Review: The Underground Railroad by Colson Whitehead

One of the best books I’ve read this year. Colson Whitehead takes readers through some of terrible injustices heaped upon slaves in America.

The Underground Railroad is a well-written mixture of history and magical realism. The violence, racism and murder mean it isn’t light reading but I’m glad I picked up this story.

Review: All The Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr

Ever since The Book Thief made me sob on the bus, I’ve avoided reading novels about World War Two on public transport. So, when I decided to take All the Light We Cannot See on a train, I knew there was a high chance I’d need tissues.

In the end, I stayed dry-eyed but it was a close run thing. Anthony Doerr’s beautifully written story focuses on two teenagers in occupied Europe; a French girl who supports the resistance and a young Nazi radio operator. In their own ways, they’re both victims of the war.

Review: The Wicked Cometh by Laura Carlin

Laura Carlin’s debut novel combines history, mystery, gore and romance. The Wicked Cometh is a riches to rags (and back again) story that makes me thoroughly glad to live in the twenty-first century.

 

Sugar Money by Jane Harris

This terrifying tale of exploitation was shortlisted for the Walter Scott Prize for Historical Fiction. Loosely based on a real story, it describes an escape attempt made by a group of slaves in 1765. Tragically, they weren’t making a bid for freedom. Conditions in Grenada were so horrific under the invading British they aimed to return to their far-from-kind French former owners.