Book Reviews Archives - Page 2 of 3 - Slow Culture Magazine

Keith Kahn-Harris, Denial: The Unspeakable Truth (Notting Hill Editions) – BOOK REVIEW #7

11 March 20203 May 2020Book Reviews, Literature Marc Louis-Boyard

With Denial: The Unspeakable Truth (Notting Hill Editions), Keith Kahn-Harris discusses a burning, sensitive, critical societal topic. If you had the opportunity to enjoy our review of John Berger’s What Time Is It? from the same publisher, be warned that this book is a very different matter. But not for worse.

Freshness of spirit and entertainment are not absent from Keith Kahn-Harris’ literary world and reflections, but do not expect a happy ending or some kind of burst of hope. Denial: The Unspeakable Truth is raw power that is not on a “rounding the corners” mission.

That being said, this book contributes to sharpen the view one can have on society, not with never-ending complaints disguised as weapons, but with an enlightened and elaborated train of thought that is not afraid to expose the incongruous and the dangerous.

John Berger & Selçuk Demirel, What Time Is It? (Notting Hill Editions) – BOOK REVIEW #6

13 February 20203 May 2020Book Reviews, Literature, Visual arts Marc Louis-Boyard

The story behind the production of What Time Is It? is essentially meta. What Time Is It? is the result of a continuous battle against time for the sake of literary production. For the sake of material too precious to be lost or put on hold.

John Berger (1928 – 2017) hardly needs any introduction. The award-winning author of the renowned About Looking and Ways of Seeing would be immensely proud of this finished opus, magnified by Italian translator Maria Nadotti’s introduction.

Notting Hill Editions released this book two years after Berger’s passing. This publication is also proving once again Notting Hill Edition’s legendary sense of tradition in modernity, et vice versa. What Time Is It? is a highly valuable handbook, made for the pleasure of the senses and the joy of knowledge.

Annabel Banks, Exercises In Control (February 2020) – BOOK REVIEW #5

3 February 20203 May 2020Book Reviews, Literature Marc Louis-Boyard

Annabel Banks finally releases her first (and anticipated) collection of stories entitled Exercises In Control (Influx Press), and we loved it.

Beyond passive recognition, these stories are still resonating in our mind after three readings. You should follow this path, because this book mattered to us more than we could expect. Here are our thoughts on this dangerously delicious selection.

Jonathan Pinnock, Love and Loss and Other Important Stuff – BOOK REVIEW #4

22 January 20203 May 2020Book Reviews, Literature Marc Louis-Boyard

When it comes to cynicism, we used to be disciples of Conan O’Brien: cynicism was our least favorite quality. But that was until we read Jonathan Pinnock’s Love and Loss and Other Important Stuff. We have to remind here that Gareth E. Rees recently started our conversion, but Jonathan truly finished it as soon as we put the book down.

This sudden and instant attraction for cynicism totally justifies the fact that we’re reviewing a 2017 book at the dawn of 2020. Three years is not much for a revelation of that kind. It’s still time to join the club.

The Emma Press (3 books + interview) – THIS WEEK IN ARTS VOL.3

12 January 20203 May 2020Book Reviews, Interviews, Literature, This Week in Arts Marc Louis-Boyard

Awarded with a grant from Arts Council England only one year after being founded by Emma Wright, The Emma Press has been publishing books for eight years.

Eight years of meticulous combination of quantity and quality, eight years of uncompromising expression, eight years of unwavering determination.

We couldn’t be happier to immerse ourselves into the colorful world of The Emma Press, and couldn’t be more admirative of all the work accomplished so far.

Gareth E. Rees, Car Park Life – BOOK REVIEW #3

12 December 20193 May 2020Book Reviews, Literature Marc Louis-Boyard

Gareth E. Rees’ Car Park Life (Influx press) joins Juliet Escoria’s Juliet The Maniac on the list of our 2019 favorite pieces of non-fiction.

Expecting at first a light read full of entertaining and easy anecdotes, we understood in the first ten pages how rich and enlightening our reading would become.

We do not drive, but Car Park Life immersed us in a scene that is even unknown to your typical retail store wanderer or to your classic car park daydreamer.

Gareth E. Rees’ third book is serious field research. Here begins your sociological journey.