Two Tokyo misfits: Hooked, by Asako Yuzuki, reviewed
Eriko and Shoko, both lonely 30-year-olds, have difficulty conforming to the intricate social rules ‘ensnaring’ Japanese women
James Baldwin – dogged by painful uncertainties throughout life
Often snared in emotional turmoil, he never knew who his father was, and resisted being pigeonholed on questions of race, blame and responsibility
The misery of working with Chuck Berry
The ‘father of rock and roll’ was cantankerous, deceitful and sly – and partnering him on stage left Keith Richards almost catatonic with stress
The mystery of what makes us special remains unsolved
After spending six years investigating where consciousness comes from, Michael Pollan finds no overarching explanation
Dark family secrets: Repetition, by Vigdis Hjorth, reviewed
With a haunting crime at its heart, this bitter, brief novel leaves one wondering uncomfortably whether it might be a memoir in disguise
The ‘ecocide’ that is Canada’s shame
British Columbia’s most ancient trees continue to be ruthlessly felled, despite ecologists’ warnings of the effect on global climate
No Hungarian rhapsody: Lázár, by Nelio Biedermann, reviewed
A dark forest swallows up successive generations of an entitled Hungarian family in a story imbued with symbolism that spans two world wars
Why Hitler’s suave architect escaped the noose at Nuremberg
Albert Speer was treated leniently because he was softly-spoken, well-dressed and ‘much the most appealing’ of all the defendants, according to Telford Taylor, one of the prosecutors
Ten ways Trump is controlling us all
Donald Trump is very likely the most consequential US President for the world and for British politics since Ronald Reagan,…
Sadiq Khan would be wise to reject Keir Starmer’s peerage
Leaving aside those who have parted with a right old wodge of dosh over the years, there are mainly two…
Will Trump strike a ‘final blow’ on Iran?
Will America’s ground invasion of Iran begin in the early hours of tomorrow? Everybody knows, by now, that Trump likes…
Will Nato regret snubbing Donald Trump?
On April 4, NATO will be 77 years old. The chance that America will be counted among the celebrants when…
Australia’s fuel crisis: political incompetence, not Iran
The severity of the global fuel crisis hitting Australia – that may well reverberate for years to come – is…
Why Israel is carving out a buffer zone in Lebanon
IDF troops have continued to push further into southern Lebanon this week, encountering determined but not particularly effectual resistance from Hezbollah. But…
Rise of the leftist groypers
Last month, Ana Kasparian, executive producer of the progressive YouTube channel The Young Turks (6.5 million subs), tweeted out “Hey, bitch, the…
It’s too easy to blame Big Tech for parental neglect
If a child found Mr. Kipling cakes particularly addictive and began overindulging to the point of becoming overweight or unwell,…
There’s nothing merciful about Noelia Castillo’s death
This week, in Spain, a rape victim was killed by the state. A young woman in pain and despair was…
Reeves’s energy bailout risks solidifying Britain’s welfare trap
This week Rachel Reeves ruled out a blanket energy bailout to manage the fallout from the Iran war. That’s the…
Shabbat Shalom: to those who run towards the fire
There is a line I have found myself returning to this week, watching events unfold in different corners of the…
Trump has shattered America’s ‘illusion of omnipotence’ in Iran
Donald Trump likes to use the phrase ‘go big or go home’ to describe his political strategy. It looks as…
Ed Miliband can’t keep blaming Iran for high energy costs
Sooner or later it is going to dawn on Ed Miliband and the rest of the government that anger over…
Sarah Mullaly makes me grateful to be a Catholic
Granted, I was not the most obvious person to appreciate the installation of Sarah Mullaly in Canterbury, even though I…
What McSweeney’s stolen phone says about modern Britain
If there were ever an event to describe our present moment, it would surely be the theft of Morgan McSweeney’s…
Why rabbit makes the best Easter lunch (yes, really)
Dissonance is necessary around Easter. Fluffy lambs and chicks are everywhere: on cards and decorations, in countless chocolate forms and…
Care factor ‘zero’ for striking ABC staffers
Many support an independent, ad-free broadcaster, but not at any cost
