MixedThe RumpusCoetzee’s prose may be devoid of Faulknerian flourishes, but somehow his 'bread and beans' writing seems to me more appetizing than that of just about any novelist working today, even though it often leaves a knot of hunger in the stomach ... a frustrated reader hoping for clarity in The Schooldays of Jesus is likely to be disappointed. In fact, this sequel raises even more questions ... One does not need to be a disciple of Coetzee’s to make sense of these books, but a willingness to trust in his authorial power is a requirement for extracting their sustenance. Without it, that most blasphemous p-word (ends with 'retentious') will wend its serpentine way into your mind and all hope will be lost ... The ending of Schooldays, much like that of its predecessor, feels abrupt, and leaves the reader uncertain as to whether this is truly the end, or part of a longer series.
Roald Dahl, Ed. by Donald Sturrock
PositiveThe Millions...all in all the letters are highly accessible for those otherwise unfamiliar with Dahl’s life, and primarily document his extraordinary anecdotes in the ever-humorous style of a born entertainer ... Although the letters themselves are fascinating and consistently funny, if the book has one flaw it may be that Sturrock tries too hard to force his theme of motherhood ... provides a wonderful summary of this extraordinary life and an intimate insight into his development as a writer.
