Eduardo Galeanos most famous book, 1973s Open Veins Of Latin America: Five Centuries Of The Pillage Of A Continent, was recently presented to President Obama by Venezuelas Hugo Chavez, making it an overnight bestseller. His latest attempt is nothing less than a history of the world. In 600-odd sharp bursts of left-slanted history, Galeano blasts through the foundation myths, prominent figures and key events from prehistory to the present. Galeano is on the side of the underdog, and he charts his histories with compassion and wry humour. Some statements are dubious, but he is an enchanting interpreter of history, and a poetic voice of political dissent. Siobhn Murphy Iranian-born Laleh Khadivi has allowed herself three volumes to tell her multi- generational story of a Kurdish family (of which this is the first), and so avoids the over- eagerness that can leave debut novels groaning Originally published in 1982 but only now translated from Finnish into English, this psychological thriller by Tove Jansson (pictured below) is a world away from the Moomintroll stories that have made her one of the most beloved childrens authors in any language. This is a slowly circling pas de deux between two opponents through the long winter of a snowbound hamlet. Friendless Katri will brook no deceit and cares only for her unworldly brother, Mats, and the nameless dog that follows her everywhere. The childrens author Anna Aemelin lives alone in a large house that resembles a crouching rabbit, where she enjoys the fortune made from her tales of flower-covered bunnies. Katri wants to inveigle her way into the writers home without compromising her honesty. Leaving aside the teasing autobiographical echoes, this mid-winter fable has an eerie, stark simplicity that calls to mind the darkest fairy tales, the brief chapters taking on the force of an elemental clash. Ben Felsenburg Supported By winter Hide and seek: Michael Keaton steps behind and in front of the camera for new film A Merry Gentleman, in which he plays a suicidal hitman saved by a lonely receptionist indoors reading Sartre while wearing a beret. Ha I wouldnt understand Sartre, he says. And I go crazy if I cant physically be outside. I jog, I bike, I fly- fish I get very claustrophobic. Which is why he loves directing. Frankly, film acting can be quite dull. One of the main reasons I like directing is you dont have to sit around in a trailer all day being bored out of your f***ing mind. Its excruciating. You get a little older and its like: How many more years do I have? and you think: F*** this! I cant sit in a trailer, Ive got stuff Ive gotta do! The Merry Gentleman (15A) is in cinemas from Friday GIG Snow Patrol Wednesday, December 2, 2009 metrolife 19 Staying In Book Reviews The True Deceiver by Tove Jansson Sort Of Books, 10 Jenny Huston (pictured) is one of 2FMs more musically savvy presenters and this overview of contemporary Irish rock is well written and handsomely presented. Among the bands interviewed and profiled at length are Bell X1, Choice music prize-winner Jape, Duke Special and the deeply irritating and overrated Fight Like Apes. If theres a weakness its that several of the artists really havent done enough to merit the full on rock-biopic treatment. Do we, for instance, really require behind the music ruminations on indie moochers Delorentos or Messiah J And The Expert, Dublins novelty rap duo? Moreover the images in the book are largely drawn from the archives so that if you have any interest in music youll have seem them several times already (that picture of Japes Richie Egan with the branch around his neck really ought to be retired). For what it is, In Bloom is perfectly respectable. But the addition of several heavy weight interviewees Snow Patrols Gary Lightbody, Ashs Tim Wheeler, or a member of U2 for instance would have made it a great deal more compelling. That being said, if you are a fan of The Frames or The Swell Season, then Glen Hansards passionate and insightful foreword is worth the purchase price alone. Eamon de Paor Non-Fiction Focus In Bloom: Irish Bands Now by Jenny Huston Currach Press, 20 under the weight of too many ideas. It begins in the 1920s with the Iranian army forcing all tribal minorities to bow to a united nation. During a tribal/army clash a young boy is torn from his Kurdish family and indoctrinated, left to police the very people he was stolen from. Assured and creative, Khadivis lyrical prose gets inside the damaged psychology of the orphan, bringing his terrifying loss of identity, and a broad expanse of history, to life. The language can be opaque at times but, at its best, can be so lulling that the violence comes like a slap in the face, leaving you smarting for pages after. This novel stands alone, but youd be hard pressed not to look forward to part two. Zena Alkayat The Age Of Orphans by Laleh Khadivi Bloomsbury, 16 Mirrors: Stories Of Almost Everyone by Eduardo Galeano Portobello, 22 Multi-platinum melodic rockers Snow Patrol have become such a regular mainstay of the charts that their success might now be taken for granted. Theyre unapologetically easy on the ear (its small wonder hits such as Chasing Cars and Run have been covered by the likes of Leona Lewis) but they also summon enough persuasive bluster to command a massive live audience. Still, the Northern Irish/Scottish outfit are pop boys at heart, as demonstrated by their early cover of Beyoncs Crazy In Love, their version of INXSs New Sensation for the latest Late Night Tales mix series, and their recent collaboration with Cheryl Cole, who stepped into the high heels of original collaborator Martha Wainwright for Set The Fire To The Third Bar. This Reworked tour ties in with the release of Up To Now, a two-disc best-of album featuring 30 tracks, offering covers, rarities and new takes on material from the bands 15-year history as well as three new songs, one of which is latest single Just Say Yes. Arwa Haider Tonight & Thu, Olympia Theatre, 72 Dame Street D2, 7.30pm (band starts 8pm sharp), 56.80 to 62.70 (returns only). Tel: 0818 719 300. www. fan tells him to stop wearing Mixed Martial Arts t-shirts, or hell kill Katies horses. November 8: Does an interview claiming to be very bright and that he reads about ancient theology. November 23: Flies to Australia, planning to propose to Price on Im A Celebrity. November 24: Price leaves Im A Celebrity and dumps Reid during her Ant and Dec interview. Reids mum thinks this is very cruel. November 26: Reid is filmed having a showdown with Price for her reality show. Well done Alex, youve gone from obscurity to a used-up laughing stock in a mere four months. What a world... Scott Tenorman index.html2.html3.html4.html5.html6.html7.html8.html9.html10.html11.html12.html13.html14.html15.html16.html17.html18.html19.html20.html21.html22.html23.html24.html25.html26.html27.html