"My first exposure to Vollmann is his recent collection of short stories, Last Stories and Other Stories (2014) which I still feel is nothing short of brilliant. I eagerly hunted up a copy of Europe Central and dove in. It is constructed like in that it is a loosely woven warp of vignettes that tie together Nazi Germany and Stalin's USSR from the early-1930s through the end of World War II. For me, Vollmann is a writer that I have to take in small doses. His is a heady brew. I find that I read a vignette and then have to mull it over for a day or two, and then slowly move on. Being a student of World War II history and that of the Eastern Front particularly, this novel does pretty accurately get into what it meant to be Russian and German during that horrific period.

I think you need to be pretty well up on your World War II to fully appreciate this big sprawling canvas of horror that Vollmann has painted. Having an understanding of modern Russian composers, and even the poetry of Anna Akhmatova sure wouldn't hurt either. I can certainly see why this novel was a National Book Award winner too, as Vollmann makes us engage with all of the reasons why the legacies of both the Second World War and the Cold War continue to shape Europe and the United States and probably will for generations to come. Grim and gritty, but well worth the read."

"Celebrity Death Match Special: In Search of Lost Time versus Harry Potter

The francophone world was stunned by today's release of papers, sealed by Proust for 100 years after publication of the initial volume of his famous series, which finally reveal his original draft manuscripts. In the rest of this review, you can find out what Proust's books looked like before his well-meaning but unworldly editor decided that French literateurs would prefer something slightly different.

(view spoiler)[1. Marcel Proust and the Magic Cookie

Traumatised by years of living in the cupboard under the stairs and never getting a goodnight kiss from Aunt Petunia, Marcel can't remember a thing about his childhood. One day, he eats a magic cookie and it all comes back to him.

2. Marcel Proust and the Change of Plan

Marcel is briefly involved with Hermione, but decides, after a heavy petting session goes wrong, that it's not such a good idea after all. He spends a nice summer holiday at the seaside where he meets Ginny or possibly someone else.

3. Marcel Proust and the Dodgy Duchess

Rita Skeeter has turned up at Hogwarts pretending to be a member of the French nobility. A star-struck Marcel falls for it and starts stalking her everywhere. In the end, he sees through her ruse and realises that she's just a hack journalist.

4. Marcel Proust and the Cottaging Baron

Marcel is astonished to discover Lucius Malfoy and Hagrid [The rest of this paragraph has been withdrawn following legal advice]

5. Marcel Proust and the Abusive Relationship

Marcel and Ginny are not getting on very well. Marcel keeps cross-examining her about what she's doing when she claims to be attending meetings of Dumbledore's Army and accuses her of having a lesbian affair with Cho Chang. When Ginny denies it, he rants at her in page-long uppercase sentences.

6. Marcel Proust and the Deceased Girlfriend

Ginny is killed in a freak broomstick accident when she falls off her Nimbus 3000. Marcel is very sad for a while, but then returns to interrogating Cho about what was really going on.

7. Marcel Proust and the Commercial Success

Although Voldemort's forces are poised to strike, Marcel's thoughts are elsewhere. He's always wanted to be a bestselling novelist but can't think how to get started. As the Death Eaters storm Hogwarts, he suddenly understands that he just needs to write down all the things that have happened to him, changing names and a few details, and he will sell a zillion copies plus movie rights. (hide spoiler)]"