Guardian and Observer book reviews with Amazon lookup

see blog post for more information

Anna Letitia Barbauld: Voice of the Enlightenment by William McCarthy

Review by Kathryn Hughes - from The Guardian

Kathryn Hughes thrills to a superb biography that brings a radical literary figure back into the picture

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In the City by Paul Du Noyer

Review by David Sinclair - from The Guardian

David Sinclair enjoys a colourful account of one of the most vibrant musical centres in the world

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Ulysses and Us by Declan Kiberd

Review by Blake Morrison - from The Guardian

Far from being obscure or inaccessible, Ulysses is a novel of and for the people. By Blake Morrison

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Reheated Cabbage by Irvine Welsh

Review by Jenny Turner - from The Guardian

Jenny Turner revisits lost stories from the Trainspotting era

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The Fate of Katherine Carr by Thomas H Cook

Paperback Review by John O'Connell - from The Guardian

If the shadow of camp falls across the novel's surface, this is still an intriguing mystery, says John O'Connell

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Sacred Hearts by Sarah Dunant

Review by Donna Leon - from The Guardian

A masterfully created tale of convent life in 16th-century Italy has Donna Leon captivated

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The Rehearsal by Eleanor Catton

Review by Justine Jordan - from The Guardian

Justine Jordan admires an ambitious debut novel with a razor-sharp vision of teenage life

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We Are All Made of Glue by Marina Lewycka

Review by Jenny Colgan - from The Guardian

Jenny Colgan weighs up Marina Lewycka's latest culture-clash comedy

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Photography and Literature by François Brunet

Paperback Review by PD Smith - from The Guardian

Brunet's study shows how photography has become a medium of individual expression, finds PD Smith

Nothing found on Amazon | Full review

Dreams of Rivers and Seas by Tim Parks

Paperback Review by Jane Housham - from The Guardian

Parks demonstrates a seemingly effortless mastery of biochemistry, says Jane Housham

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The Lovers by John Connolly

Paperback Review by John O'Connell - from The Guardian

The supernatural element is the perfect complement to Parker's measured narration, says John O'Connell

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Still Midnight by Denise Mina

Paperback Review by John O'Connell - from The Guardian

Mina is acutely sensitive to characters' mental states, with prose both nimble and muscular, says John O'Connell

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The Way Home by George Pelecanos

Paperback Review by John O'Connell - from The Guardian

The Way Home may not be everyone's idea of a great novel, but it's still pretty damn good, says John O'Connell

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On Some Faraway Beach by David Sheppard

Paperback Review by John Dugdale - from The Guardian

He seems to tire towards the end but this still sets new standards for rock biography, says John Dugdale

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The Black Death by John Hatcher

Paperback Review by Victoria Segal - from The Guardian

Hatcher's Walsham might be fiction, but the fear he creates comes with the ring of truth, says Victoria Segal

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Turned Out Nice Again by Louis Barfe

Paperback Review by Victoria Segal - from The Guardian

The spirit of Saturday nights can be hard to capture, but Barfe manages to nail it down, finds Victoria Segal

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Venice is a Fish by Tiziano Scarpa

Paperback Review by PD Smith - from The Guardian

A delightful meditation on Venice: occasionally self-indulgent, but always charmingly so, says PD Smith

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The Turnaround by George Pelecanos

Paperback Review by Cathi Unsworth - from The Guardian

Pelecanos maps the social landscape of DC with a compassionate complexity, says Cathi Unsworth

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Disguise by Hugo Hamilton

Paperback Review by Isobel Montgomery - from The Guardian

This is a compelling examination of the need to create an authentic identity, says Isobel Montgomery

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The Other by David Guterson

Paperback Review by Isobel Montgomery - from The Guardian

When Guterson exposes America's insecurities, he makes the hike worthwhile, says Isobel Montgomery

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Now You See Him by Eli Gottlieb

Paperback Review by Jane Housham - from The Guardian

While the plot is engaging enough, it's the language that captivates, says Jane Housham

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