Reading Round-Up
My local library has recently reopened, so I thought it would be rude not to drop by and borrow some books. Although I've been enjoying reading new releases recently, I decided to use the opportunity to catch up on some books I really should have read by now.
My first choice was The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz, which continues the Millennium trilogy by the late Stieg Larsson. I wanted to read this one mainly because I have my eye on the film adaptation, starring Claire Foy, which looks like a lot of fun.
The Girl in the Spider's Web continues the Millennium series with a new story, with links to the previous book. All the old favourites are back, and David Lagercrantz does a good job of reminding us who's who and what's what, without boring the reader with repetitions. This is a highly readable book, which I was reluctant to put down. Not essential reading for lovers of the original trilogy, but a solid, page-turning thriller, bound to please fans of Lisbeth Salander.
Next up was Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, winner of the 2017 Booker Prize. I've heard such great things about this one that I couldn't just walk past it.
I liked the conceit of this one; the setting felt fresh and interesting, and I particularly liked the way George Saunders wrote about not being ready to accept your own death. Once I got used to it, I also liked the writing style, which mimics an academic format of writing. I particularly liked the effect this had on the chapters describing events, as if through historical sources, but I think the format worked less well for the chapters in the so-called Bardo. In the latter, the character's name being cited only at the end of their speech sometimes made it difficult to follow, and envisage, the story. Lincoln in the Bardo didn't blow me away, but it nevertheless did justice to its many rave reviews.
I've wanted to read John le Carré for a while now, but never managed to get round to it. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy seemed as good a place to start as any.
I put off reading John le Carré several times, because I was unsure about (what I understood to be) the Cold War setting. However, I found Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to be a very engaging, and surprisingly accessible, book. This one is worth reading for its content, as much as for its reputation as a 'classic'. I loved the way Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was written, especially the visceral way le Carré sets his scenes. I don't know whether I will return to George Smiley (and Karla), but I do think I will return to John le Carré.
There are still plenty of classics on my to-read list, one of which is the much-cited A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. Since I'd already picked out a few books by this point, it helped that this edition is very slim!
The language takes some getting used to, but I found that the story was always clear, and I quite enjoyed the process of becoming familiar with the invented slang. I thought it was interesting that the story is told from the perspective of a villain, and I liked the way this played into the main character's lack of empathy. A Clockwork Orange explores some interesting ideas, and I'm glad to have finally ticked it off my to-read list.
The last book I picked up was The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry - another one I had heard great things about, but not yet found the time to read.
The Essex Serpent is, more or less, the gothic novel I was expecting - beautifully written, with impressive historical detail, an engaging plot, and interesting characters. But Sarah Perry's bold questioning of the period's assumptions and expectations makes the story feel fresh and new. I love the way Perry writes an authentically historical novel, which is nonetheless invested in modern ideas. I love her boldness in exposing the period's (and often our own) hypocrisies.
I'll be back to the library soon to return these books and pick out some more, so look out for my next blog post!
My first choice was The Girl in the Spider's Web by David Lagercrantz, which continues the Millennium trilogy by the late Stieg Larsson. I wanted to read this one mainly because I have my eye on the film adaptation, starring Claire Foy, which looks like a lot of fun.
The Girl in the Spider's Web continues the Millennium series with a new story, with links to the previous book. All the old favourites are back, and David Lagercrantz does a good job of reminding us who's who and what's what, without boring the reader with repetitions. This is a highly readable book, which I was reluctant to put down. Not essential reading for lovers of the original trilogy, but a solid, page-turning thriller, bound to please fans of Lisbeth Salander.
Next up was Lincoln in the Bardo by George Saunders, winner of the 2017 Booker Prize. I've heard such great things about this one that I couldn't just walk past it.
I liked the conceit of this one; the setting felt fresh and interesting, and I particularly liked the way George Saunders wrote about not being ready to accept your own death. Once I got used to it, I also liked the writing style, which mimics an academic format of writing. I particularly liked the effect this had on the chapters describing events, as if through historical sources, but I think the format worked less well for the chapters in the so-called Bardo. In the latter, the character's name being cited only at the end of their speech sometimes made it difficult to follow, and envisage, the story. Lincoln in the Bardo didn't blow me away, but it nevertheless did justice to its many rave reviews.
I've wanted to read John le Carré for a while now, but never managed to get round to it. Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy seemed as good a place to start as any.
I put off reading John le Carré several times, because I was unsure about (what I understood to be) the Cold War setting. However, I found Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to be a very engaging, and surprisingly accessible, book. This one is worth reading for its content, as much as for its reputation as a 'classic'. I loved the way Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy was written, especially the visceral way le Carré sets his scenes. I don't know whether I will return to George Smiley (and Karla), but I do think I will return to John le Carré.
There are still plenty of classics on my to-read list, one of which is the much-cited A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess. Since I'd already picked out a few books by this point, it helped that this edition is very slim!
The language takes some getting used to, but I found that the story was always clear, and I quite enjoyed the process of becoming familiar with the invented slang. I thought it was interesting that the story is told from the perspective of a villain, and I liked the way this played into the main character's lack of empathy. A Clockwork Orange explores some interesting ideas, and I'm glad to have finally ticked it off my to-read list.
The last book I picked up was The Essex Serpent by Sarah Perry - another one I had heard great things about, but not yet found the time to read.
The Essex Serpent is, more or less, the gothic novel I was expecting - beautifully written, with impressive historical detail, an engaging plot, and interesting characters. But Sarah Perry's bold questioning of the period's assumptions and expectations makes the story feel fresh and new. I love the way Perry writes an authentically historical novel, which is nonetheless invested in modern ideas. I love her boldness in exposing the period's (and often our own) hypocrisies.
I'll be back to the library soon to return these books and pick out some more, so look out for my next blog post!
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