You may have noticed that there’s been rather a long silence since
my last post. Other commitments sadly got in the way and although I kept
intending to post it never quite became reality. Before (hopefully!) getting
back to my more regular posts I thought I’d write a few short words on some of
the things I’ve been reading in the meantime. My memory not being perfect and
my notes sadly having been lost short words they must be, but I’ve read some
great books that it would seem a shame not to share.
Infinite Jest, David Foster Wallace – This behemoth took me
something like three months to plough through. It’s a complicated set of
stories based variously around a Tennis Academy, a drug and alcohol recovery house, and a group
of wheelchair assassins. It’s not until quite near the end that the links
between the different narratives begin to become apparent. Some tough subjects
are touched upon – addiction, domestic abuse, suicide, and difficult family
relationships and the traces they leave. This may not be the easiest book to
get through, and the infamous endnotes are certainly something, but it was
absolutely worth the effort. Quite honestly I felt like I was being given an
insight in to the mind of a genius.
The Engagements, J. Courtney Sullivan – Five stories spanning the past
80 years linked together by an engagement ring. From Frances Gerety, the woman
who coined the phrase ‘a diamond is forever’ finding her place in a man’s world
through to 2012 and a woman who mirrors Gerety’s refusal to conform to gender
stereotypes. The book deals with the nature of love and marriage, no romantic
delusions present, but also covers some critical social history. Although I’m
not a massive fan of the neat linking up of the different narratives, this is
an engaging, thoughtful read.
The Handmaid’s Tale, Margaret Atwood – A dystopian novel set in a
time where the role of women is carefully controlled. The handmaids are kept
for reproductive purposes, their old names forgotten, new names assigned to
them indicating which man they are currently in dominion to. The flashbacks to
the protagonist’s previous life gives an unsettling sense of the helplessness
of her situation, of how easily freedom can be snatched away. A genuinely disturbing
novel, well deserving of its place on most ‘must-read’ book lists.
Reasons to Stay Alive, Matt Haig – I’m a big fan of Matt Haig. I
loved The Humans and have read a lot of
the articles and blog posts he’s written. I even went to a talk he did about
this book. I think this may have been part of the problem – by the time I
actually read the book it didn’t feel like there was all that much that was new
in it. In saying this, if you haven’t followed Haig quite as avidly but are interested in depression then this is a great read. It’s honest and funny and in
explaining his techniques for coping with depression he gives some sound
advice.
How to Build a Girl, Caitlin Moran – A coming of age novel focusing on
a teenaged girl trying to lift her family out of poverty one music review at a
time. It’s amusing enough and she learns some important lessons along the way,
ones that some women far more advanced in years would benefit from remembering.
At times I found her oblivious self-centredness a tad exaggerated and mildly
irritating. An easy read that is ultimately heartfelt and hopeful and will
provide a few hours of light entertainment.
