A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters
by Julian Barnes
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Read in February, 2007
I originally assumed, based on its title, that A History of the World in 10 1/2 chapters was actually a history of the world in 10 1/2 chapters. I thought it would be a quirky, ultra-condensed version of all recorded history. And it IS quirky. But it's actually a series of history-themed short stories.
I had it on my wishlist based on the rave reviews from Amazon, claiming that the book is pure genius. A top review calls it a "sardonic, original, and mischievous mind on a tear." Too...more
I had it on my wishlist based on the rave reviews from Amazon, claiming that the book is pure genius. A top review calls it a "sardonic, original, and mischievous mind on a tear." Too...more
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Read in June, 2008
I tried. I really tried to like this book. But it went from a 3/4 to a 1 star by the end.
I liked the first story about a stowaway on Noah's ark. And there was a lovely story about "The Shipwreck" a painting which my edition has a nice fold out of so you can look and see what is being talked about. I very much liked those stories even if the shipwreck story was a little dry. I didn't make it through "legal papers" of a "trial", although I tried hard, god k...more
I liked the first story about a stowaway on Noah's ark. And there was a lovely story about "The Shipwreck" a painting which my edition has a nice fold out of so you can look and see what is being talked about. I very much liked those stories even if the shipwreck story was a little dry. I didn't make it through "legal papers" of a "trial", although I tried hard, god k...more
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Read in January, 2008
recommends it for:
writers
I really liked the start, middle and end of this book, but not the parts in the middle. Ok, let me explain that. It starts with a very funny first chapter on Noah's Ark, and ends with a brilliant story about the author dreaming of Heaven. The 5th chapter is a discussion of a painting, and how, or whether, it reflects the historical incident, and how, or whether, the process of art has added value to the experience.
The first half of the book is great, but I felt the second half got a bit los...more
The first half of the book is great, but I felt the second half got a bit los...more
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The Short Career of Luke Skyywalker, Audiobook Narrator; or Why Aren't These Homeschooled Kids Actually Reading the Books, Because It's Not Like They Have Four Minutes Between Classes and a Locker With a Bent Frame That Takes a Lot of Work To Get Open*
From an Amazon.Com review: "We are a homeschooling family Imagine my shock when I was in the next room as my son was listening to this in his room, and I hear the "f" word, not once, but used repeatedly in one of the stori...more
From an Amazon.Com review: "We are a homeschooling family Imagine my shock when I was in the next room as my son was listening to this in his room, and I hear the "f" word, not once, but used repeatedly in one of the stori...more
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Read in November, 2007
When I read the first two chapters of this book I was blown away. The first is absolutely hysterical, and the second begins that way, but leaves you staring at the book in disbelief, unsure what to make of what just happened. I couldn't wait to read the rest, but I have to say that I was a little disappointed.
While each story is very clever, and the connections that run through the book are fun to find, I found myself getting a little bored. The chapter titled "The Mountain" see...more
While each story is very clever, and the connections that run through the book are fun to find, I found myself getting a little bored. The chapter titled "The Mountain" see...more
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I read this at night in a scary hostel in Galway, Ireland, while jet lag did strange things to my sleep patterns. Anyway...
The story I love most in here is the one about the wreck of the Medusa. If you've seen the painting of this shipwreck--based on a true story--you've got some hint of the drama. However, Barnes says that the painting doesn't even come close to exploring all the crazy things that happened, and the ways the survivors were forced to interact. It's a fresh story about how...more
The story I love most in here is the one about the wreck of the Medusa. If you've seen the painting of this shipwreck--based on a true story--you've got some hint of the drama. However, Barnes says that the painting doesn't even come close to exploring all the crazy things that happened, and the ways the survivors were forced to interact. It's a fresh story about how...more
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Read in June, 2006
recommends it for:
people who like to make fun of religion
Julian Barnes became one of my favs after reading this book.
Each chapter reads as a sperate story but connected by a religious theme in each, albeit a skewed and revisionist view of various religions.
Chapter one starts the book with a hilarious re-telling of Noah's ark by a stowaway...a woodworm. Apparently the unicorn was tossed overboard because Noah became jealous of it's um...horn. Chapter 3 revisits the woodworms as they are being tried for heresey after infesting the Bishop's thro...more
Each chapter reads as a sperate story but connected by a religious theme in each, albeit a skewed and revisionist view of various religions.
Chapter one starts the book with a hilarious re-telling of Noah's ark by a stowaway...a woodworm. Apparently the unicorn was tossed overboard because Noah became jealous of it's um...horn. Chapter 3 revisits the woodworms as they are being tried for heresey after infesting the Bishop's thro...more
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recommends it for:
All
This book is an excellent exercise in how ten and a half individual narratives can be combined along a common thread. The very first chapter presents the story of Noah's Ark as told from the perspective of a termite aboard the boat, and that starts you off. The writing is imaginative and tight; Barnes is a real wordsmith. The half chapter is an incredibly beautiful piece that makes me really feel it, no matter how often I read it. A warning: the third chapter is slow - just get through it a...more
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Read in October, 2005
Why this book went out of print is a mystery to me. It's a beautiful collection of ten stories and a short essay. Parts of it still stay with me - lodged in with favorite favorite things I've ever read.
The stories are based on, fictionalized accounts of, or just straight-up retellings of bizarre events from history. Hijacked ships, ridiculous lawsuits, love stories, movies shot with 'authentic' natives that go completely wrong ... this book takes the most beautifully arcane News of the Wei...more
The stories are based on, fictionalized accounts of, or just straight-up retellings of bizarre events from history. Hijacked ships, ridiculous lawsuits, love stories, movies shot with 'authentic' natives that go completely wrong ... this book takes the most beautifully arcane News of the Wei...more
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Read in September, 2006
recommends it for:
a look at ourselves without a mirror
A History of the World in 10 1/2 Chapters is a wonderful, ambitious piece of work. Beginning with the end of the world and its rebirth (the Flood), Barnes takes us through his version of a timeline. The stories range from hijacked cruise ships to woodworms put on trial in 16th c. France, including that small half-chapter that saves history from its own ridiculousness. And you will never again forget the unicorn. This book is both funny and alarming, witty and absurd, a capricious romp grounded, ...more
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Read in May, 2008
Don't expect a traditional narrative - this novel is basically a collection of short stories that work together thematically. The "1/2 chapter" is a beautifully-written essay on the nature of love.
My least favorite chapter, "The Wars of Religion," details a court case in 16th century France in which woodworm were the defendants. It annoyed me because it seemed totally ridiculous and trying too hard to be "funny." Then I found out that Barnes based this chapter ...more
My least favorite chapter, "The Wars of Religion," details a court case in 16th century France in which woodworm were the defendants. It annoyed me because it seemed totally ridiculous and trying too hard to be "funny." Then I found out that Barnes based this chapter ...more
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A collection of stories loosely linked together. Basically, it all goes back to Noah's Arc.
I enjoyed it - that is to say: most of it. By the life of me, I could not read 'The Dream' and I didn't finish that one. Which might seem kind of odd, as it is the last story in the book, but I came to a point where I couldn't get myself to read another line of it.
My favorite story would have to be the first one and the chapter (third? sorry, the book is not with me at the moment) that is compiled...more
I enjoyed it - that is to say: most of it. By the life of me, I could not read 'The Dream' and I didn't finish that one. Which might seem kind of odd, as it is the last story in the book, but I came to a point where I couldn't get myself to read another line of it.
My favorite story would have to be the first one and the chapter (third? sorry, the book is not with me at the moment) that is compiled...more
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This is one of my favorite books ... ever. The title is funny, because how can any author writing a ficitional book write about the history of the entire world? But by the end of this enrapturing novel, you will feel you understand all about life. Watch for repeated concepts and objects/ideas, and pay careful attention to the "1/2" chapter, which is written very differently from the rest of the book. The first chapter is called "The Stowaway" and it's the "true" sto...more
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the first chapter of this book tells the story of noah's ark from the point of view of a mosquito. My friend ricky wanted to borrow it, so I told him that, and then I told him, "it's revisionist." He gave me that look of, my god sarah beth sometimes you're an idiot. And then I gave him a look that said, Stop being such a snob, not everyone knows what revisionist is, much less how to find it.
I think we then discussed some kind of meta aspect of michael gondry films.
I think we then discussed some kind of meta aspect of michael gondry films.
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The first Barnes I ever read and the best, I think. This is a classic pomo 'novel' (and that sentence amuses me no end). Is it a novel or a series of short stories or both or little of both? I remember being impressed after I finished this with the way it was held together not by a single thread but by several though none through every chapter and also by the way the threads intersect.
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It's not often that my jaw _actually_ when I read a book, but this delightful collection of loosely-connected vignettes did so (and continues to do so whenever I re-read).
Kicking off with the hilarious, James Morrow-esque "The Stowaway" thru the documentary "Wreck of the Medusa" and ending on the, well, dream-like "The Dream", this is a thoughtful delight from beginning to end.
Kicking off with the hilarious, James Morrow-esque "The Stowaway" thru the documentary "Wreck of the Medusa" and ending on the, well, dream-like "The Dream", this is a thoughtful delight from beginning to end.
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Read in April, 2008
by "chapters", Barnes means essays; they are disjointed (on purpose) and individually very good. The last one is worth the read all by itself, but they are all erudite, articulate, and the sum is greater than the whole. Barnes also has a strange ability to shift rhetorical gears in a way that makes me feel like I'm in one of those commercials for very fast, very expensive cars.
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I thought this book of stories set up really well with a fun(ny) retelling of the Noah's ark story by a stowaway aboard the ark. The rest of the stories were interesting to read, but never quite lived up to the opening chapter. Oh, and if you're a lawyer and sick of reading about the law, skip the chapter about the woodworms being on trial -- it's kind of painful.
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Read in January, 2005
This is a tongue-in-cheek review of everything the author thinks you should know about the history of the world in a few hundred pages. History with a sense of humor is not a particularly well publicized category of books but Barnes does a decent job, with a particularly dry wit. The book was very good in spots, and not so good in others, hence my average rating.
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Read in February, 2008
I really enjoyed this book...some chapters more than others. Overall, it was a wonderful example of how the notions of history and truth have evolved in this postmodern world...but regardless of how the world changes, one thing remains the same-we are all connected (whether we like it or not). Besides, how could I not love the constant references to Ararat! ;)
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book data (includes all editions)
avg rating (all editions): 3.92 (787 ratings) avg rating (this edition): 3.91 (742 ratings) number of reviews: 85popular shelves
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quote
"How do you turn catastrophe into art? Nowadays the process is automatic. A nuclear plant explodes? We'll have a play on the London stage within a year. A President is assissinated? You can have the book or the film or the filmed book or booked film. War? Send in the novelists. A series of gruesome murders? Listen for the tramp of the poets. We have to understand it, of course, this catastrophe; to understand it, we have to imagine it, so we need the imaginative arts. But we also need to justify it and forgive it, this catastrophe, however minimally. Why did it happen, this mad act of Nature, this crazed human moment? Well, at least it produced art. Perhaps, in the end, that's what catastrophe is for."
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