Poor Phoebe Stone, an English professor at a St Louis college, is in bad way. Her husband Matt has left her for a colleague and her cat has died. FeelPoor Phoebe Stone, an English professor at a St Louis college, is in bad way. Her husband Matt has left her for a colleague and her cat has died. Feeling that she can't take the pain any more, she checks herself into a luxury Rhode Island hotel with the intention of ending it all. What she doesn't know is that the venue has been booked for a week long wedding celebration. When Lila, the bride-to-be, discovers Phoebe's suicidal plan she is unimpressed to say the least, and adamant that nothing will ruin her impending nuptials. She makes her new friend a part of her wedding plans and it's not long before the two women are sharing their deepest secrets. Phoebe gets to know the whole wedding party whether she likes it or not, including groom Gary and his 11-year-old daughter. A week of chaotic festivities ensues and Phoebe's life will never be the same again.
This book has quite a dark and upsetting beginning. Even before her husband's infidelity, Phoebe's marriage was in trouble, with the couple's inability to conceive being the chief driver of sadness. Phoebe could feel Matt slipping away from her and felt powerless to stop it. I thought this was depicted superbly and really empathized with her heartbreak. Once we meet Lila the tone of the story switches quite quickly to comedy. Lila is a force of nature and unafraid to speak her mind. Her friends and family are also a colourful bunch. Several of the wedding celebrations end in hilarious farce (maybe too many to be truly believable?). Phoebe also has an electric encounter with one of the guests, not just a passing attraction but a deep and immediate connection. She feels totally at ease and alive within his company - he listens to her and makes her feel special. Trouble is he is in a relationship with another woman, even though everybody (including themselves) knows they are wrong for one another. I truly hoped for the man to realize this and for him and Phoebe to find the love they both deserve. This is a romantic comedy that has it all - moments of hilarity and heartbreak, and a love story that you can't help rooting for. Recommended....more
Everybody knows the story of Frankenstein so I'm not going to regurgitate the plot. Instead I want to mention a few things I find fascinating about thEverybody knows the story of Frankenstein so I'm not going to regurgitate the plot. Instead I want to mention a few things I find fascinating about this classic novel:
- Mary Shelley was 18 when she wrote it. 18! To basically invent the genre of science fiction at that age absolutely blows my mind. - The idea for it arose from a ghost story competition among herself, Percy Bysshe Shelley and Lord Byron, one wet summer when they had nothing else to do. - The monster is quite eloquent in the book, compared to the simple-minded character we know from the Boris Karloff movie.
The only thing that slightly annoyed me about the novel is how useless and irresponsible Victor Frankenstein is. To lose a single loved one might be considered careless but as for multiple... Anyway, the story holds up very well apart from that. You can certainly see why it has endured and remained so influential....more
This short-story collection has been the subject of much fanfare in the media of late. It's the first book of a young author from Northern Ireland, wrThis short-story collection has been the subject of much fanfare in the media of late. It's the first book of a young author from Northern Ireland, writing under a pseudonym, about whom little else is known. 'Among the best Irish books of the 21st century' according to the Irish Times - it's fair to say my expectations were sky high.
And it gets of to a flier with the best story in the collection. We All Go considers a young man named Jackie, who struggles with the anatomy class he attends at university as well as the grief at losing his father. It excels at depicting the claustrophobia of his life at home, as he is shunned by his mother in favour of his sister. It takes place in the shadow of the Troubles, as all theses stories do, leaving the characters searching for meaning in its wake. Another tale named Mary stood out for me, about an unemployed woman who joins a writing class and decides to compose a story about a young girl she meets every day on the bus. She also learns that her kind and gentle husband, a taxi driver, has taken a large fare to transport three girls who were clearly being trafficked. Her dilemmas had me intrigued.
However I'm afraid to say the rest of the stories didn't really grab my attention at all. The final effort, Daisy Hill, has been much discussed. It ends with a record of dozens of people killed by the British Army in Northern Ireland - I guess its intent is to shock, but I didn't find much literary merit in it. For me this book is the introduction of an exciting new talent, who is not quite the finished article just yet. Keep an eye out for the name Liadan Ni Chuinn - let's see what they come up with next....more
This is my third encounter with Patricia Highsmith and I'm noticing a pattern: twisted people committing nefarious deeds. She was a famous misanthropiThis is my third encounter with Patricia Highsmith and I'm noticing a pattern: twisted people committing nefarious deeds. She was a famous misanthropist (once claiming she'd save a starving cat over a child) and it certainly bleeds into her stories. There are no heroes, no happy endings - in fact her writing would shake your faith in humanity.
This novel has a fascinating concept at its core - two strangers meet on a train, realising that they both want a family member dead. Then the more unhinged of the pair sets events in motion. I'm afraid I found the pacing of this one off-putting - the first half in particular is quite slow in how it unfurls. Perhaps it would have worked better as a short story. And I couldn't understand why Guy, the more sensible, reasonable member of the duo didn't just go to the police once the whole thing kicked off? It's brilliant idea for a thriller that is unfortunately let down by its execution....more
There has been so much written about The Beatles at this stage - how could anybody find something new to say? Well Ian Leslie takes a novel approach iThere has been so much written about The Beatles at this stage - how could anybody find something new to say? Well Ian Leslie takes a novel approach in this fascinating book. Focusing on John and Paul specifically, he examines their musical and personal relationship one song at a time.
It starts off with Come Go With Me, a doo-wop number performed by John and his band The Quarrymen at the Woolton Village Fete. Fifteen-year-old Paul was blown away at the choice of an obscure number that only the most dedicated music fan would know, but also by John improvising the words. He knew that he absolutely had to speak to this confident, charismatic boy. It ends with Here Today, the heartbreaking memorial Paul wrote after John's untimely death, containing all the things he wishes he had said to his great friend.
It was a complicated relationship they had and Leslie burrows deep into it. Beginning with a mutual admiration as teenagers, they bonded over their love of music. Of course they both lost their mothers at a young age but Leslie explains that they never really spoke about this heartache, even as they drew closer with the band taking over their lives. As the Beatles grew more successful, their songwriting partnership flourished, and Leslie provides some terrific examples of how they would often finish one another's songs. However what began as an attempt to impress the other often became intense competition and even jealousy in the case of John, who derided Paul's more sentimental efforts as 'granny music.'
Leslie is particularly strong on the end of the Beatles and what led to their acrimonious split. It wasn't any one thing he explains. The death of Brian Epstein, Paul's overbearing leadership in his absence, John's drug use and creative funk, and the appointment of Allen Klein as their manager all contributed to the demise of the Fab Four. The bitterness over the breakup is captured superbly in the chapter on How Do You Sleep, John's 'musical nail bomb' aimed squarely at Paul.
It all adds up into an intriguing exploration of the greatest songwriting partnership that ever existed. John and Paul weren't just kindred creative spirits, they were brothers, and this book is a wonderful tribute to their complex relationship. Even the most dedicated Beatles will find new insights in this superb study....more
Istvan is an aimless, lonely teenager in a grim Hungarian town when he embarks on an affair with a much older neighbour. Suddenly his life has purposeIstvan is an aimless, lonely teenager in a grim Hungarian town when he embarks on an affair with a much older neighbour. Suddenly his life has purpose, but in a confrontation with the woman's husband, he accidentally kills him. The years that follow consist of a sentence in detention centre and a stint in the Iraq war - he emerges hardened and emotionally inhibited. Moving to London, Istvan seems destined to work a series of menial, low-paying jobs until he saves the life of a security firm owner. His luck changes and he becomes the driver for a wealthy businessman. With the contacts he makes, Istvan gradually rises through the ranks of society. But he generates some enemies along the way and we get the feeling that this good fortune won't last forever.
A few days after finishing Flesh I watched the Stanley Kubrick film Barry Lyndon and realised that this novel is a retelling of that story with a modern, Hungarian slant. It's about a boy who, after a rocky start, continues to fail upwards in life until his luck eventually runs out. Flesh is told in a very clipped, unemotional style and I guess it's aim is to mirror Istvan's repressed feelings. He rarely speaks at any kind of length and it makes you wonder how anybody he encounters could really be interested in him. It also means we don't get much insight into his character - the story is just a series of events that happen to him. I was a fan of David Szalay's previous book All That Man Is and its clever structure reflecting the different stages of "man's" life. However I'm afraid Flesh left me cold - it just felt like a flat retelling of an older fable with no great perception or character development....more
The year is 1964 and Helen Hansford works as an art therapist in a psychiatric hospital just outside London. She's thirty four and most people assume The year is 1964 and Helen Hansford works as an art therapist in a psychiatric hospital just outside London. She's thirty four and most people assume she is single - however she is in a secret relationship with Gil Rudden, a married colleague. The arrival of a new patient sets a jolting sequence of events in motion. William Tapping is mute and hasn't left his house in years. His last remaining relative has passed away and nobody has a clue about his past. Helen takes a shine to William and connects with him through art, which he has a surprising talent for. As she faces difficulties in her relationship with Gil, she traces William's history and learns some shocking secrets along the way.
Shy Creatures excels at depicting a post-war Britain where society is still repressed and the Swinging Sixties has yet to happen. Helen is frustrated about the stalemate of her affair with Gil, and he is reluctant to leave his wife, so their love must remain secret. William's plight gives her new purpose and she is determined to unlock the hidden trauma he carries. I must admit I found the pacing of the novel quite slow - the mystery of William's past took a long time to be revealed. Meanwhile the fate of Helen and Gil's partnership seemed obvious from the beginning. Nevertheless, Clare Chambers gives life to these characters, particularly Helen and William. It's a thoughtful, carefully observed story that is rich in detail ....more
“What she needed was just one person, one wise and sympathetic grown-up who could help her.”
A five star classic, not much else to say really! I lo
“What she needed was just one person, one wise and sympathetic grown-up who could help her.”
A five star classic, not much else to say really! I love how it continues two of Dahl's enduring themes: television is mindless rubbish and most adults are idiots. But most of all, I love how it ultimately brings together two profoundly lonely, yet uniquely special human beings....more
The Names is my favourite book of the year so far. The story is based on an ingenious yet simple concept, making you wonder why nobody else has thoughThe Names is my favourite book of the year so far. The story is based on an ingenious yet simple concept, making you wonder why nobody else has thought of it before.
It all starts in 1987, focussing on a couple named Cora and Gordon. On the surface their marriage looks perfect. They have a 9-year-old daughter named Maia and Cora, a former ballet dancer, has just given birth to a baby boy. Gordon is a highly respected doctor, beloved by his patients. However, behind closed doors it is a different matter. Gordon is an abusive husband, tormenting and belittling his wife every chance he gets. At the beginning of the story, Cora is on the way to the registry office in order to officially name the baby. And this opening chapter then spins out into three parallel timelines. One in which she follows Maia's suggestion and calls the boy Bear, another where she goes with her own choice of Julian, and a third where she follows her husband's orders and names him Gordon. And as we find out, a seemingly innocuous decision incurs vastly different consequences for everybody involved.
The chapters that follow are set seven years apart, continuing the three storylines. In one of them the family are mostly free of Gordon's cruelty, in another his overbearing nature dominates their lives completely. The boy himself has a different personality in each thread, and this can be traced back to differences in the family environment caused by the day of his naming. I loved how some characters are minor parts in one storyline, but have a major impact in another.
It is not only the clever structure of the novel that deserves praise. Knapp deftly examines an abusive relationship - the pressure Cora feels to keep her children safe, as she is made to feel completely worthless by an evil man. While not absolving him of his cruelty, one of the storylines delves into the reasons Gordon turned into such a horrible person. I also admired how the book examined motherhood and the selfless sacrifices Cora made every day for her children's wellbeing.
I rooted for Maia and her brother as they grew older and wished for their happiness. I wanted more than anything for Cora to break free from her chains. And that's when you know you've read a great story - you care about the characters so much. It also made me wonder about the minor decisions I've made in my own life and how things might have panned out differently depending on the choices I made. The Name is the most innovative and thought-provoking debut I've come across in a long time. Florence Knapp has announced herself as a major talent.
Favourite Quotes: "Cora has never liked the name Gordon. The way it starts with a splintering sound that makes her think of cracked boiled sweets, and then ends with a thud like someone slamming down a sports bag."
"She lives trying not to set a match to Gordon’s anger, but still she spills petrol about her, dripping it over shoes she has forgotten to polish, sloshing it across a particular shirt not washed in time."
"She can still picture Fern jumping in, then reemerging. Head back, treading water. Fern had beamed up at her, a semi-circle of smooth black hair fanning out on the surface. And Maia’s stomach had flipped, her chest expanding with something that felt glorious and surprising. Like a balloon being blown up. She’d had to look away. Had known, even then, that Fern loved her, but not like that."
"Would you lay down your life for your child? the world silently asks. Yes, she’s done this. But she hadn’t known there would be a second reckoning, where this would eventually mean laying down the arms of motherhood: caution, foreseeing, checking, reminding, nurturing, openly caring. Because a switch has been tripped, and rather than keeping the child safe, if left in sight, her love might implode. Might overwhelm him."
"When the coroner’s report comes, they learn she’d lived with a hole in the heart. That she probably never knew, but that, still, it is a miracle she lived to see eighty-eight. And they wonder again at what she gave to them. How she lived for them, and because of them. And in spite of everything."...more
Books about music are an irresistible pleasure for me. Fleetwood Mac, with their incredible songs, and tendency towards interpersonal drama, are a banBooks about music are an irresistible pleasure for me. Fleetwood Mac, with their incredible songs, and tendency towards interpersonal drama, are a band I always find fascinating. So when I heard of a memoir about the making of Rumours, their greatest album, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.
It's told from the perspective of Ken Caillat, one of its co-producers. The album took almost a year to record, in a number of locations, but mostly in Sausalito, California. The band were on the cusp of stardom when the project began and when it was finally released in February 1978, they became one of the biggest music sensations on the planet.
Caillat got to know the group very well during their time in the studio and his insights into their character are the most intriguing aspects of the book. Mick Fleetwood was their natural leader, a hard worker who made sure they were recording at least 6 days a week, but also a prankster who liked a drink. Another man who enjoyed a tipple was John McVie, a quiet guy who sometimes became difficult when he had a few too many. Lindsey Buckingham does not come across well in the book. For all his musical talent he was bossy and controlling, and his quick temper occasionally led to physical violence. Christine McVie (the real genius of the band if you ask me) was a perfectionist who didn't suffer fools, but loyal once you earned her trust. And Stevie Nicks felt left out of the endless sessions, seeing as she didn't play an instrument, but often turned up with the most wonderful songs.
Of course the fireworks within the band have been well documented, but they are interesting to read about here. Lindsey and Stevie were coming towards the end of an eight year relationship and things often got heated. Caillat remembers them trading insults and then singing the angelic harmonies of You Make Loving Fun to one another like nothing had happened. Christine McVie had written that song about an affair she was having with the band's lighting director. In an effort to avoid tensions with husband John, she told everyone it was about her dog.
Caillat remembers this time very fondly. It was a big step up for him to produce an album of this stature, but he nailed it. He was making good money for the first time in his life and it was all so exciting. His relationships with women didn't leave me quite as impressed. At the start of the project he became besotted with Nina, a girl who worked in the recording studio. They started dating and his happiness is endearing to read about. But arriving home one day he finds two girls in his bed and he doesn't say no to them. "Hey, it was the Seventies!" he explains. Maybe so, but I didn't find that anecdote too appealing.
The book is told in conversation with a writer, Steve Stiefel, and truth be told, it's not what you would call a literary effort. It's like listening to a guy you meet in a bar, regaling you with stories about the greatest year in his life. And with his music engineer hat on Caillat does go quite deep into the recording efforts, telling you what kind of microphones and drum effects he employed on each song. That stuff went way over my head to be honest, I'm not knowledgeable enough about it. But the book does excel in recapturing the magic of that time - when five incredibly talented musicians put their personal differences aside to create one of the finest albums ever made, with the help of their dynamic producers. Caillat's nostalgic recollections give you a front row seat into that thrilling spectacle....more
This slim novel first appeared in 1979, published in two parts by the New Yorker. It has since been hailed as a modern classic, an I'm all for short bThis slim novel first appeared in 1979, published in two parts by the New Yorker. It has since been hailed as a modern classic, an I'm all for short books so I decided to give it a whirl.
It begins with a murder that occurs in rural Illinois, 1921. A man named Clarence Smith discovers his neighbour Lloyd Wilson is having an affair with his wife. He kills Wilson before taking his own life. The narrator had been friendly with Smith's son Cletus before the murder, but afterwards they drifted apart. The story imagines the leadup to the crime and the devastating aftermath.
I enjoyed the beginning of this novel. When these events first occurred, the narrator had recently lost his mother to pneumonia. His grief is poignantly captured, a lonely house heartbroken by an untimely loss. The boy's friendship with Cletus lightened his heavy load. Looking back on his life as an older man, he feels regret that he wasn't able to be there for Cletus in the face of his own tragedy.
Ultimately though, I found it hard to connect with the novel. Maybe it's down to the fragmented structure, or the fact that the writing is so subdued, but it never really engaged me past the opening. If you're into slow-moving, minimalist fiction, you might enjoy this one, but I'm afraid it wasn't for me....more
This is such a clever book. If I'm being totally honest, I'm not sure I grasped it entirely but it was refreshing to read something so inventive and dThis is such a clever book. If I'm being totally honest, I'm not sure I grasped it entirely but it was refreshing to read something so inventive and different.
The action begins in a large country house, where Abigail has arranged a murder mystery party for her friends. There is her brother Benjamin and his best friend Stephen, whom she has always had a crush on. Also in attendance are newly engaged couple Cormac and Olivia, along with Benjamin's former fiancé Margaret. Completing the group are gambling addict Declan and somewhat surprisingly, Benjamin's work colleague Barbara. Abigail, a huge fan of crime fiction, takes great pleasure in organising the murder mystery, assigning roles to everyone and planting clues around the house. The party is a success and everybody retires for the night. However, the next morning, one of the group is found dead inside a locked bedroom.
This is where things get really interesting. The plot splits into two parallel storylines: one where Abigail hires the esteemed detective Auguste Bell to solve the murder, and another where she is mired in grief after the death of a loved one, struggling to cope.
The Bell plotline is told in a playful manner and if you know your murder mysteries, you will enjoy deciphering the clues and spotting all the references to famous detective stories of yore. It's all very meta, for example Bell spies the balcony of the deceased's bedroom and explains that Declan will help him examine it by climbing the outside wall "in Chapter Twenty-Three." Meanwhile Abigail's account is heartbreaking, unable to return to normal life following the death of someone she cared so deeply about.
The two storylines are very different in tone but they contain one major similarity: both Bell and Abigail are wracking their brains to figure why this person died. Belle is consumed by examining the motives of the suspects, while Abigail is tormenting herself, wondering if there is any way she could have prevented it. The final chapter provides a fascinating coda with some elusive connections to the events that have been recounted beforehand.
I only wish I was more of an aficionado of detective fiction, then I could have enjoyed this novel more fully. But it is a joy to read something so innovative and truly original. Fair Play is an auspicious debut from Louise Hegarty - I can't wait to see what she comes up with next....more
I must admit that the whole Emily Henry phenomenon passed me by. I didn't think it was for me, even though I am quite partial to a romantic comedy. BuI must admit that the whole Emily Henry phenomenon passed me by. I didn't think it was for me, even though I am quite partial to a romantic comedy. But two of my friends, whose opinions I greatly admire, recommended Beach Read so I said I'd give it a try. And you know what, I really liked it!
Thing are not going well for our heroine January Andrews. She's a struggling romance author with a meagre bank balance and a bad case of writer's block. She always believed in happily-ever-after, but her father's death has affected her natural-born optimism and a year later she still hasn't come to terms with it. Worse still was the discovery at his funeral that he had been cheating on her mother for years. She inherits his secret lake house and moves in as she has nowhere else to go. It turns out that living next door is her old college rival/crush and literary darling Gus Everett. He's also dealing with hidden pain and lacking inspiration for his next novel. After a rough start the pair agree on a bet: they will both write a book in each other's genre, giving each other tips and going on research expeditions together. Whoever sells their book first wins.
I still can't get over the extremely convenient coincidence that Gus happened to be living next door to January. But I guess the whole romance thing doesn't work without a little serendipity. Plus there were a couple of other clichés like the communication issues and a rainswept reunion that I felt like I had come across before. However where the book excels is in its depiction of a new relationship: the excitement of falling for somebody, butterflies at the sight of them, the thrill of them liking you back. The chemistry between January and Gus is real - their banter was incredibly charming and I rooted for them the whole way. I also liked how the story was about second chances. Not just for January and Gus who didn't get on well in college, but for January and her Dad. She was questioning the deep bond they had, feeling like it may have been a lie, but their redemption when it comes is amazing and I actually found it quite emotional ((view spoiler)[the letters! (hide spoiler)]). All in all, it was a really entertaining and heartfelt read. I have a feeling it won't be my last rendezvous with Emily Henry.
Favourite Quotes: "I’d started publishing romance because I wanted to dwell in my happiest moments, in the safe place my parents’ love had always been. I’d been so comforted by books with the promise of a happy ending, and I’d wanted to give someone else that same gift."
"The warmth filled me up until I felt like a teakettle trying hard not to whistle."
"Gus nodded thoughtfully. “I never thought about how Naomi’s and my lives would work together, but I knew that’s what it would be: two lives. You chose someone who wanted a relationship. That makes sense for you.” “Yeah, but that’s not enough.” I shook my head. “You know that feeling, when you’re watching someone sleep and you feel overwhelmed with joy that they exist?”"
"She was enigmatic, the closest to the stereotypical male fantasy I’d ever seen outside of a movie, but deep down she was, completely, a romantic. When she connected with someone, she opened up like a rose to expose the most tender, pure, selfless, and loyal heart I’d ever known."
"Falling’s the part that takes your breath away. It’s the part when you can’t believe the person standing in front of you both exists and happened to wander into your path. It’s supposed to make you feel lucky to be alive, exactly when and where you are."...more
I loved half of this book. Or two quarters of it, to be more precise. Dream Count tells the interconnected stories of four Nigerian women and I enjoyeI loved half of this book. Or two quarters of it, to be more precise. Dream Count tells the interconnected stories of four Nigerian women and I enjoyed the first two so much I was honestly thinking to myself: 'This is why I read.' Then I lost interest in the third story and the final one I didn't really like at all. But after a long absence from the world of fiction, it's a blessing to have Adichie back.
We begin with Chia, a travel writer living in Maryland as Covid-19 hits. She spends time on Zoom with friends and family, wondering how the pandemic will play out. And with all this time to think, she reflects on past relationships and in particular, one with a charismatic art history professor named Darnell. Her best friend Zikora, a tough DC lawyer, finds herself bringing up a baby alone, her husband having left upon news of the pregnancy. Kadiatou, Chia's Guinean housekeeper, is nervous and excited about a new life in America, but then becomes the innocent victim of a major scandal. And Chia's outspoken cousin Omelogor leaves her job in Nigerian finance to start an MBA program in the US. She also writes an anonymous blog called For Men Only which advises men on how to treat the women in their lives.
As I was saying earlier, I loved Chia's story. Her reflections on failed romances felt so perceptive and raw. In the case of her troubling history with Darnell, I don't know if I've ever seen an imbalanced relationship captured so well on the page. In hindsight, she can finally admit to herself that she was way more in love with him than he ever was with her. Zikora, on the other hand, thought she had found the perfect man until her pregnancy scared him away. Her story was also hugely compelling - full of anger and self-doubt for trusting the person who left when she needed him most.
Kadiatou's tale begins in Africa and I liked this part - her daily struggles to provide for her family made a sharp contrast to the earlier descriptions of life in the US. But after the terrible assault in the hotel she worked in, I began to lose interest. Maybe this is down to me - I've read so much about the Dominique Strauss-Kahn incident which inspired it that it no longer intrigues me. Finally, my problem with Omelogor's account is that I did not like her as a character. She is self-centred and sets out to provoke people - if I knew her in real life, I would avoid her like the plague.
Adichie weaves these tales of female resilience so expertly. The four women depend on each other for support and their solidarity is often what gets them through. What I admire most about Dream Count is the way it examines romantic relationships: when it comes down to it, all four of its protagonists are just looking for somebody who loves them back. As they sift through the regrets of past relationships, they learn to forgive themselves, especially in the case of Chia. Though I didn't love all of the novel, those doomed romances left a deep impression on me and they showcase Adichie at her absolute best. What a pleasure it is to read her elegant, truth-seeking prose again.
Favourite Quotes: "I’m growing old and the world has changed and I have never been truly known. A rush of raw melancholy brought tears to my eyes. This is all there is, this fragile breathing in and out. Where have all the years gone, and have I made the most of life? But what is the final measure for making the most of life, and how would I know if I have?"
"It was done. Telling Omelogor made it real, and I heard in my head the sound of breaking spells. I had held on for so long, and now, letting go, it surprised me how quickly mystery dissolves to dust. There was no wavering will, no fear. We are in love and then we are not in love. Where does love go when we stop loving?"
"So this was happiness, to live in the first person plural. We need milk. How about we do a night in this weekend? We’re going to be late to this thing. Are we doing the museum or no?"
"Each time I thought, Oh goodness, what has Luuk sent now?, shaking my head, and yet for the rest of the day I walked around in a cloud of delight. I didn’t like roses and hardly wore bracelets, but I felt special to be thought of like this, to live so sumptuously in his mind."
"On the morning of our last day in Holland, we took a walk to a café, and ahead of us was an elderly White couple, both silver-haired and slightly stooped. They walked slowly, hand in hand, and then stopped at the same time to look at a shop window. They said little, their faces mere inches apart. They looked at the shop window for a while and then continued walking, his foot rising as hers fell. There was between them a quality of gentle, long-lasting collusion; each knew the other in a way that nobody else in the world did. Watching them, I began to cry."...more
This acclaimed science-fiction collection from Ted Chiang contains the novella Story of Your Life, which was adapted into the superb film Arrival starThis acclaimed science-fiction collection from Ted Chiang contains the novella Story of Your Life, which was adapted into the superb film Arrival starring Amy Adams. It's about a linguist who is hired to communicate with aliens that land on Earth. As she learns their language, she also begins to understand their non-linear view of time, which allows her to remember the future. All of this is told alongside wistful memories of her daughter. I was absolutely floored by the movie when I first saw it. The story is different but just as good - it stirs the brain as well as the heart.
The rest of the collection varied in quality for me. Sometimes I felt like Chiang overdid the science part: the stories became very cerebral and lost that human connection. Seventy Two Letters is an example of this - an unsettling tale of 19th century golems that develops into complex alternative history of science and technology. More successful was Tower of Babylon, which follows a worker hired to pierce the Vault of Heaven once the enormous construction reaches its celestial target. I also found Hell is the Absence of God quite striking: it describes a world where angels, Heaven and Hell are all unmistakably real. It would make a great movie if anybody in Hollywood is brave enough to take it on. Overall, the collection was a mixed experience. The good stories are amazing, others didn't hold my attention at all. But the whole thing left me in awe of Chiang's incredible imagination....more
It's 1973, and the Irish town of Killybegs is stunned when a newborn baby appears in a barrel on its shores. Nobody has a clue where the little boy caIt's 1973, and the Irish town of Killybegs is stunned when a newborn baby appears in a barrel on its shores. Nobody has a clue where the little boy came from. He's passed from house to house before being adopted by fisherman Ambrose Bonnar and his wife Christine. They name the lad Brendan and immediately treat him as one of their own. But their toddler Declan takes a dislike to his new brother and a decades long rivalry is born. The family are not without other struggles. Ambrose has ambitious plans to scale his fishing business, but he is hampered by a lack of funds and fierce competition in the industry. Meanwhile Christine has to contend with her sister Phyllis, who is angry about the lack of time she spends caring for Eunan, their cantankerous elderly father. As the years pass, Brendan develops into an unusual child, spending his days on solitary walks and giving his 'blessings' to people around town. And like any family, the Bonnars will have their share of unexpected heartache to deal with.
This immersive story works on two levels. First of all, it excels as a domestic drama. Each family member has problems of their own to deal with, but the internal relationships are what make the story so interesting. Ambrose has a soft spot for Brendan, which makes Declan insanely jealous. Meanwhile all Brendan has ever wanted is the approval of his big brother, who wants nothing to do with him. Christine worries about all of them and feels guilty about neglecting her sister and father. It made me think of the line from Anna Karenina, how 'each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way.' Secondly, the story paints a vivid picture of the dangers and difficulties associated with a career in fishing. Ambrose is proud when Declan decides to follow in his footsteps, but he knows in his heart that the boy is unsuited to the work, and that it's an extremely tough way to make a living. The one criticism I have of the book is that it's a bit on the long side and I felt the story sagged in the middle. However, it's a colourful and captivating tale about the impact one little boy has on a family and a community. And though some scenes are tragic, it's written with a lighter touch, one that really captures the Irish way of dealing with adversity through humour.
Favourite Quotes: "Eunan was against anything without set purpose and complete predictability and a human tended to fail on these requirements. He was against surprises, he hadn’t allowed a telephone in the house for many years as you never knew when it might ring on you. He mocked anything frivolous: placemats, dessert, having a lie-in, suffering from your nerves. ‘Get away out of that!’ he’d shout at cream cakes and people with hay fever."
"...we were a discreet people but Tommy was a particularly fine diplomat. If there was a trophy for not mentioning things Tommy would’ve won it, then kept it at the back of his wardrobe and never mentioned it."
"He still felt guilty about his comportment with Christine later, as he sat in his car outside the fisheries office. He’d never actually apologize but he’d be extra jovial in their next few encounters; this was how we indicated we were sorry for something we’d said or done: by acting oddly the next time we met you."
"A note on our use of the word ‘grand’ is here required. It might sound like a relative of good or great but in our usage it was something different. ‘Grand’ was how we acknowledged that something wasn’t good or great while also saying nothing could be done and there was no point going on about it."...more
Moira and Evelyn, two sisters on the verge of adulthood, head for a night out in post-war Bristol. What they encounter both excites and repels them, aMoira and Evelyn, two sisters on the verge of adulthood, head for a night out in post-war Bristol. What they encounter both excites and repels them, and they are forced into entering a new chapter in their lives.
I've read Tessa Hadley's work before and loved it (especially The Past) but I wasn't quite so enamored with this one. It's too short, for one thing. Not a complaint I usually have, but the story felt insubstantial. We were just digging into the complex relationship between the two girls and also their unhappy family life, when it all ended. Hadley's writing credentials are in no doubt but this one left me unsatisfied - it is too slight for me recommend....more
Think of a cross between One Day and High Fidelity and you're not far off the mark with this one. Percy and Joe meet at Berkeley in the year 2000 and Think of a cross between One Day and High Fidelity and you're not far off the mark with this one. Percy and Joe meet at Berkeley in the year 2000 and there is an immediate connection through a shared encyclopedic knowledge of music. Straight off, Percy has the hots for Joe, a budding singer/songwriter, but he has a girlfriend named Zoe. Still the three of them become close friends. Percy's attraction to Joe lingers but their relationship turns into a working one, as she begins to critique his songs and develops an uncanny knack for making them better. As the years pass, Percy turns her hand to journalism, while Joe's music career goes from strength to strength, and we wonder if these two kids will ever get together.
Anybody who likes a bit of romance in their reading will enjoy this novel. The whole will-they-won't-they sub-plot deepens the intrigue and it's hard not to root for Percy, who can't deny a yearning for her best friend. Joe on the other hand is difficult to figure out. The story is told from Percy's point of view, so he remains quite elusive and mysterious - it's tricky to decipher his motivations. Indie music lovers of the 2000s will also get a kick out of this book - there are so many references to much-loved bands from that era (like Interpol, The Shins, LCD Soundsystem etc) that will set the nostalgia juices flowing. Overall it's a captivating read that evokes a strong sense of time and place. A promising debut indeed.
Favourite Quotes: "The closing-time lights came on, and his face looked different in the glare—something sad and determined around the eyes, brutally alive. I felt a sudden yawning high in my chest, like a door inside me being pushed wide open."
"He flinched when he sang it, voice cracking, and I felt with some certainty that I was watching a star—that the reaction I was having would be the reaction of anyone with eyes and ears, of hordes of college girls and sensitive young dads across America; I was not special. It gave me a surge of vertigo, like I’d leaned too far over the edge of a balcony."
"The truth was, New York and Turn On the Bright Lights were so deeply connected to me that I could not form an opinion about one without forcing it to be true of the other. The album’s sound was dark but shiny, like Times Square. Living in New York made you feel heavy and lonely but full of promise, like listening to those songs." ...more
In 1843, a minister is sent on a difficult mission to a remote Scottish island. Reverend John Ferguson, who is struggling to fund his church, agrees tIn 1843, a minister is sent on a difficult mission to a remote Scottish island. Reverend John Ferguson, who is struggling to fund his church, agrees to evict the sole resident of a windswept isle in return for sixteen precious pounds. He travels with a gun and a calotype of his wife Mary, who is very much against this perilous errand. And it doesn't begin well, with John falling of a cliff on arrival, almost dying in the process. He is nursed back to healthy by Ivar, the lonely fellow he's there to eject. Despite the language barrier between the two men, an unexpected friendship blossoms. Ivar teaches his guest the words to describe the rugged beauty he sees around him and John helps out with various chores. However, there is an unspoken tension as John realises he will have to bring up the uncomfortable subject of eviction sooner rather than later.
The story is told from the point of view of John, Mary and Ivar and we get a clear insight into the way all three are thinking. John is anxious, out of his comfort zone, but focussed on his religious goals. Mary is terrified for her husband and can't rest until she sees him again. Meanwhile Ivar, who has lived most of his life with only a horse for company, experiences feelings he never knew existed upon having another human being to talk to. Loneliness is a strong theme in the novel. Mary believed she would be single forever and made her peace with that until John came along, which is why she is so afraid of losing him. Ivar didn't know he was lonely until John arrived - how can he ever go back to the life he had before? Carys Davies writes in a spare yet evocative style, with striking descriptions of this wild and secluded place. If I have one criticism and I'll spoiler it just in case, (view spoiler)[(it's that the unexpected conflict never arises. And I can't believe that the resulting love triangle between the trio will work out well, so the end felt unresolved to me (hide spoiler)]. Still I enjoyed this lyrical and vivid tale. It's a short book, but it has a lot to say....more
I don't read a whole lot of science fiction, but this is one of those classics that I'd been meaning to get around to for a while. Set in a future rulI don't read a whole lot of science fiction, but this is one of those classics that I'd been meaning to get around to for a while. Set in a future ruled by an interstellar human government, it tells the story of a young man named Johnny Rico who rises through the military ranks while taking part in the Bug War against an alien species.
The novel has been criticized in some quarters for its glorification of the military and I see where that is coming from. It advocates strongly for discipline to address a perceived moral decline and promotes the idea that duty to humanity as a whole is paramount over self-interest.
I enjoyed the boot camp sections of the narrative most of all, with Johnny striving to impress the brutal Sergeant Zim and make it to graduation. The long classroom debates over philosophical and moral issues I could have done without.
It was later adapted into an entertaining movie by Paul Verhoeven, who reframed the story with more of a satirical edge. I didn't love the book and found the continuous military reverence over the top. But I'm glad I read it all the same and I can appreciate how influential it has been in science fiction since it was published....more
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