www.list.co.uk/books
HISTORICAL FICTION BEATRICE COLIN
The Luminous Life of Lilly Aphrodite
(John Murray) 0000
This is a big, plush velvet cushion of a book, dense with historical detail and already picking up comparisons to Sarah Waters’ weighty, sexy epics. It’s the story of Lilly Aphrodite, an orphan turned silent movie star, whose trajectory mirrors Germany’s freefall from warring, empire-building superpower, through the Depression and seduction by Nazism, between 1900 and 1936. Lilly’s journey takes in serving jobs, seedy strip clubs, and the extreme, bloody poverty of the interwar years. Each chapter starts off with a vignette tracing the importance of the newly-developing cinematic art form to Germany’s constitutional and political pulse; like an audience in a movie theatre we watch saucy peep shows, faked news reports from the
Front, the high art of German Expressionism, and Leni Riefenstahl’s
beautifully-shot Nazi propaganda. In this way, Lilly the beggar girl, typist and movie star becomes a lens to
view a whole country and the glorious, downtrodden mass of its people.
She herself has little more substance than the lovely flickering images of
her on the screen, but she illuminates the glittering, compelling characters
around her: rich, deceitful Eva, racketing round Berlin’s gay clubs, brutal i
mercenary Kurt and his lover, the hard-bitten former child prostitute ‘
Hanne. Colin’s omniscient narration recalls Muriel Spark at her sharpest
and pokes into the futures of even the least significant supporting
character, following them into trenches, concentration camps, hopes,
regrets and reminiscences. (Kirstin lnnes)
CAMPAIGNER BIBLE BIBI VAN DER ZEE
Rebel Rebel (Guardian Books) .0.
‘Write to your MP!‘ used to be the battle Cry of every outraged rebel with a cause. whether that was to prevent the destruction of some local beauty spot by developers. conquering smut on the telly or campaigning to bring about the return of Lien Bars. The mantra seems somewhat passe. in an age when fewer and fewer of us bother to
Reb'L
Rebel
The handbook
vote and politicians only appear to listen to the public when their backs are up against the electoral wall.
Yet. as journalist and activist Bibi van der Zee points out. with the rise of the internet as a
super-fast means of communication, not to mention growing consumer power. there are now more opportunities than ever before for the ‘little people‘ to effect change. This accessible. anecdote-heavy guide subtitled 'The Protestor's Handbook' offers a step-by-step guide to putting pressure on high heid- yins in the political and business classes. from the humble petition to demos, boycotts. even going into politics. The only stumbling block is I
that the author doesn't offer a solution to the apathy that prevents peeple becoming outraged in the first place. (Allan Radcliffe)
THRlLLER STONA FITCH
Senseless (Two Ravens) 0000.
Both deeply thought- provoking and often truly stomach-turning, Senseless is an existential thriller told with brutal clarity and dealing with cruelty. voyeurism, consumerism and globalisation. Elliott Gast is a wealthy American businessman kidnapped in Belgium and held for 40 days. During that time he is tortured by his shadowy extremist captors. the whole thing being filmed and broadcast over the internet, with viewers invited to donate money and vote on what happens next.
Because of Gast‘s apparent sins. the torturers are removing his senses one by one. which makes for souirm-inducing reading. but it's a million miles from the torture porn cinematic trend of the moment. Fitch lacing the visceral stuff with ideological. political and even philosophical dialogue between Gast and his torturers. Brilliantly written with pace. style. confidence and insight. this unbearably tense and truly unforgettable novel will leave a lasting impression.
(Doug Johnstone)
FICTIONAL TRAVELOGUE
ALEKSANDAR HEMON
The Lazarus Project (Picador) 0000
Aleksandar Hemon draws on his Bosnian heritage to weave two narratives into one startling insight of a
nation wracked with
war. poverty and
pogroms. There are
' obvious parallels to his
own life, as Vladimir Brik travels from Chicago through Eastern Europe to research his historical novel, accompanied by his photographer friend Rora. Every other chapter switches to the book he's writing/researching, based on the true story
f of the unjustified killing
of young immigrant Lazarus Averbuch in 1908.
For an author who couldn't write in English until 1995 this is an
amazing work. with subtle interplay between
‘ the two time frames
highlighting the festering
' attitude society has
towards immigrants. Both strands present a gritty realism. and a darkness lurks throughout as countries react to both literal and perceived threats. Hemon refuses to preach but presents a humanity at the heart of society's supposed problems.
(Henry Northmore)
Comic
SUPERHERO ANDY DIGGLE & JOCK
Green Arrow:
Year One (DC/Titan) 0..
Former 2000AD editor Andy Diggle is another Brit making a name for himself in the world of US comics with stints on ‘Batman', 'Hellblazer' and ‘Swamp Thing' under his belt. Once again teaming up with frequent collaborator Jock (they also joined forces for Lenny Zero and The Losers) who provides dramatic. sketchy artwork. Retelling the origins of Green Arrow, DC's
. ALSO PUBLISHED
5 HEALTH PAPERBACKS ngol Smith I Think There '8 Something Wrong With Me The radio and TV writer tells how he very nearly died of a brain tumour. Black Swan. Gall Porter Laid Bare Anorexia. bipolar disorder. alopecia: it's all there in the Edinburgh lass' memoir. Ebury. Jonathan Taylor Take Me Home The account of a life caring for a father with Parkinson's and dementia. Granta. Max Pomborton Trust Me I'm a (Junior) Doctor Columnist of the Telegraph with the story of his first year toiling away in the NHS. Hodder. Lindsey Hunter Unbreakable The widow of snooker player Paul Hunter who died at the age of 27 reflects on his fight for life and her determination to stay positive after his passing. HarperCo/Iins.
Robin Hood-obsessed. bow and arrow—toting, environmental champion. it’s a story of a millionaire playboy who craves adventure. but ends up way over his head after being betrayed by a man he thought was a friend. Stranded on a remote desert island he comes to rely on his wits and archery skills to live. before an encounter with drug traffickers forces him to step up and be a hero. It's a solid if simplistic account of Oliver Queen's transformation to the Green Arrow. all backed up with some cracking art. (Henry Northmore)
31 Jul—7 Aug 2008 THE LIST 17