Game Control- Lionel Shriver

I read this based on someone's recommendation, and the fact that We Need To Talk About Kevin was incredible. Game Control is great in a lot of similar ways; the subject matter is controversial and taboo according to social norms. The frank acknowledgment of the darkness that can be found in humanity is intriguing, just as we find the horror of a car crash fascinating, and cannot look away. The characters she portrays are anything but boring and manage to cover a full spectrum of familiar human emotion. Additionally, the moral issues which this book in particular raises are incredibly complex- you find yourself agreeing with several conflicting positions simultaneously in an attempt to solve that which may be beyond our control. The main thread behind the novel reflects a typically human trait to interpret evidence in a way which benefits the interpreter; in this case the AIDs outbreak is viewed as a catastrophe or just a drop in the ocean depending on the field in which it is discussed. Our failure to remain objective about facts leads to interpretations which can build or break civilisations, yet we refuse to face this truth about ourselves, and this remains a psychological quirk of our species. If this doesn't make the book sound appealing, I should also mention that it is very funny as well, which balances the more serious issues it tackles. Few books manage to make me laugh out loud, but this succeeded. Above all, Shriver makes you think- what more could you ask for?

Holiday Reading

I am packed and ready to go, and my reading list is as follows;

1. Anne of the Island (don't judge)
2. The Land of Painted Caves (been waiting for ages for this)
3. Dracula + the rest of my ebooks
4. Game Control (only just started, so thought I would save it for holiday)
5. The Foxes Come at Night (the dutch book I got at the World Literature Weekend)

Plus magazines for the plane. Its a pretty condensed list for me, as my holiday companion is not such a big reader.

In other news I read the latest two True Blood books by Charlaine Harris, but I read them so quickly I'll probably reread them. I might even start the series again as it's getting quite complicated, especially as I also watch the (based on the books but modified) TV series.

My Italian consists of key phrases plus a lot of food names which are the same in English e.g. mozzarella, spoken in an over-the-top accent and accompanied by large hand gestures. It'll be fine. So I'll see you back in Blighty in August. Happy Reading!

A note to say...

Sorry for the lack of blogging recently, and further apologies for the near future. Due to technological difficulties (I broke my laptop) and being rushed off my feet, I haven't had the time or resources to write on here.

Something to keep you going in the meantime...

Fiction vs. Non-Fiction

As you may have noticed, I have a strong preference for fiction. For me, reading is pure entertainment and generally the more fantastical the better to escape this world. That being said, I do like stories that are more realistic, even to the point of them actually reflecting real life. Some (a few) of my favourite books are based on real life, for example The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. As long as the story is gripping and interesting, it is almost irrelevant whether it is true or not. Anyway, it is stories that fascinate me most, instead of historical accounts, or information about niche topics. Of course I am interested in some non-fiction, having read textbooks for the last three years (and actually enjoying some of them!) but it is far harder to get lost in non-fiction. The grounding of reality limits the extent to which you can, for an hour or two, experience something completely separate to your own life.

Additionally, I am not a huge fan of autobiographies. Although I have no doubt that certain people do lead extraordinary lives, I am not generally inclined to seek out their books to read. I think the fact that there are a lot of poor quality biographies about also puts me off somewhat.

What do you think?

Suspending Belief

Couldn't stop reading We Need to Talk About Kevin until I finished it last night. It's a very good book. Horrible, and fascinating and certainly makes you think. I was most struck by the way it made me feel, vividly, for the characters, getting frustrated and angry on their behalf. I also failed to predict the ending- big surprise. I think there must be a few reasons for my willingness to be led up the garden path by authors, as I'd like to think I'm not so easily fooled in real life. For one thing, if the book is great, I will read as fast as possible, simply leaving no time to consider events carefully. Additionally, there's something about fiction that makes me want to give in to artistic licence and suspend belief for the duration of the story. You surrender completely to the judgement and indiviudal perspective of the narrator that is offered to you. Of course there are other factors, different points of view; yet we rarely acknowledge these in real life, let alone in what is meant to be a leisure activity. Personally, I relish the surprise, the slow realisation that I have been played; full of admiration for the creator of such literary tricks. Then again, maybe I am especially gullible. Anyway, it was a great book, one that continued to get better, while tackling a taboo topic that few have dared to touch.

Am I the only one blind to twists and turns, or do you experience this as well?

Into the Amazon- Jon Harrison

Just finished this real-life account of a couple's adventures through the Amazon, first by canoe, then by trekking through the jungle. Although I don't normally read/ enjoy non-fiction, this action story really grabbed my attention, and I couldn't put it down. It documents the challenges they face, the times they get lost, the food shortages and bugs and the pure endurance that pulls them through. Even with all the things that go wrong, and all the horrors that surround them, it still makes me wish I could do the same and just take off for some unkown part of the world, equally hostile and beautiful, that has not been disturbed by humanity. The book also includes facts and figures concerning the conservation of the rainforest, and certain governments complete lack of respect for the earth. In this way, it is a sad book, even as it celebrates man's ability to adapt and survive against insurmountable odds.

Some news

From Thursday till the 14th July the London Literature Festival is running; those lucky enough to go will get to see some amazing authors, such as Philip Pullman, Michael Morpurgo, and many more. Events include creative writing workshops, discussions of new books and talks from authors. Get tickets here.

Also going on in the world of words, there's a new magazine out, called 'We Love This Book', which has a good mix of reviews, comments on different genres, a desert island book interview as well as short stories. Have a look, let me know what you think.

Finally, not so literary, but extremely cool is Stylist Magazine. Its been around for a couple of years now, and is distributed free in the country's biggest cities. It manages to balance hard hitting journalism about topics that really matter, with pretty materialism and recommendations on how to have the best time. Particular highlights include the career section, which follows a 'day in the life of' a different job each week. Stylist delivers the unexpected, which in my opinion sets it apart from other women's weeklies. There's also Shortlist Magazine for men, which I have also read and enjoyed.

A new book to look out for is The Psychopath Test, by Jon Ronson, which investigates psycopathism and how it may be diagnosed. Sounds interesting!