Friday, January 16, 2004
Wild Sheep Chase by Haruki Murakami
After the wait of several months, I discovered that I had forgotten far more than I originally suspected which I think is a reflection of my ability to absorb Murakami's sparse style of writing. As the narrative jumps chronologically, I couldn't follow the plot or characterization clearly and the ensuing alienation from the text may or may not have representated the same alienation felt by the characters to their society/world but ultimately lead to a confusing read. The propelling philosophy of the plot was original and interesting and enough to keep the book exciting but I think, without this posting, that the overall experience of this novel is going to quickly slip from my memory. Although I hope not.
After the wait of several months, I discovered that I had forgotten far more than I originally suspected which I think is a reflection of my ability to absorb Murakami's sparse style of writing. As the narrative jumps chronologically, I couldn't follow the plot or characterization clearly and the ensuing alienation from the text may or may not have representated the same alienation felt by the characters to their society/world but ultimately lead to a confusing read. The propelling philosophy of the plot was original and interesting and enough to keep the book exciting but I think, without this posting, that the overall experience of this novel is going to quickly slip from my memory. Although I hope not.
Sunday, January 11, 2004
The Subtle Knife by Philip Pullman
I finished this book after delaying the inevitable for almost a day and a half but still ended up reading it late into the night. It was amazing although, like the first book, the abrupt ending contained too many violent and emotional events in quick succession. It was impossible to absorb them all and give them the time I needed, and wanted, in order to react to them. I'm still madly in love with Will. This could be a small problem because he is a 12 year old fictional character and I'm a 23 (ugh!) year old stuck in a reality that I don't believe in. I don't think it could ever work, but here's to hoping...
Incidentally, it's significantly easier to write about books I didn't like because I can generally find the bit that rang false or assumed points I didn't agree with but it's so much difficult to write coherantly about books I enjoy which reminds me of the opening comment to Anna Karenina (I think) that all happy families are alike but all unhappy families are each unhappy in their different ways. I'm not complaining so long as this trend of good books continues!
I finished this book after delaying the inevitable for almost a day and a half but still ended up reading it late into the night. It was amazing although, like the first book, the abrupt ending contained too many violent and emotional events in quick succession. It was impossible to absorb them all and give them the time I needed, and wanted, in order to react to them. I'm still madly in love with Will. This could be a small problem because he is a 12 year old fictional character and I'm a 23 (ugh!) year old stuck in a reality that I don't believe in. I don't think it could ever work, but here's to hoping...
Incidentally, it's significantly easier to write about books I didn't like because I can generally find the bit that rang false or assumed points I didn't agree with but it's so much difficult to write coherantly about books I enjoy which reminds me of the opening comment to Anna Karenina (I think) that all happy families are alike but all unhappy families are each unhappy in their different ways. I'm not complaining so long as this trend of good books continues!
Tuesday, January 06, 2004
I'm halfway through the second of Pullman's trilogy The Subtle Knife and I'm madly in love with Will and only actually writing this blog so that the experience of reading this book will last longer. I've updated my inbox, tidied my room, organised my desk and about to start on my life just to lengthen out the time I get to read this book. Will has just lost his fingers and I'm absolutely hooked...
About a Boy by Nick Hornby
It was worth the wait because it was an enjoyable book but I still feel that the film was better and my main reason for liking the book was that it reminded me of the film. His characters are very believable and it's interesting to watch them interact and develop but it lacks something that would make it great. I don't know what.
It was worth the wait because it was an enjoyable book but I still feel that the film was better and my main reason for liking the book was that it reminded me of the film. His characters are very believable and it's interesting to watch them interact and develop but it lacks something that would make it great. I don't know what.
Friday, January 02, 2004
The library was absolutely chaotic today - I think it was the first day it's been open since it shut for Christmas on the 22nd (maybe I should be a librarian? good holidays but then potentially very dull -and old! - colleagues and have to deal with public so p'haps not). Still I got Nick Hornby's About a Boy which I'm looking forward to and also reserved loads of others (inc the Murakami I lost) although just reading that blog, I've just remembered that I should have picked up an HTML book while I was there.... whoops...
I was on the look-out for books to send to Sarah and found a copy of Bridget Jones's Diary which is a book that I think I should re-read at least once a year. I can always hear Sarah's voice behind the 'v. goods'. And I saw the film again as an very necessary antidote to the crap that was Love Actually (which improved of course, for being seen over 12 months after last reading the book). Started last night and finished this afternoon. Re-discovered load of stuff as well, my favourite being that she has an English degree (p. 26). So I'm in good company!
Talking about literary adaptations, I saw Cold Mountain last weekend. (Several hours after finishing Oryx and Crake which fucked with my mind somewhat.) I wasn't planning on liking it since it reeked of Hollywood melodrama which generally irritate me but I was thrown by the beautiful cinematography and amazing views and skillful and sensitive direction and, well, honestly, stunning acting. (Although it's offputting when the actors' faces remind you of other characters they have played which happened to all except Renee Zellweger.) Everything was wonderful except the epilogue - which was a legitimate part of Frazier's novel except for the addition of one particular grace. The only reason I remembered that detail was that its absence was possibly the moment in which the true futility of war hit home. Or maybe that should be, my awareness of its absence since it was only absent because I'd tried to predict the end of the book.
And then on Sunday I watched Igby Goes Down because it had to be returned to the video shop but couldn't get into because my heart was somewhere between the American Civil War and post-Apocalypse hell... Today I did the same with Curtis Hanson's 8 Mile which I've been secretly wanting to see for ages (hmmm, let the cat out of the bag there methinks) and was exactly what I hoped it would be. And Eminem really can act. Shocking!
I was on the look-out for books to send to Sarah and found a copy of Bridget Jones's Diary which is a book that I think I should re-read at least once a year. I can always hear Sarah's voice behind the 'v. goods'. And I saw the film again as an very necessary antidote to the crap that was Love Actually (which improved of course, for being seen over 12 months after last reading the book). Started last night and finished this afternoon. Re-discovered load of stuff as well, my favourite being that she has an English degree (p. 26). So I'm in good company!
Talking about literary adaptations, I saw Cold Mountain last weekend. (Several hours after finishing Oryx and Crake which fucked with my mind somewhat.) I wasn't planning on liking it since it reeked of Hollywood melodrama which generally irritate me but I was thrown by the beautiful cinematography and amazing views and skillful and sensitive direction and, well, honestly, stunning acting. (Although it's offputting when the actors' faces remind you of other characters they have played which happened to all except Renee Zellweger.) Everything was wonderful except the epilogue - which was a legitimate part of Frazier's novel except for the addition of one particular grace. The only reason I remembered that detail was that its absence was possibly the moment in which the true futility of war hit home. Or maybe that should be, my awareness of its absence since it was only absent because I'd tried to predict the end of the book.
And then on Sunday I watched Igby Goes Down because it had to be returned to the video shop but couldn't get into because my heart was somewhere between the American Civil War and post-Apocalypse hell... Today I did the same with Curtis Hanson's 8 Mile which I've been secretly wanting to see for ages (hmmm, let the cat out of the bag there methinks) and was exactly what I hoped it would be. And Eminem really can act. Shocking!
