Book Reviews

I currently review books for Chromajournal.co.uk

Recent books reviewed:

Erwin Mortier. My Fellow Skin

Translated by Ina Rilke

Published by Harvill

Reviewed by Leon Fleming

What a treasure. This is a real gem. Split into three parts spanning one life, and although it only chronicles several growing-pain events between the years shortly after birth up to early adulthood, this account is able to make us believe that we have witnessed every second of the protagonist's warmly amusing life: and I enjoyed every second of it.

The beautifully picturesque use of language is complemented by Mortier's flair for rhythm and flow; allowing us the pleasure of feeling the warmth of every sunrise, the freshness of each new morning.

Ina Rilke’s translation from the Dutch has clearly been carried out with a subtlety, poetic sensitivity and love of language that caresses every line and poignant moment in the novel.

This is a well-observed and touchingly woven account of young life, that in many ways is everybody’s. If My Fellow Skin were a painting, it would be a Vermeer or a Rembrandt.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Justin Chin. Attack of the Man-Eating Lotus Blossoms

Published by Suspect Thoughts Press

Reviewed by Leon Fleming

Attack of the Man-Eating Lotus Blossoms is a collection of scripts and descriptions of performance art. Oh dear, I thought, I know nothing about performance art. And then I read the book.

I still don’t know a great deal about performance art, but I know a lot more than I did. This is a wonderful book. The introductions to each piece are witty, informative and give a warm, slightly nostalgic, edge to the text.The scripts themselves are extremely good. The pieces are creative, funny, honest, and vicious in parts.

I feel happy now that I know something about being a gay Asian-American living in San Francisco during the 1990’s, and the emotions brought about by AIDS, sex-tourism and the general feeling towards gay Asian-Americans.I can’t ever do a Cher and turn back time, and so I shall never sit in the audience of one of Justin Chin’s shows, leaving this the nearest thing to the experience.

This book deserves to be on everybody’s bookshelf.