A round-up of this week's paperbacks
Illuminations
Eva Hoffman
Vintage, £7.99
Present-day political systems and the seismic friction they generate along cultural and ethnic borders have made nomads out of those displaced, thanks to global transport and technologies. Born in Buenos Aires, pianist Isabel Merton, the main character in this novel, spent her childhood in Paris and now lives in New York – when she is not on a concert tour. Lonely after her recent separation from her partner, she almost sleepwalks into an affair with Anzor, a now stateless Chechen rebel. He eventually vanishes and possibly betrays her as he dives back down into the violent insurgence of his homeland and disappears. An astute depiction of our era's social and political migration, Illuminationsnevertheless feels like it was written to be made into a film: its language needs more lyricism; the characters, greater profundity to uphold its earnestness. Either some light wit or some searing depth would have better balanced aspirations and plot. Christine Madden
A Mercy
Toni Morrison
Vintage, £7.99
Toni Morrison, the Nobel Prize-winning author of
Beloved, uses shifting narrative voices throughout this tale of slavery and freedom in the 17th century. Set in North America, where men "terrify, rescue or puzzle", this novel tells the stories of four women brought to the household of Jacob Vark. His forlorn wife, Rebekka, struggles at home with her servants as her husband explores new lands and slavery opportunities abroad. The servants – the loyal Native American, Lina, and the mournful, enigmatic Sorrow – endure the long, hot days on this lonesome, hapless farmland. Little Florens, perhaps the most curious character, is only eight when she arrives on the farm, and she loves to wear the oversized, cast-off shoes of her mistress. This is an enduring, evocative read which carefully weaves fragmented, personal experiences into a layered, ambivalent narrative about slavery and the price of freedom.
Sorcha Hamilton
The Forsaken: From the Great Depression to the Gulags – Hope and Betrayal in Stalin’s Russia
Tim Tzouliadis
Abacus, £10.99
Even the most casual student of history will be aware of the savagery and brutality of daily life in the Soviet Union under Josef Stalin. In The Forsaken, Tim Tzouliadis chronicles the lesser known story of the American emigration to Stalin's Russia at the height of the Great Depression. Thousands of Americans travelled in hope of a better life but found a regime whose callous disregard for human life sent millions to their graves. Abandoned to their fate by their own government, these Americans became trapped in the depraved depths of Stalin's Terror. The Forsakenis underpinned by exemplary research but also an empathy that brings to life the stories of the victims of Russia's gulags. Tzouliadis articulates the grim reality of life and death in Soviet Russia while never losing sight of the global politics that were at play. A testament to those of every nationality, creed and race that perished under the repressive hand of the Soviet Union, this is a vital piece of historical literature. Rory Tevlin
Music at the Limits Edward Said
Bloomsbury, £9.99
A bringing together of Said's essays, which were written over 30 years and appeared in a number of publications, this collection looks at a wide variety of composers, musicians and performances. His knowledge of music was immense and he was passionate about its social, political and cultural contexts. Said could be harsh in some of his assessments but he insisted on high performance standards and his views on how composers and performers interact are extremely interesting. One of his major preoccupations in this book is Glenn Gould, the talented and flamboyant Canadian pianist. Said tries to get at the essence of Gould while realising this is almost impossible. Another preoccupation is Richard Wagner. Said defended the merits of Wagner's music despite his virulent anti-Semitism and argued for restoring the composer to his proper historical context. All in all, a lucid and penetrating collection. Brian Maye
The Wish List
Martina Reilly
Sphere, €13.99
Little Mark Dolan believes Mr Lyons next door is Santa. Not only that, but he believes Mr Lyons will help him to be a better footballer, get bad boy Robert to stop calling him “fattie” and help his dad, Tony, to kick his cocaine addiction. Mark’s mum, Allie, has reached the end of her unusually long tether, having downsized the family home in the face of chronic debt brought on by Tony’s deadly habit, but she learns a few home truths when Tony finally enters rehab.
From the beginning of Martina Reilly's 10th novel, it's pretty clear the love Allie has for Tony will see the family through its difficulties, despite the odds. Reilly deals knowledgably with the problems faced by addicts and their families on the road to recovery, without becoming too serious, and The Wish Listhas a lot of heart. Wishes may not always come true, but sometimes a happy ending is just the ticket. Claire Looby