alexisreading23's reviews
89 reviews
Winter Animals by Ashani Lewis
challenging
dark
mysterious
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
4.0
Elen is 38 and spends her days drinking in Bend, Oregon after her husband leaves her. Following an encounter with four wealthy English twenty-somethings in a bar, she is invited into their midst and joins them as they tour the world, squatting in empty houses and airbnbs to ski and foster their psuedo-socialist, psuedo-cult camaraderie.
This was such a peculiar premise that I was immediately intrigued although I did approach with a little trepidation at the risk that this might appear slightly gimmicky - I'm glad to say that it didn't and Lewis pulls the strands of this story together well enough to create something very thought-provoking and ruminative. The descriptions of the group and their language and behaviours did make me laugh out loud at points because it was so accurate in its depiction of young, wealthy posh kids. It's exactly this sense of accuracy and portrayal without immediate and explicit condemnation that makes this book work so well. Like Elen, the reader is drawn by the charisma and quirky group appeal - the outward appearance of the group and their collective desire to connect to nature, idealising a compact community unit that thrives on mutual support and utter commitment.
I appreciated the novel's quiet but clear examination of these characters and their privilege, the capacity to live out such idealism with the support of family wealth (and the reassuring knowledge that if they so desire they will be able to leave it all behind for future traditional success). Their supposed values already strike a discordant chord as the reader remembers that part of the time their lives of hedonism and natural appreciation are achieved through the exploitation of unknowing home-owners; there are moments where the group are startled out of their care-free adventures by the sharp encroaching threat of discovery.
The group's dabbling with the social philosophies of freemasonry and other similar dogma is partly serious, partly superficial, much of their allure to Elen is this strange commitment that revolves around the central ring-leader, Luka. The group's treatment of Elen and other events in the book epitomised the combination of wealth, privilege, and a selfish desire to live according to whims and beliefs that others literally cannot afford - there is a deep and chilling readiness within certain privileged people to use and discard people for their entertainment for as long as they deem it worthwhile. For Elen, this is her real life, and for the group this is a past-time that can be picked up and dropped, as easily as the people they encounter. The brief mentions of their interaction with other strangers like the Californian influencers highlights their brief but intense delight at encountering 'interesting' people, their fascination with such quaint figures almost dehumanising and condescending though subtle. Elen's despair having lost a sense of meaning to her life with practically no support network is precisely the gap that allows the group to charm her into their escapades.
I found that the last third of the novel rushed a little for me, everything leading to the finale felt like it fell into place rather hurriedly although I appreciate that this in part acts in service to the actions of the plot and the characters. When thinking about the novel a little more interrogatively I feel a slight sense that there is a little bit missing to its depth, like it's not so sure exactly what it's trying to say but I found this very entertaining nonetheless and will definitely be on the look-out for further writing from Lewis in the future.
This was such a peculiar premise that I was immediately intrigued although I did approach with a little trepidation at the risk that this might appear slightly gimmicky - I'm glad to say that it didn't and Lewis pulls the strands of this story together well enough to create something very thought-provoking and ruminative. The descriptions of the group and their language and behaviours did make me laugh out loud at points because it was so accurate in its depiction of young, wealthy posh kids. It's exactly this sense of accuracy and portrayal without immediate and explicit condemnation that makes this book work so well. Like Elen, the reader is drawn by the charisma and quirky group appeal - the outward appearance of the group and their collective desire to connect to nature, idealising a compact community unit that thrives on mutual support and utter commitment.
I appreciated the novel's quiet but clear examination of these characters and their privilege, the capacity to live out such idealism with the support of family wealth (and the reassuring knowledge that if they so desire they will be able to leave it all behind for future traditional success). Their supposed values already strike a discordant chord as the reader remembers that part of the time their lives of hedonism and natural appreciation are achieved through the exploitation of unknowing home-owners; there are moments where the group are startled out of their care-free adventures by the sharp encroaching threat of discovery.
The group's dabbling with the social philosophies of freemasonry and other similar dogma is partly serious, partly superficial, much of their allure to Elen is this strange commitment that revolves around the central ring-leader, Luka. The group's treatment of Elen and other events in the book epitomised the combination of wealth, privilege, and a selfish desire to live according to whims and beliefs that others literally cannot afford - there is a deep and chilling readiness within certain privileged people to use and discard people for their entertainment for as long as they deem it worthwhile. For Elen, this is her real life, and for the group this is a past-time that can be picked up and dropped, as easily as the people they encounter. The brief mentions of their interaction with other strangers like the Californian influencers highlights their brief but intense delight at encountering 'interesting' people, their fascination with such quaint figures almost dehumanising and condescending though subtle. Elen's despair having lost a sense of meaning to her life with practically no support network is precisely the gap that allows the group to charm her into their escapades.
I found that the last third of the novel rushed a little for me, everything leading to the finale felt like it fell into place rather hurriedly although I appreciate that this in part acts in service to the actions of the plot and the characters. When thinking about the novel a little more interrogatively I feel a slight sense that there is a little bit missing to its depth, like it's not so sure exactly what it's trying to say but I found this very entertaining nonetheless and will definitely be on the look-out for further writing from Lewis in the future.
My Friends: A Novel by Hisham Matar
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
Three young Libyan men live in political exile. Mustafa and Khaled attend a protest outside the Libyan Embassy and their lives are altered irrevocably when government officials open fire on the crowd. Since this pivotal moment, the two friends and their friend Hosam, a writer, conduct shared lives that revolve continuously around the call of the homeland and for their own various reasons, their inability to answer its call.
This was such a wonderful beginning to my reading month and I am so very glad that it has introduced me to Hisham Matar's writing as I will most definitely be looking into reading more of his work. I found this incredibly moving and the sympathetic portrayal of the young men's situation was so delicately and deeply explored. The profound nostalgia and longing for Libya, its sea and mountains, its streets, food, language, their families - this all permeated the entire novel so intensely and painted such a beautiful and sympathetic portrayal of a life lived away from home, home in every sense of the word.
As a literature student myself, there was never any possibility that Khaled wouldn't endear himself to me immediately through his love of literature and his deep appreciation for the written (and spoken!) word. When Khaled and Hosam undertook to visit all the places that their favourite writers had lived merely to look at them from the outside, I knew that I was reading the words of someone that had felt the same as I in some way. Of course, the novel's more pressing focus was on the political anxieties of the men and the difficult balance between yearning for a connection and belonging to Libya, and the knowledge that much must be concealed to preserve the safety of their remaining family. I was moved by the thought of the unbearable loneliness Khaled endured in his attempts to conceal the truth from them.
The beating heart of the novel is the friendship that connects the three men despite their differences and the moving paths they all choose to take. Of course, the friendship between Rana and Khaled also is well worth mentioning. Friendship becomes the tie that binds these separate figures, connecting them in their orbit around the distant gravitational force of Libya. I admired Matar's portrayal of the kind of friendship that holds up lives and gives sense to a world that is too difficult to navigate alone, especially considering the added strain of political turmoil in a foreign land, with foreign language and people.
I really loved this novel and am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read it in advance!
This was such a wonderful beginning to my reading month and I am so very glad that it has introduced me to Hisham Matar's writing as I will most definitely be looking into reading more of his work. I found this incredibly moving and the sympathetic portrayal of the young men's situation was so delicately and deeply explored. The profound nostalgia and longing for Libya, its sea and mountains, its streets, food, language, their families - this all permeated the entire novel so intensely and painted such a beautiful and sympathetic portrayal of a life lived away from home, home in every sense of the word.
As a literature student myself, there was never any possibility that Khaled wouldn't endear himself to me immediately through his love of literature and his deep appreciation for the written (and spoken!) word. When Khaled and Hosam undertook to visit all the places that their favourite writers had lived merely to look at them from the outside, I knew that I was reading the words of someone that had felt the same as I in some way. Of course, the novel's more pressing focus was on the political anxieties of the men and the difficult balance between yearning for a connection and belonging to Libya, and the knowledge that much must be concealed to preserve the safety of their remaining family. I was moved by the thought of the unbearable loneliness Khaled endured in his attempts to conceal the truth from them.
The beating heart of the novel is the friendship that connects the three men despite their differences and the moving paths they all choose to take. Of course, the friendship between Rana and Khaled also is well worth mentioning. Friendship becomes the tie that binds these separate figures, connecting them in their orbit around the distant gravitational force of Libya. I admired Matar's portrayal of the kind of friendship that holds up lives and gives sense to a world that is too difficult to navigate alone, especially considering the added strain of political turmoil in a foreign land, with foreign language and people.
I really loved this novel and am very grateful to have been given the opportunity to read it in advance!
Grey Dog by Elliott Gish
4.0
A young spinster seeks to discard her past for a fresh beginning at a teaching post in the small town of Lowry Bridge. Grisly phenomena and a haunting presence residing in the woods begin to break down her carefully presented image as she becomes all the more tormented by and tempted towards the mysterious 'grey dog'.
I finished this practically in one sitting and scared myself in the dark after reading this. Like the best horrors, this was a slow-burn that succeeded to plant an uneasy tremor of fear and discomfort that only grew throughout the novel. While I must admit the premise was not entirely original and the plot rather easy to predict from the first instance, this did not take away my enjoyment of the reading process as it was carried off with style and skill.
I thought the form of first-person diary entries worked very well as it often does with the horror genre. The voice of Ada was sympathetic and engaging and the slow revealing of information was executed well, allowing the reader to understand the likely pattern of events before disclosing the missing details. I also enjoyed the development of the various other characters in Lowry Bridge who were very believable and colourful in their own way. The deterioration of Ada's mental state and her increased ostracisation by the townspeople was dealt with very well and I particularly enjoyed how this process revealed the darkness of female rage and repression which grows out of necessity from the harsh realities of the early twentieth-century society. I liked that Ada's hidden queer identity and her submission to her position dictated by the expectations of the highly religious and domineering patriarchy she lives in create a 'monster' to rival any other horror the novel could present.
While I did not think this novel was treading new ground in many aspects (although it still managed to pull these off skilfully and without seeming repetitive or mundane), it was still a vastly entertaining and compelling read. The final third of the novel was the masterpiece for me as it handled Ada's growing attraction to the forces of the grey dog and the bloody, audacious behaviour that signified her final break with her past. (Mild spoilers) I enjoyed the rather gruesome connection between illicit attraction and consumption, the embracing of nudity and the primal stink of the 'outside god' in rejection of the clean, buttoned-up puritanism of the respectable woman. This was a great read to coincide with Halloween and I would definitely recommend it.
I finished this practically in one sitting and scared myself in the dark after reading this. Like the best horrors, this was a slow-burn that succeeded to plant an uneasy tremor of fear and discomfort that only grew throughout the novel. While I must admit the premise was not entirely original and the plot rather easy to predict from the first instance, this did not take away my enjoyment of the reading process as it was carried off with style and skill.
I thought the form of first-person diary entries worked very well as it often does with the horror genre. The voice of Ada was sympathetic and engaging and the slow revealing of information was executed well, allowing the reader to understand the likely pattern of events before disclosing the missing details. I also enjoyed the development of the various other characters in Lowry Bridge who were very believable and colourful in their own way. The deterioration of Ada's mental state and her increased ostracisation by the townspeople was dealt with very well and I particularly enjoyed how this process revealed the darkness of female rage and repression which grows out of necessity from the harsh realities of the early twentieth-century society. I liked that Ada's hidden queer identity and her submission to her position dictated by the expectations of the highly religious and domineering patriarchy she lives in create a 'monster' to rival any other horror the novel could present.
While I did not think this novel was treading new ground in many aspects (although it still managed to pull these off skilfully and without seeming repetitive or mundane), it was still a vastly entertaining and compelling read. The final third of the novel was the masterpiece for me as it handled Ada's growing attraction to the forces of the grey dog and the bloody, audacious behaviour that signified her final break with her past. (Mild spoilers) I enjoyed the rather gruesome connection between illicit attraction and consumption, the embracing of nudity and the primal stink of the 'outside god' in rejection of the clean, buttoned-up puritanism of the respectable woman. This was a great read to coincide with Halloween and I would definitely recommend it.
The Witches of Vardø by Anya Bergman
3.5
Bergman's passion for this period of history and telling the stories of these women is palpable and definitely comes across in her writing which must have been rather painstakingly researched. I appreciated the inclusion of the 'fact or fiction' chapter at the end of the novel which shed more light on the historical events that informed the book.
I admire the premise of this book but there were several things that marred its execution for me. I found the pacing was a little strange, at times quite laborious and at other points hastening on rapidly. The first half passed especially slowly for me as I was waiting for the different story lines to intersect although this was quite a long read for me over all as well - this is partly due to the fact that I rarely read through audiobooks so not entirely the fault of the book itself. I found the final quarter of the novel the most exciting and though I understand the need to set up a good foundation for each character, I feel this could have been done a bit swifter. To continue this point, I found that the character focus sometimes seemed to 'forget' about a character for a while. There were points in the second half of the novel where I was wondering where Maren was and why there seemed to be a lack of interaction between her and Ingeborg.
(Mild Spoiler warning)
I wasn't entirely satisfied with the equivocation on witchcraft. I empathised with the novel's argument that it was patriarchal systems and entrenched misogyny and distrust of women that fuelled the vitriolic witch hunt but the novel decided to include the reality of magic towards the end which I felt wasn't fully fleshed out and seemed to contradict its overlying point that women were being persecuted - not witches.
(Spoilers end here)
I found the second-person narration of Anna mostly compelling but it occasionally struck an odd chord in its attempts to explain the past whilst remaining a letter to the King. This note of unreality resurfaced in certain dialogue which rung a little melodramatic and through certain characters which were rather cartoonishly villainous although this can be excused slightly since their actions were truIy reprehensible. What I admired the most were the characters of Ingeborg, Maren, and Anna who in their own ways were complex and faced by difficult choices and situations. The evocative descriptions of the landscape, the ways of life, and especially the Sami people and their culture were also extremely fascinating. I appreciated that folk tales were included periodically. I also liked that the novel did not flinch from the realities many women faced and made a point to emphasise the joint role of other women and men in power in denouncing these women.
Overall, I found this an entertaining and informative read on a period of history and place that I knew very little about. While my reading experience was slightly marred by the pacing and certain aspects of the storytelling, it was still enjoyable and a very interesting historical fiction.
I admire the premise of this book but there were several things that marred its execution for me. I found the pacing was a little strange, at times quite laborious and at other points hastening on rapidly. The first half passed especially slowly for me as I was waiting for the different story lines to intersect although this was quite a long read for me over all as well - this is partly due to the fact that I rarely read through audiobooks so not entirely the fault of the book itself. I found the final quarter of the novel the most exciting and though I understand the need to set up a good foundation for each character, I feel this could have been done a bit swifter. To continue this point, I found that the character focus sometimes seemed to 'forget' about a character for a while. There were points in the second half of the novel where I was wondering where Maren was and why there seemed to be a lack of interaction between her and Ingeborg.
(Mild Spoiler warning)
I wasn't entirely satisfied with the equivocation on witchcraft. I empathised with the novel's argument that it was patriarchal systems and entrenched misogyny and distrust of women that fuelled the vitriolic witch hunt but the novel decided to include the reality of magic towards the end which I felt wasn't fully fleshed out and seemed to contradict its overlying point that women were being persecuted - not witches.
(Spoilers end here)
I found the second-person narration of Anna mostly compelling but it occasionally struck an odd chord in its attempts to explain the past whilst remaining a letter to the King. This note of unreality resurfaced in certain dialogue which rung a little melodramatic and through certain characters which were rather cartoonishly villainous although this can be excused slightly since their actions were truIy reprehensible. What I admired the most were the characters of Ingeborg, Maren, and Anna who in their own ways were complex and faced by difficult choices and situations. The evocative descriptions of the landscape, the ways of life, and especially the Sami people and their culture were also extremely fascinating. I appreciated that folk tales were included periodically. I also liked that the novel did not flinch from the realities many women faced and made a point to emphasise the joint role of other women and men in power in denouncing these women.
Overall, I found this an entertaining and informative read on a period of history and place that I knew very little about. While my reading experience was slightly marred by the pacing and certain aspects of the storytelling, it was still enjoyable and a very interesting historical fiction.
The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro
4.0
I went into this expecting to really love it and was slightly disappointed although it is difficult to pinpoint why. I did thoroughly enjoy it but found that it did not leave quite the impact I was hoping for.
The butler of the great Darlington Hall has devoted his life to serving Lord Darlington and the manor house in which he resides. The novel follows him on a brief tour by car to meet a former colleague wherein he ponders his life's meaning and his tireless service to a dwindling institution.
As always, Ishiguro is a master of conveying voice and character through his style and I found the narrative quirks of Stevens both humorous and touching. With a slight and subtle hand, Ishiguro demonstrates Stevens's own flaws and occasionally irritating nature through his interactions with Miss Kenton. This is balanced by the delicate sympathy developed through Stevens's slightly strange relationship with his father and most of all, the profound disturbance of his devotion to a man that dwindles in influence, reputation, and esteem through his Nazi leanings. What I found deeply unsettling and provoking was the sadness suffused within the novel and the prospect of questioning the worth of one's life and what it has been dedicated to. The what-ifs prompted by Miss Kenton render this novel all the more bitter in its portrait of a life that has endured with little thanks or recompense, emerging into a new world that neither values nor cares to remember its contributions or existence.
At the time, I felt the novel was lacking in something although I think having thought about it since then, its profundity is better felt with the passage of time. I read it and was slightly impatient to 'understand' it and get to the heart of the novel, reaching the end quickly having not found a certain sticking point that would indicate to me, yes I am truly in the thick of it now. Then, I found this disappointing, but the more I contemplate it I think this is fitting for the novel.
The butler of the great Darlington Hall has devoted his life to serving Lord Darlington and the manor house in which he resides. The novel follows him on a brief tour by car to meet a former colleague wherein he ponders his life's meaning and his tireless service to a dwindling institution.
As always, Ishiguro is a master of conveying voice and character through his style and I found the narrative quirks of Stevens both humorous and touching. With a slight and subtle hand, Ishiguro demonstrates Stevens's own flaws and occasionally irritating nature through his interactions with Miss Kenton. This is balanced by the delicate sympathy developed through Stevens's slightly strange relationship with his father and most of all, the profound disturbance of his devotion to a man that dwindles in influence, reputation, and esteem through his Nazi leanings. What I found deeply unsettling and provoking was the sadness suffused within the novel and the prospect of questioning the worth of one's life and what it has been dedicated to. The what-ifs prompted by Miss Kenton render this novel all the more bitter in its portrait of a life that has endured with little thanks or recompense, emerging into a new world that neither values nor cares to remember its contributions or existence.
At the time, I felt the novel was lacking in something although I think having thought about it since then, its profundity is better felt with the passage of time. I read it and was slightly impatient to 'understand' it and get to the heart of the novel, reaching the end quickly having not found a certain sticking point that would indicate to me, yes I am truly in the thick of it now. Then, I found this disappointing, but the more I contemplate it I think this is fitting for the novel.
The Go-Between by L.P. Hartley
5.0
A young boy is invited to his friend's home for the summer holidays and becomes a messenger for his friend's older sister and the nearby farmer.
Many narratives from the perspective of children feel either untrue to reality or irritating in their attempts to conform to a 'childish' perspective. This book was neither and succeeded in blending childish naivety and curiosity with lyrical and compelling story-telling that blended the understanding of an older man with his youthful reminiscences. The characters felt warm and alive, and the liveliness of the house and its activities painted a splendid picture of a leisurely and idle summer where the lessons of love, romance, and adulthood lie like snakes in the grass to colour the months that transition the protagonist from boyhood to something beyond.
Contemplative and evocative in equal measure, I admired the balance struck between conveying the 'adult' realities of the summer through the lens of a young boy who does not recognise the significance and profundity of various incidents until much later on. I really enjoyed this and would heartily recommend it.
Many narratives from the perspective of children feel either untrue to reality or irritating in their attempts to conform to a 'childish' perspective. This book was neither and succeeded in blending childish naivety and curiosity with lyrical and compelling story-telling that blended the understanding of an older man with his youthful reminiscences. The characters felt warm and alive, and the liveliness of the house and its activities painted a splendid picture of a leisurely and idle summer where the lessons of love, romance, and adulthood lie like snakes in the grass to colour the months that transition the protagonist from boyhood to something beyond.
Contemplative and evocative in equal measure, I admired the balance struck between conveying the 'adult' realities of the summer through the lens of a young boy who does not recognise the significance and profundity of various incidents until much later on. I really enjoyed this and would heartily recommend it.
Minor Detail by Adania Shibli
challenging
dark
sad
tense
4.0
This little novella really packs a punch despite its short length. Split into two parts, the first details the rape and murder of an unnamed woman in the year following the Nakba of 1948. The second part follows a journalist who becomes obsessed with what is essentially a 'minor detail' of larger suffering.
The writing style of the first part really intensified the horror of the actions. The perspective of the soldier is devoid of thoughts or emotions and all that is laid bare for the reader are his actions which lends the narrative a sparse and unsettling quality. The writing is highly symbolic which I also really enjoyed.
The shift to the second part of the book creates a marked difference and the narrative of the journalist is very distinctive. The details of daily injustice are peppered in, highlighting the reality for many Palestinians living with violence and military threat looming, and their freedoms curtailed. I found the narrator's preoccupation with her own transgressions of borders really fascinating as an observation on her own existence as a Palestinian in occupied land. Her instincts for journalism, seeking the truth and crossing the 'borders' of accepted narratives and forgetful history mirror her necessary transgression of the rules and borders of Israeli government - all, of course, reflecting the geographical and political implications of land, ownership, and freedom.
This was a truly impactful and thoughtful novella that demonstrated the importance of searching for the minor details of personal lives in greater movements and moments of history. We must not disassociate such moments from the true reality of individual experience which reveals the ugliness and injustice as visceral and real rather than detached and clinical the way numbers, statistics, and news headlines render them.
The writing style of the first part really intensified the horror of the actions. The perspective of the soldier is devoid of thoughts or emotions and all that is laid bare for the reader are his actions which lends the narrative a sparse and unsettling quality. The writing is highly symbolic which I also really enjoyed.
The shift to the second part of the book creates a marked difference and the narrative of the journalist is very distinctive. The details of daily injustice are peppered in, highlighting the reality for many Palestinians living with violence and military threat looming, and their freedoms curtailed. I found the narrator's preoccupation with her own transgressions of borders really fascinating as an observation on her own existence as a Palestinian in occupied land. Her instincts for journalism, seeking the truth and crossing the 'borders' of accepted narratives and forgetful history mirror her necessary transgression of the rules and borders of Israeli government - all, of course, reflecting the geographical and political implications of land, ownership, and freedom.
This was a truly impactful and thoughtful novella that demonstrated the importance of searching for the minor details of personal lives in greater movements and moments of history. We must not disassociate such moments from the true reality of individual experience which reveals the ugliness and injustice as visceral and real rather than detached and clinical the way numbers, statistics, and news headlines render them.
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
challenging
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
reflective
sad
5.0
The Romans have long since departed a quasi-mythical Britain where Britons and Saxons live in relative harmony and King Arthur remains in living memory. An elderly couple embark on a journey to find their son. A mysterious mist has obscured the memories of all on this isle, and the couple, alongside several other characters, embark on their separate journeys to uncover the source of this mist and reveal the 'buried giant' of the past, and their memories.
This is my second novel of Ishiguro's, the first being The Remains of the Day, and what strikes me is his extremely deft handling of narrative voice. Each character in this was distinct and colourful, and the novel itself exuded the same sense of fogginess and flickering chronology that afflicts the characters themselves who struggle to differentiate memory from dream or imagining. I felt very immersed in the world of circa sixth-century Britain which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I loved the novels' quiet exploration of some very difficult questions, the most important and confronting one of all: is it better to uncover and confront the past, whatever ugly things it might reveal, or to turn away from it in the name of peaceful ignorance? One choice allows the injustice and hurt of the past to be buried for the sake of a present, tenuous peace, but the other demands an awakening that dissolves such fragile and false harmony. Each character is compelled towards their own actions based on this murky past, and must individually decide how to confront the conflict within themselves and their society.
I truly loved this book. This is an era I am particularly interested by and I loved the elements of mythology and fantasy within the novel. The Buried Giant was meditative, quiet, engaging, and thought-provoking. My first five-star in a good while!
This is my second novel of Ishiguro's, the first being The Remains of the Day, and what strikes me is his extremely deft handling of narrative voice. Each character in this was distinct and colourful, and the novel itself exuded the same sense of fogginess and flickering chronology that afflicts the characters themselves who struggle to differentiate memory from dream or imagining. I felt very immersed in the world of circa sixth-century Britain which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I loved the novels' quiet exploration of some very difficult questions, the most important and confronting one of all: is it better to uncover and confront the past, whatever ugly things it might reveal, or to turn away from it in the name of peaceful ignorance? One choice allows the injustice and hurt of the past to be buried for the sake of a present, tenuous peace, but the other demands an awakening that dissolves such fragile and false harmony. Each character is compelled towards their own actions based on this murky past, and must individually decide how to confront the conflict within themselves and their society.
I truly loved this book. This is an era I am particularly interested by and I loved the elements of mythology and fantasy within the novel. The Buried Giant was meditative, quiet, engaging, and thought-provoking. My first five-star in a good while!
Howards End by E.M. Forster
4.0
Two sisters lead very different lives but are equally impacted by their relationships with the Wilcox family of Howards End, a home they find themselves drawn to over and over again.
Having read four of E. M. Forster's novels, I must say Howards End has left the greatest impact on me. Although Margaret and Helen could both be frustrating characters at times, I felt this was all the more indicative of Forster's wonderful handling of character study in this novel. I think he managed to draw truly believable and empathetic characters - the various members of the Wilcox family, even Leonard Bast - there was a harmony of character, circumstance, and action that was really enjoyable to read. By the end of the novel, I became less surprised by events as they unfolded for I felt that I had grown to understand each character's opinions and motivations more and more.
The best part of the novel for me were the conversations had between characters. I loved that they felt authentic, and covered topics I found profoundly interesting. The arguments and disagreements, clashes of temperament, class, gender - these are what made the novel real for me. Each character was flawed in their own way, and capable of inflicting hurt on to others because of it, but I appreciated Forster's treatment of the real humanness of this - sometimes we give joy and sorrow in equal measure.
'She could not explain in so many words, but she felt that those who prepare for all the emergencies of life beforehand may equip themselves at the expense of joy. It is necessary to prepare for an examination, or a dinner-party, or a possible fall in the price of stock; those who attempt human relations must adopt another method, or fail'.
Having read four of E. M. Forster's novels, I must say Howards End has left the greatest impact on me. Although Margaret and Helen could both be frustrating characters at times, I felt this was all the more indicative of Forster's wonderful handling of character study in this novel. I think he managed to draw truly believable and empathetic characters - the various members of the Wilcox family, even Leonard Bast - there was a harmony of character, circumstance, and action that was really enjoyable to read. By the end of the novel, I became less surprised by events as they unfolded for I felt that I had grown to understand each character's opinions and motivations more and more.
The best part of the novel for me were the conversations had between characters. I loved that they felt authentic, and covered topics I found profoundly interesting. The arguments and disagreements, clashes of temperament, class, gender - these are what made the novel real for me. Each character was flawed in their own way, and capable of inflicting hurt on to others because of it, but I appreciated Forster's treatment of the real humanness of this - sometimes we give joy and sorrow in equal measure.
'She could not explain in so many words, but she felt that those who prepare for all the emergencies of life beforehand may equip themselves at the expense of joy. It is necessary to prepare for an examination, or a dinner-party, or a possible fall in the price of stock; those who attempt human relations must adopt another method, or fail'.
The Gentleman From Peru by André Aciman
2.5
A group of young Americans unexpectedly find themselves spending a few days on the Amalfi Coast and become increasingly drawn to their mysterious hotel companion - the titular gentleman from Peru.
The only other book I have read by Andre Aciman is Call Me By Your Name, and I must admit that this has fallen rather short in comparison. It is a novella that would have benefitted from being longer, the short piece is flimsy and insubstantial and there is almost the sense that it is half-finished or rushed. Almost all of the characters other than the two protagonists become practically irrelevant after they are introduced and the narrative quickly focuses on the interactions between Raul, the gentleman, and Margot. Even then, I never really felt that I established an emotional connection with either of them, nor gained any kind of understanding of them and their minds or histories.
Much of the book is entirely dialogue, using conversation to paint the picture of the Italian coast. Slowly, a tale of time and love with a tinge of magical realism unfolds although it is not a tale that covers any particularly new or exciting ground. While there were certainly moments that were quite beautiful, and turns of phrase that deserved attention, this novella felt like a mere shadow of something greater. I imagine that if it were longer and more fleshed out, my rating would be higher, but as it stands this was quite forgettable for me despite its occasionally lyrical and captivating prose.
The only other book I have read by Andre Aciman is Call Me By Your Name, and I must admit that this has fallen rather short in comparison. It is a novella that would have benefitted from being longer, the short piece is flimsy and insubstantial and there is almost the sense that it is half-finished or rushed. Almost all of the characters other than the two protagonists become practically irrelevant after they are introduced and the narrative quickly focuses on the interactions between Raul, the gentleman, and Margot. Even then, I never really felt that I established an emotional connection with either of them, nor gained any kind of understanding of them and their minds or histories.
Much of the book is entirely dialogue, using conversation to paint the picture of the Italian coast. Slowly, a tale of time and love with a tinge of magical realism unfolds although it is not a tale that covers any particularly new or exciting ground. While there were certainly moments that were quite beautiful, and turns of phrase that deserved attention, this novella felt like a mere shadow of something greater. I imagine that if it were longer and more fleshed out, my rating would be higher, but as it stands this was quite forgettable for me despite its occasionally lyrical and captivating prose.