I read this a while back but I forgot to write about it. Hopefully I'll be able to do a proper analysis given that there's probably a lot that I forgot.
I think this book won the Booker T Prize or something prestigious and I noticed (at least with the two books I read that were Nobel Prize winners) that there was a more academic aspect (in that I suppose these books are the types that you heavily analyze and more likely than not, you'll study the book in some kind of literature class). However, with this book, I wasn't sure about the academic aspect, which was interesting.
Really the only thing I remember about this novel is that despite all the big events that were going on (the first flight *almost* over the Alps, World War I (I think?)), G is completely distant from all the movements that are going on. It seems that all he cares for is women and in a way freedom. He does it in a way that makes people angry and I thought that was interesting. It made his character interesting.
As far as the writing style goes, I'm not sure if I liked it because it was a little detached so the characters, although there was a lot behind who they were, they seemed almost two-dimensional. But I could be remembering the book incorrectly. None of the characters really struck me (or at least made a lasting impression on me since I can't remember anyone except for G and his father) and the plot itself was interesting but not completely engaging.
Perhaps I need to go back and read this novel. I would hesitate to recommend this novel to anyone because eeh~ I don't remember much about it and it just didn't seem that good. It has been a while since I read it so perhaps I need to skim through it again to see if there's anything I missed.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Messenger by Lois Lowry
I liked how this book was an extension of The Giver. It gives an indirect afterword (or whatever it's called) into what happened to Jonas and Gabe after they left the community. There'a apparently another book called Gathering Blue that is similarly an extension of this book as well.
As for overall impressions, this is the second book in a row where a couple doesn't end up getting together! I don't know if I'm necessarily looking for romance but I just think it's sad when a budding love ends in sadness, not because of age or relationship conflicts or anything like that, but because of death. It's one of those irrevocable, there's-nothing-to-do-but-mourn kind of endings where you almost hope that the person who died will miraculously come back to life to continue the love story. At any rate, that was rather disappointing.
That aside, I felt like the book was well-written though not as compelling as The Giver (if I had to make a comparison). I did like the overall flow but perhaps because it is geared towards a younger audience and I read it right after I read The Elegance of the Hedgehog, I felt like the writing was almost too simple. I think that it was intentional but in some ways I think it took away from the book aesthetically (or artistically or whatever you want to call it). I think that this is perhaps what took away from the work as a whole because Lowry could've weaved in more themes or motifs or something but she was left with just the obvious because I felt like she was trying to dumb down her language for her audience. I don't know though because I know my gauge is kind of skewed right now.
At any rate, I found it to be an enjoyable quick read (finished it in like a day) and because it had more depth than some random action novel (Percy Jackson comes to mind), I was definitely able to relish in the writing a bit more. That aside, I would hesitate to pick this novel up again because there weren't as many ideological aspects (like the moral/point of the story if there was one was so glaringly obvious that I don't feel like there's that much more the book could offer).
I feel like there could've been more character development through actions rather than telling (something that I learned in a creative writing class :P) and the plot could've had a little more depth. I don't know I felt like perhaps the plot and characters were too linear.
I don't know if I would recommend this book because The Giver is such a better book and this one I feel just has a really lukewarm quality to it.
As for overall impressions, this is the second book in a row where a couple doesn't end up getting together! I don't know if I'm necessarily looking for romance but I just think it's sad when a budding love ends in sadness, not because of age or relationship conflicts or anything like that, but because of death. It's one of those irrevocable, there's-nothing-to-do-but-mourn kind of endings where you almost hope that the person who died will miraculously come back to life to continue the love story. At any rate, that was rather disappointing.
That aside, I felt like the book was well-written though not as compelling as The Giver (if I had to make a comparison). I did like the overall flow but perhaps because it is geared towards a younger audience and I read it right after I read The Elegance of the Hedgehog, I felt like the writing was almost too simple. I think that it was intentional but in some ways I think it took away from the book aesthetically (or artistically or whatever you want to call it). I think that this is perhaps what took away from the work as a whole because Lowry could've weaved in more themes or motifs or something but she was left with just the obvious because I felt like she was trying to dumb down her language for her audience. I don't know though because I know my gauge is kind of skewed right now.
At any rate, I found it to be an enjoyable quick read (finished it in like a day) and because it had more depth than some random action novel (Percy Jackson comes to mind), I was definitely able to relish in the writing a bit more. That aside, I would hesitate to pick this novel up again because there weren't as many ideological aspects (like the moral/point of the story if there was one was so glaringly obvious that I don't feel like there's that much more the book could offer).
I feel like there could've been more character development through actions rather than telling (something that I learned in a creative writing class :P) and the plot could've had a little more depth. I don't know I felt like perhaps the plot and characters were too linear.
I don't know if I would recommend this book because The Giver is such a better book and this one I feel just has a really lukewarm quality to it.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
The Elegance of the Hedgehog by Muriel Barbery
I think that this is probably my favorite novel. It is pretty academic and there's a lot that I don't agree with in terms of philosophy and themes and like the ideological aspects of the characters, but I think that that's precisely why I like it. It gives me a lot to think about and it challenges what I consider to be good and right in the world. However, I do have one complaint: my goodness what the heck is up with the ending? Really.
[DISCLAIMER]
Obviously I'm going to give away the ending. Please stop reading if you don't want me to spoil the book for you.
[END DISCLAIMER]
Okay, so I'm going to have my rant about the ending and then I'm going to go ahead with what I liked about the novel. Why the heck did Barbery kill off Madame Michal/Renee? Really? Why? I mean I was seriously looking forward to her relationship with Kakuro and for her to suddenly be offed by a dry cleaning vehicle. Really? Like what the heck? Why the sudden death?
Okay to be fair, I think the flow of the novel and just the way it led up to her death, it makes sense and honestly was a pretty decent choice just in terms of supporting the themes of Beauty and the transience of life and all that but WHYYYYYYYY?? I think that I was so firmly attached to Renee that for her to have been suddenly killed off (yes, killed off by the author) like that was a huge disappointment in the novel.
I guess while I was reading the novel, I had had this hope that somehow everything would work out and the meaninglessness that Paloma and Renee thought was life would somehow change to this renewed respect for beauty and love through their relationship. BLAH. That was probably my biggest disappointment. I mean it is a pessimistic novel so I suppose there's going to be some discordance with me and the novel but still! I can't believe Barbery killed off Renee. She was way too cool to be killed in such a crude manner. My goodness.
*edit* 2013.06.23: So I recently watched the movie and Renee's death made a lot more sense. Basically, it needed to happen in order for Paloma to gain closure in that suicidal phase of her life. Renee died while she was in love, she died loving and to Paloma, was a beautiful way for dying. Paloma was planning on dying hating the world and feeling a sense of pointlessness of continue to be a part of it and she didn't want to do that after seeing Renee's death. That's why Renee had to be killed off. It makes so much more sense now.
But I still would've liked to see Renee get together with Kakuro Ozu and have a good life with him....
Okay moving on.
So I felt like there were inconsistencies in the philosophies of Paloma and Renee but I think those flaws were intentionally put there because in the end, they decide that they were wrong (to a certain extent).
The only other complaint I would have about this novel is that in the beginning of the novel, there was one point where I couldn't fully "hear" Renee and Paloma's distinct voices. Instead I heard something in between and that was the author talking.
I feel like there was more of the author and sometimes a little too much so. I mean I wouldn't say it's a bad thing, but it didn't really contribute to the novel.
So I think that this kind of novel is the kind of novel I would want to study in depth. There's just so much philosophy and just so much food for thought that I could probably read this book over and over again and just not get enough.
I like the language and tone that Barbery used - she uses "harder" language or really just bigger vocabulary words and the way she chooses to arrange the words and the way she describes even the most mundane made the mundane seem significant. And most of the time it was. I liked how she would bring back different motifs like the camellias though I sort of wish she (he?) would've brought the idea of consonance back more. I don't know. I must say though, it was extremely well written and it had all the components that I would ever want in a novel.
It had two characters that were nit-picky about grammar. That's awesome. Barbery spends several pages talking about the misuse of a comma and brings this motif back time and time again. Some might say it's pretentious, I say it's genius.
The language and syntax was hard enough to challenge me, but it as accessible enough for me to understand what was going on. Just the thought processes that each character goes through I felt really enhanced my appreciation for beauty.
I really liked the theme of Beauty and the seeking of Beauty in life. There was a weighing of whether or not life was worth Beauty and that ending conclusion that Beauty is worth living for was just so well put together. I also liked how the sources of Beauty were both classical and modern. It's kind of like that quote "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." where Beauty is felt individually, yet collectively many can feel the same type of Beauty.
The ideologies that Paloma and Renee go through are fascinating too. Just their thought processes make them interesting people. It made me want to learn French so I could have a conversation with the author. I think I might pick it up. We'll see.
It had Japanese culture. I understood some of the references and that just made me feel cool. :D
Overall, I would have to say I really really enjoyed this novel and is definitely one of my top novels. However, I was rather disappointed at the ending though I will acknowledge that it was fitting.
Regardless, I definitely want to read this again and properly analyze this novel.
As for recommending it to others, I'd hesitate because it is somewhat on the academic side and for friends who don't like seemingly superfluous language and friends who don't like thinking about like... random philosophical things may not like it. But, I think this is one of my favorite novels.
[DISCLAIMER]
Obviously I'm going to give away the ending. Please stop reading if you don't want me to spoil the book for you.
[END DISCLAIMER]
Okay, so I'm going to have my rant about the ending and then I'm going to go ahead with what I liked about the novel. Why the heck did Barbery kill off Madame Michal/Renee? Really? Why? I mean I was seriously looking forward to her relationship with Kakuro and for her to suddenly be offed by a dry cleaning vehicle. Really? Like what the heck? Why the sudden death?
Okay to be fair, I think the flow of the novel and just the way it led up to her death, it makes sense and honestly was a pretty decent choice just in terms of supporting the themes of Beauty and the transience of life and all that but WHYYYYYYYY?? I think that I was so firmly attached to Renee that for her to have been suddenly killed off (yes, killed off by the author) like that was a huge disappointment in the novel.
I guess while I was reading the novel, I had had this hope that somehow everything would work out and the meaninglessness that Paloma and Renee thought was life would somehow change to this renewed respect for beauty and love through their relationship. BLAH. That was probably my biggest disappointment. I mean it is a pessimistic novel so I suppose there's going to be some discordance with me and the novel but still! I can't believe Barbery killed off Renee. She was way too cool to be killed in such a crude manner. My goodness.
*edit* 2013.06.23: So I recently watched the movie and Renee's death made a lot more sense. Basically, it needed to happen in order for Paloma to gain closure in that suicidal phase of her life. Renee died while she was in love, she died loving and to Paloma, was a beautiful way for dying. Paloma was planning on dying hating the world and feeling a sense of pointlessness of continue to be a part of it and she didn't want to do that after seeing Renee's death. That's why Renee had to be killed off. It makes so much more sense now.
But I still would've liked to see Renee get together with Kakuro Ozu and have a good life with him....
Okay moving on.
So I felt like there were inconsistencies in the philosophies of Paloma and Renee but I think those flaws were intentionally put there because in the end, they decide that they were wrong (to a certain extent).
The only other complaint I would have about this novel is that in the beginning of the novel, there was one point where I couldn't fully "hear" Renee and Paloma's distinct voices. Instead I heard something in between and that was the author talking.
I feel like there was more of the author and sometimes a little too much so. I mean I wouldn't say it's a bad thing, but it didn't really contribute to the novel.
So I think that this kind of novel is the kind of novel I would want to study in depth. There's just so much philosophy and just so much food for thought that I could probably read this book over and over again and just not get enough.
I like the language and tone that Barbery used - she uses "harder" language or really just bigger vocabulary words and the way she chooses to arrange the words and the way she describes even the most mundane made the mundane seem significant. And most of the time it was. I liked how she would bring back different motifs like the camellias though I sort of wish she (he?) would've brought the idea of consonance back more. I don't know. I must say though, it was extremely well written and it had all the components that I would ever want in a novel.
It had two characters that were nit-picky about grammar. That's awesome. Barbery spends several pages talking about the misuse of a comma and brings this motif back time and time again. Some might say it's pretentious, I say it's genius.
The language and syntax was hard enough to challenge me, but it as accessible enough for me to understand what was going on. Just the thought processes that each character goes through I felt really enhanced my appreciation for beauty.
I really liked the theme of Beauty and the seeking of Beauty in life. There was a weighing of whether or not life was worth Beauty and that ending conclusion that Beauty is worth living for was just so well put together. I also liked how the sources of Beauty were both classical and modern. It's kind of like that quote "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder." where Beauty is felt individually, yet collectively many can feel the same type of Beauty.
The ideologies that Paloma and Renee go through are fascinating too. Just their thought processes make them interesting people. It made me want to learn French so I could have a conversation with the author. I think I might pick it up. We'll see.
It had Japanese culture. I understood some of the references and that just made me feel cool. :D
Overall, I would have to say I really really enjoyed this novel and is definitely one of my top novels. However, I was rather disappointed at the ending though I will acknowledge that it was fitting.
Regardless, I definitely want to read this again and properly analyze this novel.
As for recommending it to others, I'd hesitate because it is somewhat on the academic side and for friends who don't like seemingly superfluous language and friends who don't like thinking about like... random philosophical things may not like it. But, I think this is one of my favorite novels.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne
Not done with the intro but thought I'd put it up since I forgot to post it from a while ago...
Updates later. Hopefully.
Updates later. Hopefully.
Prince Caspian: The Return to Narnia by C. S. Lewis
Been reading this series on the side. Good book. Too childish of a tone though. Will update more soon hopefully.
The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest by Stieg Larsson
Read this. Liked it. Will update hopefully sometime this lifetime.
Saturday, August 7, 2010
My Name is Red by Orhan Pamuk
So there are a bunch of books I need to update with but we'll start with this one.
This book got a nobel prize and I realized that a lot of these books receive these prizes because they're artfully written - not only because the plot is engaging, but the underlying themes are so well woven into the fabric of the plot as well as the style of writing. Honestly, with this novel, it was harder for me to really get into it because a lot of the cultural and religious references were lost on me (like Shirin (I hope I got the name right..) and the whole love story thing - I feel like it would've been more powerful if I had understood it.). I feel like the book would've been a lot better if the illustrations were a part of the book - nowadays, I feel like a lot of books have taken on that trend of putting a drawing or two to help illustrate the writer's point and I think that in this book, it would've enhanced the reader's experience. At the same time though, I'm wondering whether or not it would've taken away from the quality of writing... The book itself was so well-written that I feel like to a certain extent, the illustrations would've made the writing less powerful.
I liked how it was a mystery but the actual plot progression didn't revolve solely around unraveling the mystery. There were multiple storylines almost going on and I think that's what made the book interesting. I also really liked how Pamuk used the multiple narrative voices. He was able to manipulate them so well stylistically that you really heard and felt the characters' personalities. He really gave them a third dimension by doing that - all the characters were given life because of his narrative style.
At one point, I remember in one of the chapters towards the end of the novel, the murderer goes "Can you tell who I am?" and it was precisely at the moment when I was trying to figure out who it was because Master Osman had just given descriptions of Butterfly, Stork and Olive. It was almost as if Pamuk predicted what the reader would be thinking and I really thought that was a brilliant little tug to keep the reader interested.
As for recommending this book - it is a little heavier for non-readers, but for people who like reading, regardless of what genre, I think I would recommend it because it is so multi-faceted that it would appeal to a wider range of readers than most other books.
This book got a nobel prize and I realized that a lot of these books receive these prizes because they're artfully written - not only because the plot is engaging, but the underlying themes are so well woven into the fabric of the plot as well as the style of writing. Honestly, with this novel, it was harder for me to really get into it because a lot of the cultural and religious references were lost on me (like Shirin (I hope I got the name right..) and the whole love story thing - I feel like it would've been more powerful if I had understood it.). I feel like the book would've been a lot better if the illustrations were a part of the book - nowadays, I feel like a lot of books have taken on that trend of putting a drawing or two to help illustrate the writer's point and I think that in this book, it would've enhanced the reader's experience. At the same time though, I'm wondering whether or not it would've taken away from the quality of writing... The book itself was so well-written that I feel like to a certain extent, the illustrations would've made the writing less powerful.
I liked how it was a mystery but the actual plot progression didn't revolve solely around unraveling the mystery. There were multiple storylines almost going on and I think that's what made the book interesting. I also really liked how Pamuk used the multiple narrative voices. He was able to manipulate them so well stylistically that you really heard and felt the characters' personalities. He really gave them a third dimension by doing that - all the characters were given life because of his narrative style.
At one point, I remember in one of the chapters towards the end of the novel, the murderer goes "Can you tell who I am?" and it was precisely at the moment when I was trying to figure out who it was because Master Osman had just given descriptions of Butterfly, Stork and Olive. It was almost as if Pamuk predicted what the reader would be thinking and I really thought that was a brilliant little tug to keep the reader interested.
As for recommending this book - it is a little heavier for non-readers, but for people who like reading, regardless of what genre, I think I would recommend it because it is so multi-faceted that it would appeal to a wider range of readers than most other books.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)