The website of writer & artist Dan McNeil

Non-Fiction

Book, magazine, art, and movie reviews by Dan McNeil

FORTRESS MALTA

18th February, 2021

You’re living on a small but strategically important island. It’s wartime. All around you is the enemy. Nearly every day for three years, hundreds of their planes relentlessly bomb you. For much of this time, all you have for defence are insufficient numbers of anti-aircraft guns and a few worn out fighter aircraft. Read more

COME CLOSER

18th February, 2021

Reading this nasty little tale, I’m reminded of Roman Polanski’s Repulsion, in which the female lead goes mad.

And don’t panic, dear publishers of Come Closer – when I say “nasty little tale”, I mean the tale told is nasty, not the manner in which it’s told. The manner in which it’s told is cool and minimal, and it’s all the more believable for that. Read more

AMERICAN PSYCHO

18th February, 2021

“And as things fell apart
Nobody paid much attention.”

(Talking Heads quote, from the introduction to American Psycho) Read more

A POUND OF PAPER: CONFESSIONS OF A BOOK ADDICT

17th February, 2003

Does professional book collecting turns you cold? Fear not. John Baxter’s amusing, intelligent and witty prose will have you laughing and learning. Read more