Sunday, March 25, 2007
Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts
After having this recommended to me by two friends, and then Yorkshire Soul enjoying it so much, I had high hopes for this book. But I was SO disappointed.
While I liked some of the descriptive writing, I found the narrator/writer to be so self-absorbed, and irritatingly arrogant that I threw it down halfway through chapter 10. It is so 'me me me'. Some of his observations on life in Mumbai were quite interesting, but they were juxtaposed with a myriad of epiphanies as Roberts reflects on his own disastrous life. I just didn't have the patience for him or his book.
So be warned.
However, I'm told that it is being made into a film starring Johnny Depp. Now that might be worth seeing.
After having this recommended to me by two friends, and then Yorkshire Soul enjoying it so much, I had high hopes for this book. But I was SO disappointed.
While I liked some of the descriptive writing, I found the narrator/writer to be so self-absorbed, and irritatingly arrogant that I threw it down halfway through chapter 10. It is so 'me me me'. Some of his observations on life in Mumbai were quite interesting, but they were juxtaposed with a myriad of epiphanies as Roberts reflects on his own disastrous life. I just didn't have the patience for him or his book.
So be warned.
However, I'm told that it is being made into a film starring Johnny Depp. Now that might be worth seeing.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
The Voyage of the Narwhal by Andrea Barrett
A very thoughtful, interesting novel about arctic exploration in the mid-nineteenth century that considers the attitudes and theories of the time towards evolution and race.
Well researched and informative, Barrett's book tells of an expedition that leaves Philadelphia to search for the lost Franklin expedition of a decade earlier. While the foreground is fictional, the setting is not. I learned a lot about the context of exploration and the debates surrounding evolutionary theory.
But it was also a good tale, well told, that held my interest to the end. Full of suspense at times - would the party survive a winter trapped in the ice?
A recommended adventure.
A very thoughtful, interesting novel about arctic exploration in the mid-nineteenth century that considers the attitudes and theories of the time towards evolution and race.
Well researched and informative, Barrett's book tells of an expedition that leaves Philadelphia to search for the lost Franklin expedition of a decade earlier. While the foreground is fictional, the setting is not. I learned a lot about the context of exploration and the debates surrounding evolutionary theory.
But it was also a good tale, well told, that held my interest to the end. Full of suspense at times - would the party survive a winter trapped in the ice?
A recommended adventure.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
The Enchantment of Lily Dahl by Siri Hustvedt
I quite enjoyed reading this, but ultimately was left feeling a bit unsatisfied. Hustvedt raised lots of interesting questions about representation, and examined the faces we show the world and their 'truth' or otherwise. And the story held my attention. The characters were diverse and the community well observed and interesting. But in the end I think there were too many unanswered questions - beyond what you would expect of a good postmodern novel. There were loose narrative threads that I found frustrating.
So I don't think this is as good as 'What I Loved', which is a truly marvellous novel. I have 'The Blindfold' sitting on my shelf waiting to be read, and I'll see how that compares.
I quite enjoyed reading this, but ultimately was left feeling a bit unsatisfied. Hustvedt raised lots of interesting questions about representation, and examined the faces we show the world and their 'truth' or otherwise. And the story held my attention. The characters were diverse and the community well observed and interesting. But in the end I think there were too many unanswered questions - beyond what you would expect of a good postmodern novel. There were loose narrative threads that I found frustrating.
So I don't think this is as good as 'What I Loved', which is a truly marvellous novel. I have 'The Blindfold' sitting on my shelf waiting to be read, and I'll see how that compares.
