A very readable dystopia about North Korea that was at times impressive, though maybe just a bit too long to make it one for the ages. I say that as IA very readable dystopia about North Korea that was at times impressive, though maybe just a bit too long to make it one for the ages. I say that as I had seen prior to reading comparisons to Orwell’s 1984 and that for this reader was a bridge too far. I wish it was so, but it was not.
Split into 2 half’s the first, The Biography of Jun Do was outstanding. I read the entire part, all 220 pages in one session such was its power. I would add that if it had ended there, it would have been close to me declaring it a masterpiece. The life of the orphan was researched by the author, and he told a truly tragic tale of state power using and abusing in the hermit kingdom. The 2nd part though an interesting tale of subterfuge and at times a graphic read just seemed a touch too contrived and long to this reader.
Be that as it may there was a certain element that was typical of what many novelists say in that they tell a story from truths they know of and events in this book, such as the kidnapping of foreign citizens by North Korean agents for example, had me scouring the internet to see the author had indeed researched his story extremely well.
Recommended to those that read dystopian literature....more
On page 70 Pi wrote that “There are always those who take it upon themselves to defend God, as if Ultimate Reality, as if the sustaining frame of exisOn page 70 Pi wrote that “There are always those who take it upon themselves to defend God, as if Ultimate Reality, as if the sustaining frame of existence, were something weak and helpless. These people walk by a widow deformed by leprosy begging for a few paise, walk by children dressed in rags living in the street, and they think, “Business as usual.” But if they perceive a slight against God, it is a different story. Their faces go red, their chests heave mightily, they sputter angry words. The degree of their indignation is astonishing. Their resolve is frightening.”
Pi is most certainly right and he also states at the start that this read about his life will make one believe in a god. Me? I don’t believe in superstars organic food and foreign cars I don't believe the price of gold the certainty of growing old that right is right and left is wrong that north and south can't get along that east is east and west is west and being first is always best but then I don’t believe I will be reincarnated as Don Williams either.
I may not be as keen on this fantasy as most. For what was an attempt at a philosophical discussion on belief, it seemed that the writing plodded along far too much at times and got bogged down in its own attempt to be profound. I did however enjoy the Japanese investigators....more
I had the pleasure of a visit to Saint-Malo in 2011. I was on a mission to see the Bayeux Tapestry and was discussing with my sister that my wife and I had the pleasure of a visit to Saint-Malo in 2011. I was on a mission to see the Bayeux Tapestry and was discussing with my sister that my wife and I planned a visit to not only the famous embroidery but also the D-Day beaches and Mont Saint-Michel. My sister suggested Saint-Malo for a couple of nights and to say that it was a pleasant stay would be an understatement. We had fine sunny days, warm weather and food to delight. I got myself the ubiquitous Breton pullover, we visited the nearby seaside town of Dinard and went and explored the nearby town of Dinan. The Emerald Coast was truly emerald as we left. When there I found it unimaginable that in the lifetime of many that this fantastic part of France was the centre of some of the fiercest fighting in WW2 and that 80% of Saint-Malo was destroyed.
With that I picked All the Light We Cannot See up at an independent book and coffee shop I occasionally drop into that tends to specialise on local Brisbane authors. This was not the normal book they held so when I asked why I was told that they thought is so good that had carried a few copies. I read the 1st few pages and there was Saint-Malo standing out at me. "The memories" I thought. With that I grabbed a copy.
To say I have enjoyed this fantastic read would be an understatement. A beautifully told bitter sweet tale that had me turning pages late into the evening. I am sure that this will stand the test of time. I have no doubt that way into the future people will be picking this up and being enthralled.
I have found this book a bit difficult to write about. It is interesting in that it has gone into areas that I have never really considered. Would I hI have found this book a bit difficult to write about. It is interesting in that it has gone into areas that I have never really considered. Would I have given thought that the ability to domesticate plants and animals was a consideration when thinking of the continental differences between the east west axis of Eurasia compared to the north-south divide in both the Americas and Africa? Probably not.
I suppose this is a book that is more based on the environment of peoples over the last 13,000 years and with that their opportunities to use that environment that they just happened to be born into. Interestingly the book gives little consideration to capitalism as a factor in some parts of human kinds march to modern prosperity. I suggest that each reader will make of that what they will in terms of how they view their history. In the end a touch long but a minor quibble. I will read more by the author eventually....more
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