A good book for me is one that makes me want to dive deep, know more, explore...
When I first started Fall by Colin McAdam (a 2010 Giller Prize finalist) I felt like I was reading just another book about adolescent male friendships. But as I read on, I discovered that as the story unfolded - through the narratives of roomates Noel (the shy kid with the lazy eye) and Julius (the popular son of an American diplomat in Canada.)
Both boys are in love with Fallon (Fall for short) - the most beautiful girl at St. Ebury - only Julius gets to call her his girlfriend, while Noel has barely spoken to her.
The story gets interesting when Fall goes missing.
I fear that saying anything else would spoil this book for you - but I assure you this isn't some chick-lit teen drama. This story will give you chills.
I have been neglecting this blog, I know. I have finished two books since my last entry and have not written a review of either.
I finished Up In the Air by Walter Kirn and Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer. I won't be writing reviews for them because I have already started reading Fall by Colin McAdam, so they are not fresh in my mind. I will try my best to review Fall when I'm done.
Fall is a Giller Prize finalist this year - so far it's quite good.
Sorry again for slacking (if anyone happens to read this and enjoy it.)
Jonathan Safran Foer is one of those authors that I've always intended to read, but never did because something else came along. Thanks to the clearance bin at Chapters, I found this novel in hardcover form for $5! I advocate buying books instead of stealing them, but I won't turn down a deal like this!
When I started this book I had just finished his wife Nicole Krauss's book, The History of Love, the night before. From reading this one can tell that they share a world view. The novel takes place through the gaze of a child (just as it did in The History of Love) - Oskar.
Oskar is trying to make sense of his life after having lost his father in the September 11th attacks on New York's World Trade Center. The story begins a year after the "worst day" - Oskar, entering his father's closet for the first time since his death, discovers a blue vase and accidently breaks it. At the bottom of the vase is an envelope with a key. The envelope says "Black" on it and this prompts Oskar to search the five burrows of New York City to meet everyone with the "Black" surname to see if he can find the lock that fits the key.
There is a sub-story as well, involving Oskar's parternal grandparents. Having survived the allied bombing of Dresden, Germany - they meet in New York and marry. Oskar's grandfather, having lost his voice (and his true love, Annie) because of the bombings, writes everything on pages of notebooks he keeps all over the house. His painful memories become too much and he leaves Oskar's grandmother before their son (Oskar's father) is even born.
He returns after he learns the son he never knew has died in the 9/11 attacks.
This book reminded me of the human side of war - the horrible results. How do you bury someone when there's nothing to bury?
It’s hard to write about books I absolutely loved and be objective, but I will try my best not to gush all through this review.
First off, Postcrossing is the reason I read this book. A girl from Alberta sent me a postcard and recommended The History of Love by Nicole Krauss to me. I’d requested in my profile that senders tell me their favourite book, band or movie. This was the first book request I seriously considered. Thank you Leanne T. from Alberta, Canada!
The book is two stories that converge. The story’s secrets and truths reveal themselves in such a sneaky way. I love the way Krauss tries to trick us with little details. I found myself trying to sort it all out, and was pleasantly surprised when I was slightly wrong. The central plot in the story revolves around a book, The History of Love - the story of a young man’s love for a girl named Alma.
Over 40 years after the manuscript for The History of Love (the book inside the book) is written, a young girl named Alma Singer (named by her parents after the girl from the book) goes on a quest to find her namesake in New York - a journey that ends up revealing more than she bargained for.
At the same time an old man in New York is waiting to die, while his heart aches for the son he never knew - who never knew him.
I know I normally give a more in depth plot summery, but for this one I suggest you read it yourself. Just trust that it is good and worthy to be read by you.
Up next, a book by Nicole Krauss’s husband, Extreamly Loud & Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer.
Cheers!
Hello & Happy New Year.
Just a short note to say i'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. The holidays are so busy. I finished one book, Holidays on Ice by David Sedaris. No review because I read it several weeks ago.
Also, I've failed to read The Picture of Dorian Grey for the second time in my life. I'll chip away at it later. My mind is too tired.
What should I read next?
- Allison
There is something so cinematic about Nick Hornby's writing. It isn't surprising that so many of his books have been optioned and that he also recently wrote a screenplay. His characters all feel real, but in a fanciful way.
In Juliet, Naked, we are given a scenario that, if over simplified, would come across as wildly unrealistic. A woman in her late thirties, living is a seaside town in Northern England, is unsatisfied with her 15 year relationship with a man obsessed with an obscure rock singer who disappeared from the public eye 20 years prior. The woman then, in an act of spite towards her long-term partner, posts an unfavorable review of the release of the obscure rock star's demos from his most famous album, Juliet. The striped down version is known as Juliet, Naked.
The woman's review sparks the interest of the real musician, who then e-mails her. They continue their e-mail flirtation for a while. Her long-term partner then cheats on her with a woman who teaches at the same college as him, and gives the woman a reason to leave - guilt free.
The rock star, now living Pennsylvania with his estranged wife and their six-year-old son. We learn the rock star has several children he hardly sees, all with different mothers. After his marriage ends, and one of his estranged daughters' suffers a miscarriage in England, he travels to London to see her, but also to meet his internet flirtation - Annie.
The aged obscure ex-rock star, Tucker Crowe, suffers from a heart attack while in London. Yadda yadda yadda - he asks Annie to take him to her quaint little sea side town to recuperate. Here he meets Annie's ex, Duncan, who is his biggest fan.
Anyways - Annie falls for Tucker, Tucker seems to like her as well...and the end is open for our own interpretation.
This story might seem silly and contrived, but there seems to be an honest sense of reality here. Mainly having to due with fan perception versus reality.
We all claim to know what's happening to our favourite stars, or those we love to hate, because some jerk-off from TMZ or Perez Hilton tell us. The truth is that we cannot presume anything. And that those living their lives out loud, in front of the cameras, are creating their own imagine, but those who hide have stories we cannot know.
The other aspect of the story that struck me was the relationships it presents. The main character, Annie, is given a chance to redeem herself after spending 15 years with a cold and dull man who's only passion was for a rock star who hadn't produced anything new in over 20 years. The fact that Annie got to know the real Tucker, the man Duncan would never understand, is part of the nice little package that draws the two points together. Meaningful relationships vs. Superficial fantasies.
The book ends with message board postings from the Tucker Crowe fan page. The messages suggest that Tucker releases a new album after his long absence from making music, and the posters, including Duncan, rip it apart. There is one curious post from a woman who goes by "Uptown Girl" who states that she and her husband love it. The romantic in me hopes that this woman is Annie. Even if Tucker isn't her husband, it is my wish that she finally makes herself happy.
Normally I wouldn't read a book like this. A fake book. I understand that it is, a "real" book - in that it has text and a story (sort of). I read this because it is a tie-in to one of my favourite TV shows Californication starring David Duchovny. This book, Good Hates Us All, is Hank Moody's best novel, his "Gatsby" as his friend Lew Ashby put it. The novel that was optioned and brought him to California from New York.
The book I read, by Jonathan Grotenstein, was not this novel. Hank wouldn't have written this. The story seemed contrived and not at all compelling. I Googled Mr. Grotenstein and discovered he is a professional poker player and has written at least one book...about poker. Stick to what you know, Jonathan.
It would have been more interesting if the network had put one of the writers of the show on the project. Have those who write Hank's dialogue write his words.
The main character is never named, which I guess is fine, but all the other crazy characters end up named - in a way that makes them hard to keep track of. The story doesn't seem to have a well thought out plot and seems to jump around in a way that makes the reader question what's important and who's important. Things happen that don't make sense and seem like filler.
In the show, Hank's agent, Charlie Runkle, says that all Hank's book have an element of truth in them. In this version of God Hates Us All, I can't find the real life basis. Who is supposed to be Karen, Hank's soulmate? Is it the super model, K.? Or the psychotic arsonist, Daphne? Neither seem to represent a flattering version of Karen.
I read it because I was curious, but now I wish I hadn't - these aren't the fictitious Hank's words, these are the words of some dude trying to be as cool and edgy as he imagines Hank would be.
It just ends up being silly and unconvincing.
Nice try.
Up Next: Juliet, Naked by Nick Hornby (a book I have high hopes for)
