city of lies

we were on the final leg of a wonderful overseas experience
the flight from sydney to christchurch offering 3 hours of relaxation
laptop? - not today - in-flight movie? - can't get no satisfaction with that mode
so a book it is and still in travel mode so something of world-y genre is desired
favourite mode of book-shop shopping is employed - wait for something to leap
and this one did that - pick me, pick me, pick me impossible to ignore
on board and settle in with thievery corporation's saudade album
very nice too - definitely one to own, recommend and thrash
this is ramita navai's first book - iran born, british based journalist
she has reported from over 30 countries so very well travelled
the brief preface to the book informing us it is based on true stories
city of lies referring to the absolute need for all residents to hide the truth
a repressive regime, dogmatic religion, poverty and crime all conspiring
it's every man, woman and child for themselves in this desperate city
but beyond that she informs us that there is goodness at it's heart
the preface promising to expose us to the real people of tehran
the book is broken into 8 short stories of 8 different people
short stories not my favourite genre but here there's a thread
early on we learn about the main street of tehran called vali asr
a wide, straight avenue very deliberately built to divide the entire city
lined with thousands of sycamore trees and the dominant feature
the author very clearly suggesting this will be a focal point
each of the 8 chapters is named after the central character
dariush - misguided young assassin realising his mistake too late
somayeh - rewarded a hard fought divorce from her porn-obsessed man
amir - forced to offer redemption to the judge of his executed parents
bijan - connected thug who uses police and violence to protect family honour
leyla - iranian beauty on a downward spiral of doomed sexual relationships
morteza - from self-flagellating fundamentalist to contented trans-sexual
asghar - gambling obsessed old man longs for the old days of honour
farideh - upper class lady who seeks escape then misses her tehran life
each story totally different but all wonderfully packaged as a whole
a sum of the parts type book that provides an appealing insight
the reference to vali asr street coming often and a binding component
with the result a feeling that we have been well exposed to tehran
appealing but equally scary - beautifully summed up by farideh
the cab turned into vali asr
two men were stripping a sheep's carcass in front of the mercedes benz showroom
farideh wound the window right down and lent her head out
she never thought she would be so relieved to be back
wrapped in tehran's mountains, protected by her startling blue sky
and warmed by her sun, enveloped by her trees, licked by her breeze
bursts of umber, russet and ochre now bleeding out of the leaves
they drove past the fruit stalls
filled with the autumnal yellows and oranges of lemons, quinces and permissons
the jumble and the chaos and the clamour
the smoky smell of lamb on hot coals which rubbed against her cheeks
the mulberry trees and the jasmine, the layers of dust
the splutter of vans, the man selling puppies on the side of the road
the swarms of motorbikes criss-crossing between beautiful girls in defiant clothes
the juice stands, the gold shops, the ancient bazaars and tunnelled walkways
the chipped blue tiles on magnificent, crumbling manor houses and the hidden gardens
farideh closed her eyes to savour the moment 
great book - tehran here we come.....well?

disgrace

another book by author j m coetzee now read
this one apparantly given the booker prize in 1999
i saw it raved about on a recent book review show
and so when offered a loan of it i had to take it on
david lurie is a poetry lecturer at a south african university
leads a fairly dull life but for his libido problem
the first part of the book demonstrating this thoroughly
no woman is off limits particularly his young students
who are drawn to his intellect and persuasive manner
but in a classic case of one too far he oversteps the mark
his latest conquest informs her parents who in turn react
leading him to be being sacked and well, disgraced
no sympathy from me as i just don't like him at all
the prude in me says middle-aged blokes should act their age
and not go round luring ('scuse the pun) after much younger women
he also has a less than average relationship with his ex-wives
presumably as they have been caught up in his activities
part one of the book takes us up to the point of his ejection
then in part two he retreats to his daughter's country property
possibly as a reaction against her father she leads a simple life
has a now-absent woman lover and looks after neglected dogs
she eeks out an existence in a poor part of rural south africa
so mr lurie finds himself in a quite hostile environment
but seems to find relief in his absence from the spotlight
he takes to writing an opera portaying the life of lord byron
and in typical coetzee style art-imitates-life-imitates-art
so on the surface this book tells an interesting story
but dig a bit deeper and there's more going on
dogs become quite central to the theme of the story
lurie befriends in his usual style a lady at the local veterinary
then finds himself routinely involved in culling the dog population
those ones now neglected, rejected, isolated and un-loved
so it's not hard to see the parallel of a dog's life to now his own
the hardship of life in rural south africa is also well described
seems violence is never too far away and comes into the story
i'm not entirely sure what the author was trying to tell us
there's nothing too endearing about any of the characters
and life on the outside of society is seen as bleak
but maybe that is the point of the story
disgrace - not a good place to be?

the deep field

science fiction is a genre i traditionally avoid
i hold it out there in the same manner as classical music
in that there is a whole world(s) of discovery to be had
but there is always more in known fields to be absorbed
the occasional dabble though is mostly satisfying
this book was encountered in a second-hand bookshop
an appealing cover, an interesting synopsis and bit of a rave
winner of australia's prestigious age fiction book of the year
the deep field is a sensuous and haunting meditation on love, time and loss
the book opens and closes well into the future as an old lady reminisces
she is examining some photos taken by her famous mother anna
the story then comes back in time into the near future
as anna is on a field study in country china
the official photographer on a fossil dig with experts in the field
it's a bleak, timeless setting with the introduction of fossils paramount
the first few chapters also reveal the state of the world post nuclear war
near anarchy in china with the pla in control and causing chaos
anna makes an escape back to her familiar sydney surroundings
the author knows the city well and many places and landmarks are mentioned
he has also has a good understanding of developing technology
and so the time in sydney provides for interesting reading
as anna uses vidphones to communicate visually or aurally
she has a codex as a pda (blackberry?) which has advanced features
including a searchware component to trace and report on her missing brother
she visits premises where she enters a merse tank
providing a virtual experience of anything she chooses
all the time with the backdrop of extreme poverty and a police state
anna finds herself drawn to finding out more about fossils and shells
ammomites in particular which are fossilised marine life
this journey of discovery leads her to an encounter with a blind professor
the author cleverly includes excerpts from his book in this one
each one of these is numbered and titled as apocrypha
(texts of uncertain authenticity or writings where the authorship is questioned)
providing an absorbing insight into the structure of ammomites
so the reader then also joins in anna's voyage of discovery
she finds herself falling in love with the young professor
but she has issues from her past days in china to deal with
and so the book moves between times and places as all is revealed
the disappearance of her twin brother in hong kong also absorbs her
she has also been infected with malaria which makes a comeback
leading to a very fragile physical and emotional state of being
this is the other strength of the book as the reader feels her pain
there are many passages in the book that demand re-reading
this one in particular as she ponders her emotions and fragility
love is not completeness, it is a perpetual incompleteness
a movement towards a boundary that is always in view but never attainable
it is the desire for immersion, for the oneness we can never have
a reaction against the very nature of what we are, our aloneness
stunning stuff really and relevant to all humans i suspect
i must admit i did find the book wandered somewhat in the second half
the author moved away from an interesting past/future expose
to a more narrative based straight-forward story of love, loss and redemption
in which a lot of disparate characters are introduced and have a role
overall it is a very enjoyable, educational and entertaining read
author james bradley resides in sydney and has written other books
so i will be on the lookout for those

the year the gypsies came

this book the result of a flying visit to a second-hand bookshop
one book about to end and a train journey about to start
a few minutes available to ensure book-reading continuity
this title is from 2006 and met the current selection criteria
a story of people in another place and in another time
therefore in line with other recently read and enjoyed titles
the book is set in a well-off white household in 1960's johannesburg
bob and lily iris have teenage daughters named sarah and emily
he runs and works hard at a successful chocolate import business
she plays the dutiful wife though most happy spending the cash
for there are imported fashions, cosmetics, records to be bought
to complete the picture of self-absorption she is having an affair
her oblivious husband allows a transient family to take up residence
parking their land-rover and caravan on their sprawling property
jock is an australian wildlife photographer married to peg
their 2 sons otis and streak are uneducated, clumsy and ill-mannered
having endured their gypsy lifestyle for all of their lives
also living on the property are 2 blacks on minimal wages and long hours
lettie is the housekeeper and the elderly zulu buza is their security guard
the youngest daughter emily has a great rapport with both of them
so while her parents indulge themselves in their shallow and insular lives
their daughters are exposed to and absorb stories and experiences of the land
buza is one very wise old man and foretells trouble with the gypsies
his foreboding is justified and soon unchecked teenage testosterone makes its mark
a lid is briefly kept on the results of this problem that sees the gypsies scarper
but tensions run high and before long the truth escapes explosively
at this point in the book i was totally absorbed with the story
in a short amount of time a lot of issues had been touched on
family relationships, abandoned lifestyles, apartheid, puberty, spiritualism
even politics in the form of nelson mandela are included in the story
the book is written in the first person from emily's point of view
adding another dimension as she struggles with all that surrounds her
but thankfully buza is there as her companion, mentor and guiding light
he passes on stories and expressions from his own life and ancestry
providing the reader with a expose to zulu customs and language
their relationship is the strength and truth in this wonderful story
showing that the wisdom of indigenous people is a powerful force
able to help anyone who is prepared to listen - even a 12 year-old girl
the final chapter reveals emily now as a grown woman with her own child
still in contact with buza now close to death in his zulu homeland
a beautiful, moving, gut-wrenching, unforgettable story
based on the upbringing of author linzi glass
surely a film is following

the blackwater lightship

there's a bunch of second-hand bookshops in the nearest town
the kind of shop traditionally i had not frequented much
but these days books come from either libraries or recycled
which is fine by me as it means no or less reason to accumulate 'em
and even more reason to take a punt on a book with little to go on
case in point being the blackwater lightship by colm toibin
an irish author based in dublin writing in this case an irish story
we shall be reading and living with the blackwater lightship in 20 years
so reads a bold statement on the cover from the independent on sunday
along with a heading stating shortlisted for the 1999 booker prize
the synopsis on the back cover read ok and so the $5 changed hands
this novel is about a now grown-up dysfunctional family
sister helen is now a successful school administrator
married to hugh with a couple of young boys of her own
her younger brother declan is gay and has fallen ill
their estranged mother lily is a career woman
her own mother lives alone in coastal ireland
close to a place called the blackwater lightship
it is at the grandmother's place that the family gathers
including a couple of male friends of brother declan
so the book is set up with 6 quite disparate people under 1 roof
3 males, 3 females, 3 generations, old and new relationships
before long it becomes apparent that declan has aids
and his illness dominates proceedings in the house
as he is tended to and some old family issues re-surface
seems the 2 siblings were dealt with cold-heartedly
when their own father died of cancer when they were young
leading to a real resentment to and detachment from their mother
which really is what the book seems to be wanting to highlight
that the treatment of children is formative for their own lives
the issue of aids is dominant but reactions to his illness seem odd
leading to a check of the year that the book was set in
i could not form an affinity with any of the characters
and the 3rd person narration got to be quite annoying
mostly short sentences prefaced with he/she said/did
not an endearing writing style to encourage re-reading
i think i must have missed something in this one
i kept waiting for something appealing to develop
even expecting an inkling to get back to ireland one day
but the charm of that country and it's residents was lacking
as the end of the book drew nearer i'd given up
there was not going to be any big revelations
it became a case of get through it quickly
even the climax to me was a letdown
which was actually quite a relief
no big surprises with the ending
nothing missed along the way
anyway take the good with the bad
back to the second-hand bookshop we go
i'm sure someone else will pick it up and love it
but it don't come highly recommended from me
beware the quotes of critics on back covers
his prose rises to heights of extraordinary beauty
this is the most astonishing piece of writing
lyrical in its emotion and spare in its construction
yup - definitely missed something
nevermind - over

the secret river

this book came both highly recommended and as a gift
the timing of the reading of this one also of personal significance
the secret river is the hawkesbury river in the early 19th century
the book starts out in cold, depressing, harsh, unforgiving london
william thornhill is born into poverty and lives in rancid conditions
no social welfare in these times so the poorest live abysmally
work is scarce and poorly paid, food and clothing is minimal
wil's near neighbour and friend sal is the daughter of a waterman
he takes him on as an apprentice boatman working on the thames
so over a period of time learns some useful skills and falls in love
before long there is a child and a wife to provide for
part of the survival process for the poor is petty crime
being caught leads to corporal punishment or execution
in wil's case he and his family are sent on a convict ship to sydney
this sets up the second part of the book as the family settles in
initially in sydney as wil works the boats on the harbour there
before long he is also working on the hawkesbury river
spots a very desirable neck of land and secretly imagines ownership
in the meantime the family is expanding and outgrowing their digs
sheer hard work means wil can buy his own boat and the move is on
sal reluctantly agrees to try out life on the land (and water) for 5 years
and so it is that the 100 acres of thornhill's point becomes his own
which is where this book becomes more than a great history lesson
for it is only a matter of time before the natives of the land are encountered
as a reader i was partially dreading what would unfold in this part
the accuracy, detail and identifiable emotions revealed so far were a clue
and knowing even vaguely the history of the white colonisation of australia
meant that more than likely there may not be a happy ending coming up
the author (kate grenville) however takes the time to introduce the locals
and eloquently allows us to learn more of their lifestyle and habits
friendships are formed between black and white and tolerance has a chance
there are some new australians with a heart and mind to co-habitate
but there are some hard characters amongst the convict whites
and some distant law-makers not interested in accomodating alternative lifestyles
the final part of the book sadly depicts the brutality the locals endured
wil and sal and family survive and prosper in their new home
but they are unknowingly affected by what has happened
this pointing to a possibility of repercussions for future generations
there's a bunch of superlatives on the front cover of this book
passionate and disturbing, outstanding, fiercely intelligent
overwhelmingly beautiful, unforgettable, subtle and satisfying
a book everyone should read, breathtaking, vivid and moving
i actually read this book mostly doing my daily train commuting
so crossing the hawkesbury river took on extra meaning
as i took and had the time to be engrossed in the book
it's not often i am so moved by a work of fiction
and in my case another superlative to add
...life-changing...
(watch this space)

the colour

a novel based in the 1860's in the south island of nz
the colour being the term ascribed to the precious metal
that drove men and women to join in the goldrush of those days
the main 2 characters are a couple of unhappily married uk migrants
joseph blackstone has left behind a past he wants to forget
harriet has a sense of adventure that sees her accompany her man
they have his solitary mother lilian for company as they start their new life
buying a few acres of land and building the simplest of homes
then trying to survive off the land at the mercy of nz's harsh weather
joseph discovers a few grains of the colour in their creek
and soon is obsessed by this discovery and wants more
he acts secretly but fails and so decides to join in the rush
that sees him on a very risky boat journey to the west coast
leaving harriet to tend to the farm and his ailing mother
their wealthy neighbours providing the company she needs
befriending their young son who has a secret visitor
being a maori lady who nursed him while young
but banished after an accident that continues to haunt them
at this stage of the book i was well and truly hooked
rose tremain the author has a way of providing excellent insight
so that all the characters she introduces are easily understood
the weather and beauty of the south island are deftly described
with pare the maori lady in the mix a spiritualism is also present
explaining the at-one relationship between maoris and environment
back in the story and lilian finally succumbs and passes on
joseph is unaware as he is mired in the desperation of the goldrush
so harriet takes to her horse to find him and break the news
she longs to be in the mountains and heads there on horseback
looking for a way through to the other side where joseph is
but her sense of survival is stronger than her sense of adventure
so she resorts to the risky boat-trip and arrives in hokitika
finds joseph and then assists him in his part in the goldrush
i don't recall reading about or studying this time in nz history
but the last part of this book provides such an insight
cleverly describing the conditions, desperation and determination
using the story of these 2 totally different people
the climax to the book is actually quite moving
as harriet finally finds what she didn't know she was looking for
and joseph's pays his penance as his past finally catches up with him
some books i read i get to the ending with a sense of relief
in this case i didn't want to part company with it
just so totally engrossing and satisfying
would make a great film
go peter jackson

drop city

a book coming recommended from one of those 1001 list things
from an author touted as 'one of america's most valuable storytellers'
but that is on the cover of the book so to be taken with a grain of slight
t c boyle being the author in question - or thomas coraghessan boyle
this book is a back to basics tale about life on the land
it starts out on a hippy commune in california in 1970
giving an almost nostalgic insight to life in those times
free sex, drugs aplenty, music, apathy, eeking out an existence
take it as it comes, no rules, no expectations, no demands
in parallel there is also a couple living in deep alaska
also back to basics and at the mercy of the weather
meaning life has to be very structured and planned
summer spent earning cash from hunting and trapping
growing vegetables, catching fish, preserving food
winter spent in lockdown in survival mode
things get out of hand on the hippy commune
the author seems to enjoy documenting a decline in ideals
meaning jealousy, possessiveness, envy, distrust take their toll
the straights seem intent on destroying their lifestyle
or at least forcing them out so they flee the bulldozers
and head north to alaska where their leader has a claim on some land
which of course is next to the couple living in blissful isolation
and so we are witness to a serious clash of cultures
hippies being unheard of and not welcome in redneck alaska
but they are here to stay and some friendships are formed
demonstrating that character traits override ideals
so a hippy with bad scrupples can befriend a like-minded redneck
and an isolated housewife can enjoy the company of other women
i enjoyed the way the book was set up to this point
but towards the end i was looking forward to a conclusion
and the more it went on the more i felt uncomfortable about it
it kind of dawned on me (eventually) what the author's intent was
best summed up by suggesting he would be a g w bush supporter
or at least a member of the national rifle association
guns are never far from the action in outback alaska
animals are purely there for killing, eating and/or stripping
a woman's role is to be housekeeper, cook, subservient
minority groups to be sneered on and not helped
free sex leading to an outbreak of an std amongst the hippies
except for the devoted couple who befriend the local man/wife
who become expectant parents along the way
the token african americans are dealt with ruthlessly
their names appropriated for new dogs in the sled team
the hippy leader abandons the flock when the going gets tough
just too many such happenings at the end of this book
which led to a feeling of relief when it finally comes to an end
no big climax - certainly no encouragement for alternative lifestyles
much better to give in to a traditional way of life
him - armed to the teeth and out there taking them down
her - at home alone, baking bread and getting pregnant
makes you wonder what really killed the hippy culture

the red queen

throwing caution to the wind in the book reading department
means bypassing normal stringent selection criteria
and in this case taking on this historical, female-oriented novel
the red queen is in fact a real-life korean crown princess
the first part of the book is the telling of her life story
from the point of view of the princess now in spirit form
the author has based the book on historical documents
and so it is a great insight to life in that time and place
the princess is born into an upper-class family and has a happy childhood
then at the age of 10 is married off to the crown prince
and then faithfully stands by him through thick and thin
for her husband is at the mercy of his dictatorial father
the then king of korea who rules with an iron fist
her new husband also has a mental health issue
known today as paranoid schizophrenia
but in the late 18th century has no identity, drugs or cure
and so prince sado lives a wretched and unhappy life
which affects all those around him particularly his young wife
but she has a strong affection towards him and makes allowances
it's very easy to get drawn into this story
ambition, jealousy, politics, entrapment, loyalty are strong themes
brutality and murder is a part of life and comes close to the princess
particularly when her own husband suffers a long, slow death
she turns to writing and documents her sad life in 4 differing volumes
by the time of her own death at old age we know her well
the first chapter (ancient times) is in fact 166 pages long
but it is all just so easily consumed as it sets up part 2
the second chapter (modern times) is in the 3rd person
dr barbara halliwell has mysteriously been sent the books
on the eve of the departure to seoul for a conference
she is drawn to the story of the princess from the past
and upon arrival in korea has some unexpected encounters
that sees her absorb and observe korean culture
including visits to the palaces where part 1 is based
this all results in a great empathy to the princess and her story
for the doctor has suffered very similarly in love, life and loss
this second part of the book covers just 3 days in korea
but again by the end of it we know the leading lady well
and are aware of the spiritual connection from the past
the climax of the book reminds us this is more than a novel
as the author herself cleverly steps into the story
to legitimise the facts of at least the story of the ancient times
and presumably the actual existence of the journals
this is one totally engrossing and entertaining read
or as the book is described on the cover
a transnational tragicomedy
...if not a travel guide
seoul here I come

dead air

dead air is the buzzword for any time not filled with noise
something to be avoided at all costs apparantly
when you are an announcer on a commercial radio station
which is the job of kenneth nutt the subject of this iain banks novel
told in the first person it covers a year or so of his life
starting at a wedding party in london on september the 11th, 2001
this book is on a 1001 books you must read list i have been referring to
is written by an author whose name i see often in book shops
and the synopsis on the back cover was quite tantalising...
a novel about politics, trust, paranoia and perhaps - redemption
dead air is iain banks at his coruscating best
coruscate - 'be lively or brilliant or exhibit virtuosity'
so i took the plunge and committed myself to this 400 page book
it didn't take too long before i formed a dislike for the man
he is a well-known radio announcer with a very loud ego
lives on a barge on the thames but mostly out partying
alcohol, drugs, sex on demand and devoured feverishly
has few close friends and even those he has cheated on
sleeping with their partners at different times
or close to bedding the young daughter of one of them
conversations he has with friends and acquaintances
are used as the basis for comment or discussion on air
his producer phil and he have a great rapport
there are some quite funny pages of dialogue in the book
as these 2 bounce off each other during the radio show
invariably belittling or insulting some caller or another
about half-way through the book i had just about had enough
it's a very london-centric read with a lot of local references
music companies and dj's are mixed in the plot
but beyond that the promise of an in-depth story was lacking
it's a sure sign of boredom when constantly checking the page count
admittedly though the second half as a crime novel was better
not that i am a huge fan of that genre but something was needed
so through another secret affair things get rather messy
his latest conquest is the wife of a ruthless crime boss
in parallel with this he oversteps the mark on air
his long-term partner dumps him for a band's lead singer
and his best friend finds out about the affair with his wife
so life gets rather complicated and even lonely for him
he makes one big mistake too many and places his life in danger
desperate times call for desperate measures it seems
which also allows the author to have a lot of fun
in the final chapters of the book as our man escapes his fate
...and lives happily every after with the love of his life
all in all not such a satisfying read lacking any substance
i couldn't help thinking throughout there's a film in here
the cad could be played to perfection by hugh grant
it's that kind of book - ok - but....

youth

first published in 2002 but only now in my sights
by way of one of those '1001 books you must read...' lists
picked at random on a google search to assist in book selection
when spoilt for choice at the local library and needing extra input
j m cootzee would be a current favourite author by way of turnover
having read 2 other novels by him in the last 6 months or so
this book is relatively short at a total of just over 168 pages
so able to be consumed in a few hours during today
mostly while sitting on an intercity bus so some quality reading time
john is living in his home country of south africa in the early 60's
is studying mathematics at university but secretly wants to be a poet
he lives alone, and leads a frugal and solitary life for a late teenager
much time is spent dedicated to the pursuit of his dream
mostly searching out and devouring the works of his literary idols
and often questioning their motives, intent and disparate writing styles

but in time he lost his taste for hopkins
just as he is in the process of losing his taste for shakespeare
hopkins lines are packed too tight with consonants
shakespeares too tight with metaphores
hopkins and shakespeare also set too much store on uncommon words
particularly old english words - maw, reck, pelf
he does not see why verse always has to be rising to a declamatory pitch
why it cannot be content to follow the flexations of the ordinary speaking voice
in fact, why it has to be so different from prose

as a backdrop to all this things have turned ugly in south africa
he senses only a matter of time until he is drafted into the white's security forces
so makes a break for it and heads to london - he would rather paris or vienna
but is aware of the likely problem of the language barrier in those cities
his work permit dictates he must secure income quite quickly
his university training enables application for a position at IBM
computer programming is an unheard of skill but he has some merit
and is appointed based on his mathematical studies at university
his time is then neatly split between life as a commuter/worker
and in his spare time continuing to prepare for life as a poet
searching out underground art, cinema and music in 1960's london
along the way he has several disastrous attempts at romance
but he remains resolute that to be a genuine and recognised poet
one has to first taste failure, sparseness and difficulty
eventually he wakes up to the irony of his dual life
and throws in the job at IBM to dedicate himself to bohemia
spends and bludges his way to a point at which reality again kicks in
he's then taken in by ICL to work on a secret cold war program
and thus as far removed from his ideal life as he could be
the conversion from idealism to pragmatism complete by the end of the book
i sense the book itself is quite auto-biographical (a coetzee trait)
or at least well-researched particularly in regards to early computing
most endearing about it is the way it describes so well the idealism of youth
then in turn the way that time and circumstances erode such ideals
all very philospohical really - could really have been called life
and a pleasant way to spend 4 hours on a bus

love in the time of cholera (book)

el amor en los tiempos del colera
which is the first thing about this much-loved book
it was originally published in 1988 written in spanish
and then deftly and impressively translated to english
author gabriel garcia marquez was born in colombia
it is here and the greater caribbean that the book is set
my first exposure to the book was not long after it was published
a friend at the time had read it and was raving about it
and so from that it got put onto the 'one day must read' list
which is where it has been for the 20 (odd) years since then
now it has been made into a film starring javier bardem
i have full intentions of seeing the film on current release
but based on past experiences - better to read the book first
so off to the library, surprisingly it was available and out it went
i have taken it all in over the last couple of days
which says a lot about how very readable it is
at times i found myself ripping through the beautiful prose
more than a little impressed with how well constructed it was
indicating a great translation job if nothing else
but of course there is a lot more to it than just that
for one it is also a great history and geography lesson
it starts in 1929, goes back in time 50 years and works forward
a local boy florentino ariza falls in love at first sight
with a young girl fermina daza who is 4 years younger than he
her father disallows the relationship - he has his sights set higher
so they continue a clandestine relationship via letters
though they cannot meet in any other way and are kept apart
at the moment their paths can possibly join she unexpectedly denies him
which then sees them head off on quite different adult lives
she marries a successful doctor who heroically deals with the cholera plague
and she enjoys the trappings of his success with money, travel and status
he discovers and leads a life of debauchery and heart-breaking
while also building a career worthy of the woman he secretly loves
the book revolves around these 3 people and their lives
and in a very satisfying way works in some history lessons
including the introduction of telegraphs, flight and the 20th century
while covering a lot of ground in travels in and around colombia
similarly the devastation of the cholera epidemic is central to the story
and is never far away at any point with many references to it
but essentially this is a love story and this is the central theme
the leading lady eventually is free from the trappings of her marriage
and the man who loves her most in the world eventually gets closer
then coming full circle they resurrect their contact by letter
from there it would be a spoiler to provide more detail
but as with the rest of the book it is not as simple as it may seem
for this is not your average mills and boon love story
much more emotionally charged than that i would say
the author has described the characters personalities fully
and as a reader you feel you know them so completely
that you find yourself in full empathy with them and their emotions
which also means the 50 elapsed years seems quite reasonable
apart from it being a fascinating journey through time in this place
the ending unintentionally seems made for the big screen
which neatly sums up the rest of the book
in the right hands it will be a great film
hope they get it right

the witch of portobello

the latest novel by brazilian author paulo coelho
his most famous book is titled the alchemist
that and one titled the zahir are the only ones i have read
though enjoyed them both so not too much hesitation in taking on this one
the witch of portobello is a lady named athena
born to romanian gypsies in transylvania
abandoned and then adopted by a lebanese couple
who relocate to london to escape war-torn beirut
from the start of the book it is stated that athena has died
so the book is in effect an investigative journal of her life
presented as a series of transcripts of interviews
some provide first-person accounts of people's relationships with athena
others provide expert opinions in relationship to the investigation of her death
each chapter is in chronological order starting from her adoption
so her new mother provides an insight to athena as a young child
she was unusually and strongly drawn to the church
and claimed to have had a vision of 'a woman dressed in white, like the virgin mary'
this points to her strong spiritualism and independence
which leads to difficulties initially with her parents
then with the man she marries at a very young age and has a son to
she is forced out of the church when she is divorced
further isolating her and triggering a quest for meaning in her life
she turns to travel and subsequent meetings with spiritual guides
one of which turns her on to music and dance leading to trance
this as a means to contact the mother goddess
this power then manifests itself as another being in her body
able to provide words of wisdom and healing advice to mere mortals
so a cult springs up as she encourages her followers in portobello
naturally the conventional church is concerned about her power
and via the press launches a campaign to discredit her
they adopt a name for her and hence the title of the book
it's all very readable and has an unexpected but believable twist at the end
i particularly related to her discovery of music
and it's ancient and universal power to transcend
the author also uses the book to discuss some contemporary issues
including the relevance of traditional religions in the modern world
and the likely continuing evolvement of alternative dogmas
this is all cleverly done by the author in the various transcripts
this from a ficticious 74 year old french historian interviewed about paganism
we may be witnessing a very important moment in the history of the world
when the spirit finally merges with the material and the two are united and transformed at the same time
i imagine there will be a very violent reaction from organised religious institutions
that are beginning to lose their followers - there will be a rise in fundamentalism
if 'new age' was still a fashionable genre then in one sense paulo coelho belongs there
as traditionally his books have delved into spiritualism, self-improvement, oneness, etc
the witch of portobello contains all of that and more
for one thing it is a cleverly constructed straight-up novel
but it is much more than that as he discusses current issues
and further to demonstrate his willingness to evolve and adapt
the book is now the subject of an online film competition
conceived and encouraged by paulo coelho himself
he has invited people to submit a film via youtube on any of the 42 transcripts
presumably to be assembled into one complete film in 2008
looking forward to seeing the results of that

the lovely bones

i've seen this book in all sorts of best-selling lists
also in prominent display in bookshops for many years now
author alice sebold has a new book on offer now that is getting the treatment
joining a public library provides the opportunity to take risks on a few more books
and so despite continually raising a feeling of scepticism from the cover notes
i decided it was time to form my own proper opinion on this best-seller title
the opening chapter describes the horrific rape and murder of susie salmon
at the hands of a loner neighbour who turns out to be a serial killer
she is from a normal family living in a normal town attending a normal school
the not so normal twist to the book is that susie tells her story from heaven
she lives in the lives of her family, friends and classmates
as they all attempt to come to grips with the suddenness of her death
the author then successfully spins off many different story lines
tracing the decline in her parents marriage and health
her younger siblings have growing up and puberty issues as usual
and various other boy-girl relationships are developed and followed
there's also a sympathetic police officer who is intimitely involved with the family
all in the shadow of the crime that has taken place in their world
the murderer evades capture and the body is never found so that adds fragility to all their lives
the on-going life of the murderer is another thread in the book
providing a background to his motives and the way his life is also affected
so quite cleverly the author explains each persons character and personality
then allows the reader equal attention to and time with each of them
including susie sitting up in heaven with her deceased relatives and pets
on occasions she comes down to earth in spirit form to add another dimension
the book spans almost a decade from the murder (early 70's) to the conclusion
i must admit by the end of it i was flipping forward checking the number of pages remaining
a sure sign that my interest in the story had waned and i was wanting a wrap-up
unfortunately this came just all too neatly for my liking in the happily ever after ending
in fact i kind of felt betrayed by the author when the ending unfolded
she had put some work into some of the characters that indicated that would not be possible
but even they seemed content to return to the normality of their lives
my last hope was that the murder would be solved in an interesting way
but no chance as the baddie got despatched by nature in a closing chapter
this was only hinted at but presumably at the hand of susie up above
there is no challenge at all to the concept of an intervening heaven
and therefore probably an appealing factor with the religious right
that could explain why the book has sold in such huge numbers
i hope the film has more grit, substance and controversy
with peter jackson directing there's some hope for that
starring mark wahlberg and saoirse ronan as susie
last seen as briony in atonement
due for release in 2009

slow man

the second book i have read by nobel prize winner (literature) j m coetzee
this one based in adelaide with a lot of references to familiar places in that town
the title of the book would seem to refer to the physical condition of the central character
a man by the name of paul rayment struck by a car when riding his bike
the opening chapter vividly describes the accident and the subsequent leg amputation
so a major change in lifestyle is forced upon the leading character
he's not a young chap and is already dealing with some regrets in his life
particularly the conspiring of circumstances which sees him childless
so when he now finds himself without a right leg it seems it's all downhill from here
he is advised and agrees to take on a day nurse to attend to his injuries
a lady formerly from croatia then becomes his daily visitor and companion
the nature of his injuries requires that he submit to some close physical contact
at the same time she tells him more of her own life in an australian city
with a displaced technician husband forced to work in a car factory
and 3 children of croatian descent but adopting australian values
so for a man already sensing some emotional voids
he allows his emotions to run unchecked and falls in love with marijana
which naturally is not what she requires and so complications arise
about this time another woman arrives in his life from it seems nowhere
her name is elizabeth costello and the subject of another of j m coetzee's novels
she is an author and before long our amputee is on to her motives
he believes her arrival in his life is purely predatory as she seeks another character
another person she can observe, manipulate and document for a future novel
she is one very sharp lady both in observation and in verbalisation
from here we learn the real meaning of this book's title as she continuously berates her host
in her opinion he moves too slowly in decisions and action and nicknames him the tortoise
this as her reaction to the announcement that paul has sent a letter to his love (nurse)
a letter, another letter! what is this - a game of postal chess?
we will all die of boredom before we have a resolution
this is not the age of the epistolary novel paul - go and see her!
contront her! have a proper scene! stamp your foot! (i speak metaphorically)
which in many ways sums up the various themes encountered in this book
a man clinging to his past and tradition and grappling with his current circumstances
a woman very clear about how to deal with situations and pushing the man forward
and so a very general concept worked into a very specific situation
stepping back a little from the details and complexities of the relationships in this book
i found that the author had successfully discussed some very contemporary issues
certainly the issue of loneliness, ageing and regret is a constant in the book
the multi-cultural society also is a theme with the croatian family adapting to their new home
similarly there's a thread running through the book of inter-generational issues and problems
but most prevelant is the issue of differences in the male and female psyche
and in this case handled with respect, candour and good humour
which makes the book very readable
slow man
him
me
or
all
of
us
?

the sea

there's a bit of a pattern emerging of the books i have read lately
this one by john banville comes emblazoned with an eye-catching phrase on the cover
winner of the man booker prize 2005 - another prize winner of an unknown prize
that and a quick read of the synopsis on the back cover is enough
and shifts the book from one of thousands laid out before me seeking attention
to one of a new constant companion as it is given that attention
they departed, the gods, on the day of the strange tide
all morning under a milky sky the waters in the bay had swelled and swelled rising to un-heard of heights
the small waves creeping over parched sand that for years had known no wetting
save for rain and lapping the very bases of the dunes
the rusted bulk of the freighter that had run aground at the far end of the bay
longer ago than any of us could remember must have thought it was being granted a relaunch
i would not swim again after that day
the seabirds mewled and swooped, unnerved, it seemed
by the spectacle of that vast bowl of water bulging like a blister, lead-blue and malignantly agleam
they looked unnaturally white, that day, those birds
the waves were depositing a fringe of soiled yellow foam along the waterline
no sail marred the high horizon - i would not swim, no, not ever again
someone has just walked over my grave, someone
that from page 1 of this story of a man and his trip down memory lane
recalling summers from his childhood spent at the seaside
where he discovers a world outside his own distant parents
and befriends another family of visitors who take up residence in a house called the cedars
they are a family fraught with internal conflicts and allegiances
and through them he discovers the meaning of friendship, lust and love
sadly he is also exposed very early in his life to the grief of death
the book moves between the time spent in his past at the sea
and in current times tending for his now terminally ill wife
which in turn means dealing with his own daughter and her chosen partner
it's a beautifully written book with such descriptive phrasing
i found myself going along for the ride just to enjoy the way the story is told
without too much thought given to the actual story itself which seems quite secondary
there is no doubt that the author's intention is to very clearly remind us
that our childhood days and experiences affect and stay with us for life
and in the end quite possibly it is those times that resonate most strongly
as in this case leading to a physical return to the place of his youth
which quite surprisingly and cleverly connects quite a few dots
a very satisfying read

diary of a bad year

the latest book by respected south african author j m coetzee
who has resided in australia since 2002 and in 2003 won a nobel prize for literature
i'd read a positive review about this book in the monthly magazine of the same name
the title also appealed to me so tracked it down and have now consumed it
first and foremost the structure is unlike any other book i have ever read
the main character in the book has been contracted to write a series of articles
stating his opinion on various issues to be compiled into a collaborative effort
part 1 of this book are individual essays detailing those thoughts
providing opinions on matters ranging from 'on the origins of the state' to 'on dostoevsky'
part 2 of the book is the personal diary of the character come author
telling the story of his relationship with the lady he employs to transcribe his work
part 3 is this lady telling her story of that same relationship
including her own insight into many of the matters written by the author
now in a most unusual manner these 3 parts all run concurrently
in horizontal form on every page of the book
i.e. each page is dissected into 3 parts
so there is a lot of page-turning back and forward
reading forward on one part to a convenient finishing point
then returning back to pick up the thread of one of the other 2 parts
one reviewer had re-read the book by following each part from start to finish
which is a very sensible approach and probably worth doing
but i'm not one for re-reading books in the same way that i don't repeat view films
something about too many other books and films in the world to be visited
that said the opinions offered by j m c in his random essays are very re-readable
especially as each chapter is unrelated to that before or after
i found i was agreeing mostly, learning quite a lot and occasionally dis-agreeing
upon finishing the book i reflected on how it had been constructed
it is quite possible it could have been totally autobiographical
laying out his thoughts, transcribing his diary and his assistant's story
or - it could all be a clever work of fiction wrapped around the various essays
either way the essays 'on' the various subjects he has selected are very insightful
and given the right circumstances would spark some interesting debates
maybe even make for good blogging
now there's a thought....

trespass

winner of the orange prize
was proudly printed above the author's name valerie martin
so being a sucker for a good book i bought it
even though i had no idea what for or where the orange prize is awarded
of course she is the winner for a previous book not this one
but the back cover read well and appealed to me so i committed to it
there are 4 main characters in the story who share the limelight
chloe is an artist living in the country outside new york
her current project is producing an illustrated version of wuthering heights
devoted husband brendan is a university professor of history
and is similarly writing a book about 13th century cruasder frederick
only child toby is at university in new york finding his way in life
he falls in love with salome she of croatian descent
who has a family with a story to tell of the balkans war
her father is a fisherman relocted to louisiana
her mother it turns out though presumed dead is living in italy
the book flits between times, places, people, events
there is the backdrop of the war in iraq that gets the authors attention
and so there seems to be a lot going on at any one point
it hangs together quite well actually
i enjoyed a bit of exposure to the 13th century crusades
and an insight into heathcliff's story in wuthering heights
mostly though it was salome's mother's story that was the most effective
a very sad tale of the brutality of the balkans war of late last century
though i'm not sure why this story was fully contained in italics
as if the reader needed to be reminded this was a story within a story
a minor point but it seemed we were being asked to remember this point
when for me it was probably the strongest part of the book
i'm not sure where the title came from
there is a sub-plot of a poacher on the couple's country property
though the violence affected on salome's mother would warrant the title
i have a feeling the author had all this and more in mind
when she chose the title and built a story around it
hint: the book that won the orange prize is called property
this one is quite a good read really
though it ends quite suddenly
and with a few unresolved issues
i'd recommend it

emil and karl

my new found (need to be) thriftiness has seen me entering second-hand bookshops
not to mention the local library (more coming on that front)
i've found a second-hand shop in my current town of domesticity
that is very well organised and has a large number of titles on offer
so as is my want when on a mission to get into a book
i enter the shop with the promise to not exit until a book is in hand
this approach has worked well in the past at airport bookshops, etc
it means on occasions a title is purchased that may not otherwise be
if given the chance the spirit of procrastination means leaving empty-handed
rather than take a chance on something not totally convincing
which means of course possibly missing a gem of a book
so after a good hour or so in the second-hand shop
i decided on a book titled emil and karl
written by an unknown author named yankev glatshteyn
a polish jew who wrote this book just prior to world war 2
a stark and brutal portrayal of the darkest hour in human history
is written in sub-titled text on the front cover
emil and karl are 2 austrian schoolboys
swept up in the nazi clampdown on jews
emil is a jew whilst karl is his loyal and best friend
i'm not entirely sure why i decided to give this book a read
war books and films are something i tend to want to avoid
i think purely on the basis i just don't want to be reminded
of what terrible things us humans are capable of doing to each other
but the innocence of the child in an adult world is an appealing subject
with some recently seen foreign films fresh in the memory
further investigation of this book offers some further insight
only just recently translated from yiddish
it has been a staple read in yiddish culture since it was written
what i had not expected though
was that in fact it is written with children as the target audience
presumably to provide a tale of friendship transcending culture or faith
for this i enjoyed the story and the comradeship on display
there is also the enjoyment of reading of adults being softened
by the innocence of these two boys and their need for shelter
however it is a very simply written tale
so the book can be consumed in one take over a few hours
something a bit different

the unknown terrorist

the national bestseller
stunning...brilliant
crucial and compelling
this from the front cover of the latest book from richard flanagan
there are more wordy raves also on the back cover
so i thought i'd buy this one about our contemporary society
the book is set in current days in sydney
complete with all the suburb and street names left intact
even the personalities of the town are featured in the book
though for obvious reasons ray martin and alan jones are renamed
the star of the book is an innocent pole-dancer known as the doll
who by association gets caught up as the suspect in a terrorism scare
so has to go underground to escape the hysteria and hence the title
it's not really such a good read
though it is a very easy one
i'm now not so sure what i was expecting from the book
probably a take on the heavy-handed way we are dealing with terrorism
and the effect it is having on our society
the author touches on this but does not criticise, condone or question it
but certainly uses it all to enhance the excitement of his book
there are some books you read where you wonder how it could ever be made a film
not this one as it reads like a film script
and so from very early on i felt a bit cheated by the book
felt that i was just part of the process leading to the real target
of a cinema or tv audience and not a book-worm
there are some real clangers in the book and some terrible stereotyping
seems mr flanagan has a real problem with aboriginal society
not sure what they have to do with the perceived terrorism threat
but he sinks the boot in there on more than one occasion
the same for the poor and wretched in our society
this in reference to an encounter with a beggar in redfern
and because her revulsion had so abruptly overwhelmed her empathy
she found herself thinking how someone else
people in authority, or charities, or government departments
should be helping such people - not her
thanks for your thoughts on this matter mr flanagan
and so i found myself reading it all as quickly as possible
not out of enjoyment but more a case of get it over and done with
or maybe hoping it would get better as it went on
which in a way it did as it wrapped up quite neatly
everything fell into place more or less as expected
the final scene will be quite spectacular on the big or little screen
the unknown terrorist
sucked in