Four days into reading 'G.' and I'm only 62 pages in. Ugh. I could make excuses (I'm on pain killers, I had knitting club, there was a hockey game, the guy sitting next to me on the bus Would. Not. Shut. Up.) but the truth is I'm just not enjoying this book. Which makes me sad, so I'm hoping it's just a slow starter and within the next five pages it will totally grab me, then I'll stay up reading all night and 8 am will find me cursing my alarm clock and trying to justify taking a sick day to continue reading.
Ya, I don't think it's very likely.
I was really looking forward to "the story of G., a young man forging an energetic sexual career in Europe during the early years of this century" (from the book jacket). It sounds engaging and salacious; cultured, yet racy enough that I would blush to admit that I'm even reading it. So far, not so much. In fact, it just seems really pretentious. This novel is making me feel stupid and uncultured.
I can't figure out the narrative voice, for one thing. Berger keeps referring to "the principle protagonist of this book" which has me screaming 'Show, don't tell!' every time. It feels so clumsy, as though this was a working draft he accidentally sent to the publisher. There is a passage in the second chapter that really bothered me:
"Who are you? he asks the old man.
The old man comes to the bed and sits on it. In face of the arrested time just ending, the boy may be as old as the man.
What the old man says I do not know.
What the boy says in reply I do not know.
To pretend to know would be to schematize.
Meanwhile development is so retarded, progress and consequence so slow that the determination not to cry out is left inviolate. It can endure for hours."
Followed a bit later by:
"Everything you write is a schema. You are the most schematic of writers. It is like a theorem.
Not beyond a certain point.
What point?
Beyond the point where the curtains are drawn back.
Come back to the boy.
Who says that?
The old man does.
What does the boy feel?
Ask the old man."
Who is telling this story, and why are they arguing with themselves? I've read that section three times, and it makes no sense to me from a story-telling perspective. The most I can say for it is that I completely empathize with the "development is so retarded, progress and consequence so slow that the determination not to cry out is left inviolate. It can endure for hours." because that's how I'm feeling about this story. Get on with it, already!! Oh, and the scene with the horse and "Two Men"?? What was that???
The relationships between the characters are all interesting, at least. Particularly the 'principal protagonist's' parents (who doesn't love alliteration!) have a neat love/hate thing going on, and his relationship with Miss Helen was very realistic (although I do feel a bit scandalized by the description of a five year old masturbating).
The political undercurrents, while not subtle, are also interesting. However, I suspect that my background education in European fascism and Marxism are not thorough enough to truly appreciate the politics of the novel. Perhaps if I weren't reading this on a schedule I would take some time to research the fundamentals and hard facts in hopes of a deeper understanding, but seeing how much I'm enjoying the novel based on it's own merits (!!!) I rather doubt that I would bother.
My general impression so far is that 'G.' is a work of "art" - but in a bad, stuffy, elitist way. My darling Father always says, "It's art, don't touch it". I believe Art should, however, touch you - it should bring you to a greater sense of beauty, truth, self, life, something! Art should be alive, and so I hold out hope that this novel finds a way to truly engage me. Otherwise, this could be a really long weekend.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Second Book Completed, Book Skipped, Book Commenced
I finished reading 'Troubles' at 11:45 last night - talk about cutting it close! For reasons which had nothing to do with the book, I had a difficult time maintaining a reading schedule this week, resulting in a 'mad sprint' to read over 200 pages in the last day and a half. Hardly fair to the novel, which was Fantastic and deserves to be savored! I don't usually re-read books, but I can tell you that I will most definitely be revisiting the Majestic!
For me, this novel was everything that a great piece of 'literature' should be, with the added attractions of being funny and set in Ireland. I enjoyed the lyrical phrasing and the 'news paper' breaks, which provided a broader view of the situation. I enjoyed rooting for the Major to win the girl. In fact, I loved all the characters.
I particularly liked the parallels of the Majestic and the country both crumbling around their respective residents. There were problems when the Spencers/British took over, but rather than working to correct these problems they just went along their merry way, until the situation was so far gone there was no help for it. It was a beautifully rendered allegory that brought depth to the story without overburdening it.
Most importantly, though, I enjoyed reexamining my own opinions of the Troubles, particularly in the context of post-WWI Britain. I've never given much thought to how it must have been for a veteran of the Great War to find himself caught in such an intangible civil war. It's really quite horrific. I still firmly side with the "Shinners" but it has given me a broader view of the social ramifications of the 'war'. I've usually thought of the conflict in terms of Sinn Fein/IRA versus the Black and Tans, but of course each side also had civilians. While it is easy for me to see the side of the Irish, I appreciate the viewpoint of the colonizing British a bit more now.
Anyhow, I absolutely loved, and I would most definitely recommend, J.G. Farrell's "Troubles" - and I'm looking forward to reading the second book of his so-called 'Empire Trilogy' in a couple of weeks!
For now, continuing with my reading list, I had to skip ahead chronologically again, having been unable to lay my hands on a complete copy of V.S. Naipaul's short story collection, "In A Free State". All I could locate was a volume of "Selected Short Stories" which only contained part of the collection, which is no good to me. I will, of course, come back to it as soon as possible. In the meantime I have moved on, so my third book is "G." by John Berger. I am not previously familiar with this title, so I'm looking forward to it. Read on!
For me, this novel was everything that a great piece of 'literature' should be, with the added attractions of being funny and set in Ireland. I enjoyed the lyrical phrasing and the 'news paper' breaks, which provided a broader view of the situation. I enjoyed rooting for the Major to win the girl. In fact, I loved all the characters.
I particularly liked the parallels of the Majestic and the country both crumbling around their respective residents. There were problems when the Spencers/British took over, but rather than working to correct these problems they just went along their merry way, until the situation was so far gone there was no help for it. It was a beautifully rendered allegory that brought depth to the story without overburdening it.
Most importantly, though, I enjoyed reexamining my own opinions of the Troubles, particularly in the context of post-WWI Britain. I've never given much thought to how it must have been for a veteran of the Great War to find himself caught in such an intangible civil war. It's really quite horrific. I still firmly side with the "Shinners" but it has given me a broader view of the social ramifications of the 'war'. I've usually thought of the conflict in terms of Sinn Fein/IRA versus the Black and Tans, but of course each side also had civilians. While it is easy for me to see the side of the Irish, I appreciate the viewpoint of the colonizing British a bit more now.
Anyhow, I absolutely loved, and I would most definitely recommend, J.G. Farrell's "Troubles" - and I'm looking forward to reading the second book of his so-called 'Empire Trilogy' in a couple of weeks!
For now, continuing with my reading list, I had to skip ahead chronologically again, having been unable to lay my hands on a complete copy of V.S. Naipaul's short story collection, "In A Free State". All I could locate was a volume of "Selected Short Stories" which only contained part of the collection, which is no good to me. I will, of course, come back to it as soon as possible. In the meantime I have moved on, so my third book is "G." by John Berger. I am not previously familiar with this title, so I'm looking forward to it. Read on!
Friday, September 23, 2011
Fickle and Mathematically Challenged
Books I Wanted To Read Today:
Ghost Story, by Jim Butcher
Daniel O'Thunder, by Ian Weir
Round Heeled Woman, by Jane Juksa
First You Build A Cloud, by K.C. Cole
Curtains: Adventures of an Undertaker in Training, by Tom Jokinen
A Nomad of the Time Stream, by Michael Moorcock
Dead Iron, by Devon Monk
Johannes Cabal the Detective, by Jonathan L. Howard
Benighted, by Kit Whitfield
Hounded, by Kevin Hearne
Books I Read Today:
Troubles, by J.G. Farrell
I knew this would happen, but I'd hoped to make it more than ten days! This in no way means that I am not enjoying 'Troubles' - I am!! Loving it! Reminds me a bit of Monty Python, sometimes! - it just means that I am a fickle reader. Probably a fickle person in general. The important thing is I successfully resisted the temptation to read a non-Booker. Even though, technically, I started reading Ghost Story before I started my Booker challenge, so I should really finish it. But then, I'd be finished it, and I would be sad.
I was feeling very pleased with myself on Sunday, being ahead of schedule and all. The reality is, Elected Member may have been one of the easiest books I've ever read. And I like 'cozy' mysteries! Now, I have only four days left to finish 'Troubles' and I'm not yet a third of the way through it. Two of those are work days. I admit, I'm feeling a touch of nerves. Goodness help me when hockey, knitting club, and all the good tv series start up over the next month! What on earth possessed me? How will I manage to focus with so much delicious entertainment tempting me?
I've been thinking that audio books may hold the answer. I always feel like I'm "cheating" when I listen to an audio book, but it would allow me to use my knitting time to sneak in extra stories. I wouldn't lose any of my valuable reading time (I'm looking at you, T.V.! No, wait... that's the problem!) but I would still get to, well, Cheat. No decision yet, but I will keep you posted.
Before I forget, I wanted to apologize. It seems that I am terrible with numbers, and I've had to go back and correct a couple of my previous posts. Not sure if you noticed, but I counted the days wrong on one post and got the year of 'Troubles' wrong in my last post. Yeesh, you'd think I failed tenth grade math. Twice. Anyhow, I'll try to proofread more carefully in the future. Wish me luck on That!
'Troubles' is keeping me very entertained, at the moment. I never thought it would be so funny! I've laughed aloud more than a few times, and I've read bits out loud to share the funny bits too. The Major has a habit of commenting how "Irish" things are whenever it gets a bit mad or daft, and that makes me laugh every time. Of course, it's also dealing with rather serious matters and I find I spend a lot of time thinking about the politics of Mr Farrell (and the Major!). The Troubles (historically speaking) are very much Catholic Irish versus Protestant English, and Farrell makes that very clear. But the Major seems weary of strife, and even indifferent to the struggles going on around him, completely worn out from the "Great War". The only emotion he seems to have toward the whole affair is disgust. Despite that, my overall impression is of support for the Sinn Fein. Maybe that says more about my politics than the book, time will tell.
I am excited that this is the first in Farrell's Empire series - and the second of the series won the Booker prize as well, so I get to read that in a few weeks! I'll have to wait until next September to read the third, though. Or more likely April 2013, the way my reading list is growing!
Ghost Story, by Jim Butcher
Daniel O'Thunder, by Ian Weir
Round Heeled Woman, by Jane Juksa
First You Build A Cloud, by K.C. Cole
Curtains: Adventures of an Undertaker in Training, by Tom Jokinen
A Nomad of the Time Stream, by Michael Moorcock
Dead Iron, by Devon Monk
Johannes Cabal the Detective, by Jonathan L. Howard
Benighted, by Kit Whitfield
Hounded, by Kevin Hearne
Books I Read Today:
Troubles, by J.G. Farrell
I knew this would happen, but I'd hoped to make it more than ten days! This in no way means that I am not enjoying 'Troubles' - I am!! Loving it! Reminds me a bit of Monty Python, sometimes! - it just means that I am a fickle reader. Probably a fickle person in general. The important thing is I successfully resisted the temptation to read a non-Booker. Even though, technically, I started reading Ghost Story before I started my Booker challenge, so I should really finish it. But then, I'd be finished it, and I would be sad.
I was feeling very pleased with myself on Sunday, being ahead of schedule and all. The reality is, Elected Member may have been one of the easiest books I've ever read. And I like 'cozy' mysteries! Now, I have only four days left to finish 'Troubles' and I'm not yet a third of the way through it. Two of those are work days. I admit, I'm feeling a touch of nerves. Goodness help me when hockey, knitting club, and all the good tv series start up over the next month! What on earth possessed me? How will I manage to focus with so much delicious entertainment tempting me?
I've been thinking that audio books may hold the answer. I always feel like I'm "cheating" when I listen to an audio book, but it would allow me to use my knitting time to sneak in extra stories. I wouldn't lose any of my valuable reading time (I'm looking at you, T.V.! No, wait... that's the problem!) but I would still get to, well, Cheat. No decision yet, but I will keep you posted.
Before I forget, I wanted to apologize. It seems that I am terrible with numbers, and I've had to go back and correct a couple of my previous posts. Not sure if you noticed, but I counted the days wrong on one post and got the year of 'Troubles' wrong in my last post. Yeesh, you'd think I failed tenth grade math. Twice. Anyhow, I'll try to proofread more carefully in the future. Wish me luck on That!
'Troubles' is keeping me very entertained, at the moment. I never thought it would be so funny! I've laughed aloud more than a few times, and I've read bits out loud to share the funny bits too. The Major has a habit of commenting how "Irish" things are whenever it gets a bit mad or daft, and that makes me laugh every time. Of course, it's also dealing with rather serious matters and I find I spend a lot of time thinking about the politics of Mr Farrell (and the Major!). The Troubles (historically speaking) are very much Catholic Irish versus Protestant English, and Farrell makes that very clear. But the Major seems weary of strife, and even indifferent to the struggles going on around him, completely worn out from the "Great War". The only emotion he seems to have toward the whole affair is disgust. Despite that, my overall impression is of support for the Sinn Fein. Maybe that says more about my politics than the book, time will tell.
I am excited that this is the first in Farrell's Empire series - and the second of the series won the Booker prize as well, so I get to read that in a few weeks! I'll have to wait until next September to read the third, though. Or more likely April 2013, the way my reading list is growing!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
So Far, So Good
Day 9, Book 2! I'm on schedule and I'm loving the new book! In trying to continue chronologically, my next book is 'Troubles' by J.G. Farrell, the winner of the Lost Man Booker Prize for a book written in 1970 but awarded in 2010. This was due to a change in the awarding process that meant an entire years' worth of work was excluded for the prize in 1970. The whole affair is detailed on the Man Booker website, for which there is a link in my first post.
I started reading the book yesterday, and actually got so absorbed in it that I didn't put it down until after midnight! Farrell's prose is flowery and lyrical, funny and heart wrenching, and I really love it! I thought I might enjoy this book, simply because it is set in Ireland, and I love most things Irish. But I hadn't expected to be so swept up by the writing! I was even a little concerned when I noticed there were no chapter breaks, as I like having a structure for my reading. It stops me from reading until past midnight! Oh well.
'Troubles' is set in 1919, and starts out with Major Archer coming to Ireland to claim the fiancé he only vaguely remembers meeting some years ago while on leave. They have written to each other during the war, but their meeting is that of two strangers. It reminds me rather forcibly of a modern Internet couple meeting for the first time - the emotions one conjures up for the imagined person to whom you are writing have no basis in reality. No one is exactly how they portray themselves to be in writing, for better or for worse!
The Major is also recovering from "shell shock", and in an Ireland of 1919 I'm certain that will have repercussions. I think a certain level of familiarity with Irish history is probably necessary to fully understand this book, but there is enough supplementary information in the text that you can probably get along without it.
For now, enough writing! I have a book to read!!
I started reading the book yesterday, and actually got so absorbed in it that I didn't put it down until after midnight! Farrell's prose is flowery and lyrical, funny and heart wrenching, and I really love it! I thought I might enjoy this book, simply because it is set in Ireland, and I love most things Irish. But I hadn't expected to be so swept up by the writing! I was even a little concerned when I noticed there were no chapter breaks, as I like having a structure for my reading. It stops me from reading until past midnight! Oh well.
'Troubles' is set in 1919, and starts out with Major Archer coming to Ireland to claim the fiancé he only vaguely remembers meeting some years ago while on leave. They have written to each other during the war, but their meeting is that of two strangers. It reminds me rather forcibly of a modern Internet couple meeting for the first time - the emotions one conjures up for the imagined person to whom you are writing have no basis in reality. No one is exactly how they portray themselves to be in writing, for better or for worse!
The Major is also recovering from "shell shock", and in an Ireland of 1919 I'm certain that will have repercussions. I think a certain level of familiarity with Irish history is probably necessary to fully understand this book, but there is enough supplementary information in the text that you can probably get along without it.
For now, enough writing! I have a book to read!!
Sunday, September 18, 2011
A Book Completed
Day Seven, and I've finished reading my first Booker Prize winner!
The characters all did basically what I expected of them, and none of the major revelations surprised me too much. I suspect that the shock value has not fared well with the passing of years, and perhaps in 1969 when it was published it may have even been slightly scandalous. I have nothing to support this, but I like to think that it's true because, quite honestly, without some level of shock value I fail to see how this book was the "very best book of the year'.
I did enjoy the story, if not the telling of it. The flashbacks and frequent POV changes irritated me. Any one character alone couldn't have told the whole story, I know that, but maybe that's a part of the issue that I have with it. Each character stays contained within themselves, never really growing to understand each other in a new way. They each try to shoulder the entire blame for the familial disfunction (a blame I believe may lay with Sarah) but they never learn the truth about each other. I'm trying to see where the character arch is within this story, and I don't see it. I don't believe that any of them has changed, for better or for worse. Their situation is different, but they are the same. Pretty disappointing, really.
I read a small review (after I'd finished the book!) which claims that not only was Norman the scapegoat for his family, but the entire family was a scapegoat for the Jewish people throughout history. Taken that way I find the final pages of the novel much deeper, but I'm not really convinced of that viewpoint. I'll have to ruminate on it a bit, see how the whole of the novel percolates through my brain in the coming days. I'll get back to you on it.
I don't feel as accomplished as I'd hoped I would, mainly because the book wasn't as challenging as I'd hoped it would be. There were parts of it that I enjoyed, and parts which I didn't, but nothing about this book really challenged my world view at all. I've always thought that was something great literature was meant to do. After all, if I'm not reading for the pure escapism of the story, I should at least grow as a person from the experience of having read that book. Maybe I'm just expecting too much from ink and paper, but I rather hope I'm not. Again, we'll see if a few days or weeks of contemplation enriches the experience for me.
Tomorrow I start a new book!
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Darn Life, interfering with my reading!
Hey! So, here we are on Day 4 - and I've only managed to read another two chapters since Day 2! This is not due to lack of interest in the story (which has had some interesting developments) but more due to the fact that I, occasionally, have a social life. I fully expect to catch up in the next couple days, and I'm suspecting I'll finish Book 1 ahead of schedule. I'm really kinda excited about the next book, so this makes me happy.
Heads up - there may be
!!SPOILERS!!
in this post. Proceed with caution if you have not yet read this book, and intend to do so. :)
I was not disappointed by Norman's reaction to Bella's "treats" - in fact, it was exactly what I expected. Which is, in itself, disappointing. The most dominant characteristic of the book so far is Predictability. I enjoy being surprised by fiction, it is one of life's greatest pleasures. In that respect, this book has been a bit of a let down. Chapter 10 held the first real surprise for me in Bella's gesture of active enabling, but looking at it now I probably should have seen it coming. When I first read the scene, which has Norman steal money from Bella's purse, I was angry that she would allow it. She saw him, she knew what he was doing, and she not only allowed it, she Helped! But, of course, it really makes perfect sense. As much as Bella hates her brother, she also needs him - she needs him to blame for the path of her own life, the fact that she hasn't grown up. She also desperately wants him to love her again, and she seems willing to buy that affection if necessary. Which pretty much sums up the First Visit for me. In their own way, each character was in 'by any means necessary' mode, sad and desperate.
Chapter 11 carries on that same feeling as Rabbi Zweck goes in search of Norman's dealer. Who he finds is the second surprise of the book for me, and him too. I was a little offended by the sexist attitude that a woman, even a "whore", couldn't be the drug dealer. Seriously, Rabbi? You hiked all the way there and your not even going to Ask if she's the dealer?? I feel like he must have forgotten his purpose, dazzled as he was by her cleavage (another moment of Ew please) but deep down I know he just can't fathom a female dealer. It doesn't even occur to him.
In non-Booker related literary news, I'm excited by the CPL's choice for the One Book, One Calgary event this year. It's Steven Galloway's 'The Cellist of Sarajevo' and I've heard such good things about it! The inaugural book didn't do anything for me (if I'm going to read history, it had better be ancient or Irish!) and I don't think I'm the only person who gave it a miss, because there wasn't much buzz about OBOC last year. I really hope having a fiction selection this year spreads the excitement that an event like this can generate. I visited Dublin a couple years ago during their One City, One Book event when they were reading Dracula, and it was a gas! Of course, Stoker being a native son, there were plenty of opportunities to expand the event, including gallery shows, tours, film nights, all sorts of things. But, really, it was the accessibility of the work that made the event exciting, and I'm sure that having a fiction selection this year will do the same here. So, find yourself a copy (I know a good store!!) and join in!
Heads up - there may be
!!SPOILERS!!
in this post. Proceed with caution if you have not yet read this book, and intend to do so. :)
I was not disappointed by Norman's reaction to Bella's "treats" - in fact, it was exactly what I expected. Which is, in itself, disappointing. The most dominant characteristic of the book so far is Predictability. I enjoy being surprised by fiction, it is one of life's greatest pleasures. In that respect, this book has been a bit of a let down. Chapter 10 held the first real surprise for me in Bella's gesture of active enabling, but looking at it now I probably should have seen it coming. When I first read the scene, which has Norman steal money from Bella's purse, I was angry that she would allow it. She saw him, she knew what he was doing, and she not only allowed it, she Helped! But, of course, it really makes perfect sense. As much as Bella hates her brother, she also needs him - she needs him to blame for the path of her own life, the fact that she hasn't grown up. She also desperately wants him to love her again, and she seems willing to buy that affection if necessary. Which pretty much sums up the First Visit for me. In their own way, each character was in 'by any means necessary' mode, sad and desperate.
Chapter 11 carries on that same feeling as Rabbi Zweck goes in search of Norman's dealer. Who he finds is the second surprise of the book for me, and him too. I was a little offended by the sexist attitude that a woman, even a "whore", couldn't be the drug dealer. Seriously, Rabbi? You hiked all the way there and your not even going to Ask if she's the dealer?? I feel like he must have forgotten his purpose, dazzled as he was by her cleavage (another moment of Ew please) but deep down I know he just can't fathom a female dealer. It doesn't even occur to him.
In non-Booker related literary news, I'm excited by the CPL's choice for the One Book, One Calgary event this year. It's Steven Galloway's 'The Cellist of Sarajevo' and I've heard such good things about it! The inaugural book didn't do anything for me (if I'm going to read history, it had better be ancient or Irish!) and I don't think I'm the only person who gave it a miss, because there wasn't much buzz about OBOC last year. I really hope having a fiction selection this year spreads the excitement that an event like this can generate. I visited Dublin a couple years ago during their One City, One Book event when they were reading Dracula, and it was a gas! Of course, Stoker being a native son, there were plenty of opportunities to expand the event, including gallery shows, tours, film nights, all sorts of things. But, really, it was the accessibility of the work that made the event exciting, and I'm sure that having a fiction selection this year will do the same here. So, find yourself a copy (I know a good store!!) and join in!
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
I love it when I am right
Day 2, up to chapter 10 in 'The Elected Member'.
So, in that wonderful way that books have of answering their own questions, all my curiosity from last night has been sated. Phew! I now know the identity of the mysterious white pills (ok, so maybe I am just a little sheltered and some one else would have gotten it without the Minister spelling it out for them!), it is Yiddish, the socks are a symbol of artificially extended childhood, and I was even right about the incest. Ew.
The story is developing quite intriguingly, expanding on the other family members and the family history in what appears to be an attempt to rationalize, or maybe even excuse, Norman's drug use and 'madness'. It's a twisted little journey, and I find myself wishing it were a larger book, told more in the present tense rather than the frequent flashbacks Ms Rubens employs. I realize this was an artistic choice, not an accident ("I tripped, fell on my typewriter, and now there's another flashback! Whoops!") but I feel it's a device that should be used sparingly, rather than having almost every chapter be an extended flashback. Having everyone wandering around remembering 'when' doesn't really advance the plot, it just explains how we got 'here'. I suppose that's the entire point of the story - how does a bright young prodigy become a sad, defeated drug-addict? A bit depressing, as subject matter goes.
The characters are all very human, fallible, and I find that makes them all likable. I am, however, finding the attitude toward addiction/mental illness - that desperate denial, the unwillingness to discuss it - heartbreaking. I want to dismiss it as an archaic attitude from a different era, but I have to admit it lives today. The only real giveaways that this story is from another era are Bella's sock issue, and Norman being sent to a hospital/asylum rather than rehab.
For tomorrow, I am looking forward to Norman's reaction to how Bella chose to fulfill his request, and whether she responds at all to Esther's request. Should be some high drama!
So, in that wonderful way that books have of answering their own questions, all my curiosity from last night has been sated. Phew! I now know the identity of the mysterious white pills (ok, so maybe I am just a little sheltered and some one else would have gotten it without the Minister spelling it out for them!), it is Yiddish, the socks are a symbol of artificially extended childhood, and I was even right about the incest. Ew.
The story is developing quite intriguingly, expanding on the other family members and the family history in what appears to be an attempt to rationalize, or maybe even excuse, Norman's drug use and 'madness'. It's a twisted little journey, and I find myself wishing it were a larger book, told more in the present tense rather than the frequent flashbacks Ms Rubens employs. I realize this was an artistic choice, not an accident ("I tripped, fell on my typewriter, and now there's another flashback! Whoops!") but I feel it's a device that should be used sparingly, rather than having almost every chapter be an extended flashback. Having everyone wandering around remembering 'when' doesn't really advance the plot, it just explains how we got 'here'. I suppose that's the entire point of the story - how does a bright young prodigy become a sad, defeated drug-addict? A bit depressing, as subject matter goes.
The characters are all very human, fallible, and I find that makes them all likable. I am, however, finding the attitude toward addiction/mental illness - that desperate denial, the unwillingness to discuss it - heartbreaking. I want to dismiss it as an archaic attitude from a different era, but I have to admit it lives today. The only real giveaways that this story is from another era are Bella's sock issue, and Norman being sent to a hospital/asylum rather than rehab.
For tomorrow, I am looking forward to Norman's reaction to how Bella chose to fulfill his request, and whether she responds at all to Esther's request. Should be some high drama!
Monday, September 12, 2011
Apparently Not About Government.... Or Is It?
Day 1, first book, 'The Elected Member' by Bernice Rubens. Winner of the Booker Prize 1970.
I hadn't heard of this book before, so I'm coming to it completely blank, which I love! Looking at it on my booklist I speculated that it was perhaps a political drama of sorts, the story of some newly elected official battling bureaucracy. Ya, not even close! Turns out it is a family drama of mental illness and drug addiction. Probably more interesting than my idea!
I've read three chapters so far today. It is intriguing, although I find myself more captivated by the mysteries of the backstory than the present dramatic situation. I find I'm curious about exactly what kind of pills Norman is taking, and I wonder whether the anonymous nature of the drug is intended as a generic 'drugs are evil' sentiment. Perhaps it was a decision made to prevent any sort of advertisement for the drug in question. Or, perhaps the identity of the mystery pills will come out later. Then again, maybe it's completely incidental to the actual story. I'm still curious.
I'm also very curious about the relationship between Norman and his sister, Bella, and the significance of her white ankle-socks. I understand they are meant as a symbol of girlhood, as a woman should be wearing some sort of stocking, but what is the real meaning behind all the allusions? I get the feeling there was some level of incest, but I could be totally off-base. I find I'd really like a direct, explicit explanation regarding this, and the drug as well.
Mainly I'm hoping that my lack of understanding isn't a result of generational miscommunication. I admit, I had to google a couple or three words to make sure I was understanding them correctly. For instance, I was fairly certain Dettol was a cleaning agent but I've never actually encountered it, so I wasn't sure what it's "known associations" were. The frequent use of what I'm guessing is Yiddish (correct me if I'm wrong, please!) is also making it a more challenging read. Most of it I understand, but not all of it, and that is making it difficult for me to really immerse myself in the story.
Despite all that, I am enjoying the story so far. It kind of reminds me of a late-sixties version of 'Intervention'. I mean that in a good way!
I hadn't heard of this book before, so I'm coming to it completely blank, which I love! Looking at it on my booklist I speculated that it was perhaps a political drama of sorts, the story of some newly elected official battling bureaucracy. Ya, not even close! Turns out it is a family drama of mental illness and drug addiction. Probably more interesting than my idea!
I've read three chapters so far today. It is intriguing, although I find myself more captivated by the mysteries of the backstory than the present dramatic situation. I find I'm curious about exactly what kind of pills Norman is taking, and I wonder whether the anonymous nature of the drug is intended as a generic 'drugs are evil' sentiment. Perhaps it was a decision made to prevent any sort of advertisement for the drug in question. Or, perhaps the identity of the mystery pills will come out later. Then again, maybe it's completely incidental to the actual story. I'm still curious.
I'm also very curious about the relationship between Norman and his sister, Bella, and the significance of her white ankle-socks. I understand they are meant as a symbol of girlhood, as a woman should be wearing some sort of stocking, but what is the real meaning behind all the allusions? I get the feeling there was some level of incest, but I could be totally off-base. I find I'd really like a direct, explicit explanation regarding this, and the drug as well.
Mainly I'm hoping that my lack of understanding isn't a result of generational miscommunication. I admit, I had to google a couple or three words to make sure I was understanding them correctly. For instance, I was fairly certain Dettol was a cleaning agent but I've never actually encountered it, so I wasn't sure what it's "known associations" were. The frequent use of what I'm guessing is Yiddish (correct me if I'm wrong, please!) is also making it a more challenging read. Most of it I understand, but not all of it, and that is making it difficult for me to really immerse myself in the story.
Despite all that, I am enjoying the story so far. It kind of reminds me of a late-sixties version of 'Intervention'. I mean that in a good way!
Sunday, September 11, 2011
To Begin
The Plan: Over the course of one year I will read all of the Man Booker Prize winning books, reporting on my progress and reviewing the books as I go.
There are currently 45 books on the list ( http://www.themanbookerprize.com/prize/archive ) which will give me approximately 8 days for each book. Woohoo! I'm excited about the challenge of reading so many books on a relatively short schedule. I'm also really looking forward to broadening my reading interests. I primarily read genre fiction, such as urban fantasy, mystery, and romance, with only the occasional foray into "literature". I suppose I have some preconceived notions that literature isn't as much fun as genre, which I'm hoping to dispel. In the interest of full disclosure, I have already read two of the books on the list (The Blind Assassin and Life of Pi) both of which I enjoyed, and I'm looking forward to re-reading.
My initial plan was to start with the first winner, P.H. Newby's 'Something To Answer For', and then work my way through the list chronologically. I figured, as award winning books, I would be able to find copies easily. I work in a used book store, and I love the Calgary Public Library ( http://calgarypubliclibrary.com/ ). Imagine my surprise when neither of them had listings for book 1 - that's really 'something to answer for'!
Ok, that was bad. Sorry.
Anyway, I also checked the Chapters website. No listing. www.abebooks.com had 51 copies listed, starting at $23.63. I'd prefer to buy local, so I'm going to continue looking for that one. I've decided that, for my purposes, time schedule is more important than reading order, so I'm jumping the queue and I'll be starting with Bernice Rubens' 'The Elected Member'. Reading begins tomorrow!
There are currently 45 books on the list ( http://www.themanbookerprize.com/prize/archive ) which will give me approximately 8 days for each book. Woohoo! I'm excited about the challenge of reading so many books on a relatively short schedule. I'm also really looking forward to broadening my reading interests. I primarily read genre fiction, such as urban fantasy, mystery, and romance, with only the occasional foray into "literature". I suppose I have some preconceived notions that literature isn't as much fun as genre, which I'm hoping to dispel. In the interest of full disclosure, I have already read two of the books on the list (The Blind Assassin and Life of Pi) both of which I enjoyed, and I'm looking forward to re-reading.
My initial plan was to start with the first winner, P.H. Newby's 'Something To Answer For', and then work my way through the list chronologically. I figured, as award winning books, I would be able to find copies easily. I work in a used book store, and I love the Calgary Public Library ( http://calgarypubliclibrary.com/ ). Imagine my surprise when neither of them had listings for book 1 - that's really 'something to answer for'!
Ok, that was bad. Sorry.
Anyway, I also checked the Chapters website. No listing. www.abebooks.com had 51 copies listed, starting at $23.63. I'd prefer to buy local, so I'm going to continue looking for that one. I've decided that, for my purposes, time schedule is more important than reading order, so I'm jumping the queue and I'll be starting with Bernice Rubens' 'The Elected Member'. Reading begins tomorrow!
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