I read this for my book club. It was suggested by a French member. Northomb is apparently one of 'the' current French authors. I liked this book which is based on her experiences working for a Japanese corporation which are quite horrific and amusing at the same time. It is a novella rather than a novel and I think is worth reading as much as anything for the light it shines on how Japanese society functions and why, perhaps, all the great new ideas have come from elsewhere. ]]>
I read this autobiography of Philip Roth to find out what 'the facts' of his life were as opposed to the version he presents via Zuckerman et al. It is fascinating for what it tells us of Roth's life, as well as for what it doesn't tell (a lot). He starts it off with a letter to Zuckerman and ends it with a letter from Zuckerman, his alter ego, who doesn't, in this case, let Roth get off the hook lightly. ]]>
For me Roth is perhaps the greatest living writer and the greatest chronicler of the human condition. It is a fabulous picture of 20th century US society both from the black point of view and the white. Instead of the Jewish story we get a vivid portrayal of life in the small black community in New Jersey; of life in Greenwich Village after the war; of small town Wasp campus life; of the Vietnam war and how it destroyed people’s lives. It is a critique of political correctness in all its forms and of the puritanism that led to the impeachment of Clinton both of which are responsible for the downfall of the main charcater in this book. A masterpiece
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Judy wrote: "I do love John Irving's books. Since Garp, each one has been a treat, both amsuing and sad, with a p...more " |
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bookshelves: currently-reading
THis is a much more political and philosophical book than his first and I am taking it in small bites ]]>
I didn't dare read this before the election but what a wonderful book; beautifully written full of insight. It gives one hope for the future. ]]>
Of course nothing can live up to Kevin but it is still an excellently written and sad book ]]>
I was absolutely blwon away by this book as I am sure everyone else is who reads it. This story about how an adolescent boy kills nine people in his school told from the point of view of his mother is an absolute tour de force and explores the nature or nurture issue better than any work of non fiction in my opinion ]]>
bookshelves: to-read
I started reading this at a difficult time of my life and didn't finish it as it seemed very depressing. I will try it again as I loved his other two books ]]>
When I read this when it first came out seven years ago I laughed like a drain all the way through. Zadie Smith manages to create a wonderfully humorous world amongst the immigrant communities of London both Asian and Black and shows what it is like for the second generation growing up in the modern world. A really amazing first novel, her best so far. ]]>