Onions & Tea

Book review - "Demian"

2012-01-15T20:42:00.001+01:00

"Demian: The Story of a Youth" by Hermann Hesse
My grade: A+

An excellent novel! I am a big fan of Hesse, so this comes as no surprise to me. A deeply philosophical work, this is the kind of novel that needs to be read several times in order to be fully understood. But the writing itself is superb, with a wonderful foreword by Thomas Mann. A highly recommended book!

Book review - "A Streetcar Named Desire"

2012-01-15T20:33:00.003+01:00

"A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams
My grade: B+

It's amazing how much Williams accomplished in such little space! This play is very short, but nonetheless extremely loaded. Williams does an excellent job of portraying both time and place, as well as creating characters that are alive and recognizable. Definitely worth the short read!

Book review - "Anna Karenina"

2012-01-15T16:15:00.000+01:00

"Anna Karenina" by Leo Tolstoy
My grade: A-

It seemed immoral to me to give Tolstoy anything less than an A, but my expectations were not necessarily met. I have previously read this book in the original Russian, many years ago, but wanted to reread in English as I felt I had missed many of the nuances. Firstly, I must say that I was not impressed with Joel Carmichael's translation. On a few occasions, the writing itself seemed flat and, dare I say it, bad. Having gotten that out of the way, the work itself is blindingly outdated; a fact that's sad but true. It's difficult to relate to any aspect of it and to understand the lives or purposes of the characters involved.

Perhaps the most tragic aspect of this novel is that I found Anna Karenina herself, the heroine, entirely unsympathetic. There wasn't a single moment in time when I felt sorry for her or her fate, which was by all means Tolstoy's objective. I found her deserving of her grief and pathetic not in the way the author intended.

Another aspect of Tolstoy's writing that simply drove me crazy (and something that has not previously affected me in such a way in his works) is his propensity to digress and focus on his personal philosophies. Many chapters of the book were exceptionally boring and bore no relevance to the main story, arousing questions of why here and now. It gives the impression of a rambling old man, who may have a lot to say, but can't organize his thoughts or ideas properly.

Book review - "Up in the Air"

2011-12-02T12:52:00.001+01:00

"Up in the Air" by Walter Kirn
My grade: B

I presume many will already know what this book is about as it was made into a movie. For those of you who don't, here's a brief synopsis: the hero fires people for a living and his main objective (and in many ways only) is to earn 1 million miles as a frequent flyer. It becomes a sick obsession of his, even though he has no idea what he will do with the miles. But he desperately needs a goal to cling onto, because his world (and life) is otherwise empty.

It is a sarcastic take on a certain class of business professionals and America, painting a rather glum and pathetic picture. Aside from the sometime overdone jargon, the book is mostly entertaining and largely depressive. Worth the read, though.

Book Review - "The Pillars of the Earth"

2011-11-25T08:40:00.001+01:00

"The Pillars of the Earth" by Ken Follett
My grade: A

This really is one colossal novel. Taking place in the 12th Century, the action revolves around the building of a cathedral in England, although it isn't necessarily about that. More poignant (at least, for me) were the details of the uncivilized and unstructured ways of life, the mindsets of the people and the peak into a world that is so unfamiliar to our own. Those with an interest in history will really appreciate this book! It is very well-written and is highly recommended.

Book review - "Horns"

2011-10-19T15:04:00.000+02:00

"Horns" by Joe Hill
My grade: C-

I'm not much of a tree hugger, but this novel is nothing short of a complete waste of perfectly good paper! The writing is lousy at its best, full of cliches, flat characters and poorly chosen words. The story itself, which initially seemed to have some potential, came completely undone quite early on; and as much as I had hoped, there ultimately came no redemption. Don't waste your time, or your money, on this!

Book review - "The Collector"

2011-10-09T21:47:00.001+02:00

"The Collector" by John Fowles
My grade: A-

This is an incredibly disturbing novel! I had to say that straight off the bat. It's disturbing and difficult to read in the same way as "Lolita", and probably, even more so. It is, often, quite sick! But very well-written.

The story is that of a butterfly collector, although that plays no crucial role. Mostly, he is a psychologically ill man, and the story is that of his demise. He convinces himself that he is in love with a girl, someone he barely even knows the name of. And in his obsession with her, he kidnaps her in an effort to make her fall in love with him and live a normal life together with him.

I don't know if Fowles was writing in a time that is much different than ours today; my guess is he was. The relevance that a novel of this nature has to current events is striking; and yet, one thinks that Fowles would have done and said so many things differently had he (in his mind) not been writing about a removed, hard-to-imagine scenario. The scenario is, sadly, imaginable, although entirely not understandable. And Fowles neither sheds light on the psychology of such an individual, nor arouses an ounce of pity for the protagonist. But yet, the novel is a page-turner!

Book Review - "cloud atlas"

2011-10-04T10:29:00.003+02:00

"cloud atlas" by David Mitchell
My grade: B+

This is a very interesting book indeed. It is broken up into different pieces of writing - letters, diary entries, traditional narration, etc. - told from the perspective of different people, living in various times, in various parts of the world. The pieces are initially seemingly unconnected, but slowly begin to come together; at least, in theory. In my opinion, it is a mere formality that joins the pieces to one another, and I failed to catch a single meaning or message from the book as a whole, although it was clearly intended as such. It, nonetheless, remains a very interesting and worthwhile read, excellently-written.

Book Review - "Water for Elephants"

2011-09-06T15:13:00.000+02:00

"Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
My grade: A-

For those of you who don't know what this book, or the movie that's based on this book, is about, here's a quick synopsis: the times are the 1930s, in middle America, and everything that comes with it - Depression, Prohibition, etc. The setting: a train-traveling circus. The plot: a kind of love story.

Gruen does a great job of capturing the time and place, and mentality of the people. She really took me there. The story, generally, is very well-written, but not altogether important. The ending, unfortunately, is rushed and unrealistic; it just seems like a wrap-up only for the sake of wrapping up. It's likewise a bit too idealistic and romantic for my taste, considering also that the tone through most of the book was everything but.

Book Review - "Wives and Daughters"

2011-07-24T15:04:00.000+02:00

"Wives and Daughters" by Elizabeth Gaskell
My grade: A

As the name suggests, this is definitely women's literature. The genre is that of "The Forsyte Saga", although in my opinion, this novel is even better. It is a classic English family saga, taking place in the early 1800s. The unfortunate part of this novel is that the author died prior to finishing the last chapter. Her editor included a note at the end, describing how the novel should have ended based on what had been known from the author herself. It is very unfortunate, nonetheless, that the author was unable to finish the novel herself, with her beautiful style of writing. Despite that, it is still worth a read.

Book Review - "The Ask"

2011-06-21T14:32:00.000+02:00

"The Ask" by Sam Lipsyte
My grade: C+

Hmmm... I'm not sure what to say about this book. I finished reading it two days ago, and have already forgotten the character names and most of the plot. I think it's because there wasn't much to either. It's a mediocre book, in a genre full of such tales; corporate America, average Joe, pointless life, etc. I often come back to this subject, but it's only because I find it crucial to any successful novel: the protagonist has to either be loved by the reader or hated, or at the very least, be an incredibly interesting persona. If he is just an average Joe, and not very likable at that, you're going to have a tough time winning the reader over. Lipsyte, in my opinion, failed at that. There is no message here, no interesting insight, no wonderful plot; by and large, there's nothing outstanding about this novel, it's simply incredibly mediocre.

Book Review - "The Great Wall of China"

2011-06-21T14:25:00.000+02:00

"The Great Wall of China and Other Short Works" by Franz Kafka
My grade: A-

This collection makes me incredibly sad, because Kafka didn't publish anything during his lifetime and even left orders for his friend and literary mentor to destroy all of his writing after his death. That friend, in turn, published his works, much to my appreciation. Some of the stories in this collection are absolutely amazing and very inspirational (from a writer's perspective). All of them, however, are unfinished, often to my great dismay. It was extremely aggravating at times to be left mid-thought, and I was angry at Kafka for leaving it at that. Nonetheless, he was obviously an extremely talented writer and this collection is worth the read!

Book Review - "Suite Francaise"

2011-05-21T13:08:00.000+02:00

"Suite Francaise" by Irene Nemirovsky
My grade: didn't finish

Not that there is too much hype over it, but whatever little hype there is over this novel, it is entirely lost on me. This is the second Nemirovsky book that I read (or attempted to read), and although I found the other one to be mediocre at best, it was still manageable. I found "Suite Francaise", on the other hand, to be unbelievably boring, which in itself is quite a feat considering that all of the action takes place during WWII. She does a lot of stating and scene depiction, but there is little emotion in all of it. She seems to be quite a detached observer, so much so that the reader doesn't even get a hint of any emotion.

Nemirovsky was writing the book during the war itself and perhaps at that time, there were few, if any, novels about the subject matter. But today, there are countless novels on this subject, and Nemirovsky's is probably the least poignant account that I have ever read.

Book Review - "The Green Mile"

2011-05-16T14:31:00.000+02:00

"The Green Mile" by Stephen King
My grade: A+

In one word, this novel is superb! Truly and honestly outstanding!! This may come as a surprise to some of you, but I have actually not seen the movie; at least, not in its entirety. I had only seen bits and pieces, remembering only Tom Hanks, a jail, and a big black man with kind eyes. Needless to say, the novel overshot all of my expectations and forthcomings.

From the technical perspective, I found not a single flaw in the writing. Definitely a new-found respect for King! Not only does he have an excellent command of the language in written form (which is the only form I can judge), but his application of it is simply amazing and awe-inspiring.

As to the actual content, it is no less impressive than the writing style! He tells a horrible story, but one that is very believable. The narrator is a man in his 100's, and it really is wonderful how King captured his voice so well (although King himself was only 49 at the time of publication): one of wisdom and old decrepit age. The story is likewise told in a very humanitarian way, with a lack of politics (from the narrator himself); I find this also to be very age-appropriate (coming from my 28 years).

I regret that I cannot compare the novel with the movie, but I cannot help but feel that no movie could every do this work justice! I don't think I have it in me to watch the film, knowing what happens in the end and throughout, but I recommend the book to everyone.

Book Review - "The Men Who Stare at Goats"

2011-05-09T14:45:00.000+02:00

"The Men Who Stare at Goats" by Jon Ronson
My grade: B+

I'm sure a lot of you have heard of the movie, by the same name, which is based on the book. I have personally not seen the movie, but enjoyed the book (in a kind of way). For those of you entirely unfamiliar, this book is about special agent units within the U.S. army, who have supernatural inclinations. The army attempted, and according to this book, still continues to use supernatural means to fight the enemy and attain information from them (through special types of torture). I found the book quite interesting because I was previously unaware of such tendencies within the army. It is, however, rather disturbing at times, particularly when torture is the subject.

Although the writing is clear in itself, somehow the structure of the book is confusing (if not altogether lacking). I was completely lost during parts of the book and couldn't remember all of the different 'characters' that appeared and disappeared throughout. Overall, a good read though.

Book Review - "The Hand That First Held Mine"

2011-04-26T16:06:00.000+02:00

"The Hand That First Held Mine" by Maggie O'Farrell
My grade: B

This novel is definitely chick lit, with the concept of motherhood at its core. It's a decent story, although badly written at times, and ultimately, not very believable. Firstly, what is meant to be a twist at the end isn't much of one; the reader sees it coming. Secondly, the whole thing is about three notches too farfetched. And finally, O'Farrell didn't succeed in evoking the England of the 1950s and 60s, the setting of one side of the book.

There are some nice moments of the novel, though. And at some points, she really seems to capture the essence of motherhood beautifully, but loses the moment soon after. It would be interesting to see some of her writing in ten years or so.

Book Review - "The Collected Stories"

2011-04-18T21:49:00.000+02:00

"The Collected Stories" by Grace Paley
My grade: B

To begin with, I'd like to say that I didn't finish this collection; I simply couldn't! Not because the writing is bad, though. In fact, I found the stories to be written really well, and I do like Paley's style. But, mostly I found the stories to be completely outdated. I couldn't relate to them at all. As opposed to long-length novels, which can reinvent a world and give you their own confines of it, short stories either have to work with a world that people know or (very) briefly define the world. As Paley doesn't do much definition, my guess is that she wrote in a very different time and place. Her world and her struggles are, at least partially, lost on me.

Book Review - "invisible"

2011-04-14T14:07:00.000+02:00

"invisible" by Paul Auster
My grade: A-

I have to say, this novel started out for me much more promising than it ended (although I'm not entirely disappointed). The writing is superb in itself, but the voice remains the same throughout, even though there are several narrators. For this reason, together with too much telling and not enough showing, the characters don't fully come to life.

The ending, for me, leaves much too many questions in the air and suddenly introduces new twists in a novel that is, technically, not a mystery. There is also quite a large piece about incestuous love, which to be honest, was harder to swallow than Naboko'v "Lolita". And it remains unclear to me what purpose it really served. Finally, I'm not really sure what the title is really referring to, as invisibility doesn't play a central role in this novel; unless, I missed something big.

Despite having said all of that, it was still a good read with a well-developed plot. It reads very fast, and left me thinking about how the story would develop. I will definitely read more books from Auster.

Book Review - "The Forest for the Trees"

2011-04-07T10:55:00.000+02:00

"The Forest for the Trees: An Editor's Advice to Writers" by Betsy Lerner
My grade: A

If you're a writer or an aspiring writer, you should read this book. I found it mostly excellent! It provides a lot of insight into the world of books, writing and publishing. It is written by an editor-turned-agent, as opposed to a writer, which provides a different perspective. It answered a lot of questions for me regarding publishing and the process of it. Lerner also brings up a lot of books and authors, and offers interesting quips from their lives/publishing experiences.

Book Review - "The Corrections"

2011-03-29T21:03:00.000+02:00

"The Corrections" by Jonathan Franzen
My grade: C

In one word, this novel is disappointing. So much hype over nothing! It's a long story, that doesn't end in a significantly different place than it started out. The characters are entirely unbelievable and flat. The writing is mediocre at its best. And the only emotion I felt at any point while reading this novel was boredom. In general, a waste of time.

Book Review - "nice big american baby"

2011-02-19T22:46:00.001+01:00

"nice big american baby" by Judy Budnitz
My grade: B+

My relationship with Judy (yes, I'm on a first-name basis!) is not simple. After reading, and loving, "The Flying Leap", I thought: those are exactly the kind of stories I want to write! And needless to say, Judy became a kind of hero for me, a writer I really looked up to. As often happens in situations like this, though, I'm somewhat disappointed. What I really liked about Judy before is that she took something normal, and slowly went into the absurd with it. And she did it so nonchalantly, that we weren't even sure at what point the change took place. Some of the same can be found in this book, except Judy bypasses the absurd, and goes straight for the abstract. In my opinion, she went one notch too far.

Aside from that, I found the writing too raw in some points. Really, unpardonably raw. My favorite stories, nonetheless, remain the first one, "nice big american baby" and "preparedness". I likewise have to say that Judy has an incredible depth of creativity, and I would definitely read another book of hers, especially short stories.

Book Review - "Everything is Illuminated"

2011-02-07T21:12:00.000+01:00

"Everything is Illuminated" by Jonathan Safran Foer
My grade: A-

I'm not really sure where to begin with this.

This, to me, is the epitome of modern literature. I think books in the future will always be written like this. It is amazing, and abstract, on a number of different levels. But remains, at the same time, very much tied down to this earth and to the past century. Foer utilizes a very interesting style of writing, and one that I have not previously encountered: he essentially has two narrators, telling more or less the same story, each from his perspective, and the story continues to evolve as they write letters to one another, in this way actually revealing important parts of the whole.

The book is hilarious in parts, even laugh-out-loud funny. Foer's main punching bags are Jews and Ukrainians, more so the former than the latter. I would even contend that this book would be difficult to understand for a person who is not at all familiar with these cultures and the histories of these peoples.

I have several big problems with this novel, though (isn't that always the case?). I'm a bit upset that Foer brought the Holocaust into this. The tone of the novel is changed dramatically when it becomes mostly a Holocaust story, and I'm not sure that I can reconcile the beginning tone with the end. Nor do I see it as entirely fitting or appropriate. I understand the message he was trying to make, but I think he overdid it by bringing in a subject that is so loaded. Perhaps he could have sent the same message using a less tragic event? Not sure about that. But then the tone and the people and the lives he describes need to somehow fit more into their fates and the events that ultimately unfold. His ultimate message about Jews is lost on me; does he have one?

I likewise found the ending unconvincing. I don't want to go into too much detail because I don't want to spoil the book for those who haven't read it yet. But I have a philosophical problem here. I wholeheartedly disagree with the author on the premises he builds his ending around. If one disagrees with that notion, the power of one important character, along with the whole message of the book, is largely jeopardized. Foer didn't exactly convince me throughout the novel of this point.

Book Review - "The Tartar Steppe"

2011-01-26T09:48:00.002+01:00

"The Tartar Steppe" by Dino Buzzati

My grade: C

This is the Seinfeld of books, except a lot less entertaining, and never funny. It is a book about nothing, where essentially nothing happens. On top of that, the nothing happens in a very very boring way! Alright, perhaps I'm being a bit unfair. The book is not exactly about nothing; it does have a message, but one we've all heard a billion times. The message is: don't live waiting for great events to happen in the future, but live in the moment, live today. There, I just summed up the whole book in less than 20 words. Why did the author need 265 pages?

Here's my general perspective, especially fitting to this novel: if you don't have anything unique to say but want to say it anyway, say it quickly. For example, write a short story (and by that, I mean really short). If you insist on writing a longer narrative, without a huge meaning in there somewhere, you're going to have to incorporate some literary maneuvers. For example, give us a plot. Or give us great characters. Or, at the very minimum, tell the story in a captivating manner. Just throwing words on paper, in a generally inoffensive manner, is simply not going to cut it.

Not Living (FICTION)

2011-01-24T13:11:00.002+01:00

He's neither living nor dying. He's just floating in a space that's not quite here, and not quite there yet either. What's the point of this, I imagine him asking himself somewhere deep in his subconscious, and I can't help but wonder the same thing myself. What is the point of life if you can't live? Why does he continue to hang on, what is he clinging to?

Book Review - "Open"

2011-01-19T14:31:00.002+01:00

"Open: An Autobiography" by Andre Agassi

My grade: B+

For all you tennis fans (particularly Agassi fans) out there, this is definitely an interesting read, with a lot of insight into the professional tennis world, and more specifically, the Agassi world. Can't say very much more than that about it; this is probably not the kind of book that will change your life. Oddly, though, I have to say that I somehow like Agassi a little less after reading it; somewhere in the process of learning who he really is, I lost some respect. I especially didn't like him using the book to fire some cheap shots at his opponents - i.e., Pete Sampras, Brooke Shields - and portraying people from an obviously-subjective perspective without crediting the subjectivity. If you ask me, Agassi still has some more growing to do.

Human Worth (FICTION)

2011-01-11T14:13:00.003+01:00

With my death, how many families will be shattered? Let me count. There will, of course, be my parents. That's one. My husband will too be a bit sad. He's young and good-looking, though, so there is every reason to believe that he will soon recover and remarry. God only knows what kind of a wife he's going to bring home to my children and what she will raise out of them. That's two, three and four. There is also my dog. Oh sure, in the beginning, someone or other will think tenderly of me and walk him for my sake or throw him a bone. But in the end, all sentiment will run out. That's five.

On the corner of my street, there is a small bakery. The shop is owned by a lovely elderly couple, Joe and Fran. Their children are horrible scum, who deserted their parents in old age. I help where I can, including watching the shop for them on the weekends, buying groceries and odd jobs around the house. That's six.

I work in an office, the same office I've worked in for fifteen years. My boss doesn't remember my name - I won't put him on the list. But I've got a co-worker, Becky, my friend. She's a mess of a person, going through her fourth divorce. She's got five kids, all from different men, three cats, a snake and a parakeet. I help keep her feet on the ground, knock some sense into her now and again. That's seven.

I've got an ex-boyfriend, Dan, hanging around. We dated back in high school, for three weeks. It was nothing special, but Dan fell in love, and can't seem to fall out. He knows that I'm married, but he comes by on birthdays and special events with a bouquet of flowers. My presence sustains him. That's eight.

Everyday, as I walk to work, I smile at people I pass by. Often, they smile back. I like to think I've made their day somehow better, their lives a bit happier. There are countless of people there, not to mention all of the potential to meet more in the future. Those are the people, the families, that will be shattered if I die. That is the price of one human life. Are you sure you want to have that on your hands?

Book Review - "A Thousand Splendid Suns"

2011-01-10T12:25:00.002+01:00

"A Thousand Splendid Suns" by Khaled Hosseini

My grade: A

For those of you familiar with Hosseini's previous work, "The Kite Runner", I am happy to report that this novel complements the first. If the former is a view of Afghanistan through a man's eyes, the latter is a similar story in a similar time, told by two women, whose fates intertwine. It is not so much political as it is humanistic; not so much intelligent as it is real. It's incredibly sad and moving, so much more so because it describes an atrocious world - one that exists today. It brings to light particularly the struggles women in Afghanistan faced in recent history, up to the present day. It is a work of fiction, but I'm sure, sadly, that it tells the story of many women. Hosseini poignantly accomplishes his aims: to portray war, barbarity and (racial/gender-based) inequality so commonplace in his home country, and to evoke compassion and understanding for a culture/religion knee-deep in human atrocities.

Book Review - "The Wild Duck"

2010-12-19T20:38:00.003+01:00

"The Wild Duck" by Henrik Ibsen, a version by David Eldridge

My grade: A-

This is a short play, initially written by Ibsen in Norwegian. I have not read the original, but came across the Eldridge version of it. I found it very good, with very interesting personages, but in this case, I really wish it was longer and better developed. There is so much material here, and so many great directions that he has begun to go into, but has not fully arrived there. At least not for me. I would love to read a longer, more fully-developed version of this work, with a deeper analysis of the critical situations brought to life.

Book Review - "The Magus"

2010-12-19T20:22:00.003+01:00

"The Magus" by John Fowles

My grade: B-

It goes without saying that this book is incredibly talented and very well-written. I won't even bother to say that Fowles has incredible control and skill as a writer. Rather, I will stick to the story and plot itself, wherein lies my problem with this novel/masterpiece. I, too, found the idea initially tantalizing: a magus, a series of unexplained strange events, strange people, etc. And I'll even admit that I remained well captivated through a good three-quarters of the book. But then it got boring. And just a bit (or a lot!) absurd/ridiculously over-the-top. I have to likewise admit: due to my poor knowledge of Greek mythology, many of the allusions were sadly lost on me. In this case, it would have definitely been of a lot of help, if not absolutely crucial to understanding this story.

I likewise found the ending disappointing. I wanted more, needed more. So many pages of mystery, to never really get a full answer. One almost gets the impression that Fowles himself got tired and bored with the story, and slapped an ending on there that wouldn't arouse too many questions; the ending itself is just as mystifying as the story. Perhaps you mythology experts out there could shed some light on all of this.

Book Review - "A Fairy Tale of New York"

2010-11-19T21:49:00.003+01:00

"A Fairy Tale of New York" by J. P. Donleavy

My grade: A-

In some sort of way, this book reminded me a lot of "The American Psycho", although I didn't like the latter at all. This novel, however, is quite amazing on several different levels. Firstly, I have to admit, its abstractedness left me quite lost at moments, and I think to fully understand it, one would have to read the novel a few times. Having said that, though, it at (many) times captured reality so poignantly that I found myself struck by its candidness and simplicity.

Hidden beneath layers of sarcasm and wit is both a story and commentary on New York in particular, and the U.S. and humankind more globally. It's fast-paced, unusually written (e.g., the author uses no question marks, although there certainly are questions asked), exceptional and smart. My one criticism of it is the unnecessary abundance of sex and sexual perversion, and the vulgarity that accompanies that.

Book Review - "Architecture of the Novel"

2010-11-08T11:23:00.002+01:00

"Architecture of the Novel: A Writer's Handbook" by Jane Vandenburgh

My grade: B-

As the title cleverly suggests, this book is about the art of writing. As is likewise suggested, the focus of the book is almost exclusively on writing longer narratives, and I found a lot of the advice offered not at all pertinent to writing shorter pieces, such as short stories. Having said that, there was nonetheless useful information and tips on writing, in general.

I was a bit put off with Vandenburgh's style of writing. I'm not sure whether she teaches, but she definitely speaks to the reader as one, with a somewhat patronizing tone. She is also very closed-minded in her vision of what a novel is; for example, she constantly demands on pointing out that a novel must resemble real life because otherwise people wouldn't read books. I beg to differ! It's boring to read books that resemble life too closely, and one of the reasons I read books, personally, is to get a feel of surrealism. I am curious now to read what Vandenburgh has to offer in the form of fiction.

Book Review - "Medea and Her Children"

2010-10-30T12:43:00.002+02:00

"Medea and Her Children" by Ludmila Ulitskaya

My grade: C

I really must begin by saying that the translation of this book is quite bad. Instead of reading it in the original Russian (which I could have done), I for some reason decided to read it in English. It was quite obvious though in many places that the author was translating directly from the Russian, and the wording of certain sentences was not very 'English'-sounding.

Additionally, the original work is quite lacking. I almost feel like the author ran out of things to say, and pulled this book together out of thin air. She tells the story of about 50 different characters, who are only slightly connected with each other. Their stories are neither unique nor interesting, and one is left with this question: what is the point/message of all this? In the end, I found none.

The characters are likewise entirely undeveloped, maybe only partially because there are so many of them. Medea herself, who I guess is supposed to be the protagonist, is undeveloped. Not a single one is believable or true to himself, and not a single emotion is evoked throughout the whole thing. Even when Masha herself (here's a bit of a spoiler...) commits suicide, one only asks: who cares? My overall judgment: not worth your, or anybody's, time.

Are you a writer?

2010-10-19T13:32:00.002+02:00

Don't know if any of you writers out there have (or had) this problem: I have a hard time calling myself a writer as I am yet unpublished. Since I work as a freelance writer, I do call myself that, but the implications are completely different for 'writer' and 'freelance writer'. It never fails to amaze me, however, how many people use the term (writer, that is) so freely. Every second person I meet is a 'writer'. And I always want to ask, "What does that mean exactly?" After all, if I play tennis once a month with a friend, does that make me a tennis player? Shouldn't we be more careful with the connotations and implications these titles give off? Or are titles too overrated in our drastically-politicized world?

The Search - FICTION

2010-10-18T14:46:00.002+02:00

Is this where we search for one another, in unpaid bills and abandoned rooms? Does one's absence say more than one's presence? Are we so quick with judgement to look for flaws and silence praise?

Vacancy - FICTION

2010-10-18T14:44:00.002+02:00

We're sitting with each other, each of us alone. I wonder how it has come to this. It was so good before, it felt so right. And now I look through vacant eyes, once my shelter. They hold nothing for me now, no promise of a distant comfort, no hint of recognition. They are just... eyes.

Book Review - "De Profundis"

2010-10-18T12:35:00.002+02:00

"De Profundis" by Oscar Wilde

My grade: A

As the title appropriately suggests, this piece is actually quite profound. Written in the form of a letter to his lover, Wilde wrote this while he served his jail sentence for sodomy. He describes, among other things, the tremendous sorrow he feels, and the nature of sorrow itself. He likewise discusses human nature as he sees it, in both its doom and glory. While I cannot agree with everything Wilde proclaims, he has certainly provided much to think about and offered an extremely erudite well-thought-out philosophy of sorts. One thing I may agree with him on: perhaps it really does take an experience similar to imprisonment to arrive at such conclusions.

Book Review - "Dreams from My Father"

2010-10-16T13:58:00.002+02:00

"Dreams from My Father" by Barack Obama

My grade: A-

I suspect that the majority of you already know, or at least could guess, that Obama is a great writer and orator. It must be noted here. His style is neither poetic nor flowery, it is straightforward but full of emotion.

This autobiography covers Obama's, and his family's, history from before he was born up till his marriage to Michelle. I was pleasantly surprised by his candidness in discussing his life and upbringing. I have a feeling that were he writing this book today, as the U.S. president, at least half of the details would be omitted. I'm glad that such an artifact remains in print, however.

While I could virtually not relate to any part of Obama's story, I nonetheless found it extremely interesting and very telling of the person he is today. I am, likewise (if I am to be honest), shocked that a person with such a background could become a U.S. president. I am positive that his worldliness, among other things, greatly adds to his competencies. (I don't really want to start a political debate here. I'm speaking in very broad terms, and looking at an overall picture).

My only critique of the book is that Obama went quite in-depth about periods of his life, which I found to be quite boring. For example, a good chunk of the book is dedicated to his work as a city organizer in Chicago, where he worked on creating and implementing city programs to better the lives of African Americans living there. And while I obviously find his work to be important, I was still bored by the amount of detail he provided pertaining to the three years of his life that he spent there.

Life - Intro (FICTION)

2010-10-04T21:34:00.003+02:00

I see you; can you see me? It's a game we play with one another, to see who can hurt the other more. Yesterday I won, but today a policeman stands at my door, uttering incoherent apologies, and I realize, as my world crumbles around me, he has the last laugh.

(to be continued...)

Slipping Away (FICTION)

2010-10-04T21:28:00.005+02:00

He touches me nicely. Gently. And he has no idea what he is doing to me. He has no clue what a storm of emotions he is about to unleash.

I'm lonely. I'm very lonely. And I need him. But I don't want him to know. So I suppress the tears that are forcing their way out. What would he think if he saw me crying?

I want to curl up into a ball and crawl into his shirt pocket, to lie there quietly, listen to his heart beating. I want to feel small, and sense his overwhelming greatness cover me, protect me. He kisses me all over, and he is so kind, so gentle. So the tears roll down my face.

He sees them, how can I hide? But I still try. I give him a hug, as much to feel his warmth as to cover up my face, my shame. He pulls away, and immediately I see what's on his face, I understand. I have lost him.

Book Review - "The Butterfly House"

2010-10-03T21:45:00.003+02:00

"The Butterfly House" by Marcia Preston

My grade: B

I guess this novel fits into the mystery/family saga genre. And while it is a bit of a page-turner and overall captivating, it still somehow has an air of mediocrity and occasional cliches. The writing is generally good, but the story becomes predictable at one point in time, and let's not forget the happy ending. You can read it, but if you don't, that's also ok.

Book Review - "Lunch in Paris"

2010-09-29T14:47:00.002+02:00

"Lunch in Paris: A Love Story, with Recipes" by Elizabeth Bard

My grade: C+

I'm not really sure what to say about this one. It's a mediocre book, full of cliches and a misguided purpose. Like so many writers out there, you get the feeling that Bard, too, wanted to just write something rather than actually impart a message. If this is a book about Paris or Parisians, there is neither enough focus on that (for my taste) nor enough sentimentality to win the reader over. If this is a book about Elizabeth Bard, her life story simply isn't interesting or unique enough to read. And if this is a cook book, I've seen better! Lesson to be learned from this: read books that have a purpose.

Book Review - "Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow"

2010-09-26T12:59:00.002+02:00

"Miss Smilla's Feeling for Snow" by Peter Hoeg

My grade: B

This is a thriller/mystery novel, taking place in Denmark and Greenland, with the original version written in Danish. This is a very educational novel on a number of different levels. Firstly, I learned a lot about Danish and Greenlandic cultures, and the relationship between these two countries, which I knew nothing about. Secondly, I learned a tremendous amount about different kinds of ice and snow, and large boats. If I haven't piqued your interest quite yet, then let me also say this: it's a very-well written novel, with exceedingly interesting characters (even if it is difficult to keep track of them sometimes) and an action-packed plot. Worth a read.

Book Review - "Bloodroot"

2010-09-05T22:40:00.002+02:00

"Bloodroot" by Amy Greene

My grade: A-

For those of you not very familiar with 'hickville' of the U.S. (such as me), this is a good introduction. This is a novel, in ways quite deep, describing what many would label as typical American, and yet, a life I neither recognize nor can relate to. It's wonderfully-written, seldom sentimental, often times piercing and shocking, yet unpretentious. I'm very curious to see what else Greene has to offer.

Book Review - "A Mouthful of Glass"

2010-08-26T14:53:00.002+02:00

"A Mouthful of Glass: The Man Who Killed the Father of Apartheid" by Henk van Woerden

My grade: B

This is quite an interesting book. As the title suggests, it's a kind of biography of the man who killed Hendrik Verwoerd, the prime minister of South Africa and the engineer of apartheid. This is, however, a novel that is based on the real events, although not limited to them. For me, it's really hard to say where fact ends and fiction starts because I know (or knew) close to nothing about the events concerning the aforementioned time and place. This novel did offer a look into the South Africa of the day, although it would perhaps now be wise to read a more historically-true account of what actually took place.

Book Review - "All Our Worldly Goods"

2010-08-23T13:11:00.002+02:00

"All Our Worldly Goods" by Irene Nemirovsky

My grade: B+

This is a nice novel, full of ironic hope. It spans many years, from before WWI into WWII, taking place in France. The irony is that the author herself was murdered in Auschwitz in 1942, as she was a Jew. The novel has nothing to do with that, though.

I would say it is more akin to a family saga, at times reminding me of "The Forsyte Saga" and "War and Peace". It really is a tender novel, but there is still something missing. I would have preferred a bit more emotion, and I wonder if Nemirovsky would have been able to achieve that simply by adding another 500 pages or so.

The novel is very well-written, nonetheless, and the author carries a very distinct and confident tone throughout.

Book Review - "Her Fearful Symmetry"

2010-08-19T13:52:00.003+02:00

"Her Fearful Symmetry" by Audrey Niffenegger

My grade: B-

This book is along the same lines as "A Time Traveler's Wife", with no fewer supernatural and unbelievable bits. Although this is described as a ghost story, it's not exactly what I understood under that description. There is a ghost in the story, but the reader is familiar with it and there is no 'spookiness' involved, essentially.

The writing, in one word, is mediocre. The characters are not very well-developed. The story is at best unbelievable, if not downright absurd (and I mean that in a bad way). I will most likely forget what this book was about in one month. But, it is a fun and fast read, tear-jerking at moments and perhaps worth the time.

Book Review - "Born on a Blue Day"

2010-08-14T20:56:00.003+02:00

"Born on a Blue Day: Inside the Extraordinary Mind of an Autistic Savant" by Daniel Tammet

My grade: B

As the title clearly states, this is a book about a savant, a condition that is extremely rare. This is a non-fiction work, written by the man himself, which is quite a feat all in itself. I was definitely surprised to what extent Daniel is aware of his condition and conscious of the problems it imposes (speaking about autism here).

I did feel, however, that many of the behaviors Daniel described are somewhat common to children in general, or perhaps not that odd. I don't think that he knows that, though, and get the feeling that he considers all of his behavior to be unusual. Also, as the general public has become more aware of autism and its symptoms, his behavior is that much less striking. What I was personally most interested in are his thought processes related to the savant syndrome, which he could have focused more on. Again, I believe that it is difficult for him to differentiate between normal and abnormal behaviors and attitudes, as he is virtually incapable of getting inside another person's head. Nonetheless, I see this as a major shortcoming to the book.

Book Review - "White Oleander"

2010-08-12T08:49:00.002+02:00

"White Oleander" by Janet Fitch

My grade: A-

This book, in many ways, is very beautiful, while being ugly at the same time. Mostly, this is a story about a girl and her mom; it makes many statements about mothers and daughters, and human relationships in general. The novel is written almost like a poem, where the author has not only a wonderful control of the reader's reaction, but is also incredibly well-read. This is a very good read, although epic I would not call it.

Book Review - "desert flower"

2010-08-08T18:27:00.003+02:00

"desert flower: the extraordinary journey of a desert nomad" by Waris Dirie

My grade: B-

For those of you who don't know who Waris Dirie is, she is a model from Somalia and a special ambassador to the United Nations. She was one of the first women to speak out about and against female circumcision, having gone through it herself at the ripe age of 5.

Her story, in many ways, truly is extraordinary. At least to me, a person who is not so familiar with Somalian/African cultures and practices. Her writing, needless to say, is not all that extraordinary, but writing a book is quite a feat in itself for a person who learned to read and write as an adult.

I was especially shocked to learn about the practices that surround female circumcision, and just how many small girls and women are affected.

Book Review - "The Stranger"

2010-07-23T13:27:00.003+02:00

"The Stranger" by Albert Camus

My grade: A-

Needless to say, this winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature is among the greats. His style is somehow reminiscent of Hemingway and Kafka, and perhaps even Dostoevsky for the literary experiments he undertakes. The main character in this short novel, and in many ways the only character, is quite absurd. If he wasn't so apt at life, I would want to call him autistic, even though that was clearly not the aim of the author. His life takes on a tragic fate, due to an accidental event. His analysis, and sometimes lack of, portray a dreary image.

Book Review - "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo"

2010-07-21T09:41:00.003+02:00

"The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" by Stieg Larsson

My grade: C+

Probably the majority of people have at least heard of this book. For those of you who haven't, this is the first book of a thriller trilogy. Honestly, the chances that I will read the second and third are slim.

The book is written well enough. Thrillers are generally not my genre of choice, although I occasionally read one or two. This one was not definitely not my style. Firstly, the style of the author allows for the reader to discover the resolutions to the several different parallel crimes at the same time as the investigators in this book. In other words, there is no shocking tada at the end, or anywhere in the middle either. I personally don't like that much.

Additionally, one of the main 'crimes' in this novel deals with financial fraud and the likes. Larsson goes into extensive detail (for my taste) on the subject. He largely lost my interest there. I prefer thrillers to be more of a murderous nature, although murder and rape are a great part of this novel as well.

Book Review - "The Half Brother"

2010-07-14T21:21:00.002+02:00

"The Half Brother" by Lars Saabye Christensen

My grade: A+

I struggle to remember the last time I read a book of this caliber. This truly is something huge! The writing is absolutely amazing, not to mention the translation from the original Norwegian. It's inspiring and intimidating to see how much control the author has of everything novel.

It's difficult for me to say what this book is about, because it's about so many things. To oversimplify drastically, the story is that of a family and the people that surround and compose it. The narrative is extremely Scandinavian and unsentimental, in a refreshing sort of way. But the novel is much more than just this single family; it's really a statement on life. A certain kind of life, without a doubt; would leave any advanced reader, though, with questions to reflect on.

I very highly recommend this novel to those with patience. It's neither a short nor an easy book, but well worth the time and effort. Especially to the writers out there, I personally found a whole lot of inspiration and ideas in this masterpiece.

Book Review - "The Empire of Angels"

2010-06-26T19:20:00.004+02:00

"The Empire of Angels" by Bernard Werber

My grade: D

I have to begin by saying I read this book in Russian, as there was no English translation available in all the places I looked. Now I understand why. This book is, in one word, shallow. It introduces a bunch of potentially interesting ideas, along with a whole slew of useless ones, but doesn't develop, in any sense of the word, a single one through. Some relatively-loaded opinions he casually mentions without expanding on them at all, begging the question: why bring it up at all? To simply put your opinions out there, in the form of a disconnected novel, is not really enough to either convey any sort of message nor to convince anybody of it.

Certain moments in this book are, dare I say it, ridiculously cheesy. For example, Marilyn Monroe is one of these angels, for no apparent reason whatsoever. On top of that, at some point in the novel, the angels are fighting with the lost souls in limbo in a "Care Bear Stare" sort of way. If you have every watched Care Bears, you will know what I'm talking about; the angels send really great messages of love and all things nice to overcome the 'evil' coming from the lost souls. Unless this book was written for 5-year-olds, it's hard to believe that the author actually expected to accomplish anything with it.

Book Review - "To the Lighthouse"

2010-06-15T14:25:00.002+02:00

"To the Lighthouse" by Virginia Woolf

My grade: didn't finish

For some reason, I simply can't read Virginia Woolf, although I've tried again and again. I think more than anything it is her style of writing that puts me off. I wish she did more showing, and less telling. She loses me in her tales. I'm also not too keen on the fact that she skips around from one character to the next, leaving the reader with a jumble of partially-developed people in their heads.

Book Review - "Raw Shark Texts"

2010-06-13T21:45:00.002+02:00

"The Raw Shark Texts" by Steven Hall

My grade: B+

This book is conceptually very similar to Scarlett Thomas' "The End of Mr. Y" and Murakami's "Hard-Boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" - both excellent books, may I add (reviews of both available on my blog). For those not familiar with these works, they are in a kind of genre dealing with a world within a world, a Matrix of sorts.

Hall's writing is absolutely exceptional! Not to speak of the endless creativity. The work is very conceptual and definitely requires a lot of concentration. This is also the kind of book that requires several readings, and I'm sure I will come back to it at some point in the future. What I did find on the negative side, though, was the underlying love story at the beginning and end of this. It was a bit too sappy for me, although very cute. In general, though, I definitely recommend this book.

Book Review

2010-06-08T21:50:00.002+02:00

"Absurdistan" by Gary Shteyngart

My grade: D

I'm really glad to be finally done with this book. It's rare that you read a novel that hardly evokes any emotion whatsoever, and what little feelings there are, are entirely negative.

Firstly, this book is exceedingly disgusting, grotesque, crude and unnecessarily pornographic. I hardly say or think in this direction, but the author is clearly hung up on some sort of sexual and bodily themes. The language is downright offensive, especially to those of us who understand the connotations of the Russian words he insists on using.

Secondly, the characters are completely flat. Not a single one of them is developed. Most are based on stereotypes, which is fine. The others are completely middle-of-the-lane kind of folks, entirely unbelievable in their characterizations and arouse no sympathy whatsoever. In fact, I don't think I ever cared so little about the fates of these 'people'.

Thirdly, this novel is satirical only for the sake of satire. I fail to catch some great message here. Shteyngart hasn't opened my eyes to anything at all, and hasn't even really entertained me. Most of the time, I was exceedingly bored.

Finally, I want to say that I'm not sure what a person who has little knowledge of Russian mentality and way of life, Jewish culture and the American culture can gain from this book. Here is the ideal audience: an immigrant Russian Jew, living in America. Big problem: Russian Jews living in America don't care for your story because they've got their own (and that one is probably better). The saddest part of all is that the writing, itself, is quite good. There is clear talent here. The story, though, from beginning to end, is unrefined, uninteresting and from my perspective, entirely useless.

Book Review

2010-05-30T23:19:00.002+02:00

"A Moveable Feast" by Ernest Hemingway

My grade: B+

If you like Hemingway, you must read this book. This is a series of sketches about his early days in Paris. It provides so much insight into the kind of person he was, you fall in love with him in a whole different way, and grow to understand his writing in a whole different light. I was likewise really captivated by the other writers, poets and artists Hemingway was friends with at the time, and to hear him describe them.

If you are a writer, you should read this book.

Book Review

2010-05-27T14:27:00.004+02:00

"In the Dojo: A Guide to the Rituals and Etiquette of the Japanese Martial Arts" by Dave Lowry

My grade: didn't finish

Hmmm... you're probably asking yourself the question, why did she want to read a book about that? After I started reading this book, I struggled to answer the same question myself. But then I remembered. A while back, I watched a program on National Geographic about martial arts. Its focus was on which form of martial art has the most harmful bodily effect. As I watched the program, my curiosity grew as to how these martial arts, as well as their deeply-rooted etiquette and culture, originated.

In (partially) reading this book, I realized that its focus was likewise not exactly what I'm looking for. Or perhaps, my interest in the subject is not great enough to study it so extensively? I think this is a good book for people interested in getting involved in the Japanese martial arts themselves, or those already involved. If anyone knows of a good book that addresses this subject from a sociological perspective, I'd be happy to take on recommendations.

Book Review

2010-05-26T13:45:00.002+02:00

"Message in a Bottle" by Nicholas Sparks

My grade: F

WOW... I don't remember the last time I read writing this bad! I'm not even sure where to begin... There's one cliche after another, entirely unbelievable and flat characters, not a single emotion evoked, a lot of telling and no showing whatsoever, all wrapped in less-than-mediocre writing. The saddest part of all is not that I actually finished reading this book, but that so many of Sparks' novels have had such great 'success' and have been turned into [less-than-mediocre] movies. I find it quite depressing to know that this is what sells!

Needless to say, Sparks is not a "writer" I will be coming back to in the future.

Book Review

2010-05-19T17:57:00.002+02:00

"The Spoils of Poynton" by Henry James

My grade: C

This book was, generally, a big disappointment. Starting with the fact that I couldn't relate to a single character and all the way to, in my opinion, an incomplete ending, I'm not sure that great writing alone could save it. This is about a story taking place in the late 1800s England, and I think it is definitely outdated.

Book Review

2010-05-06T17:47:00.002+02:00

"The Sum of Our Days" by Isabel Allende

My grade: A-

In one word, this memoir is beautiful. Allende correctly labels her family a tribe, and she has, as the matriarch of the clan, built a very close-knit tribe, with love as the basis for all of the relationships. This is the first book I've read of hers, and I don't think this is the right one to start with. Allende has a varied portfolio, composed of several memoirs, a book dedicated to her daughter (who died at 27 years of age), a trilogy of children's book, fiction and a sensual book about love and food. If going down the memoir lane, though, it would make sense to start with her earlier work, as this one essentially starts a couple years after the death of her daughter. It is clear to see, nonetheless, that Allende is not only an interesting and unique person, but also a great writer. Her fiction is definitely on my Amazon wish list.

Book Review

2010-04-28T14:31:00.002+02:00

"Faust" by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

My grade: A- and impossible

Firstly, let me explain my grading. I really have to separate my grades for Part I and Part II of the tragedy; as can already be deciphered, I belong to the camp that claims that each part can really stand on its own, rather than each being only one part of the whole. Therefore, my grading can be understood as so: A- for Part I, and impossible for Part II.

For those of you who don't know, "Faust" deals with the age-old tale of one man making a deal with the devil. And while the first part is relatively easy to follow, although I would argue definitely tied down to an outdated place and time, Part II deals primarily with allegories and classic mythology. To understand the second part, one definitely has to be well-versed in the mythological world, which I am not. Additionally, the second part definitely leaves the world of people, and becomes completely submersed in the world of spirits, both literally and figuratively-speaking.

What I also found very interesting in the first part is to see just to what extent Bulgakov borrowed from and was influenced by this work when composing "Master and Margarita". It would perhaps be interesting to read the two books back to back; starting with "Faust, Part I" and moving on to Bulgakov.

Book Review

2010-04-24T13:56:00.002+02:00

"The Calligrapher's Daughter" by Eugenia Kim

My grade: A

Although it took me time to get into this book, the final absorption was complete and long-lasting. I cannot shake off the images and the emotions this book has unearthed. It is a beautifully-told story about a woman growing up in Korea, starting in 1915 and spanning all the way to 1945. Although mostly fiction, the story is inspired by the life of the author's mother.

The details of people's lives, described in the book, are often unbelievable and always uncustomary in our western ideals. Kim defines piety and filial respect through the actions displayed, and puts into context a life entirely removed from present-day. Aside from the actual content of the novel, Kim is an amazing storyteller and writer! Truly poetic prose, even when describing terribly gruesome circumstances.

The only thing I didn't really like about this book was the central (and important) theme of Christianity. I felt it was overdone, and yet (or perhaps especially due to the fact that) I felt like the purpose of religion here was not to sway the reader in any direction, but rather portray how important religion was in the lives of these people.

Book Review

2010-04-19T13:33:00.003+02:00

"the curious incident of the dog in the night-time" by Mark Haddon

My grade: B-

My grade is based largely on the fact that I found this book boring, which is a terrible thing for a book to be. Especially a book of this kind, which has a very interesting concept to it. This is a fiction novel, narrated by a 15-year-old autistic boy. And while his perspective, habits and way of thinking are interesting and new, the book gets old quite quickly. I somehow had the feeling that it would have more success with a younger audience, for example school-aged kids, although technically this book is aimed at adults.

Book Review

2010-04-16T14:28:00.002+02:00

"Hard-boiled Wonderland and the End of the World" by Haruki Murakami

My grade: A

It will come as no surprise to those of you familiar with Murakami's work when I say that he is somehow not of this world. And I mean that in a good way. I am not aware of another writer, who is better capable of creating such an outrageous world, with such conviction, profoundness and confidence. This is definitely a writer, from whom much can be learned, both about writing and life.

In some ways, this novel reminds me of "The End of Mr. Y". Both deal with a second reality lair inside people's heads and call forth knowledge of physics that is beyond me. Nonetheless, this was a very interesting book, to say the least and well worth the effort.

Book Review

2010-04-11T23:24:00.002+02:00

"The Geography of Bliss" by Eric Weiner

My grade: B

This is the true story of one man's quest for happiness. He takes you on a canny, and mostly amusing, tour of the world, as he seeks to find what makes some cultures happy and others just the opposite. He provides interesting, and often funny, insights into different peoples and their land.

In general, though, I would say this wasn't much of an eye opener for me. It's true, I wasn't exactly struggling with my unhappiness; I firmly believe I know where it comes from, and have it in grip (I firmly believe that). I found it interesting, nonetheless, to meet some of these cultures from Weiner's perspective, and will perhaps take a lesson or two from his conclusions.

Book Review

2010-04-06T21:33:00.003+02:00

"Flying Leap: Stories" by Judy Budnitz

My grade: A-

This is a compilation of short stories, some of which are absolutely amazing. Budnitz seems to have a fascination with starting with something common and normal, and slowly (or sometimes quickly) warping it into something outrageous. She occasionally touches on something so profound, so fundamental, before leaping away from it, I would really love to read a deeper analysis (from her) on some of these topics. A very good read.

Book Review

2010-04-04T21:01:00.002+02:00

"On the Road" by Jack Kerouac

My grade: C

Generally, I have to say this book is well-written. But good writing alone doesn't equal worthwhile reading. This novel makes no point whatsoever; at least, I didn't get one. It describes an America of the 40s, which is entirely unrecognizable to me, although perhaps nonetheless accurate. There is a huge lack of morality in virtually all of the events that take place, although the author seems to neither praise nor judge it, nor really comment on it one way or another. Additionally, due to the repetitiveness of the events, the book gets quite boring at some point, and getting through it became a feat of its own for me.

Book Review

2010-04-01T09:00:00.002+02:00

"Stasiland: Stories From Behind the Berlin Wall" by Anna Funder

My grade: B

As a lot of you probably guessed, this book is about East Germany, and what took place there. Funder is a reporter, and carries out various investigations into the goings on of the GDR, obviously after the fall of the wall. She definitely provides a clear and honest lens into yet another dark time in Germany, and if you are not much familiar with what took place east of the wall, this is a good book to read.

Having said that, two things were lacking in this book for me, and technically they are tied in together. Probably due to Funder's journalistic background, she often times in the book doesn't make a statement and doesn't take sides, when I wish she would. Likewise, her reporting is often just that, reporting; I'm missing some emotion, although I wouldn't say this book is void of that altogether.

Book Review

2010-03-26T14:37:00.002+01:00

"A Year in the Merde" by Stephen Clarke

My grade: A-

This book is very funny, at (many) moments laugh-out-loud hilarious. It is about a British guy, living and working in Paris for a year. He has an excellent sense of humor! Clarke seems to capture a lot of the essence of the French culture, among others. Needless to say, he makes A LOT of exaggerations, but there are many truths in the book, as well. If nothing else, it's a fun fast-read.

I do have to mention, though, that I liked the book at the beginning much more than I did as I kept reading it. I was asking myself why. I think my problem with it, is that as I got to know the main character, Paul (not sure why he goes by Paul, if the author's name is Stephen), I liked him less and less. I'm afraid his sense of humor doesn't even come close to compensating for many other negative qualities, but that shouldn't necessarily take away from the enjoyment of reading the book. We don't have to live with the guy!

Book Review

2010-03-23T13:59:00.002+01:00

"The Book Thief" by Markus Zusak

My grade: B

When I bought this book, I didn't exactly know (or perhaps I have forgotten in the meantime) that this was another Holocaust novel. As probably the majority of us out there, I have read way too many of these, especially lately, and wasn't too keen on divulging into another one. And rightfully so: this book (as ALL Holocaust books) is not for the light of heart.

Aside from the story line, which I'm sure you at least have an idea of, stylistic twists are likewise present. In my opinion, though, they do not live up to their full potential. This novel is narrated by death itself - I love the concept - but Zusak doesn't take advantage of this fully. Most of the time, the reader forgets that death has anything to do with this, and the narrator could be absolutely anybody - fly on the wall, third-person omniscient, my grandmother. Likewise, Zusak tries to give death a kind of personality, and in my opinion fails. He doesn't stay true to character (death, I mean) and in the end, is by and large a flop.

Additionally, what I think Zusak tries to do is poke fun at, essentially, thrillers and working up the tension in novels, in general. I had a huge problem with this: a novel such as this, a Holocaust novel, is no place to poke fun at anything, really. One can definitely sense Zusak's attempt at lightheartedness, especially in the beginning, and his sense of humor, but I wish he had chosen a different subject, then, to display all of his talents.

Let the blog tour begin!

2010-03-21T21:48:00.004+01:00

I am honored to have the opportunity to host a blog tour for the very smart and unique novel, "Resolution 786", written by Mohamed Mughal. Mohamed will be 'joining' us for the next three days, where he will answer up to three questions posted by you, the readers, about the novel and his writing approaches. As promised, the first person to post a question receives a free autographed copy of the book.

I'm very excited to have some thought-provoking discussions, and see what new light Mohamed can shed on his literary works and ways!

I hereby declare the blog tour open.

Book Review

2010-03-18T13:32:00.002+01:00

"The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls

My grade: A-

This is quite a memoir, of a life that is definitely not common. It's amazing what kind of circumstances Jeannette and her siblings grew up in, and still turned out decent. The parents are also quite extraordinary people. On the one hand, they are criminals for what they put their children through and the criminal activity they occasionally engaged in. On the other hand, though, they also have some redeeming qualities to them, especially the father, making it impossible to completely hate them.

I was at first really put off by the lack of emotion that seems to be Walls' style. Throughout the novel, though, I found that it was in fact quite emotional and powerful, in her own way. Walls is who she is, after the life that she has lived.

Book Review

2010-03-12T13:23:00.002+01:00

"American Psycho" by Bret Easton Ellis

My grade: F

First off, let me say that I did not, and could not, finish this book. I struggled through the first 200 pages, wanting to give up on it almost everyday. This book is ridiculously vulgar, disgusting, violent, cruel and sadistic. I kept waiting for a reason for all of this to be revealed - and perhaps it is at some point - but not in the first 200 pages. I could not bring myself to read the remaining 200.

In general, I found no trace of this being 'an excellent novel' or addressing 'Dostoevskian themes'. In fact, I resent the fact that Dostoevsky's name is mentioned on the back cover of this book. Ellis describes a world I have never seen a trace of, and am not sure I can believe in. His characters are pointless, and if the message was that people are superficial and crazy, I would have preferred both better writing and a better plot.

"Resolution 786" Blog Tour

2010-03-10T17:13:00.001+01:00

Dear fans and readers,

Want a free book signed by the author?

I’m excited about hosting an international blog book tour for Resolution 786. American author, Mohamed Mughal, will be joining our blog from 21-23 March 2010 to answer questions about his novel and about his approach to writing. Mohamed will answer up to three questions from blog visitors during the dates noted above. The first visitor to ask a question receives a free signed copy of Resolution 786!

You can read more about the novel and the author in the interview posted at http://www.harfordneighbors.net/index.php?section=1&subtype=136&id=2732 .

Remember, this is an international book tour so if you miss Mohamed on my blog, you can still catch him in the U.K. or the U.S. at:

22-24 March 2010, “Not-quite-a-blog” by Imran Ahmad, United Kingdom, http://unimagined.typepad.com/unimagined/

23-25 March 2010, “Another Writer’s Life” by Austin Camacho, United States, http://ascamacho.blogspot.com

Book Review

2010-03-02T13:32:00.002+01:00

"The Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism" by Max Weber

My grade: didn't finish

This is a book that was recommended to me by a professor in my MBA program. Contrary to what the back cover claims, though, I do not think every informed citizen would want to read this book. I found it to be too much of a textbook to be accessible to the masses. The language is very dry and boring, and I had a tough time focusing on the ideas being presented.

Book Review

2010-03-01T21:57:00.002+01:00

"The Lovely Bones" by Alice Sebold

My grade: A-

As I'm sure everyone knows by now, due to the hype of this book and it being made into a movie currently out in theaters, this is a novel narrated by a dead 14-year-old girl. For those who know me well, this type of creativity alone ranks high in my book. Putting that aside, though, this is a well-written, interesting and thoughtful novel, which slowly becomes less of a thriller and more about life.

I do have a couple of criticisms of this book, nonetheless. Firstly, it is a bit romantic for my taste, and I don't mean in the traditional sense, although there are a couple of love stories. But I am referring mostly to the all-too-philosophical wrap-up of the novel. I wish Sebold made an even greater statement with it; is it conviction that is missing?

Also, Sebold touches on a very sensitive subject, which has become quite popular in literature nowadays (joining Jodi Picoult and Jacquelyn Mitchard, to name a couple): women deserting their families in their struggle with traditional feminine roles. While this is potentially a subject of interest to me, and something that I, as a woman, think about all the time (role of women in society - not leaving my family), I have yet to find a compelling argument in fiction. Feel free to recommend a book in that department, if you know of one.

Book Review

2010-02-26T09:32:00.003+01:00

"The Beans of Egypt, Maine" by Carolyn Chute

My grade: B-

This is an interesting book, mainly about the very poor and uneducated Bean family. There is definitely talent here, but just like the author has said, this work feels unfinished. Perhaps my problem with it is that the author is clearly and profoundly of a much higher class than the Bean family itself. Their overly simplistic ways of life have already been interpreted and are not exactly presented in an 'unbiased' manner, if a writer is ever unbiased. Chute was definitely trying to defend, and perhaps explain, the Beans' way of life, but she has presented it in such a complex way, that the message is often lost. This book would send a much stronger message, in my opinion, if Chute had let the Beans do more of the telling.

Book Review

2010-02-22T23:01:00.003+01:00

"Seven Notebooks of Life"* by Tonino Guerra

My grade: didn't finish

This book is a compilation of very short stories and poems of Guerra, who is, I guess, known mostly for the films he has made. The works are definitely not bad, but they are very neutral to me. The stories are those of his life, short snippets from here and there. Perhaps one has to really be attached to the cities/famous people he is writing about, but I personally found it hard to focus on a story that is half a page long. The writing is good, but not really exemplary. I know nothing of Guerra's films.

* I read this book in Russian, and the title given here is a direct translation from the Russian one. This is, however, a compilation of short works, a sample of which could be taken from any other compilation of short works by Guerra.

Book Review

2010-02-20T23:30:00.003+01:00

"Child 44" by Tom Rob Smith

My grade: A

The saddest part of this book is that it depicts a reality that by and large was true, based on everything we now know, and what I know to be true from my parents, grandparents and their friends. This is a story of the life in Soviet Union, particularly during Stalin times. It is mostly a story of fear; but also of defeat, sadness, integrity and sadly, life. Since I have begun reading this book, I have not been able to stop thinking about it. What a terrible fate for millions and millions of people.

I wonder what sense this book makes for people who have no connection whatsoever to the USSR. Your opinions, and anyone's for that matter, are most welcome here. Perhaps it will not make an impact on you as it has on me. I would liken the utter gruesomeness one confronts in this book to the one found in McCarthy's "The Road", although this novel is completely different.

If I were capable of looking at this book unbiasedly, I would comment on the successful, but apparent, attempt at a page-turner and the somewhat absurd plot development towards the end, but since I'm not, I'll just say it's worth your time. This is a book, and a feeling, that will stay with me for some time.

Big brother, this is one for you!

Book Review

2010-02-13T20:38:00.002+01:00

"The Fountainhead" by Ayn Rand

My grade: A-

This is one large project of a book, just to read, nevermind to write. If you don't love literature, don't even attempt to read this novel; you will not succeed. It is incredibly dense and complex, and probably some of the best writing I have ever seen - or, at least, comparable to the best. My only criticism of the writing itself is in the rather predictable and sappy ending, when plot definitely kept me on my toes.

Ayn Rand presents here her unique philosophy, objectivism. She introduces her concept of the ideal man. She has not convinced me of either. Firstly, I would argue that the ideal man is feasible to Rand only because he doesn't actually exist and in her world, there is only one such man. If the world were infested with Howard Roarks, Rand's main man, they would no longer seem all that ideal. In fact, I think most would agree that such a world is not possible. Rand's argument would have been more convincing if she placed Roark in a society full of others just like him and shown how well, if at all, such a society would function, and if a set of each-man-for-himselfs could even be labeled as a society.

Secondly, I believe Rand's argument flies out the window if one is to consider parenthood seriously. I think the majority of people who have children have felt at one point or another what it is like to put him/herself second. It comes as no surprise to me that Rand herself didn't have any children. To proclaim that the proper life philosophy is to pursue one's own happiness at any cost and to serve one's own ego goes against the basic animal instinct to reproduce, an instinct Rand seems to have been missing (ignoring?).

Having said that, I have to admit that I agree with Rand on a number of things. I, too, believe that each man should have the capacity to think for himself and not be led by the opinion of other people, but what to do with people who are lacking in this capacity? Likewise, I agree with her concept of personal integrity, and being able to face yourself in the mirror, although she is far from the first or last writer to focus on this subject.

In general, I believe Rand was a genius of a kind. Were she not, she would have been unable to write this novel, speaking from a literary perspective. I'm not sure how good she is at philosophizing though, mostly because I don't think her theory could hold in the real world.

Book Review

2010-01-18T21:05:00.002+01:00

"Rosie" by Anne Lamott

My grade: C

Built largely around cliches and 'what-you-would-expect' scenarios, this novel is neither talented nor new. The story has potential, but the mediocre writing and the characters' unbelievability make for a neutral read at best. It's definitely a fast read, but I'm not sure anything is gained in reading it.

Book Review

2010-01-13T11:59:00.002+01:00

"The Dying Animal" by Philip Roth

My grade: B-

I have very mixed feelings about this book. As one critic put it, I would definitely agree that it's disturbing, but I'm not sure about the masterpiece part. This short novel in many ways is an analysis of the primitive and instinctual man, which in itself has huge potential. However, the overabundance of vulgarity, crudeness and bad taste take away from it to such an extent that I considered giving up on the book several times. There are, nonetheless, nice and smart moments, compelling the reader to continue. And there is both a point and a statement, although I'm not sure that Roth's arguments are so convincing one way or another.

There was a movie made based on the book, staring Penelope Cruz and Ben Kingsley: "Elegy". The movie follows the book quite closely, although a lot of the vulgarity is definitely (and thankfully) omitted.

Book Review

2010-01-12T12:37:00.002+01:00

"Resolution 786: A Novel in Three Acts Telling Cuneiform Tales of Love and War and God and Lust and Loss" by Mohamed Mughal

My grade: A+

This is in many ways one of the most intelligent, and daring, books I have read in a long time. The concept alone - putting the Lord on trial - deserves an A for sheer creativity. What I appreciate most about this novel is that it assumes a smart and knowledgeable reader, one who will read actively. If you are not familiar with the Bible, however, many of the allusions and references will be lost on you.

While one of the central characters in this book is God himself, I would not call this a religious book. Rather, I think it is much more humanistic in both its form and goal. I also don't think you necessarily have to be a believer in order to appreciate its beauty. Beware though: while it reads like a fast-read, it is everything but that. This novel has many layers to it, both heartfelt and grotesque, making it quite genius.

Stay tuned for more information about a virtual blog tour with Mohamed Mughal, to take place in March. You will have the opportunity to voice your questions to the author, and get direct replies from him.

Book Review

2010-01-07T20:28:00.002+01:00

"Irrational Man: A Study in Existential Philosophy" by William Barrett

My grade: B+

I will admit straight out, I did not finish this book. But, it wasn't because I didn't find it interesting or well-written. In fact, the only negative thing I have to say about it is that my interest in existential philosophy expired before the book did (which says more about me than either the book or the author). I think this is a book I will come back to in the future, and I would recommend it to anyone looking to learn more about existentialism. I am judging, however, from the perspective of a layman rather than a philosopher.

Book Review

2009-12-20T11:37:00.003+01:00

"The Deep End of the Ocean" by Jacquelyn Mitchard

My grade: B-

I look at this book as having a lot of potential, but very poorly edited. The basic story is about a family whose child gets kidnapped, and what happens to their lives as a result. The characters are, though, mostly unbelievable. In other words, character development is poor at best. There was also very little emotion evoked, even though I expected this one to be a complete tear-jerker.

This book feels more like a draft rather than a finished project. With better/more editing, this could have been something good.

Book Review

2009-12-14T13:33:00.002+01:00

"Russian Disco: Tales of Everyday Lunacy on the streets of Berlin" by Wladimir Kaminer

My grade: C-

While this book is mildly funny at times, most of the time it is useless and boring. It neither entertains nor enlightens. This author also seems to have quite a selection of friends, from prostitutes to druggies to madmen. If you're interested in hearing stories of what happens to the likes of these people, with no moral being drawn from it, read this book.

Book Review

2009-12-10T14:30:00.002+01:00

"Embracing the Ties That Bind: Connecting With Spirit" by Carole J. Obley

My grade: put aside

The only thing I really want to say about this book is that it is about connecting to your own spirituality. And my reason for putting it aside is because it seems like a slightly worser version of anything by Sylvia Browne, whom I would highly recommend to anyone. Period.

Book Review

2009-12-08T00:22:00.003+01:00

"Revolutionary Road" by Richard Yates

My grade: C

This book, stylistically, belongs with the American classics, akin to "The Great Gatsby". Although, in my opinion, it doesn't exactly add up. On the one hand, the writing is definitely good, but it is also definitely not flawless. It rambles on, for the major part of the book, with useless and boring details. It is extraordinarily depressive, without a clear message. The characters do not arouse an emotional attachment, neither in life nor in death. And, it has completely outlived its time.

Book Review

2009-11-28T22:25:00.002+01:00

"She's Come Undone" by Wally Lamb

My grade: B+

This is one whale of a book (and if you actually read it, you will know what I mean). It is the story of one woman's life, but in some ways and at some parts, it's the story of life, period. What I think the author does particularly well is capture the really important moments of her life, starting at a very young age, and ending at 37 (if I did my math correctly) years old. Having finished the book, you really do get the feeling that you are fully aware of Dolores' life, and it has definitely been one of transformation. I also think the author deserves a lot of credit for being a man and writing (and capturing) about the essences of so many women.

A big critique point: the book is raw in some places, and unnecessarily grotesque (for my taste). If you can get past that, though - which, I'll admit, at moments is hard - you will be able to gain a lot from it as well.

The Walk (FICTION)

2009-11-15T21:45:00.002+01:00

I go to sleep and I dream a strange and terrible thing. Two eyes... eyes?... glare at me. But there is nothing attached to them. No head, no body, no thoughts. Just pupils, staring, glaring, with darkness all around. There is a lot of darkness and it never seems to end. There is a neverending darkness.

The eyes, they continue to glare, and suddenly they begin to turn red. At first, they become like normal red eyes, with no head, but then they become really red, blood red. There is still no emotion in them. Just blood red eyes staring, glaring out at me in the darkness. And suddenly I realize, these are my eyes, this is my blood. My eyes are draining out the blood from my body, and I'm dying, I'm dying.

I decide to leave. If I must die, I'm certainly not going to watch myself do it, in the neverending darkness, watching my eyes watching me. So I walk. I walk and I walk, in the darkness. I don't know how far I walk, but every time I look back, my eyes are watching me, my red blood-stained eyes. They watch, and they judge... and they die. So I walk.

I come to something. The shape is strange and the color is dull, and finally I come to see it is my tongue. It is my tongue hanging in the middle of this neverending darkness, and it is lifeless, dead. My tongue is dead. My eyes are bleeding and my tongue is dead and I am dying, so I continue to walk.

I walk and walk and I have no idea how far I walk, but every time I look back I see my eyes bleeding my blood and my lifeless tongue hanging there, ridiculing me, judging me. So I continue to walk.

I come finally to a disheveled mess. There are... things... thrown all around. They are hanging, separated in the neverending darkness. And suddenly I realize, these are my organs. My lungs are handing to my left and my pancreas is to my right, and so I start to search. I search and search through my organs, and I don't know how long I search for, but I cannot find my heart. And every time I look back, I see my bleeding eyes and my lifeless tongue watching me, following me, judging me.

And then, I die.

Book Review

2009-11-14T14:33:00.002+01:00

"Never Let Me Go" by Kazuo Ishiguro

My grade: B

Overall, this is an interesting and a creative story. At some point, it begins to almost become science fiction, but remains still very much fine literature. It does raise a number of moral dilemmas in regards to medical technological breakthroughs, which I can certainly appreciate.

I do have a significant amount of criticism though. Firstly, for one reason or another, the first 150 pages or so are very difficult to get through, and the pace (along with the plot) picks up drastically after that. Secondly, I'm not exactly in love with Ishiguro's writing style in this book. He employs the same literary tactics over and over again, which loses the desired effect. Thirdly, although I think I understand his reasons for doing so, I don't think he chose the right period of time in the protagonist's life to focus on. The vast majority of the story has to do with Kathy growing up, ages 7 through 18, and a lot of it is centered around problems that children of that age go through, which are to some extent irrelevant to the overall themes.

All in all, though, if you have patience and can force yourself to get through the first bit, you will be surprised with what unveils thereafter.

Book Review

2009-11-10T11:36:00.002+01:00

"Spiritual Serendipity: Cultivating and Celebrating the Art of the Unexpected" by Richard Eyre

My grade: D

My biggest criticism of this book: it is entirely useless. It does mention what its intentions are, but I'm not sure that it really lives up to those. Half of the book is wasted away on defining (and redefining) what serendipity means, and then telling a long fairy tale about something that has something to do with serendipity.

In general, I'm not necessarily big on self-help books and it's perhaps due to books like this.

Book Review

2009-11-06T13:06:00.002+01:00

"The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" by John Boyne

My grade: A

I don't want to say too much about this book, because the intention of the author clearly is to keep readers somewhat in the dark. I will say a couple of things, though, as I feel they must be said. Firstly, this is a Holocaust story. Secondly, it is told by a 9-year-old boy, which is what makes it unique.

Needless to say, this story is one that will stay with you for a long time. It's incredibly powerful in its simplicity and manages to capture so wonderfully a child's perspective on such atrocious and unfathomable events. To look at this from the perspective of a child brings so much insight and raises so many questions, that one could argue that this should be required reading. If you can be brave and strong, read this book.

The Reading Mother

2009-11-01T22:02:00.002+01:00

I had a Mother who read to me

Sagas of pirates who scoured the sea,

Cutlasses clenched in their yellow teeth,

"Blackbirds" stowed in the hold beneath

I had a Mother who read me lays

Of ancient and gallant and golden days;

Stories of Marmion and Ivanhoe,

Which every boy has a right to know.

I had a Mother who read me tales

Of Gelert the hound of the hills of Wales,

True to his trust till his tragic death,

Faithfulness blent with his final breath.

I had a Mother who read me the things

That wholesome life to the boy heart brings-

Stories that stir with an upward touch,

Oh, that each mother of boys were such!

You may have tangible wealth untold;

Caskets of jewels and coffers of gold.

Richer than I you can never be-

I had a Mother who read to me.

- Strickland Gillian

Book Review

2009-10-31T14:43:00.002+01:00

"Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

My grade: C

Yes, it has been brought to my attention that this book has won a number of awards - that doesn't necessarily mean anything to me. I didn't like it at all.

Firstly, I have no idea what this book is about. I guess something to do with philosophy, but I'm not really sure what the message was. I suppose the biggest story within the story was the sinking of the ship, consequently placing Pi in the middle of the Pacific Ocean for some 7 odd months. However, it took a long time to get to this part within the greater story, largely not to my understanding. Virtually all of the previous information is useless.

Secondly, I'm not exactly sure what the problem is specifically, but this was an incredibly boring read. I can't really say that it is poorly written; the writing itself, especially in certain parts, is excellent. Perhaps it is the total lack of tension. Even in moments where there should, and normally would be lots of tension, the reader is not at all moved to feel much of anything.

Book Review

2009-10-23T13:31:00.002+02:00

"The Time Traveler's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger

My grade: A-

This novel has an extremely interesting idea behind it, which isn't new: time travel. But, the way Niffenegger draws it out and the details she provides are not something I have thus far seen in literature. This alone is worthy of, at least, mention.

As the back cover states, this book is essentially a love story. But it truly is written in a very believable way, even the time traveling itself. And, unlike most love stories, it really does force you to stop and think about what's going on, because the time travel makes things a bit confusing. To put it simply, this is a love story told through bits and pieces that are not necessarily in chronological order, and do not necessarily make logical sense.

In general, this book is very well-written, if a bit on the girly side. The first 200 pages or so may be a bit boring at parts due to stylistic repetition, but it definitely gets better after that. I cried during most of the last 100 pages or so. I found the overuse and the unrealistic focus on sex to be a bit too much, but would otherwise recommend this book.

Book Review

2009-10-09T22:03:00.004+02:00

"Waiting for Godot: A Tragicomedy in Two Acts" by Samuel Beckett

My grade: A+

This is a really short play that can be read in one hour, and is definitely worth your time. I'm not fully sure what it's about, as it's definitely not as straightforward as it might seem. In fact, I have many more questions now than at the start of the play, but I guess that's the point. If you want to be confused, and have something to think about, try this play.

Book Review

2009-10-09T09:02:00.002+02:00

"Fiesta: The Sun Also Rises" by Ernest Hemingway

My grade: A

It actually took me a relatively long time to understand the full brilliance of this book (more than half way in), but I suppose that is just another part of its genius. This is quite a straightforward story about some pretty normal people living in France some time after WWI, although the war has nothing to do with it (mostly). Through this book, Hemingway makes quite a statement about society in general, and more specifically, about the different groups of people that are encountered in the book.

My only criticism of the book is the 'Brett' character, who reminds me entirely of Dostoevsky's 'Nastasia Filipovna' (from "The Idiot"). As these things always go, though, Nastasia was a much more sympathetic character, despite all of her many flaws and being a woman of low morality, and this served a huge (and vital) purpose in the climax of the book. With Brett, the reader never fully understands her and only sees that she is largely liked by people around her, but the reasons for that are not fully clear. I think this book could have been that much stronger if Brett's character were more developed.

I recommend this book only to people who truly like fine literature. If you are just out for a good story, this book is not for you.

Book Review

2009-10-02T14:14:00.001+02:00

"The Maltese Falcon" by Dashiell Hammett

My grade: B-/C+

This is a classic detective story. It takes place in America of the 1920s, and does a pretty good job in portraying the San Francisco of that time. This part I found to be pretty interesting. The story itself, however, is too twisted for my taste. New details arise at every step of the way, but almost in a forced manner. The final twist is also not enough of a climax, as it is firstly partially predictable and secondly, implicates a character that the reader is not particularly sympathetic with. It's possible that this book has simply outlived its time. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it.