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1910s Audio Book Classics Novella

The Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (Audio Book)

The Metamorphosis

Five words from the blurb: salesman, transformed, insect, trapped, room

The Metamorphosis is a book I’d always avoided as I suspected it would be disturbing and/or impenetrable. I’m pleased I decided to give it a try as neither of these preconceptions were true. The Metamorphosis is actually easy to read and isn’t very dark at all – in fact it is quite funny in places. 

The book begins with Gregor, a travelling salesman, waking up to discover that he’s been transformed into a giant insect. It is one of those rare cases where an author manages to take a fairly unrealistic concept and make it feel real. I loved Gregor’s confusion and the way he slowly learnt what life as an insect felt like. 

….when he lifted his head a little he could see his dome-like brown belly divided into stiff arched segments on top of which the bed quilt could hardly keep in position and was about to slide off completely. His numerous legs, which were pitifully thin compared to the rest of his bulk, waved helplessly before his eyes.

It is a short book (just two discs in the audio version) and the plot is very simple, but I was entertained throughout. Martin Jarvis’ narration was excellent and I recommend this book to anyone looking for something a bit different.

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Other

Can you recommend some positive stories about flying?

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I’m scared of flying. It is a phobia that has been getting gradually worse over the years and I really want to reverse this trend. I’ve realised that almost all my interaction with planes is negative – from seeing plane crashes/terrorism plots in the news; to reading about crash survivors in literature. If you watch TV dramas and films it is even worse, with about 50% of planes crashing over the course of an episode. I know this isn’t  a realistic reflection of air travel and so I want the images stored in my brain to be more positive. 

Can you recommend any books about flying where there are NO plane crashes? 

I want to read happy, positive books about life in the air. Perhaps the memoirs of a pilot or cabin crew? (as long as there are no scary situations) or maybe a book about someone who uses air travel as part of their job? Wildlife researcher? Delivery person? Cartographer?

Please help me to think of air travel in a more positive light!

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2014 Recommended books

After the Bombing by Clare Morrall

After the Bombing

Five words from the blurb: WWII, Exeter, girls, school, destroyed

Clare Morrall is a fantastic author. I’ve enjoyed all of her books – especially Astonishing Splashes of Colour, a book packed with wonderfully dysfunctional families. She has a talent for constructing realistic, flawed characters that you can’t help forming a deep attachment to. After the Bombing is equally rich in character development and I loved it, despite the fact it tells a story I’ve heard many times before.

After the Bombing is set in Exeter during the extensive bombing raids of WWII. It tells the story of Alma, a fifteen-year-old girl who is forced to evacuate her boarding school when it is damaged during an air raid.

The plot is very simple, but this didn’t matter as the characters were so strong. I felt as though I knew Alma and her friends so well I could predict their thoughts and actions. Some sections of the book showed what life was like for Alma in the 1960s and in many ways these were the most interesting. They showed how the war continued to affect the adults decades later and how quickly the past was forgotten by the younger generation who hadn’t lived through the trauma of war.

The book was very well researched, with beautiful details of everything from the food they ate to the music they listened to. I’m not familiar with Exeter, but I’m sure that those who know the city will be interested in the local history and the descriptions of how landmarks were changed by the war.

At the top of the bank, it’s possible to see the rose garden and the statue of the Goldwyn’s girl that used to stand outside Merrivale. An iconic photograph of this statue was published in the Western Morning News after the bombing. The young girl stood triumphantly in the midst of chaos, miraculously untouched, a symbol of Exeter’s ability to survive and rise again.

After the Bombing was packed with atmosphere and is one of the most vivid books about ordinary people living through the war that I’ve read. Much of the book reminded me of The Night Watch by Sarah Waters, but I think After the Bombing is the better of the two as its simpler structure left the characters to shine.

Overall, this is a wonderful piece of story-telling and is proof that Clare Morrall is capable of turning the simplest of stories into an emotional delight. Highly recommended.

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Other Uncategorized

June Summary and Plans for July

Many thanks for all the kind messages you’ve sent recently. My health is continuing to improve – although I have more tests to complete and still don’t know the cause of my heart problem.

I’ve been able to read again, but only managed to finish 4 books in June. Luckily two of these were fantastic and I highly recommend both The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker and The Mouseproof Kitchen by Saira Shah. Both books are towards the lighter end of the spectrum (in terms of writing style, not subject matter!) and are perfect if you’re after a great story to escape in to.

Books of the Month:

The Mouseproof KitchenThe Truth about the Harry Quebert Affair

Books Reviewed in June:

The Truth About the Harry Quebert Affair by Joël Dicker 

The Mouseproof Kitchen by Saira Shah 

The Shining Levels by John Wyatt 

Lord of the Flies by William Golding 

Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin DNF

Plans for July

I’m taking things slowly, so am not making many plans, but I’m being drawn towards the classics at the moment. I’ve got audio copies of Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka and Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert out of the library and hope to read one or two more “important” books before the end of the month.

I also plan to finish The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton, a fantastic piece of historical fiction (so far!) which is released on 3rd July. 

Anything else will be random, chosen entirely on my mood – the perfect way to be!

I hope you have a wonderful July!

Categories
1950s Classics Nobel Prize

Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Lord of the Flies: Educational Edition by Golding, William Educational Edition (2004) 

William Golding was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1983

Five words from the blurb: boys, marooned, island, transformed, savages

There are several large holes in my reading history and Lord of the Flies was one of the biggest. It is so entrenched in our culture that I felt I knew what it was about, but when I heard it mentioned twice in one day I decided it was time to fill the gap and so got a copy from my local library.

I knew that Lord of the Flies involved a group of boys marooned on a desert island, but didn’t realise it was set during a nuclear war. Most of the rest of the plot was known to me; in fact I think this might be one classic better left unread as I had a far greater opinion of it and its cultural significance before I opened the cover.

The book began well, with some good character development and wonderfully vivid descriptions of the island, but as it progressed I became increasingly frustrated with it. The depiction of life of a desert island was unrealistic and there was no real knowledge of the way the body reacts in a survival situation. I also thought the reactions of the boys was unlikely and the plot became increasingly implausible as it progressed.

I can see why it has become a classic and there are some good messages within it, but I think this is one of those books that might be best read when young as it doesn’t stand up to careful scrutiny.

Overall, it’s a good concept and there are lots of strong, enduring images, but I’m afraid I found it lacked the insight to be convincing.

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Categories
Other

Tales of the City by Armistead Maupin

Tales Of The City

Five words from the blurb: San Francisco, secretary, coincidences, life, romantic

Tales of the City is set in San Francisco during the 1970s. The novel revolves around a boarding house where a diverse range of characters live and socialise in a free society, full of sex and drugs.

I was pleased when my book group selected this novel to read as it is one I’ve heard lots about. Unfortunately it wasn’t for me and I couldn’t finish it. 

The writing was primarily dialogue and I think the main joy is to be found in its humour. Unfortunately I didn’t find it funny. There were occasions when I could see the joke, but I’m afraid it didn’t even make me smile. I’ve never been a fan of US sitcoms and I think this is the bookish equivalent of one.

Mona knocked at the wrong time.
“Uh…yeah…wait a minute, Mona — ”
Mona shouted through the door. “Room service, gentlemen. Just pull the covers up.”
Michael grinned at Jon. “My roommate. Brace yourself.”
Seconds later, Mona burst through the doorway with a tray of coffee and croissants.
“Hi! I’m Nancy Drew! You must be the Hardy Boys!” 

The characters were well drawn, but I wasn’t interested in them. The antics of these young, stupid people made me cringe and I quickly became bored with their inane banter.  

The plot was very slow moving and I struggled through the pages, trying to finish it for the good of the book group discussion. Unfortunately I was defeated and abandoned it after 120 pages. I skim read the ending, but I’m afraid that made me roll my eyes even more. 

Recommended to those who like light, dialogue-led American humour. 

DNF