The polished hoe by Austin Clarke

I’m unsure how to begin my review of Austin Clarke’s The polished hoe. The story is set in the West Indies, which is what attracted me to it in the first place. However, the plot is told entirely through dialogue so it is the kind of book you have to read quickly so as not to forget where you left off, since it is more or less one continuous scene.  I found some of the dialogue at times intense and at others monotonous. To be honest I thought the method of presentation did not allow much character development for some of the other characters.

My rating: 3/5

Dead Europe by Christos Tsiolkas

Dead Europe, by Christos Tsiolkas, was not what I’d expected at all. It started out well, but became quite twisted as it moved along. Nevertheless I couldn’t stop reading it. While I can’t claim to love this novel, I was impressed with Tsiolkas’ style and no-nonsense approach to the topic. The characters are tangible with real flaws, however uncomfortable they might make us feel. This book is not for the feint-hearted.

My rating 3/5 stars