Complex and full of literary brilliance but unfortunately mostly nonsense to the lay (i.e me) mind in terms of a cohesive storyline. One point for enjComplex and full of literary brilliance but unfortunately mostly nonsense to the lay (i.e me) mind in terms of a cohesive storyline. One point for enjoyment, one more for the undoubted technical wordmanship - there were some enjoyable moments, but even the abridged audio-book which id hoped might make it a bit less painful proved to be a struggle. Oh well - crossed it off....more
Im still reeling from it. No matter what you think you know about the Holocaust, or seen in newsreels, it never fails to shock What i liked about it
Im still reeling from it. No matter what you think you know about the Holocaust, or seen in newsreels, it never fails to shock at the sheer scale of it. To say the Jews were treated far worse than livestock is an understatement, I can't even begin to describe their treatment. Like 'The Pianist' this is brought to home even more chillingly when its an account of actual individuals and their testimonies of what happened, what they had to do to survive and who they lost. Being a good Jew was never going to help you survive, and luck had nothing to do with it, those few that did, did so by some act of cunning and ingeniousness and in this case with the help of Oscar Schindler, who whilst maintaining a front of needing them to produce goods for the war effort and through spending millions on bribes, managed to protect about a 1000 Jews, a very small portion of the millions who would perish even then it was only possible by them being his prisoners and an incredible amount of subterfuge and daring acts. He was himself arrested 3 times and had to risk his story not being believed by the allies when the war ended. The book is very well written and based entirely on the evidence and interviews of the survivors. The author states in the preface that being a novelist he was more comfortable with that style of writing and so it is written essentially as a historical biography but fleshed out a little to give more of an impression of how events took place and what it was like, with conversations written as they would have occurred as dialoge rather than as recollections. To me a well written book (or movie) that is based in fact automatically gains a bonus star and this ones is something that was compulsive reading. It should be taught in schools. Its incredible to think my parents would have been teenagers when the worst of this was happening not that far away. Its just mind-boggling to think that it could have in what we imagine to be a civilsed nation. The thing is you only have to look as far as Guantanamo Bay to see how easily de-humanisation of people can begin to happen on our own doorsteps if it is not checked. I must admit it does also give you a sense of how damned lucky you are to have been born where you were and at what time. The Polish Jews were persecuted by the Poles before the war, and if they survived it, were 'liberated' to become citizens of a Soviet State. Nice one!..Ok..OK..so we all now about the holocaust but back to the book, I highly recommend it!, extremely well written, factual, and not overly-dramatised. The events were so shocking there was no need for it.
What I didnt like 'likes' and odd word for this book, it grips you, it makes you think and it makes you feel - deeply. But its not for the faint hearted, be prepared for holocaust nightmares!. Ive also read reviews from people who found it too dry and historical and not the novel they were hoping for. To me this enhanced it, I didnt find it in the least bit dry but i love a great biography. So if your searching for a great Novel in the traditional sense of the word then it may not be for you.
Cutting commentary on morals and 19th Century class system, hypocracy and society by a man infamous for his own fall from grace
What i liked about it WiCutting commentary on morals and 19th Century class system, hypocracy and society by a man infamous for his own fall from grace
What i liked about it Wildes Acerbic Wit - theres so many lines you would have heard before - "Theres only one thing worse than being talked about and that not being talked about" for example. Hes at his best commenting on social situations and society in general. Theres some great cameo characterisation, Great Ladies and eccentric Duchesses. Plenty to make you smile and admire Wildes brilliance. I really had no idea of the plot before reading amazingly enough - quite an interesting concept. I really wasnt prepared for the Macabre Gothing Horror story it turned into - that took me by surprise a bit, it made a nice change from dinner party conversation after dinner party conversation.
What I didnt like Wildes Acerbic Wit - you can have too much of a good thing. You can only take so much of Lord Henryisms page after page, no matter how witty. The prose is overly descriptive, nice at times, but does he have to describe in infitate detail every single piece of luxurious furnishings. Overkill. Almost without exception all the main characters are thoroughly dislikable - wicked and horridly snobbish, whether it was satire or not i dont know but they didnt give a hoot for anything that happened to anyone not of their rank....more
I felt slightly guilty in the end considering it was for a book challenge task in honour of The Queens birthday.. i wont be getting a knighthood any tI felt slightly guilty in the end considering it was for a book challenge task in honour of The Queens birthday.. i wont be getting a knighthood any time soon!. Actually H.M comes out relatively unscathed but in general the whole House of Windsor is summarily blasted. Its a definate page turner - we all love a scandal don't we?. Its seemingly very well researched and does point out clearly where things cant be proven and what facts there are. The more you go on, it does seem the more they had to find on them to keep up the pace so it seems whilst the majority of the book is extremely likely to be accurate there are one or two claims when you think, now come on thats a bit much.
e.g - The famous Soviet spy Anthony Blunt who was the Queens Art curator who managed to stay in close contact and in his job with the Royals for 15yrs after being uncovered as a traitor before it became public - the authors suggest was possibly an illegitimate child of George V, hence family resemblences and he new secrets, hence looked after.
- Lord Louis Mountbatten, Prince Charles favorite uncle and National War hero, while quite conviningly being shown to have been a megalomaniac, incompetent, bisexual and who pushed Prince Philip into tge royal marriage in order to create a dynastic house of Mountbatten (which Prince Charles may well adopt the title of on his accession), is suggested to have been in cahoots with the Soviets and finally killed not by the IRA but by the KGB getting rid of evidence under the guise of the IRA - hmm not sure about that one! Why would a prominent Royal be pro communist being the atipethis of everything communism stands for and at the same time promote his familys dynastic claims
Most of the rest of the book however enlightens us on some other interesting facts, most of which either now well known to the public or corroborated by other researchers suggestions.
Famously the Windsor dynastic line were never really British at and came to power through an obsucre German count who was 52nd in line to the thrown but happened to be the closes related protestant they could find after Queen Annne. Following anti-german feeling during the first world war they reluctantly changed their name to Windsor to try be as british as possible but still remained on excellent terms with the German royal families. They were looked down on by the blue blood english aristocracy who really were decended from English nobility.
Communism was seen as the ultimate threat given what happened to their cousins the Romanovs so though hopefully unaware of the true nature of Nazi-ism were very pro German even during the war and frequently tried to bring behind the scenes peace with Germany to side with them over the Russians.
At various times George the V was shown to have made unconstitutional influences over the government and it is claimed MRS Simpson was a convenient scape goat to force Edward the VIII into abdication because his views were so reactionary and he did not plan on being a hands-off monarch allowing the elected government to do its thing.
The Queen mum is claimed to have been after Edward but settled for second best with George VI hence her unending hatred and snubbing of the Duchess of Windsor who was refused a royal title.
All this and more ! certianly a fascinating read - thoroughly enjoyed it....more
A great book, unusual heart-warming, funny and very Australian. An easy read too. Read after having it shamelessly pushed at me and thoroughly enjoyedA great book, unusual heart-warming, funny and very Australian. An easy read too. Read after having it shamelessly pushed at me and thoroughly enjoyed. I flinched slighlty and the violent bits but they were so short and infrequent it didnt detract too much from the book as a whole. My favourite character was the dog!...more
Totally absorbing, it requires patience and at times can be a little too impenetrable with its great Theological debates and tracts of Latin - which fTotally absorbing, it requires patience and at times can be a little too impenetrable with its great Theological debates and tracts of Latin - which for me lost it a star (whilst at the same time being in awe of the Authors knowledge of the period and subject). Despite requiring effort in parts though, in a way the richness and complexity of the backround Eco creates for the mysterious monastery shrouded in mists at the top of a mountain devoutly preserving religious texts and scriptures is part of what sucks you in - I felt completely transported to that time and place. The Inquisition scene was terrifying, and reminded my of The Crucible. And the Murder Mystery plot is completely unpredictable and keeps you guessing until the end. (note: accompany with Enigma on the stereo and imagine Sean Connery as your lead Character and your set for a great journey if you give it the time!) - off to watch the film again........more
A novel (excuse the pun) idea. Alan Bennett is a genius as we all know. I somehow expected more though. It did make me smile, it could almost be a YA A novel (excuse the pun) idea. Alan Bennett is a genius as we all know. I somehow expected more though. It did make me smile, it could almost be a YA book, very simple and short. It was nice to have some books youve read mentioned, unlike say 84 Charing cross road, which was v enjoyable to read but all high brow essays....more
Surprisingly modern in parts for a book written in the forties. I liked the journal style and being inside Cassandras head, as she talks about where sSurprisingly modern in parts for a book written in the forties. I liked the journal style and being inside Cassandras head, as she talks about where shes sitting to write it etc. Im glad it didnt turn out to be just a run of the mill romance, with a predictable ending....more
I think someone on here said, that this book should be viewed as and abstract experimental artwork rather than simply a story, with that in mind i gavI think someone on here said, that this book should be viewed as and abstract experimental artwork rather than simply a story, with that in mind i gave it 5stars. It is undoubtedly a literary masterpiece, the rthymic, pulsing wordplay is breathtaking. The plot is fairly basic and apart from a wonderful nostaligic glimpse of 20's London not gripping in itself, but the novelty of spending almost the entire novel inside the charcaters heads, as they have random, often disjointed thoughts, and as the narrative darts from one character to another is unique. It is awe inspiring use of the Enlglish Language. Often mentioned along side Ulysses I found it far more accessable and enjoyable....more
I think ive become a Michael Cuningham groupie - first 'The hours' then this. Both books are so touchingly intimate and emotional. Luckily I coulnt reI think ive become a Michael Cuningham groupie - first 'The hours' then this. Both books are so touchingly intimate and emotional. Luckily I coulnt really remember the film very well so never knew exactly what was going to happen. All so touching - made me quite introspective for a while. He writes so candidly about different kinds of love in this book. The love of a child for his parents and vice versa, the love between straight man and a gay man, between a gay man and a straight woman, the relationship between a gay man and his long term sexual partner that is slightly removed from love and held at a distance. ...more
Its a Quirky book this one, I was going to say a quirky little book ..only its not. At 639 pages its one of the longest ive rea What i liked about it
Its a Quirky book this one, I was going to say a quirky little book ..only its not. At 639 pages its one of the longest ive read (i know its no Cristo but there we are!). That in itself became on of the things i liked... it was a novelty to me to have so long to get to know the characters and live with a book for a bit longer.
Its a hard book to describe, its got everything from, the American comic book industry, superhero stories, escapists and escapism, stage magicians, the plight of the Jews in the war, Jewish legends, guilt, loss, revenge, comedy, tragedy, and even a gay sub-plot (which incidentally was nicely woven in as not being a huge deal and not sensationalised). They even went to the premiere of Citizen Kane in the book and spent 2 pages discussing it, which i loved as its an amazing film. If i were smarter, im sure theres loads of symbols and themes packed into the book too. The 3 main characters are thoroughly likable and interesting and have a great relationship with each other.
The best thing about the book though is the writing style, its often upbeat, witty and whimsical, its a joy to read. The darker parts of the book are still in that lighthearted unusual style. He has some great turns of phrase.
Quote: 'He had constantly thought of her over the years of his flight, but had neglected to dab in the freckles with which she was so prodigiously stippled, and now he was startled by their profusion. They emerged and faded against her skin with the inscrutable cadence of stars on the night sky. They invited the touch of fingers as painfully as the nap of velvet or the shimmer of a piece of watered silk'
What I didnt like
It was quite often hard to work out just where the book was heading, as described above there's so many facets to it, from the first half of the book it could have been heading anywhere. There were bits that were definately slower. For much of the book it would have been heading for a 3 star but that last third as well as some great stand outs earlier on and the general tone and unusual style pushed it up to a happy 4 from me. ...more
I do love a really good true story/biography. This is slightly novelised, in the same manner as Schindlers list - i.e just a touch to make it more reaI do love a really good true story/biography. This is slightly novelised, in the same manner as Schindlers list - i.e just a touch to make it more readable. I so want to go to Savannah now, I love great architecture, history and larger than life characters ... i need to go!. Loved the film too, so it was good having Kevin Spacey and John Cusack have starring parts in my head. Oh and Chablis of course, loved her.. 'The Doll'. Very easy read, funny and gripping at the same time. It would be hard to see whats to dislike about this one....more
Loading...
