'V?F?R'&?fVBg&??v?W>(
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