Rating: 4 1/2
Read for: TBR Challenge 2008
In this hefty tome, Faber introduces us to the seedy, rich and melancholy world of prostitution in Victorian England with his intriguing characters, delicious prose and evocative descriptions of London. Leading us from one character to another, Faber takes his time introducing his protagonist, Sugar, an unusual, intelligent yet fragile prostitute who finds herself a wealthy "benefactor". We follow Sugar as she is torn from the world she knows and thrust into a world of money, order and propriety. Faber gives us tantalising glimpses of the hidden underbelly of Victorian prostitutes and allows us to enjoy Sugar's discovery of her new home, full of sumptuous delights, and dark secrets.
One is never sure quite what to make of Sugar. What is it that makes her so enticing? Does she love the man who has given her everything? Or despise him for being so much in his debt, or for the price that comes with her "rescue"? My heart broke for the utterly bewildered and misunderstood Agnes, and I was moved by the innocent and well-meaning Henry, battling between his desire to join the Church, and his love for a dear friend.
Faber has a knack for getting you to care for the most unexpected characters, only to cruelly and swiftly steal them away. Almost as if we, the reader, did not deserve them, their fate lay elsewhere. He manages to leave the reader wanting more, and his story ended where it began, coming full circle yet leaving so many lives irrevocably changed.
Long this book may be, and worthy of the word "tome", but an excellent read nonetheless, one that draws you into its dark and often tragic world, harbouring both the cruel and the innocent, to tell us their story. I for one look forward to reading Faber's The Apple, to learn more about his characters past and future.
Friday, May 30, 2008
The Crimson Petal and the White - Michel Faber
Monday, May 5, 2008
Travelling
Greetings! I can see land!! We're about 3 hours from Darwin (the jewel of Northern Australia apparently...and with 2 Irish pubs!), so I'm keeping my eye out for any saltwater crocs, humpback whales, sharks, dolphins, and any other creatures that may be lurking in these gorgeous turquoise waters! I'm leaving the ship tomorrow morning and will be staying in Darwin for a few days (being merry1 with the rest of the crew!!), then heading to the east coast to visit some friends, so probably won't be posting much for a couple of weeks. I then have a mammoth flight2 back to the UK, giving me lots of time for more reading and hopefully some new exciting films like Iron Man!
A very happy May to you, wherever you may be!
1 yes we are sailors, so that generally means getting drunk..
2 25 hours on 3 flights plus 8 hours in airports!
A very happy May to you, wherever you may be!
1 yes we are sailors, so that generally means getting drunk..
2 25 hours on 3 flights plus 8 hours in airports!
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Ratings
So I succumbed. I tried to be a reviewer who dealt only in whole numbers, but I have caved! Why is it that some of my reviews have to be ..and a half?! Why can I not commit?!!
Phew. So I may have gone back and changed a few review ratings here or there...for consistency's sake of course!
Phew. So I may have gone back and changed a few review ratings here or there...for consistency's sake of course!
A Perfect Day for Bananafish – J.D. Salinger
Rating: 4 1/2
Read for: The Short Story Reading Challenge
The first title read for my Short Story Reading Challenge and I may have placed the bar a little high! A Perfect Day for Bananafish was first published in the New Yorker, in 1948, in the aftermath of a World War and at the dawn of American consumerism. It was later published as the first in Salinger's Nine Stories. Bananafish follows a young couple, Seymour Glass and his wife Muriel, on a holiday in Florida.
The first half of the story introduces us to Muriel in her hotel room, making a telephone call to her mother, a conversation that intermittently switches between the topics of Seymour’s emotional instability and fashion. Their discussion alludes to a car accident caused by Seymour’s fragility and distraction, and Muriel’s mother’s fears for her daughter’s safety. The story then takes us to a young girl, Sybil, left to play alone on the beach by her mother. Sybil finds a perfectly cheerful Seymour, who takes her for a swim, telling her the story of the bananafish.
On publication, this short story was highly acclaimed, as an important topic for discussion in the years after the war, dealing with the shell-shocked young men, very like Seymour, who survived, but were forever changed by their experiences.
The reader is not invited too close. Seymour and Muriel are referred to as the young man, or the girl, their names only being spoken by other characters, the telephone operator and Muriel’s mother. This combined with it being a short story allows the reader to keep a distance, although this certainly did not dampen my feelings at the dramatic ending. Muriel’s character appears somewhat cold, and it would be easy for the reader to lay some blame on her for Seymour’s current state.
But what Salinger shows here is that depression cannot always be readily visible, one can be cheerful and go about your day regardless of inner turmoil. That is not to say there are no signs, Muriel’s mother alludes to some of the events where Seymour has lost control. But Muriel seems oblivious to her husband’s struggle, and it is difficult to say whether this is intentional or genuine ignorance. Sybil’s mother too is somewhat detached, leaving her daughter to play alone on the beach, while she returns to the hotel bar for a cocktail. Seymour's encounter with Sybil is endearing and playful, as if he were searching for a way to return to to the ease and simplicity of childhood himself, lost in a moment where there are no responsibilities, no consequences. It is entertaining Sybil and the tale of the bananafish that lead to this “Perfect Day” for Seymour.
I found this story beautifully meaningful, most especially because so many soldiers have returned from war as changed men, haunted by what they have seen and experienced. In telling a simple tale of one poignant day in the life of a married couple, Salinger has conveyed all the sadness and post-war confusion apparent in Seymour’s life. The bananafish is a welcome respite, a moment of amusment and childish fantasy, about which I could have read a entire story! Highly recommended, this short story will stay with you.
Other blog reviews of Salinger's Nine Stories:
Eva at A Striped Armchair
Puss Reboots
Read for: The Short Story Reading Challenge
The first title read for my Short Story Reading Challenge and I may have placed the bar a little high! A Perfect Day for Bananafish was first published in the New Yorker, in 1948, in the aftermath of a World War and at the dawn of American consumerism. It was later published as the first in Salinger's Nine Stories. Bananafish follows a young couple, Seymour Glass and his wife Muriel, on a holiday in Florida.
The first half of the story introduces us to Muriel in her hotel room, making a telephone call to her mother, a conversation that intermittently switches between the topics of Seymour’s emotional instability and fashion. Their discussion alludes to a car accident caused by Seymour’s fragility and distraction, and Muriel’s mother’s fears for her daughter’s safety. The story then takes us to a young girl, Sybil, left to play alone on the beach by her mother. Sybil finds a perfectly cheerful Seymour, who takes her for a swim, telling her the story of the bananafish.
On publication, this short story was highly acclaimed, as an important topic for discussion in the years after the war, dealing with the shell-shocked young men, very like Seymour, who survived, but were forever changed by their experiences.
The reader is not invited too close. Seymour and Muriel are referred to as the young man, or the girl, their names only being spoken by other characters, the telephone operator and Muriel’s mother. This combined with it being a short story allows the reader to keep a distance, although this certainly did not dampen my feelings at the dramatic ending. Muriel’s character appears somewhat cold, and it would be easy for the reader to lay some blame on her for Seymour’s current state.
But what Salinger shows here is that depression cannot always be readily visible, one can be cheerful and go about your day regardless of inner turmoil. That is not to say there are no signs, Muriel’s mother alludes to some of the events where Seymour has lost control. But Muriel seems oblivious to her husband’s struggle, and it is difficult to say whether this is intentional or genuine ignorance. Sybil’s mother too is somewhat detached, leaving her daughter to play alone on the beach, while she returns to the hotel bar for a cocktail. Seymour's encounter with Sybil is endearing and playful, as if he were searching for a way to return to to the ease and simplicity of childhood himself, lost in a moment where there are no responsibilities, no consequences. It is entertaining Sybil and the tale of the bananafish that lead to this “Perfect Day” for Seymour.
I found this story beautifully meaningful, most especially because so many soldiers have returned from war as changed men, haunted by what they have seen and experienced. In telling a simple tale of one poignant day in the life of a married couple, Salinger has conveyed all the sadness and post-war confusion apparent in Seymour’s life. The bananafish is a welcome respite, a moment of amusment and childish fantasy, about which I could have read a entire story! Highly recommended, this short story will stay with you.
Other blog reviews of Salinger's Nine Stories:
Eva at A Striped Armchair
Puss Reboots
Saturday, May 3, 2008
Weekly Geeks!
So the first Weekly Geeks was a huge hit, congratulations again to Dewey for her fabulous idea! I have explored a lot of new blogs, met a lot of new Geeks and added a lot more books to my reading list!Also...I couldn't choose which button I liked best, so am posting my three favourites today...I'll eventually whittle them down to one!
So...week 2! Borrowed from an idea from Darla at Books and other thoughts, this weeks geeks is to link other people's reviews for the same book to your review. This is a fabulous way of not only reading one review for a book, but several, and thus getting a balanced viewpoint, and hopefully making your reading selection decisions easier! Sign up to Mr Linky if you are participating, and post again later in the week about how its all going.
I am going to trial the idea, and since my blog is so new, I am happy to post links to other reviews for any of the books I have reviewed so far, as well as any future reviews. I have set up a new email address (see sidebar for link), so please feel free to email me the link to your reviews, and I will pop them under mine! We'll see how this goes! I imagine this could be quite a success if a lot of people join in!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Waterstones Writing Competition
For those in the UK who don't already know, Waterstones Booksellers are holding a competition for budding writers. The prize is a place on a four and a half day nature writing course with the Arvon Foundation in Shropshire in August, with tutors Niall Griffiths and Anna Pavord. The deadline is the 1st June 2008, see here for details. Good luck!
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Booking Through Thursday
Mayday! Quick! It’s an emergency! You just got an urgent call about a family emergency and had to rush to the airport with barely time to grab your wallet and your passport. But now, you’re stuck at the airport with nothing to read. What do you do??
And, no, you did NOT have time to grab your bookbag, or the book next to your bed. You were . . . grocery shopping when you got the call and have nothing with you but your wallet and your passport (which you fortuitously brought with you in case they asked for ID in the ethnic food aisle). This is hypothetical, remember….
Well like most of you, its highly unlikely that I wouldn't have already had a book with me!! But to suspend disbelief for a moment...it would entirely depend on how long I had to wait for my plane. If there was only a short wait, I could probably entertain myself, getting a coffee and people watching. I would probably have had a notebook on me, on which I could doodle some ideas or sketches, or my ipod with loads of music and my harry potter audiobooks! If the wait was longer, I would most certainly have had a browse in the airport bookshop(s)..although most of the books are mainstream or "trashy" holiday reads, there is usually something I would like to buy (often in the kids section!), though it might take me a while to find it! If there was really nothing, I'm always happy buying a magazine, my preferences being wildlife or movie mags, but even a tacky girl one would do...could always leave it in the lounge area for someone else to read! I might even have a browse for a nice notebook...I know Singapore airport has lots of lovely ones!
Currently sailing towards Darwin, in the glorious sunshine with no work to do! So I'm reading lots, tanning lots, paddling in the pool we built using a tarp and old ladders (safer than swimming with the sharks!), and keeping an eye out for whales! And yet somehow I'm getting paid for this.
Oooh...post number 25 already!
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