Well written, well paced, sensible length and informative biography. The book nicely summarises the plot of each novel and places them against DickensWell written, well paced, sensible length and informative biography. The book nicely summarises the plot of each novel and places them against Dickens life. The biographer sometimes speaks direct to the reader - for example after a tedious passage drawn from a lost (and hence not burnt by Dickens) and rediscovered diary, she says that this is more detail than is ever of interest in anyone’s life but that it shows Dickens balancing his writing, his readings and his personal lives. Particularly interesting is how as Dickens personal conduct disintegrates (with his wife sent away, his young sister in law running his household – although Tomalin doesn’t believe this relationship is sexual, and with him having a largely unconsummated relationship – although Tomalin now believes they had a short lived baby together – with a young actress, and with some of his close male friends discarded for not taking his side) he switches to public readings where he can bask in the adulation of his readers and even in his own mind fall for the myth of the public rather than private Dickens.
Simple and considerably shorter story than many of Dickens (especially is most famous ones) – enjoyable and easy read, although as always with DickensSimple and considerably shorter story than many of Dickens (especially is most famous ones) – enjoyable and easy read, although as always with Dickens the characters can be a little simplistic and often caricatures. In many ways a simple moral fable by someone familiar with and a promoter of both the arts and with human compassion, about the sad state of those who disregard these finer things and instead concentrate on money, industry, facts and figures. Could easily be seen as a satire on northern industry and in more modern times on the banking world/finance industry.
Interestingly the main character uses actuarial tables of ages of married couples to prove to his daughter that her proposed marriage to a much older man is actually, statistically speaking, not as much a disparity of ages as it may seem given such marriages are common. Actuaries are explicitly mentioned in the text (when Sissy’s – the effective only real heroine of the book - stubbornness – actually misplaced believe in this case but presumably the fact that she allows herself fancies over facts is represented by Dickens as a crucial part of her character even when wrong - in assuming her father will return one day is said to be “dead against any table of probabilities that any Actuary would have drawn up from the premises”). ...more
The best pieces by far relate to TRain – with Stephenson spending a long time brilliantly describing in coherent, plausible and narrativelMixed book.
The best pieces by far relate to TRain – with Stephenson spending a long time brilliantly describing in coherent, plausible and narratively consistent terms, aspects such as: the way the game was set up to specifically make use of young Chinese men willing to act as “gold farmers/miners” by making them a fundamental part of the game; the importance of terrain and mining; the way in which the online money and real world money interact (in a passage very reminiscent of Eliza in Amsterdam in the Baroque Cycle); the fantasy genesis of the game – with a mix between two different fantasy authors – one who spews out ideas the other who is desperate to maintain linguistic purity and historic backstory; the developing War or Realignment between the forces of brightness and the Earthtone coalition (not unrelated to the types of players the two authors represent).
The worst two aspects are: the complete implausibility of the non TRain aspects of the plot (Ivanov’s behaviour the ridiculous coincidence of Jones and Marlon’s flats; the way all the “good” characters suddenly turn into James Bond type characters) and the action sequences (which are worse than those in The Confusion and which the reader simply skips for pages at a time – perhaps the only justification for these is that they actually resemble a MMORPG especially the final battle scenes). ...more
Probably Murakami’s most enjoyable book to date – a long and complex micro-narrative with his usual blend of: a drifter male character; enigmatic femaProbably Murakami’s most enjoyable book to date – a long and complex micro-narrative with his usual blend of: a drifter male character; enigmatic females; ear, cat, music and food references; a surreal macro-narrative; but with in this case much more of a macro resolution and with much of the love story of Norwegian Wood.
In fact at any one time the macro-plot never seems too incomprehensible and even if the actual nature of Little People and their Air Chrysalises, and the reason for the existence of a parallel world with its too moons is never really explained, like the characters the reader increasingly just accepts them as being the way things are. The love plot which drives the book is almost Austen Jane like – two characters who briefly interacted as children on the cusp of maturity (a physical change which happened for each just after they held hands) and then clung on to that memory through an adolescence as they broke free of their upbringing and an adulthood where the avoid relationships as a form of protective shell of their vulnerable selves; subsequently find that amazingly the other person felt exactly the same about them and at the end of the book finally meet and escape together having already conceived a child.
One disappointing part is that in the third book in particular as the three alternating third person narratives (Aomame and Tengo being joined by the detective Uhikawa for the third book) co-incide the author (or translator – a different one for the third volume) goes to painstaking and lengths to explain how the timelines and PoVs of the same incident interact (which effectively interrupts the flow and no longer allows the reader to flatter himself with his own understanding/unravelling of the plot). ...more
Tale by Israeli author, anti-settlement protester whose son was killed in the army shortly before he finishes the book.
The story is far from flawlessTale by Israeli author, anti-settlement protester whose son was killed in the army shortly before he finishes the book.
The story is far from flawless: the first 50 pages are incoherent (supposedly representing the fever of the three characters which is itself a metaphor for the war fever of Israel but it makes this piece unreadable); clunky in structure with the first 50 pages followed by a whole subplot about Ora and her family’s Palestinian driver Sami (she unthinkingly gets him to drive Ofer to his military base: he then en route to taking her to her pilgrimage uses her as a cover for an illegal refugee he is taking to a makeshift overnight Palestinian hospital) and which is more similar to Grossman’s usual writing, with then the actual story only really starting after 110 pages; at times difficult to follow and obtuse; Ora’s recollection is often far too perfect – particularly when she reports to Avram on what happened to Ilan on the day he was captured when he listened to Avram’s radio broadcasts and increasingly desperate ramblings – which Ilan only told her around 20 years ago in turn 15 years after it happened.
Nevertheless it is an extremely powerful story and works on two levels: as an examination of the threat to Israeli and the resultant military culture and insecurity; and as an examination of motherhood – particularly of being a mother of three boys in a macho culture and more generally of parenthood (its joys, fears and concerns). The middle part of the book in particular is outstanding at periods with each page bringing fresh insights
The Ilan/Avram/Ora relationship seems extremely close to the Max/Onno/Ada relationship in The Discovery of Heaven and the book shares much of the same feel at times. Ora’s ideas of maintaining Afer’s life by not being around to be told of his death is José Saramago-esque....more
In some ways disappointing as Roche's newspaper diaries are famous and yet really the only really interesting or controversial thing in them is the wiIn some ways disappointing as Roche's newspaper diaries are famous and yet really the only really interesting or controversial thing in them is the widely reported comments on "baldy" John Gadret after he wouldn't give Roche a wheel.
Better as an insight into a team leader of a small team and GT ride without yet being a contender. Roche’s character comes out very well, less from a sense of self awareness (only on his grumpiness does he really pick out his own character) as by its consistency. Examples include: his obsession with places on GC (even say 18th), with top 10 in GC at stage end (as the top 10 is shown on TV) and with top 5 on a stage (and the resultant single world ranking point); his happiness to pimp his bike (to be fair he uses this expression), handlebar tape, glasses etc when Irish champion; his obvious over training especially when injured. The last chapter contains some interesting and honest observations from his Dad. ...more
Book which can only be described as Sebald-esque; the musings of Julius -a Nigerian Doctor (son of a German mother) as he moves around New York (and tBook which can only be described as Sebald-esque; the musings of Julius -a Nigerian Doctor (son of a German mother) as he moves around New York (and thinks about his recent split from his girlfriend and his relationship with an old Anglo-Japanese professor) to Brussels (in a kind of mental attempt to re-find his maternal grandmother and where he hangs around an internet cafe with a radicalised muslim) back to New York (where the Professor dies and where he meets the sister of a childhood friend who later claims he raped her when they were both around 15).
All the while with no real flow to the narrative other than the natural flow of words and concepts he meditates on New York - its art and history, on black identity and on some of the issues of the modern world.
A book to dip into and enjoy rather than feeling forced to enjoy. ...more
The book is a complete re-telling of Hamlet with preposterously the dogs playing some of the characters and even performing the scene where Hamlet re-The book is a complete re-telling of Hamlet with preposterously the dogs playing some of the characters and even performing the scene where Hamlet re-enacts how he things the murder went to try and uncover Claudius's guilt. Three chapters are even written from a dog's point of view.
The overall narrative (the re telling of Hamlet with a mute and some dogs), the ridiculous story line and the over-burdened descriptions all read like a creative writing project which has got catastrophically out of hand.
I had no interest in the characters, no belief in their motivations or actions, absolutely none in the dogs (and was astonished to realise they were actually mean to be important characters), extremely limited interest in the dog training and disliked the folksy style.
Without it being a book club book I would have given up the book countless times - even with only a few pages left and found myself skimming or even skipping chunks....more
Well written and interesting account which goes through each year in turn, covering the key developments in each year's race alongside developments inWell written and interesting account which goes through each year in turn, covering the key developments in each year's race alongside developments in Spanish cycling (and brief character resumes of some of the key cyclists) and interestingly (while not by any means the key to the book or as detailed as Pedalare! Pedalare! A History of Italian Cycling) Spanish political developments.
What is interesting is how sporadic the early Vuelta was, how poor in terms of participation it was even in the early 1980s and how even until the early (if not) late 90s the race organisers would go out of their way to attract and favour (either in regulations or route) foreign riders. For example Marten's 14 stages were against a weak field of around 70 riders on an almost flat parcours.
The race seems to have grown stronger with the move to September although the book itself ends on a falsely positive note with Heras's 4th victory (stripped from him shortly after the book's finalisation) and the new prospect Valverde. It also has a naively optimistic view of drug testing - largely assuming the tests are unreliable or the banned products unreasonably banned. ...more
Novel set in Finland at the start of the 20th Century, during its Russification.
The initial pieces in the orphanage and the growing but wary relationNovel set in Finland at the start of the 20th Century, during its Russification.
The initial pieces in the orphanage and the growing but wary relationship between Thomas and Eeva as both explore their past and feelings is excellent as is the conveyance of a society split between Swedish and Finnish speakers, along class lines and between patriots and the Tsar’s forces. The characters of Lauri and especially Sasha are unconvincing the book largely loses its way. ...more
Interesting for its Anglo (in fact) Surrey centric story line, for its pioneering nature (really ever alien invasion story since is a mere derivative)Interesting for its Anglo (in fact) Surrey centric story line, for its pioneering nature (really ever alien invasion story since is a mere derivative) and most of all for its technological timing: most of the Martians technology was already out of date by WW1 or WW2 and certainly by today; the initial news of the invasion is transmitted by daily papers and barely followed by the population until the machines actually attack London which can be contrasted with the infamous panic caused by Orson Wells fictional broadcast of the invasion. Interestingly it proves that there is nothing so anachronistic as predictions of the future....more
Follow up to the outstanding The Siege set 10 years or so post war just before Stalin's death (which occurs at the end of the book). Andrei is a paediFollow up to the outstanding The Siege set 10 years or so post war just before Stalin's death (which occurs at the end of the book). Andrei is a paediatric doctor specialising in infant rheumatism, Anna is a teacher in an efficient soviet run nursery, Kolya a 15 year old piano playing. Anna in particular is still haunted by the memories of the cold and hunger siege, she and Andrei live their life as carefully as possible to avoid the new fears haunting them of denunciation and arrest.
Andrei is manoeuvred by a colleague into diagnosing the son of a secret service chief Volkov who has leg cancer (and in doing so is unable to avoid losing the anonymity he and Anna have cultivated for so long). Andrei's Jewish colleague (who Volkov doesn't trust) amputates the leg but when the cancer returns aggressively to his lungs Andrei is suspended and then arrested and treated incredibly harshly in prison.
It becomes clear that the case is part of the Doctor's Plot which (in real life) was Stalin's last purge against Jews and other conspirators deliberately mis-diagnosing and mis-treating "heroes" and their families.
Another excellent read - again conveying so much of what it means to live through the circumstances....more
Story of the 1962 Giro and particularly of Balmamion (also winner in 1963) who Sykes's view has been unfairly neglected in retrospectives on the era. Story of the 1962 Giro and particularly of Balmamion (also winner in 1963) who Sykes's view has been unfairly neglected in retrospectives on the era. The very interest in the book is also its weakness as its very difficult to follow a race account full of lesser known names. A more frequent GC and individual stage results would make the race easier to follow not least as it is hard to distinguish the real contenders....more
Poorly written biography (with lots of quotes from Cadel, Chiarra and others more in the form of a diary – literally in Cadel’s case) which reads morePoorly written biography (with lots of quotes from Cadel, Chiarra and others more in the form of a diary – literally in Cadel’s case) which reads more like a footballer’s autobiography – ghost written by a journalist seemingly more used to articles than a book. The book is good for insights into Evans’s character (he feels unfairly judged by 5 minutes of You Tube, he resents being criticised for not attacking when he is at the limit trying (it is heavily implied) to keep up with doped riders, we understand some of his Northern Territory upbringing with a bohemian mother). However it lacks real structure and often context for what actually happened in the races plus often is very repetitive in a chapter (for example one on his winning the Pro Tour goes round and round in circles) – also sometimes it veers into pretentious writing and reads like a badly translated French cycling book. ...more
Candid and revealing autobiography - very well written if a little self justifying and at times still hypocritical - Millar talks a lot about not justCandid and revealing autobiography - very well written if a little self justifying and at times still hypocritical - Millar talks a lot about not just Omerta but also about: non dopers and team managers who pretend the doping problem isn't as bad as it is (while never really accusing anyone except Saunier Duval of doping who wasn't already caught); ex-dopers who refuse to admit their guilt in contrast to his behaviour (while not really acknowledging his admission was down to cracking under police interrogation). Nevertheless a very good read and remarkable for the insight it gives not just into doping but Millar's own irresponsible behaviour until and even after his conviction (he comes across as someone lacking any real moral compass and direction and so vulnerable to doping). ...more
Very well written account of the 1996 tour bought to life by fresh, revealing and current interviews with many of the protagonists – detailed intervieVery well written account of the 1996 tour bought to life by fresh, revealing and current interviews with many of the protagonists – detailed interviews with Le Mond & Hinault & Koechli (who clearly saw the race as the ultimate application of his tactics of making the race and taking it to the opposition) as well as interviews with Guimard, Hampsten, Anderson, Bauer, Shelley Verses, the second LVC Director Sportif, French and American journalists (almost all of whom side with Le Mond and believe that Hinault tried everything he could to win the race – a position the author pretty well reaches). The book nevertheless presents a balanced account of the race – perhaps not fully reflecting the irony that even 15 years on, Le Mond the winner is still tortured by the race whereas Hinault the loser finds it amusing. ...more
Well written and very enjoyable account, almost a sequel to "Heroes, Villains and Veledromes" about the Sky team, finishing at the end of 2010 with anWell written and very enjoyable account, almost a sequel to "Heroes, Villains and Veledromes" about the Sky team, finishing at the end of 2010 with an honest appraisal of the ambiguities of Professional racing (unlike the naively hostile view in Moore's previous book).
Gumble's Yard - Golden Reviewer
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2011
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