Expansive in terms of subject matters, Kang tackles identity, language, love, loss, human frailty, hope and dream interwoven with metaphors, symbols, Expansive in terms of subject matters, Kang tackles identity, language, love, loss, human frailty, hope and dream interwoven with metaphors, symbols, magical realism, romance, and culturally specific references. So, just means there are lots to unpack, and I admit I don't know Korean, or Greek, but I've enjoyed listening to the narrators tell their stories. Kudos to them, this isn't an easy project to master, but they are proficient in interpreting Kang's language: the language of humanity. ...more
I listened to the audio edition. This is my first Thursday Murder Club book, and I must say, I’m totally surprised by how good this book is. The humouI listened to the audio edition. This is my first Thursday Murder Club book, and I must say, I’m totally surprised by how good this book is. The humour is top-notch, the twists unexpected, but the most important thing is Osman's descriptions of the elderly, not weak but still have a lot of life and wit and skills. In the description of how they confront their conditions, and the imminent demise of their spouses, how they deal with ageing, illness, death, and grief, so moving and poignant. Osman is a superb observer of human nature and relationships and existential condition, while at the same time, can instil LOL hilarity in a subtle way. I'm impressed by how the crime genre can be handled with such sensitivity, humour, and relevance....more
Excellent writing and narrating. I tried to read the hard copy at first but found the switching of languages difficult to follow. Narrator Dominic HofExcellent writing and narrating. I tried to read the hard copy at first but found the switching of languages difficult to follow. Narrator Dominic Hoffman makes it seamlessly coherent and readily accessible. I look forward to the movie adaptation, hopefully it will be something of the quality of American Fiction. ...more
Very disappointing. Nita Prose's first two books are unique, a combination of mystery and humour, with LOL moments woven with poignant narratives. ThiVery disappointing. Nita Prose's first two books are unique, a combination of mystery and humour, with LOL moments woven with poignant narratives. This one is banal and predictable... and from its cover design to the time of its release, and its unsurprising ending, the publisher seems to have marketing and Christmas sales at the top of their mind. It's unfortunate that the word 'seasonal' would usually mean jolly, appeasing, and uh... hate to use this word, shallow. True for seasonal movies too. I sure hope Prose would get back to her previous standard in writing original, high quality suspenseful mysteries, for she has created a fun, socially inept, yet intellectual character with integrity in Molly (a fusion of Spock and Columbo) In future books, I sure hope I can see Prose back to her previous form and Molly in her previous self, solving crimes with her distinct observations and perspective while acting as the Head Maid of the Regency Grand Hotel....more
listened to the Duke Classic audiobook. Hats off to Mark Twain's humour. LOL funny at times and satirical. listened to the Duke Classic audiobook. Hats off to Mark Twain's humour. LOL funny at times and satirical. ...more
**spoiler alert** These two novellas are surprisingly good. The first 'A Simple Tale,' on the surface is a Canadian immigrant story, how people came t**spoiler alert** These two novellas are surprisingly good. The first 'A Simple Tale,' on the surface is a Canadian immigrant story, how people came to Canada after the second World War to make a home for themselves and their next generation. However, it speaks to deeper truths about personhood, home, hope, love and alas, relational conflicts and disappointments. Maria Poniatowski came from the Ukraine. Having lost her own family and close friends, arrived alone to find a new life in Canada. Met Lev in the "Displaced Persons" camp, fell in love, and started a family. Sounds common enough? But not in Messud's exquisite prose. Will have more in my review on Ripple Effects... especially the excerpts.
The second novella The Hunters is such a unique creation in several aspects... prose, suspense, characterization, and psychological exploration. Makes me think of many contemporary, popular fiction featuring an unreliable narrator. Considering the first publication date of 'The Hunters' being in 2001, all those popular fiction that came after need to use Messud's The Hunter as an exemplar of psychological, suspense writing with insights. She not only casts suspense, but taps deep into the psyche of the narrator in her perception of others, and ultimately, the realization of truth, then comes guilt.
While I discover these two novellas quite late, after so many years after their publication, I'm grateful that at least I've got the chance to savour them now, their relevance has remained timely. Something I'll reread again....more
3.5 stars Colm Tóibín is very detailed in his description of the characters' internal world, that's the main impression I got as I read the book. While3.5 stars Colm Tóibín is very detailed in his description of the characters' internal world, that's the main impression I got as I read the book. While I was eager to see what they decide regarding their own future, apparently things aren't up to them... they are like buoys tossed on a wavy sea. But then again, no, they CAN choose, but they're just too overcome by their own emotions and feelings instead of thinking. At times I get impatient with their choices of action, or inaction. ...more
Best Messud I've read, actually, best book I've read this year. I listened to the audiobook twice, back to back. Cassandra Campbell's voice draws me iBest Messud I've read, actually, best book I've read this year. I listened to the audiobook twice, back to back. Cassandra Campbell's voice draws me in right away from the very beginning. Places and periods like French Algeria, Salonica during WWII, later Argentina, Australia, France... all sound distant but Campbell's narration, and of course, Messud's lyrical writing, draw the foreign locales closer and make the characters intimate to me. That this is an autobiographical, historic fiction makes it more interesting, as I follow Messud's stand in, Chloe in the novel, how she remembers her grandfather Gaston, father Francois, mother Barbara from Canada, her grandmother Lucianne, aunt Denise... All names despite just listening, I can recall and their stories stay in my mind. I can relate to the illness, the caring for, and later the death of the older generation, the gap between the young and the old, how their values and perspectives on life differ. I listened eagerly their differing views on religion, on family and home, and in particular, and at the larger socio-political arena, their conflicting views on colonialism. An intimate family saga, epic in scope, with backdrops of many crucial historic events. I've thoroughly enjoyed listening to this approx. 17 hour audiobook. The shortcoming remains, however, and that's with any audiobook, I can't mark anything down. I'm sure if I read the 438 page novel, I'd have put in many sticky tabs or highlighted numerous passages. I've read other similar novels and autobiography, The Years by both Virginia Woolf and the same title by Annie Ernaux, and Isak Dinesen's Out of Africa... Messud's This Strange Eventful History I've enjoyed the most....more
3.5 Great ending (the last couple of chapters), but the bulk of it in the middle is redundant. The explanations are quite preposterous. But the last t3.5 Great ending (the last couple of chapters), but the bulk of it in the middle is redundant. The explanations are quite preposterous. But the last two pages Horowitz redeems himself from the overly plotted and unconvincing scheme the perpetrator designs. Yes, those last two pages make me want to read his next Hawthorne book right away.
Anyway, one ingenious element in this series is that Horowitz has put himself into the book as a character, real life and fiction overlaps in a most amusing and humourous way. Would be more entertaining and could move faster if some tedious sections are tightened or eliminated....more
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