Part III of this tetralogy gets the train back on track. Not that book II was bad, but reading everyone's self-doubts for a couple of hundred pages grPart III of this tetralogy gets the train back on track. Not that book II was bad, but reading everyone's self-doubts for a couple of hundred pages grew tiresome. 'Crossroads' is the most plot-centric of the books thus far, although Olav's inner torment from the past remains at the forefront as well. We get a trip to London at the beginning of the book, the middle of the book turns more inward with Olav and Eirik's relationship the focus, and the final third of the book covers the Swedish-Norwegian conflict in which Olav plays a central part. It's a nice mix and leaves plenty to be resolved in the final book. Book III leaves us with a bloodied but joyful Olav entering old age. Let's go see how the final chapter of his life will unfold....more
Book two of this tetralogy grapples with faith and humanity’s tendency to grapple with our conscience. While the plot does move along somewhat, most oBook two of this tetralogy grapples with faith and humanity’s tendency to grapple with our conscience. While the plot does move along somewhat, most of the book centers around Olav and Ingunn’s internal torment from past mistakes. Undset’s terse prose style fits the tone of the novel. The three star rating really stems from the fact that this portion of Olav’s tale didn’t need to be this long. It’s only a 260 page book, but it does seem to be an excessive amount of pages given the content. I liked it, it’s a solid three stars, but I’m expecting a little more out of the remaining two books. ...more
Undset picked a really interesting time period in which to base her story. I was expecting a more Viking-type of tale, however late 13th century ScandUndset picked a really interesting time period in which to base her story. I was expecting a more Viking-type of tale, however late 13th century Scandanavia was a time of transition. The Viking culture was now largely a Christian based culture, but with Viking sensibilities still rooted in communities. As our main characters Olav and Ingunn come of age, this transition leads to rising tensions, particularly between the Church representatives and the nobles.
This is the first book in a tetralogy and focuses on the relationship of the story's two main protagonists, Olav and his fiancee, Ingunn. All kinds of drama pops up as the two come of age and are eager to honor their fathers' pledge to marry the two of them. This may sound kind of lame, but we have plenty of intrigue, murder, and betrayal. Olav and several others are strong characters. Ingunn is a frustrating character, but something tells me that she's going to be easy to root for in the coming books.
As to the author, I love Undset's style. Nothing flowery about the writing style, but she allows deep access into the minds of her characters. All of their emotions just pour out onto the page. It can make even a quiet scene quit stirring. I am very impressed. She won a Nobel for a reason. I am going to jump right back into book 2 today. A rating does not mean much until the entire series is read, but this a promising start and an excellent book on its own merit. Solid four stars....more
What an interesting novel. Recent winner of the Republic of Consciousness Prize US/Canada, 'Lojman' takes a look at the power of loneliness and depresWhat an interesting novel. Recent winner of the Republic of Consciousness Prize US/Canada, 'Lojman' takes a look at the power of loneliness and depression. It is a dark and depressing novel. Readers over here in the US might find it too heavy. Those with young children might find Selma insufferable. But the sharp, descriptive writing style captivated me and pulled me along. I wanted to know where the hell this was going, but more importantly I wanted to keep reading more of Ojen's prose.
Part 2 marks a sudden turn towards the allegorical. Thematically, the novel has transitioned from a study of loneliness and depression, to a literal imagining of what those feelings can lead to; a sense of feeling stuck and watching your world being consumed by your worries. Given that Ojen is from Turkey and this novel is centered in the Anatolian plains, there is a pretty good chance this is also an allegory for the State.
A strange novel, but an impressive one as well. Don't be turned off by the mixed reviews. It's a short read and worth the risk. It reminded me a little bit of Sorokin's 'The Blizzard', another allegorical novel set in the dark and cold. A solid four stars. I will be on the lookout for more translated Ojen....more
This is my first experience reading Gabo, and given his reputation I am coming at this with preconceived notions.. This is not a work with which one wThis is my first experience reading Gabo, and given his reputation I am coming at this with preconceived notions.. This is not a work with which one would win a Nobel Prize, so it is undoubtedly a minor Gabo work, but I liked it. Ana's evolution through middle age struck me as genuine. In a novel consisting mostly of one night stands, the author manages to avoid cringey cliches. While not a great novel in itself, there are instances of greatness in the author's writing. A low three star rating but very much worth the brief amount of time needed to enjoy it. I am excited to read Gabo's more significant works....more
Deserving of its place in the pantheon of American fiction. Though the plot is seemingly simple, 'Huck Finn' has undertones that elevate the novel. ThDeserving of its place in the pantheon of American fiction. Though the plot is seemingly simple, 'Huck Finn' has undertones that elevate the novel. The choice of Huck Finn as the narrator is brilliant. His misinterpretations of several situations provide both the humor and acute observations of late 19th century American culture. Huck's grappling with societal norms versus his personal feelings is powerful as well. I am sorry for the poor souls who think this is a racist novel that should not be taught in schools. The whole thing flew over your heads.
Now, let's go see what Percival Everett has to say about this thing....more
They say great literature is inexhaustible. I would say that applies to McCarthy. Here, he revisits similar themes from his previous work, but everythThey say great literature is inexhaustible. I would say that applies to McCarthy. Here, he revisits similar themes from his previous work, but everything still seems so fresh because, well, it's McCarthy and his talent and his prose provoke wonder.
McCarthy appears to be in a particularly reflective mood. Given his age, this is unsurprising. This is a dialogue driven novel, and what plot there is only serves as fodder for the discussions of the characters. That is not to say that 'The Passenger' is boring. Far from it. Characters such as Western, Long John Sheddan, Borman, Royal, and Alicia are quote maestros that force you to slow your reading pace. They are funny, they are sad, and they are memorable. Some of McCarthy's best characters are here.
To avoid the tl;dr pitfall, some brief thematic highlights:
Regret. Every line is a broken line, you can't go back and fix everything. Life is a struggle to avoid regrets. A life isn't lived without grief, but a life can't be fully lived if it is full of regret.
Belief. The need for belief in good. There would be only hopelessness without it.
Forgiveness. Timeline of forgiveness is much shorter than that for revenge.
Faith. God's goodness appears in strange places. Keep an open mind. A Godless life does not prepare for a Godless death.
Fear. Is it something that can be overcome or only dealt with? Fear is always there, waiting for you.
Suffering vs misery. Suffering is part of the human condition. Misery is a mindset one adopts. You can't escape suffering, but you can avoid misery.
And there is much, much more. I have not yet nailed down the significance of the passenger, or who he or she is. Maybe the answer will be found in 'Stella Maris'. Maybe it will become evident with future re-reads.
Any reader who requires a good amount of plot in their fiction will be left disappointed. If you can appreciate thematic discussions, coupled with great characters, dialogue, and wonderful prose, then McCarthy is for you, and you will love 'The Passenger'. A proper rating cannot be given until 'Stella Maris' has been read, so take this with a grain of salt for now. But it is quintessential McCarthy. One of his books that I will be returning to again and again over the years....more
To the surprise of no one, the prose is great. Akbar is a well regarded poet, so I came into this expecting strong writing and we get exactly that. AlTo the surprise of no one, the prose is great. Akbar is a well regarded poet, so I came into this expecting strong writing and we get exactly that. Also not surprising given Akbar's poetic background, 'Martyr!' is thematically compelling. Language, addiction and depression are all addressed continuously throughout the book. I'm only giving this three stars because I never felt engaged with Cyrus or his mother or his father. Or Zee. Or anybody. This is a good book, so it is a strong three stars, but Akbar has more to offer. I hope he continues to write novels, because the potential is huge. A really good first effort....more
Reading an Alvaro Enrique novel is a unique experience. His books are playful, satirical, hilarious and experimental. I first came across his work witReading an Alvaro Enrique novel is a unique experience. His books are playful, satirical, hilarious and experimental. I first came across his work with 'Sudden Death' almost ten years ago. This new novel isn't as dizzying as that one, but it is just as much fun. Earlier this year I read Buddy Levy's book on the conquest of Mexico, so it felt appropriate to read this on the heels of brushing up on my history. Enrique doesn't stick to historical accuracy, but it helped to have those events fresh in my mind when reading it. It helps appreciate the satire a little more.
My personal favorite moment in the novel; when Moctezuma goes on an epic mushroom trip and starts dancing to T. Rex's 'Monolith'. That'll give you an idea of the tone of this novel. If that makes you think this novel might be too silly, it's not. It's high quality satire that manages not to lose its focus. It reminded me of what Tarantino did with 'Inglorious Basterds'. Solid four stars. ...more
A great book, obviously. While our protagonist is not a likeable character, the people of this story are all interesting. Sonya, Dunya, Razumikhin, PoA great book, obviously. While our protagonist is not a likeable character, the people of this story are all interesting. Sonya, Dunya, Razumikhin, Porfiry, Svidrigaylov, and so many others. A handful of the scenes are etched into memory forever. The scene with Dunya and Svidgraylov in his room, the beating of the horse from Raskolnikov's childhood, and of course the closing scene in Siberia overlooking the river. Emotional stuff. I loved it.
This is my first time reading 'Crime and Punishment' so I cannot compare this new translation to the others, but I can say that I found Katz' translation to be well suited to me as a Dostoevsky newbie. If you're thinking about reading this one, I endorse this translation wholeheartedly.
I also read Kevin Birmingham's book, 'The Sinner and the Saint' late last year as prep work for reading this novel. Birmingham's book provides great context to the writing of 'Crime and Punishment' and heightened my overall reading experience. It is part Dostoevsky biography and part critical analysis. I recommend checking that book out beforehand as well.
It's reputation precedes it for a reason. Five stars. ...more
I will admit that I didn't always enjoy this reading experience, but it is impossible to not appreciate Cartarescu's writing (and Cotter's translationI will admit that I didn't always enjoy this reading experience, but it is impossible to not appreciate Cartarescu's writing (and Cotter's translation), the thematic elements (which oftentimes went completely over my head, I'm sure), and the total uniqueness of this novel.
The things I didn't love about the novel: Cartarescu has a weird obsession with bodily fluids, body organs, and bugs (guess I am more squeamish than I realized), and the long passages in the earlier part of the novel devoted to the main characters dreams or nightmares. Of course, there are thematic reasons why Cartarescu included these aspects as made clear by the end of the novel, but from a pure enjoyment aspect, I didn't love reading those sections.
A complicated novel in many ways. I am very appreciative of Cartarescu's achievement, and it is an excellent novel, but one I would hesitate to recommend to friends. Surrealism isn't for everyone, but I can already tell I will be thinking about this one for a long time. A solid four stars. Very much lives up to the hype....more
A meditative little book. A love song for our pretty planet and, to a lesser extent, a discourse on human nature. Not all of Harvey's thoughts hit theA meditative little book. A love song for our pretty planet and, to a lesser extent, a discourse on human nature. Not all of Harvey's thoughts hit the mark, but there's plenty to chew on and I thought the writing was quite good. There's no plot to speak of, which I am totally good with. A quick read that most people will enjoy. Solid three stars....more
A quiet, reflective novel with some impressive prose from Ms. Davies'. I read her novel 'West' back in the day and remember being somewhat underwhelmeA quiet, reflective novel with some impressive prose from Ms. Davies'. I read her novel 'West' back in the day and remember being somewhat underwhelmed. I enjoyed the historical aspect of this novel in particular. The author's note at the end of the book gives great context to the story within the novel.
There's a small cast of characters here, really just the three main characters, all of which are relatable in their own unique way. Ivar in particular stands out as he rediscovers the gift of companionship and even language.
I appreciate an author's ability to write in brevity. Ms. Davies has a background in the short story form and the two novels of hers that I have read are both quite short. Given her talents, I would love to see her stretch herself for a full length novel and really see her dig deep with her characters. I don't think I would call this one quite excellent, but it is certainly very good. Strong three stars....more
A nice little novella from the recent Nobel Prize winner. After reading his Septology series and now this, it is clear that Fosse loves a good inner mA nice little novella from the recent Nobel Prize winner. After reading his Septology series and now this, it is clear that Fosse loves a good inner monologue and ambiguity. The reader will quickly gravitate towards death and religion here, as I believe Fosse intends. It can actually be quite moving, but for the most part this is just a pretty but minor work from a great writer. Fosse newbies should not start here....more
O'Brien is as fed up with the bullshit as the rest of us are. In his latest and supposedly last novel, O'Brien addresses the mythomania crisis that isO'Brien is as fed up with the bullshit as the rest of us are. In his latest and supposedly last novel, O'Brien addresses the mythomania crisis that is devouring the country. 'America Fantastica' is a dark satire with a story that fits neatly into the American genre. That is, road trips, guns, gambling, sex and politics. O'Brien has a history of astutely portraying certain eras of America history, especially the 70's, and he has captured the zeitgeist of the last 8 years here in America. It's very good, but the satire is too thick at times, which makes certain aspects of the story too strange for my taste. The characters are really well done, and O'Brien certainly has not lost a step with his writing, but I cannot quite call this excellent. It's a strong three stars, and I think this book will be worth reading thirty years down the road when someone wants to understand what the hell was going on during this time in America. It reminded me that I want to go back and read some of his older work. I haven't read him since high school....more
To call this book a retelling of 'Huck Finn' is inaccurate. These two books share common characters, and some of the events from 'Huck Finn' do reappeTo call this book a retelling of 'Huck Finn' is inaccurate. These two books share common characters, and some of the events from 'Huck Finn' do reappear here, but for the most point the plot is entirely James'. The intent of the novel is wholly different as well. Twain wrote an adventure novel with a unique narrative voice. Everett has written a novel that focuses on prejudices and the power of language.
This review might appear to have a negative bent, so I want to make clear that this is an excellent novel. The plot is exciting and James is a memorable character. That being said, the "big reveal" towards the end of the novel detracts from the power of Everett's focus. It cheapens the difficult decision James has to make during the riverboat scene. There was an opportunity there to highlight a complicated relationship, and Everett chose an easy way out which felt cringe-worthy.
Other reviews here have talked about how much they enjoyed Everett's prose. I have enjoyed both of the Everett novels I have read, however his prose, while solid, is not noteworthy. It is not descriptive. It is not flowery. Nor is it lean. It is solid and safe. I would be curious to hear further explanations of what those readers noticed about Everett's prose.
I prefer this novel to 'Huck Finn'. The Tom Sawyer section of that earlier novel felt like an unnecessary deviation. 'James' is an intellectual novel with some powerful scenes. I loved how menacing the Duke and King were in this version. All in all, an excellent novel. High four stars. I expect we will see this book a lot during award season. ...more
I loved the structure of this novel. We start with a chapter about Paul Ehrenfest, who grew increasingly concerned over the progress and implications I loved the structure of this novel. We start with a chapter about Paul Ehrenfest, who grew increasingly concerned over the progress and implications of mathematics and quantum mechanics to the point of committing a murder-suicide. That's not a spoiler either, as Labatut gives us the physicists' fate in the opening line.
The meat of the book is dedicated to the life and accomplishments of John von Neumann, perhaps the most celebrated scientist of the 20th century. Today, Neumann is largely credited with laying the groundwork for computing power and artificial intelligence.
Interestingly, the novel oftentimes reads like a history book, with very little dialogue. That is not to say it is dry. Labatut is a talented writer and he utilizes this structure to great success. Each chapter is written in first person by a colleague, acquaintance, or loved one. There is never a chapter written by Neumann himself. This reminded me a little bit of Hernan Diaz's "Trust", although Labatut pulls it off better than Diaz.
After Neumann's death, the book switches gears dramatically to the game of Go and a competition between the best Go players in the world and AI machines. While completely distinct from the rest of the book, the point of including these chapters becomes pretty apparent. We went from an early physicist’s concerns about the future of science, to the scientific accomplishments of the middle twentieth century, and finally to the present day implications of what humans have created over the last several decades.
It is a timely novel. AI has become the new darling of the stock market, with billions of dollars being invested in new AI startups. Labatut's novel raises the question, what happens when our creations exceed human capabilities? What happens when our technology assumes godlike powers? I loved the book. High four stars....more
'Explosion in a Cathedral' offers a wonderful discourse into the nature of revolution. The story takes place during the French Revolution, but is larg'Explosion in a Cathedral' offers a wonderful discourse into the nature of revolution. The story takes place during the French Revolution, but is largely situated in the islands of the Americas. This is historical fiction, as much of the events center around Victor Hugues, a man of some import who governed a couple of islands in the name of the new French Republic. The two main characters are Esteban and his cousin Sofia, and it is through their story that Carpentier takes a look at the complicated history of the revolution.
There is one passage in particular that sums up Carpentier's interest in this period of history. When a revolution-weary Esteban is confronted by his cousins about his tired attitude, he responds, "We must be wary of fine words: of the Better Worlds that words create. There is no more Promised Land than what man can find inside himself."
Sofia, her revolutionary spirit unsated, argues against that concept. "No one could live, she said, without a political ideal' the destiny of the race could not be fulfilled in one attempt; grave errors had been committed, surely, but those errors would serve as a useful lesson for the future; she understood Esteban had passed through certain painful experiences- and she commiserated with him deeply on that account- but he had perhaps been victim of exaggerated idealism; the excesses of the Revolution were deplorable, she admitted, but the highest human endeavors had only been achieved thanks to pain and sacrifice. In a word: nothing great was ever done on earth without bloodshed."
This is the discourse that Carpentier is seeking. Is the bloodshed of revolution justified by the cause it seeks? 'Explosion in a Cathedral' shows the corruption, greed and hypocrisy that accompanied the revolution. It is inarguable that horrible things were done in the name of liberty. But the French Revolution played a large role in the age of enlightenment and gave birth to a rise to the freedom of many victimized colonies. Was it worth it?
Carpentier has an interesting history with revolution. I won't go into the details of his life, but his experience with revolution gives him justification to ask these questions. 'Explosion in a Cathedral' is interesting conceptually and the story, although it drags in places, is one of adventure. I found it to be a fascinating work. Solid four stars....more
Lyrical and dreamlike. 'The Last Pomegranate Tree' is a beautiful novel about life and death and the middle ground occupied by our memories. Magical rLyrical and dreamlike. 'The Last Pomegranate Tree' is a beautiful novel about life and death and the middle ground occupied by our memories. Magical realism does not always work for me, but this type of story telling works well for a novel centered around dreams. The prose is a delight as well, so much credit is due to Ali as well as the translator, Kareem Abdulrahman. I hope this new publication from Archipelago will gain Ali a much deserved wider audience. Solid four stars....more
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