Books of the week

The weekend beckons under damp grey skies which can mean only one thing - it's time for a glass of wine and a good book. Although technically that's two things. Oh, and a crackling fire. That's three things and a very limp Monty Python reference that I would delete if it wasn't too much effort at this late stage in the day (5.52pm). Blame my brother Caleb, who was obsessed by Monty Python when we were growing up.

Here, then, are a few books I've read recently that you might like to check out this rainy weekend.

FICTION
Theodora: Actress. Empress. Whore
Stella Duffy
Duffy's first historical novel, Theodora opens in sixth-century Constantinople and follows the fortunes of a real life historical figure who began as a performer at the Hippodrome and went on to become Empress (the title of the novel says it all, really). It's an ambitious saga of a book, with plenty of politics, travel and love affairs, including a (not historically verified) relationship with a woman. It's also engaging and very readable. Duffy has a sequel on the way (and HBO has optioned the books - congrats Stella!), so don't delay, get yourself a copy of Theodora now, newly available in paperback.
Virago, £7.99

FICTION
Our Tragic Universe
Scarlett Thomas
Our Tragic Universe has been out in paperback for a couple of months, so many of you may have already had the pleasure, but it's such a smart, enjoyable novel, it's worth reminding you about. The narrator, Meg, is a writer making a living writing book reviews and genre fiction, when really she wants to write serious literary fiction. She lives in Dartmouth where a sense of dampness pervades, her relationship's not working and she is reading a book called The Science of Living Forever, which outlines a theory that we are all immortal. This is a novel that name-checks Aristophanes and Nietzsche in the first 50 pages, but in a narrative voice so fresh and interesting that you relish every sentence (well, I did anyway). A thoroughly enjoyable, thoughtful novel, which has inspired me to seek out Thomas's earlier work (she has written four novels before this one - great news). Highly recommended.
Canongate, £8.99
 
GRAPHIC NOVEL
Love From The Shadows
Gilbert Hernandez
The first thing you notice about the heroine of Love From The Shadows, Dolores, is her enormous, exaggerated bust. The second thing you notice is that she has a lisp, and the third is that she is threatened, abandoned and then rejected by men within the first few pages. Thankfully, this isn't the whole story; in fact, it turns out that Dolores is actually a character called Fritz who Gilbert Hernandez has written about in the past, and she plays three roles in the novel, including that of her own brother, Sonny, a gay man who later undergoes extensive surgery in order to impersonate her. 

That's right, this is a graphic novel that's pushing a few boundaries. The story is (presumably intentionally) confusing and surreal, featuring scam artists, mysterious caves, a boy in a boat, inheritances, mysterious suicides and arrows to the genitals… yes, this book has it all. If you are into noir crime thrillers and graphic novels and you're looking for something thought-provoking, it's worth a look.
Fantagraphics, £14.99

NON-FICTION
Hegarty on Advertising: Turning Intelligence into Magic
John Hegarty
One of the world's most famous advertising creatives, John Hegarty has 45 years experience in the ad business. This book, a beautifully-designed hardback, contains his advice to others in the creative industries and includes sections on pitching to clients, marketing a brand and keeping your creative edge. Part history/memoir, part business guide, I found Hegarty on Advertising a really interesting read; it's a book by a man who values creativity and irreverence and knows how to harness them for the good of his business. In a global recession (etc etc) these are valuable lessons, making this a must-read for creative professionals, those in marketing and suchlike.
Thames and Hudson, £16.95

NON-FICTION
The Deconstructive Impulse: Women Artists Reconfigure the Signs of Power 1973-1991
Ed. Nancy Princenthal
The Deconstructive Impulse is a collection of essays featuring women artists whose work deconstructed "the operations of cultural power" during the 70s and 80s, and includes work by Cindy Sherman, Carrie Mae Weems, Guerrilla Girls, Laurie Simmons and Hannah Wilke. A useful resource for artists and/or those interested in postmodern theory, spending a couple of hours with this book is a great way of going to see some art exhibitions with knowledgeable essayist friends in tow, without having to leave the house. You know it makes sense.
Prestel, £35

So there you have it; five very different books, all of them with a lot to offer. As always, if you'd like to suggest books for review, send an email to eden@divamag.co.uk and I'll see what I can do.

NEXT TIME:

A few more lesbian-themed titles have been accumulating on my desk over the past few weeks, so I'll tackle those next week. Until then, happy reading.