The 2017 book challenge is complete! Months 7-12
It's time to share my thoughts on the books I've been reading over the last six months to complete the Book Challenge 2017. I missed my September update so there are six books to share here. For the other six, head here and here. That's a lot of books, so here we go...
A book written by an author with the same initials as you
The Sorrows of an American, Siri Hustvedt
Erik Davidsen is sorting through his dead father's papers and finds letters from an unknown woman. He follows his father's letters and diaries through the Depression and First World War. At the same time, a journalist won't leave his sister alone and this new tenant has a stalker. Erik's role as a psychiatrist colours everything he sees in others and himself.
This is beautifully written - at times a little jumpy, but that mimics the human mind. Erik's psychiatry-coloured view was written well and things are revealed in a slow and intriguing way. It's just great writing, and that's probably what I took away from this novel more than any of the actual plot points.
A book recommended by a friend - the wonderful Jenny Riley
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Shadow is released from prison days after his wife's death. On the plane, he meets Mr Wednesday, a man who claims to be a refugee, former god and King of America. The pair embark on a journey across the USA together.
This novel was unusual and brilliant. It's not something I would ever have picked up on my own, maybe because the title made me think of a fantasy novel which isn't my usual taste. Within a page or two I was completely hooked by the style of the writing and the consistent sense of unease. It's very slick, spanning huge topics and themes. I particularly liked the more supernatural sections, deep in Shadow's mind. It reveals an unusual, deep, unsettling picture of modern America.
A book with an unusual setting
The Book of Strange New Things, Michael Faber
Peter is sent as a Christian missionary to a human settlement on another planet, with the aims of engaging those who originally populated said planet, the Oasans. This not only takes him to a world different to his own, but one light-years from his wife, Bea. The book follows his time on this planet, and is interspersed with the emails between Peter and his wife, at home on an Earth that is falling apart.
Peter's relationship with God is very interesting, and the way he uses this to connect with those around him, and I enjoyed the unusual circumstances and setting. However, what I enjoyed most were the letters between Peter and Bea. They revealed their relationship perfectly, and it was so clear to see when each of them began to struggle. I don't want to say more than that and risk any spoilers, but the letters are very well written and tell a whole story of their own.
A book that's set in another country
City of Joy, Dominique LaPierre
This book starts very promisingly. A family from a small town are moving to Calcutta, as is a European priest, planning to live in the slums with those he aims to help. I liked the idea of those dual perspectives, of a family approaching the big city and of a Western man arriving in India.
But where were the powerful descriptions, evoking the sights and sounds and smells of a country I've never visited? It read more like a list of things that happened. I think that maybe if you've been to the places written about, it might resonate more, but as someone who likes to explore new places and cultures and ideas through literature, this didn't leave me feeling inspired or excited at all. Definitely my least favourite read of the book challenge.
A book with a plot set around books, a library or a bookshop
Farenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
Farenheit 451 is the temperature at which book paper catches fire and burns. Guy Montag is a fireman - his job is to burn books, which are forbidden. His home life appears unsettled, and there's the suggestion it may contain some of those banned books...
This is excellent. It reads like a short story, made up of beautiful prose. It is shocking, portraying a world without literature and free reading, learning or thinking. It's unusual, striking and a quick but memorable read.
A book you chose based on its cover
Wicked, Gregory Maguire
This is the novel that inspired the musical. It's much more firmly in the fantasy genre than the musical, with a complex political landscape, body of creatures and a fully developed map. The story is fundamentally the same but timelines are different and it has a much broader scope.
It's worth a read if you like the musical for interest, but in general if you're a fan of well-crafted, well-written fantasy it's worth a look.
And there we have it. Twelve reads across twelve set topics.
Job done.
Sophie x
A book written by an author with the same initials as you
The Sorrows of an American, Siri Hustvedt
Erik Davidsen is sorting through his dead father's papers and finds letters from an unknown woman. He follows his father's letters and diaries through the Depression and First World War. At the same time, a journalist won't leave his sister alone and this new tenant has a stalker. Erik's role as a psychiatrist colours everything he sees in others and himself.
This is beautifully written - at times a little jumpy, but that mimics the human mind. Erik's psychiatry-coloured view was written well and things are revealed in a slow and intriguing way. It's just great writing, and that's probably what I took away from this novel more than any of the actual plot points.
A book recommended by a friend - the wonderful Jenny Riley
American Gods, Neil Gaiman
Shadow is released from prison days after his wife's death. On the plane, he meets Mr Wednesday, a man who claims to be a refugee, former god and King of America. The pair embark on a journey across the USA together.
This novel was unusual and brilliant. It's not something I would ever have picked up on my own, maybe because the title made me think of a fantasy novel which isn't my usual taste. Within a page or two I was completely hooked by the style of the writing and the consistent sense of unease. It's very slick, spanning huge topics and themes. I particularly liked the more supernatural sections, deep in Shadow's mind. It reveals an unusual, deep, unsettling picture of modern America.
A book with an unusual setting
The Book of Strange New Things, Michael Faber
Peter is sent as a Christian missionary to a human settlement on another planet, with the aims of engaging those who originally populated said planet, the Oasans. This not only takes him to a world different to his own, but one light-years from his wife, Bea. The book follows his time on this planet, and is interspersed with the emails between Peter and his wife, at home on an Earth that is falling apart.
Peter's relationship with God is very interesting, and the way he uses this to connect with those around him, and I enjoyed the unusual circumstances and setting. However, what I enjoyed most were the letters between Peter and Bea. They revealed their relationship perfectly, and it was so clear to see when each of them began to struggle. I don't want to say more than that and risk any spoilers, but the letters are very well written and tell a whole story of their own.
A book that's set in another country
City of Joy, Dominique LaPierre
This book starts very promisingly. A family from a small town are moving to Calcutta, as is a European priest, planning to live in the slums with those he aims to help. I liked the idea of those dual perspectives, of a family approaching the big city and of a Western man arriving in India.
But where were the powerful descriptions, evoking the sights and sounds and smells of a country I've never visited? It read more like a list of things that happened. I think that maybe if you've been to the places written about, it might resonate more, but as someone who likes to explore new places and cultures and ideas through literature, this didn't leave me feeling inspired or excited at all. Definitely my least favourite read of the book challenge.
A book with a plot set around books, a library or a bookshop
Farenheit 451, Ray Bradbury
Farenheit 451 is the temperature at which book paper catches fire and burns. Guy Montag is a fireman - his job is to burn books, which are forbidden. His home life appears unsettled, and there's the suggestion it may contain some of those banned books...
This is excellent. It reads like a short story, made up of beautiful prose. It is shocking, portraying a world without literature and free reading, learning or thinking. It's unusual, striking and a quick but memorable read.
A book you chose based on its cover
Wicked, Gregory Maguire
This is the novel that inspired the musical. It's much more firmly in the fantasy genre than the musical, with a complex political landscape, body of creatures and a fully developed map. The story is fundamentally the same but timelines are different and it has a much broader scope.
It's worth a read if you like the musical for interest, but in general if you're a fan of well-crafted, well-written fantasy it's worth a look.
And there we have it. Twelve reads across twelve set topics.
Job done.
Sophie x
Comments
Post a Comment