One of my all-time favourite films, Nick Hornby's 1998 novel About a Boy is a book that I'm pretty sure could be read in a day. It's fast-paced, lively, amusing and interesting, all in one.
For anyone who hasn't seen or read it, I'll provide a small back-story. Will is a 36 year old Londoner who, apart from the odd day here and there, has never worked, not been married and is childless.
Marcus is the weird kid everyone avoids at school.
About a Boy is what happens when they meet.
Set in London around 1993 younger readers may find the book a little outdated. However, older readers who remember the 90s may just like the travel back in time. Along with this there is also the death of Kurt Cobain featured near the end.
As a casual read, this book is extremely entertaining, funny and heart-warming. I'd recommend it to anyone who has (or hasn't, for that matter) seen the film version. If easy reads are your thing, this is probably a book for you. It's also very easy to follow and doesn't contain any complicated plots anywhere.
I seem to recall myself cringing at some of the characters' comments or actions, most notably Marcus's who, before he meets Will (followed by Ellie) is extremely awkward, sings in class and listens to people like Toni Bennett. However, his meeting and hanging out with Will results in Marcus becoming somewhat 'cooler' and dressing a bit better.
Through my reading of About a Boy I did sometimes find a couple of characters (notably Will and Marcus) to be a little annoying in their comments or attitudes. I'm not sure if this was intentional from Hornby or not, but nonetheless, it didn't stop me from enjoying the book and being one I feel I'll be reading again sometime.
I found it to be well-written and researched and Hornby certainly knows how to put together a book that a lot of people will enjoy.
Overall rating: 4.5/5
Wednesday, 7 November 2012
Friday, 26 October 2012
Running in the Family by Michael Ondaatje
My first book for my uni course (which is now Creative Writing only) was Ondaatje's memoir Running in the Family which tells of his return to his native Sri Lanka during the '70s.
Better than I expected, this novel is filled with poetry, long and short anecdotes and memories from Ondaatje's childhood.
When I first picked this up I found myself feeling a bit unsure as I'd never heard of Michael Ondaatje nor anything he'd written and why would I want to read about somebody I've never heard of?
However(!), after the first few pages I found that the book was gripping. It was funny, interesting and, I dare say, moving.
Although the book was intended as a semi-fictional memoir, it also gave a big insight into Sri Lankan and Senhalese lifestyles. Along with this it had amusing, and sometimes disturbing or awkward, tales of drinking, childhood adventures and even ways to eat an alligator (or a similar creature, at least) tongue.
Filled with recollections of memories and people, Running in the Family gives the reader a feeling that Ondaatje misses or missed these times, hence his return to his native home. His writing is honest and open and he doesn't appear to skip anything.
Despite having a lot of praise to give for this book, I do feel that I'd be able to write more in this review had I read Ondaatje's previous work or known who he is before I opened this book.
Despite being a pretty good read, I can't find myself writing a lot of words in a review on it, unfortunately, so I'll leave readers with this little comment: If you enjoy reading about writers' lives this is a book for you.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Better than I expected, this novel is filled with poetry, long and short anecdotes and memories from Ondaatje's childhood.
When I first picked this up I found myself feeling a bit unsure as I'd never heard of Michael Ondaatje nor anything he'd written and why would I want to read about somebody I've never heard of?
However(!), after the first few pages I found that the book was gripping. It was funny, interesting and, I dare say, moving.
Although the book was intended as a semi-fictional memoir, it also gave a big insight into Sri Lankan and Senhalese lifestyles. Along with this it had amusing, and sometimes disturbing or awkward, tales of drinking, childhood adventures and even ways to eat an alligator (or a similar creature, at least) tongue.
Filled with recollections of memories and people, Running in the Family gives the reader a feeling that Ondaatje misses or missed these times, hence his return to his native home. His writing is honest and open and he doesn't appear to skip anything.
Despite having a lot of praise to give for this book, I do feel that I'd be able to write more in this review had I read Ondaatje's previous work or known who he is before I opened this book.
Despite being a pretty good read, I can't find myself writing a lot of words in a review on it, unfortunately, so I'll leave readers with this little comment: If you enjoy reading about writers' lives this is a book for you.
Overall rating: 3.5/5
Tuesday, 11 September 2012
Cold Comfort Farm by Stella Gibbons
When I first picked up Cold Comfort Farm I expected it to be rather boring and rural, and to begin with, it was. However, after about 50 pages in, it started to get amusing, satirical and a feel-good sense to it.
Flora Poste is a 19 year old city-girl who is adopted and moves to Cold Comfort Farm where she meets the Starkadder family. Over the next few months she finds herself wanting to advise and change the family for the better.
I've read a few parodies in my time, but not found one that manages to parody all the rural classics in a way that this one does. Having read such novels as Wuthering Heights, Silas Marner and an attempt of Pride & Prejudice I found that I understood the jokes throughout and event managed some laughter here and there. This novel manages to parody such things as country lifestyle, language, appetites/eating habits and names. And it does it very well.
I, personally, found the book to be very optimistic throughout which helped with the reading, I suppose. Normally I've found books written in and around this time to be very dry and plain. Cold Comfort Farm is none of the above. However, one little grumble I do have is that the phonetics sometimes became somewhat annoying. Saying that, it wouldn't have been much of a parody if the language wasn't taken into account.
If you like literature but find yourself getting fed up of the Brontës' farms, have a read of this. If you've never read anything from the fin de siecle, do so before reading this in order to be able to fully understand the jokes within.
After reading this jolly novel and an article on the Guardian website about S. Gibbons, I've found myself tempted to pick up another of her books, to see if they really are some of the greatest comic novels ever.
This gets a 4/5
Flora Poste is a 19 year old city-girl who is adopted and moves to Cold Comfort Farm where she meets the Starkadder family. Over the next few months she finds herself wanting to advise and change the family for the better.
I've read a few parodies in my time, but not found one that manages to parody all the rural classics in a way that this one does. Having read such novels as Wuthering Heights, Silas Marner and an attempt of Pride & Prejudice I found that I understood the jokes throughout and event managed some laughter here and there. This novel manages to parody such things as country lifestyle, language, appetites/eating habits and names. And it does it very well.
I, personally, found the book to be very optimistic throughout which helped with the reading, I suppose. Normally I've found books written in and around this time to be very dry and plain. Cold Comfort Farm is none of the above. However, one little grumble I do have is that the phonetics sometimes became somewhat annoying. Saying that, it wouldn't have been much of a parody if the language wasn't taken into account.
If you like literature but find yourself getting fed up of the Brontës' farms, have a read of this. If you've never read anything from the fin de siecle, do so before reading this in order to be able to fully understand the jokes within.
After reading this jolly novel and an article on the Guardian website about S. Gibbons, I've found myself tempted to pick up another of her books, to see if they really are some of the greatest comic novels ever.
This gets a 4/5
Tuesday, 4 September 2012
Deadline by Simon Kernick (review 2)
A few weeks ago I was at a friend's place sat on her sofa and waiting for said friend to get ready so we could go out and have a few drinks for her birthday. On that day I'd brought a spare copy of 'Deadline' round as I've been trying to get said friend to read some SK. Whilst waiting, I started reading the book and when I got home later that night I continued reading it, except it was a different copy.
Andrea Devern is a well-paid, middle-class business woman who gets home one night to find the house is unusually quiet. And then she recieves a phone call which turns her world upside-down. Some kidnappers have taken her daughter and they want half a million pounds in cash or the daughter dies.
The reader is then presented with an extreme game of Cat & Mouse. Like all of SK's books, 'Deadline' is well-researched with characters you both like and dislike. This was a book I had trouble putting down, constantly finding myself reading until 4-5am, wanting to know what happens in the next chapter as, like with all Simon Kernick tales, this one is filled with cliffhangers at almost every chapter-end.
Another thing I liked about this book was that it had some of my favourite Kernick characters in it, notably Tina Boyd and Mike Bolt. Along with this it had a number of scenes in the City in areas that I knew or recognised. This meant that I could easily picture certain roads and areas. Failing that there was always Google Maps.
I wouldn't say this is SK's best book, but it comes pretty close. If you're a fan of fast-paced action and the London ciminal underworld 'Deadline' is well worth a read.
This one gets a tidy 4/5 from me.
Andrea Devern is a well-paid, middle-class business woman who gets home one night to find the house is unusually quiet. And then she recieves a phone call which turns her world upside-down. Some kidnappers have taken her daughter and they want half a million pounds in cash or the daughter dies.
The reader is then presented with an extreme game of Cat & Mouse. Like all of SK's books, 'Deadline' is well-researched with characters you both like and dislike. This was a book I had trouble putting down, constantly finding myself reading until 4-5am, wanting to know what happens in the next chapter as, like with all Simon Kernick tales, this one is filled with cliffhangers at almost every chapter-end.
Another thing I liked about this book was that it had some of my favourite Kernick characters in it, notably Tina Boyd and Mike Bolt. Along with this it had a number of scenes in the City in areas that I knew or recognised. This meant that I could easily picture certain roads and areas. Failing that there was always Google Maps.
I wouldn't say this is SK's best book, but it comes pretty close. If you're a fan of fast-paced action and the London ciminal underworld 'Deadline' is well worth a read.
This one gets a tidy 4/5 from me.
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
The Point is to Change It! by John Molyneux
Taken from a quote of Karl Marx, 'The Point is to Change It!' is an introductory reading into Marxist philosophy. And it's not an easy one. That's not to say it wasn't interesting.
Having recently joined the Socialist Workers Party I've found myself looking for books which will educate me a bit more in Socialism and so this was recommended to me.
Throughout, it gives the reader the basics on all or most points which Marxist philosophy is based around: dialectics, racism/sexism, class struggles, materialism and capitalism (or the fight against it) amongst others. Some bits I understood having studied them previously at college, but others I found myself re-reading or wondering what the hell I just read. However, I did feel that I had learnt something from this book.
The language within is simple and mostly avoids lengthy or confusing words which haven't previously been explained, nor does it go into too much detail too early on. It is, therefore, a worthy read for anybody who has recently or is interested in joining the SWP. Or maybe you aren't interested in joining the party and just want to know what all the fuss is about? Then read this book.
Admittedly it wasn't an easy read in parts, but it was one I was determined to finish in order to learn more. I can safely say it was better than Henry James's 'Turn of the Screw' (previously reviewed) or Gearge Gissing's 'Nether World'. However, Molyneux has clearly done his research and knows what he is talking about as I don't recall finding any unsurities or the like. But really, what do I know? I'm just a new party member.
Overall I'll give this book a 3.5/5 (possibly higher if it wasn't tricky in parts. Damn dialectics!).
Having recently joined the Socialist Workers Party I've found myself looking for books which will educate me a bit more in Socialism and so this was recommended to me.
Throughout, it gives the reader the basics on all or most points which Marxist philosophy is based around: dialectics, racism/sexism, class struggles, materialism and capitalism (or the fight against it) amongst others. Some bits I understood having studied them previously at college, but others I found myself re-reading or wondering what the hell I just read. However, I did feel that I had learnt something from this book.
The language within is simple and mostly avoids lengthy or confusing words which haven't previously been explained, nor does it go into too much detail too early on. It is, therefore, a worthy read for anybody who has recently or is interested in joining the SWP. Or maybe you aren't interested in joining the party and just want to know what all the fuss is about? Then read this book.
Admittedly it wasn't an easy read in parts, but it was one I was determined to finish in order to learn more. I can safely say it was better than Henry James's 'Turn of the Screw' (previously reviewed) or Gearge Gissing's 'Nether World'. However, Molyneux has clearly done his research and knows what he is talking about as I don't recall finding any unsurities or the like. But really, what do I know? I'm just a new party member.
Overall I'll give this book a 3.5/5 (possibly higher if it wasn't tricky in parts. Damn dialectics!).
Monday, 6 August 2012
The Turn of the Screw by Henry James
I had little choice but to read this book as it was one of the set texts for my course. However, if it wasn't such, the likeliness of me reading the whole book is almost equal to none.
Allow me to tell you why through the medium of a review.
The synopsis/blurb on this book includes the words "Widely recognised as one of literature's most gripping ghost stories". Those words couldn't have been more wrong, to put it modestly.
As I read through this book I found myself startng to daydream, updating my Facebook statuses and reading just one chapter at a time. The characters were boring, the ghosts non-existent and the events worth paying attention to far and inbetween.
The story was slow and the presence of any ghosts was rare. When I read the blurb I expected to read something which would be quite stereotypical yet interesting i.e. Scary ghosts and haunted castles with secret passageways. Maybe something similar to Bram Stoker's Dracula. Instead I found myself reading some very dull dialogue and prose which told of a semi-well dressed ghost standing at the window.
As I think back to what I've just finished reading I can't think of anyone I would recommend this book to. Gripping ghost story? More like the literary equivalent to 'The Amazing Spiderman'.
Will I read another Henry James story in the future? It's possible, but after this, I may have to admit being put off from doing so anytime soon. I can sense it having potential to be a really good tale, but in all honesty, it just doesn't cut it.
Overall rating: 2/5
Allow me to tell you why through the medium of a review.
The synopsis/blurb on this book includes the words "Widely recognised as one of literature's most gripping ghost stories". Those words couldn't have been more wrong, to put it modestly.
As I read through this book I found myself startng to daydream, updating my Facebook statuses and reading just one chapter at a time. The characters were boring, the ghosts non-existent and the events worth paying attention to far and inbetween.
The story was slow and the presence of any ghosts was rare. When I read the blurb I expected to read something which would be quite stereotypical yet interesting i.e. Scary ghosts and haunted castles with secret passageways. Maybe something similar to Bram Stoker's Dracula. Instead I found myself reading some very dull dialogue and prose which told of a semi-well dressed ghost standing at the window.
As I think back to what I've just finished reading I can't think of anyone I would recommend this book to. Gripping ghost story? More like the literary equivalent to 'The Amazing Spiderman'.
Will I read another Henry James story in the future? It's possible, but after this, I may have to admit being put off from doing so anytime soon. I can sense it having potential to be a really good tale, but in all honesty, it just doesn't cut it.
Overall rating: 2/5
Thursday, 19 July 2012
The Hunger Games: Mockingjay by (yes, you guessed it) Suzanne Collins
'Mockingjay' is the third and final book of the Hunger Games trilogy (it wouldn't be a trilogy otherwise, would it?) and a great one it is. "Mind-blowing" according to one review, albeit sometimes confusing.
Katniss Everdeen has now won the Hunger Games twice and is truly feeling the physical and psychological effects of having to kill a large number of people for the entertainment of a capitalist state. However, she won't stop fighting. Not until the rebels, of which she is now the symbol - the Mockingjay - have won.
Despite still suffering from vivid nightmares and being unsure of who to trust, who she is trusted by and whether she will ever be safe again, Katniss has decided that she is going to face the Capitol head-on and, to use a phrase not used in their trilogy, kick the shit out of them.
That's the basic plot outline of which I can't say much more about without giving things away. However, much like the previous two books, this is, again, well-researched and written with great characters/characterisation, lively events and heady cliffhangers which prompt one to read into the early hours.
As mentioned in previous Hunger Games reviews, the plot contains some bits and pieces which could very much be compared to the Revolutionary political activity of today. In Mockingjay, we still have the Capitalist state (Capitol) but there is also the Egyptian Revolution to look into. Now, this is something I'm not extremely knowledgable on, but after attending a meeting earlier this week on said Revolution, I am able to notice some similarities.
Some examples could be the taking down of a state, living in slums and hunger. I'll stop there before I try and be clever but come off as the opposite. I do feel, however, that this book is much more connected to real, current activity than the previous two as it uses less of the 'kids in arenas' ideas and instead draws inspiration from troops patrolling streets and taking down innocent civilians. Or so I'm assuming.
Unfortunately there were some bits which confused me or took some double readings due to there being some slight continuity. I'm not sure if this was my tiredness or a genuine mistake, but I've decided I'm not going to let it affect anything.
Imagery was, again, excellent and presented capitalism and slums at their worst with characters being well and truly injured beyond 'a little scratch' or a sniffly cold. What I also enjoyed was the use of Morphling: a hospital-issued painkiller which, when taken, produces some interesting images. Name and description sound like something you may have taken to cure pain? Yeah, thought so.
All in all this was an absolutely excellent trilogy and well worth the read. If you liked the first film, definitely get these books (all of them, not just the first).
Another 5/5
And remember: "If we burn you burn with us"
Katniss Everdeen has now won the Hunger Games twice and is truly feeling the physical and psychological effects of having to kill a large number of people for the entertainment of a capitalist state. However, she won't stop fighting. Not until the rebels, of which she is now the symbol - the Mockingjay - have won.
Despite still suffering from vivid nightmares and being unsure of who to trust, who she is trusted by and whether she will ever be safe again, Katniss has decided that she is going to face the Capitol head-on and, to use a phrase not used in their trilogy, kick the shit out of them.
That's the basic plot outline of which I can't say much more about without giving things away. However, much like the previous two books, this is, again, well-researched and written with great characters/characterisation, lively events and heady cliffhangers which prompt one to read into the early hours.
As mentioned in previous Hunger Games reviews, the plot contains some bits and pieces which could very much be compared to the Revolutionary political activity of today. In Mockingjay, we still have the Capitalist state (Capitol) but there is also the Egyptian Revolution to look into. Now, this is something I'm not extremely knowledgable on, but after attending a meeting earlier this week on said Revolution, I am able to notice some similarities.
Some examples could be the taking down of a state, living in slums and hunger. I'll stop there before I try and be clever but come off as the opposite. I do feel, however, that this book is much more connected to real, current activity than the previous two as it uses less of the 'kids in arenas' ideas and instead draws inspiration from troops patrolling streets and taking down innocent civilians. Or so I'm assuming.
Unfortunately there were some bits which confused me or took some double readings due to there being some slight continuity. I'm not sure if this was my tiredness or a genuine mistake, but I've decided I'm not going to let it affect anything.
Imagery was, again, excellent and presented capitalism and slums at their worst with characters being well and truly injured beyond 'a little scratch' or a sniffly cold. What I also enjoyed was the use of Morphling: a hospital-issued painkiller which, when taken, produces some interesting images. Name and description sound like something you may have taken to cure pain? Yeah, thought so.
All in all this was an absolutely excellent trilogy and well worth the read. If you liked the first film, definitely get these books (all of them, not just the first).
Another 5/5
And remember: "If we burn you burn with us"
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