27 Dec 2005
What I'm reading ...
I have started Flashman by George MacDonald Fraser. This is the January Bookclub selection - I'm getting a bit behind with my reading, but at least the BBC make it easy to catch up with the programme later. I am hoping this is a little more like light reading after the last two books ...
26 Dec 2005
We Were the Mulvaneys - by Joyce Carol Oates
This book took quite a while to get through. Partly this was because it's quite long [450 pages], but also because I have been devoting less time to reading than I'd like to. It wasn't hard to read and is very well written.
The story is about a family over something like a 15 year period, written mainly from the viewpoint of the youngest member. There are the parents and 4 children - 3 sons and a daughter. When the daughter is raped, a train of events almost leads to the complete destruction of the family - hence the title of the book.
There are ups and downs in the book and a real feeling [for me] of how life can make you feel out of control. Obviously, the rape is a terrible experience for the victim, but I had never considered how such an event might have wider implications. I have read other books on this subject [like "Lucky" by Alice Sebold], which have given me some insight, but there always seems to be more facets. In this book, the idea that the victim ends up with such a low opinion of themselves - a low self esteem - is introduced. I am not clear whether this comes from the event itself or from the reaction of her family and community.
All in all, I am glad that I read the book and feel that I have gained from it. It makes me sad that a "dream family" can fall apart like this, but I am encouraged by the description of how the individuals came out of it OK.
The story is about a family over something like a 15 year period, written mainly from the viewpoint of the youngest member. There are the parents and 4 children - 3 sons and a daughter. When the daughter is raped, a train of events almost leads to the complete destruction of the family - hence the title of the book.
There are ups and downs in the book and a real feeling [for me] of how life can make you feel out of control. Obviously, the rape is a terrible experience for the victim, but I had never considered how such an event might have wider implications. I have read other books on this subject [like "Lucky" by Alice Sebold], which have given me some insight, but there always seems to be more facets. In this book, the idea that the victim ends up with such a low opinion of themselves - a low self esteem - is introduced. I am not clear whether this comes from the event itself or from the reaction of her family and community.
All in all, I am glad that I read the book and feel that I have gained from it. It makes me sad that a "dream family" can fall apart like this, but I am encouraged by the description of how the individuals came out of it OK.
2 Dec 2005
What I'm reading ...
I have started We Were the Mulvaneys by Joyce Carol Oates.
I have owned this book for some years. I bought it first when it was announced as a future Bookclub choice. Then that programme got cancelled, as the author was unwilling to travel after 9/11. I was, therefore, pleased to see it recently re-listed. So the time to read it had come ...
The only downside is that it's the story of a family with tragic circumstances - just like the last book I read.
I have owned this book for some years. I bought it first when it was announced as a future Bookclub choice. Then that programme got cancelled, as the author was unwilling to travel after 9/11. I was, therefore, pleased to see it recently re-listed. So the time to read it had come ...
The only downside is that it's the story of a family with tragic circumstances - just like the last book I read.
Family Planning - by Tim Parks
This was an interesting read. It had its humorous moments, but was, on the whole quite serious. A lot of the story is told by means of letters between the main characters. I like this style - it gets you into the head of the individuals.
All through the story, we are told that Ray is the mad one. I began to gradually wonder if he was the only one. Most of his immediate relatives seemed to have screw loose.
As is so often the case, I found the ending rather disappointing. The future is mostly set, but there was no clear "closure".
All through the story, we are told that Ray is the mad one. I began to gradually wonder if he was the only one. Most of his immediate relatives seemed to have screw loose.
As is so often the case, I found the ending rather disappointing. The future is mostly set, but there was no clear "closure".
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