http://www.goodreads.com/user/updates_rss/561856 en-US Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:24:07 -0700 60 http://www.goodreads.com/ 200 41 http://www.goodreads.com/images/layout/gr_logo.gif 32531846 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:24:07 -0700 Review28191652 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28191652 The End Of Mr. Y (Paperback) by Scarlett Thomas
bookshelves: to-read
]]> 32531762 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:23:31 -0700 Review28191583 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28191583 The Ghost (Paperback) by Robert Harris
bookshelves: to-read
]]> 32531684 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:22:57 -0700 Review28191527 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28191527 The Climb (Paperback) by Anatoli Boukreev
bookshelves: to-read
]]> 32531628 Thu, 24 Jul 2008 14:22:33 -0700 Review28191485 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/28191485 The Fabric of the Cosmos (Penguin Press Science) by Brian Greene
bookshelves: to-read
]]> 20666298 Mon, 19 May 2008 16:59:40 -0700 Review18980213 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18980213 to: Black Swan Green (Paperback) by David Mitchell
Readers of David Mitchell's previous books (and in particular the most recent, Cloud Atlas) might come to this book expecting something equally epic. Another grand work which truly stretches the imagination. If this is the case then I imagine they may be disappointed with the somewhat lesser scale of Black Swan Green, which charts the trials and tribulations of Jason Taylor, thirteen year old resident of the eponymous village.

It's a story filled with the average anxieties of a thirteen year old (bullies, schoolwork and girls) but compounded by his parents shaky relationship and the fact that he stammers.

As would be expected Mitchell has toned down his words to suit the protagonist but still cannot help throwing in some of his usual delightful imagery and wordplay, as well as references to characters from previous books, in particular the composer Robert Frobisher from Cloud Atlas, whose symphony features during a key scene.

As with Cloud Atlas, Black Swan Green follows a set structure, charting thirteen months in the life of the thirteen year old. Each of these reads like a short story, with only a few key events spanning chapters.

The period details, in particular the music and Jason's views on Thatcher and the Falkland War, are delightful and his whole world, whilst slightly super-saturated has a believable feel. Its main downside is that it seems lesser only next to his previous works, and that perhaps something of the message gets lost towards the end which has a slightly premature feel. Nevertheless, it is an absolutely entertaining read with a delightful set of characters and a very singular take on the 80s. ]]> 23401661 Sun, 27 Apr 2008 01:46:58 -0700 FacebookUser31802 http://apps.facebook.com/good_reads/ check it out » ]]> 19906957 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:42:05 -0700 Review18371339 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/18371339 to: Kafka on the Shore (Paperback) by Haruki Murakami
An expansive, fantastical read, which like many of Murakami's books, immediately draws you into a bizarre story, in this case the parallel worlds of 15 year-old runaway Kafka Tamura and Mr Nakata, a man who can't read but can talk with cats.

The book, through alternating chapters, shows how closely the worlds of dream and reality, memory and history, metaphor and actuality, are intertwined and the devastating consequences of what can happen when these opposites are bridged.

Leading you from the quiet suburbs of Tokyo to the rural idyl of Shikoku island this is a thoroughly engrossing read, revolving around an intriguing, metaphysical idea of how memory and reality relate. Throughout the course of the book the characters are drawn onwards by this concept.

Laced through with Murakami's usual pop culture references, it also has a lot of humour, tragedy and intense sexuality. Thanks to it I have been encouraged to read more about Greek Tragedy and the philosophy of Hegel.

Perhaps more deeply mystical then the other books of his I have read (Norweigen Wood, Wind-Up Bird Chronicles) this was an excellent Murakami book that is both very much of the 21st century, and a time in the deep forgotten past. Challenging, it will leave you at times scratching your head as much as poor old Mr Nakata. ]]> 22583183 Fri, 18 Apr 2008 11:39:48 -0700 Review20473636 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/20473636 Midnight's Children (Paperback) by Salman Rushdie
bookshelves: currently-reading
]]> 17454608 Mon, 25 Feb 2008 23:50:05 -0800 Review16388746 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/16388746 to: The Accidental (Paperback) by Ali Smith
]]> 13358002 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 14:50:34 -0800 Review9712157 http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/9712157 to: Vintage Satire: "Gulliver's Travels", "Atomised" (Paperback) by Jonathan Swift
An insightful and very individual novel from French writer Michel Houllebeq who melds advanced genetics with the hippie movement to create a book which is much bigger in scope than you realise.

Tracking the (mis)fortunes of a pair of half-brothers growing up in late 20th century France we see how love, society, companionship and relationships can shape people's views of the world and lead to revolution in its truest sense.

So extreme are the characters that at times it can be difficult to identify with either of the brothers, but through their interactions with sub-characters you slowly come to understand their different plights.

Other than that though it was an interesting read which has rekindled my interest in philosophy and which delivers a quite fantastical ending, one which will leave you thinking about it for many days afterwards. ]]>