4 posts tagged “literature”
Against the backdrop of post-war Britain a butler takes a trip to see an old friend while struggling with his guilt over working for an employer who had dubious ties to the nazis. It's largely Mr Stevens recalling memories and so the novel moves at a meandering pace, but once I adjusted to this I found it beautiful. Some parts are so poignant, like the moment Stevens describes of his father pacing a set of outdoor stone steps "as though he hoped to find some precious jewel he had dropped there". I won't fully describe the moment as it will spoil some of its beauty but it is a heartbreaking one.
The Remains of the Day is poignant and multifaceted, while still being very subtle. I've been trying to think of some way of describing how it's a quiet, slow read but without conveying the idea that its boring, which it isn't.
I suppose the experience of reading it is not unlike that of an art historian slowly, painstakingly removing the dust and grime obscuring a painting or other artwork. Every part that slowly becomes apparent is beautiful, and gradually, quietly more and more is revealled until finally where each peice fits in the larger scheme of things becomes obvious. Each memory is strong, emotional, but it takes some time to learn what they mean in the whole of the plot.
I highly recommend it, I also enjoyed Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
Ryder strikes up a close friendship with the troubled but lovable Sebastian Flyte at Oxford, whether this was a physical relationship or not has been hotly debated by critics, but from my reading of the book I've been thinking maybe not. I think the character Cara explained this well by saying something along the lines of it being a romantic affection between them common in English and German adolescent men and their feverent friendship being part of their development. She offers the opinion that she thinks these friendships are good, as long as they don't go on too long. Although on the other hand maybe there was something homosexual to their relationship, as Ryder's love for Sebastian seems to be the very basis on which one of his later romances is formed. But I like that it's not clear, that it requires thought and some analysis.
With age Ryder's circle collapses and expands, he and Sebastian drift apart. But he encounters Julia Flyte, Sebastian's sister who is remarkably like him in appearance.
Throughout the novel the different spiritual beliefs of the characters grind into one another causing conflict and distance. The house is almost a character in itself, sprawling and decadent, rebuilt from the stones of an old castle.
I enjoyed the romantic, nostalgic style of Brideshead Revisited, but as someone raised as a Catholic but who now identifies themselves as agnostic I found the religious themes particularly interesting and thought provoking, especially as they were presented through the interactions between Catholic and agnostic characters - I can relate to each side. Evelyn Waugh himself converted to Catholicism, and I think it's interesting that in spite of his faith in this novel he's painted the Chrisitian denomination in what I felt was quite a negative light for the majority of the story, but according to the notes I've read ultimately the work is hopeful on the subject, while not being entirely positive.
Highlight to see spoiler:
Despite the way religion dooms Julia and Ryder's romance, the epilogue hints that Ryder has converted to Catholicism when he kneels down to pray "an ancient, newly learned form of words".
I'm going to give the mini series a watch soon, I've seen the most recent film adaptation but never the famed television one. I've bought a copy ready for watching when the mood takes me:
I've got a bit of spare time at work today so I thought I'd share with you the books I enjoyed most this year.
1. Love in the Time of Cholera by Gabriel Garcia Marquez
I found the prose in this book achingly beautiful and was captured by it's passionate depiction of an unrequited love. It follows Florentino Ariza courtship of Fermina Daza and her rejection of him and marriage to another man, and their following long lives apart. He never gets over his love for Fermina, obsessing about her throughout his life and trying to escape the pain with a multitude of liasions with other women. Love in the Time of Cholera is a fantastical romance containing thoughts on love, rejection, life and old age. I read this book in anticipation of the film but enjoyed it so much I haven't been able to bring myself to watch an adaptation of it which I'm sure will disappoint me no matter how good it is.
2. The Host by Stephenie Meyer
While Meyer is definately not in the same league as Gabriel Garcia Marquez, this was one of the most addictive impossible to put down books I read this year. Her writing may be simplistic and plot driven and her depiction of females in both this book and her Twilight series has copped a lot of flak but as far as trashy, compulsive, holiday reading goes this is up there with the best. Meyer blends sci fi and romance in this tale of an Alien worm posessing a human and becoming entangled in a love triangle with her boyfriend. Essentially an interspecies love triangle but involving only two bodies.
3. Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
Having seen the Hitchcock movie first and fallen in love with it I was determined to get around to reading this classic in 2008. Despite already knowing the books twist I fell in love with it. It's overtones of anxiety and horror appealed to my gothic loving tastes immensely. My copy had a very interesting forward on the book from a feminist perspective too which was so fascinating.
4. Peony in Love by Lisa See
It's difficult to describe why this was one of my favourites without giving away it's twist, so I'll just say I enjoyed this trip through traditional China from the point of view of a young girl and it's interesting but entertaining look at traditional Chinese funeral rites and spiritual beliefs.
5. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
Being the book lover that I am I was beginning to feel a bit guilty to have never cracked open the covers of this classic, or even seen the movie. This year I got around to it, more to see what all the fuss is about than out of actual interest in it. It's so effective in creating a child's point of view and so gripping and thought provoking that it's one of my new all time favourite books.
6. Holy Cow: An Indian Adventure by Sarah McDonald
Of the three travel memoirs I've read this year (also A Season in Red by Kirsty Needham and 90 Day Geisha by Chelsea Haywood) this was my favourite. It details Australian journalist Sarah McDonald's few years living in India with her foreign correspondent boyfriend. It's funny, pretty fast paced touching and informative. Sarah's spiritual journey as she researched all the different spiritual paths in India was incredibly interesting. I really recommend it to anyone who is into travel writing.
Other Books Read in 2008:
7. On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan.
8. Animal Farm by George Orwell.
9. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy.
10. People of the Book by Geraldine Brooks.
11. Mansfield Park by Jane Austen.
12. Half of a Yellow Sun Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.
13. Amsterdam by Ian McEwan.
14. A Letter to D by Andre Gorz.
15. Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.
16. Emma by Jane Austen.
17. The Boat by Nam Le.
18. Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer.
19. A Thousand Splendid Suns by Kahled Hosseni.
20. Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen.
21. The 90-Day Geisha by Chelsea Haywood.
22. A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray.
23. Rebel Angels by Libba Bray.
24. The Sweet Far Thing by Libba Bray.
25. Brick Lane by Monica Ali.
26. Pomegranate Soup by Marsha Mehran.
27. A Season in Red by Kirsty Needham.
28. Enduring Love by Ian McEwan.
I was hoping to get more books read this year but unfortunately uni is getting harder and harder! All in all I think it was a pretty good effort!
How many books did you read this year?
What were your favourites?
Anyone disagree with my choices?
