Quote of the day: 

Be true to yourself. Make each day a masterpiece. Help others. Drink deeply from good books. Make friendship a fine art. Build a shelter against a rainy day. -John Wooden




Imagine a world without books, certainly a scary proposition to imagine. Herman Hesse said it best 'Without words, without writing and without books there would be no history, there could be no concept of humanity'. But that is not the case and for that one must consume a many books as time will allow.

Shylock is my Name is a novel by award wining British writer and broadcaster Howard Jacobson. It is the second to be published in Vintage's Hogarth Shakespeare series (a project where Shakespeare's works are retold by acclaimed and bestselling novelists of today). It is a reworking of The Merchant of Venice, a sort of modern version of the classic play by William Shakespeare. It focuses on Simon Strulovitch, a wealthy art collector and philanthropist who is often conflicted about his Jewishness, and the antagonist Shylock -a character in search of closure and one filled with wit and purpose. They both meet in a graveyard-each with his own intimate thoughts about a lost loved one. Along the way Shylock becomes the house guest of Strulovitch -who is struggling to come to terms with his daughter's betrayal of their family values and Jewish upbringing -an echo of the original play by Shakespeare. As the two men bond, most of the novel expands upon their individual relationship, and the twists and dialogue between these two main characters, sprinkled with a few other notable characters and moments of subtleties from the second half of the book.

Howard Jacobson is great at turning satire into seriousness. He delves deep into issues of family conflict, self doubt, fatherhood, history and religion in this wonderful and modern take on Shakespeare's 'The Merchant of Venice'. His interpretation is brilliant, witty and truly a delightful book to read.


What books are you currently reading?


Peace. Love. Light* 

Current Listen: Art Blakey & The Jazz Messengers - Are You Real?