Strange, haunting stories weave their way through this novel, stories of tigers, wives, music, coffee and a deathless man.
Set in the years following the war in Yugoslavia, when you are either on one side of the border or the other, the narrator is helping immunise children on the other side, when she goes in search of the place where her grandfather has died.
A mysterious book and an enjoyable read. It won the Orange Prize for Fiction, and my Mum passed it on to me after reading it at her book club.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Monday, February 13, 2012
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Books read in 2011
It's a bit late, but I should try and analyse my booklist for 2011! First of all, I should point out that I think I might have missed out some books, as I ended up being a bit busy at times and got behind with keeping my list up to date. Secondly, the list below is in the wrong order! I've read 49 books this year.
Books by men - 29
Books by women - 20
Books by Barbara Nadel - 7
Books by Mark Walden - 3
Books by Quentin Jardin - 3
Crime/thrillers - 14 (ish?)
Children's/young people books - 18
A prize for literary merit? - Would probably go to Patrick Ness, for the trilogy starting with The Knife of Never Letting Go.
But this year has mostly been about escapism, relaxing from the stress of my day to day job! (Until this summer that is!)
- Deep Waters - Barbara Nadel
- The Black Book - Orhan Pamuk
- Arabesk - Barbara Nadel
- A 3rd helping of Chicken Soup for the Soul
- Nation - Terry Pratchett
- A Chemical Prison - Barbara Nadel
- The Wizard of the Crow - Ngugi Wa Thiong'o
- Cosmic - Frank Cottrell Boyce
- Framed - Frank Cottrell Boyce
- Skinner's Festival - Quintin Jardine
- Carbon Diaries 2017 - Saci Lloyd
- Carbon Diaries 2015 - Saci Lloyd
- Monsters of Men - Patrick Ness
- The Ask and the Answer - Patrick Ness
- The Knife of Never Letting Go - Patrick Ness
- When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit - Judith Kerr
- The Bride's Farewell - Meg Rosoff
- Out of Shadows - Jason Wallace
- The Butterfly Tattoo - Philip Pullman
- A Rush of Blood - Quintin Jardine
- The Secret Adversary - Agatha Christie
- The Pale Horse - Agatha Christie
- Belshazzar's Daughter - Barbara Nadel
- The Secret Countess - Eva Ibbotson
- No and Me - Delphine de Vigan
- Skinner's Rules - Quintin Jardine
- HIVE: Zero Hour - Mark Walden
- HIVE: Rouge - Mark Walden
- Pretty Dead Things - Barbara Nadel
- Petrified - Barbara Nadel
- Dance with Death - Barbara Nadel
- The Other Side of You - Salley Vickers
- An Expert in Murder - Nicola Upson
- HIVE: Dreadnought - Mark Walden
- The Diamond Takers - Karen Wallace
- The Time Machine - HG Wells
- Maps for Lost Lovers - Nadeem Aslam
- Season of the Songbirds - Nadeem Aslam
- Some Kind of Black - Diran Adebayo
- The Lacuna - Barbara Kingsolver
- Toast - Nigel Slater
- Her Fearful Symmetry - Audrey Niffenegger
Books by men - 29
Books by women - 20
Books by Barbara Nadel - 7
Books by Mark Walden - 3
Books by Quentin Jardin - 3
Crime/thrillers - 14 (ish?)
Children's/young people books - 18
A prize for literary merit? - Would probably go to Patrick Ness, for the trilogy starting with The Knife of Never Letting Go.
But this year has mostly been about escapism, relaxing from the stress of my day to day job! (Until this summer that is!)
Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese
Now this was a satisfying and enjoyable book, although I was strangely not perhaps as moved by the ending as some have been. This novel explores the relationship between two brothers, their foster parents, their estranged parents (their mother who died at birth, their father who ran away) and others in the mission ("Missing") hospital in Addis Ababa. Lots of complex relationships, this book also explores briefly the complex relationship between Ethiopia and Eritrea, and the relationship between India, Ethiopia and America. The main characters are all medical ones, and it is clear from Verghase's writing that he too is a medical man who knows what he is writing about. A book that pulls you in.
Sanctus by Simon Toyne
This was a Christmas present, and ended up being the first book I completely read in 2012. Interestingly, it was set in Turkey, although I'm not entirely sure that Mum realised that when she bought it. This time it was not Istanbul, though; instead, it was set in the fictional city of Ruin, where there was a citadel full of mysterious monks.
This was a bit daft in places really, but enjoyable. In particular, I thought the ending was... well, sort of unexpected, as I had imagined that ultimately there might be a more mundane explanation... Apparently it is the first book in a trilogy. I'm curious, but not really curious enough to be dashing out to order it.
There is a website where you can find out more...
This was a bit daft in places really, but enjoyable. In particular, I thought the ending was... well, sort of unexpected, as I had imagined that ultimately there might be a more mundane explanation... Apparently it is the first book in a trilogy. I'm curious, but not really curious enough to be dashing out to order it.
There is a website where you can find out more...
Deep Waters by Barbara Nadel
Yet another Inspector Ikmen series. I was delighted to find myself holidaying in Istanbul, not far from Istiklal Caddesi, the scene of the last Nadel book I read, Arabesk. This time I was excited to discover that the body was found on the banks of the Bosphorus in Eminonu; not far from the balik ekmen boats selling tasty "fish bread". Yum! I read the book each evening with the streetmap to hand, figuring out where the characters were in relation to places that we were visiting.
One day we had chicken breast pudding in the Pudding Shop near the Blue Mosque in Sultan Ahmet. I was excited to realise that it was the famous Pudding Shop, as mentioned in other Barbara Nadel books. And then, the next day, lo and behold, two of the characters in Deep Waters met to share salep in the Pudding Shop!
All of this brought a very welcome extra dimension to my reading. Now, bring on the next one!
One day we had chicken breast pudding in the Pudding Shop near the Blue Mosque in Sultan Ahmet. I was excited to realise that it was the famous Pudding Shop, as mentioned in other Barbara Nadel books. And then, the next day, lo and behold, two of the characters in Deep Waters met to share salep in the Pudding Shop!
All of this brought a very welcome extra dimension to my reading. Now, bring on the next one!
The Black Book by Orhan Pamuk
Probably the most exciting thing about reading this was that I started it before I went to Istanbul, read it while in Istanbul, and finished it after I returned from Istanbul! Our trip to Istanbul was unexpected; I was excited about going, having loved the Barbara Nadel Inspector Ikmen series, and enjoyed reading this mysterious book in the weeks surrounding my visit.
The one thing to note is that this is a long book, heavy and slow to read. That's not to say that it isn't enjoyable - on the contrary, I enjoyed it very much. But it was a very slow read. It is philosophical and meandering at times. I have a tendency to steam on ahead with books, wanting to follow the plot and get to the outcome. But for this book, the journey is important. Which is perhaps the same of the city, where simply being in Istanbul is as satisfying and uplifting as the myriad places of interest to visit.
Galip's wife is named Ruya, which means dream. And the novel is dreamlike in its confusion and wandering at times... Although it is also very focused, heading in one direction. It is written in parts, one chapter charting the plot, the main story of the lead character, Galip, who is searching for his wife. But these chapters are interspersed with columns from Ruya's half-brother's newspaper column. Are there clues to be read within those narratives? Or do they simply reflect the action of the present?
I am looking forward to reading "My Name is Red", which we also bought in preparation of our visit.
I should point out that I was reading the Maureen Freely translation. I understand that there is a world of difference between this and the earlier translation into English!
The one thing to note is that this is a long book, heavy and slow to read. That's not to say that it isn't enjoyable - on the contrary, I enjoyed it very much. But it was a very slow read. It is philosophical and meandering at times. I have a tendency to steam on ahead with books, wanting to follow the plot and get to the outcome. But for this book, the journey is important. Which is perhaps the same of the city, where simply being in Istanbul is as satisfying and uplifting as the myriad places of interest to visit.
Galip's wife is named Ruya, which means dream. And the novel is dreamlike in its confusion and wandering at times... Although it is also very focused, heading in one direction. It is written in parts, one chapter charting the plot, the main story of the lead character, Galip, who is searching for his wife. But these chapters are interspersed with columns from Ruya's half-brother's newspaper column. Are there clues to be read within those narratives? Or do they simply reflect the action of the present?
I am looking forward to reading "My Name is Red", which we also bought in preparation of our visit.
I should point out that I was reading the Maureen Freely translation. I understand that there is a world of difference between this and the earlier translation into English!
Arabesk by Barbara Nadel
Yet another great Inspector Ikmen novel... This time the action takes places in a small apartment flat on Istiklal Caddesi, and involves a couple of Arabesk singers.
Sunday, November 06, 2011
Sunday, June 26, 2011
Cosmic by Frank Cotrell Boyce
A lovely story about Dads that brought tears to my eyes at the end (not sure if it was supposed to do that ...). A good Father's Day present perhaps for the biggest boy in the family (but only if he likes children's books and astronauts, I suppose!).
Another uplifting book that I have really enjoyed reading today. And now I have some grittier ones to get back to ...
Another uplifting book that I have really enjoyed reading today. And now I have some grittier ones to get back to ...
The Carbon Diaries 2017 by Saci Lloyd
Laura Brown's family survived the first big London flood - just - but two years later and the situation has deteriorated seriously - and throughout Europe. Can Laura keep the dirty angels together? Can she keep them alive? Can they overcome the Government?
Not quite as good as the first Diaries, perhaps a bit too extreme in places, but it certainly helps the reader to understand the situation facing many refugees throughout the world, and for that, a worthwhile book.
Not quite as good as the first Diaries, perhaps a bit too extreme in places, but it certainly helps the reader to understand the situation facing many refugees throughout the world, and for that, a worthwhile book.
The Carbon Diaries 2015 by Saci Lloyd
Just realised that I've missed out two books I've read recently. The Carbon Diaries are set in the not too distant future when climate change has become even more problematic and the Government has decided to take drastic steps. Everyone has a carbon card - you can only use so much carbon per month, and if you use up your ration, well, no more transport, hot water or electricity for you until the end of the year. Of course, there is a black market, and the stress of loving more simply causes a lot of friction within the family, but eventually the community pulls together - but what will happen when London is flooded?
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Framed by Frank Cottrell Boyce
After all the "bleak" books I have read recently (even though they have been very enjoyable, full of escapism and occasional humour) it has been a pleasant if light change to read Framed last night and this morning. This book was also shortlisted for the Whitbread Award and the Carnegie Medal in 2006, and it is easy to see why - a feelgood book, easy to read, but with a deep theme. I really enjoyed the references to famous works of art throughout the book and the way they were able to transform a small Welsh town. And I must go and look up Manod now ...
Skinner's Festival by Quintin Jardine
Yes, another Bob Skinner book! The second one in the series. And another corker. Very gruesome. But great to read about Edinburgh, and I can imagine the scenes he describes of Princes' Street Gardens during the Festival. Role on book number 3!
When Hitler Stole Pink Rabbit by Judith Kerr
One of my favourite picture books growing up was The Tiger that came to Tea. But I was not aware that Judith Kerr was in fact a German refugee, or that she had written a children's book based on her experiences. I'm so happy that I picked up this book to read at the Imperial War Museum (highly recommended museum, by the way!). A great story, well written, with poignant moments but lots of love as well. An exciting adventure story, all the more amazing as it is based on real life.
Monsters of Men by Patrick Ness
And so I quickly came to the final installment. Monsters of Men is another one of the short listed books for the Carnegie Medal. In act, I've just checked and discovered that it is 2011's very worthy winner. (I'm glad I read it first without knowing that!)
This has been a truly fantastic series. There is so much fantasy and yet so much realism within the story of Todd and Viola. The characters, which include animals as well as different types of beings, are clearly drawn and every incident shines vividly within the imagination. I have lost myself in these books. I have escaped - if "escaped" is the right word to describe journeying to a land where women are branded, where animals talk, where everyone is caught up in a war and has to make life and death decisions, where you are at a risk of being controlled without your knowledge.
What an imagination Patrick Ness has. And how good of him to share it with the rest of us.
This has been a truly fantastic series. There is so much fantasy and yet so much realism within the story of Todd and Viola. The characters, which include animals as well as different types of beings, are clearly drawn and every incident shines vividly within the imagination. I have lost myself in these books. I have escaped - if "escaped" is the right word to describe journeying to a land where women are branded, where animals talk, where everyone is caught up in a war and has to make life and death decisions, where you are at a risk of being controlled without your knowledge.
What an imagination Patrick Ness has. And how good of him to share it with the rest of us.
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