Room by Emma Donoghue (Jill)

This book has been well reviewed and analyzed by literary critics and book bloggers alike. It's a hard book to summarize because I don't want to give away too much of the plot. So, for this review, I will just share some thoughts on this story:

1) Room is narrated by a five-year-old boy who only knows an 11x11-foot room as his home. He doesn't understand that rain falls from the sky, that cars stay in their lane and that bees can sting you. All the things we understand to be true in our lives would be new experiences to a boy who never spent a day outside. Donoghue did a good job writing about these new experiences - and coming up with all the "little things" that seem to be common knowledge, but not for a boy who lived in seclusion.

2) The American media's treatment of Jack and his mother's story was spot on. Their insistence to not grant this family any privacy reminded me of true media coverage in other heart-wrenching stories. Equally compelling (and so aligned with what happens) is how the media digs at the story from all angles in an attempt to "outscoop" each other. There is little regard for what's best for Jack or his mother.

3) This book was a real page turner. During one section of the book, I did not move from my seat. I was worried that something bad was going to happen, and the suspense was jarring. Few books have that effect on me.

This isn't my typical review, but I hope reading it helps persuade you to give Room a try. It's a compelling, provocative book that makes you think about your life and what you would do in a similar situation. It's worthy of its literary accolades, and I predict that it would make a good movie with the right director and actors. What do you think?

The Glass Room by Simon Mawer

The Glass Room
By Simon Mawer
Completed April 10, 2011

Many forces come into play when I select a book to read. Often, I rely upon the reviews and comments of other book readers whose opinions are like mine. I also take into consideration any literary awards, which often tip me off to a great book. And, of course, the story must sound compelling.

Using this process, I picked The Glass Room, which seemed to be a sure-fire win for me. Several of my like-minded friends raved about this book. It was short-listed for the 2009 Man Booker Prize, which I usually have good luck with. And the plot of a Czech family caught up in the tragedy of World War II should be up my alley.

Even the best laid plans can go array, though. Sadly, that is what happened when I read The Glass Room. Despite my best efforts, this book didn't click for me.

Let me express the good qualities of this book first. First, Mawer's writing style is descriptive and rich. He can paint a picture in the mind's eye, which helps propel his novel. Additionally, he did a great job incorporating the arts into the novel. With an architectural feat such as the Glass House, that's an important thing to do, but he also wove in music, painting and sculpture - and did so beautifully. Finally, the plight of early Czechoslovakia as it struggled to get its legs between the World Wars was illuminating, and I learned more about this aspect of history.

Here's where I struggled: the characterization. It was very one-dimensional, and as a result, I didn't like one character. Perhaps I would have liked them more if Mawer had given me more information about them. His characterization centered around their sex lives. Each character's lives were qualified by their sexual activity or desires. Making this worse was the unequal descriptions about sex. Mawer fills us with intimate details about the female characters - the size of their breasts, the color of their nipples, the roundness of their bellies, the texture of their pubic hairs. However, with the male characters, we got nothing - not even a chest hair. Sex was definitely told from a male perspective in this story.

I am in the minority when it comes to The Glass House, so I encourage you to read other reviews before deciding on this book. Many other readers were moved by this story, and you might be too. As for me, I am happy that The Glass House is over and ready to find a book that better fits my fickle tastes. ( )

The Dark Room by Rachel Seiffert (Jill)

The Dark Room
By Rachel Seiffert
Completed November 30, 2010

Over the past year or two, I have been drawn to books about World War II. Most are told from the perspective of the Allied nations or Jewish people affected by the Holocaust. I am glad to have stumbled upon Rachel Seiffert’s The Dark Room, which offers the perspective of the average German citizen affected by World War II.

The Dark Room is divided into three separate stories:

1) Helmet is a young photographer’s apprentice, whose family supported Hitler and prospered during The Third Reich’s heyday. Even at war’s end, Helmet still clung to Nazi Germany’s ideals. Then, one day, he stumbles into a round-up of gypsies by German soldiers and sees the gross mistreatment of these people. He took pictures of the atrocity and ran away from the scene. As he reflects over his photos, you feel his heartbreak for a nation lost in so many ways.

2) Lore is a teenage girl – one of six children – who must embark on a treacherous journey from Bavaria to Hamburg at the end of the war. Through Lore’s journey, you see how war affected the home front and the people who once were bound by the same cause. No longer united, they stole and cheated from each other. Like Helmet, Lore didn’t realize Germans was killing innocent people, until she saw pictures posted in a village. Confused by what she saw, she befriended a young man, Tomas, who confirmed the genocide. Lore was devastated, especially as she considered her father and brother might have been involved in these mass murders.

3) Michael is a school teacher living in 1990’s Germany who began wondering why his grandfather had been imprisoned for so long after World War II. He began to research and learned that his grandfather was part of the Waffen SS, the elite police force of the German Army. He traces his grandfather’s service to Belarus and traveles there to learn more. The important theme in Michael’s section is national guilt – how after 50+ years, some Germans truly mourned what their country did, while others didn’t grasp it, or were too far removed from the war to be impacted. Michael, though, couldn’t forget and carried the weight of guilt for his whole family.

Admittedly, The Dark Room is a bit bleak, but Seiffert pulls you right in so you can experience the characters’ emotions. Seiffert writes simply but effectively, and her sparse prose adds to the brevity of her stories. Despite the grim subject matter, I found this book to be enlightening and engaging – and would highly recommend it, especially to those who believe, like me, that war has no true winner. ( )

The Night Watch by Sarah Waters (Jill)

The Night Watch
By Sarah Waters
Completed December 19, 2008

Sarah Waters swept her readers away with a tale of love, war, betrayal and hardship in her historical novel, The Night Watch. Set against a backdrop of bomb-ravaged London during World War II, this novel explored the lives of four young people – Helen, Vivian, Duncan and Kay – plus their lovers, friends and acquaintances – as they coped with their daily lives on the home front.

Waters structured her novel using a backward timeframe, so that as each year unraveled, you learned more about each character and his/her secrets. The first section was from 1947, and admittedly, this was the hardest section for me to get through. The characters were introduced with very little connection to each other, but I got the sense that their secrets and relationships were somehow woven together. As the book progressed, Waters shined a little more light on each character and story, putting each piece of her puzzle carefully together. It was a brilliant story structure – one that only a talented writer like Waters could pull off.

Each character was developed into an unforgettable person – one you worry about, sympathize with and root for. The Night Watch is considered lesbian fiction, which does not make this a book for everyone, but I found the women’s relationships to be compelling and insightful.

This is my first book by Sarah Waters but certainly won’t be my last. Short-listed for both the Booker and Orange Prizes (and understandably so), The Night Watch was a fantastic look at the lives of young people affected by a terrible war – and how they made the best and worst of these times. ( )

Completed 2008 Man Booker Challenge (Jill)

Whew, so glad I was able to finish my personal challenge to read eight Booker Prize books this year. Here's what I read:

1. 2007 The Gathering by Anne Endwright (winner) (review)
2. 2007 The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid (short list) (review)
3. 2006 The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai (winner) (review)
4. 2001 Atonement by Ian McEwan (short list) (review)
5. 1998 Amsterdam by Ian McEwan (winner) (review)
6. 1992 The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje (winner) (review)
7. 1989 The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (winner) (review)
8. 1990 Possession by A.S. Byatt (winner) (review)

This was a hit-or-miss list of books for me. Some books I loved - Amsterdam and Atonement namely - and others I was underwhelmed (The Inheritance of Loss and The English Patient).

But I am most proud of finishing my challenge! Bookers will definitely grace my 2009 TBR list.

Happy Thanksgiving!

The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje (Jill)

The English Patient
By Michael Ondaatje
Completed November 24, 2008

Sometimes, a movie can do a story better justice than the book. It’s a rarity indeed, but I believe it to be the case with The English Patient.

I watched the movie nine years ago. I was hugely pregnant, curled up on my sofa and enraptured by this Oscar-winning film of war, love and sacrifice. Having enjoyed the movie, I longed to read the book, and The English Patient finally found itself on my reading list.

Don’t get me wrong; the book was not bad. Parts of it were artistic and introspective with compelling characters. Hana was sad but still had a lust for life; Kip was lost but ready to move on; Caravaggio finally found a purpose for this conniving ways. But the English Patient and his beloved Katharine remained a secret to me. I could never wrap my arms around their relationship. It seemed destructive and loveless, but so little was written about it that I could never tell. To me, this gap was too large to ignore.

Where Michael Ondaatje blossomed with The English Patient was illustrating the destructiveness of war on the soldiers, nurses, civilians and cities involved. War is hell on everyone, and this story drove this point home very well.

If you are a fan of Booker winners, than The English Patient might be one for you; however, I believe the movie is a better way to witness this story. The book, in effect, fell short for me. ( )

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (Jill)

The Remains of the Day
By Kazuo Ishiguro
Completed November 13, 2008

The Remains of the Day is a perfect example of a character-driven story. It’s the narrative of Stevens, an English butler who took a road trip when his American employer was on holiday. While you read about Stevens’ traveling adventures, you learn more about Stevens’ career as a butler to Lord Darlington, a prominent English diplomat who had ties to the Nazis before the war.

Stevens’ entire career was devoted to serving his employer in a dignified fashion. His ultimate goal was to make his employer’s life easier so his employer could focus on being a “good” person. As Stevens recounted his career with Lord Darlington, he reflected on his employer’s decisions. Always faithful, he maintained a blind loyalty to Lord Darlington – even when situations indicated the man’s flaws. The reader can see where Stevens struggled to maintain his loyalty. However, he always sided with Lord Darlington– for if Lord Darlington wasn’t the best man he could be, than Stevens was a failure as his butler.

While on his road trip, Stevens hoped to meet a former housekeeper, Miss Kenton, to ask her to return to Darlington Hall. She worked with Stevens during its heyday, and they shared a very unusual relationship. At times, I felt that they were attracted to each other, and then other times, I thought they lived to annoy each other. It was a nice tango that moved the storyline at an interesting pace.

Admittedly, I was a little thrown off by Kazuo Ishiguro’s writing style at the beginning. Stevens initially came through as stuffy and detailed, but after 25 pages, I settled into this story. The Remains of the Day offered a compelling look into the life of an English servant and his struggle to maintain his dignity while his employer’s life shattered. His pursuit of Miss Kenton illustrated his desire to put things as they were (an impossible task). Smart and intriguing with excellent character development, I would highly recommend this Booker Prize winner to anyone who enjoys good literary fiction. ( )

Atonement by Ian McEwan (Jill)

Atonement
By Ian McEwan
Completed November 2, 2008

I am learning that you can’t go wrong reading an Ian McEwan novel. My latest McEwan selection, Atonement, was no exception. Marked by superb storytelling, interesting characters and “a-ha” plot twists, Atonement wrapped around me like a blanket. It’s a story I won’t soon forget.

Having already seen the movie, I had a basic idea of the characters and story. It’s the love story of Cecilia and Robbie, whose fledgling romance was ripped apart when Cecilia’s sister, Briony, falsely accused Robbie of raping her cousin. It’s also the story of forgiveness and redemption, as an older Briony tried to rectify her error but recanting her story. And if that’s not enough, it’s the story of war: war between countries fighting in World War II – and strife in Cecilia and Briony’s families as they were torn apart by Briony’s accusation.

What I liked best about Atonement was the excellent characterization. It was easy to love Robbie and Cecilia and feel sorry for their fates. It was easy to dislike the young Briony with her 10-year-old smugness and soften a bit when you met her as a young nurse. Even the secondary characters held my interest.

I would recommend Atonement without reservation to any reader who loves modern literary fiction. I look forward to reading more by Ian McEwan – he is one of the best storytellers of his generation. ( )

Possession by A.S. Byatt (Jill)

Possession
By A.S. Byatt
Completed September 5, 2008

Possession by A.S. Byatt was a literary detective story that is loved by many readers. Winner of the Man Booker Prize, the story of Roland Mitchell and Maud Bailey’s search of a possible love affair between two Victorian poets has delighted readers all around the world.

For me, I enjoyed the “detective side” of Possession. I was on the edge of my seat when Roland and Maud combined forces to determine if fictional poets, Randolph Henry Ash and Christabel LaMotte, were in love with each other. Roland first discovered drafts of letters in Ash’s archives, which led him to Maud, an expert in LaMotte’s poetry. They continued to search through letters, replicate Ash’s holidays and comb through archives to find the connection between these contemporary poets – all while trying to hide their possible discovery from more well-known and wealthier scholars.

I respected Byatt’s ability to replicate Victorian prose. We learned about Ash and LaMotte only through their poetry and letters. She had to create all of this – and it was a lot – which I thought was a remarkable task.

My main complaint about Possession,though, is the overabundance (in my opinion) of Victorian prose that you have to sift through. I am not a fan of Victorian prose, so this is a personal bias. I handled the letters, but when it came to pages of poetry, I found myself skipping ahead.

This book has piqued my interest in the movie, but other than that, it’s a book that I can now check off my list. I don’t regret reading Possession, but I am glad to move on to books that better suit my reading tastes. ( )

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai (Jill)

The Inheritance of Loss
By Kiran Desai
Completed July 27, 2008

It’s hard to review The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai. Overall, it was a good story – not spectacular but not horrible. It certainly appealed to the critics, but for an average reader like me, I was slightly disappointed with parts of this award-winning novel.

The Inheritance of Loss was the story of a judge living with his granddaughter, Sai, at the foothills of the Himalayan mountains. The judge was cold-hearted and demanding, and Sai found more fatherly comfort for their cook. The cook told her stories of grandeur from the judge’s past life (as well as his own). The cook dreamed of the day when his son, Biju, settles successfully into New York City so the cook could live with him. Interwoven with this story were commentaries on colonialism, Indian culture (particularly their caste system), immigration and nationalism.

Where The Inheritance of Loss excelled was in the illumination of Indian culture and the treatment of Indian immigrants in the U.S. I learned tremendously about both themes from this book. I often interact with Indians at work, and I discovered a newfound appreciation for their culture and how hard it is to acculturate into my country.

However, there were parts in this novel that just dragged for me. Perhaps the plot and character development were too subtle for my reading taste. In areas where the story didn’t seem to advance, I found myself skipping pages. I don’t think I missed much by doing so either.

I believe that The Inheritance of Loss is one of those books people either gush over or shrug at. I enjoyed Desai’s writing style, her humor and her subtle touches, and I would read another novel by her. I would recommend this novel to fans of Booker Prize winners with one piece of advice: bring your patience when you read this novel.( )

The Gathering by Anne Enright (Jill)

The Gathering
By Anne Enright
Completed July 7, 2008

In The Gathering, Anne Enright took a disturbing look at family dysfunction. Told from the perspective of Veronica, a 39-year-old homemaker, the readers learned the ups and downs of being part of her large Irish family, made more complicated as the family dealt with the suicide of Veronica’s brother, Liam.

Veronica’s ghosts were a large part of this novel. Veronica was the keeper of Liam’s childhood secret, and as she grieved for her brother, she had to come to terms with the tragedies that plagued him. She also had to deal with her life decisions: hiding Liam’s secret, marrying her husband, mothering her daughters, and coping with her own mother, who Veronica loved and despised simultaneously.

Enright’s writing style was seductively descriptive. I envisioned the deeply depressed Veronica spiraling out of control, frantically typing her family’s life story as she drank and escaped from her obligations. She was not an easy character to like, but Enright’s writing evoked sympathy and sadness for this character.

In addition to the manic narrative, the reader must muddle through the many phallic references and sexual metaphors that sprung up (no pun intended) in each chapter. I can’t say these themes added to the novel, but they did not appall me either. Perhaps I was too wrapped up in Veronica’s train wreck to care.

All in all, The Gathering was a decent story about being a family member and how one woman dealt with her depression in the face of a family tragedy. If you like stories set in Ireland or are a fan of Booker winners, then I would recommend The Gathering to you. ( )

The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid

The Reluctant Fundamentalist
By Mohsin Hamid
Completed January 13, 2008

The Reluctant Fundamentalist is an unsettling story of a young Pakistani man, Changez, whose life was impacted by 09/11 and the unstable relationship with his love interest, Erica. Changez was educated at Princeton and recruited by an elite firm upon graduation. He moved to New York City where he could blend in and focus on his work, his friendships and Erica. Changez seemed to tolerate American society well enough until the attacks on 09/11 when he underwent constant scrutiny because he was Muslim. He no longer felt like he could “fit in,” and when the U.S. didn’t support Pakistan against rising escalations with India, his toleration for his host country completely dissipated.

Many reviewers contend that this is a novel about anti-American views after 09/11 and how an educated young man, scorned by the behavior of Americans, become bitter and possibly evolved into a terrorist. While I agree with this contention, I would also argue that Changez was more deeply affected by the mental decline of Erica and his inability to break through her mental illness. Erica was profoundly depressed by the death of her first boyfriend several years ago. She recovered enough to get through Princeton and write her first novel, but the presence of a new lover rocked her gentle stability and reverted Erica to her depressive state. Changez could not compete against the dead lover who still held Erica’s heart, despite all of his best efforts. He eventually conceded to this fact, and in the end, lost Erica forever. Heart-broken and disillusioned about the “American way of life,” Changez became depressed. His broken heart is what pushed Changez “over the edge” – to the point that he could no longer live in America anymore.

The Reluctant Fundamentalist is a hard story to read because it holds a mirror up to American society – and the mirror does not reflect back a good image. As an American, I agree with Changez’s assessment of my country’s flaws, but in my mind, I continue to counter these points with positive ones. Like anything, we’re good and bad – and far from perfect. Despite my discomfort, I enjoyed this short, suspenseful novel immensely, and I would recommend to any reader who wants more enlightenment on American and Middle Eastern affairs as well as a beautiful account of Pakistan. ( )

(cross-posted from my blog)

Amsterdam by Ian McEwan

Amsterdam
By Ian McEwan
Completed January 1, 2008

Amsterdam is a story that could be a course in irony. I realize that many Ian McEwan fans didn't think this novel was up to the writer's standards, but I enjoyed the dark humor and, well, the irony that permeated this short novel.

Clive Linley and Vernon Halliday were friends, attending the funeral of a mutual, former lover named Molly Lane. Molly was no stranger to having lovers, and the prestigious, up-and-coming Foreign Secretary Julian Garmony was among her conquests. With each man, Molly brought out the best in each lover: Clive created beautiful music, Vernon climbed the newspaper editor ranks and Julian was an expert politician. At the time of Molly's death, each man teetered toward the next step of his career - the very wrung that would make him a legend.

However, Molly's death revealed something scandalous about Julian: incriminating photos of him were found in Molly’s private collection and leaked to Vernon's paper. Vernon told Clive about the photos, which Clive recommended not be printed. Because of Julian's despicable politics and the opportunity to move his career to new heights, Vernon dismissed his friend's advice. Without telling you the end, the proverbial house of cards fell down on all three men. Without Molly, they stood to risk their careers, friendships and legacies - all in one foul swoop.

The ending, to me, was fit and proper for this story, carefully foreshadowed throughout the novel. In games of jealousy, egoticism and revenge, McEwan's Amsterdam shows that no one is the winner. ( )

(cross-posted from my blog)

Man Booker Challenge/Complete Booker - Jill's Selections

I really wanted to read more Booker Prize Winners in 2008. I already joined this challenge earlier this year. Now, Dewey is hosting the Man Booker Challenge, which requires us to pick six books that have won the Booker Prize or appeared on the prize's long or short list. Can you say two for the price of one?

Here are my seven selections for the Man Booker Challenge - of which five are doubling as selections for The Complete Booker:

1. 2007 The Gathering by Anne Endwright (winner)
2. 2007 The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid (short list)
3. 2006 The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai (winner)
4. 2001 Atonement by Ian McEwan (short list)
5. 1998 Amsterdam by Ian McEwan (winner)
6. 1992 The English Patient by Michael Ondaatje (winner)
7. 1989 The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro (winner)

I will leave it at seven for now, but I reserve the right to add more!

And hey, how do I get a real shirt like that?!?! =)

Jill's Introduction

I have a modest (almost chaste) start to this challenge with only two books read. My reviews are linked as well:

Bookers Already Read

Life of Pi (Yann Martel) - 2002 (review posted only to LibraryThing):
This book was fascinating in how a young man, Pi Patel, survives on a lifeboat with a deadly Bengal Tiger. I was drawn to Pi's survival instincts and willingness to live - his cleverness, knowledge of animals, resourcefulness and devout religious beliefs were all instrumental to his survival.

Despite this, I found this novel too long-winded. It would have been more fascinating as a short story. For example, the first 100 pages set up how Pi became knowledgeable in animals and spiritual in many religions - all of which could have been reduced to a few pages. Furthermore, the algae-filled island was very unrealistic and unnecessary to the story.

I was also disappointed that the author, who does such a wonderful job weaving an older Pi in the beginning of the story, leaves this interesting perspective and recollection out as the story progressed. I missed hearing about Pi as a husband, father and scholar as we read about him drifting afloat in the sea.

Many lost parallels, unnecessary details and side stories made this entire novel very weighty. It's too bad because the story's premise is brilliant. ( )

The Blind Assassin (Margaret Atwood) -2000

Bookers Soon To Be Read

I haven't picked any yet - stay tuned!