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May 30
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Christopher
gave
to:
The Da Vinci Code (Paperback)
by Dan Brown
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my rating:
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read in May, 2008
Christopher said:
"There is no denying that this is a bit of a trashy book. However, from the moment I started reading it I should have known that it was a trashy book that should be enjoyed and reveled in. Dan Brown writes exceptionally well for the genre he works in....more
There is no denying that this is a bit of a trashy book. However, from the moment I started reading it I should have known that it was a trashy book that should be enjoyed and reveled in. Dan Brown writes exceptionally well for the genre he works in. From the instant the book starts (as I believe happens with his other books) he immediately grabs the readers attention, grabbing them by the throat it seems and making them read on attentively right until the end! This is what happened to me, although I was never in any discomfort. I refused to watch the film of this movie, and when a book is so popular, I am always hesitant to fall victim to the popularity of such a thing. However, after several recommendations, I gave it a try, and to Brown's credit - he wrote a very entertaining and smart work of fiction. Whilst reading it, after a bit of re-reading Brown's story seemed to work rather well, and I later concluded that the puzzles and riddles involved in the novel worked rather well, trying to maintain a rather difficult balance between convincingly challenging puzzles for the protagonists of the novel, and keeping the fluidity and action of the novel too. Overall, I felt very satisfied with the whole journey and story. After all of it though, despite Robert Langdon being a rather 'focused on' character in Dan Brown's novels, I find him rather lifeless and 'flat' with no character development having been created...so far. The constant reference to priory, pagan and feminine worship symbols and significance was a bit tiring sometimes. Brown should have trusted the reader by at maximum halfway through the book to be convinced by the argument he was developing throughout his piece of fiction. The ending was very satisfactory to me as well, despite my friends who have read the book feeling a little empty! I doubt anybody can claim this book is a disappointing read!...less
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Christopher
gave
to:
North Korea: Another Country (Paperback)
by Bruce Cumings
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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read in May, 2008
Christopher said:
"This book was fascinating. Not your usual entertaining fiction book, but a factual and insightful look into a very mysterious country. One has to feel a little bit skeptical about the heavily anti-American viewpoint of the author, but in his defense,...more
This book was fascinating. Not your usual entertaining fiction book, but a factual and insightful look into a very mysterious country. One has to feel a little bit skeptical about the heavily anti-American viewpoint of the author, but in his defense, Cummings has cited numerous references to his arguments about the way America treats North Korea. It is not all one sided though, and I feel this book is a very convincing and believable account of the country that is North Korea, and its relationship with the International community. The history that the general public do not often hear about was very gripping and interesting to read about!...less
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April 01
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Christopher
gave
to:
Pyongyang: A Journey in North Korea (Paperback)
by Guy Delisle
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my rating:
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recommended to Christopher by:
Kaitlin
read in March, 2008
Christopher said:
"I have a real interest in the very secretive communist country of North Korea and this illustrated book was a very original and suitably quirky way of providing the reader with an insight into the life of a foreign worker in NK's capital city Pyongya...more
I have a real interest in the very secretive communist country of North Korea and this illustrated book was a very original and suitably quirky way of providing the reader with an insight into the life of a foreign worker in NK's capital city Pyongyang.
The book was really easy to pick up and read, although a little hard to put down with a lack of clear chapter divides. Considering that photographs and reports of the country are so heavily censored and restricted, Delisle very creatively illustrates his time spent working for an illustration company in the city.
The novel is very witty, humorous and satirical from start to end, providing the reader with an insight into what the North Korean's often believe, and what is actually the truth. There is always a danger of personal opinion getting in the way of reporting the facts when it comes to such a strongly deposed regime. Delisle might often slip up into personal bias and opinion, perhaps forgetting to consider a more deeper insight into the motivation and understanding of the North Korean people - perhaps I'm being too optimistic or sympathetic.
Another interesting excerpt is when Delilse asks another illustrator to produce a two page example of an incident that he experienced whilst working in North Korea. To juxtapose the two styles of illustration and story-telling produces a more well-rounded impression to the reader of the same things occuring to every person that visits the country.
Very interesting and very funny - a novel way of story-telling....less
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Christopher
gave
to:
Candide, or Optimism (Paperback)
by Voltaire
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my rating:
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read in April, 2008
Christopher said:
"After having listened to a copy of the Operetta based on this book by Leonard Bernstein, I was compelled to read the original story. Having studied French literature, I would have liked to read the novel in its original French, but didn't have a copy...more
After having listened to a copy of the Operetta based on this book by Leonard Bernstein, I was compelled to read the original story. Having studied French literature, I would have liked to read the novel in its original French, but didn't have a copy accessible. However, I got the impression that this particular translation was a very appropriate one. It seemed to capture a straight-forward and witty tone, adhering to frequent use of a germanic/anglo-saxon style of lexicon - perhaps to encourage the reader to be immersed in the German roots of Westphalia and the protagonist Candide. At the same time, there are subtle tones of a whimsical and witty French style with a subtle narrative that makes occaisional use of latinate lexicon - it all seems to have been very carefully thoughtout, and I enjoyed this particular translation very much as a result. It allowed me to enjoy the eventful story, and get a feel for the different places and people that are involved in the novel, whilst also considering the more deeper philosophical elements that Voltaire presents to the reader.
The footnotes are not too frequently used, but are very useful and informative when they do appear. I recommend refering to them. The cover of the book must also be celebrated. It effectively draws a reader to this particular edition with its vivid colors and detail, and the little illustrations (and 'puzzles'!) are an excellent and playful way of introducing the reader to the content and themes of the novel.
The novel was never too deeply philosophical, and there is always a tendancy to become easily bored by philosophical fiction. Voltaire was very tongue-in-cheek, and the footnotes help to provide a background to the satire and the elements of comedy within the novel. I particularly enjoyed the ending - which managed to subdue the exciting, bustling and often dramatic events of the plot into a poignant and touching lesson that even in todays world is highly relevant, and, perhaps not as considered as it should be in order to acheive some kind of content happiness! ...less
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March 18
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Christopher
gave
to:
The London Pigeon Wars (Paperback)
by Patrick Neate
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Christopher
gave
to:
Twelve Bar Blues (Paperback)
by Patrick Neate
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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Christopher
gave
to:
Pride and Prejudice (Penguin Classics)
by Jane Austen, Vivien Jones
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my rating:
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Christopher
gave
to:
Mansfield Park (Wordsworth Collection) (Wordsworth Collection)
by Jane Austen
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my rating:
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Christopher
gave
to:
The Spoils of Poynton (Paperback)
by Henry James
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my rating:
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Christopher
gave
to:
The Beast In The Jungle (Paperback)
by Henry James
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my rating:
Added to my books!
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