Nestling Moon

I like to take photos.  I share them on Flickr and Facebook, so why not here.

This one I took on Bray Head on Monday 09 January 2017, early evening.

Crosstalk – Connie Willis

Telepathy, meets smart technology meets love and romance. I love a bit of speculative fiction, but this mixed bag of a novel doesn’t quite get there.

 

I’ve read Doomsday and Blackout by Connie Willis before Crosstalk. Both books that feature Time Travel, something the author might have considered using to go back and tighten up this novel before it got published.

I enjoyed it. Some parts more than others. Some things annoyed me. Some stupidly small things that shouldn’t have annoyed me. The protagonist’s name is Briddey. This jarred with me, as she is meant to be from very Irish roots and the extra D just irked me everytime I saw it. I wanted to pronounce her name Bridey (sounds like bride) but the extra D makes it seem like Bridge sounding…does that make sense? Anyway, its a very small thing, but (obviously) it got under my skin.

The story centres around Briddey Flannigan, who works for a communications company that rivals Apple. She is going to get a neural enhancement which means she and her boyfriend will be able to feel their  emotions towards each other, confirming their connectedness. There features a supporting cast of work colleagues and her slightly bonkers Irish family. Her sister Mary Clare is a very annoying and unbelievable character. The procedure has some unintended consequences, and a wee bit of sci-fi, romantic farce ensues.

I know I’ve been mostly negative so far, but I actually did enjoy the book, just not as much as I hoped I would.  The story could be shorter. There are some silly bits in it, and a couple of characters I could have done without…maybe Mary Clare was needed as a plot device for her daughter.

Blurb mentions Norah Ephron, and  the romance is of typical Ephron Rom-Com style. A perfectly suitable (on the surface) relationship, the introduction of a colleague she initially dislikes but slowly falls in love with.

The explanations of how the unintended consequences work I enjoyed. The few scrapes and avoiding detection were also parts that added pleasure and it all comes together in a satisfying way. There is a message there about how too much communication can be a bad thing.

Doomsday was my introduction to Connie Willis. It brilliant. Blackout was great, although for some reason I haven’t gotten round to All Clear. I got Crosstalk as a Christmas gift, and give it a hit and miss 3 out of 5 stars.

 

 

 

 

First book of 2017 – Born to Run

My first book in 2017 was not typical of my reading, but certainly was a treat. As a Christmas gift I was given Bruce Springsteen’s Born To Run, with accompanying record (yes record, a lovely bit of vinyl) ‘Chapter and Verse’.
I’m not a die-hard Springsteen fan. I enjoy his music, have a few cds and his (and the E-Street Band) Live 1975-1985 Box set on vinyl is a treasured possesion. Its an 80’s purchase after all. But, I’ve never seen him live, I don’t know all of his songs and I’m not able to singalong confidently to the best of his music. I’m just a casual fan that enjoys his music.

I don’t read too many biographies, but I enjoyed this one. I imagine die hard fans probably didn’t find too much new material in it. For me each chapter was new ground. He didn’t go deep into too much. A cursory knowlege of his music (even if only the live version of The River in the afore mention box set) would tell the listener he had some father issues.

There are some revelations about his mental health, some insights into his unusal upbringing and the formation of the E-street Band and for me the most interesting of all, the background to the music, to the albums and the songs. But this is no exposé. There isn’t loads of dirt thrown around, no grudges settled. He discusses some disagreements, but even those he had major legal cases with, he talks about how great they are, how much he likes and respects them. Either he’s genuinely a really nice guy, or just doesn’t want to ruffle any feathers unneccesarily.

My impression of Springsteen is one of a driven character, sure of his talent, and of the limits of that talent. He comes across as a generous control freak. He seems to be a caring father who wants the best for not just his family, but all of those around him.

The book is a nice easy read. The chapters are short allowing  the reader to dip in and out quick and often if preferred. If you are a big time fan, it probably just completes much of the picture you already had, but if you are like me, this is a great addition to the music. I loved the Chapter and Verse album, especially the old pre E-Street music. It made be listen to the different albums again. Sometimes with book in hand.

 

Recommended. Wholeheartedly.

 

 

Giving it another go

Almost a year since I last wrote in this, but its a new year and all that, so lets give it another crack.

I’ll start 2017, by referencing my Goodreads page which gives a helpful infographic on each user’s books of 2016.

Mine can be found at the following link
https://www.goodreads.com/user/year_in_books/2016/32344686

I set myself the challenge of reading 50 books. I managed it.  What it doesn’t tell you is what was my favourite. I don’t necessarily have a stand out this year, but I did rave about The Sellout when I read it and there are a few others that got 5 stars for different reasons

 

 

Here’s hoping for another 50 books and plenty of writing to go with them

Slade House – David Mitchell

A house that only appears once a decade to disappear some people – what’s not to like??

Its been a while since I read some David Mitchell. Probably Cloud Atlas was the last of his I read. Turns out I should have read The Bone Clocks to fully appreciate Slade House, as it apparently takes place in the same world. Having said that, I don’t think it takes away from the pleasure I got reading the book, as I wasn’t aware of what I was missing (if that makes sense).

Anyway, Slade House is a ghost story. A pair of twins occupy Slade House where they lure unsuspecting victims every 9 years in order to feed on them.  Its really well told and a joy to read. I doubt it will be hailed as one of David Mitchell’s best works, as it’s a bit different from his usual style, insomuch as its really not convoluted at all – just a straight forward clever ghost story.  It’s well told, clever, holds your attention, and I might be mistaken but seems to hint at more to come (although that might just be the ‘Bone Clocks’ connection).

I’d be disaapointed if I don’t read ten better books this year, but certainly enjoyed it.

Just a side note – I don’t normally get hard back books, so its been nice to have this and Kevin Barry’s Beatlebone in hardback format. They look very lovely on my shelf 🙂

 

Year’s last and Year’s first

The last book I read in 2015 and the first of 2016 were both Christmas gifts, and both wonderful reads in their own way.

I ended 2015 with Undermajordomo Minor by Patrick DeWitt, and started the New Year with Beatlebone by Kevin Barry.

I loved DeWItt’s previous offering, The Sisters Brothers, so was very excited to begin Undermajordomo Minor.

I’m not sure what I was expecting but it certainly wasn’t what I got.  The story is one of the seemingly hapless Lucien ‘Lucy’ Minor off to take up the role of Undermajordomo in the Castle Von Aux. We meet a variety of characters, all flawed, none of them terrible. The setting is a gothic, fairytale world (Princess Bride type of world maybe?)  We are treated to romance, sex, violence and absurdity in different measures, all laced with a healthy dose of pythonesque  humour.

The story is simple enough, with a few surprise along the way. I enjoyed the humour, but most particularly the use of language.

Beatlebone on the other hand features real life John Lennon, in real world West of Ireland, but occassionally forays into the whimsical, the melencholy and the troubled psyche of Lennon (and author Barry) and their creative process with its doubts and struggles.

John Lennon purchased a small Island off the coast of Mayo in the West of Ireland.  The simple premise of the book is that he wants to travel to his Island in order to spend a few days alone.

Very different books, but with some similarities, in so much as they both have humour, and much of that humour stems from the writing and use of language more than the situations.  Undermajordomo Minor is the lighter book, with more laugh out loud moments and comic moments.  Beatlebone has a melancholic undercurrent, but the humuor comes from use of words, observations, or acerbic dialogue.

“Do you have a reservation? she says.

I have severe ones, he says, but I need a room”

Both are short enough novels, in fact such is the structure of Beatlebone it could be a novella.  Short as Beatlebone is, it demands to be read slowly. I get the impression that Barry has worked carefully on each word in each sentence.  I loved all of the conversation between John and the wise Cornelius O’Grady.

If you’re looking for a biography of John Lennon, you’ll be disappointed. If you are looking for an insight into the turmoil that an artist might experience during fallow periods, then look no further.

Christmas brought me some wonderful options to finish my reading year, and begin my new one. I hope the rest of my reading year gives me as much pleasure. The bar has been set high.

I love my Christmas gifts

I am really lucky with my family and friends, and the Christmas gifts I’ve recieved this year.

The T-shirt I got from my Brother and his wife, and I got a nice selection of books and vouchers from others 🙂  Thanks all.

My top three books for 2015

In my most recent post looking at my top ten books of the year, I mentioned that I would try write about the top three. I doubt I’ll get three individual posts done, so here are my top three.

#3 A Brief History of 7 Killings – Marlon James

Wow! Tarantino on paper. Threads of stories from different voices, based ostensibly around the attempted assassination of Bob Marley. Really there is so much more. An exploration of Jamaica that touches on cultural political and the underbelly of the island. There are gangs, gang leaders, spys, journalists and other citizens in different decades in and out of Jamaica.

It’s a difficult read at times. If you struggle with books that are written in a regional or local dialect, this might present some difficulties. It jumps around, pulling at threads of a bigger story, that in itself is not the main story, but is almost peripheral the tale of the central characters. In other words, its not a story about Bob Marley (so if that’s what you are looking for, you’ll be disappointed).

The writing is visceral, violent, but wonderfully done. The story will pull you in. Your sympathies for different characters shifting all the time.

If you’re looking for something a little outside the mainstream, well written, that is character driven, and tells a story of an Island beyond slavery and tourism told from a few different perspectives then you’ll love this.

If you want a story of ‘One Love’ that you can fly through in a couple of days, this isn’t the book for you.

 

#2 A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara

Possibly the darkest book I’ve ever read.

Light reading this is not. This is the story of four college friends who stay friends into adulthood. But really its the story of one of them, and his three friends.

 

It delves the depths of human despair. Its shocking in parts and uplifting in others. Its not a book for the feint hearted. It made me swear out loud on public transport when a certain part caught me unawares. A friend posted on Faceook that she had cried 3 times in the first 120 pages, which the masochist in me read as a sign to, “hurry up and buy it already.”  I didn’t cry that much. although there was plenty to get upset about.

The characters are a diverse enough bunch. I read somewhere that A Little Life is a ‘Gay Book’. Its not. There are gay characters, but that’s as incidental as having heterosexual characters. My suspicions are that some using that term are referring to parts of the book that have nothing to do with love. To elaborate would bring me into the realms of spoilers, which I’d like to avoid.

If I was to criticise, it would be because the difficult parts are really really difficult, and the good things that happen are almost too good. There seems to be very little beige in their world.

Overall though, it is so well  written. It explores themes and issues in a way that you don’t normally see. It explodes with high emotion in parts. If it fails to move you, you may just lack empathy at the most basic level.

 

 

#1 All The Light We cannot See – Anthony Doerr

Beautiful. As dark as #2 and #3 were, this also has some dark moments, but has more of an uplifting feel to it.

 

its the story of Marie, a young blind French girl and Werner, a young orphan German boy. We meet them in the years before the start of World  War 2. The story continues through the war.

Werner finds a broken old radio,which he repairs, and on which he and his sister listen to an unsual broadcast through the night. Werner’s talent for radio and communication eventually brings him in to a particular unit in the German Army.  Marie has fled Paris with the invasion of the Nazis, to live with her Uncle in Saint-Malo. We see the war through their eyes.

The beauty in this novel is in the writing. Its almost poetic. It entrances you, and as with the best books, you get lost in the story. You don’t want it to end.

it doesn’t ignore the horrors of war. In Werner’s story we look at how ordinary Germans are reacting to the onset of war and growth of nazism.  Marie shows us an aspect of life under nazi rule.

There’s something about stories set in World War 2 that fascinate me.  Alone in Berlin and The Book Thief being two obvious books that come to mind.

Anyway, All The Light We Cannot See was my favourite book of 2015. A satisfying story, couple with beautiful writing. One that leaves you with a book hangover when done.

Thanks for reading during 2015 – will try to write more in 2016. Peace 🙂

 

Best of 2015?

I can’t believed how much of a fail the second half of the year has been for me writing this blog. On one hand there are good reasons for it, busy in other areas etc, but on the other hand, I’m just feckin lazy.

Anyway. On facebook I started on of these music advent calendar things, posting a song a day that you like counting down to Christmas. I was enjoying it so I decided to do a sort of book advent calendar of my favourite books read in 2015, which brought back to this blog.

My favourite books of 2015 – I’m not great at end of year lists as I often can’t decide between a few options to choose an actual favourite, and then putting them in order is a complete brain melt – however, I’ve kept track of the books I’ve read this year on Goodreads. More than I thought I had due to less reading time this year, so I’m going to ressurect the blog with a basic ‘in no particular order’ list top ten.

Actually writing them in here will have an order – the order in which I read them.

Station Eleven – Emily Mandel

The Martian – Andy Weir

The Peripheral – William Gibson

Ancilary Sword – Anne Leckie

All The Bright Places – Jennifer Niven

Elizabeth is Missing – Emma Healy

All The Light We Cannot See – Anthony Doerr

Asking For It – Louise O’ Neill

A little Life – Hanya Yanagihara

A Brief History of Seven Killings – Marlon James

 

I have a definite top 3 in that – I hope to write a post on each before the New Year

Happy Christmas to anyone kind enough to take the time to read my posts, especially if you have returned after my lenghty absence

 

 

Mainly reading, briefly reviewing

Been a while since my last review, and I’ve read a few books in that time. So, what follows are brief thoughts on each one.

The Republic of Thieves – Scott Lynch

I like fantasy. Been reading it since the 80’s.  I really enjoyed ‘The Lies of Locke Lamora’, but one of the down sides of reading trilogys or series of books is the wait till the next episode. Republic of Thieves, while being very enjoyable, felt more like a bridge to the next book. It felt a bit more like a series of escapades, grouped around chapters filling us in some of the back story and setting us up for the next episode. The pace is brisk, and I love the humour, but was disappointed by how much the whole 5 week election seemed to be basically glossed over.

Girl on a Train – Paula Hawkins

As an ex-commuter when I lived in the UK I was looking forward to a story based on a train, or that lent itself to the commuting experience. The main character is a commuter, but while relevant, that’s just a tool to bring her into contact with the other characters. Any similarities to my own commuting experience are small. The ones relating to the other passengers were familiar, but the happenings outside of the train mostly passed me by as I travelled with my head in a book.

The book itself is a treat. The characters are not the nicest people, and sympathy or dislike wanes and waxes as the story develops. I’m not going to reveal anything about the plot. Its a nice little murder mystery that most people will enjoy.

Elizabeth is Missing – Emma Healey

I felt sad most of the time reading this book. The effects of dementia are cruel, and that cruelty is shown to us page after page. There is humour and pathos, and sadness and joy in this book. It’s a missing person story, but not the one you think. The blurb on the back tells us that Elozabeth is missing, that Maud knows, but that due to her failing memory she can’t people to help her.

I really, really enjoyed this book. If Alzheimers is something somebody close to you is experiencing it might be a difficult read, or alternatively, it might be refreshing to recognise the frustrations, difficulties and fears you are feeling being expressed by a character on paper.

Mort – Terry Pratchett

Terry Pratchett was a genius. This is one of his many works of genius. Death takes on an apprentice. Other characters include death’s daugher, his aged butler a princess and a bumbling wizard. Just go find a copy and give yourself a treat