The Northern Clemency3 reviews Philip Hensher Knopf, 2008 A clever and engaging slog on ordinary life... + interesting family drama during the Thatcher Era + Less gormless than it seems The story is set in Sheffield, an industrial city 200 miles outside of London. It is told over 3 decades (1970's to 90's) and is centered on 2 families who live opposite from each other on same street. Malcolm and Katherine Glover and their family (teenagers Daniel and Jane and 10 year told Tim) ...             The White Tiger: A Novel54 reviews Aravind Adiga Free Press, 2008 A non-traditional view of contemporary India + Machiavellian response to the Developing World What appealed to me most was the language which is very very contemporary to India. It was a very refreshing escape from the purist diction we are used to reading. The plot, the humour, the twists, the takes on the political establishment, the genuine praise and veiled sarcastic attacks on our ...             Sea of Poppies: A Novel25 reviews Amitav Ghosh Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008 Epic tragicomedy about globalization, at a personal level + A new interest in historical fiction Other reviews can give you a good idea of the book's plot, and the wonderful quality of the writing. I was especially struck that nearly every character misunderstands someone else's language, motivations or both -- you can almost pick any two of the main characters at random, and find some example ...             The Secret Scripture16 reviews Sebastian Barry Viking Adult, 2008 A Clear View + "I do remember terrible dark things..." + Mixed feelings + Sebastian Barry makes the familiar new             The Enchantress of Florence: A Novel55 reviews Salman Rushdie Random House, 2008 a little hard to follow, but beautiful poetic writing + India and Italy in the 16th Century + Decameron & Arabian Tales rolled into one + Couping a set of flippant short stories to a serious novel does not work             The Lost Dog6 reviews Michelle de Kretser Little, Brown and Company, 2008 "The lost dog unleashing in him a kind of grace, a kind of beastliness." A richly imagined exploration of the myriad connections between art and life, The Lost Dog is part mystery and also part character study of one man, an immigrant in one country and an isolated, misunderstood child in another. Tom Loxley is haunted by his childhood in India, a glamorous, doting ...             Netherland: A Novel58 reviews Joseph O'Neill Pantheon, 2008 Amazingly sublime + Lyrical and flexible prose captures relationships and sports + Cricket in New York Joe O'Neill captures the angst that pervaded the city post 9/11 by channeling a collection of fascinating characters and genres. Even if you're not a cricket fan you'll get this!             Child 44143 reviews Tom Rob Smith Grand Central Publishing, 2008 Child 44 + A Young Novelist Delivers a Novelistic Masterpiece--Child 44 + Well Crafted Environment of Soviet Russia + Gave it a second chance + Makes Me Glad To Be An American             The Clothes on Their Backs3 reviews Linda Grant Virago Press (UK), 2008 Good or evil? Just long-listed for a Booker! This book by Orange-Prize winner Linda Grant takes on several very complex questions. I think it gets ahead of all of them while building suspense about the characters. One big question dominates: what is a good person and what is an evil one? Not easy, but the ...             Girl in a Blue Dress Gaynor Arnold Tindal Street, 2008             A Case of Exploding Mangoes13 reviews Mohammed Hanif Knopf, 2008 An amazing dark comedy about a turbulent time + Interesting Read + A (Funny) Case of Conspiracies + Don't miss this one.             A Fraction of the Whole60 reviews Steve Toltz Spiegel & Grau, 2008 An extraordinary story well told + Reminds me why I became a writer + Should have won the booker! + A Stellar Debut + Weird and Wacky             From A to X: A Story in Letters3 reviews John Berger Verso, 2008 Great writing + As always... + Evocative and moving, but a bit slight compared to Berger's earlier work Ah, such beauty, such clarity, and much power. Which is why I have 1st editions of all Berger's books. Read From A to X with wonder!             Sea of Poppies: A Novel25 reviews Amitav Ghosh Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2008 Epic tragicomedy about globalization, at a personal level + A new interest in historical fiction Other reviews can give you a good idea of the book's plot, and the wonderful quality of the writing. I was especially struck that nearly every character misunderstands someone else's language, motivations or both -- you can almost pick any two of the main characters at random, and find some example ...             A Fraction of the Whole60 reviews Steve Toltz Spiegel & Grau, 2008 An extraordinary story well told + Reminds me why I became a writer + Should have won the booker! + A Stellar Debut + Weird and Wacky             The Secret Scripture16 reviews Sebastian Barry Viking Adult, 2008 A Clear View + "I do remember terrible dark things..." + Mixed feelings + Sebastian Barry makes the familiar new             The Lost Dog6 reviews Michelle de Kretser Little, Brown and Company, 2008 "The lost dog unleashing in him a kind of grace, a kind of beastliness." A richly imagined exploration of the myriad connections between art and life, The Lost Dog is part mystery and also part character study of one man, an immigrant in one country and an isolated, misunderstood child in another. Tom Loxley is haunted by his childhood in India, a glamorous, doting ...             Netherland: A Novel58 reviews Joseph O'Neill Pantheon, 2008 Amazingly sublime + Lyrical and flexible prose captures relationships and sports + Cricket in New York Joe O'Neill captures the angst that pervaded the city post 9/11 by channeling a collection of fascinating characters and genres. Even if you're not a cricket fan you'll get this!             From A to X: A Story in Letters3 reviews John Berger Verso, 2008 Great writing + As always... + Evocative and moving, but a bit slight compared to Berger's earlier work Ah, such beauty, such clarity, and much power. Which is why I have 1st editions of all Berger's books. Read From A to X with wonder!             The Clothes on Their Backs3 reviews Linda Grant Virago Press (UK), 2008 Good or evil? Just long-listed for a Booker! This book by Orange-Prize winner Linda Grant takes on several very complex questions. I think it gets ahead of all of them while building suspense about the characters. One big question dominates: what is a good person and what is an evil one? Not easy, but the ...