natyweiss's reviews
1706 reviews

Jo Harkin’s The Pretender is a gripping and immersive reimagining of Lambert Simnel’s story, a boy raised as a peasant who found himself at the center of a Yorkist rebellion against Henry VII. While history remembers him as a mere pawn, Harkin gives him a voice, exploring the psychological toll of being thrust into the dangerous game of kings and pretenders.
What sets this novel apart is its portrayal of Simnel not as a passive figure but as a man shaped by betrayal, trauma, and an unyielding desire for revenge. Refusing to accept the fate others have written for him, he becomes a fascinating protagonist—one who is both tragic and formidable. The writing is vivid, bringing the turbulent era to life while delving deep into Simnel’s psyche.
With a blend of historical intrigue and psychological depth, The Pretender is a compelling and richly detailed read that offers a fresh perspective on a little-known figure of the Wars of the Roses. A delight for historical fiction lovers.

Allison Epstein’s Fagin the Thief is a gripping and deeply human reimagining of one of literature’s most infamous villains. Fagin, best known as the cunning and sinister figure in Oliver Twist, has long been criticized as one of the most egregious antisemitic caricatures in English literature. Epstein’s novel seeks to reclaim his story, granting him a past, a family, and a soul haunted by ghosts—both literal and metaphorical.
The novel explores Fagin’s early years, his desperate struggle to escape the fate of his violent father, and his attempts to carve out a life for himself in London’s unforgiving streets. But can he truly outrun his destiny? Epstein weaves a narrative filled with tension, heartbreak, and a sense of inevitable tragedy. Despite knowing how Fagin’s story must ultimately end, the book is so compelling that it’s impossible to put down. His found family and the specters that haunt him add depth and emotional resonance, making him more than just the villain Dickens painted—he is now a man shaped by fear, survival, and the cruel hand of fate.
With evocative prose and masterful pacing, Fagin the Thief is both a riveting historical novel and a powerful act of literary reclamation. Highly recommended.

Evie Wyld’s The Echoes is a haunting and beautifully written novel that delves into generational trauma, grief, and Australia’s dark colonial past. Told through multiple perspectives, the story follows Hannah, a woman living in London with her partner Max—who, at the novel’s start, has died traumatically and now lingers as a ghost. From this spectral vantage point, Max gains insight into Hannah’s past, finally understanding the painful experiences that shaped her and the motivations behind her often inexplicable actions.
As the narrative unfolds, the reader is drawn into Hannah’s family history, deeply entwined with Australia’s brutal treatment of its Aboriginal population. Wyld’s writing is superb—lyrical, atmospheric, and emotionally charged. She masterfully weaves past and present, personal and historical, creating a novel that is both intimate and expansive. The Echoes is a powerful and unforgettable read, illuminating the weight of inherited trauma and the ghosts—both literal and metaphorical—that linger in its wake.

Julie Gilbert’s Giant Love is a fascinating and heartfelt exploration of the making of Edna Ferber’s iconic novel Giant and its subsequent adaptation into a classic American film. Blending conscientious research with personal stories, Gilbert—Ferber’s niece—delivers a vivid depiction of her aunt’s life, work, and legacy.
The book delves into Ferber’s creative process, the cultural and political context that inspired her, and the sweeping ambition of Giant, often regarded as the quintessential novel of Texas. Gilbert’s access to Ferber’s personal archives, combined with her own memories, brings a deeply personal touch to the narrative, offering insights into Ferber’s vibrant personality, literary genius, and the challenges she faced as a trailblazing woman in a male-dominated literary world.
Gilbert also provides a behind-the-scenes account of the Hollywood adaptation, exploring how the film captured the essence of the novel even with the script modifications, while becoming a landmark in cinema history. She examines the public reception of both the book and the movie, celebrating their enduring impact on American culture.
The book is richly documented and engagingly written, with a warmth and intimacy that make it a joy to read. Gilbert’s love and admiration for her aunt shine through, making Giant Love not just a study of a literary and cinematic masterpiece but also a heartfelt tribute to an extraordinary woman. If you love stories about the Hollywood golden age this book is an absolute treasure!

Michelle de Kretser's Theory and Practice is an elegantly written exploration of identity, longing, and intellectual obsession. The novel, steeped in literary allusion and personal struggle, follows the unnamed narrator, a young woman from Sri Lanka studying in Melbourne, as she navigates life as a young adult in love with intellectualism while wrestling with her fixation on Virginia Woolf.

The title, a nod to Aristotle's Poetics, sets the framework for the novel's thematic underpinnings. The narrator's life is a collision of theory-the ideals of art, beauty, and intellectual pursuits-and practice-the messy, unpredictable realities of human relationships and social awkwardness. This duality pervades the novel, providing a fertile ground for meditations on jealousy, obsession, and the universal yearning for meaning.

De Kretser crafts a vivid and introspective narrative voice, capturing the narrator's inner world with poetic precision. Her preoccupation with Woolf serves as both an inspiration and a burden, shaping her worldview and relationships (the"Wolfmother"). The novel subtly explores how admiration can blur into obsession, as the narrator attempts to reconcile her literary aspirations with the realities of her own coming of age as an adult. The people she encounters-those she loves, hates, admires, and finds inspiring-serve as mirrors reflecting her insecurities and ambitions.

At its heart, Theory and Practice is a meditation on the tension between ideals and reality, between the lives we imagine for ourselves and the ones we inhabit. This is a novel for lovers of literary fiction, for readers who savor books about the intricacies of the human condition

Strange Pictures by Uketsu, the latest sensation in Japanese mystery literature, is an intricately woven masterpiece that both captivates and surprises. Divided into four distinct sections, each chapter presents a seemingly standalone mystery centered around a picture or series of pictures. As the stories progress, the reader gradually uncovers how these separate narratives interlock, forming a cohesive and beautifully constructed whole.

What sets Strange Pictures apart is its remarkable storytelling. Uketsu’s writing is both sharp and atmospheric, pulling readers into each mystery with vivid descriptions and a pervasive sense of intrigue. The puzzles themselves are brilliantly crafted, offering satisfying solutions that feel both logical and unexpected. The resolution of each chapter brings a sense of closure, yet it is only when all the pieces come together that the true genius of the book is revealed.

I was really enjoying this book but at some point I started to feel that the author somehow missed the mark. I wanted to read about women written out of Ancient History but instead I found myself reading about a bunch of men and women as satellites of their lives and accomplishments. It was a "behind every great man there is a great woman" kind of story and that's not what I was looking for in this particular book. Also it felt too scholarly which is not a bad thing per se but in this case I think that the level of detail was just too much.