5 epic Page turners
Shantaram
I loved this book, it’s massive but totally gripping, I just couldn’t put it down as I found the descriptions of the surroundings in which the protagonist ‘Lin’ finds himself utterly compelling. In my eyes, a superb novel that twists and turns throughout its 950 pages, taking you on an epic journey based around the slums and streets of Bombay. A real adventure that ticks all the boxes for me, it has it all, romance, prison trauma, gangsters, prostitutes and drugs. Narrated by an escaped convict, fleeing a maximum-security prison in Australia, Lin finds himself in the heart of one of India’s most pulsating metropolises, where he becomes friends with Prabaker. The pair build a fascinating friendship, and they become immersed in Bombay’s hidden society, mixing with actors, exiles and soldiers. The author, Gregory Roberts, constructs a magnificent tale through sensual writing that transported me straight to the streets of Bombay, evoking a real mix of emotions. Shantaram is a fantastic story with strong characters — pure fictional genius that just keeps building right to the end. Highly recommended.
Ham on Rye
Bukowski at his best, the story of Henry Chinaski’s youth, brilliantly written, raw — this novel hits straight to the core. I flew through it in a few days. There’s no shame with this book — the alter ego of Chinaski describes his youth as pretty damn depressing. His father was a real piece of shit, severely beating him on a regular basis. I found myself squirming at times with discomfort, as there are moments that are truly brutal in Chinaski’s daily life occurrences. Another cracker from Bukowski, a page turner, tough, sad and hilarious at times.
Wonderland Avenue: Tales of Glamour and Excess
A first-person memoir by the second manager of the band, The Doors, just a riveting account of what it’s like to be living in Los Angeles managing one of the biggest bands in the 1960s and 1970s. Danny Sugarman grew up in the wealthy neighbourhood of Beverly Hills. At the age of twelve, he attended his first Doors concert, which led him to become instantly obsessed with the band. His obsession turned into a reality as he landed a job working for the iconic group. A wonderful book that describes in graphic detail the decadence and chaos of the music industry — romanticised excess that immersed me in the counterculture of rock music, parties, drugs and Jim Morrison. Bloody fantastic.
Ask the Dust
A work of art from John Fante about the struggling writer, Arturo Bandini, set in L. A in the 1930s, Bandini falls head of heals for a Mexican waitress, where his weaknesses of obsessiveness, self-loathing and arrogance are exposed. Bandini believes he’s destined for greatness, full of persistence, determination, and a never-say-die mentality. The book depicts the experience of desperately trying to make it, the characters are immersive and the descriptions of the world Bandini is apart off strangely become relatable as the beauty of Fante’s words show you rather than tell you.
The Sun Also Rises
Fun, entertaining and beautifully crafted by Hemingway, the novel follows Jake Barnes, an American journalist living in Paris after the war. The book homes in on a lost generation, a post WWI expatriate crowd that evolves around lots of drinking, socialising, and fractious relationships. Jake is madly in love with Lady Brett Ashley but is living with sexual impotency. His friendship group travels to Spain for a bull-fighting festival where the story dives into the world of a young matador. I found the book enjoyable through the free living of the characters, grasping the moment attitude; however, there is disillusionment after the war and the psychological damage of Jake from his injury makes the book an interesting read.
