There has been a lot written in the last twenty years about “global jihad,” although finding good analysis rather than rhetoric can be hard. Thomas Hegghammer does a great service with his latest book, The Caravan, which sheds light on a previously dim corner of the subject. Part of the issue with the general Western … Continue reading Review: The Caravan
Review: A Flag for Sunrise
You might find it unusual for me to post a review of a book that was published in 1981, but hear me out. The sheer volume of books published every year, and the way that they are marketed – very intensely for a short period of time – means that inevitably we all miss books … Continue reading Review: A Flag for Sunrise
Watching The Mandalorian as a Writer
When I watched the first two episodes of “The Mandalorian,” I watched it as a writer rather than as a fan.
Review: The Artist’s Journey
Steven Pressfield’s latest book on writing, “The Artist’s Journey,” is both a wake-up call and a how-to for creatives of all stripes. Using the structure of the “hero’s journey,” he describes how to overcome resistance and become the artist we wish to be. The idea of the “hero’s journey” was popularizing by Joseph Campbell’s 1949 … Continue reading Review: The Artist’s Journey
The City & the City
As you likely already know, I like to write reviews of backlist books that I think are important for people to read. A lot of what I’ve reviewed is connected to Afghanistan, the setting of my recently published novel. In this case, I want to draw your attention to one of my favourite novels, which incidentally … Continue reading The City & the City
Review: Moth Smoke
Mohsin Hamid’s 2000 debut novel “Moth Smoke” is a rare example of transgressive South Asian fiction, and does an incredible job of showing how the conflicts within a society come to be mirrored within individuals as well. Unlike Mohammed Hanif’s satirical look at Pakistani society in “A Case of Exploding Mangoes,” none of the characters … Continue reading Review: Moth Smoke