Here's some I read earlier

In the last while I haven't posted any book reviews here so I thought that I catch up somewhat by mentioning some books that I have read in the last while.
"Netherland" by Joseph O'Neill is quite a brilliant novel set in New York, London and The Hague with cricket, rather unusually, featuring prominently throughout. The central character is a Dutch cosmopolitan thirtysomething searching, drifting, wanting. This is novel is very much of its time. (9/10)
"Zugzwang" by Ronan Bennett was a major let down, a thriller that didn't thrill. Considering the quality of his other work I was taken aback at the looseness of the plot which follows a psychologist up in intrigue and conspiracy in 19th century St. Petersburg. I can't verify the accuracy of the Russian setting or the use of chess terminology but this seemed authentic. The whole book is just ruined by a boring and disjointed plot. (5/10)
If "In the Heart of the Country" by J.M. Coetzee had have been a film I would have either fallen asleep or left long before the end. As I almost never abandon a book I persevered through to the finale but the novel meant nothing to me. It is a story set around an isolated Afrikaner country girl who murders her father out of spite for his taking a black lover. I must be missing something that Tom Paulin found considering his gushing praise on the back cover. (4/10)
"The Secret Scripture"by Sebastian Barry is a wonderful novel. The quality of writing is excellent throughout and the story itself is quite gripping. The historical detail is quite challenging for any Irish reader who may be in denial about some of the less salubrious aspects of our history. The only downside is that the conclusion is quite predictable and lacks a real twist. As novels go this is as close to perfection as it gets. (10/10)