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1ffortsa
Hi. I'm Judy, and I thought I'd dip a toe into this interesting group. I've just joined the 75 books in 2010 group as well - no promises, but I thought this one would stretch my reading a little. Looking forward to Sweden in January.
2ffortsa
Although the Sweden read forbids mysteries, I am reading one now, the Pyramid and four other Kurt Wallander Mysteries by Henning Makell. Mankell has a wonderful introduction in which he says he realized after the 8th Wallander book that he was writing about "the Swedish Anxiety" and whether democracy can survive if the foundation of the welfare state is no longer intact. I love when a mystery is really the expression of character, setting, philosophy, etc. instead of just a puzzle to solve.
3ffortsa
The Pyramid and four other kurt wallander mysteries
5 short stories providing detective Kurt Wallander's back story, from the time he was a young patrolman to the year of his divorce. The stories have a surprising sameness, with short, sometimes ungraceful sentences (more than translation would warrant), and a general air of defeat even though all the cases are solved. Most of them hinge on the unknown character of the victims, and that somehow increases the bleakness with which the author seems to view his native country.
These stories were written after the 8 Wallander detective novels, and the author states, in the introduction, that the whole of the series asks the question of whether Swedish democracy can survive the failure of the welfare state. This view makes the stories more interesting (not just puzzles to be solved) but gives them a sameness that does not make me eager to read the novels.
5 short stories providing detective Kurt Wallander's back story, from the time he was a young patrolman to the year of his divorce. The stories have a surprising sameness, with short, sometimes ungraceful sentences (more than translation would warrant), and a general air of defeat even though all the cases are solved. Most of them hinge on the unknown character of the victims, and that somehow increases the bleakness with which the author seems to view his native country.
These stories were written after the 8 Wallander detective novels, and the author states, in the introduction, that the whole of the series asks the question of whether Swedish democracy can survive the failure of the welfare state. This view makes the stories more interesting (not just puzzles to be solved) but gives them a sameness that does not make me eager to read the novels.
4ffortsa
I'm having a terrible time with Palace Walk by Mahfouz. It's repetitive and slow and I don't much like the characters. While I rarely decline to finish a novel, this one may stay unfinished, and I may not attend my bookclub session next week. That's also a rare occurrence, but I can just imagine how this will descend into an annoying discussion of women's rights (not that women's rights are annoying, but many of the self-righteous discussions are).
I have some other Mahfouz on the shelf. Perhaps other books of his will frustrate me less.
I have some other Mahfouz on the shelf. Perhaps other books of his will frustrate me less.
5LisaCurcio
I am sorry you are having such a terrible time with Palace Walk. Mahfouz is one of my favorite authors, but I think part of it is because I have had the opportunity to visit Egypt (a while ago) and I feel some sort of connection to the country.
As to others, if you have it, I would try Midaq Alley. I think it is a powerful story and it is relatively short. If that does not work, then maybe Mahfouz is not for you.
As to others, if you have it, I would try Midaq Alley. I think it is a powerful story and it is relatively short. If that does not work, then maybe Mahfouz is not for you.
6ffortsa
Well, I gave myself some time to get over the claustrophobia I felt, and picked up Palace Walk again. Much better after the first 100 pages or so - I'll probably finish today.
7ffortsa
As I had anticipated, I finished Palace Walk April 8th. Whew.
After that, I've stayed at home for a while, reading Pale Fire.
After that, I've stayed at home for a while, reading Pale Fire.
8ffortsa
I've been hanging out in the '75 in 2010' group for a while, but here are some updates:
Bitter Lemons by Lawrence Durrell, a beautifully written memoir of Cyprus in the 1950s, when the island began agitating for freedom from Great Britain. His description of life before the trouble started, the warmth of the people and his adventures in the culture, got a little long-winded, but then formed a wonderful platform for the disintegration of trust to come.
The Appointment by Herta Muller took me to Romania in a similar timeframe, but telling a much stranger story, filled with betrayals both social and personal, as a woman struggles to keep her sanity in a bizarre, totalitarian world. Again, even in translation I found the writing wonderful, but the story very disheartening.
Bitter Lemons by Lawrence Durrell, a beautifully written memoir of Cyprus in the 1950s, when the island began agitating for freedom from Great Britain. His description of life before the trouble started, the warmth of the people and his adventures in the culture, got a little long-winded, but then formed a wonderful platform for the disintegration of trust to come.
The Appointment by Herta Muller took me to Romania in a similar timeframe, but telling a much stranger story, filled with betrayals both social and personal, as a woman struggles to keep her sanity in a bizarre, totalitarian world. Again, even in translation I found the writing wonderful, but the story very disheartening.
9ffortsa
I'm now in provincial Russia collecting Dead Souls with Chichikov.
10ffortsa
Well, it's been ages since I posted here, but since I'm once again in India with Shantaram, I thought to stop in.
I've been in Ontario, Canada a few times with Louise Penny's Three Pines series, spying on Death in Venice, in Sweden with The Girl Who Played with Fire, in the West Indies and 19th Century England Wide Sargasso Sea, and in Belgium for The Death of the Adversary.
That's heavy travelling for me! Maybe after Shantaram I can stay home for a while.
I've been in Ontario, Canada a few times with Louise Penny's Three Pines series, spying on Death in Venice, in Sweden with The Girl Who Played with Fire, in the West Indies and 19th Century England Wide Sargasso Sea, and in Belgium for The Death of the Adversary.
That's heavy travelling for me! Maybe after Shantaram I can stay home for a while.
11ffortsa
Well, I did stay close to home for a while, if I include Canada. Now, however, I'm back in Russia with Fathers and Children by Turgenev (the newest translation returns the title to its more correct form). So far, so good.
After that, I'm going to France with The House in Paris. Off and on, I'm mostly in France anyway with The Art of Eating, but this will take me a long time to finish.
After that, I'm going to France with The House in Paris. Off and on, I'm mostly in France anyway with The Art of Eating, but this will take me a long time to finish.
12deebee1
Nothing much to add here, ffortsa, except to say that you read interesting books! I most specially want to know what you think of The Art of Eating - a book which has been on my wishlist for ages.
