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![]() The novel is written in an observational style and sets an atmosphere that is quite stark. She shows little emotion in her account of her Father. But the book does excite emotion and communicates the French society in which her Father was born and lived. The impact of birth gave him limited expectations. Compared himself constantly to others - how was he to prove himself? He was very sensitive to how he would be judged and had an inability to talk about things outside of the ordinary. A poignant and sad memoir of how her Father accepted his lot in life. At first it seemed a very cold, factual story but then I was very moved by it. She wanted to write a novel about her father but found she could not. she observes and writes about what her parents had gone through and how they were bound by the social norms of their day. Her Father was brought up by a non-reader who got angry when he saw any relatives reading. I really, really enjoyed the book and would like to read more of her work. Also moved by the book and may need to read it twice. It gives real insight into time and place, and into country, culture and class. It was sad that the father couldn't engage with his daughter’s life. He was emotionally stunted by his hard life and upbringing. Perhaps he hoped for change but died too soon. Very glad that I read it Very interesting book, basically about a child outgrowing the parent, which is not uncommon. The social attitudes in the class system all changing as the child gets older though some attitudes remained. There's a sense of regret in her writing as she writes about her parents and especially her Father. Interesting quote at the beginning: “May I venture an explanation: writing is the ultimate recourse for those who have betrayed” – Yuki Tsushima It was very poignant that then when he died he had a newspaper cutting in his pocket of his daughter passing her exam to be a teacher. He was obviously proud of her. I almost read it twice. There's a whole lifetime within such a short book, and the historical detail was fascinating - the children having worms. Her Father very aware of his class, and sad that he had no awareness of beauty. Very scenic portraits of places, the beach, half-timbered houses etc. Interesting that the grandfather lashed out at his children and then his son became someone who lashed out at his wife as they hurled insults at each other. Quite enjoyed it at the beginning but the narrator is not dispassionate. She became too intrusive. It was a simple tale, simply told. It said more about her perhaps than about him. She has a different life in her school and then finds her home lacking. She seems to berate and belittle her father and I didn't like her superiority towards him. Reminded me of some aspects of my own upbringing. My Father frustrated in his own education was pleased to see his sons having opportunities he had hoped for. Also working-class origins encountering middle-class norms but nothing like the issues raised in A Man’s Life. Her book “The Years” takes a much broader sweep through the whole of Annie Ernaux’s life and is well worth a read. ![]() "A simple story, simply told", sums up the nature of this memoir of the life of a Yakusa gang-member and gang boss. This is the pre-WWII Yakusa who were mainly involved in running illicit gambling dens and not the violent criminal gangs of today. The main thread of the book were the relationships and obligations within the gang and between the rival gangs. There was very little comment from the narrator and the story was told in a very matter-of-fact way with no emotion, no humour and no sensitivity. It was something to read but did not get drawn in or feel any sympathy towards the main character. The subservient place of women was in very stark contrast to the UK in 2021 and made people very uncomfortable. The great earthquake of 1923 was a compelling part of the story - "brilliant and gripping" It was good to have an insight into a different culture, but we could have been spared some of the gruesome details. We are struck by the everyday cruelty, particularly in the prisons and in the army. It helped to understand the way POW's were treated in the war was little different to how the Japanese treated their own countrymen. There was a comparison to be seen between aspects of this society, Dicensian London, American Gangster of the 20's & 30's and French Society depicted in Papillon. An interesting read but not enjoyable. ![]() A Perfect Spy was a bit of a marmite book some loved it and a few not much. Sheila, whose choice it was has written an excellent review in the comment below. I confess that I did not give myself enough time to read all 672 pages. Chapter One was fine, introducing the main character, Marcus Pym, The Perfect Spy, his wife and some dinner guests, and setting up the intrigue as Pym disappears. The main thread of the story concerns the search to discover his whereabouts. Has he defected and if so to which country? If not, then why has he gone and where to? So far, so good but then came Chapter Two and we are plunged into an account of Marcus Pym's life that he is writing for his son and beginning before he, Marcus, was born. The bulk of the book then took the reader on a long meandering journey through times past, but this reader was itching to get back to time present. Faced with over-long digressions I skip-read the history and concentrated on Marcus Pym's disappearance. However, since he staged his vanishing act to have opportunity to write his life-story, I missed out on the essence of the book. Having said that, I still think that the book over-long. Le Carré is an excellent writer but you can have too much of a good thing. ![]() Olive Kitteridge won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 2009. here is what the publisher wrote "At times stern, at other times patient, at times perceptive, at other times in sad denial, Olive Kitteridge, a retired schoolteacher, deplores the changes in her little town of Crosby, Maine, and in the world at large, but she doesn’t always recognize the changes in those around her: a lounge musician haunted by a past romance; a former student who has lost the will to live; Olive’s own adult child, who feels tyrannized by her irrational sensitivities; and her husband, Henry, who finds his loyalty to his marriage both a blessing and a curse." New York Times Full Review "The pleasure in reading “Olive Kitteridge” comes from an intense identification with complicated, not always admirable, characters. And there are moments in which slipping into a character’s viewpoint seems to involve the revelation of an emotion more powerful and interesting than simple fellow feeling — a complex, sometimes dark, sometimes life-sustaining dependency on others. There’s nothing mawkish or cheap here. There’s simply the honest recognition that we need to try to understand people, even if we can’t stand them." The Bookworms Everyone appreciated the fine writing, but some found Olive herself too acerbic which made the book less enjoyable. Finely crafted chapters. Very good observation of marriage, family and community - Different layers of sadness - very well written - best new novel read over the last year - pleasantly surprised by the book - very little light relief but still contained plenty of humour - quality of the writing did not off-set the unsympathetic nature of Olive herself. To add your comment just click on the Comment link below |
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