25 October 2010

WEEK FORTY-THREE - 'LORD OF THE FLIES'

'Lord of the Flies' by William Golding
October 20-22, 225 pages

The good thing about this venture, sorry, one of the many good things, is that I get to read books that I really should have read but never have. 'Lord of the Flies' is one of these.

I am glad I eventually read it. It's very good. A real modern classic. So much symbolism.

This novel is quite confronting. It is concerning how the boys' sense of order and morals quickly collapse. Shows what human nature can make you do.

I really enjoyed this. Definitely (hopefully) will read it again.

Except I haven't been able to get the hymn, 'Lord of the Dance' out of my head all week!

19 October 2010

WEEK FORTY-TWO - 'THE FINKLER QUESTION'

'The Finkler Question' by Howard Jacobson
October 13 - 17, 307 pages

A special week needs a special book and, as it's the week of my birthday, I certainly needed to find a good book to read. Luckily, the Man Booker Prize for 2010 was announced on Tuesday. I always enjoy the winning novel, and so I rushed out to buy 'The Finkler Question' an hour after it was announced as the winner.

It didn't disappoint. It's the first comedy to win the prize and it definitely is funny. But it isn't shallow. It's profound and quite dark. It poses some interesting questions and really explores what it means to be Jewish, subject matter I haven't really encountered before.

Very good. now I must work my way through the shortlist.

'At a certain age men began to shrink, and yet it was precisely at that age that their trousers became too short for them. Explain that.'

10 October 2010

WEEK FORTY-ONE - 'ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO'S NEST'

'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest' by Ken Kesey
October 6 - 8, 281 pages

This is a very good book. Excellent, even.

It says a lot. And is confronting and concerning and really begs the question: should we choose security over freedom? This book made me think about things, and I'm still thinking. It's one of those novels that should be read more than once, I think. It has lots of great characters, too. A compelling and startling commentary on institutions. 
'He hadn't let what he looked like run his life one way or the other'

A very powerful novel. Read it.

03 October 2010

WEEK FORTY - 'THE RAW SHARK TEXTS'


'The Raw Shark Texts' by Steven Hall
September 29 - October 2, 430 pages

This book is crazy. Just plain crazy. It's just... like nothing I've ever read before; less like a story and more like an experience.

I spent large periods of time having no clue what was going on. Still don't really. But, somehow, somewhere in all this confusion, this novel grabs you. Perhaps it's just you hoping that everything suddenly makes sense. Nope. Does not happen.

But really, it was great. I especially loved the images made of fragmented test. Oh, and there's a cat called Ian. Very good. A conceptual shark or two, as well.

This is one book I can definitely see as a blockbuster movie. I'd go see it.