Category: Book Reviews
Review: The Interesting Narrative by Olaudah Equiano
For the first time on The Steady Read, the star rating above this opening paragraph is completely blank, and I feel that is only appropriate given the racial and historical importance of this late 1700s autobiography. That is also why this review will be a bit more brief and less critical than usual, because it…
Review: Yuki chan in Brontë Country by Mick Jackson
Here on The Steady Read, I have made my fondness for Japanese writers very clear, but something is different about today’s book. Despite its title, Yuki chan in Brontë Country is a British novel, written by a White male, who managed to capture some of Japanese fiction’s quirkier elements within his story, which gave it…
Review: The 50 Greatest National Parks of the World by Aaron Millar
In the past couple of years, I have grown increasingly infatuated with nature and its gorgeous landscapes. This interest of mine has led me to reading more about national parks and sightseeing opportunities within western continents, best shown in my positive reception to DK Eyewitness’ recently reviewed USA National Parks: Lands of Wonder and Europe…
Review: Bee Honey by Banana Yoshimoto
It has been quite some time since I last reviewed a story from The Penguin Book of Japanese Short Stories, which is a compilation that I started reading all the way back in March 2026. Nonetheless, I plucked it from my bookshelf the other day and had a pleasant, thoughtful ten-minute read of Banana Yoshimoto’s…
Review: Ceremonial Violence by Jonathan Fast
Clearly, I have a somewhat morbid fascination with the topic of school shootings and what sort of incidents, circumstances, and detached individuals it takes to cause one of these horrific events to pan out. Having read a lot of Columbine-centric works, such as The Columbine School Shootings, Columbine: A True Crime Story, A Mother’s Reckoning,…
Review: Europe by Train by DK Eyewitness
As a European who enjoys a scenic train ride and has never really seen anything of his continent’s mainland, travel books like DK Eyewitness’ Europe by Train invigorate my ever-growing desire to see around this cultured, stunning and historically successful landmass. Hence, I picked this book up and could barely put it down once I…
Review: Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King
Stephen King is an author I have never really engaged with since I was a young boy, yet have seen quite a few films based on his works. Having watched the motion picture of The Shawshank Redemption a handful of times in the last decade, to which I rank it highly amongst my favourites, I…
Review: North Korea (3rd Ed.) by Bradt Travel Guides
When one thinks of holidays, or travel guides related to holiday planning, the so-called ‘Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’—best known as North Korea—is not a place that comes to mind. This is primarily because of the public awareness of its isolated, militarised, and authoritarian nature, alongside its paranoia regarding foreigners. Still, I must confess that,…
Review: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan
The Irish, perhaps due to a history of civil divide and holding onto staunch personal beliefs of what is right or wrong for the people of the Emerald Isle, are immensely good at producing guttural stories that are infused with a charming charisma and bitter edge. Today’s example is Small Things Like These, a rather…
Review: A Spotter’s Guide to Amazing Architecture by Lonely Planet
I must confess that, for all my love of literature and reading, sometimes it is nice to sit down with a publication that is equal parts photographic and literary. On occasion, it can be nicer to look upon images of picturesque landscapes, scenes, and other sights, without forcing your brain to absorb too much written…
