It's a good thing I keep an old-fashioned reading journal. I'm going to do a quick post of all that I've read since my last post. Don't worry, there's not actually been that much.
The Passion of New Eve by Angela Carter - **1/2
I liked it but it was incredibly weird. A little too weird, perhaps and very disturbing. It's not a book that everyone would enjoy.
The Return of the Soldier by Rebecca West **1/2
The writing style was a bit disjointed which rendered what was essentially a decent story a tad confusing. I have to say, though, that the plot line (a soldier forgetting his wife and only remembering his old lover) is very fan fiction. And bad fanfiction at that.
"What we desire is greatness such as this, which had given sleep to the beloved."
The Honorable Schoolboy by John Le Carre
I didn't finish this book. It took me a long time to read Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy and this was on the same wavelength. What I found most difficult, though, was getting the movie characterisation of Peter Guillam out of my head.
Perfume by Patrick Suskind **1/2
This book has a reputation of being shokcing and disgusting so I had quite high expectations of it, which, sadly, weren't met. It's a good book, don't get me wrong but I could help but feel disappointed with the lack of freakiness about it.
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins ***
In my ignorance, I thought this was a ghost story. Imagine my confusion and surprise when I found out that... it's not quite what I thought it was. I sitll enjoyed it, though, even though I did get muscly arms from holding it up for so long.
Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson ***1/2
I have to be honest, I don't even remember reading this book. I'm going by what it says in my old school jounral so I don't know if it actually deserves the three and a half stars it got - how good could it have been if I can't remember it? Anyway, according to my notes I enjoyed the interweaving of fairytale and standard narrative, and I wondered if it was at least in part semi-autobiographical?
The Deep Blue Sea by Terrence Rattigan ***
This play is really good. My notes say it is "another epic angst-fest about unrequited love". I remember this one, though, and it is really good. I went through phases with the main character - sometimes I pitied her, sometimes I empathised with her. And I liked the supporting cast.
"To love with one's eyes open sometimes makes life very difficult."
Good Morning, Midnight by Jean Rhys *
I didn't enjoy this book, which is surprising as it has all the elements that I love. But there was just something about the main character that grated on my nerves. I usually like stream of consciousness but this one was weird - it jumped between languages and showed her as a neurotic crazy person who I just could not sympathise with.
Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman ****
Third time I've read that book and I still love it. Crowley is excellent, Aziraphale is so genteel. I love all the footnotes and the tongue in cheek commentary on contemporary life. All of it, excellent.
"Many people, meeting Aziraphale for the first time, formed three impressions: that he was English, that he was intelligent, and that he was gayer than a tree full of monkeys on nitrous oxide."
As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner **1/2
A good book. I really enjoyed all the different voices but it was quite difficult to keep track of who was who.
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Currently reading A Room With a View by EM Forster
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