This topic is currently marked as "dormant"—the last message is more than 90 days old. You can revive it by posting a reply.
1tillandsia
I'm new here so first of all: hello!
I aim to read 50 books in a year, and I will start my year today. I have to read a lot of non-fiction books due to my job, but I will not record those here. I'm only listing the books I read purely for pleasure.
I have just started The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. It seems interesting and quite an unusual novel. Smuggling the Golem out of Prague. Where is this going to lead? I will soon find out.
I aim to read 50 books in a year, and I will start my year today. I have to read a lot of non-fiction books due to my job, but I will not record those here. I'm only listing the books I read purely for pleasure.
I have just started The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon. It seems interesting and quite an unusual novel. Smuggling the Golem out of Prague. Where is this going to lead? I will soon find out.
2idyllicmelody
Hello there.
Good luck in your mission!
Good luck in your mission!
3tillandsia
Thanks! I hope I will succeed.
I have not finished the first book yet, but I will list my to-be-read books here. I will choose my next book from these, although I don't know yet which one. It will depend on my mood.
The View from Castle Rock
Saturday
On Chesil Beach
The Golden Notebook
Oryx and Crake
The Possibility of an Island
I have not finished the first book yet, but I will list my to-be-read books here. I will choose my next book from these, although I don't know yet which one. It will depend on my mood.
The View from Castle Rock
Saturday
On Chesil Beach
The Golden Notebook
Oryx and Crake
The Possibility of an Island
4tillandsia
At last! I'm finished.
1. Michael Chabon: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
I know it took me long, but it was a long book and I didn't have much spare time. I am glad that I read it, because it is quite an original novel; the contrast between occupied Prague from which Joe flees and pre-war America's entertainment industry is really strong and touching. Although he earns fame and money in the US, and turns out to be really talented, this contrast, which constantly lives in him, tortures Joe endlessly: all he does is phantasize about saving people while his loved ones are far away with noone to save them. Comics are shown as ways of escaping from the real world both for their creators and their readers. This is shown as pathetic and magnificent at the same time: it is nothing, but also infinitely much. The parallel between the Golem and the superheroes of comics is revelatory. The characters in the novel are subtle and made me feel for them. Also, I didn't know much about classical comics before, and I never gave a thought to how important they are in American cultural history, so the book was interesting for me in this respect too.
1. Michael Chabon: The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay
I know it took me long, but it was a long book and I didn't have much spare time. I am glad that I read it, because it is quite an original novel; the contrast between occupied Prague from which Joe flees and pre-war America's entertainment industry is really strong and touching. Although he earns fame and money in the US, and turns out to be really talented, this contrast, which constantly lives in him, tortures Joe endlessly: all he does is phantasize about saving people while his loved ones are far away with noone to save them. Comics are shown as ways of escaping from the real world both for their creators and their readers. This is shown as pathetic and magnificent at the same time: it is nothing, but also infinitely much. The parallel between the Golem and the superheroes of comics is revelatory. The characters in the novel are subtle and made me feel for them. Also, I didn't know much about classical comics before, and I never gave a thought to how important they are in American cultural history, so the book was interesting for me in this respect too.
5tillandsia
2. Alice Munro: The View from Castle Rock
This book was a disappointment for me. I liked her style, which is quite simple and straightforward, but also poetic sometimes. Still, I didn't find the stories interesting and I didn't really care about the characters. I thought there would be more connection between past and present. I liked the story about the wedding preparations best: the old aunt giving her money and telling her she still had chance to flee was really touching.
This book was a disappointment for me. I liked her style, which is quite simple and straightforward, but also poetic sometimes. Still, I didn't find the stories interesting and I didn't really care about the characters. I thought there would be more connection between past and present. I liked the story about the wedding preparations best: the old aunt giving her money and telling her she still had chance to flee was really touching.
6tillandsia
3. Michel Houellebecq: The Possibility of an Island
After reading the first pages, I was tempted to put this book down because I found it irritating, but now I’m glad I didn’t. The situation unfolds slowly, but once you understand it, it becomes fascinating and gripping. The book is a harsh critique on our age, and shows where some of today’s tendencies could lead, drawing up a worst-case scenario. The main character and narrator, Daniel is a very cynical person, who sees the problems clearly, but is deeply embedded in this world. The fact that he himself is a part of the problem makes his critique even more disturbing. Also, deep down this cynic is also a hopeless romantic, sometimes even sentimental, and this is the cause of his collision with the world he lives in. This world lacks values and true feelings, it is superficial, people idolize youth and despise getting old, they chase pleasure, but getting it does not really satisfy them. This picture is disturbing because it seems realistic, it is a caricature with only small exaggerations. The subsequent evolution of this world, the catastrophes that occur are shown as likely, even necessary consequences. The book can also be read as a sad account of the human condition, how one is trapped into one’s body, confined by physical needs and abilities, and unable to make real connections with other people.
After reading the first pages, I was tempted to put this book down because I found it irritating, but now I’m glad I didn’t. The situation unfolds slowly, but once you understand it, it becomes fascinating and gripping. The book is a harsh critique on our age, and shows where some of today’s tendencies could lead, drawing up a worst-case scenario. The main character and narrator, Daniel is a very cynical person, who sees the problems clearly, but is deeply embedded in this world. The fact that he himself is a part of the problem makes his critique even more disturbing. Also, deep down this cynic is also a hopeless romantic, sometimes even sentimental, and this is the cause of his collision with the world he lives in. This world lacks values and true feelings, it is superficial, people idolize youth and despise getting old, they chase pleasure, but getting it does not really satisfy them. This picture is disturbing because it seems realistic, it is a caricature with only small exaggerations. The subsequent evolution of this world, the catastrophes that occur are shown as likely, even necessary consequences. The book can also be read as a sad account of the human condition, how one is trapped into one’s body, confined by physical needs and abilities, and unable to make real connections with other people.
7tillandsia
4. Ian McEwan: On Chesil Beach
A young couple realize on their wedding night that there are things they are unable to discuss and problems they are unable to solve. They are in love, but still, they cannot get really close to each other, they do not get to know each other really deeply. The young woman’s fear of her wedding night is described very sensitively: living in the age just before the sexual revolution, she does not even really know, what she is afraid of, and she does not have words to express her fears. And there are memories, buried deep down, which she cannot even formulate in her thoughts. In McEwan's books, sudden turns of fate always play an important role, and this story shows how unspoken words can change people's lives for ever. Unlike his other novels, here the turn of fate does not come from the outside: it is caused by the characters themselves, and is a logical outcome of the events leading to it. It is very moving because we feel that the characters could have avoided it, had they behaved differently, but we also know that in the given conditions, they probably had no choice, they did not have words to explain themselves.
A young couple realize on their wedding night that there are things they are unable to discuss and problems they are unable to solve. They are in love, but still, they cannot get really close to each other, they do not get to know each other really deeply. The young woman’s fear of her wedding night is described very sensitively: living in the age just before the sexual revolution, she does not even really know, what she is afraid of, and she does not have words to express her fears. And there are memories, buried deep down, which she cannot even formulate in her thoughts. In McEwan's books, sudden turns of fate always play an important role, and this story shows how unspoken words can change people's lives for ever. Unlike his other novels, here the turn of fate does not come from the outside: it is caused by the characters themselves, and is a logical outcome of the events leading to it. It is very moving because we feel that the characters could have avoided it, had they behaved differently, but we also know that in the given conditions, they probably had no choice, they did not have words to explain themselves.
9tillandsia
6. Goethe: Wilhelm Meister's Apprenticeship
This is not an easy read, and of course it is not like a modern novel: it seems to lack tight structure, although everything is put into place at the end. However, it is really enjoyable. Wilhelm Meister yields to all influences very easily, and I got annoyed with him sometimes because of this, but let's not forget this is the first Bildungsroman; its main subject is the shaping of human character. The ending was somewhat far-fetched, but I liked it, it seemed to be a little self-ironic, and was also an illustration of the comparison made earlier between novel and drama: the storyline in the former is mostly driven by coincidence, while the latter is based on necessity.
This is not an easy read, and of course it is not like a modern novel: it seems to lack tight structure, although everything is put into place at the end. However, it is really enjoyable. Wilhelm Meister yields to all influences very easily, and I got annoyed with him sometimes because of this, but let's not forget this is the first Bildungsroman; its main subject is the shaping of human character. The ending was somewhat far-fetched, but I liked it, it seemed to be a little self-ironic, and was also an illustration of the comparison made earlier between novel and drama: the storyline in the former is mostly driven by coincidence, while the latter is based on necessity.
10tillandsia
7. Giotto's Hand by Iain Pears
Compared to An Instance of the Fingerpost, this is a much simpler book, which does not require as much reflection as the former. I thought that - as the book is said to be an "art mystery" - the story would involve questions of art history on a deeper level, not just the names of painters whose works were stolen, and this was a little disappointment for me. Still, it is well-written and worth reading. The ending is partly predictable, but there are some surprises.
Compared to An Instance of the Fingerpost, this is a much simpler book, which does not require as much reflection as the former. I thought that - as the book is said to be an "art mystery" - the story would involve questions of art history on a deeper level, not just the names of painters whose works were stolen, and this was a little disappointment for me. Still, it is well-written and worth reading. The ending is partly predictable, but there are some surprises.
11tillandsia
8. The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing
This is a disturbing book that is hard to forget. By giving a painfully minute account of the failed marriage and life of a woman who could probably have done better, it shows not only how rigid gender roles can break down someone whose personality they are not suited for, but also the poisonous effect of racial prejudice on human relationships. It portrays the society based on the "colour bar" insightfully.
This is a disturbing book that is hard to forget. By giving a painfully minute account of the failed marriage and life of a woman who could probably have done better, it shows not only how rigid gender roles can break down someone whose personality they are not suited for, but also the poisonous effect of racial prejudice on human relationships. It portrays the society based on the "colour bar" insightfully.
12tillandsia
9. Avraham Bogatir hét napja (Seven days of Avraham Bogatir) by György Kardos G.
The story is set in Palestine in 1947, just before the founding of the state of Israel. The topic is quite interesting, and the whole novel is like a panoramic picture of the land, the people living there, their problems and conflicts. It shows the pointlessness of hatred between nations and religions. The title character is a sensible Jewish man, who is against all such hatred, but he often feels like an alien because of this. Apart from him, the rest of the characters are quite one-sided, just illustrations of different worldviews or life-strategies. The narrative itself is conventional, the poetics of the novel are not too interesting. Still, there are some very gripping parts, and I think it explains the situation of the land and people quite well.
The story is set in Palestine in 1947, just before the founding of the state of Israel. The topic is quite interesting, and the whole novel is like a panoramic picture of the land, the people living there, their problems and conflicts. It shows the pointlessness of hatred between nations and religions. The title character is a sensible Jewish man, who is against all such hatred, but he often feels like an alien because of this. Apart from him, the rest of the characters are quite one-sided, just illustrations of different worldviews or life-strategies. The narrative itself is conventional, the poetics of the novel are not too interesting. Still, there are some very gripping parts, and I think it explains the situation of the land and people quite well.
13tillandsia
10. Sörgyári capriccio by Bohumil Hrabal
A short novel set in a beer factory and centred around the caretaker's pretty and mischievous wife. There is no moral to the story, it is just a series of funny episodes, which makes it a really refreshing read. It is narrated by the wife, and her long sentences, free associations and sometimes surprising metaphors make the language itself the main subject of this book for me.
A short novel set in a beer factory and centred around the caretaker's pretty and mischievous wife. There is no moral to the story, it is just a series of funny episodes, which makes it a really refreshing read. It is narrated by the wife, and her long sentences, free associations and sometimes surprising metaphors make the language itself the main subject of this book for me.
14tillandsia
11. The Dream of Scipio by Iain Pears
It took me a long time to read this, mainly because I had much to do and didn't have time, but also because it is quite difficult to read. An Instance of the Fingerpost grabbed my attention from the beginning, because it was full of small details which hinted at mysteries which would unfold later. In this book, the plot develops slowly; in the first part of the book it is hard to discern the deeper parallels between the three storylines - we only see the superficial connections, for example that all three main characters have something to do with a certain manuscript. However, as the stories develop, we start to see the similarities between the lives of three men living in different historical times. The three characters choose three different strategies when facing an eternal problem: the choice between everyday humanity and the "greater" needs of the community. The book shows how only thinking of the "community" or the "nation" results in treating individuals as unimportant and replaceable, and thus threatens the same values which it should be saving. In all, I found this an intriguing book, and I recommend it not only to those who like historical fiction centred around obscure old manuscripts, but also to those who like to reflect on the unsolvable dilemmas of human civilization.
It took me a long time to read this, mainly because I had much to do and didn't have time, but also because it is quite difficult to read. An Instance of the Fingerpost grabbed my attention from the beginning, because it was full of small details which hinted at mysteries which would unfold later. In this book, the plot develops slowly; in the first part of the book it is hard to discern the deeper parallels between the three storylines - we only see the superficial connections, for example that all three main characters have something to do with a certain manuscript. However, as the stories develop, we start to see the similarities between the lives of three men living in different historical times. The three characters choose three different strategies when facing an eternal problem: the choice between everyday humanity and the "greater" needs of the community. The book shows how only thinking of the "community" or the "nation" results in treating individuals as unimportant and replaceable, and thus threatens the same values which it should be saving. In all, I found this an intriguing book, and I recommend it not only to those who like historical fiction centred around obscure old manuscripts, but also to those who like to reflect on the unsolvable dilemmas of human civilization.
15tillandsia
I wanted to add that I really liked the way the stories are "layered" on each other: they all take place in the same surroundings, and the traces left by the characters who lived earlier provide a setting for the stories of those who lived later. The later characters cannot completely understand these traces and decipher the stories of their predecessors, but even without having full knowledge they somehow still feel their importance.
16tillandsia
12. Lempriere's Dictionary by Lawrence Norfolk
This took a long time too (I will have to choose some short books now if I want to complete my challenge), mostly because I didn't find it interesting enough. There are too many little details which are hard to remember, and they don't seem to lead anywhere. Maybe this is on purpose, but I found it annoying, and sometimes I left off reading for weeks without feeling any urge to continue. The story itself was interesting, but somewhat contrived, especially the twist at the end. Some of the fantastic elements were simply stupid. Also, I have an aversion towards conspiracy theories, due to which I was unable to enjoy the speculation about the "real" background of the French Revolution, even though I know of course that this is a novel, not a historical book. In The Pope's Rhinoceros, I really liked the way Norfolk switched between viewing macrocosm and microcosm, and treated every tiny thing as an integral part of a great whole, but in my opinion this didn't work so well in this book.
This took a long time too (I will have to choose some short books now if I want to complete my challenge), mostly because I didn't find it interesting enough. There are too many little details which are hard to remember, and they don't seem to lead anywhere. Maybe this is on purpose, but I found it annoying, and sometimes I left off reading for weeks without feeling any urge to continue. The story itself was interesting, but somewhat contrived, especially the twist at the end. Some of the fantastic elements were simply stupid. Also, I have an aversion towards conspiracy theories, due to which I was unable to enjoy the speculation about the "real" background of the French Revolution, even though I know of course that this is a novel, not a historical book. In The Pope's Rhinoceros, I really liked the way Norfolk switched between viewing macrocosm and microcosm, and treated every tiny thing as an integral part of a great whole, but in my opinion this didn't work so well in this book.
17tillandsia
13. Aranyhímzés by Éva Bánki
A historical novel of the usual kind: investigation, murder, thoughts on our inability to fully grasp the past, etc. Still, there are many aspects which make this book special: it treats a subject uncommon in such novels (Hungarian history of the 11th century), its language is very poetic, the characters are lifelike, the main character, an old priest who was once born into a pagan family and thus feels connected to two worlds, is very interesting, and besides the historical investigation the book is also about timeless subjects such as aging.
A historical novel of the usual kind: investigation, murder, thoughts on our inability to fully grasp the past, etc. Still, there are many aspects which make this book special: it treats a subject uncommon in such novels (Hungarian history of the 11th century), its language is very poetic, the characters are lifelike, the main character, an old priest who was once born into a pagan family and thus feels connected to two worlds, is very interesting, and besides the historical investigation the book is also about timeless subjects such as aging.
18deebee1
hi, just wanted to say that i enjoy reading ur posts. some of the titles have caught my attention, especially books #3, 5, 6, 9, 11 and 13. these authors are completely unknown to me, so now i'm adding them to my list of future reads.
19tillandsia
Hello! It is really good to hear that you like reading my comments. I hope you will enjoy these books if you read them. #9 and 13 are Hungarian books, but after some googling I found out that Avraham Bogatir hét napja has been published in English as Avraham's Good Week. Aranyhímzés (the title means Golden Embroidery) is relatively new, and I don't think it exists in any language other than Hungarian, but this could change soon. Nowadays, a lot of Hungarian books are translated to English and German.
20deebee1
is it easy to find Hungarian books translated to English in Budapest? i'll be in town next week and plan to check out some hungarian literature in bookshops. would u recommend any bookstore, and titles i should try to look for? thanks...
21tillandsia
14. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
I know this is a classic in the English-speaking world and you think I should have read it long ago, but it is not so well known in my country. I enjoyed it very much: it is a funny and entertaining book with a very sad subject. I liked it that the children were portrayed as intelligent beings who understand lots of things and reflect on the most important questions of the world. The narration is strange, because it is hard to decide whether we are seeing things through the eyes of the 6-8-year-old Scout or the grown-up Scout - sometimes she seems to be looking back as an adult, but she doesn't explain the things she didn't understand as a child. However, I didn't regard this as a fault.
It is a book against racial prejudice, even though it is true that it only shows the white people's perspective. Of course it could be more radical, but I think it shows the beginning of a long journey. Its message is that you have to stand up for the rights of others as much as you can in a certain situation, and this message is equally valid at all stages of this journey.
The book can be seen as a childrens' book, but I think you need an adult's (or adolescent's) knowledge to truly appreciate its irony and to be able to fill in the blanks left by Scout's narration.
I know this is a classic in the English-speaking world and you think I should have read it long ago, but it is not so well known in my country. I enjoyed it very much: it is a funny and entertaining book with a very sad subject. I liked it that the children were portrayed as intelligent beings who understand lots of things and reflect on the most important questions of the world. The narration is strange, because it is hard to decide whether we are seeing things through the eyes of the 6-8-year-old Scout or the grown-up Scout - sometimes she seems to be looking back as an adult, but she doesn't explain the things she didn't understand as a child. However, I didn't regard this as a fault.
It is a book against racial prejudice, even though it is true that it only shows the white people's perspective. Of course it could be more radical, but I think it shows the beginning of a long journey. Its message is that you have to stand up for the rights of others as much as you can in a certain situation, and this message is equally valid at all stages of this journey.
The book can be seen as a childrens' book, but I think you need an adult's (or adolescent's) knowledge to truly appreciate its irony and to be able to fill in the blanks left by Scout's narration.
22tillandsia
15. Das Erlkönig-Manöver by Robert Löhr
This book is a strange historical novel: its main characters are real figures of (literary) history, but the plot is completely made up by the author. In fact, the story is so far-fetched, that it is impossible to refrain from smiling and giggling throughout the whole book, even though it is not really funny, sometimes it is even sad. To place Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Alexander von Humboldt, Heinrich von Kleist, Achim von Arnim and Bettine Brentano as heroes of an adventure with shooting, fighting, hiding in the hills, etc. is such a weird idea, that it could work out - and it does. While it is funny to read sentences like "Schiller was a master of the crossbow", it is also satisfying to see these brilliant intellectuals as brave action heroes. The book can be read simply as an adventure which has these famous figures as heroes, but of course it is also packed with cultural references. Some of the latter are simple puns on titles of works by the "heroes", but some are more refined, like the scene where Bettine and Kleist are unknowingly acting out a painting by C. D. Friedrich. The book also uses some quotes from the authors, and its language imitates the language of the period. Cleverly written, and a good read.
This book is a strange historical novel: its main characters are real figures of (literary) history, but the plot is completely made up by the author. In fact, the story is so far-fetched, that it is impossible to refrain from smiling and giggling throughout the whole book, even though it is not really funny, sometimes it is even sad. To place Goethe, Friedrich Schiller, Alexander von Humboldt, Heinrich von Kleist, Achim von Arnim and Bettine Brentano as heroes of an adventure with shooting, fighting, hiding in the hills, etc. is such a weird idea, that it could work out - and it does. While it is funny to read sentences like "Schiller was a master of the crossbow", it is also satisfying to see these brilliant intellectuals as brave action heroes. The book can be read simply as an adventure which has these famous figures as heroes, but of course it is also packed with cultural references. Some of the latter are simple puns on titles of works by the "heroes", but some are more refined, like the scene where Bettine and Kleist are unknowingly acting out a painting by C. D. Friedrich. The book also uses some quotes from the authors, and its language imitates the language of the period. Cleverly written, and a good read.
23tillandsia
By the way, I always try to add touchstones, but they just won't load.
24tillandsia
16. The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold
Wonderful book on a terrible subject: the rape and murder of a young girl. The story of the murder and its aftermath is told by the girl herself, and the narration avoids both being unbearably gruesome or sappy, instead it is clever, insightful and even funny. Which of course does not make the thing that happened less terrible; on the contrary: the reader identifies with her even more. She is in heaven, which could make the fact that she died seem less sad, but instead her loneliness without her family - and her family's grief - really grips the heart of the reader. As she tells the story of life going on without her, there is also an underlying narrative: somehow she always makes us imagine all the things that she would have done had she been allowed to grow up. The book is built up and written very well, it is outstanding in all aspects: the main idea is original, the pace of the storytelling is perfect, the characters are well developed, all the little details are in place. A great book that stays with you after you have finished it, and warms your heart despite its deep sadness.
Wonderful book on a terrible subject: the rape and murder of a young girl. The story of the murder and its aftermath is told by the girl herself, and the narration avoids both being unbearably gruesome or sappy, instead it is clever, insightful and even funny. Which of course does not make the thing that happened less terrible; on the contrary: the reader identifies with her even more. She is in heaven, which could make the fact that she died seem less sad, but instead her loneliness without her family - and her family's grief - really grips the heart of the reader. As she tells the story of life going on without her, there is also an underlying narrative: somehow she always makes us imagine all the things that she would have done had she been allowed to grow up. The book is built up and written very well, it is outstanding in all aspects: the main idea is original, the pace of the storytelling is perfect, the characters are well developed, all the little details are in place. A great book that stays with you after you have finished it, and warms your heart despite its deep sadness.
25tillandsia
17. When Will There Be Good News? by Kate Atkinson
Similar to the previous book in many aspects: terrible crime as subject, yet seemingly light tone, girls and women seen as archetypal victims. But Atkinson's book loses in the comparison, it is lightweight beside Sebold's. This is a shame, because the characters are well developed, as it is always the case in Atkinson's books, and the narration is witty. Still, I think it could be categorized as "easy reading"; it is not really deep. Behind the Scenes at the Museum is one of my favourite novels, and I think it is much richer and much more subtle, than her last books; I still think about it, while I forgot the latter almost immediately after finishing them. However, I liked this book better than One Good Turn, and the shocking ending was quite good.
Similar to the previous book in many aspects: terrible crime as subject, yet seemingly light tone, girls and women seen as archetypal victims. But Atkinson's book loses in the comparison, it is lightweight beside Sebold's. This is a shame, because the characters are well developed, as it is always the case in Atkinson's books, and the narration is witty. Still, I think it could be categorized as "easy reading"; it is not really deep. Behind the Scenes at the Museum is one of my favourite novels, and I think it is much richer and much more subtle, than her last books; I still think about it, while I forgot the latter almost immediately after finishing them. However, I liked this book better than One Good Turn, and the shocking ending was quite good.
26tillandsia
18. Saturday by Ian McEwan
Very good book, but hard to summarize in a few sentences. Maybe I will write about it next time.
Very good book, but hard to summarize in a few sentences. Maybe I will write about it next time.
27tillandsia
I don't want to leave Saturday without a short personal review, so here it is:
This is a typical McEwan novel, with all the characteristic traits: reflections analysing the state of the world; sudden, accidental event that changes the life of an ordinary person; complicated relationships between people etc. Yet this doesn't mean that I felt as if I had read all this before, because the story and the characters are developed with such plasticity and insight. The novel is structured so that it can be interpreted on many levels, from the most encompassing and general to the singular story of unique people. The current situation of world politics plays a crucial role, as it affects not only the state of mind of the main character, but also his interactions with other people. The fragileness of the ordinary, everyday lives we live is not only depicted on the level of these singular lives (as, for example, in Enduring Love) - here, a great catastrophe that could have a devastating effect on thousands of lives hovers over the whole story, and Henry Perowne is troubled by this presentiment. I like this recurring theme of McEwan's books (maybe because I am also prone to think of the world, our society or my life as a complicated structure that could always somehow, suddenly break at one seemingly unimportant point, and subsequently collapse), and I found this novel a very satisfying read.
This is a typical McEwan novel, with all the characteristic traits: reflections analysing the state of the world; sudden, accidental event that changes the life of an ordinary person; complicated relationships between people etc. Yet this doesn't mean that I felt as if I had read all this before, because the story and the characters are developed with such plasticity and insight. The novel is structured so that it can be interpreted on many levels, from the most encompassing and general to the singular story of unique people. The current situation of world politics plays a crucial role, as it affects not only the state of mind of the main character, but also his interactions with other people. The fragileness of the ordinary, everyday lives we live is not only depicted on the level of these singular lives (as, for example, in Enduring Love) - here, a great catastrophe that could have a devastating effect on thousands of lives hovers over the whole story, and Henry Perowne is troubled by this presentiment. I like this recurring theme of McEwan's books (maybe because I am also prone to think of the world, our society or my life as a complicated structure that could always somehow, suddenly break at one seemingly unimportant point, and subsequently collapse), and I found this novel a very satisfying read.
28tillandsia
This message board makes me seem a really lazy reader, which I'm not, it's just that I have so little time to read fiction for the sake of enjoyment. But now here it is:
19. Seiobo járt odalent by László Krasznahorkai
This is an intriguingly beautiful book of short stories mostly centred around works of art or artists. These works of art are able to convey unknown, mysterious realms, but the human characters are mostly unable to completely understand them, they can merely feel a vague hint of their power, but even this can captivate them for a lifetime. This main topic is explored from many different angles, but this doesn't become monotonous, because the stories are set in different times and places, and are quite variegated. It seems that the chapters are not numbered consequently, bt with random numbers, which makes them seem to have been taken from a greater whole; an infinitely great representation of the whole of human culture. However, the numbers are not random: they are the numbers of the Fibonacci series, following oneanother consequently. They seem to represent a higher order of things.
Krasznahorkai's typical long sentences have a majestical flow and they are so beautifully constructed, that they never get tedious. In the stories, sometimes humble, precise craftsmanship is shown as the highest form of art, and this is exactly what is achieved in these perfect sentences. The author is a perfectionist, and his characters also strive for perfection, and I think that he is able to give us, simple mortal beings, a vague hint of perfection in this book.
19. Seiobo járt odalent by László Krasznahorkai
This is an intriguingly beautiful book of short stories mostly centred around works of art or artists. These works of art are able to convey unknown, mysterious realms, but the human characters are mostly unable to completely understand them, they can merely feel a vague hint of their power, but even this can captivate them for a lifetime. This main topic is explored from many different angles, but this doesn't become monotonous, because the stories are set in different times and places, and are quite variegated. It seems that the chapters are not numbered consequently, bt with random numbers, which makes them seem to have been taken from a greater whole; an infinitely great representation of the whole of human culture. However, the numbers are not random: they are the numbers of the Fibonacci series, following oneanother consequently. They seem to represent a higher order of things.
Krasznahorkai's typical long sentences have a majestical flow and they are so beautifully constructed, that they never get tedious. In the stories, sometimes humble, precise craftsmanship is shown as the highest form of art, and this is exactly what is achieved in these perfect sentences. The author is a perfectionist, and his characters also strive for perfection, and I think that he is able to give us, simple mortal beings, a vague hint of perfection in this book.
29billiejean
Hi, tillandsia!
Your book #19 sounds quite intriguing! Has it been translated into English?
--BJ
Your book #19 sounds quite intriguing! Has it been translated into English?
--BJ
30tillandsia
Hello billiejean!
I'm glad you are interested! Unfortunately, I don't think this book is available in English now, because it is relatively new, it has only been published in October. But maybe it will be translated soon. Some other books by László Krasznahorkai have been translated to English and German, for example War and War, but I haven't read that one, and I cannot tell you, if it is similar to Seiobo. Maybe you could try it.
tillandsia
I'm glad you are interested! Unfortunately, I don't think this book is available in English now, because it is relatively new, it has only been published in October. But maybe it will be translated soon. Some other books by László Krasznahorkai have been translated to English and German, for example War and War, but I haven't read that one, and I cannot tell you, if it is similar to Seiobo. Maybe you could try it.
tillandsia
31tillandsia
20. The Mysteries of Pittsburgh by Michael Chabon
Interesting story with well-developed characters. The situation of the main character - his beloved father is a gangster, who wants to keep him away from the world of crime, and he himself is trying to forget about this "other" life of his father's - seems funny at first, but it gradually becomes frightening. His complicated relationships with his friends are also described very subtly and sensitively; the development and constant changes of his feelings are a storyline which is just as important, as the things that happen to him in the outside world.
Interesting story with well-developed characters. The situation of the main character - his beloved father is a gangster, who wants to keep him away from the world of crime, and he himself is trying to forget about this "other" life of his father's - seems funny at first, but it gradually becomes frightening. His complicated relationships with his friends are also described very subtly and sensitively; the development and constant changes of his feelings are a storyline which is just as important, as the things that happen to him in the outside world.
32tillandsia
21. The Yiddish Policemen's Union by Michael Chabon
The main reason I loved this book was the imaginatively conceived alternate reality which the author built up: a large colony of Yiddish-speaking Jews in Alaska, which exists in a world which has a history slightly different from "ours", but this is not explained in details - there are only a few hints, e.g. that an atomic bomb had been dropped on Berlin in 1946. The Jewish homeland of Sitka is described more thoroughly, it has its own levels of society, its gangsters, its slang (for example, the Hasidic Jews are called "black hats"). The story itself is a detective story, full of motifs characteristic of popular crime stories (a depressed, cynical detective who acts the way he sees fit, regardless of orders, etc.), but with the backdrop of the imaginary Sitka, it becomes unique. It is also deeply sad, because the events take place two months before the "Reversion", when the land will be rejoined to Alaska, and the Jews will have to leave, without any safe destination. Thus, this tale of fantasy is a parable on the history of the Jews; that they were constantly persecuted and expelled, even when they had thought they were safe and at home.
The main reason I loved this book was the imaginatively conceived alternate reality which the author built up: a large colony of Yiddish-speaking Jews in Alaska, which exists in a world which has a history slightly different from "ours", but this is not explained in details - there are only a few hints, e.g. that an atomic bomb had been dropped on Berlin in 1946. The Jewish homeland of Sitka is described more thoroughly, it has its own levels of society, its gangsters, its slang (for example, the Hasidic Jews are called "black hats"). The story itself is a detective story, full of motifs characteristic of popular crime stories (a depressed, cynical detective who acts the way he sees fit, regardless of orders, etc.), but with the backdrop of the imaginary Sitka, it becomes unique. It is also deeply sad, because the events take place two months before the "Reversion", when the land will be rejoined to Alaska, and the Jews will have to leave, without any safe destination. Thus, this tale of fantasy is a parable on the history of the Jews; that they were constantly persecuted and expelled, even when they had thought they were safe and at home.
33bonniebooks
Re: The Yiddish Policemen's...I got this book for my son's Christmas stocking, but got snowed in and wasn't able to get together with him--or the rest of my family --on Christmas. (Sob!) Will have to send it to him, but am going to quick read it first. Oh! And replace the Christmas candy that Santa nibbled on as well. (sly grin!)
34tillandsia
Hello bonniebooks!
It is sad that you couldn't get together with your family on Christmas, but at least this way you can read the book... I hope you will like it; I thought it was a really good read, very serious and entertaining at the same time.
It is sad that you couldn't get together with your family on Christmas, but at least this way you can read the book... I hope you will like it; I thought it was a really good read, very serious and entertaining at the same time.
35tillandsia
22. I'm Not Scared by Niccolo Ammaniti
If I tell you this is the story of the adventures of a clever, kindhearted and brave little boy, you will think it is children's literature - but this child is drawn into an adventure which is by far not suited to his age, in fact, it wouldn't be suited to anybody's age. Not only because it revolves around a horrid crime, but also because it makes the boy realize he can't trust anyone - he has to grow up far too soon. The narration seems fairly simple - like a book for kids -, but the child's perspective helps the author to reveal only those events which the child sees and understands - the perspective of the adults and thus the whole story has to be reconstructed in the mind of the reader. It also captures the atmosphere of the isolated community where the boy lives quite well.
edited to add touchstone
If I tell you this is the story of the adventures of a clever, kindhearted and brave little boy, you will think it is children's literature - but this child is drawn into an adventure which is by far not suited to his age, in fact, it wouldn't be suited to anybody's age. Not only because it revolves around a horrid crime, but also because it makes the boy realize he can't trust anyone - he has to grow up far too soon. The narration seems fairly simple - like a book for kids -, but the child's perspective helps the author to reveal only those events which the child sees and understands - the perspective of the adults and thus the whole story has to be reconstructed in the mind of the reader. It also captures the atmosphere of the isolated community where the boy lives quite well.
edited to add touchstone
36bonniebooks
>Your description of this book sounds really intriguing. I am such a sucker for books in which the main character "realizes he can't trust anyone-he has to grow up far too soon" as this matches my real life experience. I'll put this on the top of my "want to read" list. Thanks! :-)
edited to correct a spelling
edited to correct a spelling
37tillandsia
I'm glad, and I hope you'll like it. I'm sorry though, that this is such a personal issue for you.
Did you like The Yiddish Policemen's Union?
Did you like The Yiddish Policemen's Union?
38tillandsia
23. My Brother's Gun by Ray Loriga
A book about a boy who kills someone for no real reason, narrated by his younger brother. He shows the killer as an ordinary person worthy of love, without trying to find excuses for his deeds, which is fortunate for the book. The narration is interesting, because the boy describes events in which he didn't take part, and also his brother's thoughts, so it is impossible to tell whether we are reading a "true" story or a work of his imagination. Good book, but one thing seemed improbable for me. I was about the age of the narrator in 1994, and I find it hard to believe that there were kids at that time who loved both Nirvana and Michael Jackson. I'm all for original taste and thinking, but this seems a little far-fetched. ;)
A book about a boy who kills someone for no real reason, narrated by his younger brother. He shows the killer as an ordinary person worthy of love, without trying to find excuses for his deeds, which is fortunate for the book. The narration is interesting, because the boy describes events in which he didn't take part, and also his brother's thoughts, so it is impossible to tell whether we are reading a "true" story or a work of his imagination. Good book, but one thing seemed improbable for me. I was about the age of the narrator in 1994, and I find it hard to believe that there were kids at that time who loved both Nirvana and Michael Jackson. I'm all for original taste and thinking, but this seems a little far-fetched. ;)
39tillandsia
24. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro
I was somewhat disappointed by this book. I had not read anything by Ishiguro before, but I was looking forward to it because I had heard so much about him. The basic idea is interesting, but not particularly original; to make a good book, the psychological consequences have to be developed very well, and in my opinion this was not the case here. Ruth is the only interesting character, the others are somewhat dull, and their feelings for each other are not motivated at all. The storyline tries to suggest that there would be a great surprise at the end, but there isn't, the outcome is quite predictable. I didn't feel for the characters at all, except for the last page, which was the only part that was at least touching. Maybe if there had been more such moments, I would have enjoyed the book more.
I was somewhat disappointed by this book. I had not read anything by Ishiguro before, but I was looking forward to it because I had heard so much about him. The basic idea is interesting, but not particularly original; to make a good book, the psychological consequences have to be developed very well, and in my opinion this was not the case here. Ruth is the only interesting character, the others are somewhat dull, and their feelings for each other are not motivated at all. The storyline tries to suggest that there would be a great surprise at the end, but there isn't, the outcome is quite predictable. I didn't feel for the characters at all, except for the last page, which was the only part that was at least touching. Maybe if there had been more such moments, I would have enjoyed the book more.
40tillandsia
25. Emotionally Weird by Kate Atkinson
Enjoyable book about... well, that's hard to tell. It is an account of the life lead at the university by a girl who seems to be floating passively in her life, unable to do work at the university or to break up with her boyfriend, who is, if this is possible, even more passive. Her wit and insight makes her a sympathetical character despite all this: she seems to be a philosopher, not just a lazy student. She tells her story with humour, describing her large cast of characters with few but well-placed brushstrokes; their personalities seem to come to life. Nearly every character has her/his story - meaning that they are writing (or telling) true or imagined tales, which, in the world of the novel, are almost as true as their "real" lives. All these tales (texts) are intertwined, making up a real post-modernist novel, but a very self-ironical one. As we get further into the story, it becomes hard to separate life and text; sometimes, the narration erases itself and frees itself from the confinement of simply mirroring "true life".
Enjoyable book about... well, that's hard to tell. It is an account of the life lead at the university by a girl who seems to be floating passively in her life, unable to do work at the university or to break up with her boyfriend, who is, if this is possible, even more passive. Her wit and insight makes her a sympathetical character despite all this: she seems to be a philosopher, not just a lazy student. She tells her story with humour, describing her large cast of characters with few but well-placed brushstrokes; their personalities seem to come to life. Nearly every character has her/his story - meaning that they are writing (or telling) true or imagined tales, which, in the world of the novel, are almost as true as their "real" lives. All these tales (texts) are intertwined, making up a real post-modernist novel, but a very self-ironical one. As we get further into the story, it becomes hard to separate life and text; sometimes, the narration erases itself and frees itself from the confinement of simply mirroring "true life".
41girlunderglass
>25 tillandsia: sounds very very interesting! I've never read any Atkinson, howver, and am not sure whether this would be a good place to start!
42tillandsia
Hello girlunderglass! I have read quite a few books by Atkinson, and in a way - at least regarding the narration - this one was the most complicated. However, it is still very entertaining, because of the witty style and the funny characters. Her last three books are simpler, and thus less rewarding, although still entertaining. I think you shouldn't hesitate to start with this one, or maybe Behind the Scenes at the Museum, which is more plot-centred, but also very complex.
43tillandsia
26. and 27. Ritual and Legacy by Alex Duval
These are actually two books bound in one volume, so I record it as two, which doesn't really matter, since I'm losing my challenge anyway. The two novels are not too sophisticated, but quite entertaining, and, well, there are times in one's life when one simply has to read about teenage vampires in Malibu. The stories are simple, but the characters are quite good, despite the small talk between the two lovers sometimes getting quite irritating, and that I sincerely felt sorry for Adam, the movie nerd, who has to live among ignorant people who don't know basic movies like Amelie. The situation - a group of wealthy, trendy, beautiful, strong, etc. etc. vampires living in Malibu - is interesting, and it's a pity we don't find out more about their daily lives, about how they manage to fit in among "normal" people. These things are only hinted at - for example that Sienna, even though she loves her boyfriend, sometimes has to make out with other boys in order to drink their blood. Conflicts rising from things like this could make up a more sinister plot with more focus on the inner lives of the characters. Still, the novels are entertaining and fairly exciting.
Edited to fix touchstone.
These are actually two books bound in one volume, so I record it as two, which doesn't really matter, since I'm losing my challenge anyway. The two novels are not too sophisticated, but quite entertaining, and, well, there are times in one's life when one simply has to read about teenage vampires in Malibu. The stories are simple, but the characters are quite good, despite the small talk between the two lovers sometimes getting quite irritating, and that I sincerely felt sorry for Adam, the movie nerd, who has to live among ignorant people who don't know basic movies like Amelie. The situation - a group of wealthy, trendy, beautiful, strong, etc. etc. vampires living in Malibu - is interesting, and it's a pity we don't find out more about their daily lives, about how they manage to fit in among "normal" people. These things are only hinted at - for example that Sienna, even though she loves her boyfriend, sometimes has to make out with other boys in order to drink their blood. Conflicts rising from things like this could make up a more sinister plot with more focus on the inner lives of the characters. Still, the novels are entertaining and fairly exciting.
Edited to fix touchstone.
44billiejean
Hi, tillandsia!
I think that you have done well with your challenge! You have read quite a few very interesting books and reviewed them! :) I think that is super. The final number isn't all that important. I have enjoyed reading all of your reviews. Have a great weekend.
--BJ
I think that you have done well with your challenge! You have read quite a few very interesting books and reviewed them! :) I think that is super. The final number isn't all that important. I have enjoyed reading all of your reviews. Have a great weekend.
--BJ
45theaelizabet
Hi tillandsia, I've enjoyed reading through your thread. I especially liked and agreed with your review of Chesil Beach. You wrote "...they did not have the words to explain themselves," which I think gets to the heart of that book. I'm also a fan of Kate Atkinson and Behind the Scene at the Museum is one of my favorite books. Look forward to seeing what you read next.
46tillandsia
Hi billiejean and theaelizabet! Thanks for your kind words. I'm really glad I have readers. :) I'm not really bothered about "losing" the challenge, because I have read some really great books this year, which I really enjoyed. And it was a good idea to record them here and to summarize my thoughts about them.
47bonniebooks
You have read great books! I would choose quality over quantity any time. And P.S. I haven't read either The Yiddish Policemen's Union or I'm Not Scared yet, but they're still on my list of books I'm going to read this year! :-)
48tillandsia
Yes, you are quite right about quality and quantity. But let me also add that some of the books I read were really long... :) I'm looking forward to reading your opinion on the two books!
49thelosthorizon
I agree its not an easy read. I gave up half way through but intend to return to it one day. I feel I must read it as it was so influential on other authors, including Hermann Hesse who is one of my favourite authors. I feel I need the right key to reading it - any advice wlecome.
50thelosthorizon
Previous message referring to Goethe's Wilhelm Meister
51tillandsia
Well, it took me a long time to read it, and it was tiresome sometimes, but I'm glad I read it, and in its own way it is quite enjoyable. I don't know if I'm able to give any universal advice on this topic, but I think what worked for me was that I gave up my preconceptions about how a novel "should" be built up; preconceptions which are of course based on 19th- and 20-century classics. The storyline is not really a "line", and the personalities of the characters seem to fall apart sometimes. I think the key is that you have to tune yourself to this.
I have never read anything by Hesse, but I plan to.
I have never read anything by Hesse, but I plan to.
