by Nora Ikstena
This book is published in translation by Peirene press.
As usual it is a great read. The story is told in alternating chapters by a mother and daughter who are born and live in Latvia.
The mother is born just after the second world war and the daughter in 1969. The mother grew up as the Soviet Union tightened its grip during the Cold War. The daughter grew up as that grip was loosening and the breakup of the Soviet Union drew near.
It is also the story of a mother and daughter who despite desperately trying were prevented by life and illness and circumstances from ever bonding.
It is a sad but beautiful story that I missed when it ended.8/10
Friday, February 16, 2018
A long Way from Home
by Peter Carey
This novel starts off as a road caper movie as an off the wall and suspended teacher teams up with his neighbours to take on the Redex trial- a gruelling road race around Australia.
However, part way through he becomes seperated from husband and wife team-the Bob's and at a section aptly named a fork in the road his life starts in a new direction.
Set in the 1950's, it is, as well as being funny in places, a stark look at what racism looks like at ground level. Willy, the hero, is brought up to believe he is the child of German immigrants. It turns out he is not. His escapades in Northern Australia bring him face to face with the realities of his own past and at the same time, the past of Australia's white settlers. Great book 9/10
This novel starts off as a road caper movie as an off the wall and suspended teacher teams up with his neighbours to take on the Redex trial- a gruelling road race around Australia.
However, part way through he becomes seperated from husband and wife team-the Bob's and at a section aptly named a fork in the road his life starts in a new direction.
Set in the 1950's, it is, as well as being funny in places, a stark look at what racism looks like at ground level. Willy, the hero, is brought up to believe he is the child of German immigrants. It turns out he is not. His escapades in Northern Australia bring him face to face with the realities of his own past and at the same time, the past of Australia's white settlers. Great book 9/10
Echo Park
by Michael Connelly
Bosch sailing close to the wind again and displaying a slightly dark side to his character as he takes on the hunt for a serial killer and his latest victim who may be still alive. 7/10
Bosch sailing close to the wind again and displaying a slightly dark side to his character as he takes on the hunt for a serial killer and his latest victim who may be still alive. 7/10
Sunday, January 14, 2018
Dombey and Son
By Charles Dickens
What to say, he makes you laugh, he makes you cry, he is far too sentimental yes but this does not take away from the drama and fast moving plot lines that are Dicken's hallmark. A great read over the new year period 9/10
What to say, he makes you laugh, he makes you cry, he is far too sentimental yes but this does not take away from the drama and fast moving plot lines that are Dicken's hallmark. A great read over the new year period 9/10
The French Art of War
by Alexis Jenni
A great start but meandered it's way through the latter 20th century French wars. It tells the story of Victorien Salognen who has fought in the second world war, Indochine and Algeria.
The story is told by a young man who stumbles across Victorien in Lyon, having given up on his job and girlfriend. It turns out that Victorien is an artist and he offers to teach the younger man to paint in return for writing the story of his life. The book jumps from the present day to the various war zones.
It is a vast book and I felt it only partly worked. I loved the bits about painting but the war scenes were very mixed. 5/10
A great start but meandered it's way through the latter 20th century French wars. It tells the story of Victorien Salognen who has fought in the second world war, Indochine and Algeria.
The story is told by a young man who stumbles across Victorien in Lyon, having given up on his job and girlfriend. It turns out that Victorien is an artist and he offers to teach the younger man to paint in return for writing the story of his life. The book jumps from the present day to the various war zones.
It is a vast book and I felt it only partly worked. I loved the bits about painting but the war scenes were very mixed. 5/10
Thursday, December 28, 2017
Review of 2017
Quite a varied year with crime-Maigret and Bosch yet again-biography, a session of Evelyn Waugh, a couple of books by Thomas Mann and a couple by Salman Rushdie and a record attempt at the Booker longlist where I managed 12 out of 13!
The Booker list this year was the best for a while. The winner was unusual, funny at times but definitely not my favorite. I really liked Elmet and home fire. I liked Autumn by Ali Smith and Exit West by Moshin Hammad, not to mention Swing Time and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, but I think my favorite of the crop was Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor which charts the circle of life as the years roll by in a village in Northern England.
For the others, Waugh was very funny but poignant too examining Britain around the wars of the last century, and Thomas Mann was a great family saga and the beautiful Death in Venice. However, I think my absolute favorite of the year was Salman Rushdie's Satanic verses. I love the breadth of his imagination and his use of language.
On the non-fiction side I think the prize must go to Claire Tomalin's biography of Thomas Hardy.
The Booker list this year was the best for a while. The winner was unusual, funny at times but definitely not my favorite. I really liked Elmet and home fire. I liked Autumn by Ali Smith and Exit West by Moshin Hammad, not to mention Swing Time and The Ministry of Utmost Happiness, but I think my favorite of the crop was Reservoir 13 by Jon McGregor which charts the circle of life as the years roll by in a village in Northern England.
For the others, Waugh was very funny but poignant too examining Britain around the wars of the last century, and Thomas Mann was a great family saga and the beautiful Death in Venice. However, I think my absolute favorite of the year was Salman Rushdie's Satanic verses. I love the breadth of his imagination and his use of language.
On the non-fiction side I think the prize must go to Claire Tomalin's biography of Thomas Hardy.
The Shadow Puppet
by Georges Simenon
Set in the Place des Vosges this case involves addiction, family secrets and greed. Claustrophobic and Maigret at his best. 8/10
Set in the Place des Vosges this case involves addiction, family secrets and greed. Claustrophobic and Maigret at his best. 8/10
Saturday, November 18, 2017
Thomas Hardy-The time torn man
by Clare Tomalin
This book was a joy to read, especially as while reading it we stayed for a couple of nights at the Old rectory in St. Juliot, where Hardy met his first wife.
The book is very accessible and paints a great picture of the contradictions and tensions in his life and particularly with his women. It also gives a great picture of the novels and their setting which makes you want to visit Dorset and read the books again. 9/10
This book was a joy to read, especially as while reading it we stayed for a couple of nights at the Old rectory in St. Juliot, where Hardy met his first wife.
The book is very accessible and paints a great picture of the contradictions and tensions in his life and particularly with his women. It also gives a great picture of the novels and their setting which makes you want to visit Dorset and read the books again. 9/10
The two-penny bar
by George Simenon
Another enjoyable outing with Maigret, this time investigating a six year old murder brought to his attention by another criminal, the night before the man is guillotined. Great stuff 8/10
Another enjoyable outing with Maigret, this time investigating a six year old murder brought to his attention by another criminal, the night before the man is guillotined. Great stuff 8/10
The Golden House
by Salman Rushdie
Set in America this book tells us the story of a family of Indian immigrants with secrets to hide. They move into a large house in New York in the same block as our narrator Rene Unterlinden, himself the son of Belgian immigrants. The Indian family take the name Golden and hence The Golden House.
Salman Rushdie is a great story-teller and hence the narrative moves along and keeps you interested as we hop between the stories of the three golden children and eventually their father. From the beginning we know something bad is going to happen. I enjoyed the book but it is not the best of his I have read. There are endless lists in the book which are both tedious and pretentious and this bugged me. Having said that there is also a back story running about the 2016 presidential election where Trump is portrayed as the Joker to Clinton's Batwoman, and also a quirky aside about the origins of a fedora hat! It apparently has a claim to be on the list of famous belgians. 7/10
Set in America this book tells us the story of a family of Indian immigrants with secrets to hide. They move into a large house in New York in the same block as our narrator Rene Unterlinden, himself the son of Belgian immigrants. The Indian family take the name Golden and hence The Golden House.
Salman Rushdie is a great story-teller and hence the narrative moves along and keeps you interested as we hop between the stories of the three golden children and eventually their father. From the beginning we know something bad is going to happen. I enjoyed the book but it is not the best of his I have read. There are endless lists in the book which are both tedious and pretentious and this bugged me. Having said that there is also a back story running about the 2016 presidential election where Trump is portrayed as the Joker to Clinton's Batwoman, and also a quirky aside about the origins of a fedora hat! It apparently has a claim to be on the list of famous belgians. 7/10
Tuesday, October 31, 2017
Dance by the Canal
by Kerstin Hensel
A short novel published by the ever wonderful Peirene press.
This story is set in East Germany and tells the story of Gabriela. She was born into a family of privilege but also a troubled family. She never fit in and by the time we catch up with her she is living rough under a bridge in Leipzig. The story darts back and forwards in time as Gabriela tells us the story of her childhood at the same time as we discover what is happening to her in the present. It is a beautiful sad story 7/10
A short novel published by the ever wonderful Peirene press.
This story is set in East Germany and tells the story of Gabriela. She was born into a family of privilege but also a troubled family. She never fit in and by the time we catch up with her she is living rough under a bridge in Leipzig. The story darts back and forwards in time as Gabriela tells us the story of her childhood at the same time as we discover what is happening to her in the present. It is a beautiful sad story 7/10
4321
by Paul Auster
A novel about an American called Archie Ferguson who shares my birthday!
The numbers in the title refer to the four lives that this character might have lived between his birth in 1947 and the early 1970's.
It is beautifully written with common links along the way in American history. It could have been a little bit cliched and forced but it wasn't. The final chapter of the book unlocks some of the secrets of what has been happening in the storytelling which just added to its pleasure. I will miss you Archie(s)! 8/10
A novel about an American called Archie Ferguson who shares my birthday!
The numbers in the title refer to the four lives that this character might have lived between his birth in 1947 and the early 1970's.
It is beautifully written with common links along the way in American history. It could have been a little bit cliched and forced but it wasn't. The final chapter of the book unlocks some of the secrets of what has been happening in the storytelling which just added to its pleasure. I will miss you Archie(s)! 8/10
Tuesday, October 10, 2017
Elmet
by Fiona Mozley
This is a debut novel but what a novel. From the outset it throws you off balance.
The narrator, a teenage boy seems to be wandering through some future post apocalyptic landscape but it turns out he isn't.
He calls his father daddy throughout the book but this does not quite fit with the character we learn about as the book unfolds and we learn why the boy is wandering as he is.
The other character is his sister who turns out to be far from the quiet retiring sort we are lulled into thinking she might be. It is a compelling read and although I found the ending very difficult to read it was a novel that challenged our views of family, commitment and society. 8/10
This is a debut novel but what a novel. From the outset it throws you off balance.
The narrator, a teenage boy seems to be wandering through some future post apocalyptic landscape but it turns out he isn't.
He calls his father daddy throughout the book but this does not quite fit with the character we learn about as the book unfolds and we learn why the boy is wandering as he is.
The other character is his sister who turns out to be far from the quiet retiring sort we are lulled into thinking she might be. It is a compelling read and although I found the ending very difficult to read it was a novel that challenged our views of family, commitment and society. 8/10
Lincoln on the Bardo
by George Saunders
A remarkable novel told in an unusual way through a myriad of voices.
The basic construct is that on the night Abraham Lincoln's son dies he gets caught in the bardo(purgatory) and some well meaning souls also caught there try to help him along to paradise while at the same time the grieving father visits the grave to hold his son for one last time. The characters are at various times funny, horrific, coarse but all universally dead!
I got a bit bored with it by the end but I enjoyed the imagination 6/10
A remarkable novel told in an unusual way through a myriad of voices.
The basic construct is that on the night Abraham Lincoln's son dies he gets caught in the bardo(purgatory) and some well meaning souls also caught there try to help him along to paradise while at the same time the grieving father visits the grave to hold his son for one last time. The characters are at various times funny, horrific, coarse but all universally dead!
I got a bit bored with it by the end but I enjoyed the imagination 6/10
Monday, September 11, 2017
History of Wolves
by Emily Fridlund
An interesting story of a girl brought up in the backwoods of Minnesota as part of a hippy commune already broken up by the time the story starts.
Madeline is fifteen and this story takes place over the summer as she gets involved with a family across the lake who employ her to look after their four year old. Not everything is as it seems and we soon realise something dreadful is going to happen. It is a gripping story with a number of sub plots that left me a little perplexed-her ex school teacher for one. Would still recommend it though 7/10
An interesting story of a girl brought up in the backwoods of Minnesota as part of a hippy commune already broken up by the time the story starts.
Madeline is fifteen and this story takes place over the summer as she gets involved with a family across the lake who employ her to look after their four year old. Not everything is as it seems and we soon realise something dreadful is going to happen. It is a gripping story with a number of sub plots that left me a little perplexed-her ex school teacher for one. Would still recommend it though 7/10
Exit West
by Mohsin Hamid
A retelling of Antigone set in the modern day this story had me gripped from beginning to end. A tale of three british asian siblings who get caught up in the struggles of our times. It does not have a happy ending but in the way of the Sophocles play, family devotion wins out over loyalty to the state which is uplifting 9/10
A retelling of Antigone set in the modern day this story had me gripped from beginning to end. A tale of three british asian siblings who get caught up in the struggles of our times. It does not have a happy ending but in the way of the Sophocles play, family devotion wins out over loyalty to the state which is uplifting 9/10
Days Without End
by Sebastian Barry
A story set in the American civil war lent some wry humour by a cross dressing soldier and his lifelong friend. It was very readable but not really my cup of tea 5/10
A story set in the American civil war lent some wry humour by a cross dressing soldier and his lifelong friend. It was very readable but not really my cup of tea 5/10
Reservoir 13
by Jon McGregor
The supposed central character of this book is Rebecca who disappears just before new years eve. She pops up throughout the book but the real star of the show is the village and it's changing and unchanging life over a period of some 10 years. It is a simple story beautifully told and, living in a village and having an allotment, I found resonances in so much of the detail. I loved this book 9/10
The supposed central character of this book is Rebecca who disappears just before new years eve. She pops up throughout the book but the real star of the show is the village and it's changing and unchanging life over a period of some 10 years. It is a simple story beautifully told and, living in a village and having an allotment, I found resonances in so much of the detail. I loved this book 9/10
Friday, August 25, 2017
The Underground Railroad
by Colson Whitehead
This book grew on me as it went along. The story of a black slave in pre-civil war America is a timely reminder of the evils of racism and how barbaric man can be.
Cora, the slave in question who tries to runaway, is the character who holds the narrative together. I liked the construct of a physical underground railroad that was used to take slaves from state to state and examine the various stances different parts of the US took.
However, I never quite engaged with the narrative for some reason 5/10
This book grew on me as it went along. The story of a black slave in pre-civil war America is a timely reminder of the evils of racism and how barbaric man can be.
Cora, the slave in question who tries to runaway, is the character who holds the narrative together. I liked the construct of a physical underground railroad that was used to take slaves from state to state and examine the various stances different parts of the US took.
However, I never quite engaged with the narrative for some reason 5/10
Home Fire
by Kamila Shamsie
A story of 3 siblings -British Asians who are torn apart by current political turmoil. This book is riveting reading and definitely one of the best books I have read this year. It progresses at a breathtaking pace as the storytelling passes from one character to another. 9/10
A story of 3 siblings -British Asians who are torn apart by current political turmoil. This book is riveting reading and definitely one of the best books I have read this year. It progresses at a breathtaking pace as the storytelling passes from one character to another. 9/10
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