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672 reviews
Die Ausgesperrten by Elfriede Jelinek
4.0
The first thing that always strikes me about Jelinek's work is how she manages to use such "dirty" language. I naturally don't mean cursing, but I do mean her inexplicable ability to always use the exact word in a situation that leaves the reader feeling as if they need to shower after her writing. This characteristic comes across to me, even a non-native German speaker, and seems intrinsic to her writing style. That said, this ability is a very good once since she writes about "dirty" things. Not necessarily inhuman, but certainly nonsocial, the darkest parts of human interaction. Perhaps the most striking part is that she does so as if a passive observer, merely telling the facts and actions as they occur, with little speculation as to the motivations of the reader (a technique which only works for her in light of the fact that almost all books these days explore the internal landscapes of the protaganists) and ultimately leave the reader feeling very ambiguous about their narrator.
Also, without giving away any spoilers, it is my personal belief that this book is about change, and the dangers of being unable to do so in light of darkness.
Also, without giving away any spoilers, it is my personal belief that this book is about change, and the dangers of being unable to do so in light of darkness.
The Magic Toyshop by Angela Carter
4.0
This book is one of Carter's earlier books, which I received as a birthday gift from my fiancée. I read it in a two hour car ride, plus a bit. It was, just like The Bloody Chamber, absolutely magical and mesmerizing. The subtlety with which Carter writes and the way small elements recur and intertwine is fascinating. It's also amazing how she manages to bend time; the story must be taking place around the 1950s or so, yet one has a hard time not imagining they're reading a work from the 19th century. In particularly with this book, I was personally impressed with how Carter was able to describe all the dirt and dinginess of the surroundings, as well as the unbearable patriarchy and violence of Uncle Phillip, without managing to make it sickening or somehow dark. It is like the evil in fairy tale stories; truly evil yet somehow acceptable as necessary so that the heroes can triumph.
I did think the end of the story was a little heavy-handed, however. It's wasn't a bad ending; it was precisely what needed to happen. Merely, in some small way I think it lacked some of the finesse that the rest of the book had. It provided just a few too many unanswered questions, which I believe was what was to inspire the magic, but some parts just seemed as if she were just choosing not to provide good answers so she didn't have to deal with it.
All in all, however, if this is Carter's early, messy work, I can't wait to read some of the other books I have by her.
I did think the end of the story was a little heavy-handed, however. It's wasn't a bad ending; it was precisely what needed to happen. Merely, in some small way I think it lacked some of the finesse that the rest of the book had. It provided just a few too many unanswered questions, which I believe was what was to inspire the magic, but some parts just seemed as if she were just choosing not to provide good answers so she didn't have to deal with it.
All in all, however, if this is Carter's early, messy work, I can't wait to read some of the other books I have by her.
The Cheese and the Worms: The Cosmos of a Sixteenth-Century Miller by Carlo Ginzburg
4.0
The Cheese and the Worms was very interesting on a personal, pleasure-reading, level. Ginzburg does a fantastic job recreating the world of Menocchio, the 16th century miller, while also still telling of his plight in a very narrative fashion that was engaging.
On the other hand, I feel that Ginzburg has met mixed success in supporting some of his claims. I think he goes a good job of backing up his point that there was certainly not a top-down only creation of culture during the 16th century but also that there was in fact a deep but syncretic rift between the worlds of peasant and ruler.
That said, at the same time I think that, if Ginzburg had intentions of elucidating what exactly was in this peasant popular culture, he doesn't do a particular good job. The case of Menocchio, even in comparison with other similar cases, simply does not provide us with enough evidence about where their "novel" ideas came from, or even, I think, definitively make the claim that their ideas were not indeed novel ideas to each of the millers in the study.
Nonetheless, the fact that the book was so darn engaging is ultimately what shines about the book. It's often hard to make archival research so engaging and accessible and Ginzburg shines at both with this work.
On the other hand, I feel that Ginzburg has met mixed success in supporting some of his claims. I think he goes a good job of backing up his point that there was certainly not a top-down only creation of culture during the 16th century but also that there was in fact a deep but syncretic rift between the worlds of peasant and ruler.
That said, at the same time I think that, if Ginzburg had intentions of elucidating what exactly was in this peasant popular culture, he doesn't do a particular good job. The case of Menocchio, even in comparison with other similar cases, simply does not provide us with enough evidence about where their "novel" ideas came from, or even, I think, definitively make the claim that their ideas were not indeed novel ideas to each of the millers in the study.
Nonetheless, the fact that the book was so darn engaging is ultimately what shines about the book. It's often hard to make archival research so engaging and accessible and Ginzburg shines at both with this work.
Women's Identities at War: Gender, Motherhood, and Politics in Britain and France During the First World War by Susan R. Grayzel
4.0
The book, ultimately, was a really good summation and discussion of women's identities during the period. Grayzel's final point, that drastic gender changes were ultimately contained throughout the period by constant revisions and suchres throughout the war such that there was no need for drastic restructuring after the war, I think holds up very well at the end of the book.
That said, there are many problems with the book. One is Grayzel's unwillingness to address men's roles, which could have furthered her point. I found myself asking if the shift of men from fathers to soldiers meant there wasn't a change. Likewise, Grayzel doesn't address how the state's taking over of fatherhood may have influenced further change later in the period. Likewise, Grayzel often falls into the trap of assuming the word "motherhood" always shows continuation, but often she does not try to define the word in the context.
Another major problem is her comparison between Britain and France. There are a lot of cases where she glosses over discrepancies between the two in a way that isn't that simple at all. Also, many chapters, such as chapter five, simply don't have enough evidence to support representations of both cases. While the comparison didn't necessarily drastically harm the book, I'm not sure it was necessary in all cases.
In the end, however, the book was a very useful book to read and debate as a grad student, and I think it makes a strong argument against those that might claim that gender roles had to be drastically reconstituted in the interwar period.
That said, there are many problems with the book. One is Grayzel's unwillingness to address men's roles, which could have furthered her point. I found myself asking if the shift of men from fathers to soldiers meant there wasn't a change. Likewise, Grayzel doesn't address how the state's taking over of fatherhood may have influenced further change later in the period. Likewise, Grayzel often falls into the trap of assuming the word "motherhood" always shows continuation, but often she does not try to define the word in the context.
Another major problem is her comparison between Britain and France. There are a lot of cases where she glosses over discrepancies between the two in a way that isn't that simple at all. Also, many chapters, such as chapter five, simply don't have enough evidence to support representations of both cases. While the comparison didn't necessarily drastically harm the book, I'm not sure it was necessary in all cases.
In the end, however, the book was a very useful book to read and debate as a grad student, and I think it makes a strong argument against those that might claim that gender roles had to be drastically reconstituted in the interwar period.
Transformations by Anne Sexton
4.0
This book was exactly what I expected, with Sexton's strong power of wording and grappling with fairytales of old. She does indeed "transform" the stories with her modern twists and nuances of language, often giving them meanings I had not yet considered. Overall an intricate but quick, pleasurable read.
Best line:
It is not enough to read Hesse
and drink clam chowder
we must have the answers.
Best line:
It is not enough to read Hesse
and drink clam chowder
we must have the answers.