Ah, 2012! A great year for distractions, not such a good one for reading! Although, having said that, I did spend a few hours reading 'The Somnambulist' rather than watching the sailing on a big screen on Weymouth beach, so perhaps I can't really blame the Olympics or Jubilee!
2012 really didn't start well for my project. One book in two months? TWO MONTHS? And a book of short stories at that?! I'm pretty sure it wasn't the fault of R, Murray Gilchrist, author of 'A Night on the Moor and Other Tales of Dread', or his stories. As usual, I'd bitten off more than I could chew with a training course, lots on at work and a number of other factors too tedious to go into. June was equally unsuccessful, because my friends had the audacity to keep getting married or having children. I didn't want to chance chucking a hardback at the married couple rather than confetti, so decided not to try to multitask that month!
Fortunately, for the rest of the year (nine months) I made my target of at least two books a month. This totalled 21 volumes in all, excluding the three books I gave up on (sorry Ms. Austen!), which brings it up to 24. OK, it's not quite the 30 books I managed in 2011, but it's still progress. Slow progress, but progress nonetheless!
I've read quite a selection of books this year, so I hope you've all found something of interest to you. The books included modern classics, science fiction, horror, humour, literary fiction, historical fiction (surprise, surprise!), short stories (ditto!) and non-fiction. There have been quite a few new books in there this year, including the lovely 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' and enchanting 'Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures'. Although I don't regret reading them for one moment, trying to be less distracted by new releases will have to be a resolution for 2013, otherwise I'll never empty my shelves!
My big regret for 2012 is that I didn't take advantage of various celebrations, anniversaries or film releases to spur me on. 'We Bought a Zoo' came out on DVD, while 'The Woman in Black', 'Anna Karenina' and 'Life of Pi' arrived at cinemas. There is still hope yet, though. While 2012 was the 50th anniversary of the first James Bond film, 'Doctor No', 2013 is the 60th anniversary of the first Bond book, 'Casino Royale'. Sounds like a good opportunity to me!
On the whole, I think this has been an OK year, but I definitely want 2013 to be better. A minimum of two books a months seems manageable, so I think I'll stick to that for the time being, but I must make sure the acquisitions stay under control too! I think I would like to read more classics in next year (I have my eye on 'Jane Eyre', 'Tess of the D'Urbervilles' and 'Anna Karenina') and more non-fiction (I've got a few history books waiting for me). Although I don't want my love of historical fiction to take over, it would be great if I could finish at least one series of books. I'm part way through Jean Plaidy's Tudor novels, Bernard Cornwell's King Alfred books and Winston Graham's Poldark stories.
I sincerely hope that you've enjoyed reading my blog as much as I've enjoyed writing it. I always try to be honest and fair in my opinions and respectful of the authors whose work I read, which I hope comes across.
Until next time, I'd like to wish you all a very happy new year and the very best for 2013! I hope you'll join me again soon!
2012: The Year in Books
January
'A Night on the Moor' by R.Murray Gilchrist
March
'QI Book of General Ignorance'
'The Virgin's Lover' by Philippa Gregory
April
'The Help' by Kathryn Stockett
'The Psychopath Test' by Jon Ronson
May
'Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day' by Winifred Watson
'Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops' by Jen Campbell
'Notes on a Scandal' by Zoe Heller
July
'Fragile Things' by Neil Gaiman
'The Great Gatsby' by F. Scott Fitzgerald
August
'The Somnambulist' by Essie Fox
'The Day of the Triffids' by John Wyndham
September
'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' by Rachel Joyce
'In-Flight Entertainment' by Helen Simpson
October
'Laura Lamont's Life in Pictures' by Emma Straub
'Bob Servant: Hero of Dundee' by Neil Forsythe
'Sword Song' by Bernard Cornwell
November
'How to be a Woman' by Caitlin Moran
'Legend of Sleepy Hollow' by Washington Irving
December
'Little Boy Lost' by Marghanita Laski
'The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ' by Philip Pullman
31 December 2012
23 December 2012
The Good, The Bad, or The Ugly?
I've just finished reading 'The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ' by Philip Pullman, one of the Canongate Myth series of books through which authors re-imagine stories from various cultures. Unfortunately, I didn't know this when I started reading!
'The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ' begins with the idea that not one but two babies were born to Mary in the Bethlehem stable. While Jesus begins as a mischievous child who grows into a passionate believer and inspirational cult leader, Christ is steeped in scripture and idealises the politics and hierarchy of organised religion. After an argument about the best way to bring about God's kingdom, Jesus and Christ go their separate ways, although their lives are irrevocably entwined. As Jesus's following grows, Christ becomes his biographer and, under the influence of an unnamed stranger, is eventually responsible for turning the man into a legend.
This book wasn't really what I expected. I didn't know that this was part of a series of re-written myths beforehand and, knowing a little about Mr Pullman and his previous work, I expected this novel to be more polemical and rooted in reality, particularly as the title seemed so provocative. In truth, 'The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ' is much more about the power of storytelling and an exploration of myth-making than a comment on religion or Christianity.
As an alternative history, the story was OK. The style was interesting and well pitched, bringing back childhood memories of reading Ladybird Bible stories. At times is was so convincing I forgot I was reading a parody! If you're reading the book as a myth, this is a great strength, but if you're expecting some more realistic twist on the tale, it feels a bit like a case of Stockholm Syndrome.
Because I was looking for thought-provoking ideas and opinions, I felt the most interesting moments were when the characters soliloquised about their faith, expressing doubts and worrying about the consequences of their actions and myth-making. Unfortunately for me, these moments were few and quite late on in the book.
Overall, I found 'The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ' a bit disappointing, but think this is because I was approaching it from the wrong angle. It's title and provenance suggested to me a book which gave a new perspective on religious faith, which it clearly isn't. If you're interested in alternative histories, however, this is a well-written, considered piece that may be of interest to you, although it probably won't knock your sandals off.
Now let's see if we can make this month three in a row!
As an alternative history, the story was OK. The style was interesting and well pitched, bringing back childhood memories of reading Ladybird Bible stories. At times is was so convincing I forgot I was reading a parody! If you're reading the book as a myth, this is a great strength, but if you're expecting some more realistic twist on the tale, it feels a bit like a case of Stockholm Syndrome.
Because I was looking for thought-provoking ideas and opinions, I felt the most interesting moments were when the characters soliloquised about their faith, expressing doubts and worrying about the consequences of their actions and myth-making. Unfortunately for me, these moments were few and quite late on in the book.
Overall, I found 'The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ' a bit disappointing, but think this is because I was approaching it from the wrong angle. It's title and provenance suggested to me a book which gave a new perspective on religious faith, which it clearly isn't. If you're interested in alternative histories, however, this is a well-written, considered piece that may be of interest to you, although it probably won't knock your sandals off.
Now let's see if we can make this month three in a row!
13 December 2012
Lost Properly?
I've just finished 'Little Boy Lost' by Marghanita Laski, one of Persephone Books' rediscovered 20th century classics. How this gem of a novel remained buried until the early 2000s, I'll never know!
After the death of his Parisian wife in occupied France, English poet Hilary Wainwright is content to believe that his baby son perished with her. But when an unexpected guest arrives with news that the child may still be alive, Hilary suddenly finds himself duty-bound to begin searching for his son. Returning to France after the war, he reluctantly follows a trail through the corrupt and abused country, until he meets a little boy in a poor orphanage 50 miles from Paris. Every day for a week, he gets to know the child, Jean, but remains torn between his selfish desire for intellectual solitude and his need to love and be loved.
'Little Boy Lost' is a beautifully crafted, well observed analysis of Hilary, a complicated man caught between his desire to secrete himself away in an intellectual ivory tower and properly grieve for his lost wife and son. He's not particularly likeable, but he is a realistic, contradictory human being. As a result, tension is created not just by the will-he-won't-he search for the lost little boy, but also by whether Hilary is actually likely to make a good enough father.
His potential son Jean absolutely broke my heart. I know I'm a big softy, but I was so affected by this story that I cried my eyes out over this fictional child. I think this was the result of the post-war setting; there are probably children like Jean left homeless and lost after every conflict and this tale deftly reminds the reader of the innocent and often lifelong victims of war.
Overall, 'Little Boy Lost' is an absolute emotional rollercoaster which forces you to keep reading in the hope everything would turn out well, but never gives the slightest reassurance that it could. Right until the final pages, I had no idea which way it would go and whether the rug would be pulled out from under me and my hopes dashed. Having built up the tension over 219 pages, in the end the writer breaks it perfectly in just one line.
It may not be a cheery ride, but I would thoroughly recommend this book. It's extremely well written, features interesting and complex characters and is a real lesson in suspense. I can't wait to read more by the author and find out what other treasures have been unearthed by the clever people at Persephone Books!
 |
| 'Little Boy Lost' by Marghanita Laski (Persephone Books, 2001) |
'Little Boy Lost' is a beautifully crafted, well observed analysis of Hilary, a complicated man caught between his desire to secrete himself away in an intellectual ivory tower and properly grieve for his lost wife and son. He's not particularly likeable, but he is a realistic, contradictory human being. As a result, tension is created not just by the will-he-won't-he search for the lost little boy, but also by whether Hilary is actually likely to make a good enough father.
His potential son Jean absolutely broke my heart. I know I'm a big softy, but I was so affected by this story that I cried my eyes out over this fictional child. I think this was the result of the post-war setting; there are probably children like Jean left homeless and lost after every conflict and this tale deftly reminds the reader of the innocent and often lifelong victims of war.
Overall, 'Little Boy Lost' is an absolute emotional rollercoaster which forces you to keep reading in the hope everything would turn out well, but never gives the slightest reassurance that it could. Right until the final pages, I had no idea which way it would go and whether the rug would be pulled out from under me and my hopes dashed. Having built up the tension over 219 pages, in the end the writer breaks it perfectly in just one line.
It may not be a cheery ride, but I would thoroughly recommend this book. It's extremely well written, features interesting and complex characters and is a real lesson in suspense. I can't wait to read more by the author and find out what other treasures have been unearthed by the clever people at Persephone Books!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)