I’d come across www.goodreads.com when researching books I thought my Home Library Service ladies might like. I’d only ever browsed as a visitor but, this time last year, a friend encouraged me to create an account. This is where these little reviews have lived since then.
There aren’t many of them, given that I’m a slow reader, but I like that they are there. I also like that the site lets me catalogue and sort and list but that’s another issue entirely.
Although these reviews seem happy on Goodreads, I think some of them might like an airing here. They are little pieces of me, after all.
With this in mind, I thought I might post some of my future reviews on this blog, if they seem interesting enough. It hardly seems fair that the older ones should miss out so I thought I’d showcase a few of those as well:
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
An enjoyable read throughout. Intriguing but not too gripping, which is just how I like my books. I cared about the people and the place. Backman's language is highly entertaining, especially his use of similes. His descriptions make me smile. This novel has an awful lot of heart. Initially very similar to "Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine", even though it was written three years prior, but soon differentiates itself. However, if you liked "Eleanor..." I would expect you to like this. Enjoy.
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
I listened to an audio version of this novel, through my local library service. I’m a slow reader so sometimes listen to books to reduce the risk of spending too long on something I may not like. However, on this occasion, taking the time to read it would have been worthwhile.
I wasn’t hooked at first and was initially quite put off by the style of the reader, Katy Sobey. She speaks with a phrasing and inflection that suggests surprise or anticipation when there is none there. However, I admired her range of character voices.
The early chapters seemed to be particularly wordy but, once I had accepted that the story was not going to go anywhere fast, I enjoyed it a lot more. The book comprises at least 50% backstory, which I was fine with too.
I found it to be a well-crafted study of what we choose to keep, and how and why, plus what these things do or don’t say about us. As a fellow keeper of things it gave me a lot of food for thought.
The novel also tackles some very difficult themes and it does these well. It’s predictable in an intentional way. It introduces ideas slowly so there are no big shocks, though the eventual unveiling does pack an emotional punch.
I really liked the way Bray is able to put forth her opinion in a subtle yet amusing manner. For instance, instead of saying the neighbour had her front garden paved over, she describes it as “buried in concrete”. There were many instances like this which provided little nuggets of interest alongside the main storyline. It was like being granted a glimpse of the author’s mindset.
Perhaps the best thing of all is the time we are given to really get to know the characters, and there are some very good ones in there.
In summary, this is a lengthy novel that takes its time but both the journey and the destination are worth it.
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
My most prominent thought about this book is that it is a quick one. I stormed through it, even by my own, slow standards. I don’t think this a reflection on the content, either way.
I wasn’t familiar with O’Brien’s radio programme but my sister read a few excerpts of the book out loud to me and I wanted to know more.
I expected the work to be funny, and it often is, but mostly it was thought provoking. Much of the time the ideas moved a little too quickly for me and there were a few punchlines I didn’t quite “get”. Some of the concepts just didn’t sink in. I guess O’Brien and I, while hopefully sharing a similar level of compassion, just calculate things in different ways. Either that or I’m not very bright, which is also possible.
My favourite thing about the book was the fact that, although O’Brien’s political leanings are very clear, he doesn’t at any time tell you what to think. His main concern is that you think at all. His earnest curiosity is the backbone of the entire volume. As I read I was hoping just a little of it was rubbing off on me. It also alerted me to the fact that I should never get comfortable with considering myself a tolerant individual. No-one is immune from seeing others as “other”.
If you subscribe to a right-wing tabloid then I doubt this is for you. Everyone could learn from it but that lesson might not be enjoyable. On the other hand, if it looks like your thing it probably is and you should find it as digestible as I did.