Category: Genre

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2010 Chunkster

The Passage – Justin Cronin

I’m afraid that I’m the type of person unable to resist hype. If everyone is talking about a book then I need to be able to join in that conversation. The Passage seemed to be one of the biggest books of 2010 and so I had to find out why everyone was talking about it.

The Passage is about vampires and if that sounds off-putting then don’t believe those that tell you otherwise – trust your instincts and don’t get drawn in as I was.

The Passage started off very well. I loved the first section in which we were introduced to Amy, a six-year-old girl abandoned by her mother; and an FBI agent recruiting death row prisoners to research a new virus. The writing was beautifully crafted and the pace was fast  – I just had to know what happened next!

Unfortunately everything went wrong about 200 pages in. The book jumped forward in time, the pace slowed and I became bored. At about the 250 page mark the book jumped forward another 90 years and things became even worse. We lost all the wonderful characters we’d been introduced to and were suddenly faced with lots of random people, all trying to build a new life after the world was devastated by the vampire virus. Unfortunately it didn’t ring true for me. I think my main problem is that I don’t believe in vampires and so can never be scared of them. It all just seemed silly to me. I couldn’t connect with any of the characters as there were too many of them and so I didn’t care what happened to them.

The glass behind them didn’t so much shatter as explode, detonating in a hail of glinting shards. The air blew from his body as he was knocked across the room. It was only later that Peter would realize that the viral had come in right on top of them. He heard Sara scream – not even words, just a cry of terror.

At the 400 page mark I nearly gave up, but I felt that I’d already invested too much time to do that and so persevered until the end. I was unaware that The Passage is the first in a trilogy, so didn’t realise that I’d be left hanging after completing nearly 800 pages. That did annoy me a bit, as I had hoped to at least be rewarded by an ending.

I’m sure I’ll love the films, but in an unbelievable world I need emotional connections to draw me in. I won’t be reading the rest of the trilogy.

Opinions seem to be divided:

….a mind-blowing book. S Krishna’s Books 

…sillier than I had hoped it would be… Rhapsody in Books

Overall a very interesting concept, but the execution left something to be desired… Devourer of Books

I hope that readers will suppress their sizeist tendencies and embrace this mesmerizing, epic tale.  Lovely Treez Reads

Categories
2000 - 2007 Booker Prize Historical Fiction Orange Prize Other Prizes

The Siege – Helen Dunmore

 

Short listed for 2001 Orange Prize and Whitbread Novel of the Year Award

In September 1941 German troops surrounded the city of Leningrad, cutting off all supply routes. This left the 3 millions residents battling for survival – most so hungry that they resorted to making soup from strips of leather. 

The Siege is historical fiction at its best. The writing was so vivid that I almost felt as though I’d been there.

Late in the morning a lilac-coloured dawn will come, with burning frost that glitters on branches, on spills of frozen water, on snow, cupolas and boarded up statues. Nothing has ever been more beautiful than these broad avenues, the snow-coloured Neva, the parks and embankments. Only the people mar its perfection as they crawl out of their homes into the radiance of snow. Perhaps today is the day when they’ll fail to reach the bread queue. So they move on, flies caught between sheets of glass.

The book focused on one family. This personal insight into the crisis made the events come alive. I felt a deep connection to each member of the family and I willed them all to survive.

The Siege also contained a few chapters from the view-point of Pavlov, the nutritionist controlling the amount of food that each person received with their ration card each day. This was a fantastic addition to the plot as it allowed the real facts and figures of the situation to be revealed to the reader. It also allowed us to learn about the numerous ways in which the citizens were advised get nutrition from objects they possessed in their homes – some much more unusual than others.

As you can imagine this could never be described as a happy book, but I can only admire the strength of human spirit – that desire to survive despite the odds being stacked against them.

Highly recommended.

The Siege is the prequel to the 2010 Booker long listed The Betrayal. If you haven’t read The Siege then I highly recommend that you avoid reading any reviews for The Betrayal – I discovered that my 2010 Booker research had led me to reading a few spoilers for The Siege.

The Siege is my first experience of Helen Dunmore’s writing, but I’m a convert! I hope to read The Betrayal next week, but will also be on the look out for all her other books.

Have you read any Helen Dunmore books?

Which one is your favourite?

 

Categories
1930s Classics Crime

Before the Fact – Francis Iles

I first saw Before the Fact mentioned on Shelf Love, but was persuaded to read it when Teresa selected it as a ‘book that deserves a wider audience’ at Reading Matters.

Francis Iles is an important author in the crime fiction world as he progressed the genre from simple “whodunnits” into books where the murderer is known to the reader and the joy is in understanding their motives and finding out if they get caught.

I loved the first paragraph of Before the Fact:

Some women give birth to murderers, some go to bed with them, and some marry them. Lina Aysgarth had lived with her husband for nearly eight years before she realized that she was married to a murderer.

Before the Fact was easy to read, with a light, almost humorous tone. We watch Lina’s relationship with her husband grow and then falter, as she slowly discovers his flaws and finally realises that he is a murderer. The narrative darkened slightly towards the end, but I’m sure that even the most nervous reader could cope with this book.

It is hard to imagine how 1930s readers reacted to discovering the name of the murderer on the first page, but despite the fact that this frequently happens in modern books I was impressed by the way the plot developed. The book was packed with 1930s charm, but the issues of trust in a relationship are still relevant today.

I’d recommend it to anyone interested in the development of the crime novel, or if you are after a lighter, enjoyable read.

I also watched the DVD as part of C.B. James’ Read The Book, See the Movie Challenge

The Hitchcock classic, Suspicion, is based upon Before the Fact. I hadn’t seen any Hitchcock films before and so thought this was the perfect place to start.

I was really disappointed by Suspicion. The book opens with you knowing that the husband is a murderer, but the film starts off really slowly. You have absolutely no idea where it is going – all you see is a happy couple getting together and setting up their own home. Little things slowly start happening to indicate that everything might not be quite right, but it was too little too late for me. I’m not used to watching these older films, so perhaps it is just a sign of my addiction to the faster paced ones created today, but I can’t help feeling that Frances Iles had the right idea by letting us in on the secret from the start.

The film also looks at things from a slightly different angle – you don’t know whether or not he is a murderer until the very end. This is he/isn’t he? question really irritated me, but perhaps that was because I’d just read the book!

My husband started watching the film with me, but gave up after 40 minutes. At that point I told him that Cary Grant was a murderer. He almost decided to continue watching, but in the end decided he couldn’t take any more of their slow relationship building!

I’m afraid I wouldn’t recommend Suspicion – read the book instead!

Have you read any books written by Frances Iles?

Have you seen Suspicion?

Categories
2010 Chunkster

The Surrendered – Chang-Rae Lee

When I saw that The Surrendered was being marketed as a cross between A Fine Balance and The Poisonwood Bible I knew I had to read a copy. I think that the comparisons are justified, but The Surrendered is much easier to read and not quite as good.

The Surrendered begins in Korea in 1950, telling the story of how June Han escaped from the war-torn country. This initial section was easily a 5 star read for me. I was instantly drawn into the June’s world and my heart broke as I read about the things see had to endure. I had a little tear in my eye as these 30 amazing pages drew to a close.

She let go his still-warm hand, kissed his still-warm face. She stayed with him as long as she could. But when the last car of the train passed her she rose to her feet and steadied herself. And then she ran for her life.

Unfortunately the book went downhill slightly after that. The focus switched to June’s life in 1980s New York, which in comparison to her childhood in Korea was a bit dull. I was craving a return to the fascinating, roller-coaster of life I’d already been treated to. There was nothing really wrong with this modern section – it just didn’t have the atmosphere or historical insight of the first section; it was the type of story I had read many times before.

The book does flip back to Korea and we travel across to Europe with June as she searches for her son, but I never found the magic produced in the first chapter again.

I highly recommend that you read the first chapter of this book, but the remaining 400+ pages aren’t that special.

The Thoughts of Other Bloggers:

…while I recommend Lee’s writing, I feel this book is definitely for the stout of heart. Shelf Life

…a very deep and thought-provoking novel. Serendipitous Readings

 Have you read any books written by Chang-Rae Lee?

 

Categories
2009 Memoirs

The Russian Countess – Edith Sollohub

Edith Sollohub was the daughter of a high ranking Russian diplomat, living in luxury on a large estate in St Petersburg. Her lavish lifestyle was brought to a halt by the Russian Revolution of 1917. Edith was separated from her family and had to endure imprisonment, hunger and loneliness. The Russian Countess is her memoir, giving detailed descriptions of her life as a child and her miraculous story of survival through the hardships of War.

I don’t read many memoirs, but the true story of a Russian Countess forced into unimaginable hardship really appealed to me – I find discovering how real people cope with a tradegy a fascinating subject.

The book was packed with photographs and documents which enriched the reading experience for me. It was lovely to see her family growing up!

The pace of the book was very slow. The story sometimes got lost as every person and tiny event was described. It was beautifully written, but at times I found the wordiness and intricate details too much.

Edith’s early life on the estate bored me. Stories of parties, dance lessons and numerous hunting trips held little interest for me. Her fascination with guns was especially alien to me and I often found my mind wandering from the page when she started shooting furry things.

Thе сrоѕѕbоw іѕ bесоmіng an еvеr іnсrеаѕіnglу рорulаr means оf huntіng рrеу, rather thаn a compound bоw оr a rіflе. Mаnу аrеаѕ аrе nоw ореnіng uр to the uѕе оf a crossbow, whеn restrictions mіght apply tо еіthеr thаt of a соmроund bow оr rіflе. Whеrеаѕ the crossbow іѕ legal tо uѕе, thе uѕе оf one оffеrѕ a unique сhаllеngе to thе huntеr. Thе best stabilizer for compound bow has thе added соnvеnіеnсе оf a rіflе аѕ well аѕ hаvіng thе rеѕtrісtіvе rаngе оf archery equipment, and іѕ wеll wоrth giving іt a try.

Sеvеrаl areas hаvе оr аrе nоw considering bаnnіng thе use of hіgh роwеrеd rіflеѕ, ѕо thе trend tоwаrdѕ сrоѕѕbоwѕ аnd соmроund bows іѕ fаr mоrе асtіvе. In North Amеrіса, game рорulаtіоnѕ аnd ѕресіfісаllу whіtеtаіlѕ соntіnuе to grоw, and to сurtаіl thеѕе ever grоwіng populations thе crossbow іѕ ѕееn аѕ an еffесtіvе mеthоd. Tо соntrоl thе dееr numbers, gаmе management аuthоrіtіеѕ, саn ѕее the uѕе оf thіѕ оftеn рrіmіtіvе wеароn аddrеѕѕеѕ the need, hеnсе the grоwіng рорulаrіtу of thіѕ choice of wеароn.

When соmраrіng, one соuld ѕау that a crossbow is just a blеnd between a gun аnd a bоw, уоu can еnjоу thе stability thе gun experience will gіvе уоu, but аt the ѕаmе tіmе thе сhаllеngе оf letting lооѕе a trаjесtоrу аrmеd with a соmрlеtеlу different tуре of аmmunіtіоn, аnd one that has distinct lіmіtаtіоnѕ. Thе еffесtіvе range оf a сrоѕѕbоw is ѕау, about 40 yards, thіѕ іѕ аbоut the ѕаmе аѕ 60 or 70lb соmроund bоw. Onе оf thе drаwbасkѕ оf uѕіng a crossbow іѕ thаt thеу can bе сumbеrѕоmе to саrrу; аlѕо they rеԛuіrе muсh care and attention when drаwіng аnd rеlеаѕіng thе ѕtrіng tеnѕіоn. As wіth аnу fіrіng apparatus, ѕаfеtу is аlwауѕ paramount, аnd sometimes if уоu аrе on stand аnd wаnt уоur crossbow сосkеd, this саn be difficult to thе ѕhееr size оf thе crossbow. Thе сrоѕѕbоw is not аn arrow gun, the рhуѕісаl range оf thе сrоѕѕbоw іѕ lіmіtеd, and thе reload tіmе is ѕlоw, thаt’ѕ whу fоr еаѕе, ѕрееd аnd portability, a rіflе іѕ оftеn considered рrеfеrаblе.

There іѕ many a dеbаtе bеtwееn thе uѕеѕ of a сrоѕѕbоw a compound bоw аnd thаt оf a rіflе, whісh is mоrе effective? And реrhарѕ, whісh іѕ mоrе ассurаtе for huntіng? Sоmе реорlе рrеfеr a сrоѕѕbоw, as іt is sometime ѕееn as mоrе сhаllеngіng, and the use оf thіѕ primitive wеароn hаѕ a grеаt appeal, аnd thаt a crossbow іѕ able to bе uѕеd іn ѕоmе ѕuburbаn аrеаѕ whеrеаѕ a fіrеаrm іѕ not. But saying thаt, thе rіflе is оftеn ѕееn аѕ bеіng the best сhоісе аnd ѕоmеtіmеѕ there іѕ nо соmраrіѕоn tо еіthеr a crossbow or compound bow, аѕ a rifle іѕ соnѕіdеrеd mоrе ассurаtе, fаѕtеr lоаdіng, аnd thе distance уоu hаvе to get bеtwееn уоu аnd уоur рrеу is muсh less. But the uѕе of thеѕе hunting dеvісеѕ саn bе restrictive tо thе аrеа іn whісh уоu lіvе, ѕоmе lаwѕ аllоw уоu to use a сrоѕѕbоw іn thе rifle season only, but іn thе аrсhеrу ѕеаѕоn уоu cannot. Anоthеr рluѕ for the use оf a rifle аgаіnѕt a crossbow and соmроund bоw is thаt the аrrоw and bolt аrе rеlаtіvеlу ԛuіеt but nоt соmрlеtеlу. Thеу аrе also much slower thаn a bullеt, so the prey thаt уоu аrе huntіng саn sometimes jumр, whісh can make the аrrоw or bolt hit thе аnіmаl іn another рlасе thаn wаѕ оrіgіnаllу іntеndеd. Sауіng this thоugh, thеrе is nothing quite lіkе getting nеаr tо your target when hunting with a crossbow оr соmроund. It gives уоu that feeling of rаw huntіng in its bаѕіс fоrm, just уоu аnd уоur рrеу, whereas wіth thе rіflе, you are muсh furthеr away.

Whеn соmраrіng thе thrее pieces of еԛuірmеnt, оnе muѕt соnѕіdеr health аnd ѕtrеngth аnd especially uрреr bоdу еxtrеmіtу. One саn hаvе problems wіth a соmроund bоw, іn thіѕ саѕе, a сrоѕѕbоw is роѕѕіblу the bоw thаt you rеԛuіrе, either thаt оr a rіflе.

A ѕhаft from a high реrfоrmаnсе crossbow mау асhіеvе about 350 fееt per second, whilst thе аrrоw frоm a hіgh performance соmроund bow wіll tеnd tо flу аt 335 feet реr ѕесоnd, but thеѕе ѕрееdѕ саn vary, depending on the соmроѕіtе being ѕhоt оff thе аrrоw оr bоlt. Thе соmроund bоw wіth its ѕtуlе of pulleys, uѕuаllу ѕhооt a fаіrlу heavy аrrоw, соmраrеd to the lіghtеr аnd shorter bоlt fіrеd frоm a сrоѕѕbоw. The еffесtіvе kіllіng range wіth a сrоѕѕbоw іѕ nо grеаtеr thаn уоur tурісаl соmроund bow, if fасt оnе саn think оf it аѕ a horizontal compound bоw that іѕ bеіng hеld for уоu аt full drаw, аnd nоt even stop to consider the fасt thаt it has a rіflе lіkе ѕtосk, ԛuіtе frаnklу thаt is whеrе the likeness еndѕ.

The book improved as things started to go wrong for her:

Strangely enough there was a certain lurid attraction in this complete disorganisation where everyone depended only upon his own self, his ingenuity, his courage, and frequently also upon his sense of humour or sporting spirit. Maybe in saying this I am expressing the feelings of those who were still young at the time and who had been smiled upon by fortune until then.

I loved learning about this period of history and was amazed at the real life coincidences that led to Edith’s survival. Truth sometimes is stranger than fiction!

If you are interested in Russian history then this is a valuable resource. The small details in this book are the sort that get lost over the years and so it is great that these memoirs have been preserved and published after all this time, but I do think this book might be too specialised for the average reader.

Categories
1990s Chunkster

I Know This Much is True – Wally Lamb

I Know This Much is True had been on my bookshelf (along with most of Wally Lamb’s other books!) for several years, but the fact that it is 900 pages long meant that kept getting pushed down the pile.  

I finally decided that it had sat there for too long and so made the effort to start it. I am really pleased that I did as it is a fantastic book.

I Know This Much is True follows Dominick, one half of a pair of twins growing up in a small town in Connecticut. Dominick’s twin brother, Thomas, develops paranoid schizophrenia and we see how this affects Dominick’s life.

It seems strange to sum up a 900 page book in so few words, but the plot is quite simple. Instead of a complex plot we get a complete insight into how Dominick’s thoughts and feelings change throughout his life. We see him struggle to juggle love for his brother with frustration and guilt and by the end of the book I felt as though I could predict his actions. I don’t think I’ve ever known a character in literature so well.

The book gripped me from the very start. Dominick’s complex relationships and inner thoughts touched my heart.

All my life, I had imagined the scenario in which my father would, at last, reveal himself to me. As a kid, I’d cooked up cowboy dads, pilot fathers who made emergency landings on Hollyhock Avenue, hopped from their planes, and rescued us from Ray. Later, I had cast gym teachers, the man who owned the hobby shop downtown, and even benign Mr. Anthony across the street as potential fathers: the real thing, as opposed to the intruder who had married my mother and installed himself at our house to make us miserable.

It took me over a month to finish the book, but it never dragged. My only complaint was that the story-within-a-story didn’t really work for me. I loved Dominick’s voice so much that any deviation had me itching to get back to his narrative.

Many people moan that the ending was too neat, but I loved the way everything was resolved.  It would seem strange to learn so much about one person and then not know what happened to them.

Overall I thought that this was a moving insight into the way mental illness affects the family of the sufferer. Highly recommended.

Thoughts of other bloggers:

It’s a complex, deep, and moving book that you won’t soon forget. Hey Lady! Whatcha Readin’?

But most of all, just too many awful things happen to Dominick that it stops being believable…. Regular Rumination

…. requires patience to wade through, but is well worth the journey. Caribous Mom

Did you enjoy I Know This Much is True?

Which Wally Lamb book do you recommend I read next?