“Shielding against the Battle Axe
Authored by Helen Oyeyemi
Published by Faber & Faber, £16.99
Defining the novel “Shielding against the Battle Axe” that questions the individual perspective of art and memory can be challenging. A fluid, changing narrative set in the heart of Prague, where the narrator occasionally represents the spirit of the city. The storyline revolves around a group of middle-aged women enjoying a hen do in this city. However, limiting the novel to its plot doesn’t truly do justice to its core. Readers brace yourselves for a meta-reading journey – the book features emails within a novel, a novel that transforms with every read, encapsulated within the primary novel itself. This enigmatic method may stir interest of some progressive readers but for me, it hampers the smooth reading experience. Despite Oyeyemi’s clever and contemplative writing style, it failed to evoke any strong emotions in me. Brigid O’Dea
An Autobiography of Teeth
By John Patrick Higgins
Published by Sagging Meniscus $16
The author has always struggled with dental issues. “Bad teeth,” he infers, “represent a social deficiency.” Higgins is on a mission to improve his smile that involves seven tooth extractions, three root canals and an expenditure even greater than what most authors make from a book advance. Teeth is more than just a memoir about dental health, it’s a reflection on vanity and anxieties of a man in his midlife crisis – an affectionate observation. Decorated with author’s own sketches and a useful glossary featuring phrases such as “opt for a Pot Noodle” and “my tavern piano teeth,” Teeth is sharp, playful and filled with warmth and sincerity. Higgins is an author who has a genuine reason to beam with joy. Brigid O’Dea
The Ultimate Battle. Amazon’s Unrelenting Pursuit to Dominate the World and Reinvent Corporate Power: A commercial colossus
Greet my Petite Companion
By Jennine Capó Crucet
Published by Riverrun, £20.”
Within the realm of popular culture, Al Pacino’s Scarface is a figure of renown, which makes Capó Crucet’s creative use of it as a plot device in her novel, intriguing. In this daring work, Capó Crucet incorporates an orca called Lolita, in an allusion to Melville’s Moby Dick, to complement the journey of her main character, Izzy, who aspires to be like the infamous Tony Montana. Set in Miami, the narrative is eccentric but nonetheless intersects with significant global issues such as climate change, migration, and the interpretive notions of identity within the concept of the “American Dream”. Possessing a wit that’s subtly comical, Capó Crucet uses references to the iconic film by Oliver Stone to engage enthusiasts of cinema. However, the novel is marred by an unwieldy structure and a lineup of characters that are underdeveloped. The novel’s potential is ultimately submerged by Capó Crucet’s excessive influx of absurd ideas. NJ McGarrigle.