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3.91 AVERAGE
3.91 AVERAGE
emotional
slow-paced
While reading this, I was reminded of a time when, as a child, I discovered that one of my favourite children's authors was going to start writing books for adults, and I was appalled and drafted a letter to ask them to please keep writing for children instead. I don't think I ever sent the letter, and I'm not sure what the author would have made of it if I had! But I hugely admire Penelope Lively's books for children: I am impressed by the depth of her characters, the scope of her imagination, and her depictions of place and time. She celebrates the day-to-day, and writes gives supernatural events a unique twist and sense of realism. So I expected a lot from Moon Tiger: it's won the Booker, and was shortlisted for an extra Booker, and it's an adult novel that has received a lot of acclaim. But I was disappointed. Maybe my expectations were too high, but I felt it lacked the depth and emotional power of Lively's novels for children, and I found it trite and unimaginative. Maybe I should have written a letter to Lively!
Claudia, the narrator of the novel, is dying in a hospice in the 1980s, and looking back over her life, particularly the time she spent as a war correspondent in Cairo during the second world war. Claudia's war story seemed to be the same as many war narrative I've read: she falls in love with a soldier; she gets pregnant; the soldier dies. The descriptions of loss and turmoil felt completely predictable, and Lively didn't bring any of her imaginative powers to the genre. Claudia is a prickly character, and I appreciated her acerbic qualities, but the strongest part of the book is the depiction of Claudia as a child, while many of the other elements feel tacked-on and overblown. I wasn't certain what Lively was trying to say here, but none of it captured my attention or imagination, sadly.
Claudia, the narrator of the novel, is dying in a hospice in the 1980s, and looking back over her life, particularly the time she spent as a war correspondent in Cairo during the second world war. Claudia's war story seemed to be the same as many war narrative I've read: she falls in love with a soldier; she gets pregnant; the soldier dies. The descriptions of loss and turmoil felt completely predictable, and Lively didn't bring any of her imaginative powers to the genre. Claudia is a prickly character, and I appreciated her acerbic qualities, but the strongest part of the book is the depiction of Claudia as a child, while many of the other elements feel tacked-on and overblown. I wasn't certain what Lively was trying to say here, but none of it captured my attention or imagination, sadly.
This book was pretty incredible in a number of senses. Firstly, it was very well written. Not a single word was wasted, it was almost lyrical. But what was really impressive about this novel was that it was a complete story of a pretty extraordinary life, it managed to make you feel as if you were privy to it all, and it was only two hundred pages long. Now, don't get me wrong, they were two hundred very dense pages, but they were only two hundred pages just the same.
'Moon Tiger' is the story of the world and the story of a life, or so says Claudia, our heroine, lying in bed dying. From there and through the people who visit her she weaves a story of the past. Her tempestuous ten year on again off again affair with Jasper, the father of her child. Lisa, that same child, cared for primarily by grandparents. Sylvia, her sister in law, married to Gordon, the brother Claudia considered a part of her soul. And memories of Tom Southern, the dashing soldier and love of Claudia's life who died long ago while Claudia was a war corresponded in Egypt. Nothing is in order and nothing in concise.
Tom is clearly the focal point in Claudia's life, the great regret and sorrow she carries with her. He certainly seems to be her one non-incestuous (a phenomenon she equates with narcissism) love interest. However, I'm not entirely sure he rang true to me. He was written well, but there just wasn't enough of him or there wasn't enough passion behind him for me. Perhaps I just found him relatively cliche. I couldn't quite understand why he was so important to a woman who was so fiercely independent and who forged such an interesting story for herself. I can, however, still enjoy his presence as a road-not-taken or rather road interrupted sort of thing. Jasper, on the other hand, was very lively and I loved every line, though I'd never believe them in a grand romance. Out of all the other characters, though, I would have to say it was Gordon I enjoyed the best. Perhaps it makes sense as he is clearly the other side of Claudia's coin. I enjoyed their constant show of bickering back and forth and how clear it was this was the way they communicated and existed together, more as a necessity than actual anger or even annoyance. There are good way and bad way to do things, this whole book was done right. It's not surprise, honestly, that it won the Booker prize.
'Moon Tiger' is the story of the world and the story of a life, or so says Claudia, our heroine, lying in bed dying. From there and through the people who visit her she weaves a story of the past. Her tempestuous ten year on again off again affair with Jasper, the father of her child. Lisa, that same child, cared for primarily by grandparents. Sylvia, her sister in law, married to Gordon, the brother Claudia considered a part of her soul. And memories of Tom Southern, the dashing soldier and love of Claudia's life who died long ago while Claudia was a war corresponded in Egypt. Nothing is in order and nothing in concise.
Tom is clearly the focal point in Claudia's life, the great regret and sorrow she carries with her. He certainly seems to be her one non-incestuous (a phenomenon she equates with narcissism) love interest. However, I'm not entirely sure he rang true to me. He was written well, but there just wasn't enough of him or there wasn't enough passion behind him for me. Perhaps I just found him relatively cliche. I couldn't quite understand why he was so important to a woman who was so fiercely independent and who forged such an interesting story for herself. I can, however, still enjoy his presence as a road-not-taken or rather road interrupted sort of thing. Jasper, on the other hand, was very lively and I loved every line, though I'd never believe them in a grand romance. Out of all the other characters, though, I would have to say it was Gordon I enjoyed the best. Perhaps it makes sense as he is clearly the other side of Claudia's coin. I enjoyed their constant show of bickering back and forth and how clear it was this was the way they communicated and existed together, more as a necessity than actual anger or even annoyance. There are good way and bad way to do things, this whole book was done right. It's not surprise, honestly, that it won the Booker prize.
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
N/A
Wow! Loved this book. This goes straight into the list of the best books I’ve ever read. I love the style, the story, how it is constructed, the MC, everything.
reflective
sad
fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Gosh I adored this book!
Reflective, witty, informative, philosophical with gut punches of emotion sprinkled throughout.
I fell in love with Claudia our MC/ narrator - not sure what that says about me as she isn't the most likeable/ warmest of characters.. but she is very reminiscent of my late grandmother and other women I've cared for over the years who have passed so the fact that this whole account is being told from her deathbed really got to me.
I loved that other characters got small passages of POV also.
Claudia doesn't tell the story chronologically but I enjoyed the chaos, it added layers of meaning behind her actions and feelings.
I'll be recommending to anyone who'll listen!
Reflective, witty, informative, philosophical with gut punches of emotion sprinkled throughout.
I fell in love with Claudia our MC/ narrator - not sure what that says about me as she isn't the most likeable/ warmest of characters.. but she is very reminiscent of my late grandmother and other women I've cared for over the years who have passed so the fact that this whole account is being told from her deathbed really got to me.
I loved that other characters got small passages of POV also.
Claudia doesn't tell the story chronologically but I enjoyed the chaos, it added layers of meaning behind her actions and feelings.
I'll be recommending to anyone who'll listen!
I did not enjoy the first 7 chapters enough to read further. The characters are not likable and there's nothing else to redeem the story.
is it true that we no longer write novels? only extended social media posts? because that is how I felt on reading Moon Tiger. as if I was reading a novel after a long time. loved every single thing about it.
Wow, this book. It's been a long time a book made feel this way. And made me think so much about life and history.
Based on this book Lively is a great writer. This book is a masterpiece in my opinion. Such a beautiful book about death and life and the people in our lives. Lifestories. Her writing sings and echoes.
Based on this book Lively is a great writer. This book is a masterpiece in my opinion. Such a beautiful book about death and life and the people in our lives. Lifestories. Her writing sings and echoes.