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margaret45678's reviews
45 reviews
Independent People by James Anderson Thompson, Halldór Laxness
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Despite the heavy subject matter, I actually found it a fairly easy read once I got into it. I had to wait until the very end to appreciate its real greatness though.
"His being had rested full of adoration for the glory which unifies all distance in such beauty and sorrow that one no longer wishes for anything - in unconquerable adversity, in unquenchable longing, he felt that life had nevertheless been worth while living."
"When a man looks at a flowering plant growing slender and helpless up in the wilderness among a hundred thousand stones, and he has found this plant only by chance, then he asks: Why is it that life is always trying to burst forth? Should one pull up this plant and use it to clean one's pipe? No, for this plant also broods over the limitation and the unlimitation of all life, and lives in love of the good beyond these hundred thousand stones, like you and me; water it with care, but do not uproot it, maybe it is little Asta Sollilja."
"One has grown weary of one's house before it has finished building; strange that mankind should need to live in a house, instead of remaining content with the house of wishes."
"Capitalism punishes people much more for not stealing than for stealing - so why shouldn't a fellow steal?"
"His being had rested full of adoration for the glory which unifies all distance in such beauty and sorrow that one no longer wishes for anything - in unconquerable adversity, in unquenchable longing, he felt that life had nevertheless been worth while living."
"When a man looks at a flowering plant growing slender and helpless up in the wilderness among a hundred thousand stones, and he has found this plant only by chance, then he asks: Why is it that life is always trying to burst forth? Should one pull up this plant and use it to clean one's pipe? No, for this plant also broods over the limitation and the unlimitation of all life, and lives in love of the good beyond these hundred thousand stones, like you and me; water it with care, but do not uproot it, maybe it is little Asta Sollilja."
"One has grown weary of one's house before it has finished building; strange that mankind should need to live in a house, instead of remaining content with the house of wishes."
"Capitalism punishes people much more for not stealing than for stealing - so why shouldn't a fellow steal?"
The Warden by Anthony Trollope
funny
lighthearted
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Pretty enjoyable to read but I felt like there wasn't much to it. A family friend recommended Trollope to me as a remedy to intense academic reading and I ended up starting with Framley Parsonage on a whim. I liked it but wasn't in a hurry to read the rest of the series. One day, while taking out the trash, I came across a copy of The Warden in my apartment building's recycling area (on the shelf with old newspapers and Brita filters - it wasn't actually in the bin) and figured it was something of a sign. This must have been a couple of years ago now; I read this book very much in fits and starts, although it's pretty easy going once you get into it.
I didn't like it as much as Framley Parsonage, the characters seemed flatter and the plot, although in some ways more dramatic, seemed more contrived. Some of the satire (especially the names - I mean, John Bold?! Come on!) is not exactly nuanced, but elsewhere Trollope uses a lighter touch, and it's always quite funny, if not subtle. I look forward to reading the rest of the series, since it seems like Trollope hit his stride in the later books and developed the characters more fully.
The political message of the book is quite silly, not to say totally reactionary, but it's wishy-washy and lighthearted enough to just about get away with it.
I didn't like it as much as Framley Parsonage, the characters seemed flatter and the plot, although in some ways more dramatic, seemed more contrived. Some of the satire (especially the names - I mean, John Bold?! Come on!) is not exactly nuanced, but elsewhere Trollope uses a lighter touch, and it's always quite funny, if not subtle. I look forward to reading the rest of the series, since it seems like Trollope hit his stride in the later books and developed the characters more fully.
The political message of the book is quite silly, not to say totally reactionary, but it's wishy-washy and lighthearted enough to just about get away with it.
What Is to Be Done? by Michael R. Katz, Nikolái Chernyshevsky
challenging
funny
informative
reflective
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
2.25
I really have to give this book credit for being a lot weirder than I thought it would be. Knowing nothing about the plot, but a little about its reputation, I expected it to be a bog-standard social realist political novel about people being radicalized by material privation. In fact, the book is primarily concerned with the status of women and the institution of marriage, although social class and political repression are also important elements. Despite this book's many, many flaws, I have to say I found the ideas it expressed quite interesting; it really drives home the wackiness of pre/non-Marxian socialism and early feminism (or at least, early feminism as expounded by a man). Although "nuanced" is not a word which springs to mind in relation to What Is to Be Done? there were moments when I felt like Chernyshevsky picked up on some interesting contradictions and tensions in his characters' (and presumably his own) beliefs: for instance, Vera Pavlovna's position as a more or less emancipated woman who is nevertheless somewhat dependant on her (equally enlightened) husband.
I also feel like I should give Chernyshevsky credit for the audacity of writing such a terrible book, admitting that he is a terrible author, and also insulting the "perspicacious reader" throughout the text. His sense of humor, as well as parts of the book which were probably meant to be serious, is a big part of what makes this book bearable. The fact that arguably the most significant character in the book (Rakhmetov) appears only very briefly and, by the author's own admission, does nothing to advance the plot is honestly hilarious to me.
The plot itself is ok, but again, it's really funny to me that a book, without which the Bolshevik Revolution would probably never have happened, is basically just about what happens when two people with slightly different personalities get married. The characters are for the most part totally unrealistic; it's hard to believe that Chernyshevsky ever interacted with a real human being. The only moment that really rang true for me is the passage from the "former medical student's" letter about idle comments which "grate against [one's] soul." While I'm definitely sympathetic to Chernyshevsky's more radical views, I found it a poor response to Turgenev's Fathers and Sons: Chernyshevsky's book is premised on the idea that principled people will always act according to their principles, while Turgenev's accepts that this is impossible, not to mention quite boring to read about. Still, for people interested in these ideas, or with time to spare on a pretty bizarre book, it's probably worth reading.
I also feel like I should give Chernyshevsky credit for the audacity of writing such a terrible book, admitting that he is a terrible author, and also insulting the "perspicacious reader" throughout the text. His sense of humor, as well as parts of the book which were probably meant to be serious, is a big part of what makes this book bearable. The fact that arguably the most significant character in the book (Rakhmetov) appears only very briefly and, by the author's own admission, does nothing to advance the plot is honestly hilarious to me.
The plot itself is ok, but again, it's really funny to me that a book, without which the Bolshevik Revolution would probably never have happened, is basically just about what happens when two people with slightly different personalities get married. The characters are for the most part totally unrealistic; it's hard to believe that Chernyshevsky ever interacted with a real human being. The only moment that really rang true for me is the passage from the "former medical student's" letter about idle comments which "grate against [one's] soul." While I'm definitely sympathetic to Chernyshevsky's more radical views, I found it a poor response to Turgenev's Fathers and Sons: Chernyshevsky's book is premised on the idea that principled people will always act according to their principles, while Turgenev's accepts that this is impossible, not to mention quite boring to read about. Still, for people interested in these ideas, or with time to spare on a pretty bizarre book, it's probably worth reading.
My Discovery of America by Colum McCann, Vladimir Mayakovsky
adventurous
funny
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Lote by Shola von Reinhold
funny
hopeful
informative
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.0
I knew I was going to be charmed by Lote because I love books with this kind of encyclopedic, cabinet-of-curiosities vibe. It felt like a more light-hearted cousin to Eco's Foucault's Pendulum and Bolaño's Savage Detectives and 2666, in that they're all sort of literary detective stories, full of references to real or semi-fictionalized people.
I agree with the Guardian review that called it "twee-adjacent," and I can definitely understand why some people might find it really annoying. Personally, though, I liked both the writing style and the stylized setting. Appropriately for a book which is all about art and aesthetics, the descriptions of the town and its various buildings were wonderful.
The characterization was for the most part really well-done, too; I loved the description of Griselda as 'a Byronic, rakish sort of person.' Mathilda was fleshed out skillfully: you got a sense of who she was, but the slippery, elusive nature of her personality was well-established. The satirical elements of the book were funny and effective; its more straightforwardly polemical parts sometimes felt a bit clumsy. On the other hand, I liked that it had a serious side and touched on race, class and gender. As other reviewers have pointed out, books with a similar aesthetic sensibility have all too often ignored the realities of oppression and been confined to a white male perspective.
I'm conflicted about the actual plot: for most of the book I found it really compelling, but it seemed like the plot and characterization slightly fell apart at the end. I'd like to read it again to get a better sense of how it all hangs together. Still, there was so much in it to enjoy, and I really look forward to von Reinhold's next book.
I agree with the Guardian review that called it "twee-adjacent," and I can definitely understand why some people might find it really annoying. Personally, though, I liked both the writing style and the stylized setting. Appropriately for a book which is all about art and aesthetics, the descriptions of the town and its various buildings were wonderful.
The characterization was for the most part really well-done, too; I loved the description of Griselda as 'a Byronic, rakish sort of person.' Mathilda was fleshed out skillfully: you got a sense of who she was, but the slippery, elusive nature of her personality was well-established. The satirical elements of the book were funny and effective; its more straightforwardly polemical parts sometimes felt a bit clumsy. On the other hand, I liked that it had a serious side and touched on race, class and gender. As other reviewers have pointed out, books with a similar aesthetic sensibility have all too often ignored the realities of oppression and been confined to a white male perspective.
I'm conflicted about the actual plot: for most of the book I found it really compelling, but it seemed like the plot and characterization slightly fell apart at the end. I'd like to read it again to get a better sense of how it all hangs together. Still, there was so much in it to enjoy, and I really look forward to von Reinhold's next book.
I Am Not Sidney Poitier by Percival Everett
dark
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
My understanding of this book was probably hampered by the fact that I've never seen a Sidney Poitier movie. Pleasantly surreal while still grounded in real social dynamics and problems. Sort of reminded me of Murakami in that the narrator is weirdly detached from many of the things which happen around and to him, though since his identity is based on the negation of someone else's (i.e., Sidney Poitier's) until the very end, that is I guess his detachment makes sense.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Racism and Violence
You Too Can Have a Body Like Mine by Alexandra Kleeman
dark
funny
mysterious
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Compelling plot and great sense of surreality. Kind of reminded me of "Sorry to Bother You" but about skinny middle-class white girls. I felt like some of the symbolism and themes were a bit on-the-nose and it all wrapped up more neatly than I expected. Overall I liked it a lot and didn't find the style as off-putting or experimental as other reviewers, but I agree with the person who said it seemed like it came directly out of an MFA program.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Eating disorder
A Legacy by Sybille Bedford
funny
reflective
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Chose this book totally at random in a bookshop, along with Walter Benjamin's Berlin Childhood, which turned out to be an appropriate companion. Witty, charming, kind of sad, very slow-paced. Enough of a plot to keep things interesting, with great descriptions of interiors, landscapes, clothing, etc. Also notable for its exploration of class and religious identities just after German unification.
Route 19 Revisited: The Clash and London Calling by Marcus Gray
informative
3.5
I read this book quite a while ago and my memory might not be totally accurate but I remember finding it pretty tedious at the time. Some of the information is totally irrelevant (do we really need a history of the skull and crossbones to understand 'Death or Glory'?).
That being said, there's a lot of good stuff in there, too; besides all the Clash minutiae, there's a lot of info on social history, films, other bands and even literature (well, Federico Garcia Lorca and Brighton Rock at least) which I really appreciated. The recording and production of 'London Calling' is genuinely really interesting and the songs are so full of (often rather obscure) references to things, reading this book did help me appreciate and understand the record better.
I almost want to say it would have worked better as a 33 1/3 book that focused more on the album itself, but I have to admit that this book introduced me to a lot of other stuff I wouldn't have otherwise known about, and that kind of makes up for the boring bits.
That being said, there's a lot of good stuff in there, too; besides all the Clash minutiae, there's a lot of info on social history, films, other bands and even literature (well, Federico Garcia Lorca and Brighton Rock at least) which I really appreciated. The recording and production of 'London Calling' is genuinely really interesting and the songs are so full of (often rather obscure) references to things, reading this book did help me appreciate and understand the record better.
I almost want to say it would have worked better as a 33 1/3 book that focused more on the album itself, but I have to admit that this book introduced me to a lot of other stuff I wouldn't have otherwise known about, and that kind of makes up for the boring bits.