I'm a huge Jane Austen fan, so when I heard that someone had updated her P&P to include zombies, I had to read it. It's so popular I had to put it on reserve at the library (although we have already established that my library is crappy). Anyway, I was thrilled when the book came in and started to read it almost immediately.
I'm sorry to say I couldn't finish it. I couldn't even get through a quarter of it. It's clever, yes, but it's also corny, to be very honest. And it gets tiresome pretty quickly. I'm sorry I didn't like it, really I am, but I didn't.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Testimony
Let me say first that I am a big fan of Anita Shreve. She is a gifted writer whose work is never trite, and she tackles difficult subjects with grace and care. But this novel, I must say, is one of the most disturbing I have ever read. And I couldn’t put it down.
Testimony is the story of what happens when a group of private school kids make a sex tape – 3 upper-class basketball stars and 1 freshman girl. We hear multiple perspectives, from the headmaster to the participants to their parents. We learn about the mistakes made on the part of the school administration and the parents, and the culture of drinking and easy sexuality, but we never really learn about what drives these kids to do what they do. Most disturbing to me, though, was the flatness of the character development of the girl – she is portrayed as a vixen, not a victim, and we never really see what vulnerabilities lead her to act the way she acted.
The saddest and most engaging story line is that of Silas, one of the basketball stars. He’s a “townie” at the school on a scholarship, and his girlfriend is a gifted musician on her way to Julliard. He is arguably the most sensitive of the kids involved in the scandal, and also the one with the most to lose. Although I don’t think it’s meant to be, his is the story that kept me reading until the very end.
Like much of what I’ve been reading lately, this was not an easy read, but it was definitely worth the time.
Testimony is the story of what happens when a group of private school kids make a sex tape – 3 upper-class basketball stars and 1 freshman girl. We hear multiple perspectives, from the headmaster to the participants to their parents. We learn about the mistakes made on the part of the school administration and the parents, and the culture of drinking and easy sexuality, but we never really learn about what drives these kids to do what they do. Most disturbing to me, though, was the flatness of the character development of the girl – she is portrayed as a vixen, not a victim, and we never really see what vulnerabilities lead her to act the way she acted.
The saddest and most engaging story line is that of Silas, one of the basketball stars. He’s a “townie” at the school on a scholarship, and his girlfriend is a gifted musician on her way to Julliard. He is arguably the most sensitive of the kids involved in the scandal, and also the one with the most to lose. Although I don’t think it’s meant to be, his is the story that kept me reading until the very end.
Like much of what I’ve been reading lately, this was not an easy read, but it was definitely worth the time.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
The White Tiger
So this is the second book I’ve read this year that has anything to do with India (the first was Eat, Pray, Love). After the first one, I wanted to visit India; after this one, not so much.
The White Tiger is a great book – don’t get me wrong. But it tells a very bleak story of life in India. Yes, life is especially bleak for the servant class and those who live in the “Darkness.” But it’s no bed of roses for the “landlords” and the rich people either. Dishonesty and corruption affect everyone.
But despite the sometimes sad and occasionally horrifying story, this was a very enjoyable book with a very likeable main character. Balram is charming, ironic, snarky, and darkly humorous. I’m not sure I would like him as a person, but as a main character and narrator he is thoroughly entertaining.
If you liked Slum Dog Millionaire, you’ll like The White Tiger. But you probably won’t want to visit India.
The White Tiger is a great book – don’t get me wrong. But it tells a very bleak story of life in India. Yes, life is especially bleak for the servant class and those who live in the “Darkness.” But it’s no bed of roses for the “landlords” and the rich people either. Dishonesty and corruption affect everyone.
But despite the sometimes sad and occasionally horrifying story, this was a very enjoyable book with a very likeable main character. Balram is charming, ironic, snarky, and darkly humorous. I’m not sure I would like him as a person, but as a main character and narrator he is thoroughly entertaining.
If you liked Slum Dog Millionaire, you’ll like The White Tiger. But you probably won’t want to visit India.
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