7 posts tagged “1001 book”
Saying this book was pretentious would be easy. In fact, it probably is the most pretentious thing I've ever read. But leaving it at that is not the whole story.
Why is it pretentious? There is little description of place or people. Time switches between around 1700 and 2000, (making it difficult to understand what is happening in the beginning). Dialogue happens without an explanation of who is saying what. And the characters in the 1700s are using rural English slang of the time, something few are probably familar with.
Why it is interesting in spite of those things? Thursbitch is a real place in England. It has a strange past and a cryptic stone was once erected there in memory of one of its residents. The author seems somewhat obsessed with the area's history and only talks about the place's "secret" to other academics.
This book is what House of Leaves wishes it was. Whereas House of Leaves is hollow at the end because the "secret" is just made up, this story really is shrouded in some kind of mystery.
And I also happen to be a sucker for anything that involves the concept of time. The time anomalies and symbolism in this book are really well done.
If nothing else, this book made me aware of a place that would one day be very interesting to visit.
Why is it pretentious? There is little description of place or people. Time switches between around 1700 and 2000, (making it difficult to understand what is happening in the beginning). Dialogue happens without an explanation of who is saying what. And the characters in the 1700s are using rural English slang of the time, something few are probably familar with.
Why it is interesting in spite of those things? Thursbitch is a real place in England. It has a strange past and a cryptic stone was once erected there in memory of one of its residents. The author seems somewhat obsessed with the area's history and only talks about the place's "secret" to other academics.
This book is what House of Leaves wishes it was. Whereas House of Leaves is hollow at the end because the "secret" is just made up, this story really is shrouded in some kind of mystery.
And I also happen to be a sucker for anything that involves the concept of time. The time anomalies and symbolism in this book are really well done.
If nothing else, this book made me aware of a place that would one day be very interesting to visit.
Instead of reading the next book on my list I read Story of the Eye. It's on the 1001 book list and only a hundred pages. My main impetus was to read something quick.
I can definitely see why people were shocked back in 1928.
One thing struck me. I have never heard of a murderous egg fetish.
The rest of it was just unpleasant--rape, insanity, blasphemy, murder, golden showers, suicide--but not indescribable.
The egg thing. That's unique. Sick, but unique.
I can definitely see why people were shocked back in 1928.
One thing struck me. I have never heard of a murderous egg fetish.
The rest of it was just unpleasant--rape, insanity, blasphemy, murder, golden showers, suicide--but not indescribable.
The egg thing. That's unique. Sick, but unique.
It seems most people read this book in high school. After I finished it, I could not decide if it would have been better to read it fifteen years ago or not.
Part of me would have gotten more out of it at the age of eighteen. Now, it's hard to believe that there is a place where children play outdoors, listen to their parents, and everyone is wise.
Except on the topics of race and class, that is--
which is one reason this book is so poignant.
Telling the story through the eyes of a child is a powerful tool. It reminds the reader that everyone was young once. Everyone saw the world without the contemptuous of adulthood at one time.
Living in a very jaded place for the last eight years, I can really relate to the message. I fight to keep the cynicism and animosity at bay. But I know some of it has crept in over the years. In some ways it seems like the South has made more progress in the last hundred years than many places in the North. Where I am living the class struggle might as well be given a name that holds the same weight as racist does. Because it's no less ugly and no less harmful.
In high school I would not have known any of this. I was living in the rural Midwest, perhaps one of the most sheltered places in the U.S. I would have just thought this was a nice story about how kindness will win out in the end and if you get to know people you'll find they're basically good. Now I know it's a lot more complicated than that.
Part of me would have gotten more out of it at the age of eighteen. Now, it's hard to believe that there is a place where children play outdoors, listen to their parents, and everyone is wise.
Except on the topics of race and class, that is--
which is one reason this book is so poignant.
Telling the story through the eyes of a child is a powerful tool. It reminds the reader that everyone was young once. Everyone saw the world without the contemptuous of adulthood at one time.
Living in a very jaded place for the last eight years, I can really relate to the message. I fight to keep the cynicism and animosity at bay. But I know some of it has crept in over the years. In some ways it seems like the South has made more progress in the last hundred years than many places in the North. Where I am living the class struggle might as well be given a name that holds the same weight as racist does. Because it's no less ugly and no less harmful.
In high school I would not have known any of this. I was living in the rural Midwest, perhaps one of the most sheltered places in the U.S. I would have just thought this was a nice story about how kindness will win out in the end and if you get to know people you'll find they're basically good. Now I know it's a lot more complicated than that.
Anyone who has heard about House of Leaves has probably also heard it described as "the scariest book ever written" or "so freaky I couldn't finish it" or "I have a hard time living in my own house now." I have been quite intrigued for some time.
First, I would say for its form this book definitely deserves to be in the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die book. Part of the rationale for the list is to map the evolution of the novel's form through time. Sometimes it is hard to discern why a novel fits that definition, but not for House of Leaves. And if you are at all interested in the history and/or structure of the novel, I could not recommend this book more highly.
In some way the format is more like a film than a book. If a character enters a small space the words decrease. If he falls, so do the letters. It's a bit daunting, and some have called it annoying, but it plays with the novel's form in a way that is reminiscent of a poetry.
Second, it is a story within a story within a story within a story. That format is very well thought out.
Third, the whole thing is based on a false document based on a false film based on a false event. It is sophisticated and yet profoundly simple--alternating between textbook format and journal-like entries.
There are at least a half a dozen themes running through the book. One I found particularly interesting was art (namely writing, photography, and film) and insanity. Everyone in the book who could be called an artist meets a bad end. Writing, in particular, seems to be linked to insanity and/or death.
The form of the book may be innovative (and for me it was worth it just for the retelling of the Minotaur myth) but others might want more out of a 700 page book. Here's the specific problems. For one thing it is wholly unbelievable. Forget that it is fanciful. No one could believe the characters would ever really make these choices if they had been real people. Also, the book is self-conscious. It is difficult to suspend disbelief while reading. The pacing is uneven, and the ending is unimaginative. Finally, it's not the "scariest book ever written." In fact, I have no idea how anyone could possibly find this book remotely upsetting. To me, that's the biggest mystery of all.
First, I would say for its form this book definitely deserves to be in the 1001 Books to Read Before You Die book. Part of the rationale for the list is to map the evolution of the novel's form through time. Sometimes it is hard to discern why a novel fits that definition, but not for House of Leaves. And if you are at all interested in the history and/or structure of the novel, I could not recommend this book more highly.
In some way the format is more like a film than a book. If a character enters a small space the words decrease. If he falls, so do the letters. It's a bit daunting, and some have called it annoying, but it plays with the novel's form in a way that is reminiscent of a poetry.
Second, it is a story within a story within a story within a story. That format is very well thought out.
Third, the whole thing is based on a false document based on a false film based on a false event. It is sophisticated and yet profoundly simple--alternating between textbook format and journal-like entries.
There are at least a half a dozen themes running through the book. One I found particularly interesting was art (namely writing, photography, and film) and insanity. Everyone in the book who could be called an artist meets a bad end. Writing, in particular, seems to be linked to insanity and/or death.
The form of the book may be innovative (and for me it was worth it just for the retelling of the Minotaur myth) but others might want more out of a 700 page book. Here's the specific problems. For one thing it is wholly unbelievable. Forget that it is fanciful. No one could believe the characters would ever really make these choices if they had been real people. Also, the book is self-conscious. It is difficult to suspend disbelief while reading. The pacing is uneven, and the ending is unimaginative. Finally, it's not the "scariest book ever written." In fact, I have no idea how anyone could possibly find this book remotely upsetting. To me, that's the biggest mystery of all.
Ethan Frome is often described as bleak, depressing, and even unbelievable.
It's definitely a tragedy.
Maybe it's because I moved to New England eight years ago, but I could really relate to the desolate feeling winter backdrop of this story. The weather frames the sadness perfectly.
Everyone in this book loses out. Life, hope, happiness it all goes away. But in spite of that, the book is somehow not as depressing as I had expected.
It is also filled with suspense. And it perfectly describes what it's like to want someone you can't have.
I would say it is the most touching, "sad book" I've ever read.
It's definitely a tragedy.
Maybe it's because I moved to New England eight years ago, but I could really relate to the desolate feeling winter backdrop of this story. The weather frames the sadness perfectly.
Everyone in this book loses out. Life, hope, happiness it all goes away. But in spite of that, the book is somehow not as depressing as I had expected.
It is also filled with suspense. And it perfectly describes what it's like to want someone you can't have.
I would say it is the most touching, "sad book" I've ever read.
This book would go on my list of top ten books that I did not enjoy.
Perhaps I just did not get this one, but it seemed pretentious at best.
A book with basically one character who sits in place and complains for 156 pages is pretty much torture.
The author wrote the whole book as one long paragraph which only added to the sigh factor.
Sure there were four or five good lines in the book, but there was a lot of suffering otherwise.
Geez, now I'm starting to sound like the man in the book...
Perhaps I just did not get this one, but it seemed pretentious at best.
A book with basically one character who sits in place and complains for 156 pages is pretty much torture.
The author wrote the whole book as one long paragraph which only added to the sigh factor.
Sure there were four or five good lines in the book, but there was a lot of suffering otherwise.
Geez, now I'm starting to sound like the man in the book...
There is so much that can be said about Middlemarch it is hard to know where to begin. I could start by saying that I finally get this genre thanks to George Eliot. Here are a few other observations:
On the surface the novel is about Victorian provincial life. Middlemarch, the name of the town where the characters reside, is also a character in the book.
The mastery of this novel is that Eliot creates a horde of characters, gets inside all their heads, makes them all seem real and sympathetic.
She masterly describes what made life at this time challenging and even terrifying. Marriage, culture, the economy, politics, family can all be seen with clarity. Reading this book it is impossible to say marriage was what held women back. Or that men liked being in a position of authority over women. It was just way more complicated than that.
Not to mention that there are about a dozen main characters, at least as many supporting characters, and a host of townspeople. Somehow it didn't get confusing and it stayed interesting. That is a feat in itself. This novel is one of the closest things to perfection that I've ever read.
Victorian times were in many ways like being at a high school where no one ever graduates. So there is a bit of comedy, a bit of horror, and a whole lot of gossip--all rolled into one.
On the surface the novel is about Victorian provincial life. Middlemarch, the name of the town where the characters reside, is also a character in the book.
The mastery of this novel is that Eliot creates a horde of characters, gets inside all their heads, makes them all seem real and sympathetic.
She masterly describes what made life at this time challenging and even terrifying. Marriage, culture, the economy, politics, family can all be seen with clarity. Reading this book it is impossible to say marriage was what held women back. Or that men liked being in a position of authority over women. It was just way more complicated than that.
Not to mention that there are about a dozen main characters, at least as many supporting characters, and a host of townspeople. Somehow it didn't get confusing and it stayed interesting. That is a feat in itself. This novel is one of the closest things to perfection that I've ever read.
Victorian times were in many ways like being at a high school where no one ever graduates. So there is a bit of comedy, a bit of horror, and a whole lot of gossip--all rolled into one.
