Thanks to the awards buzz of Luca Guadagnino's mesmerizing and beautifully composed film adaptation starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer, AndréThanks to the awards buzz of Luca Guadagnino's mesmerizing and beautifully composed film adaptation starring Timothée Chalamet and Armie Hammer, André Aciman's "Call Me By Your Name" has seen a signficant boost of attention for the public over the last year (at least I suddenly began to see copies of the novel on every shelf in every bookstore), and the number of conversations about it has only increased. The movie ended up being my first introduction to the story of Elio and Oliver, but I didn't wait long to immerse myself into the novel and learn more about these characters, and it turned out that while a few things may have worked better in the movie and a few things may have worked better in the novel, "Call Me By Your Name" has been written so beautifully and adapted into a cinematic medium so perfectly that both versions of the story balance each other out in their beauty and intimate sense of nostalgia.
I don't even know if that's a satisfying way to describe both the novel and the movie: there is something achingly and painfully slow about the writing; meaning that anyone not interested enough to care about the characters will probably have to face torment and agony during their attempt to get through "Call Me By Your Name". And yet, the prose is patient and hauntingly beautiful, to the extent that it was impossible to not fall in love with the writing style for me. The setting is used sublimely to create a unique and memorable atmosphere. I haven't ever read anything similar to it in terms of style and atmosphere; it has been compared to Alan Hollinghurst's The Swimming-Pool Library or Éric Rohmer's Pauline at the Beach, but honestly, nothing you have ever seen or read before could possibly prepare you for the stunning beauty of "Call Me By Your Name", no matter if you experience the cinematic adaptation or Aciman's fantastic novel first. If you haven't already been interested in picking up the book before reading my review, then I really don't know how to convince you anymore....more
Liane Moriarty's novel "Big Little Lies" has become a sensational bestseller of women's fiction in recent years, only supported by its critically acclLiane Moriarty's novel "Big Little Lies" has become a sensational bestseller of women's fiction in recent years, only supported by its critically acclaimed and immensely watchable HBO adaptation starring Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley and Laura Dern among others (which features a) some of the best casting choices and b) one of the best cast ensembles I've ever witnessed in a book-to-film/TV adaptation). It may have been a mistake for me to read the novel only after watching the TV show, but to be honest, the adaptation was so fantastic that reading about these people's lives only enhanced the experience of getting to know their respective personal stories.
"Big Little Lies" is absolutely addictive. If I hadn't already known the entire story, I probably would have turned page after page in one sitting alone, and even without this being the case, it didn't take long for me to finish the novel. The plot works brilliantly by using a very interesting formula: take the lives of several characters who appear to be so perfect and oh-so-normal from the outside, and throw them into a difficult situation in order to reveal their true characters by showing how they deal with the situations, and then reveal the dark secrets shadowing their seemingly perfect lives. It's a formula which could not have worked better, though one aspect certainly helped: the fact that the characters were so vibrant. We got to know every little shade of their souls, and even with the uncomfortable subjects which are placed at the heart of the story, it felt comforting to place oneself in their neighborhood and watch their conflict-disquieted lives unravel. Yes, it was certainly uncomfortable at times, but that was the entire point of the novel. It's the reason this book is so memorable and different in the first place. Self-centered people like the characters portrayed in Liane Moriarty's world live all around the planet. What the show did so great was to paint these women in such an interesting light that you could not help but root for them anyway.
I'm definitely checking out Liane Moriarty's other books....more
Now and then, you find a book that manages to enthrall you so deeply that you simply know you will return to it over and over again, perhaps to embracNow and then, you find a book that manages to enthrall you so deeply that you simply know you will return to it over and over again, perhaps to embrace the writing style, perhaps to meet these characters again or perhaps to simply let yourself be immersed by the wonderful atmosphere of that specific book.
Empire Falls is such a book. I loved every single page of this novel, even though I know there are readers who would rip this book apart, saying things like "nothing ever happens" or "where is the plot?" If you actually plan to read this novel, you have to be prepared to find a book which focuses on character development more than anything else. Richard Russo, the author of this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, concentrates mainly on the huge cast of characters he introduces and develops throughout these 500 pages, as well as building an atmosphere that will make you feel as if you have relocated to Empire Falls, Maine, this curious little town with its huge story.
It is difficult to explain the events in "Empire Falls", considering the huge amount of characters involved in this novel. We accompany our main character, Miles Roby, on an insightful journey through his life, but Russo also constantly delves into the minds of different characters by changing the point of view to another character. All the different narrative arcs find their centerpiece in Miles Roby, a middle-aged, divorced father who runs the Empire Grill, a greasy spoon diner. We meet his ex-wife Janine Roby, who has developed a rather selfish attitude since her divorce and whose main concerns are now her weight and her social status. Their smart daughter Tick is confronted with her own problems in school, where she meets John Voss, her awkward, introverted classmate. We meet Miles' younger brother David, a chief cook and former alcoholic; as well as their difficult father Max and their late mother Grace through a number of flashbacks; we meet Janine's arrogant fiancé Walt Comeau, police officer Jimmy Minty who holds a grudge against Miles, his son Zack who has once been involved with Tick; and of course Francine Whiting, the widow of the wealthiest man of Empire Falls who now owns half of the town - and particularly Miles.
Richard Russo introduces us to an enormous amount of other characters as well, making it appear that it is rather easy to lose track of who is actually who and which character has which characteristics. However, Russo always manages to introduce his characters in a very memorable way, with every single minor character contributing an important part to the story line. No person is introduced without a reason, and they are all developed in a very balanced way: Goodhearted Miles Roby also has his dark sides, but antagonists such as Zack and Jimmy Minty or Walt Comeau never appear as stereotypical villains. Russo spends a lot of time on creating realistic characters, and he does more than just succeed: He creates characters you are unlikely to ever forget.
“After all, what was the whole wide world but a place for people to yearn for their heart's impossible desires, for those desires to become entrenched in defiance of logic, plausibility, and even the passage of time, as eternal as polished marble. ”
For me personally, Russo's prose was thoughtful and memorable, but he also found the perfect balance between humor and seriousness. At times, you will not be able to stop laughing thanks to Russo's subtle humor. At other times, you will start wondering about subjects you never thought even existed. Even now, after having finished this book, I can open it on a random page and find a new aspect to think about. Of course it is possible to detect a plot in this novel, but it's not the most important thing; in its essence, "Empire Falls" can be called a social study, exploring a small town to its very core and delving deep into everyone's secrets without causing their stories to feel far-fetched or excessively melodramatic. All of these characters might well be your neighbors, that's how realistically Russo portrays them. He ultimately builds up to a thrilling climax, which leads everything to a satisfying ending which stays close to the core of the characters and the town.
Many relationships in this novel are defined by either resentment or kindness, but all of these relationships find themselves tested in the course of the book. Each character has to explore themes such as responsibility or, most importantly, humanity, which is essentially what the book is about in my opinion. What makes us human? What defines humanity? Can we call ourselves human in spite of all our sins?
The blurb of the edition I own describes the novel with "characters who will disarm you, a plot with as many twists and falls as the Knox River [the river which flows through Empire Falls] itself, and an ending that will make the hairs stand up on the back of your neck." I couldn't agree more. Even when I put this book aside, I could never resist returning to it in my thoughts. And let's take a moment to appreciate that beautiful cover (at least in the edition which I have linked my review to).
I should mention that perhaps I should hate this book rather than loving it; after all, I have not been able to motivate myself to read anything for about five weeks after finishing "Empire Falls" - I simply couldn't imagine to find something similarly good again. But this was only my personal experience, so if you intend to read this novel, don't get your expectations too high. Russo's prose is so simple and yet beautiful that I was constantly tempted to reread chapters immediately. In addition, Russo tends to create complex sentences and releases a lot of information embedded into his sentences upon his readers, which is why you will have to read every chapter very carefully in order to understand the characters' conflicts and the background stories.
“And there comes a time in your life when you realize that if you don't take the opportunity to be happy, you may never get another chance again.”
I can honestly say that Russo's novel changed my life to some extent (eben though I recognize how dramatic that sounds). His prose provides constant food for thoughts, he makes you overthink your own values and standards by pushing you towards questions like, "What would I do if I was in the same situation as this character?"
Many other reviewers have already praised this novel, so I don't think I was able to add anything else to what they already wrote, but I certainly hope that Richard Russo will continue to receive attention for the masterful novel he created. Though it should be mentioned that if you usually only read fantasy, sci-fi, thrillers or romance novels, you may not enjoy this very much. For readers of literary/adult/realistic fiction (or however this genre may be called), I'd call this novel a safe bet. You won't be disappointed.
* * * * * * *
If you are still interested, I am going to provide you with some further information on the TV mini-series which was closely adapted from Russo's novel in 2005.
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The show is capable of portraying a very similar atmosphere to the one depicted in the novel. The series shines with a stellar cast: Ed Harris, Helen Hunt, Paul Newman, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robin Wright, Joanne Woodward, Kate Burton, William Fichtner and Aidan Quinn. Over the course of 200 minutes, the series depicts every major event from the novel in a very similar fashion, and finds the correct balance between its own choices and the book's defaults. There is not much wrong with this series, except perhaps that - just like the novel itself - I did not want it to end once I started watching it.
You are immediately swept into the atmosphere of the story, and fabulous actors allow to instantly make all of these characters appear interesting. Paul Newman puts all his acting weight into his performance as Max Roby, a role very different from his iconic roles such as Butch Cassidy, Henry Gondorff or Cold Hand Luke. Ed Harris shines as Miles Roby, a role in which he is finally allowed to play more than just the antagonist (though Harris never fails to do so in a convincing manner) or the minor character his roles are often treated as in many movies. Robin Wright gracefully makes the role of Grace her own, though she still only presents us with small nuances of what she is actually capable of. Those three actors stood out in the most memorable way for me personally, but in the end, there was not a single performance which disappointed me.
Ultimately, I'd highly recommend watching this series ... if you have read the book. The series works well on its own, but it works even better after having read the book before....more
What would you do to gain eternal youth, to be beautiful and young and highly respected forever and ever? In the first instance, you should think longWhat would you do to gain eternal youth, to be beautiful and young and highly respected forever and ever? In the first instance, you should think long and longer about such a yearning, because in the end, it is not external beauty which counts ... it is the beauty of your soul. A lesson Dorian Gray has to learn in one of the most gruesome ways you could imagine.
"The Picture of Dorian Gray" is an absolute masterpiece, which is a compliment I rarely pay a book. Oscar Wilde can easily be considered to be a genius, which is why I included a few whole bunch of interesting quotes at the end of the review which provoke the reader to think about the story. The plot itself is probably well-known: the young man longing for eternal youth and paying a horrible price for his desires. In the context of modern literature, Wilde's novel is considered to be a classic and therefore often connected with long-winded plots lacking tension and pace. Both tension and pace are aspects you might be surprised to find in this novel. Not only is the writing eloquent and elegant, but also inciting you to continue reading page for page for page.
Authors like Charles Dickens or Alexandre Dumas come to mind when talking of elongated novels with a lot of details which only add to atmosphere, not to plot itself, and Oscar Wilde could certainly have followed their paths ... but he didn't. Instead, he was able to create atmosphere out of his plot elements, to create plot twists out of the novel's atmosphere, to draw breathing characters and let them decide where the story heads. And he did so on a comparatively small amount of pages; not a single word felt redundant or out of place.
It is nearly impossible to talk of this novel without revealing some of the plot elements (a lot of which surprised me out of nowhere and had me on the edge of my seat - it may be surprising to admit, but this classic novel was way more suspenseful than an Agatha Christie novel or a James Bond spy thriller - at least in comparison to those I have read). A lot of different characters were introduced during the course of the story: Basil Hallward, the painter of the portrait and infatuated with Dorian; Henry Wotton, an imperious aristocrat and friend of both Basil and Dorian; Sibyl Vane, a singer and actress Dorian falls in love with; James Vane, Sibyl's brother; and others among them. None of them appeared to be likeable (although I did feel sympathy for Basil), but they appeared to be realistic with their all too human longings and wrong decisions.
Here follows a compilation of quotes I bookmarked during my reading experience because of their interesting background, their depth or the simple beauty of their words: (And yes, I did bookmark nearly half the book.)
"[f]or there is only one thing in the world worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about."
"Because to influence a person is to give him one's own soul. He does not think his natural thoughts, or burn with his natural passions. His virtues are not real to him. His sins, if there are such things as sins, are borrowed. He becomes an echo of some one else's music, an actor of a part that has not been written for him. The aim of life is self-development. To realize one's nature perfectly - that is what each of us is here for."
"The only way to get rid of temptation is to yield to it."
"Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul."
"You know more than you think you know, just as you know less than you want to know."
"Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing."
"Young men want to be faithful, and are not; old men want to be faithless, and cannot."
"Experience was of no ethical value. It was merely the name men gave to their mistakes."
"We are not sent into the world to air our moral prejudices. I never take any notice of what common people say, and I never interfere with what charming people do. If a personality fascinates me, whatever mode of expression that personality selects is absolutely delightful to me."
"Pleasure is Nature's test, her sign of approval. When we are happy, we are always good, but when we are good, we are not always happy."
"[w]e live in an age when unnecessary things are our only necessities;"
"There is a luxury in self-reproach. When we blame ourselves, we feel that no one else has a right to blame us. It is the confession, not the priest, that gives us absolution."
"The more he knew, the more he desired to know. He had mad hungers that grew more ravenous as he fed them."
"[n]o theory of life seemed to him to be of any importance compared with life itself."
"Sin is a thing that writes itself across a man's face. It cannot be concealed."
"Scepticism is the beginning of faith."
"In the common world of fact the wicked were not punished, nor the good rewarded."
"As for omens, there is no such thing as an omen. Destiny does not send us heralds. She is too wise or too cruel for that."
"I have no terror of death. It is the coming of death that terrifies me. Its monstrous wings seem to wheel in the leaden air around me."
"Death is the only thing that ever terrifies me. I hate it." "Why?" said the younger man wearily. "Because," said Lord Henry, [...] "one can survive everything nowadays except that."
"The tragedy of old age is not that one is old, but that one is young."
Now that the film has been released to great reviews and I'm finally going to watch it tomorrow in a preview (because of course, the movies I am anticNow that the film has been released to great reviews and I'm finally going to watch it tomorrow in a preview (because of course, the movies I am anticipating the most are always released three months later in Germany than in other countries), I decided to revisit the book and realized once again what a great coming-of-age book this is. My original review didn't pay Becky Albertalli's book justice and was pretty badly-written anyway, so here is a little rewritten version of it.
The story is rather simple and if you have read a few reviews of the book or the film before, then you will probably know what it's about anyway. The book's main character, sixteen-year-old Simon Spier, is struggling to enter the world of adulthood with all the problems romance may bring into a teenager's life, and it's no 'typical' way of entering, because Simon is gay and has to decide about whether or not to come out to his friends, his family, his school colleagues. Becky Albertalli emphasizes the issue of coming out and raises an important question: If gay people have to come out, why don't straight people? Why shouldn't everyone have to come out, no matter which type of sexuality they identify with? Or let's put it another way: why should anyone have to come out? Why create such a big thing out of it, why not make it possible for people to say, "by the way, I like men" or "by the way, I like women" or "by the way, I like both genders" or all the other possible forms of sexuality?
I'll try to include a little personal back story now; if you aren't interested in that, don't continue reading. This book has shaped me a lot. It supported me during a period of some personal struggles, and even though at the time I didn't realize it yet, it helped me a lot during my process of coming out myself. Here in Germany, compared to other countries, coming out as gay isn't much of a problem anymore, at least it isn't in the urban parts of the country, but anywhere else, it's still pretty much an overlooked subject. A lot of people just don't give it a second thought, hang on to their preconceived belief that since gay people are different in one certain matter, they are worse human beings. Coming out still isn't simple. It may be for some people, but there are always exceptions in a positive as well as a negative direction. I believe that many people share the point of view that it's okay as long as they are not bothered by it, and that's part of the problem, in my opinion, especially in rural parts of the country. I don't care if people feel bothered by others, as long as they remain silent about it if they are not personally affected by the matter, but why are there so many people who can't accept that others are happy with the kind of life they're living? What I'm trying to say is, stories like "Love, Simon" are so incredibly important: they raise awareness of the subject, because even though it's always an argument that there are more important problems in the world and gay people already have enough rights, things just aren't that simple. Coming out simply isn't that simple. I learned that myself, and others may have had even more difficulties.
“But I'm tired of coming out. All I ever do is come out. I try not to change, but I keep changing, in all these tiny ways. I get a girlfriend. I have a beer. And every freaking time, I have to reintroduce myself to the universe all over again.”
“I mean, I feel secure in my masculinity, too. Being secure in your masculinity isn't the same as being straight.”
“It is definitely annoying that straight (and white, for that matter) is the default, and that the only people who have to think about their identity are the ones who don't fit that mold. Straight people really should have to come out, and the more awkward it is, the better. Awkwardness should be a requirement.”
(I totally agree with that last quote; awkwardness is basically the one part of coming out which is constantly accompanying you.)
This book made me incredibly happy when I read it. Is it the most realistic story? No. But it's a feel-good story the LGBT community really needed, and everytime I think about it, I still find myself smiling, even though it has been more than two and a half years since I first read it.
Because, in its very own way, this book was perfect....more
Yep, Tana French has succeeded in doing it yet again - writing a fantastic book which kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first to the very lYep, Tana French has succeeded in doing it yet again - writing a fantastic book which kept me on the edge of my seat from the very first to the very last page.
After finishing a book, I usually juxtapose four important elements before deciding on a specific rating: The characterization, the plot, the writing and the atmosphere. Almost never do I feel like all four of those elements have been realized to perfection by the author (as much as I hate to consider something as 'perfect'), but The Likenessis one of those books. I have nothing to criticize here at all. If you know my reviews, you know that this happens almost never, so consider this review to be a huge recommendation for Tana French's amazing mystery series.
→ The Plot Set after In the Woods, the first book in the Dublin Murder Squad series, this book focuses on detective Cassie Maddox, who was the best friend of Rob Ryan, the narrator of the first book. Told through her first-person point of view, The Likeness opens with the corpse of a woman called Lexie Madison being found who looks exactly like Cassie. Cassie's own past is soon going to be involved as Lexie Madison was an alias Cassie has used in an undercover investigation some years ago. In order to discover who has brutally murdered Lexie Madison, Cassie slips into the role of her doppelganger and takes over her life to find out as much as possible about the four mysterious friends Lexie lived with. At that moment, Cassie knows that she has entered a dangerous game, but she wouldn't think that this game turns out to change her life forever. As unlikely and randomly as this book's premise sounds, it immediately caught my interest and had me engaged until I turned to the last page. Twists and turns appeared around every corner, yet the book remained calm and never rushed, allowed me to sympathize with each and every one of the characters involved. The plot is so complex that it is impossible to read this book en passant - and quite a few readers seemed to criticize the premise, not without reason. How likely is it to find a doppelganger you have never met before and to be able to take over his life without anyone noticing? It is not like this happens all the time. But then, fantasy novels are just as unbelievable because they also play with the reader's imagination. For me, authenticity doesn't emerge out of the likelihood of certain scenarios, but out of the author's ability to make me believe what happened, to make me feel like this could have happened in reality. And Tana French did make me believe.
→ The Characters We have eight main characters in this book, every one of them interesting and complex in their own right. Cassie Maddox' boyfriend Sam O'Neill who struggles with accepting Cassie's undercover role; her wayward and demanding, yet clever superior Frank Mackey; the killed Lexie who has been fully fleshed out as a character in the course of the novel (something I admire the author for); and Lexie's four friends - Abby, Rafe, Justin and Daniel -, maybe the most important addition to the cast of characters in this novel. Living in an old house full of tradition, those four friends were connected by their pasts and their social strugglings, each of them accompanied by their own secrets. As mysterious as they appear to be in the beginning, Tana French presses every button to develop believable, interesting characters out of all of them, so much that at one point I didn't want this book to end anymore.
→ The Writing Tana French is an amazing writer, I never doubted that after In the Woods, but with this book, she totally convinced me that her thrillers are no ordinary thrillers. They could, in my opinion, be classified as great literature, considering her talents to approach her characters and introduce and develop them with so much depth. Perhaps the most significant topic this novel deals with is the struggles Cassie endures while slipping into Lexie's life. Where does the Cassie's character end, and where does Lexie's character begin? A question Cassie has to face when she realizes how interesting Lexie's life was in comparison to her own, how easy it is to be Lexie, how endearing her friendships to Abby, Rafe, Justin and Daniel are. But that is not everything this novel is composed of. Prominently referred to is the Irish history, a past which surely could not turn into a motivation for brutality and violence - or could it? Tana French does not back away from exploring themes like loneliness, isolation, obsession, identity struggles and suppression. And all of those themes are interconnected in such an entertaining way that I was fascinated by it with every new page.
→ The Atmosphere Set in a little village in Ireland, the book introduces us to a rather dark atmosphere, with the mysterious house gaining center stage soon. Tana French seems to like letting her characters wander off into the forest in the darkness of night, even more frequently here than in In the Woods. This book is not as spine-tingling as the first novel in the series, partly because it is rather slow-paced without ever becoming boring, but you can still expect some unsettling and disturbing moments which will leave you questioning the extent of humanity. The book itself is quite long (466 pages according to Goodreads, but my Hardcover edition was 778 pages long). It is true that some parts of it could have been shortened. But sometimes my reading soul is overpowered by guilty pleasure, and that's exactly why I didn't mind the length and didn't even want this novel to end.
Faithful Place, make an effort. My expectations are high.
In the end, I'd like to mention that this book spoils some of the events of In the Woods. While The Likeness could be read on its own, I recommend beginning with the first book to be able to capture the interesting character development and a lot of references made in this novel.
A book about transformation, about human failure, about victims turning to perpetrators and culprits becoming victims. As disturbing as parts of it were ... I loved every single moment of it....more
I wasn’t prepared for this book to end. Although I kept telling myself I should read more slowly in order to absorb the astonishing beauty of John WilI wasn’t prepared for this book to end. Although I kept telling myself I should read more slowly in order to absorb the astonishing beauty of John William’s writing style, the pages flew past, William Stoner managed to smooth his way into my heart as one of the most moving characters I’ve ever encountered, and the book’s simple structure continued to impress me with every new sentence.
„Stoner“ deals with the main character William Stoner's path of life, leading from his first day on earth to his very last one. (His death cannot be considered to be a spoiler, as the book is written from retrospective and establishes Stoner’s fate during the second sentence.) Stoner is an insignificant character who wouldn’t be remembered today for any of his achievements, had this story been true. His life equals many other people’s lives, dealing with love, death, misfortune and struggling. All in all, Stoner’s life is boring. People usually aren’t interested in reading books about characters like him, living a life without anything extraordinary happening. Stoner is born, grows up, has several experiences, sad and joyous alike – and dies. This could be the end of the story. It isn’t for me. Stoner will continue to accompany me even after reading the novel, he managed to shape my opinions of humanity, and he eventually became a character I took to my heart. The sheer simpleness of his life impressed me, the way Stoner dealt with specific things and struggled his way through his life, escorted by all his flaws and failures. I’ve read this in other reviews as well and can only repeat it: Stoner stunned me.
This book represents a profound and in-depth analysis of an unhappy man’s life. Don’t expect to find tension in Williams‘ work. Don’t expect to find an arc of suspense, and you won’t be disappointed. Stoner’s story is one you have to get into, and some people might not succeed in the attempt to do so, but once you’ve allowed Williams to enchant you with his wonderful writing style, you don’t want to get out of the story anymore. I definitely didn’t want to, and I probably felt with Stoner more than he felt with himself. He is a fascinating character, one I will forever keep in my mind as one of my favorite ones. Williams violates every existing „show, don’t tell“ principle, but I don’t mind: This book is amazing as it is. And it is impossible to choose some of my favorite quotes from this book, too unique is the beauty of its language.
„Stoner“ is not something I’d normally have chosen judging from the book’s blurb, yet I’m so glad I did give it a chance. I can’t wait to turn my attention towards „Butcher’s Crossing“, one of Williams‘ other works, soon.
* And if you still are not convinced, then just go to the book page and read some of the top reviews. There are actually also negative ones, but the reviews with five-star-ratings far outweigh those. And each of them is fascinating to read in its own right!...more
Who said Stephen King only wrote horror? "Different Seasons" is a mix of all the genres - Young Adult, Mystery, coming-of-age ... but no horror. If yoWho said Stephen King only wrote horror? "Different Seasons" is a mix of all the genres - Young Adult, Mystery, coming-of-age ... but no horror. If you want to read King at his finest, then read this.
"Different Seasons" is a collection of four novellas, each of which he has written after the conclusion of his four earliest novels. While initially not intending to publish any of them, King finally decided to release those novellas in an anthology, and many of his readers couldn't be more thankful for it. It is not without reason that this book has the second-highest rating average on Goodreads of all the sixty+ novels King has written so far.
1. Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption (5/5 stars) Perhaps most famous for the movie adaption starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, this is a story about hope and devastation, about freedom and imprisonment, about humanity and friendship. I have written a more extensive review of the novel right here. Nearly everyone has watched the movie ('everyone' excludes me, as so often), but even without knowing about how good the movie really is, this novella can be recommended whole-heartedly.
2. Apt Pupil (4,5/5 stars) What happens when you put two of the most unlikeable characters ever together and force them into interacting with each other? One of the most breathtaking stories ever. The subject is already interesting enough: A boy of the 1970's, Todd Bowden, gets into contact with Kurt Dussander, a wanted Nazi war criminal. Out of his interest in the Second World War, upon discovering a secret of Dussander's, Todd threatens Dussander and forces him to tell highly detailed stories about his crimes during the War. Time passes, and as Todd becomes older and turns into a teenager, the stories narrated by Dussander begin to cast long shadows on Todd's behaviour. The only aspect to be critized of this novella might be the very rushed ending, but apart from that, King enthrallingly managed to make his reader sympathize with two vile characters with motifs and thoughts as dark as night. While sometimes a little bit slow in comparison to his other fast-moving novellas in this anthology, some breathtaking scenes have been included and certainly allow this to be one of the more moving and memorable stories.
3. The Body (6/5 stars) My favorite story of the entire anthology, and perhaps one of my favorite stories of all time. After reading it during the course of two hours, I was left flabbergasted, enthusiastic and perturbed alike. King masterfully delved into the psyches of four young boys who are entering an adventure and have to overcome several obstacles. The movie adaption "Stand By Me" is critically acclaimed wherever you are looking, with all of the four child actors delivering amazing performances. (Yay, there's a movie I've actually seen!) The short story remains my favorite in comparison to the movie though, maybe because I've read it first and was so stunned by the characters. I can only recommend you not wasting your time with reading this review anymore and instead running to read this.
4. The Breathing Method: (3/5 stars) Many claim this story to be their least favorite one out of the entire collection, and I can only agree with what they say. Sometimes 'great potential' does not equal 'great story', and although this story included a disturbing scene which might actually be classified as horror, on the whole it was too short and unexplored. It is a shame that Mr. King established such an interesting mystery here and did not bother to dissolve it in the ending. However, it was an interesting story about a middle-aged lawyer attending a mysterious club where people tell differing stories ... with one of them proving to be very different from the usual kind of stories. It feels like this was not meant to be included in this collection and should rather have been in one of his other anthologies. Maybe its length shortness was the reason for not being as profound as the other three novellas.
In conclusion, "Different Seasons" earns full five stars. Apart from some minor weaknesses, this collection was as enthralling as it was thought-provoking. The stories are not about horror. They (read: 'the first three stories') are about what could happen to people in real life. They are about fates. They are about humans. They are about growing-up. They are about life. Life in its darkest and least desirable shapes ... but they are about life.
And even thinking about the eventuality that those stories might have happened exactly the way they have been told by King makes me shiver more than any of his horror novels....more
Everyone has probably either watched one of the multiple adaptions of Mary Shelley's novel or at least heard about the monster created by Victor FrankEveryone has probably either watched one of the multiple adaptions of Mary Shelley's novel or at least heard about the monster created by Victor Frankenstein, but if you haven't read the book itself, then you probably don't know the story at all. The premise itself is rather simple; a young scientist called Victor Frankenstein creates a murderous creature from stolen body parts and has to deal with the harrowing results as the monster unleashes terror and revenge upon its creator. This sounds like a combination of horror and science fiction, which this novel essentially is, but ultimately, human emotions are the profound factor and the very heart of the book which keep the story flowing.
Among the thousands of Goodreads reviews for this book, you will find enough hate for Frankenstein to keep you busy for a while if you really want to read all those one-star-reviews, but if I can give you some advice ... read this book instead. It isn't nearly as long as some of those huge intimidating classics by Dickens, Dumas, Hugo and the like, it is gorgeously written (although a lot of people may disagree here), and you will find more tension in this classic which was written almost 200 years ago than in some thrillers from our time.
"Nothing is so painful to the human mind as a great and sudden change."
"Of what a strange nature is knowledge! It clings to the mind when it has once seized on it like a lichen on the rock."
Going into the experience of reading this book, I wouldn't have expected to find such a richness of vibrant characters, completely different settings ranging from a university in Ingolstadt, Germany up to the extents of the North Pole, and, most importantly, such beautiful writing. The masterful style Shelley applied while writing this book kept me hooked to the story and made me turn pages even if the story sometimes may have stretched out (which it didn't, at least for most of the time). And let's not forget that she wrote the novel at the age of eighteen. Readers seem to criticize her lack of compassion and comprehension for the nature of men, but in the end, every person is different, and what matters is that among the scope of this story, all the characters were believable and worked for me.
And when I say all the characters, then I include the monster Frankenstein created. In fact, this hideous creature, murderous and full of revenge and bitterness, is one of the best-developed villains ever created in literature (and my favorite character from this novel). Judging from looks and appearance, the creature is a monster, the personification of evil, but looking behind the shell, what appears is a lonely human being longing for affection and, ultimately, love. Isn't that what humanity is, at its very essence, about? The reasons for the creature's deeds were so believable and well-explained that I couldn't help but feel sorry for his experiences and hope for a happier life (even though I knew the ending and that it is anything but happy). In the end, physical appearance has nothing to do with the humanity of the character behind those looks. It's not physical beauty which makes you human, it's the beauty of the soul.
Which leads us to Victor Frankenstein, the creator of the monster, the man who played god with science and corpses and then decided not to accept the responsibility he loaded upon himself. You cannot breathe life into a being only to abandon it, disrespect its struggles to enter this world and then later complain about the being's quest for revenge motivated by the way Victor fathered him without teaching him how to live. Appearing innocent and unable to overcome the step between childhood and adolescence, Frankenstein himself should be called a monster, as it is nothing but a monstrous deed to create life and expect the knowledge of how to live will arise from nothing.
I know how many people hated this book, but I don't feel ashamed at all for considering it to be one of the finest pieces ever written and counting it as one of my all-time favorites. To everyone who hasn't read this classic yet, I can recommend experiencing its beauty on your own - and going into it as excited for the story as you would with a mystery novel written in the present days, not expecting to find a boring and dragging classic (which it definitely isn't)....more
I still remember my first contact with Enid Blyton as a young boy. I knew my father had read her Famous Five books in his youth, but only when I was eI still remember my first contact with Enid Blyton as a young boy. I knew my father had read her Famous Five books in his youth, but only when I was eight years old did I finally discover the Adventure series. Those books are not as famous as they deserve to be; the most-rated one of those books has not even 3,000 ratings on Goodreads. And yet ... they will always have a special place in my heart. From an objective point of view they only deserve to receive a four-star-rating because they aren't as perfect as other children's adventure books might be, but what defines perfection in the eyes of a child?
If only for the reason of nostalgia, I can't rate these eight books any lower. They have a special place in my reading heart and on my book shelves, even though each of them was devoured over and over throughout the years and is not even close to being in a good condition anymore.
The Adventure series follows four kids between 11 and 14 years old, siblings Philip and Dinah as well as siblings Lucy-Ann and Jack, accompanied by their good friend Bill Cunningham, an inspector of the secret service force, and Jack's beloved parrot Kiki. Philip has a strange ability to make every animal feel connected to him; thus we meet a shy monkey, foxes, circus bears, mouses, even snakes. Of course, his sister Dinah hates everything that crawls, and while Jack loves to go on adventures of his own, Lucy constantly fears for her brother's safety. Yet at heart, those four children are connected by a deep friendship, and even in spite of their regular jousting, they always reconnect again when it comes to experiencing a new adventure with their friend Bill.
And they don't just go through simple adventures - they experience more than others could even dream of in a lifetime; they manage to end up stranded on an isolated island, imprisoned in an old mine, involved in a hunt for a treasure on a Greek island, uncovering a dark secret in an ancient castle, landing in an uninhabited valley, getting into danger on a river trip in Africa, uncovering the secrets of a mountain - getting into trouble all the time. Who would not have loved books like these as a child? I certainly did, and I know that if there is one series I will forever hold dear, then it is Enid Blyton's.
If anyone is interested in the order of the books, here they are listed, my short summaries added subsequently:
1. The Island of Adventure: In this novel, Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann and Jack meet each other for the first time on a holiday in an old house in Cornwall. Everything seems to be perfect when Lucy and Jack are allowed to live with their friends for the rest of the holiday - until they begin to realize that some strange things are going on at this mysterious island close to the coast. Soon, they plunge into a dangerous adventure when they discover that the abandoned copper mines and secret tunnels are not quite as abandoned as they might have thought. Their first adventure and perhaps their most remarkable one full of memorable scenes. 4,5/5 stars.
2. The Castle of Adventure: Another holiday leads the four friends to a small little town in the country, with an old castle catching their interest. Despite the locals' warnings, they decide to investigate after seeing flashing lights in one of the castle's towers. The creepiest book of them all, which gave me nightmares at the age of eight. Yet also one of my personal favorites. 5/5 stars.
3. The Valley of Adventure: The four friends are allowed to enter on a night flight with their friend Bill - pure excitement for them all. Until they discover that they mistakenly entered the wrong plane and were flying straight into an amazing adventure when they find themselves searching for a secret treasure hidden in the lonely valley where they land. My absolute favorite. The setting is awesomely described, with the waterfall and the caves being the paradise of my childhood. 5/5 stars.
4. The Sea of Adventure: Bill takes the four friends on a mysterious trip to the northern isles, making up for a great adventure - because then Bill is kidnapped and the children, marooned far from the mainland, find themselves playing a dangerous game of hide-and-seek with an unknown enemy. Beautiful setting with the lonely islands, and still full of funny scenes. 4/5 stars.
5. Mountain of Adventure: A peaceful vacation in the Welsh mountains seems sure to keep the children out of trouble, but the mystery of a rumbling mountain soon has them thirsty for more adventure. Philip, Dinah, Lucy-Ann, and Jack are determined to explore the mountain and uncover its secret, but first they must escape from a pack of ravenous wolves and a mad genius who plans to rule the world! To be honest, I don't remember a lot about this book, as I lost it as a child and only read a library copy. But what remained in my mind was just as fantastic as the contents of the other books. 3,5/5 stars.
6. The Ship of Adventure: A voyage on a cruise ship with Mrs. Mannering (Philip and Dinah's mother) turns out to be an exciting quest for a lost treasure when the four friends, accompanied by the cutest monkey ever, discover a ship in a bottle and soon hunt for a lost treasure with some ruthless villains hot on their trails. Full of exciting descriptions of an island I spent a lot of weeks during my childhood on, this was the book which introduced me to the series, and if only for the perfect descriptions of the cruise ship, the Greek island and the monkey, this will forever be one of my favorite books. 4,5/5 stars.
7. The Castle of Adventure: The four friends are not very enthusiastic when the strange, wimpish Gustavus has to accompany them on their holiday, but when Gustavus is revealed not to be who they thought he was, they are thrown into a complex plot full of adventures in a faraway country. Not my favorite book, especially as I didn't like the circus setting, but maybe it was only my childish mind which thought so. 3,5/5 stars.
8. The River of Adventure: A river cruise in Africa ends up being their last adventure when Bill disappears and the children, along with Kiki the parrot, are trapped beneath a forgotten temple. I remember struggling with this book, but maybe it was only the knowledge that it was the last Adventure book. 3,5/5 stars.
Whole-heartedly recommended for readers of children's adventure novels....more
Rarely does it happen to me that I read a book which actually causes me to tear up to some extent and which I can't stop thinking about even months afRarely does it happen to me that I read a book which actually causes me to tear up to some extent and which I can't stop thinking about even months after turning the last page. You mightshould have heard about the movie adaption starring Tom Hanks and the late Michael Clarke Duncan (may he rest in peace), and if you haven't considered watching it yet, then please don't hesitate to do so for even one moment. The Green Mile is easily one of my favorite movies of all time, and to be completely honest, I had certain doubts about whether the Stephen King novel it was actually adapted from would be capable of causing the same range of emotions in me as the movie did.
And oh, how it succeeded with doing that.
First off, allow me to mention something about my love-hate-relationship with Stephen King. During the 80's, he built up for himself a reputation as being one of the major horror writers of his time, but few people actually know about the few touching, emotionally affecting stories he can be called responsible for - let me just mention Stand By Me and Shawshank Redemption, both of which are beautiful movies actually based on a less famous work by Stephen King. I am the first one to admit that King has a capability to write novels you will have a lot of troubles with if you expect to find stories with literary worth. But books like The Green Mile are what I love this author for.
[image] For those who are unfamiliar with the story, The Green Mile is the nickname for the death row at Cold Mountain Penitentiary, a prison in Louisiana. During the 1930s, our protagonist Paul Edgecomb receives John Coffey into his custody as supervisor of the death row. Coffey turns out to be physically intimidating, but mentally challenged. How could a man like him, a man who is afraid if the lights are not kept on during the night, have been capable of murdering two innocent girls? Trust me, this is not a story about Coffey's guilt or innocence, however. What King confronts us with is a character-driven story about the daily events on the death row, raising moral and ethic questions along the way, allowing us to care about the small amount of characters he presented to us. Untypically for King's novels, we only meet a few characters, but even those of minor importance to the story are drawn out in such a fascinating way that it becomes difficult to resist caring for all of them.
Originally, King published this book in six different installments before releasing the six parts altogether in this novel. Each of those six parts focuses on different elements to the story, with all these parts interfering with each other along the way and finally weaving together a convincing picture of a prison in the 30's. Is this book only about life in prison, however? No, it isn't - by far it isn't. In a frame story, King introduces us to the older Paul Edgecomb who revisits the events on the Green Mile in an attempt to write down his story before his memory can begin to fade away. King starts off each of the six installments of the story by including more insight on the story of Paul's older self, until he finally manages to masterfully create the illusion of two deeply connected plots.
Supernatural elements are a minor part of the story, though - as skeptical as I usually am about stories involving magical realism - its inclusion mainly just allowed to emphasize the beauty of the story.
[image] "Coffey like the drink, only not spelled the same way." Coffey is introduced as a simple-minded man who is not capable of even understanding what he is accused of, and Paul Edgecomb realizes this - just like he realizes that there is more to the character of John Coffey than just the accusation of having raped and murdered two girls. The cast of characters in this novel is truly convincing - we meet Brutus "Brutal" Howell, Eduard Delacroix with his beloved pet mouse Mr. Jingles, and of course Percy Wetmore. If you haven't met Percy yet, you just have to know that there are actually polls circling around the internet asking whether Hannibal Lecter or Percy Wetmore is the most evil antagonist ever to be introduced in a novel/movie. And Percy actually has more than just a few votes.
[image] Talking about Mr. Jingles, I will miss him. Oh, how I will miss him.
In the end, this story manages more than just to raise questions. It turned me into a pile of emotions, ranging from nostalgia over grief up to relief - but mostly nostalgia. The last pages included some of the best writing I have ever encountered and yes, I will gladly admit that both the movie and the book made me cry, and I don't find it difficult to believe that they will continue to make me do so in future. Because out of all the movies I have seen and the books I have read, The Green Mile in both its book and its movie version is a story I am going to revisit over and over.
If you have only seen the movie, then please don't fear reading the book because even though it is a completely different experience due to a few minor changes and, obviously, a huge distinction in its narrative, the book doesn't fail to convince even after having watched the movie. And if you have only read the book - then what are you waiting for? The Green Mile is, in my opinion, one of the best book-to-movie adaptions which have ever entered the big screen.
A beautiful, touching book which I am never going to forget.
Buddy Read with Anne who I have to truly thank for continuously encouraging me to keep up reading!...more
It is impossible to even attempt to record the number of crime/mystery/thriller novels out there, and nearly all of them follow a similar pattern - soIt is impossible to even attempt to record the number of crime/mystery/thriller novels out there, and nearly all of them follow a similar pattern - something horrible happens, maybe an assault, maybe a rape, maybe a murder, and relatives/(police) detectives/whoever have to solve the mystery. This procedure has been applied thousands of times, and although exceptions to the usual pattern can, of course, always be found within the genre, they are rarely to be discovered.
But then there are books like "In the Woods". Tana French's debut novel starts off with a murder investigation, and it is actually one of those mentioned mystery novels. Someone dies, and two police detectives - Rob Ryan and Cassie Maddox - have to solve the case. But it is so much more than that. Over the course of 700 pages *, "In the Woods" deals with human abysses, tortured minds and souls, deep memories and all too human fears. Tana French immediately captured me with her beautiful writing style and allowed me to enter a world full of treachery, hate ... and love. But it wasn't sad all the time. The author managed to include loosening and exhilarating scenes now and then, and then there was also the great relation between Rob and Cassie, two friends full of trust and closeness to each other, and you know immediately that it is only friendship which exists between the two of them. But what a fascinating friendship it is.
Although I can understand why people complain about the ending, this book was so intense, so sad, so funny, so mysterious and so thrilling, with some of the most realistic and interesting characters I've ever encountered in the thriller genre, that I will excuse her choices - just like in real life, not everything can ever truly be elucidated. The tension was not created out of action scenes, horrendous incidents or thrilling passages (which is why it might have dragged on for some parts of the story). No, the tension was created by psychological torture, by letting you feel empathy for Rob and just want to embrace him. Rob wasn't the perfect likeable character; he made more than one, more than ten, more than hundred mistakes, but doesn't everybody make mistakes? This much is certain: Tana French succeeded with making Rob one of my all-time favorite characters, but she succeeded even more with making me want to read more about the Dublin Murder Squad.
* I've read the German translation in the Hardcover format, which was 330 pages longer than the number of pages Goodreads mentions for the English original. The book definitely did not feel as long as 700 pages, but it was still such a heavy edition that you could probably commit murder with it....more
If each story should introduce or implicate a message, this is one of the very matching examples how it is supposed to be done. While Orwell is not neIf each story should introduce or implicate a message, this is one of the very matching examples how it is supposed to be done. While Orwell is not necessarily subtle about the allegory's significance - even without any historical background, any reader shall be able to understand what Orwell meant to emphasize -, he did it on an impressive literary level. It is definitely worth a read, even for someone just looking out for personal enjoyment rather than a profound message behind the story, since the animals are also portrayed as their own characters (even if some of them may appear very clichéd, e.g. Mollie, the foolish, pretty white mare, or Boxer, the animalised working class representative merely able to work hard rather than think about what or why he is doing) and have their very own interesting character traits.
I understand why this was initially banned by the Soviet Union and is still banned today by a lot of countries, two of the most significant examples being North Korea and Iran. It implies an unspoken criticism about absolute leadership, resonating in every single line during the course of the story. The story was well-developed, lead to its very own climax ((view spoiler)[which was no resolution to the fundamental problem, something that could only be true to the author's intention (hide spoiler)]) and established an intriguing atmosphere with all the versatile aspects which could be investigated about the farm's animals. The windmill's construction was the plot's thinnest section, as the author struggled to explain how exactly it could have been build by animals.
The writing was very clever, didn't include a lot of dialogue, yet explained this fact among with the illiteracy of most of the animals, and while it is not exactly something which could be considered to be the best novel ever written, it is still stunning in its own right. As much as it earns a five-star-writing, it has deserved to be read by everyone, especially inhabitants from the countries banning this lecture....more
Could John Williams' first novel, widely regarded as the counterpart to the famous Stoner, have left a more striking impression? I highly doubt so, anCould John Williams' first novel, widely regarded as the counterpart to the famous Stoner, have left a more striking impression? I highly doubt so, and if only for its memorable, brutal honesty, Butcher's Crossing has earned a place among my all-time favorites. John Williams is no very well-known author, and most people connect him only to Stoner, yet in my opinion, this underrated novel is, from a general point of view, his true masterpiece.
Butcher's Crossing focuses on Harvard student Will Andrews who heads west in the 1870's and finally arrives in the small Kansas town of Butcher's Crossing, where most of the people make their money by hunting buffaloes and trading their skins. In his restless state, Andrews longs for being confronted with the possibilities this world has yet to offer him, longs for discovering who he really is, and even though it does not appear to be his wisest decision, he decides to leave for a valley in the Colorado Rockies which is said to be home to thousands of buffaloes - getting all their skins could be a business deal with unbelievably positive consequences for his prosperity. Finally, among with three peculiar men - experienced leader Miller, one-handed and drinking Charley Hoge, and professional skinner Schneider -, Andrews embarks on his journey into the wilderness of the American landscape, entering a hunting which could have been imagined to be easier than it actually turned out to be.
Those four characters could not have been any more different. Miller takes over the typical leader figure, establishing his decisions without taking care of the advice others give him - and yet everyone has to rely on what he has to say, because Miller is the only person who really knows this landscape. Then there is Schneider, experienced and professional, but not shy when it comes to being honest about his reluctance to accept Miller's decisions. Charley Hoge represents a lower level of education, a man reminiscent of Lennie Small from John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men in his need to rely on other human beings. And on the other hand, there is Will Andrews, a man who has never known anything but the fast-growing city of Boston and who now discovers not only the beauty of the American outback, but also its dangers. Four men who are earmarked by their contradicting personalities and their difficult relationships to each other.
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In the 16th century, rougly 25-30 million buffaloes had been living in North America. At the end of the 19th century, only a few hundred of them were left scattered and critically endangered. This book focuses largely on the men's quest of hunting down those remaining buffaloes to get their hands on as much money as they could get from this business deal. Their main intention consists of killing those buffaloes and enriching themselves without even thinking about what this could do to the population of the animals. From a modern point of view, (still not enough) people are smarter about the fact that animals should never be allowed to be hunted down to extinction, but especially in this time period, animals were looked at as a way to earn money, and nothing else. This becomes even clearer as the author sheds light on Miller's attempts to understand the behaviour of the buffaloes; Miller fails miserably. Personally, I rooted for all those five thousand buffaloes to survive the hunting, but as stated in the introduction, John Williams is brutally honest about how it could have happened in this time period, and brutally honest can be equated with 'readers who don't like to read about dying animals should avoid this book'.
Ultimately, Butcher's Crossing is a parable about what greed can do to a human nature, and one famous saying is part of this novel more than anything else: ,,It takes a lifetime to build something and only five seconds to lose it.`` This book is full of emotions. Even though the omniscient narrator never really looks inside the head of any of the characters, he does make you feel connected with them, he makes you feel the pain they are going through, the happiness they are allowed to feel, the devastation which comes upon them crawling like a beetle through the bush. He makes you know that something is off, makes you feel the upcoming turn of events, but when the turning point finally appears, it hits you in the stomach as unexpectedly as imaginable. This book is slow-building and full of long-winded descriptions, yet John Williams never allows his novel to get boring, always awaiting you with the next sensation to keep your eyes fixed on that page, wondering in disbelief whether nature could actually be as cruel as it is depicted here.
If there is one thing I felt after reading this novel, then it was the realism behind it all. This book is historical fiction and John Williams was not even born until fifty years after the time this novel is set in; however, his words manage to make you believe that this could just as easily have been a nonfictional account of the terrifying events in the American wilderness. A single point of criticism can be found in the way the author never really gets into the mind of his main protagonist Will Andrews, who appears to be rather soulless in comparison to William Stoner from his novel counterpart, but apart from that, Williams shines with brilliant descriptions of an enthralling, brutal and unpredictable landscape as well as the straightforward, but beautiful language I was already well familiar with after reading Stoner.
Many readers consider this book to be the counterpart to Stoner, as Butcher's Crossing basically consists of an account of a man's personal and physical transformation from the well-educated Harvard student into the hardened hunter of the mid-American wilderness, while Stoner focuses on a man's transformation from a farmer boy into the well-esteemed university teacher. But ultimately, both novels are strong enough to be looked at independently, and even though it might not be appropriate for all readers because of the huge amount of animals being killed, it can be recommended for those who enjoyed Stoner and are interested in realistic Western novels.
So far, my unsurpassed favorite of all the novels I read this year, and besides a novel which is incredibly underrated....more
"The Ship of Adventure" has been the first one of Enid Blyton's books I read and has easily kept me interested in the other ones as well when I've sti"The Ship of Adventure" has been the first one of Enid Blyton's books I read and has easily kept me interested in the other ones as well when I've still been a little child reading about adventures and great mysteries leading to happy-ends. I know this series will always have a special place in my heart, as it is the first one I ever started to read, but this book seems kind of outstanding in comparison to the other novels. The cruise was used to create an interesting atmosphere, and I remember I caught myself falling in love with young monkey Mickey and his special bond to Philip. The greek island landscape has included a wonderful setting Enid Blyton could not have chosen better to let the story culminate in its turning point. The book is still written for children, which is why the language is kept comparatively simple. The characters of the four children are only allowed to.have some major attributes rather than being more full-layered, but they are still very likeable, and the book absolutely succeeds in its attempt to create an intriguing story....more
Although “Jasper Jones” easily reaches its position among the Top 10 of my all-time-favourite books, I have delayed writing this review for such a lonAlthough “Jasper Jones” easily reaches its position among the Top 10 of my all-time-favourite books, I have delayed writing this review for such a long time that there’s no way for me to find a new alibi once again. Craig Silvey has earned each praise he could possibly receive, for he has managed to take his reader on a journey as complex and thrilling as only a few authors are usually able to. At least in my case.
The novel focuses on different, yet convincingly established subjects like discrimination and racism, social marginalization and unlikely friendships, all of them woven into the context of a ruthlessly conducted murder. Supported by the excellent description of a small town setting in the Australian Outback of the mid-60s, all those aspects are depicted with an unexpected realism, helping the reader to delve deeper into the story. From a general point of view, the plotlines are cheerless and bleak, yet Craig Silvey manages to make the reader feel comfortable with the setting he created, the realistic characters he introduced and the story he so perfectly outlined.
Of course, even the best book has some flaws, some things to be missed. For example, there was a LOT of cricket in this book. And if I say a lot, I mean a good deal more than that. The author even included a five-pages-long cricket glossary at the end of the book due to several terms anyone not or only slightly interested in cricket would not have understood otherwise. It was distracting to have to look up all those terms every time they were mentioned, and they were mentioned quite often. But don’t think this is a book about cricket. The sport aspects are very interestingly included into the story, bringing several characters together on one huge occasion and creating momentous conflicts with essential consequences.
The book had many things to enjoy. There was Jeffrey Lu, a Vietnamese immigrant and the protagonist’s best friend, there were some thrilling trips into the Australian outback, a creepy description of the protagonists finding a dead body, the realistic portrayal of severe and struggling parents, and a matching ending. I have to admit, it’s probably a book which is not going to be liked by everyone. You might love it, or you might hate it, but it’s so worth the read, though.
The coolest thing about it all: I actually caught myself complaining about the hot temperatures, reading of how Chuck and all the other characters had to sweat. In January. Yes. I complained about hot temperatures in January, because of a story set during a summer in Australia. Now say something about the atmosphere not being well-established.
Finally, I’ll include two quotes which might (or might not) make you realize how well the author was able to find words for what he wanted to describe, and will end this review with a huge recommendation for everyone who’s interested in a lovely book dealing with important subjects and interesting, breathing characters.
“I don't understand a thing about this world: about people, and why they do the things they do. The more I find out, the more I uncover, the more I know, the less I understand.”
“There’s no such thing as God, Charlie, at least not how they say. Just like there’s no such thing as Zeus or Apollo or bloody unicorns. You’re on your own. And that can make you feel either lonely or powerful. When you’re born, you wither luck out or you don’t. It’s a lottery. Tough shit or good on yer. But from there, it’s all up to you… soon as you can walk and talk, you start makin your own luck. And I don’t need some spirit in the sky to help me do that. I can do it on me own. But see, that’s what I reckon God really is, Charlie. It’s that part inside me that’s stronger and harder than anything else. And I reckon prayer is just trusting in it, having faith in it, just asking meself to be tough. And that’s all you can do. I don’t need a bunch of bullshit stories about towers and boats and floods or rules about sin. It’s all just a complicated way to get to that place in you, and it’s not honest either. I don’t need to trick meself into thinking anyone else is listenin’, or even cares. Because it doesn’t matter. I matter. And I know I’ll be alright. Because I got a good heart, and fuck this town for making me try and believe otherwise. It’s what you come with and what you leave with. And that’s all I got.”
Oh, I have to reread this sooner than soon....more
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