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Three Monkeys Book Reviews

What makes for a good book review? That's a question that requires a thesis to answer, but we're sure of a couple of things here at Three Monkeys. A review that occupies itself solely with describing what happens in the book, to put it politely, stinks; A review with the singular aim of outlining whether the reviewer liked or disliked the book in question may have its use, but you won't find it on TMO. We're interested in reviews that tug, tease, and engage with the work. That's the aim - whether we reach our target is for you, the reader, to decide. And if we don't make the mark, why not give it a go yourself? We accept submissions

Gomorrah by Roberto Saviano

Roberto Saviano's non-fiction novel on the Camorra has earned him a death sentence and armed escort in Italy.

By William Wall

Some years ago I stood on a pier near Naples and admired a brand new pleasure port under construction. The Neapolitan friend I was with soon put me right. ‘It’s the Camorra,’ he said. ‘Every major construction project is funded by them.’ I thought he was being ironic, but the point is made relentlessly in Roberto Saviano’s Gomorrah: a proper understanding of the role played by the Camorra (and the Mafia and other criminal organisations) must include a critical analysis of the organisation’s ...

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The Spare Room - Helen Garner

Helen Garner's first novel in fifteen years concerns itself with a truly universal theme - death.

The Power and the Glory - David Yallop

David Yallop's book on the pontificate of John Paul II is subtitled 'Inside the dark heart of John Paul II's Vatican'.

Adam Smith in Beijing by Giovanni Arrighi

Giovanni Arrighi, Professor of Sociology at Johns Hopkins University, compares western capitalism and the 'industrious revolution' of China - providing a useful insight into the history of world's most populated country in the process.

Once Upon a Time in England by Helen Walsh

The story of a mixed-race family searching for identity in Northern England, told with spirit and skill by award-winning novelist Helen Walsh.

You don't love me yet - Jonathan Lethem

Jonathan Lethem follows up his acclaimed novel the Fortress of Solitude with an unexpected rock n'roll love story. A story which carries weighty themes under its scarce frame.

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Lion's Honey: The Myth of Samson by David Grossman

Prize winning Israeli novelist and author gets to grips with the story of Samson, as part of the ongoing Myths series.

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The Tesseract by Alex Garland

Deeply impressive, though overshadowed, second novel by Alex Garland, author of The Beach. A thriller, set in Manila, that mixes atomic philosophy with street kids and gangsters.

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The Angel of History by Bruno Arpaia

An award-winning reimagining of Walter Benjamin's final days during World War II, by Italian author Bruno Arpaia

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Inner Workings: Literary Essays 2000 - 2005 by J.M.Coetzee

A collection of literary criticism from J.M.Coetzee, the South African author of novels including Disgrace, and The life and times of Michael.K.

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Inner Workings: Literary Essays 2000 - 2005 by J.M.Coetzee

A collection of literary criticism from J.M.Coetzee, the South African author of novels including Disgrace, and The life and times of Michael.K.

The Raw Shark Texts by Steven Hall

Mark Haddon describes it as "the bastard love child of The Matrix, Jaws and The DaVinci Code", and Nicole Kidman was supposedly so taken by it that she asked the author to consider changing the protagonist's gender for a film version.

Ghosts of Spain: Travels Through a Country's Hidden Past by Giles Tremlett

The Guardian's Spanish correspondent, Giles Tremlett, gives a panoramic view of Spain.

Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan

The first volume of Bob Dylan's long anticipated autobiography.

Vroom with a view – In search of Italy’s Dolce Vita on a ’61 Vespa by Peter Moore

Veteran travel writer Peter Moore travels the Italian tourist trail on a 'cool' '61 Vespa.

To Err is Divine - by Ágota Bozai

A satirical look at Hungary's post Iron Curtain society. Anna Levay, a school teacher, finds herself blessed/cursed with a halo, i...

American Desert - by Percival Everett

Fourteenth novel from American academic and satirist, Percival Everett. Originally entitled Making Jesus, apparently....

Islam and Modernity by Iftikhar H. Malik

Historian Iftikhar H. Malik offers a wealth of case studies ranging from Muslim Spain and the Ottoman Empire to the present day, t...

Milo's Marauders - by Danny King

Crime caper from Danny King, author of The Burglar Diaries....

The Girl Who Married a Lion - Alexander McCall Smith

A collection of folk tales from Zimbabwe and Botswana, recounted by Alexander McCall Smith, the author of The No. 1 Ladies' Det...

Birds without Wings Louis de Bernières

A novel set in a small, multi-cultural town during the violent dying days of the Ottoman Empire, written by English novelist, and ...

White and Red by Dorota Masłowska

Poland’s first track suit novel? Dorota Masłowska’s debut novel, published when she was only 19 and causing a sensation i...

Ireland and the Palestine Question 1948 – 2004 by Dr. Rory Miller

In a hitherto neglected area of study, Dr Rory Miller of King's College at the University of London, adresses the history of the ...

The Flood - by David Maine

A retelling of Humanity's most famous disaster story, in this debut novel from American writer David Maine....

Never Let Me Go - Kazuo Ishiguro

A story of love, loss and hidden truths, according to the publishers, by Ishiguro, author of amongst other titles The Remains o...

Ajax Barcelona Cruyff - the ABC of an Obstinate Maestro by Frits Barend and Henk Van Dorp

A portrait of Johan Cruyff drawing on numerous interviews conducted by the authors between the years of 1974 and 1997. ...

Arthur & George - Julian Barnes

Man Booker Prize 2005 shortlisted (and bookie's favourite) novel from the author of Flaubert's Parrot and A history of t...

Love, Poverty, and War: Journeys and Essays - Christopher Hitchens

Collected essays from the celebrated and controversial Hitchens, ranging from responses to September 11th, through to literary cri...

Haunted by Chuck Palahniuk

An ambitious 'novel of stories' from Chuck Palahniuk, the American author of novels like Fight Club, Diary, and C...

The Zig-Zag Way by Anita Desai

An American grad student finds himself researching his roots amongst the Sierra Madre Mountains of Mexico, against a backdrop of ...

Everyone’s Pretty by Lydia Millet

Social satire and black comedy from the author of My Happy Life and George Bush, Prince of Darkness....

The Fountain at the Center of the World - by Robert Newman

The third novel from comedian Robert Newman. The Fountain at the Centre of the World is billed as "an anti-globalization no...

Song for Katya by Kevin Stevens

The latest novel from Irish based American Kevin Stevens, author of Cops and Robbers and the Rizzoli Contract. So...

Full Spectrum Disorder - by Stan Goff

An analysis of the role a resurgent American militarism plays in shaping foreign policy, written by ex-Special Forces serviceman S...

Pomegranate Soup - by Marsha Mehran

First novel by Iranian born author Marsha Mehran. Three Iranian sisters arrive in the west of Ireland, bringing their exotic cuisi...

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If Three Monkeys is worth reading, it's because of the calibre of our contributors. A small regular group of writers publish in Three Monkeys, but much of the work is submitted by emerging writers worldwide. If you have a piece that you think would fit well in the magazine, check our submission guidelines here. We'd love to hear from you.

Is there a book in this blog - literary blog

Is there a book in this blog? is a group blog to discuss books. Our writers post on books they've read, are reading, or, perhaps have no intention of reading. Literary news, and debates over narrative voices are not uncommon.

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A good sex in fiction nomination - Anne Enright's

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The Best of the Web - a round up of the best in Politics, Current affairs, Arts, Literature and Music on the web

The Monkeys' Digest is Three Monkeys' 'best of the web' section, where we highlight the articles, interviews, blog posts and features that we've enjoyed recently. Trawling the web to find intelligent material is hard work - we do it, so you don't have to!
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Our Man in Gdansk - A blog on Polish politics and Life Our Man in Gdańsk is Three Monkeys Online's long running blog on Polish politics, media and mores.
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Translation Studies

"Translation is the performative nature of cultural communication. It is language in actu (enunciation, positionality) rather than language in situ (énoncé, or propositionality). And the sign of translation continually tells, or "tolls" the different times and spaces between cultural authority and its performa...

The latest album reviews from Three Monkeys Online

Three Monkeys Online music reviews cover a wide range of territory - if it gets feet tapping, hearts thumping, or pulses racing then we'll cover it.

The View from Bologna - A blog on Italian politics, society and culture The View from Bologna is a regular blog column on Italian politics, culture and society, written from a vantage point by our Monkey in Bologna.
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Newsweek adopts the 'Italian school' of modern journalism, and beatifies Berlusconi

Newsweek, last week, carried a quite astonishing piece on Silvio Berlusconi's first 100 days in office. The glowing tribute stopped short of suggesting that Trenitalia now runs on time, but only just (coincidentally, despite the fact that it was a major election issue, Al...