Best read so far this year

I was looking for something for the weekend that wasn't too long and picked up a book by Stefan Zweig.

The book contained 2 short stories Twenty-Four Hours in the Life of a Woman and The Royal Game.

I normally avoid anything that is short (= not enough charactor development) or described as beautifully written (= no plot) however these two stories are amazing, they are so beautifully written, unusual and just the best books I've read all year if not ever - also they linger on in my thoughts which I love in a book.

I'm recommending them to anyone who will listen so thought I'd post here too.

Bring back the blog?

I've missed you dreadfully, little blog, you record of our reading and our preferences. You have taken a long break, it's been 10 long months and now it's time for your re-birth.

So, join me, join me, in the pleasure of writing about reading!

Our summer 2008 book is Rough Music by Patrick Gale. Get it or be bereft.

I'm currently reading the wonderful Tove Jansson (creator of the Moomins), and this book, Fair Play, whilst not having any small Scandinavian monsters, is very interesting, and is about 2 women who lives on an island off Finland, and who are friends, partners and artists. They row their boat in fog, get odd guests, and argue about their art, writing and relationship.

Confidence

We all enjoyed Confidence by Ben Richards and found it very readable but we could see faults.

The book was very thought provoking and had a strong theme - what is right and what is wrong, what about all these grey areas... We were not all entirely convinced by the character of Evan but found him attractive and could see why Kerenza was drawn to him. We liked the twist with the ring.

Vanessa described the end of the book as all being tied up with a pretty bow and we agreed. A house, an audition, a new man asking Kerena for a drink! Some of us didn't like the Gay Bergerac screenplay extracts but I liked those a lot myself. I didn't like the letters and diary extract in the Grace sections - I didn't think the diary was very convincing or well written. We were not sure about the whole Grace friendship, it was more about getting in another part of the plot, but we were very moved by her friend Anna's illness and their relationship.

To sum up, this from an email Julian sent me:

"I think "Confidence" is one of our most perplexing books - I was
alternately moved and rather infuriated. Some of the dialogue was very
clunky - the whole thing rather overstretched beyond what it could
contain. Some of the writing at times reminiscent of the worst kind of
woman's magazine ie all that crass irritating stuff about collared
doves cooing in the background - also the falconry episodes.

Having said that the moral choice aspect was strangely compelling - how
none of us are blameless etc. ie there were some really good themes in
there. Also Evan although perhaps a little clumsily portrayed was also
interesting - I was drawn to his nihilism - perhaps that's just me."

Some more thoughts

Have recently read The Night Watch by Sarah Waters, Metroland by Julian Barnes and A Voice through a Cloud by Denton Welch. All in their own way had something to offer. Now nearing the end of Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro.

Am coming to the conclusion that the most peculiarly affecting moments in novels tend to come either at the very beginning or the very end. Endings and beginnings are among the most challenging moments for writers. Taking you into their world and ultimately releasing you at the end offer the best opportunities for working on your feelings. Perhaps it is something deep down in all of us which relates to beginning a journey and reaching the end of it. Its like the end of Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde - where the singer gently repeats the word "Ewig" again and again as the voice almost disappears into the orchestral texture around it. Such moments occur also in the best writing - so that the effect lingers still after closing the book

Finished Ben Richards

Hi All,

Confidence was an easy read. Having said that I dont mean to disparage as I shall probably keep the book. It is well worth reading. There are some lapses in the writing but there is much that is of interest.

Have started "How to Be Good" by Nick Hornby.

Jeff Torrington

Just finished Swing Hammer Swing by Jeff Torrington about the Gorbals in the sixties. It is very impressive. A very humorous narrator and some moving writing towards the end. Also a fine sense of drama and locale.

Have started the Ben Richards book and so far it is looking good - I think I am going to like it very much.

Picnics and books

Yesterday evening's picnic was a great success, complete with pink bubbly, the ubiquitous quiche, and a range of lovely berries! And of course, books...

There were mixed feelings about Everything is Illuminated. Some struggled to get into it, finding the style annoying. Others (the minority) really enjoyed it, found it funny and very sad - I am coming to the last few pages and have to say I thought it was an original and very affecting book.

Anyway, Claire picked the short list:

1. Confidence: Ben Richards
2. Butterfly House: Marcia Preston
3. Sick Notes: Gwendoline Riley
4. The Vanishing Acts of Esme Lennox: Maggie O'Farrell

And the winner this month is: Confidence, by Ben Richards

Next month, Nic's picking the shortlist and we're back in the pub.