Sphinx by T.S Learner
Read: March 2010
This book inspired an article in the Grauniad Travel section about the sites in Alexandria. We were feeling pretty pleased with ourselves as we've done most of those mentioned in the paper. There was a competition, which we entered, but didn't win (to get tickets from London to Cairo), but we thought we should go and buy the book to see what the hype was about - if the Grauniad like a book this much, surely it's good?
Sadly not. It was OK, but nothing special. It was likened to The Da Vinci Code but for Egypt and I can see where this has come from as the central character is running around the country trying to solve a mystery. It is rather like the Da Vinci Code in that an artifact is discovered, everyone wants it and one man is trying to solve it. Instead of clues in paintings and museums though, the clues are around Alexandria and ancient Egyptian texts.
For me the most interesting parts of the book are in the early section to do with scuba diving (the protagonists wife discovers said artifact on a dive), and the city of Aexandria in the 1970's...which is not so different from the Alexandria we know.
The story moves at a pace enough, but the ending is dissapointing; wrapping up the story in a mysticism that was unsolvable earlier on.
Never-the-less this books has unwittingly started our collection of Egypt/North Africa/Middle Eastern-based fiction. We're not being fussy about quality (although maybe we should be), but will now pick up books in charity stores that fall along our theme.
Tuesday, 30 March 2010
Thursday, 4 March 2010
The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve
The Weight of Water by Anita Shreve (1998)
Read: March 2010
We were left this book by MJ when she came to visit. I was thankful that although it was fiction it wasn't the trashy kind, but looked more thoughtful than that.
The story follows a photographer on assignment to document the site of a murder in the 1870's on a small island. As she composes her shots, her story is intertwined with that of the survivor. Their family situation different, but similar themes emerge.
The scenes on the island, both in present day and in the survivors' letters, describe a bleak place where you have to work to survive. Maybe that is why the murders were motivated and why this group of five are drawn to it.
I feel sorry for the protaganist who gradually feels that she is being sidelined by her husband for another women. She often describes a scene implying she is just an observer, not active in it, and this is all happening around her. But then I also feel frustrated that she has let it come to this and wonder why she doesn't work harder at staying together for their daughter's sake.
But actually I realise that she is herself lost. Lost in emotion, lost in memory.
I surprised myself by generally enjoying this book - maybe it has helped put some of my faith back into reading fiction. As long as I need to think a bit then fiction is an option.
Read: March 2010
We were left this book by MJ when she came to visit. I was thankful that although it was fiction it wasn't the trashy kind, but looked more thoughtful than that.
The story follows a photographer on assignment to document the site of a murder in the 1870's on a small island. As she composes her shots, her story is intertwined with that of the survivor. Their family situation different, but similar themes emerge.
The scenes on the island, both in present day and in the survivors' letters, describe a bleak place where you have to work to survive. Maybe that is why the murders were motivated and why this group of five are drawn to it.
I feel sorry for the protaganist who gradually feels that she is being sidelined by her husband for another women. She often describes a scene implying she is just an observer, not active in it, and this is all happening around her. But then I also feel frustrated that she has let it come to this and wonder why she doesn't work harder at staying together for their daughter's sake.
But actually I realise that she is herself lost. Lost in emotion, lost in memory.
I surprised myself by generally enjoying this book - maybe it has helped put some of my faith back into reading fiction. As long as I need to think a bit then fiction is an option.
Saturday, 20 February 2010
Cairo Swan Song by Mekkawi Said
Cairo Swan Song by Mekkawi Said (2006, translation 2009)
Read: February 2010
Scotty bought me this for valentines day as he knows I love reading translated modern arabic literature.
This was a swan song for Cairo as the central character loves it yet is leaving it and his friends behind. You see how as he has gown up he is now torn between friendship and the girl he loves. But she is still leading him on a merry dance.
His love is an American girl, studying at AUC and she returns his love and affection, but is distracted by the city. Her distraction leads her all over the city and he follows. I enjoy reading about their adventures because they take me to some parts of the city that I know, Maadi for instance, and others that I don't. I recognise descriptions of apartment buildings and nosy neighbours, and am intrigued to read descriptions of desolate buildings that house homeless, family-less youths that otherwise roam the streets.
This is a swan song because an Old Cairo is being lost, as well as an innocence.
Read: February 2010
Scotty bought me this for valentines day as he knows I love reading translated modern arabic literature.
This was a swan song for Cairo as the central character loves it yet is leaving it and his friends behind. You see how as he has gown up he is now torn between friendship and the girl he loves. But she is still leading him on a merry dance.
His love is an American girl, studying at AUC and she returns his love and affection, but is distracted by the city. Her distraction leads her all over the city and he follows. I enjoy reading about their adventures because they take me to some parts of the city that I know, Maadi for instance, and others that I don't. I recognise descriptions of apartment buildings and nosy neighbours, and am intrigued to read descriptions of desolate buildings that house homeless, family-less youths that otherwise roam the streets.
This is a swan song because an Old Cairo is being lost, as well as an innocence.
Sunday, 14 February 2010
Jack Maggs by Peter Carey
Jack Maggs by Peter Carey (1997)
Read: February 2010
Dad brought this book out with him when he visited...over a year ago! And it's taken me this long to read it :( Scotty read it in the Autumn and enjoyed it, so lent it to a friend who enjoyed it too. So come our February break I knew it was time for me to read it too and enjoyed having the time to spend on it.
It was set nicely in the 1800's London and Maggs' character evolved slowly in the first half of the book. Although the story followed Maggs, you only found out about him as the other characters did. At times to me he was a Jeckle and Hyde type, with one persona that he presented to his employers and another presented as he hunted for his nemesis; Henry Phipps. This second persona comes out in his letters and in the first person chapters that read as a man's ramblings. These read so much as a ramblings, that it takes me half the book to be sure what Jack really wants, and where the story might be going.
It wasn't really Jack's criminal past that intrigued me, as it did Tobias Oates, in the book, but Maggs' mind in general, that Oates persevered in observing. Oates is an author, but actually is looking for any way to make his ends meet and to keep in the "inner circle" and when he has to trust Jack, and Jack trust him, this is actually when the book gets interesting. Similarly the relationship between Jack and the maid; again one of one-way interest (this time of the maid in Jack, but Jack needing the maid's confidence, as he needs Oates'), is one that I was sorry to see end sadly.
This book was not what I was expecting, but it was a good read - something different for me. I didn't whizz through it, but did enjoy it and find it an interesting challenge. Maybe I should read those other books dad left....
Read: February 2010
Dad brought this book out with him when he visited...over a year ago! And it's taken me this long to read it :( Scotty read it in the Autumn and enjoyed it, so lent it to a friend who enjoyed it too. So come our February break I knew it was time for me to read it too and enjoyed having the time to spend on it.
It was set nicely in the 1800's London and Maggs' character evolved slowly in the first half of the book. Although the story followed Maggs, you only found out about him as the other characters did. At times to me he was a Jeckle and Hyde type, with one persona that he presented to his employers and another presented as he hunted for his nemesis; Henry Phipps. This second persona comes out in his letters and in the first person chapters that read as a man's ramblings. These read so much as a ramblings, that it takes me half the book to be sure what Jack really wants, and where the story might be going.
It wasn't really Jack's criminal past that intrigued me, as it did Tobias Oates, in the book, but Maggs' mind in general, that Oates persevered in observing. Oates is an author, but actually is looking for any way to make his ends meet and to keep in the "inner circle" and when he has to trust Jack, and Jack trust him, this is actually when the book gets interesting. Similarly the relationship between Jack and the maid; again one of one-way interest (this time of the maid in Jack, but Jack needing the maid's confidence, as he needs Oates'), is one that I was sorry to see end sadly.
This book was not what I was expecting, but it was a good read - something different for me. I didn't whizz through it, but did enjoy it and find it an interesting challenge. Maybe I should read those other books dad left....
Monday, 8 February 2010
Superfreakonomics by Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner (2009)
Superfreakonomics by Steven D Levitt and Stephen J Dubner (2009)
Read: February 2010
Somehow I managed to miss the first book by this pair, Freakonomics. Scott did read it and raved about it - especially the tale of the coffee concession at Waterloo Station that we would pass every time we went into town - so it was good to get a copy of this book and find out for myself what all this was about.
This was really my sort of book as it's a little bit academic but a bit fun as well. It made me realise how similar to economics some aspects of my degree and interests are. They used odd bits of academic research and compared results to come up with interesting and often surprising conclusions. For example they compared data on the number of people injured and killed when driving drunk with those who were walking drunk. Separate data sets, but when you compare figures it is actually less dangerous to be driving....maybe not all of these theories should be tested, but interesting stuff for me.
I wasn't too keen on their global warming section which attempted in one chapter to go against all commonly understood theories on global warming and preventative action. Some of the points were fair, but half a chapter that concluded a huge hose needed to be put into the troposphere to add water vapour wasn't the most balanced of topics.
I'll try and get my hands on the first book and in the mean time will be lending this one out to as many people as possible.
Read: February 2010
Somehow I managed to miss the first book by this pair, Freakonomics. Scott did read it and raved about it - especially the tale of the coffee concession at Waterloo Station that we would pass every time we went into town - so it was good to get a copy of this book and find out for myself what all this was about.
This was really my sort of book as it's a little bit academic but a bit fun as well. It made me realise how similar to economics some aspects of my degree and interests are. They used odd bits of academic research and compared results to come up with interesting and often surprising conclusions. For example they compared data on the number of people injured and killed when driving drunk with those who were walking drunk. Separate data sets, but when you compare figures it is actually less dangerous to be driving....maybe not all of these theories should be tested, but interesting stuff for me.
I wasn't too keen on their global warming section which attempted in one chapter to go against all commonly understood theories on global warming and preventative action. Some of the points were fair, but half a chapter that concluded a huge hose needed to be put into the troposphere to add water vapour wasn't the most balanced of topics.
I'll try and get my hands on the first book and in the mean time will be lending this one out to as many people as possible.
He took my kidney then broke my heart by Dave Spikey (2009)
He took my kidney then broke my heart by Dave Spikey (2009)
Read: January 2010
Scotty bought me this for my birthday as we both love Dave Spikey. We loved Phoenix Nights but found him lots funnier in stand-up compared to Peter Kaye. Although it wasn't as good as Phoenix Nights we enjoyed Dead Man Weds which Dave Spikey wrote and starred in alongside Jonny Vegas. Dead Man Weds got its inspiration from those strange newspaper headlines and its from that that this book came about.
On his most recent tour, Dave Spikey would check out the local paper for the headlines it was running - you can always tell a lot about an area from the stories it runs in the local rag.He has put the best ones in this book.
The structure is really good - he has the newspaper headline and article in one column and then another column for his comments/reactions to it. This means he spaces them out giving you time to react to a headline before reading the rest of the story.
Some headlines are brilliant and then some of his comments even better. Old favourites, like dobbers and dogs come up and there are lots of bits in it that made me laugh out loud.
It is now pride of place next to the toilet for continued revisiting and rereading.
Read: January 2010
Scotty bought me this for my birthday as we both love Dave Spikey. We loved Phoenix Nights but found him lots funnier in stand-up compared to Peter Kaye. Although it wasn't as good as Phoenix Nights we enjoyed Dead Man Weds which Dave Spikey wrote and starred in alongside Jonny Vegas. Dead Man Weds got its inspiration from those strange newspaper headlines and its from that that this book came about.
On his most recent tour, Dave Spikey would check out the local paper for the headlines it was running - you can always tell a lot about an area from the stories it runs in the local rag.He has put the best ones in this book.
The structure is really good - he has the newspaper headline and article in one column and then another column for his comments/reactions to it. This means he spaces them out giving you time to react to a headline before reading the rest of the story.
Some headlines are brilliant and then some of his comments even better. Old favourites, like dobbers and dogs come up and there are lots of bits in it that made me laugh out loud.
It is now pride of place next to the toilet for continued revisiting and rereading.
Monday, 18 January 2010
The Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman
The Ruby in the Smoke by Phillip Pullman
Read: January 2010
I had wanted to read this book since I heard that there was a TV adaptation of it a few years ago. I really loved His Dark Materials trilogy by Phillip Pullman and knew that his other books had good reviews although they were more aimed at a younger audience.
The Ruby in the Smoke was aimed at a younger audience than His Dark Materials, and didn't have the different levels of meaning, but it was still a good, fast paced adventure story.
In a way it is a classic story of making friends, solving mysteries and battling evil, but the protagonist, Sally Lockhart is a plucky young girl which makes this a good book for girls to read. You don't often get a female protagonist who is more about friends and courage than boyfriends and looking good. Sally shows that it's not traditional skills that get her ahead in this world.
Although it has classic themes, the setting of the book around trade routes and opium dens is a good choice - giving the reader something new to try and puzzle over.
A great book for teenagers to read and fun for a quick adult read, but never the classic of HDM.
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