QUICK HITS - 2012 January-March Books Read

January 2012

#93  The Help – Kathryn Stockett, 2009                         RATING:  6.5

The media hype of this book and subsequent movie was intense.  Comparisons were made to ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ and it was a New York Books #1 Bestseller for too many weeks to remember.  In the end, I was disappointed.  The story was a common one, with a different perspective, that of the servants.  The langague however was plain and the storyline thin.  The plot details for me were forgettable, with only scene that I recall is the infamous ‘pie.’  In my opinion, ‘Book of Negroes’ by Canadian write Lawrence Hill does a better job of vividly capturing the time, place and pain of a similar topic.

#94  Heloise – Anne Hebert, 1980                                   RATING:  6.0

This short novel started with an intriguing presence. An engaged man meets a mysterious woman in subway, is smitten and desperately seeks to find her.  What I thought would be a psychological thriller turns out to be a ….. horror story, specifically a vampire story.  I realize this was 1980, and we were not then inundated with everything Vampire, but come on, the ending is gruesome, as in bloody and with body counts. Oh well, another one bites the dust, so to speak!!

#95  Giovanni’s Room – James Baldwin, 1956                RATING:  8.0

Tenderly written account of the protagonist’s life in Paris and struggles with accepting his homosexuality.  This novel was written during a time of intolerance and inequality for homosexuality in general.  David on the one hand is contemplating marriage to his girlfriend who is off to Spain, and but then has an affair with Giovanni and moves into his room for a period of time.  David eventually leaves Giovanni to resume his ‘normal’ life, to grave consequences. Novel paints a complex dynamic whereby Dave can help Giovanni, but only by revealing the nature of their relationship. I was enthralled with the moral dilemma and eventual outcome. Fascinating writing!

#96  The Castle – Franz Kafka, 1926                             RATING:  9.0

Kafka’s great last unfinished novel is another staggering and surreal exploration on the themes of alienation, bureaucracy and helplessness.  The main character is simply named K., a land surveyor who attempts to get to the elusive Castle to fulfill his job.  Well, nothing is that obvious in Kafka’s nightmare vision.  The theme of this novel has been widely debated and discussed.  To me, it revisits the searching for God theme and never leads to a definitive answer (perhaps because it is unknowable or perhaps because we are unworthy).  Thought provoking with images that linger.

February 2012

#97  Ficciones – Jorge Luis Borges, 1962                       RATING:   8.5

This was my only book read in the month of February due to a hectic work schedule, but what a book!!!   Ficciones (Fictions in English) is a collection of wildly surreal short stories by Argentine writer/poet Borges.  He is considered the father of ‘magic realism’ or rather “irreality’ and his stories have elements of science fiction, fantasy, and and existentialism. His works have been highly influential on the Latin American writing Boom of the 1960s, including 'One Hundred Years of Solitude.' The stories are written in an erudite fashion, are innovative with sophisticated use of language. Some stories resonate, while others fall flat, but many of the plots are unusual and highly original.  Stories must be read slowly to savour the complexity of the writing.  Standouts include 'Pierre Menard, Author of Don Quixote,' 'Library of Babel,' 'The Secret Miracle,' and 'Three Versions of Judas.'

March 2012

#98  One the Road - Jack Kerouac, 1957                      RATING:   10.0

This book has been described as life-changing, so I must say I had reservations when I began to read this classic account of the post-war US Beat Generation. Upon finishing it, I now wish I had read this novel as a young man!!  It captures vividly the youthful yearning to move, get on the road and explore the world. Perhaps with all the travel at my age and stage, I am trying to make up for lost time?  This novel is not just a buddy road trip story we see too often depicted in the movies.  In addition to the spirit of experimentation (sex, drugs, & jazz music) that predates the Hippie movement, the novel further explores the nature of friendship, God’s existence, and death.  In the end, it reminds us of the absolute joy of being alive and present in the moment. (LINK to FULL REVIEW)

#99  The Book Thief  - Markus Zusak, 2005                   RATING:   10.0

This Australian novel was a recent selection by my wife Guylaine for our ‘Four Chicks & a John’ Book Club.  For me it was a re-reading of the novel that I purchased while on work in Sydney in 2008.  The second time around allowed me to focus on the structure and literary techniques utilized to deliver such an emotional wallop by the final pages.  The setting is a common one, Nazi Germany just before the wartime atrocities. What is different is that the Narrator is Death, and the main characters are Germans in a small town, many of whom do not agree with Hitler’s policies.  The title refers to a young orphaned girl and her relationship with her foster parents and neighbors.  Death is portrayed as a sympathetic figure and is touched by the various encounters with Liesel, the Book Thief.  A stranger come to Liesel’s home, and disrupts their lives forever.  

The author uses foreshadowing very well, repetition to drive home important points, colors to define particularly important moments, and pet names to relieve the gravity of the situation.  But the most effective technique is the use of pacing of plotline – just the right tempo, building to the big finish in the last 50 or so pages.  I must say, I knew what was coming, but had an even larger emotional response the second time.  Favorite scenes by the group were Rudy’s kiss, the first as well as final march of Jewish prisoners to the death camps.  We debated extensively whether this book should be classified as a ‘Young Adult’ fiction, because it is a highly sophisticated and original writing.  This is the highest rated book club selection (9.8 average rating amongst five members) since we began 2 ½ years.  A MUST READ!