Tam
Hussein’s book The Darkness Inside is a truly original piece of
historical fiction, centered on British jihadist “returnees” from wars in Syria
and Libya—and a Muslim investigative journalist ("Sid") who connects them to
a murder of one of their own.
The closer he gets to the truth, the more he’s
forced to face his own dark fears and obsessions. The author
is himself a respected UK investigative journalist, with a focus on the Middle
East. I loved Hussein’s use of slang-accented dialogue and descriptive language
to evoke a wide range of emotions and places, from Aleppo, Syria, to the
working-class suburbs of London.
The last
chapters of the book tie the various threads of the plot together into a satisfying resolution.
The
Art Thief is a narrative exposition of the long and bizarre career of one of
Europe’s most “successful” art thieves (200 liftings over a decade, across
Europe, valued at $2 billion); someone who stole not for profit, but out of a desire
to be in the constant presence of incomparable beauty (and, clearly, had an
addiction).
Some reviewers quibbled with
the fact that Finkel’s is not the first book on the subject (who cares?), relied
on speculative psychological analysis, etc. but as someone unfamiliar with the story,
I found the book very entertaining, and read it in one sitting.
'His crime spree makes for a thrilling read' - The New Yorker
'A breath-taking read, as compelling as a Highsmith novel. I loved it' - Maggie O'Farrell
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The true story of the world's most prolific art thief, who accumulated a collection worth over $1.4 billion. A spellbinding portrait of obsession and flawed genius, from the bestselling author of The Stranger in the Wood.
For centuries, works of art have been stolen in countless ways from all over the world, but no one has been…
On
first glance, The Moth to the Mountain seems to fit the ‘conquest of the
Himalaya’ genre, but it’s really more about the deep psychological devastation
inflicted by WWI on those who fought in it, and survived.
The vivid descriptions of trench warfare in
Europe, give way to stories of depression, madness, and hope for redemption, as
the protagonist finds meaning in an unlikely—and seemingly suicidal—plan
to conquer Everest using a mass-produced prop-plane called a "Moth" (hence the clever title). I found the book engrossing and informative.
A SUNDAY TIMES BIOGRAPHY OF THE YEAR THE TELEGRAPH SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR SHORTLISTED FOR THE COSTA BIOGRAPHY AWARD SHORTLISTED FOR THE WILLIAM HILL SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR AWARD
'One of the best books ever written about the early attempts to conquer Everest. A fine, fine slice of history by a truly special writer who proves time and time again that he is among the best of his generation' Dan Jones, author of The Plantagenets
'A small classic of the biographer's art' Sunday Times
The untold story of Britain's most mysterious mountaineering legend - Maurice Wilson - and…
Published in 2022, Benghazi!: A New History is a former US diplomat's eyewitness testimony of the circumstances surrounding the Al Qaeda terrorist attack on the US mission in Benghazi in 2012; It is also a deep analysis of the evolution of a very public 3-year political scandal, whose toxicity thwarted attempts to understand its causes and broader impact. New Lines Magazine (UK) named the book one of its 10 Best Reads of 2022. Middle East Policy Journal called it "likely the definitive book on Benghazi." If you're looking for a book to help understand American politics and the 2016 and 2024 elections, this should be an enlightening and surprising journey.
