To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com The final chapter in the First Chronicles of Thomas Covenant and unsurprisingly, he is still as unpleasant as always. Unaccepting of his situation and blaming everyone along the way, Thomas takes the back seat to his own story. The land faces all-out war in this brutal tale of attrition where only those that have something to fight for, will prevail Painting: I painted the eyes of Lord Foul how they were described in his...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com We are back at Hogwarts for Harry’s 4th years of mischief and mayhem. Between battling dragons, dodging Death Eaters, and navigating the treacherous waters of the Yule Ball, Harry juggles more than just curses. As the Triwizard Tournament unfolds, he learns that Voldemort’s return is as inevitable as Snape’s snarky remarks in this next instalment. Painting: I painted a dragon because Tolkien said that any fantasy story...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com ‘You don’t get it Tony, you never did.’ Words that echo through this book and we too as the reader become Tony, unsure of what we are missing. A blend of history and the self- delusions of our past, this Booker Prize winning novel delicately unnerves you through the infernal mystery of time and life, and how they interplay within our own memories. Painting: I painted time as best i could Some of the books and authors...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com A world of infinite halls where Piranesi roams and makes his home. There are 16 people from this world with only two alive – himself and ‘The other’. In this world, they lead different lives as Piranesi tracks the events of the years that pass. But as we delve deeper into the cavernous halls, we also delve into the life of Piranesi and page by age we begin to learn that this world is not all it seems, and Piranesi is not...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com   Two novellas for the price of one and it's a bargain with the skill of Nora Gold on full display. Two stories that navigate different issues in two very different ways. But both the stories are similar in that they require inflection and honesty - an inflective process and honesty that transfers to the reader with every page turned. Painting: I painted A sick woman in a bed because that is essentially what one story...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com We are back in The Land, and Thomas is just insufferable and unbelieving in his situation. Assuming He is living through a dream sequence, he rejects the dream in a bid to not commit to a growing madness in his mind. But this existential exploration of action vs inaction lays out across the Land and the scope of this book making it one of the most defeating books. Painting: I painted the great forest of Garroting Deep which...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban sees a shift in the series from a form of fantasy detective fiction in the first two stories, to a story that explores the slow building pressure of a psychological thriller. Harry, now into his teen years is faced with a radically different scenario at Hogwarts. He is no longer seeking out the drama. Instead, the drama is seeking him, stalking him, haunting him… Painting: I painted...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com Sylvia Plath's "The Bell Jar" is the novel that delves into the mental intricacies of the human mind. The page by page decent of madness sees Esther become increasingly abstracted from the world, but as this is happening, I felt myself more and more abstracted from the story. Tune in this week to hear my thoughts on Plath’s only novel. Painting: I painted a silhouette of a city because the opening lines to this novel hooked...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com R.F. Kuang’s Yellowface. Complex to a degree, problematic to a degree, controversial to a degree. Kuang's narrative delves into the intricacies of racial identity and the absurdities of cultural appropriation with a finesse that leaves readers simultaneously chuckling and contemplating the nature of the publishing world and the individual. Painting: I painted a book with the truth authors name crossed out and replaced. Some...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com A fantasy novel known for pushing the boundaries of what not only fantasy can do, but literature as a whole. A leper by the name of Thomas Covenant is cast into a fantasy land he disregards as a bad dream, after falling and hitting his head. But, if this is all a dream, are the consequences  of our actions void, or do they hold weight upon our minds? Painting: I painted The Staff of Law which is a major plot point for the...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com The second instalment into the Harry Potter series sees the book and story delve deeper into the magical world we all have come to love. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets explores the depths of the castle Hogwarts, it introduces us to some new faces and reveals some dark magic that will be explored across the remaining books. Painting: I painted the flying car because this scene is always so fun to read and watch. I...

  To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com A tale of shipwreck, mutiny, and murder. A tale of human endurance. David Grann’s ‘The Wager’ is the shocking true tale of the Wager, a ship that makes up part of the English fleet. In this seafaring adventure, the men are pushed to the limits and also push the limits of their own existence all in the name of survival. But what happens when survival drives you to do things that are against the admirality? Painting: I...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com In a hole in the ground, there lived a Hobbit… And with these words, we begin our journey into one of the richest fantasy worlds ever created, and our first glimpse into the world of Hobbits. Painting: I painted a hobbit door opening upon an acorn because I think the movie got this scene exactly right. The acorn is the love Bilbo has for the world over the greed of dragon gold. Some of the books and authors discussed in...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com From Cyprus to England, the roots of this story are set in the heats of relationships, whatever form that takes. In this book, we journey across lives and times. From a civil war in Cyprus where two star cross lovers hide what is most natural, to the distant shores of England to learn that putting down new roots is sometimes hard, and sometimes easy.. Painting: I painted a fig because the fig is central to the story. One of...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com It is the story that defined so many of our childhoods. The story that swept the world, captured our hearts and imaginations. Harry Potter and the Philosophers Stone is the first introduction into the magical world of Hogwarts and all that comes with it. A place of witches and wizards, and a dark lord thrown into the mix for a bit of fun.. Painting: I painted the sorting hat and the letter because I loved both these scenes...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com In Virginia Woolf's "To the Lighthouse," Woolf's prose is a symphony of introspective musings, shifting perspectives, and the delicate dance between the seen and the unseen. The lighthouse, a distant beacon, as the characters strive to reach its elusive shores, much like readers reaching for the depths of Woolf's literary brilliance. Painting: I painted a lighthouse because what else could I paint? The lighthouse, the...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com Three famous historical and literary figures materialise in front of you and tell you that you have been selected by the ‘Supreme One’ as the man to build the first Synagogue on Prince Edward Island. You think you might have gone crazy. This is the opening to Steven Mayoff’s latest novel, ‘The Island According to Samson Grief’, and it is as wild as it promises to be. Painting: I painted a blue starfish with 6 arms to...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com "The Man Who Was Thursday" by G.K. Chesterton is a  metaphysical thriller that unfolds in a surreal and anarchic world. The protagonist, Gabriel Syme, infiltrates a secret anarchist council only to discover that the members are not what they seem. Each member is named after a day of the week, and the narrative twists through enigmatic encounters, philosophical discussions, and unexpected revelations. Chesterton's novel...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com D'Artagnan, the ambitious country lad, stumbles into the chaotic world of 17th-century France, encountering the dashing trio Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. As they navigate political intrigue and romantic entanglements, their camaraderie becomes as legendary as their exploits. With a blend of humour, romance, and duels, Dumas concocts a timeless tale where daring deeds and clever repartees are the ultimate musketeer...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com In "Howl's Moving Castle," Diana Wynne Jones orchestrates a whimsical symphony of enchantment and eccentricity. As Sophie, the cursed young woman, finds herself in a predicament that turns her world topsy-turvy, the novel unfolds with charm and a healthy dose of mystery about how to set herself right. Sophie turns to the enigmatic wizard Howl and together they navigate a fantastical world filled with magical mishaps and...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com A haunting hound is upon the moors. A family curse dances in the fog and sherlock Holmes is strangely absent from his first case back after being killed off. This is a case like no other, upon the uncertain moors in Dartmoor, where rumours swirl in the fog and an ugly truth that lies too close to home, rears its haunting head.  Painting: I visited Dartmoor National Park and explored the landscape close to the prison that has...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com A penguin, Ukraine and the Mafia. "Death and the Penguin" is a darkly humorous novel that dances on the edge of absurdity. Set in a post-Soviet Ukraine, it follows the unlikely friendship between Viktor, a struggling writer, and Misha, his pet penguin. As they navigate a world of corruption and crime, their adventures unfold with a blend of wit, satire, and unexpected twists. Painting: I painted a penguin atop a coffin...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" by Victor Hugo is a towering gem that combines romance, tragedy, and a dash of architectural history. With Quasimodo, the bell-ringer, as its centrepiece, the novel takes readers on a sprawling tale through the city of Paris. The novel delves into the complexities of human nature and the societal constraints that shape individuals as it all plays out with the backdrop of that historic cathedral...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com "Hercule Poirot's Christmas" by Agatha Christie is a holiday whodunnit. Set during the festive season, this intriguing novel follows the renowned detective, Hercule Poirot, as he unravels a web of family secrets and deceit. With Christie's signature wit and clever plot twists, readers are taken on a thrilling journey filled with suspense, unexpected revelations, and a Christmas gathering like no other. Some of the books and...

To follow and support us, click here: http://anovelreviewpodcast.com "Black Boy" by Richard Wright is a powerful memoir that fearlessly delves into the author's journey of self-discovery amidst racial oppression. With a sharp pen and unflinching honesty, Wright paints a vivid portrait of his experiences growing up in the Jim Crow South. Through his poignant storytelling, he challenges societal norms, confronts prejudice, and illuminates the resilience of the human spirit. Some of the books...