The Book Thief

Sorry - hadn't realised I hadn't published this. Very remiss of me!

I can see why this has been such a publishing success. It's very effective at what it does; even though it's not my sort of thing, I definitely wanted to know what happened and found myself caught up in the story. And I quite understand how a book so thoroughly in favour of books should win such reader loyalty!

My major gripe with the language is the know-it-all narrator. I appreciate that this is appropriate since the narrator is a world-weary Death, but it still grates with me because I find it unduly doom-laden (even when done in other books without this one's excuse!). Just a personal bug-bear of mine, I'm afraid!

I found some parts very moving, usually involving Hans or Max. Hans' inability to stop himself helping the hungry Jew, against all sense. And his horrified realisation at the danger he's put the hidden Jew in. Similarly Liesel or Hans realises part way into a mistake what they've done and has the bitter taste of it on their tongue, but still have to flounder on. How many times have I felt that?

And it certainly gave me an insight into the daily reality for ordinary German people, especially the fear of being reported. Which makes me think of a highly recommended book called "Nothing to envy" about North Korea. Factual, about a handful of real life stories there. Will show you at our lunch as one option...

A lurker speaks...

And for a bit of fun, a guest post from a lurker (John), about Not So Quiet (which he hasn't read):

"It is Price/Smith herself, however, who, in response to her mother’s ‘war to end war’ responds ‘Never. In twenty years it will repeat itself’ p 90. Was such prophetic perception common in the inter-war years? I found it surprising."

Couple of thoughts sprang to mind immediately. First, Wilfred Owen's Strange Meeting:

Now men will go content with what we spoiled,
Or, discontent, boil bloody, and be spilled.
They will be swift with swiftness of the tigress.
None will break ranks, though nations trek from progress.

Second, there's the reference in 1066 And All That (pub. 1930) as "the Peace to End Peace".

Not so quiet

I found it really eye-opening and moving and would certainly never have tried it without the recommendation, so am extra grateful. I had absolutely no idea that things could be like that for the volunteers. My favourite scene is the new rapprochement between Roy and Nellie, where their shared experience of the horror allies them amidst their determindly non-understanding families. While I agree that the language is not the book's strongest point, I find it at the minimum perfectly servicable, and in the best scenes like that, faultless. Simple and unpretentious goes a long way when taking care to describe things honestly rather than patriotically!

I don't remember the structure of "All quiet" well enough to be distracted by it, and it seems a fitting companion piece. Thank goodness the author refused the dishonouring brief she was offered and wrote this brilliantly angry and persuasive book instead!

Recent reads

And from Val's email:

I did see the Sara Waters last week and enjoyed the production but felt it could be in two episodes as there were several strands of the story that were condensed a little too much. Normally I find they try to spin out something too thin. Acting very good. The Russian 'project' sounds imteresting.and I hope to be reading the second Dunmore soon. However, I would prefer a Russian author with good credentials if they are now allowed to be free to write.

The Night Watch

From Valerie, also originally by email:

I did see the Sara Waters last week and enjoyed the production but felt it could be in two episodes as there were several strands of the story that were condensed a little too much. Normally I find they try to spin out something too thin. Acting very good. The Russian 'project' sounds imteresting.and I hope to be reading the second Dunmore soon. However, I would prefer a Russian author with good credentials if they are now allowed to be free to write.

Recent reading

From Sue (originally via email):

I have now read Not so quiet and am half way through The Help.


Have also read The Road by McCarthy which was brilliant ‘post apocalypse’ stuff I thought, and The Outcast by Sadie Jones which was also excellent – get inside the mind of emotionally neglected kid who goes off the rails ; Small wars by same author also meant to be good. I have also read Anil’s Ghost by Oondatje about Sri Lankan anthropologist who goes home and her involvement in the war there; he writes so lyrically and on a topic I did not know so much about, but chimes with Brixton Beach which was also about Sri Lanka and the war.

I have been on a lot of trains and planes, hence the wizz through!

I quite like reading a lot about one place all together because then I remember it better. On Russia I have read Child 44 and Kolyma – not literary masterpieces but very good at building a picture about what it was like to live under and then post Stalin. I guess they form a historical path up to the Snowman which is modern Russia. However, that’s just the way I do it! You, My Joy is also a film about the mindless violence of current Russia – saw it at the BFI festival last year. Grim.

Anyone see Night Watch on the tele last week?