Another one of the random books I pick up at the second hand book store, this one struck me because of it's unusual spine. Picturing a man with eyes scratched out, I picked this up wondering whether it was going to be interesting or actually superbly boring and terribly written...
Based in Switzerland after WWI, Elizabeth and her sister-in-law are based in a spa town with a view to recovering after the death of Elizabeth's brother.
Often bleak, this book draws you into a side not often portrayed in "war novels" - more of the aftermath, rather than views into trench warfare, and the horrors of war.
I was surprised I enjoyed it as much as I did, I normally hate the view point of a woman written by a man (prejudiced as hell, but it's always grated!) but each character had a richness that I wasn't expecting, and I found this book extremely difficult to put down.
The injustices of war, and the terrible decisions that people make are a main theme of this novel, and it's difficult to come away without wondering how much of the subject content actually happened but was never really seen or believed, and so sad at the loss of so many lives needlessly.
While in stark contrast to a lot of the other styles I read, I really enjoyed this book, and will chuck it into the "would read again" pile.
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
The Beach, Alex Garland
I had illusions of heading to Cambodia earlier in the year - however these grand dreams were dashed with comments of "ele you would find it pretty difficult over there"... So I decided to armchair travel a bit instead. The first book I picked up is one I've had for a while gathering dust in the parents bookcase - "The Beach"
Classed as one of the defining novels of it's generation - I decided to read with an open mind to what ever imagery of South East Asia the book offered.
The sand, check. Blue Sea, check. Everything else? check. (Not for me I might add)...
The book is about a central character, who seems slightly unsatisfied with life. A chance meeting with a backpacker provides a map to a mysterious destination, with the person who gave the map committing suicide the next morning.
This book reminds me a little of Bret Easton Ellis in some of it's narcissistic tendencies, and some of the themes of the Vietnam war, and even the Super Mario brothers game.
Yes it's full of twists and turns, but it never really engaged with me - even the second time around. I felt that the commune-like lifestyle was a little much, and always felt a there was a strange disconnect between the major and minor characters. Maybe I'm looking for too much, as on face value the book is an ok read.
I should probably check out Alex Garland's other books before completely throwing it to there "wouldn't trade again" pile. As he also wrote "28 days later" and "Sunshine".
Perhaps next time I am looking for South East Asian inspiration I should try "The Quiet American"
Classed as one of the defining novels of it's generation - I decided to read with an open mind to what ever imagery of South East Asia the book offered.
The sand, check. Blue Sea, check. Everything else? check. (Not for me I might add)...
The book is about a central character, who seems slightly unsatisfied with life. A chance meeting with a backpacker provides a map to a mysterious destination, with the person who gave the map committing suicide the next morning.
This book reminds me a little of Bret Easton Ellis in some of it's narcissistic tendencies, and some of the themes of the Vietnam war, and even the Super Mario brothers game.
Yes it's full of twists and turns, but it never really engaged with me - even the second time around. I felt that the commune-like lifestyle was a little much, and always felt a there was a strange disconnect between the major and minor characters. Maybe I'm looking for too much, as on face value the book is an ok read.
I should probably check out Alex Garland's other books before completely throwing it to there "wouldn't trade again" pile. As he also wrote "28 days later" and "Sunshine".
Perhaps next time I am looking for South East Asian inspiration I should try "The Quiet American"
Saturday, October 27, 2007
John Barth, The End of the Road
I will read anything, as this book list attests. I really enjoy being lent books from friends, as it gives me a chance to read something I may not otherwise have picked up... Which is the state that "The end of the road" was handed to me.
An unusual book, involving a love triangle between 3 people, narrated by the anti-hero, Jacob Horner. It is not quite an emotional rollercoaster, but a novel that is filled with complex dialogue heading towards an interesting conclusion.
In a nutshell "In the novel Barth deftly explores important themes: the folly of taking philosophies to logical extremes, and the need to accept and embrace paradox as well as be able to combine, or at least try, various and flexible philosophies to survive in the larger world." (thanks wiki)
This book is complex. It's hard to get your head around the characters - there were places I just wanted to shut the book to shut them up. But I persevered, and I'm glad I did.
Being written in the 1950's it's easy to brush away some of the content as simple - but when put in it's place, the content deals with complex emotional issues, dealt with in an almost ludicrous way.
I should really read it again to understand it a little better - as I think I passed over a lot of it with the initial feeling "It's wordy and boring"...
An unusual book, involving a love triangle between 3 people, narrated by the anti-hero, Jacob Horner. It is not quite an emotional rollercoaster, but a novel that is filled with complex dialogue heading towards an interesting conclusion.
In a nutshell "In the novel Barth deftly explores important themes: the folly of taking philosophies to logical extremes, and the need to accept and embrace paradox as well as be able to combine, or at least try, various and flexible philosophies to survive in the larger world." (thanks wiki)
This book is complex. It's hard to get your head around the characters - there were places I just wanted to shut the book to shut them up. But I persevered, and I'm glad I did.
Being written in the 1950's it's easy to brush away some of the content as simple - but when put in it's place, the content deals with complex emotional issues, dealt with in an almost ludicrous way.
I should really read it again to understand it a little better - as I think I passed over a lot of it with the initial feeling "It's wordy and boring"...
Duncton Quest
I've been fan of the Duncton Moles since I was about 13. Someone bought me the first book for my birthday, and I was totally in love with the world of Duncton Wood, Bracken and Rebecca, Boswell, Scribemoles, Uffington in all SORTS of ways. It's strange, even though I adored this book - I never located the second one (there are 3) until now!
I was so excited to run home and start reading it, and after the first page all the memories of the duncton world cam flooding back.
Similar in style and theme to Watership down, these sentient moles live in a colourful, often dark, almost traumatic world.
A nice easy read, and as I'm such a huge animal fan, unputdownable - I loved this book. It's full if rich image imagery, the battle between good and evil, and almost tries to explain what makes evil the way it is. If you're a fan of any kind of fantasy, or even just a really well written story, this is definitely a book to read.
In fact, I loved it so much I'm considering calling my next pet (I'm thinking a nice chocolate brown labrador or golden retriever) Tryfran.
I was so excited to run home and start reading it, and after the first page all the memories of the duncton world cam flooding back.
Similar in style and theme to Watership down, these sentient moles live in a colourful, often dark, almost traumatic world.
A nice easy read, and as I'm such a huge animal fan, unputdownable - I loved this book. It's full if rich image imagery, the battle between good and evil, and almost tries to explain what makes evil the way it is. If you're a fan of any kind of fantasy, or even just a really well written story, this is definitely a book to read.
In fact, I loved it so much I'm considering calling my next pet (I'm thinking a nice chocolate brown labrador or golden retriever) Tryfran.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Hotel California, Barney Hoskins
I wasn't a 70's child, in fact I was barely an 80's child, but due to parents who loved music, I got a grounding in the artists that this book is about... Spanning the late 60's to the early 80's, Hotel California walks through the trials and tribulations of the artists situated in the Los Angeles Canyons districts.
While I thought it would be more shocking, I mean what did artists do in the 70's but take loads of drugs and have a good time? but this was an exploration into the real lifestyle of these people.
From Joni Mitchell, to the Eagles, to Crosby, Stills and Nash (with and without Neil Young) to the Eagles, the story feels like you're suddenly amongst a group of mates that get wasted together, share the lives, their loves, their insecurities, and also their music.
Hearing stories about The Troubadour (the club where most of them played at some stage of their careers) transported me there, feeling the sweat and muck come off the stage, watching the successes come and go, watching the addictions to various substances waste talent away...
While the most shocking aspect of this book was more about what a WANKER Davd Geffen is, each chapter beautifully interweaves each musicians fame and dependence without becoming contrived or face. While I felt slightly sdad at each chapter, as dealing with ego sounds like such a struggle, as well as the changing American way, and almost the demise of american folk music.
While a lot of the names and artists flew over my head, I really enjoyed this book - I felt it was well written, full of intersting anecdotes, snippets of a life and time that I only ever read about...
While I thought it would be more shocking, I mean what did artists do in the 70's but take loads of drugs and have a good time? but this was an exploration into the real lifestyle of these people.
From Joni Mitchell, to the Eagles, to Crosby, Stills and Nash (with and without Neil Young) to the Eagles, the story feels like you're suddenly amongst a group of mates that get wasted together, share the lives, their loves, their insecurities, and also their music.
Hearing stories about The Troubadour (the club where most of them played at some stage of their careers) transported me there, feeling the sweat and muck come off the stage, watching the successes come and go, watching the addictions to various substances waste talent away...
While the most shocking aspect of this book was more about what a WANKER Davd Geffen is, each chapter beautifully interweaves each musicians fame and dependence without becoming contrived or face. While I felt slightly sdad at each chapter, as dealing with ego sounds like such a struggle, as well as the changing American way, and almost the demise of american folk music.
While a lot of the names and artists flew over my head, I really enjoyed this book - I felt it was well written, full of intersting anecdotes, snippets of a life and time that I only ever read about...
Guns Germs and Steel
I like non-fiction books, I guess it's because I have a thirst for knowledge, but also a dire need to join a pub quiz team - so the more general knowledge I've got, the better player I'll be... At least that or finally win at the family "Trivial Pursuit" game. So with that I always pick up random books at the book shop, I might have heard of them, maybe seen them reviewed, and sometimes it's just a matter of picking up something that just "looks interesting"...
And as such with this book. Anything that proposes to be a "short history for the last 13,000 years" interests me!
Bascially explaining why society has evolved the way it has due to (as the title says) guns, germs and steel, it goes back to the way the world has been colonised, and the effect of colonising societies on others (such as the spanish effect on the native americans).
The base theory offered is as follows (from wikipedia) "In our earliest societies humans lived as hunter-gatherers. The first step towards civilization is the move from hunter-gatherer to agriculture with the domestication and farming of wild crops and animals. Agricultural production leads to food surpluses and this in turn supports sedentary societies, rapid population growth, and specialization of labor. Large societies tend to develop ruling classes and supporting bureaucracies, which leads in turn to the organization of empires. Although agriculture arose in several parts of the world, Eurasia gained an early advantage due to the availability of suitable plant and animal species for domestication. In particular, Mesopotamia had by far the best collection of plants and animals suitable for domestication, and Europe adopted Mesopotamia's animals, plants, and agricultural techniques."
blahblah...
Going through the different options for the different societies in regards to the domestication of animals, crops, and why eurasia seemed to dominate all cultures, I still felt that this book missed out on several key points.
I guess the whole book felt like it was trying to justify the inevitability of Europe taking over all cultures. I was disappointed at the lack of focus on the great things that nomadic cultures produce (such as Aboriginal culture) and really got the feel from the book that cultures were "less evolved" which of course had a negative connotation.
Overall an interesting read, however I would like to think that society evolved with more of a focus on culture and initiative rather than putting it all down to the ease of animal domestication and the ability to grow crops...
And as such with this book. Anything that proposes to be a "short history for the last 13,000 years" interests me!
Bascially explaining why society has evolved the way it has due to (as the title says) guns, germs and steel, it goes back to the way the world has been colonised, and the effect of colonising societies on others (such as the spanish effect on the native americans).
The base theory offered is as follows (from wikipedia) "In our earliest societies humans lived as hunter-gatherers. The first step towards civilization is the move from hunter-gatherer to agriculture with the domestication and farming of wild crops and animals. Agricultural production leads to food surpluses and this in turn supports sedentary societies, rapid population growth, and specialization of labor. Large societies tend to develop ruling classes and supporting bureaucracies, which leads in turn to the organization of empires. Although agriculture arose in several parts of the world, Eurasia gained an early advantage due to the availability of suitable plant and animal species for domestication. In particular, Mesopotamia had by far the best collection of plants and animals suitable for domestication, and Europe adopted Mesopotamia's animals, plants, and agricultural techniques."
blahblah...
Going through the different options for the different societies in regards to the domestication of animals, crops, and why eurasia seemed to dominate all cultures, I still felt that this book missed out on several key points.
I guess the whole book felt like it was trying to justify the inevitability of Europe taking over all cultures. I was disappointed at the lack of focus on the great things that nomadic cultures produce (such as Aboriginal culture) and really got the feel from the book that cultures were "less evolved" which of course had a negative connotation.
Overall an interesting read, however I would like to think that society evolved with more of a focus on culture and initiative rather than putting it all down to the ease of animal domestication and the ability to grow crops...
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Accordian Crimes, Annie Proulx
Something has always attracted me to Annie Proulx' novels. There is a bleakness to them, it's not that they are depressing per se (well, they are...) but it's more to it than that. A darkness, a dirtiness, almost sinful. I looked forward to reading this novel with a dark glee - hoping for interesting tales that I could sink my teeth into secretly in bed each night.
Sadly I was midly disappointed with this novel. Each chapter is it's own story of migrants in America, each finding the mysterious green accordian, and we watch a snippet of their dark, sometimes sordid lives. With each scene is set with a different character and their surrounding families - throughout different areas of America. We follow the accordian and migrants from Italy to New York, the Midwest (in the hands of Germans), Texas (Mexicans), Maine/Canada (French), Louisiana (black slaves from Nantes) and Chicago (Poles) each with a different story to tell, a different subset of society they hate, and why they themselves are hated.
Because of the general undercurrent of dispair throughout the novel, I found myself not wanting to read it, as it was one dark tale after another, with rarely anything positive happening. Or even if it did, (such as the Polish couple winning an accordian playing and singing competition) it was seduced by a dark side and darker elements that would slowly wear away at each snippet of goodness.
The prose is lyrical, with incredible use of metaphor, every city that each chapter focussed on became more realistic, with sights and sounds vividly and richly described, I felt almost transported to each place.
I really felt that there wasn't enough content and background to each story, but because each story needed to have enough impact in but a few short pages each sotry becomes angrier and more frustrated at each situation, but almost mocks itself in a sardonic way. Not quite brutal as say Bret Easton Ellis's 'Less than zero', more like Stephen King's 'Dolores Claiborne'.
I don't think I'd read this novel again primarily because it was so dark, I definitely enjoyed 'Shipping News' and 'That old ace in the hole' much more.
Sadly I was midly disappointed with this novel. Each chapter is it's own story of migrants in America, each finding the mysterious green accordian, and we watch a snippet of their dark, sometimes sordid lives. With each scene is set with a different character and their surrounding families - throughout different areas of America. We follow the accordian and migrants from Italy to New York, the Midwest (in the hands of Germans), Texas (Mexicans), Maine/Canada (French), Louisiana (black slaves from Nantes) and Chicago (Poles) each with a different story to tell, a different subset of society they hate, and why they themselves are hated.
Because of the general undercurrent of dispair throughout the novel, I found myself not wanting to read it, as it was one dark tale after another, with rarely anything positive happening. Or even if it did, (such as the Polish couple winning an accordian playing and singing competition) it was seduced by a dark side and darker elements that would slowly wear away at each snippet of goodness.
The prose is lyrical, with incredible use of metaphor, every city that each chapter focussed on became more realistic, with sights and sounds vividly and richly described, I felt almost transported to each place.
I really felt that there wasn't enough content and background to each story, but because each story needed to have enough impact in but a few short pages each sotry becomes angrier and more frustrated at each situation, but almost mocks itself in a sardonic way. Not quite brutal as say Bret Easton Ellis's 'Less than zero', more like Stephen King's 'Dolores Claiborne'.
I don't think I'd read this novel again primarily because it was so dark, I definitely enjoyed 'Shipping News' and 'That old ace in the hole' much more.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
The Satanic Verses, Salman Rushdie
After reading about all the controversy surrounding this novel, I have been trying to locate a copy for years. When I spotted this sitting on the shelf of my favourite second hand book shop I was nearly frothing at the mouth to get it home and started!
I have read a couple of Salman Rushdie novels before, and really enjoy the lyrical narrative. There is something about the way he puts things, the use of metaphor, that just floats my boat! (Either that - or it just makes me feel more intelligent for reading it...) Quote from publishers weekly says "Rushdie's fanciful language is as concentrated and overwhelming as a paisley pattern" which pretty much sums it up.
Admittedly - I found this novel quite difficult to grasp. Much like War and Peace with name similarity and culture confusion, I did spend some time reading about "people" and feeling confused about exactly who they were, but persevered and ended up really enjoying this novel.
I should have read more about what the satanic verses really were before starting - not wanting to spoil the book, I left the reasarch till the end - it did however make things a lot clearer. A lot of the muslim/indian culture in-jokes sailed well over my head, but I was grasped by this unusual novel. With references of England and India, and almost an allegory about the continued struggle for India to find itself and the how young british indians see the world in a completely different light as well, the novel is firstly a book about people, and secondly a well-crafted story referencing the actual 'Satanic Verses' inspired by the life of mahammud.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Verses
The novel is centrally about two characters, who after falling from an exploding plane, land back to earth and become reborn, one as the arch angel "Gibreel" and the other as a devil. The book follows their transformation and piecing their lives back together.
While complex in content - it is STILL a good read - and I would recommend to anyone who has the time and sit relaxing over the beautiful prose and imagery of this novel.
I have read a couple of Salman Rushdie novels before, and really enjoy the lyrical narrative. There is something about the way he puts things, the use of metaphor, that just floats my boat! (Either that - or it just makes me feel more intelligent for reading it...) Quote from publishers weekly says "Rushdie's fanciful language is as concentrated and overwhelming as a paisley pattern" which pretty much sums it up.
Admittedly - I found this novel quite difficult to grasp. Much like War and Peace with name similarity and culture confusion, I did spend some time reading about "people" and feeling confused about exactly who they were, but persevered and ended up really enjoying this novel.
I should have read more about what the satanic verses really were before starting - not wanting to spoil the book, I left the reasarch till the end - it did however make things a lot clearer. A lot of the muslim/indian culture in-jokes sailed well over my head, but I was grasped by this unusual novel. With references of England and India, and almost an allegory about the continued struggle for India to find itself and the how young british indians see the world in a completely different light as well, the novel is firstly a book about people, and secondly a well-crafted story referencing the actual 'Satanic Verses' inspired by the life of mahammud.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Satanic_Verses
The novel is centrally about two characters, who after falling from an exploding plane, land back to earth and become reborn, one as the arch angel "Gibreel" and the other as a devil. The book follows their transformation and piecing their lives back together.
While complex in content - it is STILL a good read - and I would recommend to anyone who has the time and sit relaxing over the beautiful prose and imagery of this novel.
Saturday, May 19, 2007
The Man Who Tasted Shapes, Richard E. Cytowic
I have a personal love for Science. I have never really understood why. Maybe it's a natural curiosity to explain the things around me? I'm not so sure. I am often drawn to the Science part of my local bookstore, sifting through Carl Sagan, theories on evolution and anything else that interests me.
This book was slightly hidden away, but as soon as I saw the title I was hooked - "The man who tasted shapes". Synaesthesia ("the neurological mixing of the senses. A synaesthete may, for example, hear colors, see sounds, and taste tactile sensations") has always interested me as it shows how incredible the human brain is.
I remember reading a thread on the internet where a person offered to draw what people's names looked like to him. I was astounded at the depth in colour, and how different his experience was to what non-synaesthetes experience.
The book initialy goes through a process of learning about synaesthesia and testing of two separate subjects of how the brain functions during their experience. Admiteddly, as I am not a Neurologist some of the terms went a little over my head, however the his conclusion was that the origins of synaesthesia are in the limbic system. However later theories do not corroborate this, the process undertaken intereseted me.
The tests performed were fully explained, and the one part that interested me was that when given certain substances it either enhanced or nearly totally removed the synaesthesia.
The second half of the book are essays in regards to Cytowic's thoughts on several subjects.
With broader thinking and a non-linear style of apporaching synaesthesia - I found this book very interesting, and was motivated to find out more! There are several famous performers with synaesthesia, such as Rollo from Faithless, Duke Ellington, Pharrel Williams, the bassist of the band Tool and several others. I would be incredibly interested to find out more about how this effects/enhances their creative process. Daniel Tammet, famous british autistic savant, also has synaesthesia.
With his conclusion of "synesthesia is actually a normal brain function in every one of us, but that its workings reach conscious awareness in only a handful" I became excited about the human experience and how we will find out more about how the brain works further in the future...
On an aside, I think it was interesting to view this book as a person who suffers Migraine Aura (unusual spots and also the inability to speak), while synaesthesia is unrelated, I still find anything on the human brain incredibly interesting - as we are still discovering the different ways that the brain can work!
Wiki Article on Synaesthesia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia
Cytowic's website: http://cytowic.net/_Books/_More-Shapes/_more-shapes.html
Amazon review: http://www.amazon.com/Man-Tasted-Shapes-Bradford-Books/dp/0262531526
This book was slightly hidden away, but as soon as I saw the title I was hooked - "The man who tasted shapes". Synaesthesia ("the neurological mixing of the senses. A synaesthete may, for example, hear colors, see sounds, and taste tactile sensations") has always interested me as it shows how incredible the human brain is.
I remember reading a thread on the internet where a person offered to draw what people's names looked like to him. I was astounded at the depth in colour, and how different his experience was to what non-synaesthetes experience.
The book initialy goes through a process of learning about synaesthesia and testing of two separate subjects of how the brain functions during their experience. Admiteddly, as I am not a Neurologist some of the terms went a little over my head, however the his conclusion was that the origins of synaesthesia are in the limbic system. However later theories do not corroborate this, the process undertaken intereseted me.
The tests performed were fully explained, and the one part that interested me was that when given certain substances it either enhanced or nearly totally removed the synaesthesia.
The second half of the book are essays in regards to Cytowic's thoughts on several subjects.
With broader thinking and a non-linear style of apporaching synaesthesia - I found this book very interesting, and was motivated to find out more! There are several famous performers with synaesthesia, such as Rollo from Faithless, Duke Ellington, Pharrel Williams, the bassist of the band Tool and several others. I would be incredibly interested to find out more about how this effects/enhances their creative process. Daniel Tammet, famous british autistic savant, also has synaesthesia.
With his conclusion of "synesthesia is actually a normal brain function in every one of us, but that its workings reach conscious awareness in only a handful" I became excited about the human experience and how we will find out more about how the brain works further in the future...
On an aside, I think it was interesting to view this book as a person who suffers Migraine Aura (unusual spots and also the inability to speak), while synaesthesia is unrelated, I still find anything on the human brain incredibly interesting - as we are still discovering the different ways that the brain can work!
Wiki Article on Synaesthesia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Synesthesia
Cytowic's website: http://cytowic.net/_Books/_More-Shapes/_more-shapes.html
Amazon review: http://www.amazon.com/Man-Tasted-Shapes-Bradford-Books/dp/0262531526
Saturday, May 12, 2007
Backstage Passes: Life on the Wild Side with David Bowie By Angela Bowie
Christ.
What a fucking waste of time.
I don't know what I was expecting - but it sure wasn't a vapid, vindictive, ex-wifely attack on David Bowie and his lifestyle.
What was I expecting? Tender interesting personal moments away from the sex-drugs-rockandroll of the time period. Interesting snippets of life. What it was like when they had their first child, moments of difficulty adjusting to fame, beautiful anecdotes about his artistry and sense of style...
But all I got out of this novel was that a jealous Angie Bowie just wants to sing "MEMEMEMEMEMEME" from the rooftops.
While full of sex and conquests from both Angie and David, it comes across as bitchy, sardonic and very jealous. I don't understand where there would be such a need to take so much credit for his costuming, David Bowie the brand, and general comments about getting his conquests before he had a chance.
While the snippets of other stars of the period are mildy interesting, there was nothing that made me want to talk about David Bowie or his lifestyle like other Biographies have made me do.
The only interesting thing to note was that she found David in bed with Mick Jagger, certain butnever 100% sure they'd slept together.
I guess after being banned from discussing their relationship as part of the divorce settlement, I can imagine the freedom to suddenly speak must have been huge - but this book is a jumbled mess, with mized chornology - going forwards and backwards, with no idea how a: confusing and b: annoying this is to the reader.
Quite happy to hand this one back to the friend I borrowed it off.
What a fucking waste of time.
I don't know what I was expecting - but it sure wasn't a vapid, vindictive, ex-wifely attack on David Bowie and his lifestyle.
What was I expecting? Tender interesting personal moments away from the sex-drugs-rockandroll of the time period. Interesting snippets of life. What it was like when they had their first child, moments of difficulty adjusting to fame, beautiful anecdotes about his artistry and sense of style...
But all I got out of this novel was that a jealous Angie Bowie just wants to sing "MEMEMEMEMEMEME" from the rooftops.
While full of sex and conquests from both Angie and David, it comes across as bitchy, sardonic and very jealous. I don't understand where there would be such a need to take so much credit for his costuming, David Bowie the brand, and general comments about getting his conquests before he had a chance.
While the snippets of other stars of the period are mildy interesting, there was nothing that made me want to talk about David Bowie or his lifestyle like other Biographies have made me do.
The only interesting thing to note was that she found David in bed with Mick Jagger, certain butnever 100% sure they'd slept together.
I guess after being banned from discussing their relationship as part of the divorce settlement, I can imagine the freedom to suddenly speak must have been huge - but this book is a jumbled mess, with mized chornology - going forwards and backwards, with no idea how a: confusing and b: annoying this is to the reader.
Quite happy to hand this one back to the friend I borrowed it off.
Shantaram - Gregory David Roberts
This book is huge. All 944 pages. The subject matter isn't small either, full of stories of prison, hatred, war, good evil - but to be honest it's all a bit contrived.
It is classed as fiction - however is supposedly "based on true events". Because of this - I felt there was something very James Frey (author of "A million little pieces"). I felt that there was too much coincidence in this novel. I didn't feel that it was very realistic at all. I guess I was expecting more of the richness of India, stuggles past the mafia, real life issues rather than the crime glorifying novel that this became...
A young man suddenly becoming a doctor in the slums after only basic first aid training, dealing with lepers for black market medication, helping with a cholera epidemic, then entering the indian mafia, then going into the afghanistan war - with in fights and love interests on the way - all seems a bit much don't you think?
It did keep me entertained, with interesting (however often overdone) characters - that for all their flowery indtroductions and lives, still seemed two dimensional.
The lovable scamp, anti-hero didn't sit with me very well, as he WAS on the run from the law initially, and his descent into a heroin drug mess for 3 months just didn't feel real. He is on the run - and barely mentions his wife and daughter - which I am certain would more than consume a normal man.
Interesting to note that this is being made into a film, Johnny Depp listed to play a central character (as well as buying the rights for a cool 2million).
I would read again, only to hope I could pull more of the underlying themes, beauty and story out of it.
It is classed as fiction - however is supposedly "based on true events". Because of this - I felt there was something very James Frey (author of "A million little pieces"). I felt that there was too much coincidence in this novel. I didn't feel that it was very realistic at all. I guess I was expecting more of the richness of India, stuggles past the mafia, real life issues rather than the crime glorifying novel that this became...
A young man suddenly becoming a doctor in the slums after only basic first aid training, dealing with lepers for black market medication, helping with a cholera epidemic, then entering the indian mafia, then going into the afghanistan war - with in fights and love interests on the way - all seems a bit much don't you think?
It did keep me entertained, with interesting (however often overdone) characters - that for all their flowery indtroductions and lives, still seemed two dimensional.
The lovable scamp, anti-hero didn't sit with me very well, as he WAS on the run from the law initially, and his descent into a heroin drug mess for 3 months just didn't feel real. He is on the run - and barely mentions his wife and daughter - which I am certain would more than consume a normal man.
Interesting to note that this is being made into a film, Johnny Depp listed to play a central character (as well as buying the rights for a cool 2million).
I would read again, only to hope I could pull more of the underlying themes, beauty and story out of it.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Hegemony or Survival, Noam Chomsky
Another one of my "well I really need to read more to solidfy my opinion on Iraq" book purchases, I was expecting a long heavy book full of facts and footnotes.
I was pleasantly surprised to find this book incredibly interesting and easy to read! With an overview of the military campgaigns that the US has been involved in from WWII through to 2003, this book offers some insight into the military and economic motives of various campaigns.
A bit of an eye-opener into the politics of war without getting bogged down into the inherent statistics and facts of this.
As the Iraq conflict is more of a "pre-emptive" war, the book shows how over the last 50 years America has become more and more concerned of itself rather than other countries. Reading this in the light of the current potential problems in Iran made me feel that I would live to read an update with this in mind.
This book is extremely pointed, and I would recommened it to anyone who wants to know more about why the US are STILL in Iraq, why they went into Iraq in the first place, and how they continue to justify this past the "WMD" agrument that was proven to be null and void. It also show an understanding of how the US ethos of the last 50 years will continue to have an effect in all future military conflicts across the globe.
I'm still surprised how much I enjoyed reading this book. I for one have fingers crossed that a much more democratic leader is in power in the US in 2008, and that America does not continue it's empire-like pre-emptiveness and hegemony in regards to overseas conflicts.
I was pleasantly surprised to find this book incredibly interesting and easy to read! With an overview of the military campgaigns that the US has been involved in from WWII through to 2003, this book offers some insight into the military and economic motives of various campaigns.
A bit of an eye-opener into the politics of war without getting bogged down into the inherent statistics and facts of this.
As the Iraq conflict is more of a "pre-emptive" war, the book shows how over the last 50 years America has become more and more concerned of itself rather than other countries. Reading this in the light of the current potential problems in Iran made me feel that I would live to read an update with this in mind.
This book is extremely pointed, and I would recommened it to anyone who wants to know more about why the US are STILL in Iraq, why they went into Iraq in the first place, and how they continue to justify this past the "WMD" agrument that was proven to be null and void. It also show an understanding of how the US ethos of the last 50 years will continue to have an effect in all future military conflicts across the globe.
I'm still surprised how much I enjoyed reading this book. I for one have fingers crossed that a much more democratic leader is in power in the US in 2008, and that America does not continue it's empire-like pre-emptiveness and hegemony in regards to overseas conflicts.
Girl, Interrupted - Susanna Kaysen
I wasn't quite sure what to expect with this book. It's short (160 or so pages) with relatively large text.
It is about a girl who is essentially sent to an institution for two years after being diagnosed with Borderline Personality disorder. Rather than being a road through the therapy and life in an institution, the book seems to float around various parts of the life, without settling down on any specific part to settle on and explore.
I guess I was hoping for more detailed information of how mental illness was handled in the 60's - and with more of a focus on how she managed to get essentially hold on to a relationship whilst inside.
I suffer from Borderline myself so was expecting the mental illness part to be more apparent, and there seemed to be a "I should never have been brought here" theme throughout? and maybe a tinge of 'One flew over the cuckoo's nest' everyone here is crazy but me as well.
The characters felt relatively thin, with no real explanation or development of who they are and why they are there. I guess this was more the style rather than needlessly left out.
It's written in a relatively lyrical style which I enjoyed, but to be honest I was expecting much more. I would be interested in seeing the movie which may explore the subject matter further.
I still enjoyed it, and it did feel like relatively light reading...
It is about a girl who is essentially sent to an institution for two years after being diagnosed with Borderline Personality disorder. Rather than being a road through the therapy and life in an institution, the book seems to float around various parts of the life, without settling down on any specific part to settle on and explore.
I guess I was hoping for more detailed information of how mental illness was handled in the 60's - and with more of a focus on how she managed to get essentially hold on to a relationship whilst inside.
I suffer from Borderline myself so was expecting the mental illness part to be more apparent, and there seemed to be a "I should never have been brought here" theme throughout? and maybe a tinge of 'One flew over the cuckoo's nest' everyone here is crazy but me as well.
The characters felt relatively thin, with no real explanation or development of who they are and why they are there. I guess this was more the style rather than needlessly left out.
It's written in a relatively lyrical style which I enjoyed, but to be honest I was expecting much more. I would be interested in seeing the movie which may explore the subject matter further.
I still enjoyed it, and it did feel like relatively light reading...
Friday, April 20, 2007
Sole Survivor - Derek Hansen
A book written by an Australian about Great Barrier Island in the 60's. Insert themes of over fishing by Japanese trawlers, 1 man who has come back from the war a complete wreck, one male childrens writer, and one woman who magically is a doctor/psychologist/incubator all in one.
I like to be able to believe in my characters, and this novel felt a little contrived as everything seems to work out conveniently every chapter. While the examples of Red's lapses into mania due to traumatic wartime experiences appear to be well written, the novel has a sexism and underlying sexuality that did not sit well with me.
I did not enjoy the portrayal of women in this novel at all - the behaviour of the two main female characters does not make any sense, even when considered as a sign of the times (based in the 60's).
While the novel did grip me occasionally, I came away feeling I didn't exactly enjoy it and don't knowif I really took anything from it! I'm sure if the same subject matter was handled by a female author it would have had quite a different spin.
I don't think I would read this novel again either.
I like to be able to believe in my characters, and this novel felt a little contrived as everything seems to work out conveniently every chapter. While the examples of Red's lapses into mania due to traumatic wartime experiences appear to be well written, the novel has a sexism and underlying sexuality that did not sit well with me.
I did not enjoy the portrayal of women in this novel at all - the behaviour of the two main female characters does not make any sense, even when considered as a sign of the times (based in the 60's).
While the novel did grip me occasionally, I came away feeling I didn't exactly enjoy it and don't knowif I really took anything from it! I'm sure if the same subject matter was handled by a female author it would have had quite a different spin.
I don't think I would read this novel again either.
Biography of Sir Peter Blake
I'm not a yachtie, but like all kiwis ended up following the Americas Cup, Whitbread races and then once that was all over, was interested the final Peter Blake venture, Blakexpeditions.
I was relatively disappointed with the Biography, as it often felt like a play by play yachting race novel. Like I said, I'm not a yachtie, so reading a book full of yaching terms, boating terms, sail terms past the standard "sail" and "spinniker" I was lost.
I found myself skim reading, the only interesting parts were the Russel Coutts, Brad Butterworth team swap, and the final small part about Blakexpeditions. I was disappointed at the length of this last part, as preserving our world became a real focus for Sir Peter, and I felt like this was rushed in at the last minute without much thought. There was no reasoning why Peter became so heavily interested in the preservation of the environment, why the Amazon river and other places such as this were his new focus.
Considering what a figure that Sir Peter Blake has been in New Zealand over the last 20 years, I really did think that it should have been written in a more user friendly style, It would have had a lot more validity to the general public in that respect.
Definitely not a novel I would try to read again, sadly I was very disappointed in this Biography.
I was relatively disappointed with the Biography, as it often felt like a play by play yachting race novel. Like I said, I'm not a yachtie, so reading a book full of yaching terms, boating terms, sail terms past the standard "sail" and "spinniker" I was lost.
I found myself skim reading, the only interesting parts were the Russel Coutts, Brad Butterworth team swap, and the final small part about Blakexpeditions. I was disappointed at the length of this last part, as preserving our world became a real focus for Sir Peter, and I felt like this was rushed in at the last minute without much thought. There was no reasoning why Peter became so heavily interested in the preservation of the environment, why the Amazon river and other places such as this were his new focus.
Considering what a figure that Sir Peter Blake has been in New Zealand over the last 20 years, I really did think that it should have been written in a more user friendly style, It would have had a lot more validity to the general public in that respect.
Definitely not a novel I would try to read again, sadly I was very disappointed in this Biography.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
The bride stripped bare
I don't read trashy romance. I can't abide it. I cannot handle the whimsical pathetic loveydoveyness. They are never true to life and give most women the concept of "omg happy ever after" and "there is the perfect man out there".
In a nutshell - they are completely ridiculous.
After seeing a book that had been fairly well advertised, notes written that I had seen in all my local bookstores coming up cheap - I decided on a spur of the moment purchase while buying a book for my Fathers' birthday, to buy it.
I have learnt my lesson - I must check out what genre it is - well before purcase.
This book is about a woman (suprise, surprise) who finds out her husband is cheating with her best friend, who is a free loving, life filled woman (who you end up finding out is a sex therapist), (goodness does this spell trouble? *sigh* subtlety is beyond authors such as this), and woman goes to try and find herself.
Cue young man from the library group who she ends up teaching about sex. And Cue random hotel room group sex, that is sadly misplaced, ridiculous - and comes across like a pathetic attempt for the animalistic woman in us all to feel empowered, yet is weak, unrealistic, and completely unlike what a real experience like that would be like.
Seriously - the sex is god awful, the content dripping with femibullshit "I have the power" crap - I cannot believe this book has become the sleeper hit that it is.
I look at quotes from reviews like "intelligent and accomplished exploration of female sexuality and the social landscape it inhabits”, and "The blurb describes it as "an explosive novel of sex, secrecy and escape" - I find blurbs rarely live
up to their descriptions, but this one does." - and I want to vomit.
The characters have no depth - and it comes across like a pathetic launch through a woman's attempt to justify her previous affairs.
This book is the most atrocious novel I had ever read, I wish I could get that hour and a half back.
In a nutshell - they are completely ridiculous.
After seeing a book that had been fairly well advertised, notes written that I had seen in all my local bookstores coming up cheap - I decided on a spur of the moment purchase while buying a book for my Fathers' birthday, to buy it.
I have learnt my lesson - I must check out what genre it is - well before purcase.
This book is about a woman (suprise, surprise) who finds out her husband is cheating with her best friend, who is a free loving, life filled woman (who you end up finding out is a sex therapist), (goodness does this spell trouble? *sigh* subtlety is beyond authors such as this), and woman goes to try and find herself.
Cue young man from the library group who she ends up teaching about sex. And Cue random hotel room group sex, that is sadly misplaced, ridiculous - and comes across like a pathetic attempt for the animalistic woman in us all to feel empowered, yet is weak, unrealistic, and completely unlike what a real experience like that would be like.
Seriously - the sex is god awful, the content dripping with femibullshit "I have the power" crap - I cannot believe this book has become the sleeper hit that it is.
I look at quotes from reviews like "intelligent and accomplished exploration of female sexuality and the social landscape it inhabits”, and "The blurb describes it as "an explosive novel of sex, secrecy and escape" - I find blurbs rarely live
up to their descriptions, but this one does." - and I want to vomit.
The characters have no depth - and it comes across like a pathetic launch through a woman's attempt to justify her previous affairs.
This book is the most atrocious novel I had ever read, I wish I could get that hour and a half back.
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Foucault's Pendulum
Being an avid reader of Templars, Holy Grail palaver, Masonic Lodge assumptions, and other esoteric writings, I looked forward to this literary piece of fiction. Preceding the Da Vinci code by several years, I was astounded to find how similar the two pieces of work were.
While not speicifcally about "San Gral", Foucault's Pendulum is still about the quest for knowledge, what is real and what isn't, and also how it is so easy to get sucked in amongst avid believers.
I enjoyed the literary style, the slight mockery of itself (almost), and the ability to feel that I came away knowing a heck of a lot more than initially.
Because of it's vivid style, it can be easy to get confused, with places, names and occultism, however persevering enables the reader to become heavily involved and even interested in how the plot plan finally climaxes. In fact, so complex are the esoteric topics introduced within the novel, there is a wikipedia entry dedicated to them wiki list
A novel that you need to read in a short space of time to ensure places, names and subject content don't slip by the wayside...
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable novel!
While not speicifcally about "San Gral", Foucault's Pendulum is still about the quest for knowledge, what is real and what isn't, and also how it is so easy to get sucked in amongst avid believers.
I enjoyed the literary style, the slight mockery of itself (almost), and the ability to feel that I came away knowing a heck of a lot more than initially.
Because of it's vivid style, it can be easy to get confused, with places, names and occultism, however persevering enables the reader to become heavily involved and even interested in how the plot plan finally climaxes. In fact, so complex are the esoteric topics introduced within the novel, there is a wikipedia entry dedicated to them wiki list
A novel that you need to read in a short space of time to ensure places, names and subject content don't slip by the wayside...
All in all a thoroughly enjoyable novel!
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Less than zero - Brett Easton Ellis
After reading Glamorama, Amerian Psycho and Rules of Attraction, I was looking forward to reading Bret Easton Ellis's first book - Less than zero.
I like his writing style, it's always been blunt, sardonic - I guess "edgy" when you read the novel in regards to the time it was written, but that didn't prepare me for Less than zero.
The novel is about Clay, who returns home from college for 4 weeks and tries to hang out with old friends. What ensures is a dark run through an almost underworld, belnding rich and the non-rich in an unusual way. It touches on prostitution, homosexuality - well more androgyny, drugs, relationships - and the way that people chage when you move away from them
Rather than looking through the violence (written and implied) I found it abhorrent. The thinly veiled cruelty throughout came across as distant anger, disconnected from each of the major plot situations, it almost seemed if it was directed at the self.
Don't get me wrong - the book is well written, and it got under my skin (here I am still thinking about it 4 days later) but I still found it incredibly depressing, with an overal feeling of emptiness... I felt ever so slightly dirty from reading it.
Less than zero
I like his writing style, it's always been blunt, sardonic - I guess "edgy" when you read the novel in regards to the time it was written, but that didn't prepare me for Less than zero.
The novel is about Clay, who returns home from college for 4 weeks and tries to hang out with old friends. What ensures is a dark run through an almost underworld, belnding rich and the non-rich in an unusual way. It touches on prostitution, homosexuality - well more androgyny, drugs, relationships - and the way that people chage when you move away from them
Rather than looking through the violence (written and implied) I found it abhorrent. The thinly veiled cruelty throughout came across as distant anger, disconnected from each of the major plot situations, it almost seemed if it was directed at the self.
Don't get me wrong - the book is well written, and it got under my skin (here I am still thinking about it 4 days later) but I still found it incredibly depressing, with an overal feeling of emptiness... I felt ever so slightly dirty from reading it.
Less than zero
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