Guy Portman's Blog, page 31

My Favourite Books I

This week’s blog post is dedicated to 6 books that I would recommend. The choices reflect my eclectic reading tastes. Click on the links to read my reviews.

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath

Protagonist Esther Greenwood’s year in the ‘bell jar’ as she describes it, culminates in her being institutionalised in a mental health facility. This erudite and humorous semi-autobiographical novel adeptly explores an emotionally disturbed mind. Clickhereto read my review.

Genre: Semi-Autobiographical

One...

7 Dystopian Novels

As I have read a fair bit of dystopian literature of late, I am devoting this week’s blog post to the subject.

Definition: Dystopian literature is a genre of fictional writing used to explore social and political structures in ‘a dark, nightmare world.’…(more)

Here are 7 dystopian novels by 7 different authors, all of which I have read. They are presented in chronological order.

The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (1895)

H. G. Wells’s seminal work is about a man who builds himself a time machin...

7 Works of Dystopian Fiction

As I have read a fair bit of dystopian fiction of late, I am devoting this week’s blog post to the subject.

Definition: Dystopian literature is a genre of fictional writing used to explore social and political structures in ‘a dark, nightmare world.’…(more)

Here are 7 works of dystopian fiction by 7 different authors, all of which I have read. They are presented in chronological order.

The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (1895)

H. G. Wells’s seminal work is about a man who builds himself a time...

5 Good Books You Probably Haven’t Read

This week’s blog post is dedicated to 5 good books that you probably haven’t read. Perhaps I am being presumptuous and you have read them. Anyway here they are:

The Legend of the Holy Drinker by Joseph Roth (1939)

Genre: General Fiction

This compact and wistful novella is a great introduction toJoseph Roth’s writing. TheAustro Hungarian author succumbed to a premature alcohol related death shortly after finishing this allegorical tale about seeking redemption.

My Review:The story is about a...

Symbiosis Sale Ends Today

Get my Psychological ThrillerSymbiosistoday for only99c/99p(Usual Price: $3.99/2.86). Available from Amazon (US & UK).

Perceptive and poignant, Symbiosis explores our enduring fascination with twins and the complexities of twinship.

Identical twins Talulah and Taliah have never been apart. Viewed as curiosities by children and adults alike, they coexist in an insular world with their own secret language. But being identical doesn’t necessarily mean being equal…

Soon a series of momentous eve...

Symbiosis is now on Sale

I am pleased to announce that my Psychological ThrillerSymbiosisis now only 99c/99p(Usual Price: $3.99/2.86). Available from Amazon (US & UK).

Sale duration:Today April 8th – Tuesday April 12th.

Perceptive and poignant, Symbiosis explores our enduring fascination with twins and the complexities of twinship.

Identical twins Talulah and Taliah have never been apart. Viewed as curiosities by children and adults alike, they coexist in an insular world with their own secret language. But being id...

Controversial Authors Part II

2 weeks ago I wrote a blog post about history’s most controversial authors. Part 2 is devoted to 8 more recent/contemporary controversial authors. They are presented in the order in which they were born.

John Steinbeck (February 27th 1902 – December 20th 1968)

John Steinbeck is one of the most acclaimed literary figures America has ever produced. His accolades include The Pulitzer Prize for Fiction (1940) and the Nobel Prize in Literature (1962). He was highly critical of America’s economic p...

My Easter Egg Hunt

Happy Easter. This week we take a sojourn from the usual book/author theme to explore the world of Easter Eggs. Sales at Easter time make up approximately 10% of UK chocolate spending for the whole year. WeBritons love chocolate. In world league tables of per capita consumption the UK comes joint 4th behind Switzerland, Germany and Austria. As is the case every year my supermarket is seething with Easter chocolate.

Amongst the usual culprits is thisLindt Giant Carrot.

The Church of England...

History’s Most Controversial Authors

Back in early 2014 I wrote a 7 part series of lengthy posts about controversial authors. Now, with the benefit of hindsight, it seems like overkill. At any rate this blog had very few visitors back then, so they went largely unread. Today we revisit the subject with this more succinct piece. The following 7 controversial authors are presented in the order in which they were born.

Aristophanes (Circa 446 BC – 386 BC)

Often referred to as ‘the father of comedy’, Aristophanes was an ancient Athe...

Happy Birthday Jack Kerouac

As it is Jack Kerouac’s birthday today (he would have been 94) I am dedicating this week’s post to the iconic author.

Jack Kerouac (March 12th 1922 – October 21st 1969)

Notable works: On the Road, The Dharma Bums, Big Sur, The Town and the City

Novelist, poet and artist Jack Kerouac was born in Lowell, Massachusetts in 1922 to French Canadian parents. Alongside William S. Burroughs and Allen Ginsberg he was one of the pioneers of the Beat Generation. Today Kerouac is best remembered for his...