Goodreads informs me that this year I've read 36 books, which is the lowest number since 2016 (32 books). Not that I'm keeping score - the important thing, of course, is not the quantity but the quality. And I've definitely read some good books this year.
Of course, if they weren't good books I probably wouldn't have read them. I decided a while ago that life is too short to spend on bad writing - probably about the time I'd got through two thirds of The Da Vinci Code and realized that it wasn't going to get any better! So all the books I've finished have been good reads, and I'd recommend any one of the 36 to you, depending of course on your tastes regarding genre, etc.
But that would make this annual review ridiculously long. So in order to keep it manageable, I've decided that this year I'd pick out some of the books that I'd found unusual in some way.
Of course, if they weren't good books I probably wouldn't have read them. I decided a while ago that life is too short to spend on bad writing - probably about the time I'd got through two thirds of The Da Vinci Code and realized that it wasn't going to get any better! So all the books I've finished have been good reads, and I'd recommend any one of the 36 to you, depending of course on your tastes regarding genre, etc.
But that would make this annual review ridiculously long. So in order to keep it manageable, I've decided that this year I'd pick out some of the books that I'd found unusual in some way.
I can't recall ever reading another book where wood was integral to the plot. And there's a great deal more as well.
There's love, and romance (not always the same). There are potatoes, and old cars. There's history - World War I and the Battle of the Somme, World War II and the French Resistance, plus a few other interesting bits. There's a lot of sadness, and some hope. But especially there is wood, and the beauty and wonder of it in the hands of a master craftsman. Mytting clearly knows a lot about a lot of things, and knows them in depth. The impression I get is that this isn't just good research, he's lived some of this!
But the essence of this book is the mystery of Edvard Hirifjell's life: the mysterious death of his parents, the vanished relative who was also a master cabinetmaker, and the the four days of his childhood where he went missing. The story of how Edvard tracks down his past is a deeply engrossing one that kept me fully involved with the story throughout.
Mytting (or his translator!) has a smooth flow of words that keep the reader fully involved in the first person narrative - along with some vivid descriptions and clever wording. (One of my favorites was his description of a map: 'The Shetland Isles resembled a shattered bottle; small reefs and island were like shards along the length of the coast'). Push me for a criticism, and I'll have to admit that sometimes the multiple characters involved in the plot left me a little confused as to who each one was and how they fitted in with the twisting time-line of events, though it could be argued this only reflects the fact that Edvard himself was discovering his past in small disconnected chunks. It was only towards the end that all the threads began to be woven together.
There was also a bit near the end where Mytting plays around with the sequence of events in order to raise the tension a little. Perfectly respectable technique, of course, but I didn't like the way it was used here. I thought it unnecessary and slightly confusing.
But those minor caveats apart, it was a beautifully written and deeply absorbing story which a greatly enjoyed reading.
There's love, and romance (not always the same). There are potatoes, and old cars. There's history - World War I and the Battle of the Somme, World War II and the French Resistance, plus a few other interesting bits. There's a lot of sadness, and some hope. But especially there is wood, and the beauty and wonder of it in the hands of a master craftsman. Mytting clearly knows a lot about a lot of things, and knows them in depth. The impression I get is that this isn't just good research, he's lived some of this!
But the essence of this book is the mystery of Edvard Hirifjell's life: the mysterious death of his parents, the vanished relative who was also a master cabinetmaker, and the the four days of his childhood where he went missing. The story of how Edvard tracks down his past is a deeply engrossing one that kept me fully involved with the story throughout.
Mytting (or his translator!) has a smooth flow of words that keep the reader fully involved in the first person narrative - along with some vivid descriptions and clever wording. (One of my favorites was his description of a map: 'The Shetland Isles resembled a shattered bottle; small reefs and island were like shards along the length of the coast'). Push me for a criticism, and I'll have to admit that sometimes the multiple characters involved in the plot left me a little confused as to who each one was and how they fitted in with the twisting time-line of events, though it could be argued this only reflects the fact that Edvard himself was discovering his past in small disconnected chunks. It was only towards the end that all the threads began to be woven together.
There was also a bit near the end where Mytting plays around with the sequence of events in order to raise the tension a little. Perfectly respectable technique, of course, but I didn't like the way it was used here. I thought it unnecessary and slightly confusing.
But those minor caveats apart, it was a beautifully written and deeply absorbing story which a greatly enjoyed reading.
Jasper Fforde is a writer who I've been intending to read for a long time - not least because the blurbs and reviews of his books sounded very unusual and quite fascinating. I finally managed to achieve that, courtesy of a second-hand bookshop I came across whilst on holiday.
I'm glad to say, I was not disappointed.
There aren't many people who could pull off a story like this, or even conceive it. It's an alternative history, but it's also one in which fictional characters can come out of their books, or indeed where real people can go into them - with potentially huge consequences for the characters, not to mention the books themselves. If not well handled, such a premise could become a literary disaster - but Fforde handles it very well indeed. All the classic skills of the fiction writer are present, such as tight plotting, excellent character development and a rich back story (drip fed naturally into the story, rather than dropped in as one indigestible lump). But it's the way that Fforde uses them that makes 'The Eyre Affair' special - and very readable. I shall certainly be looking out for the chance to read more!
NB - a good literary knowledge, especially of 'Jane Eyre' would be useful, but it isn't essential. Training is given.
I'm glad to say, I was not disappointed.
There aren't many people who could pull off a story like this, or even conceive it. It's an alternative history, but it's also one in which fictional characters can come out of their books, or indeed where real people can go into them - with potentially huge consequences for the characters, not to mention the books themselves. If not well handled, such a premise could become a literary disaster - but Fforde handles it very well indeed. All the classic skills of the fiction writer are present, such as tight plotting, excellent character development and a rich back story (drip fed naturally into the story, rather than dropped in as one indigestible lump). But it's the way that Fforde uses them that makes 'The Eyre Affair' special - and very readable. I shall certainly be looking out for the chance to read more!
NB - a good literary knowledge, especially of 'Jane Eyre' would be useful, but it isn't essential. Training is given.
The unusual thing about this book is the title, which I thought a great attention grabber. Of course, many serious walkers would probably agree that there comes to be a spiritual element in any long journey by foot, but in a pilgrimage that spiritual element is the main point: so the title very much fits the content.
I've done a bit of pilgrimaging (if that's a word?) myself, but the Camino - 490 miles from France and across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela - is way beyond me in my state of health and fitness. So I was fascinated to read this account of a journey along the Camino from someone who understands pilgrimage both the physical and the spiritual aspects of pilgrimage.
Collins has an easy, accessible style of writing that put me right alongside him as he slogged up and down mountains, tramped through torrential rain and under blazing sun, gazed on spectacular views and ancient buildings. He has and shares a deep sense of the land he walks through: delving into it's long and often bloody history to bring up some intriguing nuggets of the past but also very aware of the present day and how things are changing. Along the way he meets and talks with some interesting characters, both locals and fellow pilgrims, whose stories showed me something of the vast range of human experience that comes together in pilgrimage.
And, not the least part of the experience, he also shares his appreciation for some of the food and drink he savored along the way!
However, that is just the outer journey. Pilgrimage is also an inner journey: and sometimes that is the hardest part of it. As he says in an especially memorable phrase 'I had not expected my soul to be pinned out for examination like a flayed frog.' He shares that spiritual part of the Camino honestly and openly, and in doing so gives a real insight into what pilgrimage is, and what it does to those who venture out onto that road.
My own definition of pilgrimage, developed from my own much shorter journeys, was 'Walking in the context of God'. 'Taking My God For A Walk' seems to me to express much the same idea. It confirmed for me that, although I may never walk the Camino myself, we are still on the same path.
Thank you, Tony.
I've done a bit of pilgrimaging (if that's a word?) myself, but the Camino - 490 miles from France and across northern Spain to Santiago de Compostela - is way beyond me in my state of health and fitness. So I was fascinated to read this account of a journey along the Camino from someone who understands pilgrimage both the physical and the spiritual aspects of pilgrimage.
Collins has an easy, accessible style of writing that put me right alongside him as he slogged up and down mountains, tramped through torrential rain and under blazing sun, gazed on spectacular views and ancient buildings. He has and shares a deep sense of the land he walks through: delving into it's long and often bloody history to bring up some intriguing nuggets of the past but also very aware of the present day and how things are changing. Along the way he meets and talks with some interesting characters, both locals and fellow pilgrims, whose stories showed me something of the vast range of human experience that comes together in pilgrimage.
And, not the least part of the experience, he also shares his appreciation for some of the food and drink he savored along the way!
However, that is just the outer journey. Pilgrimage is also an inner journey: and sometimes that is the hardest part of it. As he says in an especially memorable phrase 'I had not expected my soul to be pinned out for examination like a flayed frog.' He shares that spiritual part of the Camino honestly and openly, and in doing so gives a real insight into what pilgrimage is, and what it does to those who venture out onto that road.
My own definition of pilgrimage, developed from my own much shorter journeys, was 'Walking in the context of God'. 'Taking My God For A Walk' seems to me to express much the same idea. It confirmed for me that, although I may never walk the Camino myself, we are still on the same path.
Thank you, Tony.
What's unusual about a horror story, you might ask? Even one with a slight Boys Own Adventures flavour to it?
The important thing to remember here is, don't take it too seriously. Otherwise you might (for example) start thinking that it's spoiled by the stereotyped characters. Major Archelaus Wenlock, for example - the very definition of a 'Boys Own' hero: a brave and honorable British Officer, who's upper lip is so stiff 'it was probably made of three-ply' (to quote one of the other characters). Or his resourceful but much put upon batman, 'Smiler' Miles. And so on.
Or you could be confused by the original (or possibly eccentric) style of the writing, varying as it does between transcripts from audio tapes (hence the title), extracts from court records. personal diaries, etc. It is not a conventional novel.
But that the point is that it's supposed to be a bit eccentric, full of stereotypes and with the slight flavour of enthusiastic British amateurism: Cruse is having a some fun with the entire genre, and to that end has written an excellent example of a horror story, with particularly good monsters, tons of gore and a bit of weird Nazi science to explain it all - but also with a subtle current of humour flowing through the whole thing. He is, as you might say, Extracting The Michael. And in that you find how unusual it is - horror, with finely nuanced comedy hiding in plain view.
You could, if you wished, ignore that aspect and just take it at face value - it's a great adventure story - but it would be a pity to miss the joke.
The important thing to remember here is, don't take it too seriously. Otherwise you might (for example) start thinking that it's spoiled by the stereotyped characters. Major Archelaus Wenlock, for example - the very definition of a 'Boys Own' hero: a brave and honorable British Officer, who's upper lip is so stiff 'it was probably made of three-ply' (to quote one of the other characters). Or his resourceful but much put upon batman, 'Smiler' Miles. And so on.
Or you could be confused by the original (or possibly eccentric) style of the writing, varying as it does between transcripts from audio tapes (hence the title), extracts from court records. personal diaries, etc. It is not a conventional novel.
But that the point is that it's supposed to be a bit eccentric, full of stereotypes and with the slight flavour of enthusiastic British amateurism: Cruse is having a some fun with the entire genre, and to that end has written an excellent example of a horror story, with particularly good monsters, tons of gore and a bit of weird Nazi science to explain it all - but also with a subtle current of humour flowing through the whole thing. He is, as you might say, Extracting The Michael. And in that you find how unusual it is - horror, with finely nuanced comedy hiding in plain view.
You could, if you wished, ignore that aspect and just take it at face value - it's a great adventure story - but it would be a pity to miss the joke.
Finally, I include 'Raising Steam' not because the book itself is unusual - it's fairly typical of Terry Pratchett's huge output - but in tribute to Pratchett himself. I don't know of any other writer who could so perfectly balance fantasy and comedy with sharp social commentary and a deep insight into human nature. As a writer, he was not unusual - he was unique.
The coming of the railways, in our world, is a fascinating story - technical innovation, political skullduggery, towering personalities and huge social changes - with fortunes being gambled, made and lost.
The coming of the railways on the Discworld has all of that, plus trolls, goblins, dwarves, vampires, golems and various other sorts of people not common in our part of existence. Add to that Pratchett's trademark humour and his perceptive view of life and you have an enjoyable light fantasy with some deep thinking underneath. As with all the best fiction - and certainly as with Pratchett's fiction - our own world is reflected back at us.
Not the best of his books, in my estimation, but even not at his best, Pratchett is still very good!
The coming of the railways, in our world, is a fascinating story - technical innovation, political skullduggery, towering personalities and huge social changes - with fortunes being gambled, made and lost.
The coming of the railways on the Discworld has all of that, plus trolls, goblins, dwarves, vampires, golems and various other sorts of people not common in our part of existence. Add to that Pratchett's trademark humour and his perceptive view of life and you have an enjoyable light fantasy with some deep thinking underneath. As with all the best fiction - and certainly as with Pratchett's fiction - our own world is reflected back at us.
Not the best of his books, in my estimation, but even not at his best, Pratchett is still very good!
I know I said finally, but just a few quick mentions of some other books...
'The World Beyond the Walls' is the final part of a terrific Eco-fantasy trilogy from Jean Gill. It could have made the unusual category, on the basis of the way bees are part of the story, but I already reviewed this aspect of the series in past years. But the trilogy is consistently good throughout.
'The Crystal Crypt', last book I completed in 2021, is the latest mystery / thriller in a series by Fiona Veitch Smith, set in the 1920s and featuring Poppy Denby, a newspaper reporter with a nose for solving murders.
'The Favour Bank'. I love the strap line, 'Crime on the Tyne'. Nobody does dark and gritty better than B.A. Morton!
I hope that 2022 will bring us all some more good reading - and may that never become unusual!
'The World Beyond the Walls' is the final part of a terrific Eco-fantasy trilogy from Jean Gill. It could have made the unusual category, on the basis of the way bees are part of the story, but I already reviewed this aspect of the series in past years. But the trilogy is consistently good throughout.
'The Crystal Crypt', last book I completed in 2021, is the latest mystery / thriller in a series by Fiona Veitch Smith, set in the 1920s and featuring Poppy Denby, a newspaper reporter with a nose for solving murders.
'The Favour Bank'. I love the strap line, 'Crime on the Tyne'. Nobody does dark and gritty better than B.A. Morton!
I hope that 2022 will bring us all some more good reading - and may that never become unusual!