Fred’s blog

Spoiled ballot

The Labour agent was pretty sure they’d won. Majority should be about a thousand, give or take. The anxiety hadn’t gone but it was ebbing; he hadn’t yet allowed the euphoria to take hold, and into that space rushed the exhaustion. So he threw himself into watching the count; partly because it still…

Azerbaijan — Ali and Nino

Someone wrote a book once, of that much I am certain

I was intrigued when I heard about Ali and Nino and knew that while I probably should have looked for something more contemporary I wanted to read it.

Austria — Radetzky March

Joseph Roth’s classic is very funny, and the Austro-Hungarian Empire was weird

I couldn’t find a contemporary Austrian novel that fit the bill so I went for a classic, probably the classic, of Austrian…

The mirror

On human rights, and whether they are a good idea

Australia — The White Girl

Tony Birch’s novella is deeply unsubtle, but maybe subtlety is overrated?

It seemed important for my Australia book to speak about the Aboriginal experience, and google suggested that meant I should read Tony…

In defence of Mr Basil Ball

I know, I know. It would probably be wise to wait for the test to be over to write this, but I wanted to get it out now at what I think might be the peak of doubt in Bazball. Also, it’ll be really funny to look back on if I am wrong.

Armenia — Journey to Virginland: Epistle I

I think Armen Melikian’s experimental novel is pretentious garbage; I fully admit I might be wrong, but he hasn’t motivated me to check

Argentina — Things We Lost in the Fire

Mariana Enríquez’s short story collection was exactly what I was looking for, although slightly more of it than I needed

Antigua and Barbuda — Lucy

Jamaica Kincaid’s wonderful book is not for me, in the best possible way

Lucy came highly recommended, and I leapt at the chance because I’d heard good things about Kincaid, who I had never read, and because…