LAST EXIT TO BROOKLYN - HUBERT SELBY JNR.

Somehow despite the horrible fate that meets many of the characters within this book the prose seems to contain a celebration of life in New York. The novel is a collection of stories that fit loosely together, taking place in the same area and with some recurring characters. The stories depict life in New York in an honest and brutal light which is mirrored by the clear and easy to read style of prose. The descriptions never veer from the areas that may be glossed over by other authors and the way he writes speech manages to capture the essence of these people better than any author I can think of. Top stuff. Fucked up people in a fucked up city.

THE BIG SLEEP - RAYMOND CHANDLER

Classic American Hardboiled detective fiction. The book comes complete with twists, turns, tough guy detectives, grifters,gallons of whisky, classy cigarette smoking, fast talking, and of course good looking dames. This is Noir at its best. Clelrly a huge inspiration for films like Chinatown and L.A confidential, this is THE original in this genre. A world of stylish broads and sleazy criminals.

A DOGS HEART/THE HEART OF A DOG - BULGAKOV

Another cracker from this Russian writer. A Dogs Heart is a satirical swipe at Stalinist Russia that was banned at its original time of publishing and wasn't widely available until much later.The book tells of a professor who takes in a stray dog for the purposes of an experiment that goes awry. Part Frankenstein, part satire, part politics this is a short novel that deserves attention and the comical easy to read prose belies the complex themes found within. If you like this read The Master and Margarita its a fuckin belter and all.

TROPIC OF CANCER - HENRY MILLER

Autobiographical account of Henry Millers time in Paris as he fucks, drinks and shimmies his way through life. Similar to Orwell's Down and Out and in Paris and London but with a raunchy rather than political feel. Miller doesn't just write about the physical but also rants and raves about his philosophy on life. This book was originally banned upon publication in 1934 but has since lost some but not all of its power to shock. Well worth a read just for some of the stories contained inside. Understand the LETTER DIRGE.

THE MAN IN THE HIGH CASTLE - PHILLIP K DICK

Alternative history novel about an alternative history novel. Phillip K Dick imagines a world where Japan and Germany won the second world war and carved up the world for them to rule over. The novel takes place largely in the Japanese half of occupied United States with a wide variety of characters all struggling in one way or another under a totalitarian regime. Throughout there are references to another book which details a third possible reality after the second world war. The book which at first seems innocuous proves to be pivotal in a momentous ending. Phillip K Dick manages to bring a human perspective to what can sometimes be a rather geeky genre and deserves his place as a great fiction writer (Not just for Science-Fiction nerds). Swallow the LETTER DIRGE.

JORGE LUIS BORGES - FICCIONES

Baffling worlds within worlds from this Argentianian master. Borges writes short stories of amazing complexity and depth that refuse to stick to classic narrative. These stories cover a vast range of themes as Borges explores philosophy, mysticism, religion, perception, fact and fiction, and many more. The stories are often of a bizarre fantastical nature with seeming contradictory elements that all seem to add up to stimulating and interesting reading. There are comparisons to be drawn with Kafka due to this contradictory and surreal nature of the work, however Borges resides in his own style really. Borges blurs the lines of fact and fiction often presenting writings on bonkers subjects as academic rather than fictional. This a brilliant book and should be read by any Kafka or Bolano nuts. Make your eyes read the letter dirge.

UMBRELLA - WILL SELF

Having never read any Will Self I decided to read this novel as a starter due to its nomination for the Man Booker. This is a dense and complex novel that covers a variety of themes but a book that rewards the hard work of the reader. The Plot is about three siblings of the Death family around the time of the First World War, a Psychiatrist who is treating Audrey Death in a 70s mental hospital and finally this same psychiatrist in 2010. The book encompasses many topics including class struggle, socialism, war, death, mental health and feminism among others. Despite the plethora of ideas the novel builds nicely to a dramatic ending. The book is written in a modernist style with stream of consciousness (similar to James Joyce's Ulyesses I'm told, although I aint never read that book) which I was a fan of, It can be really fucking annoying. Some people might be put off by the long and meandering sentences coupled with a boggling amount of odd and interesting words or, like me you might enjoy the beautiful use of language and lexicon. Read it and feel the letter dirge.

POST OFFICE - BUKOWSKI

I read this in record time, to revert to cliche - I COULD NOT PUT THIS DOWN. This is the semi-autobiographical story of Henry Chinaski aka Charles Bukowski and his life of menial jobs, booze, women, booze, gambling, and booze. He stumbles from job to job and drink to drink relating stories of note. These stories are often hilarious and Bukowski's insights into low life America have not dulled with age. This is a character we shouldn't like but for me he has a charm that's hard to not to be fond of and laugh at/with. Bukowski's punchy classically American masculine prose only adds to the novel, there are those who will see this style as juvenile and macho, but I like it. If you like Junky, Last Exit to Brooklyn etc then read this word collection.