The Great Gatsby

I didn't read this in high school for some reason and have heard people rave about for many years before finally picking it up. My first impression after I finished was that it was only ok - I certainly wouldn't call it the best thing I've ever read. I didn't hate it but I wasn't wowed either.

F. Scott Fitzgerald's book is a classic. It shows not only the surface of glittery 1920s high society in the US, but also its 'shady underbelly'. It juxtaposes the immense over-the-top parties that many lived for and went to whether they knew the host or not with the pain and sorrow of broken love - as well as other misery people wanted to forget.

Since the main driving force of the story is love and since Gatsby's love is so, how should I put it, simple and therefore strong, I think that I would definitely have been wowed by this book if I had indeed read it in high school. It would be have meant the height of romance for me, I can really imagine that. As it is, perhaps I'm too cynical now to appreciate that side of the story.

I can definitely see why it's considered a classic and enjoyed the glimpse into 1920s society. And high school students should cetrainly continue reading it, because they will be able to relate. As for me, I'm glad I finally got to it, but I have to admit I'm more than 15 years late!

Challenges: A-Z Challenge, Classics Challenge

Dziennik Irlandzki

At last, a book in Polish! When I signed up for the 888 Challenge, I vowed to read 8 books in Polish this year... this is the first one I managed. And it's only fair that I admit that the only reason it's done is that I ran out of books to read while visiting my parents and so decided to try this one. Dziennik Irlandzki is written by Heinrich Boll and so is translated from its original German. Boll, a well-known German writer who won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1972 9I must check what he won it for), recounts his impressions of 1950s Ireland. He brings his family there for their holidays and ends up buying a house on Achill Island.

Since Joe is Irish, I like reading books about Ireland anyway. And actually we're going on a big family holiday to Ireland this year and everyone has been reading up about the country, which explains why my parents had this book in the first place. It's made up of 18 mini-stories, each about some observation about the Irish, who, it has to be said, are very unique.

I had two favorite parts. In one, Boll talks about how the Irish are so relaxed and never in a hurry and tells us about a saying of theirs: 'When God created time, he created enough for everybody.' It's true that all the Irish people I know are like this - sometimes this truly infuriates me since I'm more of a manic person. :-)

My other favorite part concerned the way the Irish approach bad things that happen to them. In other countries, when someone breaks a leg or misses a train or something it is always the worst that can happen and everyone laments with them. To the Irish it can always be worse. 'It could be worse' is one of Joe's regular sayings so I don't even ask him of all this is true! It's really a great trait to have, to be able to put things in perspective and it's a wonder to me that a whole nation seems to have it.

I enjoyed the book, although the language is a bit flowery and poetic for me. But Ireland is a poetic sort of place so it fits. And of course Heinrich Boll must have won the Nobel for something!

Challenges: 888 Challenge, Non-fiction Five Challenge

number9dream

This is David Mitchell's second novel, but the last one of his that I've read. I liked it the least out of all his, although I didn't dislike it in general. It has to be said that David Mitchell has an amazing imagination and writing style - styles really since he uses different for various parts of the book. He does that in Cloud Atlas too, but that one is easily my favorite of his and indeed one of my favorite books ever.

So, number9dream... the story is simple enough, about a boy who comes from a small Japanese island and who moves to Tokyo to find his father, who he never met. His time in Tokyo is never boring, he meets a lot of strange people, some good people, and some very weird things happen to him. Oh yeah and he imagines a lot of stuff too. All of this makes for a very colorful story, but I must admit that I read most of it while thinking 'what the hell is going on??'. I started to really like it about 2/3 of the way in, but that could have been linked to the fact that I happened to be way more relaxed then so perhaps I was simply more focussed.

If you haven't read any of David Mitchell's novels, I wouldn't start with this one. And if you have and you have and you liked them then you need to read this one no matter what I say here.

This book completes the Numbers Challenge for me - it was extended until August so I had the chance to squeeze this one in. Thanks to Callista for hosting... and extending!

Other challenges this qualifies for: A-Z Challenge, 888 Challenge, Man Booker Challenge

I don't know how she does it

I was going through a difficult time last week and so needed a book that would occupy my mind but wouldn't actually require too much thinking. Allison Pearson's I don't know how she does it fit the bill perfectly - it was entertaining and had a good story which made me think about priorities in my life.

It tells the story of a successful businesswoman trying to make it in the City in London, a total man's world, and take care of a family at the same time. I'm going to keep this short since there's not that much else to be said. It did exactly what I needed it to do - a good title to keep in mind, all of us need this sort of book at times.

Challenges: A-Z Challenge, 888 Challenge

Chloë

Freya North's novel Chloë is my 'N' author book for the A-Z Challenge. It's been sitting on my shelf for years - in fact, I don't think I bought it myself, I think that an old roommate left it behind when she moved out. I've been kind of wanting to read it, but I wasn't sure that I would like it so I kept putting it off.

I liked it. I thought the beginning was a bit slow and it took me a while to get into it, but once I did I didn't want to put it down. It's the story of Chloë's journey of self-discovery but it's not cheesy or pretentious. Chloë's godmother dies and leaves her instructions (and money) to go to specific places in the four parts of the United Kingdom. So Chloë leaves London and travels to Wales, Ireland, Scotland and England - her adventures are interesting, amusing and thought-provoking.

Having expected a mediocre book, I'm happy to say that I give it 4 stars, recommend it readily and will be reading Freya North's other work.