Taħt il-Kappa tax-Xemx is one of those books that blew my mind when I first read it some 20 years ago, mainly because it was one of the first locally-written satires that touched me directly, every page provoking a reaction. That reaction, more often than not, involved incredulous admiration for the (metaphorical) balls of the author, Karl Schembri (incidentally the author … [Read more...] about Taħt il-Kappa tax-Xemx Review
BOOKS
The Battle for Sicily’s Soul
I have always been fascinated by the cultural impact that the Italian Mafia has left on this side of the Mediterranean. Maltese culture is so close to that of Sicily, a mere 130km away by air, that we didn't only inherit their yummy kannoli and a penchant for pasta. There's also that small matter of organised crime, systematic corruption and a general feeling that some people … [Read more...] about The Battle for Sicily’s Soul
Marta Marta by Loranne Vella
The award-winning writer's latest book explores themes of oppression in a patriarchal society If I were to place feminism and LGBTIQ rights within the same sentence, would you be surprised? Many would. And yet, in a world where the patriarchy remains firmly entrenched, they are very much the same side of the coin. This is the premise behind Marta Marta, a new publication by … [Read more...] about Marta Marta by Loranne Vella
kollox jeħel magħna – Book Review
Life With No Filters It's a shame I'm not reviewing Francesco Grech's kollox jeħel magħna in Maltese, but not gonna lie - proofing in Maltese takes me forever and a day, so here goes.I got my first glimpse of kollox jeħel magħna when asked to do a reading at the Studio Solipsis book launch. A handful of poems as a sneak preview, most of them four, or even two, liners. Almost … [Read more...] about kollox jeħel magħna – Book Review
Big Oak on Little Mountain: Review
Award-winning writer Lou Drofenik's take on the rise of fascism in Europe is as poignant as it is enthralling, making the reader race to the end. Big Oak on Little Mountain is a Maltese-published book I've been eagerly awaiting for a while. I first encountered Lou Drofenik's work when carrying out research for an interview I was meant to hold with her during the National … [Read more...] about Big Oak on Little Mountain: Review