Little did I know, when writing my previous monthly wrap-up, that my leisurely, random reading plans were about to be hijacked by a frenetic, strictly-structured schedule. A few weeks ago, the longlist for the Independent Foreign Fiction Prize was announced, and after I foolishly announced that I was planning to read a good few of the books nominated, I was invited by Stu of Winston’s Dad to join the Shadow Panel for the event.
*****
Total Books Read: 13
New: 13
From the Shelves: 5
Review Copies: 0
My last book of the month, Blooms of Darkness, almost tempted me into giving it the drumsticks, but in the end I decided that it wasn’t quite poor enough to warrant the humiliation 😉
Tony’s Recommendation for March is: Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Unconsoled
Ishiguro’s strangest novel was first out of the blocks this month, and despite the plethora of excellent novels consumed(!) in March, it was never really seriously challenged. It’s hard to give honourable mentions in a month as successful as this, but I suppose, if pressed, that I would have to single out Sjón, Eco, Oz and Mishima for special praise 🙂
And that’s it for March! April will (hopefully) see me power through the rest of the IFFP longlist plus a few other books I have lined for review. There is one potential stumbling block though – Péter Nádas’ monster of a book, Parallel Stories, may just keep me busy for longer than I’d like…
Tony's Reading List 
been great fun having you along Tony ,all the best stu
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great list, enjoy the works Ishiguro & Mishima, definitely want to read down the rabbit hole. My favourites so far are a reread The Alexandria Quartet, the Japanese Sci Fi collection & Sjon's book
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Stu – Thanks: I'm thoroughly enjoying it (well, most of it!).
Gary – 'The Alexandria Quartet' sounds interesting – might be one for a later date…
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