I have started Walking Home by Simon Armitage. I needed something different, preferably not a novel, so autobiography or travel seemed good topics and this book covers both. Here's the blurb:
In summer 2010 Simon Armitage decided to walk the Pennine Way. The challenging 256-mile route is usually approached from south to north, from Edale in the Peak District to Kirk Yetholm, the other side of the Scottish border. He resolved to tackle it the other way round: through beautiful and bleak terrain, across lonely fells and into the howling wind, he would be walking home, towards theYorkshire village where he was born.
Travelling as a 'modern troubadour' without a penny in his pocket, he stopped along the way to give poetry readings in village halls, churches, pubs and living rooms. His audiences varied from the passionate to the indifferent, and his readings were accompanied by the clacking of pool balls, the drumming of rain and the bleating of sheep.
WALKING HOME describes this extraordinary, yet ordinary, journey. It's a story about Britain's remote and overlooked interior - the wildness of its landscape and the generosity of the locals who sustained him on his journey. It's about facing emotional and physical challenges, and sometimes overcoming them. It's nature writing, but with people at its heart. Contemplative, moving and droll, it is a unique narrative from one of our most beloved writers.
27 Mar 2014
Life After Life - by Kate Atkinson
I was not disappointed! The book is complex, but (for me) not confusing. It build upon the basic concept of a life having multiple timelines to tell a rich story instead of a complicated one. In any book, one learns about characters by "observing" what happens to them and how they respond. In this book we get to know Ursula very well as she experiences multiple lives.
As usual, with Kate Atkinson's books, the quality of writing is excellent. For example: "It was beautifully hot and time treacled past every day", "a pared fingernail of moon", "Maurice had never got his hands dirty. Never been to an incident, never pulled a man apart like a cracker or knelt on a matted bundle of fabric and flesh that had once been a baby."
I always like to feel that I have learned something when I read a novel. In this case, there was much to learn about Britain in the '30s and '40s as well as about Germany before and during the war. I also came across two phrases that use the whole alphabet. I have always used "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog", but now I can choose from "Quick wafting zephyrs vex bold Jim" or "The five boxing wizards jumped quickly".
I was amused as I was reading this book while travelling to Berlin. At one point Ursula was living on Savignyplatz; I was meeting a friend for dinner that evening on that exact street. I was sad to finish the book, even though it was quite long, as it was a compelling read. I eagerly await future work by this author.
As usual, with Kate Atkinson's books, the quality of writing is excellent. For example: "It was beautifully hot and time treacled past every day", "a pared fingernail of moon", "Maurice had never got his hands dirty. Never been to an incident, never pulled a man apart like a cracker or knelt on a matted bundle of fabric and flesh that had once been a baby."
I always like to feel that I have learned something when I read a novel. In this case, there was much to learn about Britain in the '30s and '40s as well as about Germany before and during the war. I also came across two phrases that use the whole alphabet. I have always used "The quick brown fox jumped over the lazy dog", but now I can choose from "Quick wafting zephyrs vex bold Jim" or "The five boxing wizards jumped quickly".
I was amused as I was reading this book while travelling to Berlin. At one point Ursula was living on Savignyplatz; I was meeting a friend for dinner that evening on that exact street. I was sad to finish the book, even though it was quite long, as it was a compelling read. I eagerly await future work by this author.
12 Mar 2014
What I'm reading ...
I have started Life After Life by Kate Atkinson. I have always enjoyed this author's work, so I was excited when this new book was published. It is quite long and, I am told, a complex somewhat challenging read. I observed recently that most modern novels have multiple timelines and was surprised to read one which had just one. This book takes the concept to a new level. Here is the blurb:
What if you had the chance to live your life again and again, until you finally got it right?
During a snowstorm in England in 1910, a baby is born and dies before she can take her first breath.
During a snowstorm in England in 1910, the same baby is born and lives to tell the tale.
What if there were second chances? And third chances? In fact an infinite number of chances to live your life? Would you eventually be able to save the world from its own inevitable destiny? And would you even want to?
Life After Life follows Ursula Todd as she lives through the turbulent events of the last century again and again. With wit and compassion, Kate Atkinson finds warmth even in life's bleakest moments, and shows an extraordinary ability to evoke the past. Here she is at her most profound and inventive, in a novel that celebrates the best and worst of ourselves.
What if you had the chance to live your life again and again, until you finally got it right?
During a snowstorm in England in 1910, a baby is born and dies before she can take her first breath.
During a snowstorm in England in 1910, the same baby is born and lives to tell the tale.
What if there were second chances? And third chances? In fact an infinite number of chances to live your life? Would you eventually be able to save the world from its own inevitable destiny? And would you even want to?
Life After Life follows Ursula Todd as she lives through the turbulent events of the last century again and again. With wit and compassion, Kate Atkinson finds warmth even in life's bleakest moments, and shows an extraordinary ability to evoke the past. Here she is at her most profound and inventive, in a novel that celebrates the best and worst of ourselves.
11 Mar 2014
Long Walk to Freedom - by Nelson Mandela
This book took quite a while to read as it is so long. It was originally published as 2 volumes. I took a couple of breaks during reading it to catch up on other stuff.
I like autobiography generally and, in this case, there is a big slice of very significant modern history, much of which occurred during my life. I enjoyed getting the detail and background on the events that dominated the news over the years. The book is well written and easy to read, with modest size chapters that break it up into manageable pieces. Mandela does not give too much away personally - a very large proportion of the story is about the events and politics of his adult life.
The story finishes 20 years ago, when he became president. I am curious about his life thereafter. I will look out for any other books that can elucidate. I saw the movie recently, which, even thought it necessarily skipped over various parts, was reasonably faithful to the book.
I like autobiography generally and, in this case, there is a big slice of very significant modern history, much of which occurred during my life. I enjoyed getting the detail and background on the events that dominated the news over the years. The book is well written and easy to read, with modest size chapters that break it up into manageable pieces. Mandela does not give too much away personally - a very large proportion of the story is about the events and politics of his adult life.
The story finishes 20 years ago, when he became president. I am curious about his life thereafter. I will look out for any other books that can elucidate. I saw the movie recently, which, even thought it necessarily skipped over various parts, was reasonably faithful to the book.
1 Mar 2014
Deaf Sentance - by David Lodge
I was slightly nervous about reading this book, as, having read and enjoyed quite a few of the author's books some years ago, I had high expectations. However, I was not disappointed, as I enjoyed the book very much.
The story is not fast moving and there is no edge of your seat anticipation of the next chapter. But the pace is fine and the balance between the moving story elements and the comedy - almost farce - are just about right. There are little twists and turns, rather than big surprises - rather like real life most of the time.
Although I would not class it as "a great work of literature", I was impressed by the quality of writing in many places, frequently pausing to reread a particular passage. Sometimes Lodge manages to encapsulate feelings that I well understand into a compact package. For example: "It was a moment when we should have hugged each other, but it is not in our lexicon of body language. The most we could manage was a stronger, longer handshake than usual."
I was wondering whether it was an error or a very subtle use of language when Des said "I squealed to a halt in parking lot ...". I would expect him to say "car park". But was it because he was going to visit an American? I also observe that the door is left ajar for a sequel. Will Alex return?
The story is not fast moving and there is no edge of your seat anticipation of the next chapter. But the pace is fine and the balance between the moving story elements and the comedy - almost farce - are just about right. There are little twists and turns, rather than big surprises - rather like real life most of the time.
Although I would not class it as "a great work of literature", I was impressed by the quality of writing in many places, frequently pausing to reread a particular passage. Sometimes Lodge manages to encapsulate feelings that I well understand into a compact package. For example: "It was a moment when we should have hugged each other, but it is not in our lexicon of body language. The most we could manage was a stronger, longer handshake than usual."
I was wondering whether it was an error or a very subtle use of language when Des said "I squealed to a halt in parking lot ...". I would expect him to say "car park". But was it because he was going to visit an American? I also observe that the door is left ajar for a sequel. Will Alex return?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)