Unbetitelt

. book, movie and music reviews .

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Book Review: Daughter of Fortune

Daughter of Fortune - Isabel Allende

My current flatmate gave me this book to read as my summer job leaves me plenty of time reading.

Having read Allende's YA novels, beginning with A City Of Beasts, as a young teen, and loving them to bits and pieces, I was looking forward to reading one of her works for adults.

And this book did not disappoint.

It follows the life of Eliza Summers, a young woman who as a babe was found in a box on their doorstep of a rich English family that had moved to Chile in the early 1800s. The family takes her in, especially the single Miss Rose who always wished for a child but couldn't marry. Eliza grows up as a young English lady despite her Chilenian origin. But all is about to change when she experiences her first love, so fierce that she doesn't hesitate to follow her lover when he left one night to follow the Gold Rush. The trail of her beloved leads her on a dangerous and exhausting journey, all the way up to California, where she hopes to find him and with him, her happy end and the love she is craving for.

At first I was a little cautious and weary, because Allende describes everything quite detailed and elaboratedly, and I expected to grow tired of all the seemingly unnecessary information. But this is actually what I came to love. Her writing is superb, she skillfully crafts characters (and especially and above all the FEMALE characters), she gives them depth and leaves nothing left do be desired in what you'd want in character development. Allende weaves the threads of her telling into a story that is hard to put down.

Although, in my opinion, the ending is a little bit abrupt and leaves you hanging, I recommend this book! It is a good longer read for rainy days, and keeps you firmly tugged in its world.

- Susi

[ofgeography]

robin williams died today.

here is a list of things that robin williams was:

funny

sharp

kind

clever

and sad.

that’s important, the “and sad,” because sometimes sadness can feel like the only thing we are. it can feel all-encompassing. it can feel like the only thing anyone could possibly see, when they look at you: sad. that person is so, so, sad.

but there is always an “and.” we are never just sad. we are never only. we are always and.

we have all known people who were sad, who are sad; some of us are ourselves sad. being sad does not remove the other parts of us, though it can make them harder for us to see. when you are sad, you don’t necessarily feel like you are also funny, and sharp, and clever, and kind.

but you still are. you don’t have to feel like something to be it.

those things are written on your bones, they are woven into the fabric of your skin. sadness can feel so big, so big and overwhelming and complete, even when it is not a directed sadness. maybe especially when it is not a directed sadness, when it’s a depression that has no direct cause and nothing we can name.

sometimes the sadness is too big. people try to cut it out, or starve it out, or drink it down, or drug it silent. if this is you: i’m sorry. if this is you: you are not alone. if this is you: remember that the solution is never to give up, because you do not live in a vacuum. there are people waiting for you. there are films and songs and books and not-sadness waiting for you. i know that you don’t feel like waiting, but wait anyway.

if you need help, ask for it. here’s a link to crisis centers across the globe. if you live in the U.S., this is the national suicide prevention hotline: [phone].

robin williams died today, but the genie didn’t, and mrs. doubtfire didn’t, and peter pan didn’t. sean maquire didn’t, and professor philip brainard didn’t, and alan parrish didn’t. batty koda didn’t. john keating didn’t. you didn’t. 

don’t.

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

For all of our followers and anyone else who may be struggling. Please don't let the sadness take you over. Please don't give up. If you feel the emotions you are experiencing are getting to be too much, do reach out - there are people who will help you, and places to go.

You are wonderful, you are unique, and you matter. You matter so much. Please do not give up.

[jesperfahey]

“You’re only given one little spark of madness. You mustn’t lose it." - Robin Williams [July 29th 1951 - August 11th 2014]

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Since we are not only a book, but also a movie blog, it feels appropriate to bid one of the greatest comedians of our age goodbye. Thank you, Robin Williams, for your movies, your passion, your kindness. We will always remember how we laughed with Mrs. Doubtfire, explored the museum at night with Teddy Roosevelt, and learned the power of poetry with John Keating.

Your death leaves us devastated and incredulous, but even more importantly grateful for what you gave us.

May you rest in peace.

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Movie Review: Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes - 2014 (x)

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes (DotPA) is a sequel to a prequel to a brilliant movie based on a brilliant book; from the trailers, however, it mostly looked like a 2 hour grim battle between CGI apes and humans. So I went into the movie slightly unsure about what to expect. I was in for a pleasant surprise.

Following its predecessor Rise of the Planet of the Apes, DotPA continues the story of Caesar, the genetically superior, intelligent chimpanzee who had been raised by a scientist and led a whole number of other similarly mutated apes to freedom in the last movie. The apes have made a home in the forests of California by now, complete with a well-structured civilization, schools, and laws. They believe humans to be extinct, as a simian virus had infected and practically wiped out the entire population years ago. However, there is still a bastion of survivors holding out in San Francisco, some of whom come across the apes by chance when looking for sources of energy to power their home. What ensues is a long and complicated exploration of the question whether war between the specied is really inevitable - or if humans and apes do not have more in common than they thought, after all.

What makes this movie so special to me is not only the amazing presentation of the apes (who I thought were much better animated than in the first movie), their culture and home, but the way the process of rapprochement is portrayed. There are individuals hoping for a peaceful solutions as well as scaremongers calling for war on both sides; both parties have families they wish to protect, fears and curiosity. The parallels are painfully clear to the viewer, and become increasingly so for the characters as well. Some of the scenes from the movie are incredibly powerful, showing chances for an approach and a reconciliation - but more often than not, these are destroyed by the crippling fear and the demands of those using it to convince their people to go to war.

This really is not a movie about apes vs. humans, it's an exploration of how conflicts are dealt with in general. By portraying them as utterly human - loving, caring, dreaming, and fearing -, DotPA made clear that the apes are an allegory for the human people, giving the fight in the movie so much more importance. It felt all too real at times, especially with so many violent conflicts all over the planet right now. What it showed remarkably well, though, is that reacting to pain inflicted upon you by the other party with hatred and aggression is not the way to find a solution. Only those characters patient enough to try again and give one another a second chance, despite all their instincts calling for he opposite, are rewarded with a deeper understanding and even a hint of trust throughout the story. Those blindly striking out and seeing violence as the only chance to preserve themselves are the ones who destroy all chance of peace in the end. I really do think this is something that can - and should be! - learned from this movie, which has captured the essence and intention of the original work it is based on so much better than its predecessors and even some of the older movies. A highly recommended cinema experience that will give you plenty to think about!

- Judith

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Book Review: Kindred

Kindred - Octavia Butler

“I felt as though I were losing my place here in my own time. Rufus’s time was a sharper, stronger reality. The work was harder, the smells and tastes were stronger, the danger was greater, the pain was worse . . . Rufus’s time demanded things of me that had never been demanded before, and it could easily kill me if I did not meet its demands. That was a stark, powerful reality that the gentle conveniences and luxuries of this house, of now, could not touch.”

Imagine you were just moving into a new apartment with your husband, thinking about what to get for dinner, when suddenly you feel dizzy and everything fades away. The next thing you know you find yourself in a strange environment, faced with a drowning child and somebody pointing a shotgun at you. Now imagine it happen again and again, and realizing that not only have you traveled from home, you have also traveled in time - to a place where your existence is not worth a lick to anybody and your life is in constant danger. That is what happens to Dana, who by means she does not understand is called back in time to 19th century Maryland whenever a boy named Rufus - who she finds out is one of her ancestors - is at risk of losing his life, thus endangering her own existence as well. But a plantation in the ante bellum American South is not a safe place for a black woman to be, and as Dana finds herself stuck there for increasingly long periods of time, she realizes that each journey she makes from the present to the past might be her last one.

I can't really describe this book accurately. I don't have the words the express my admiration, it was just that good! It manages to combine a science-fiction-y plot with historical accuracy, and it had me on the edge of my seat for the entire read. It was entirely intriguing, fascinating, captivating. Most of all, I feel that the characters stood out in terms of depth and development. Rufus Weylin, the white heir of the plantation and slave owner, especially, was an incredibly complex character, constantly varying from despicable slave master to strangely pitiable boy. I also particularly enjoyed the development of the relationship between him and the protagonist as time passed and he grew older. It is marked by a constant struggle for power and moments of cruelty, but also a sort of respect and even intimacy unlike any I'd ever come across before.

Kindred is, in my opinion, a must read for anybody who loves good books. It deals with the most essential of topics, such as the good and evil in every one of us, and the question of what makes somebody human. It also shed light upon the inhumane treatment of slaves, while enabling the 21st century readers to experience it through the eyes of a modern woman they can identify with.

All in all it is a wonderful, unique book that you definitely should not miss out on. It's way too good and important for that.

- Judith

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Movie Review: Maleficent

Maleficent (2014)

Beware! Ahead there be  S P O I L E R S.

So after weeks and weeks went by and this movie kept getting praised by everybody, I finally decided to see for myself what all the hype was about.

Everyone knows the story of Aurora aka Sleeping Beauty, who gets cursed by the evil fairy as a baby and is doomed to fall into eternal sleep on her sixteenth birthday, so I won't really go into that. Far more interesting is that this movie focuses on Maleficent herself, establishing her backstory and explaining why she would show up to curse the baby in the first place (you have to admit, this action seems a little random, right?). We learn about how she and the man who later becomes the king (and the baby's father, obviously) used to be friends and even lovers, before he betrayed her and stole her wings. We also get to watch how her relationship to the very child she put a horrible curse on develops.

Here's my opinion on the movie: I found it intriguing, but - especially towards the end - very foreseeable. Which does not mean I didn't enjoy it. Disney has already shown some steps towards more feminist storytelling with Frozen, and they continue this mindset here by presenting Maleficent as a complex and genuinely interesting character, whose troubles and dark sides have a cause and whose actions don't just come out of nowhere. Unfortunately, she was the only character like that in the entire movie. The rest of the people or magical creatures populating the kingdom are either bumbling idiots (fairy "aunts", I'm looking at you!) or weirdly flat plot devices whose behavior is not at all understandable to the audience. Aurora stands out among these by literally only having kindness and an adorable face as defining features - and these she had from the first time we see her as a baby. Talk about character development.

Another major criticism I have is that the ending is way too rushed, and too many of the issues presented before are unresolved, leaving so many questions. For example: Why is Maleficent suddenly in a position to crown Aurora queen? Why did none of the guards continue fighting her after the king died, did they just go 'Welp, okay, he's dead. I guess the evil fairy lady is our new queen now!'? What about Aurora, how did she cope with the trauma of finding her father in a state like this shortly after learning her favorite fairy was the one who had cursed her? Why is the prince there at the ending? Why was he even going to the castle in the first place? Why -

Well, I have a lot of questions. There is a ton of plot holes, most of which revolve around everybody's inability to communicate like a normal person, but also the way magic works in this universe.

I'll say, though, I did like the movie and it has some great points working for it. The score is fantastic, the CGI is aesthetically pleasing, if not convincing, and the overall feminist overtone was much appreciated. ...And there was a weirdly attractive raven, so there was that. Just saying.

Watch the movie, if you get a chance, it's a good way to kill some spare time and affirm Disney that movies with strong, yet well-developed female leads can, indeed, be a success.

- Judith

PS: Hey, Stefan, you know what would have worked to keep Maleficent away, effectively??

It was literally that easy. No fancy thorns needed. Idiot.

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Book Review: The Bluest Eye

The Bluest Eye - Toni Morrison

"You looked at them and wondered why they were so ugly; you looked closely and could not find the source. Then you realized that it came from conviction, their conviction. It was as though some mysterious all-knowing master had given each one a cloak of ugliness to wear, and they had each accepted it without question.”

The Bluest Eye is not really a story, it is more of a collection of impressions and lives connected to the life of Pecola, a little black girl who, being mistreated, sexually abused, and generally considered ugly, desperately wishes for blue eyes. It is an account of the loss of innocence through a world set to harm and destroy what does not neatly fit its ideals, and an immensely powerful, though not easy, read.

One critic from the New York Times wrote about the novel that it is "so charged with pain and wonder that [it] becomes poetry", and I could not possibly have phrased it better. Toni Morrison is an incredible writer, and she does make her writing into poetry by filling it to the brim with so much ambiguity and mournful beauty that its meaning often eludes the reader in its entirety and requires interpretation. She also manages to tie together different narrative threads in different styles to make one whole.

I'm sorry for not being able to give a more complete and informative review, but I am kind of lost for words. Though I liked Beloved a little better, The Bluest Eye is one hell of a first novel, both in style and content, and offers not so much a lot of plot, but an insight into the soul of its characters. It is a demanding read, but one that I found very impressive and recommendable.

- Judith

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Movie Review: Super Size Me

Super Size Me (2004) - Trailer (x)

I must be the only person on the planet that had still not seen this movie, but here I am. Anyway, I finally made up for that lack of knowledge by watching it today. Here's my review.

Super Size Me is a documentary film about the harmful effects of fast food on the body. It's a mixture of footage about the guy's experiment of only ever eating McDonalds for a month and some investigation about the eating habits of Americans, the opinions of health experts, and the reasons for America's problem with rising numbers of obesity.

I feel like there's really not a lot to say about the movie, especially since most likely, you've already been forced to sit down and watch it in school or were driven to watch it out of curiosity. Obviously, the results of the experiment are extremely negative, with the man growing increasingly sick and unhappy as his system struggles with the unhealthy diet. I don't really know what they were trying to prove...there is no real surprise in finding that eating lots of junk food is harmful. I was, however, impressed by just HOW extreme the damage done to his body was...even knowing that fast food isn't good for you, you don't usually realize to which extent it contains sugar and crap like that, and just how fast it can harm your health. I was also startled to see what schools offer kids to eat for lunch - I mean, letting them take fries only, or cookies and chips...seriously, USA? - but I do believe there has been at least some progress in that area. Still, to me as a European, those concepts are absolutely incomprehensible and incredible.

What I really, REALLY didn't like was how the film constantly showed footage of obese people, but not usually related to their consummation of fast food or anything like that, but just them going for a walk and minding their own business. I'm afraid most of these people weren't even informed about being filmed and later broadcast to millions of watchers as examples of unhealthy persons suffering the results of their brainless diet. It is beyond rude to suggest that all fat people lead an unhealthy life, and are unaware of the consequences of junk food and similar things. So this really is a big issue with this film that I hope has been adressed by critics and audiences alike.

Other than that, well, I didn't really get any new information to profit from. If anything, I feel a little bit guilty about not exercising much, but apart from that, I guess I could have spent my evening in a different way as well without missing out too much.

- Judith

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Movie Review: A Long Way Down

A Long Way Down (2014) - Trailer (x)

I just came back from the cinema and feel like I need to write about this right now. This urge is mostly emotional and not so much rational, so I apologize if the following review isn't too well thought-out.

Based on the novel by Nick Hornby, A Long Way Down is a curious and rather reckless tale about four people wanting to end their life. They each have different reasons, and they each mean business, standing on top of a high building on New Year's Eve. But despite the fact that they have nothing in common but their death wish, the sheer absurdity of the situation at first and a couple of occurrences later on tie them together, and what starts out as a random encounter becomes something slightly more like companionship as they make a deal not to kill themselves before next Valentine's Day. Things get complicated, though, when the press learns about the "four from the rooftop", and the freshly developed bonds are put to the test...

Here's my opinion on the movie: I liked it. I don't know if that makes me lame or ignorant or disrespectful, and I don't much care, I just really liked it. To be honest, I'm not sure up to which extent leaving a movie about suicidal people feeling better than before is appropriate, but that's the way it was: I felt strangely relieved and a little light-hearted. Calling A Long Way Down a feel-good-movie, in my opinion, does not do it justice, though: While it has its own, slightly impious approach to the subject, it doesn't tread too lightly on the despair of the characters, which is all too real for many people.

Personally, I feel like the movie had just the right amount of cheesiness to make it stirring, yet enjoyable. Having not read the book, I, of course, can't judge if the movie lives up the novel it's based on, but on its own, I appreciated it very much. One complaint that could be made is about the all-white main cast; but I suppose the problem lies with the original work rather than the movie adaptation. I guess I'll find out once I've actually read it. Other than that, the movie is fine, if one is willing to let a few convenient points of the plot pass.

Go see it! It moved and pleased me a lot, and I hope it will do the same to you, too.

- Judith

[thepaperadventures]

REBLOG if you are a book blog!

I really want to follow more book blogs - please reblog this if you read/write book reviews!

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Book Review: The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie

The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie - Muriel Spark

"There needs to be a leaven in the lump. Give me a girl at an impressionable age, and she is mine for life."

Muriel Spark's The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie can be described as a rather comedic and tongue-in-cheek look on the minds of young girls and the influence that role models and/or teachers have on them. It follows the lives of the "Brodie set", a group of five girls that were favored and meticulously instructed by their unconventional teacher Miss Brodie. The main focus is on Sandy and her friend Jenny, who worship her in their early youth, but grow up to be disillusioned about their former heroine.

I cannot for the life of me understand why this book made it on our recommended reading list. Apparently it was incredibly popular and got turned into a movie and theater play, but that alone can't really be the reason, right? I'll admit, it is at times an amusing read, what with Miss Brodie's sharp remarks and the little girls' naive view of the adult world, but I still don't see how that makes it a classic. To be honest, it felt completely inconsequential to me, I would read a passage and immediately forget what its content was. The majority of the story consists of the girls projecting their sexual fantasies on their teacher as well as speculating about her love life, with a few outlooks on how their life would develop later on; the rest is either Miss Brodie talking or people trying to spy on her.

As it was the case with Mr. Norris Changes Trains (x), this book tried so hard to convince its reader to fall in love with this glorified woman just like the majority of its characters did, but once more I can only say I did not see what was supposed to be so great about her. Frankly, I found her almost insufferable, even more so towards the end - a stuck-up and snobby, condescending person. Maybe that is the quality of the book: To help you move beyond the pretended glory of its title character, the way the Brodie set did. Hm.

Anyway, I can't say I liked this book too much. It didn't annoy me, but it didn't please me either; like I said: It was a completely inconsequential read, and left me indifferent to the book.

- Judith

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Book Review: Jane Eyre

Jane Eyre - Charlotte Brontë

“It is in vain to say human beings ought to be satisfied with tranquillity: they must have action; and they will make it if they cannot find it. [...] Women are supposed to be very calm generally: but women feel just as men feel; they need exercise for their faculties, and a field for their efforts, as much as their brothers do; they suffer from too rigid a restraint, to absolute a stagnation, precisely as men would suffer; and it is narrow-minded in their more privileged fellow-creatures to say that they ought to confine themselves to making puddings and knitting stockings, to playing on the piano and embroidering bags. It is thoughtless to condemn them, or laugh at them, if they seek to do more or learn more than custom has pronounced necessary for their sex.”

Jane Eyre is one of those books that you sort of know about, but don't necessarily feel the desire to read...which is a huge shame, considering how absolutely wonderful it is.

The book is a narrative about the events in the life of its title character. Jane is an orphan, not blessed with good looks or the talent of pleasing people easily, but full of vivacity and intelligence. After a miserable childhood with cruel relatives first and at a strict boarding school later, she takes on a position as governess for the protégée of Mr. Rochester at Thornfield Hall. While she finds herself more and more captivated by its moody owner, she also realizes that all is not as it seems at Thornfield Hall: There is a dark secret, ready to surface and destroy the life she has made for herself.

Oh, I loved this book. As in LOVED loved it. I never would have expected this, since all I'd heard about it was either that it was a "obligatory classic" or a "cheesy love story". Though both are true to some degree, what really made me adore the story was the protagonist's amazingly modern, self-confident and no-nonsense narrative voice and the way she just goes her way, regardless of the obstacles presented to her. The slowly developing love between her and Mr. Rochester was not really cheesy to me, because it is never put before her self-development, and her principles are neither compromised nor given up for him. I could not believe how strong and independent the character of Jane Eyre was, and though I did not understand all of her decisions, I admired them nonetheless.

Seeing as all this is combined with a narrative that gets so gripping at times that it was literally impossible to put the book down and a number of plot twists (one of which blew my mind in the way that, say, the revelation of who River Song on Doctor Who is, did - that means a lot), I can genuinely say that Jane Eyre was an unexpectedly wonderful read and went directly to one of the top spots of my favorite books list. Read it, guys! Just, read it!

- Judith

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Book Review: Die Angst dein bester Freund

Die Angst dein bester Freund (or: Fear/Anxiety, your best friend; there is no English version of this book yet) - Alexander Huber

Can anxiety/fear be something positive?

How is anxiety/fear an intense experience?

And why can fears help me get more freedom and independence?

"Die Angst dein bester Freund" is a book written by famous alpinist Alexander Huber, who is known for his risky and dangerous free solo climbs on some of the highest and most difficult mountain routes men knows. However, he also came to suffer from anxiety later in his life. In this book, he talks about the fear when mountain climbing, and surreal fears that haunt him down in his normal life, too. He also talks about how those fears are connected, how one can make their fears and anxiety a friend, a companion that is always there, and not always a negative emotion. 

A friend lent me this book, from one person suffering from anxiety to the other. She also is a great fan of Alexander Huber and his brother Thomas, the "Huberbuam". 

I must say, the book was okay. I skipped and skimmed most of the pages where Huber talks almost solely about his climbing experiences and the history of the alpinists and their sport. 

The chapters and paragraphs where he talks about fears and anxiety, however, were interesting and informative and give a nice start to feel better about oneself and a way how to handle living with such mental illnesses. It shows us a positive possible outcome of a crisis, and Huber is inspiring how he talks about the way he lives now and found the love for his sport again, and how the sport in a way helped him survive these black years. 

However, I found Huber repeats himself too frequently. The sentences "Fears are your best friends!", "Don't try to conquer your fears, befriend them!" and "Fear can also be positive!" were found every five pages (or at least, I felt like they were). Sometimes, it also felt like he was trying too hard to convince the reader (and probably himself) of what he was writing. 

In the end, it was an okay read. It was interesting because it gave a possible solution to deal with anxiety or fears in general, and can be very helpful. I think I might have enjoyed it much more if I were a fan of climbing sports or a fan of Alexander Huber or the "Huberbuam".

I recommend it if you are very into extreme sports and also want to read about dealing with fears, but if you're looking for something a little deeper and more focused on the actual subject of anxiety and fear, I think you should grab a different book. 

- Susi

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Book Review: Percy Jackson & the OIympians + Heroes of Olympus

Percy Jackson and the Olympians series + The Heroes of Olympus series by Rick Riordan

"Percy Jackson is about to be kicked out of boarding school...again. And that's the least of his troubles. Lately, mythological monsters and the gods of Mount Olympus seem to be walking straight out of the pages of Percy's Greek mythology textbook and into his life. And worse, he's angered a few of them. Zeus's master lightning bolt has been stolen, and Percy is the prime suspect."

In search for a light read that wouldn't demand much from me and be a fun read, I grabbed the first book of the Percy Jackson and the OIympians series. I never would have thought that I would practically tear through all of the five books, plus the four books that are currently the sequel series The Heroes of Olympus.

There isn't much to say about what is happening in the books, it is a fast paced, funny, crazy and also at times pretty heart breaking adventure par excellence. There are monsters, traitors, the first love, loyal friends and many unexpected turns and twists. 

At first I was skeptical, after all, this is a series for children / teens, and therefore the writing isn't that sophisticated or elaborate. However, Riordan is a master at dropping funny lines and made me laugh out lout quite a few times. 

The storytelling is straight forward, yet not boring, and after all, Percy's adventures and quests had me reading nine books. After the first two or three books, as an adult, you get used to the simpler writing, and really start to feel with the characters. In the end, I loved every single one of them for their uniqueness and well formed characterization, and sweated and bled with them when they made their way through Hades' realm and even deeper darkness and rows of enemies. 

And on top of a light, funny and exciting read, you also get to learn quite a lot about Greek and (later) Roman mythology. 

In retrospect, reading these books was similar to what I experienced when I read the Harry Potter books in my childhood and teen years, which I have very fond memories of and which speaks a lot for itself. 

All in all, in my opinion, the Percy Jackson and the Olympians and The Heroes of Olympus series are a great read when you are looking for something fun and light with nice characters and easy-going storytelling. 

Even when you're an adult, these books are worth giving them a chance. And if you have kids, siblings, cousins, nieces, whatever, this is a good way to get them interested in reading, or reading it together with them. 

- Susi

[ex-libris-recs-blog]

Book Review: Mr. Norris Changes Trains

Mr. Norris Changes Trains - Christopher Isherwood

"As a final test, I tried to look Arthur in the eyes. But no, this time-honored process didn't work. Here were no windows to the soul. They were merely part of his face, light-blue jellies, like naked shell-fish in the crevices of a rock. There was nothing to hold the attention; no sparkle, no inward gleam."

In pre-Third Reich Berlin, during the ascend of the Nazis to power, Englishman William Bradshaw meets Arthur Norris in a train. What starts out as a chance encounter quickly develops into a friendship with more extensive consequences than William can foresee - for William, fascinated by Arthur's bonhomous, yet curiously guarded, nature and his eccentric lifestyle, is sucked into a whirl of communism, cunning, and espionage.

Boy, did I grow tired of this book after the first twenty or so pages. In its defense, I am generally not too fond of this kind of book...you know, the one where the narrator himself is barely present and exists merely to observe the doing of another, more intriguing character. But while books like On the Road or Great Gatsby at least attempt to give their "primary" character some depth, I feel that this book didn't even bother trying. William Bradshaw is undoubtedly one of the most plain and spineless narrative voices I have ever encountered, and it became painfully obvious from a very early point on. That wouldn't have been so bad, if only Arthur Norris had been that much of a captivating personality as the book was constantly trying to make him out to be...but he was, in fact, quite as dull as the narrator himself. An awkward, cowardish kind of fellow, Norris, whose main interest in life seemed to center around restaurants and weird prostitutes, really didn't live up to the reputation of an irresistible charmer bestowed upon him by the other characters. He was incredibly annoying, and I simply could not understand why everybody in the book insisted on him being something like the second coming of Christ himself.

But what really settled my negative opinion of this book is not so much the dullness of the characters, or even the slightly pointless stretching of the narrative over unnecessary lengths. It is the language itself that made me feel fed up after only a few pages. Every single person speaks in an exaggeratedly polite way, all the time. Everything is "quite charming, indeed, I shall say" and everybody constantly feels the need to ask the other to "do forgive them, wouldn't they?". After a while, all I could see was a bunch of conceited English noblemen wearing tweed and smoking cigars, which was totally not the point of the novel, and I was so, so tired of it so very quickly.

To use this book's own style of language: I am ever so afraid to say that I did not, in fact, enjoy this literary work. It was quite bothersome a read and not entirely devoid of unnecessary details, indeed. One should like to refrain from recommending it, to be perfectly honest.

- Judith

[book-escapism]

Reblog if you're a book blog& tell what country you live in.

[lanareadss-deactivated20150807]

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Book Review: Schindler's Ark

Schindler's Ark - Thomas Keneally

"He'd hate to be a priest, Herr Schindler said, in an era like this, when life did not have the value of a packet of cigarettes. Stern agreed but suggested, in the spirit of the discussion, that the Biblical reference Herr Schindler had made could be summed up by a Talmudic verse which said that he who saves the life of one man, saves the entire world."

Schindler's Ark is the incredibly impressing, true story of industrialist Oskar Schindler, who, during the Third Reich, risked his life time and time again to protect his Jewish workers from the horrors of the concentration camps.

There really isn't much more to add to this summary. This book is an unbelievably thoroughly researched rendition of what happened in those dark years in Nazi-occupied Poland, from the early days to the time of the ghettos to the concentration camps.There is nothing fictional contained in the story, although that was really hard to believe sometimes. I found myself holding my breath over Oskar's daring actions every now and then, but miraculously, his persistence and charm carried him and his "Schindlerjuden" through this entire dark period.

I have to say, I found it impressing how Keneally has managed to render the utter terror the innocent Jewish population had to go through in a markedly neutral tone of voice, without belittling the effect the cruelties reported had on me, the reader. He doesn't glorify Schindler, nor does he lump together all the German soldiers and make them completely inhumane. That's quite an accomplishment. It was a bit of a long read, I guess, and a slightly confusing one on top of that, which is unavoidable considering the amount of prisoners, politicians, and other people who are involved in the telling of the story. But I don't regret the time I spent with it. What Oskar Schindler did is heroic and inspirational in the extreme, and I think everybody should learn about this man and his brave workers, who didn't back down in the face of the biggest threat imaginable.

- Judith