COMP: Lose yourself in a ghostly grown-up fairytale

on 17 September 2011 in Lifestyle

Global Cool’s resident book worm brings you her favourite reads, inspiring you to ditch the car and the stress of the morning commute and bury your head in a great book on the bus or train instead…

Over the last few weeks we’ve given you some tales of school-life, foreign worlds and a whole lot of love. Autumn’s hit and I’ve been craving some well-written fantasy to enjoy while the September chill blasts into the bus or train at every stop. Ismail Kadare’s The Ghost Rider has provided all the escapism you could ever need on a train journey. Enjoyed some of this year’s Man Booker shortlist? Well why not see what you think of this Man Booker International Prize winner by picking it up at your local library.

What’s all the fuss?
Forget the big cheesy Nicholas Cage blockbuster of the same name, this book is short and very sinister. The story embraces an Albanian folk tale giving Kadare the opportunity to jump on the dark-and-twisty fairytale bandwagon like so many of the best. We’re transported back to a medieval, warring Albania where Konstandin has to fulfil a promise he made to his mother: to collect his sister from Bohemia and bring her back home. The only problem is he’s actually dead and his sister doesn’t have a clue. The long and short of it is that the moment that they arrive home the family has to confront life, death, duty and honour. You’ll be so desperate to unravel the mystery of a family and civil strife that you may well miss your stop.

We love hearing about all the Books In Public you’re reading. So this week we’ve got a copy of The Ghost Rider up for grabs thanks to the lovely people @canongatebooks. All you need to do is tell us what you’ve been reading on the bus/train in the comments below before 11am on October 3 and one lucky random winner will get their hands on the book!

THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW CLOSED – THANKS FOR ALL THE RECOMMENDATIONS AND WELL DONE TO CLAIRE COOKE, WHOSE COMMENT WAS CHOSEN AT RANDOM TO WIN THE BOOK

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