It's the second American book I've read lately after Cormac McCarthy and it always takes me a while to get used to- a bunch of references you don't get etc...but Proulx does have a hell of a turn of phrase. Would recommend it.
I haven't read that one but I did just start War and Peace having never read Tolstoy before and I find his prose, especially his characterizations to be remarkbly immersive. His way of distinguishing characters really makes you want to get involved in their lives and know what happens
Cheers. I know I'll enjoy it once I'm in, it's just choosing it ahead of other smaller reads.
Do you find you tend to stick with the same authors?
Not at all. Now I'm a couple of hundred pages in, I've adjusted to it and I'm enjoying it.
I was curious because I can't do that. I stick very much to the same authors. Maybe you have more patience than I do.
Mostly it's quite easy to adjust. My last 4 books have been by Stephen King, H.G. Wells, Pratchett and Gaiman and now Annie Proulx. The latter two being authors I'd never read before. I'd recommend trying to read something by somebody new to you every now and then. You could discover your new favourite author.
I can only take Verlaine's poetry in small doses. I've begun another cosy mystery that is underwhelming. I must admit once and for all that I'm running out of ideas.
Its a bit dense and hard to get through but I'd urge you to finish it. One of the best books I've ever read.
Yeah that was a weird one for me. I love magical realism and surrealism but Kafka on the Shore just opened a weird can of worms and didn't really address any of them. Enjoyable enough but nothing special.
Whats your favorite surreal novel (or several favorites if you can't decide) ?
Anything by (Franz) Kafa, Naked Lunch by William Burroughs (although I read that years ago - need to read it again some time soon), and a lot of Philip K Dick (sci-fi) is surrealist too - Ubik probably being my favourite.
If you're still on the prowl for surreal/abstract suggestions, I quite enjoyed these...
Excellent. I have these two lined up for my Sept. reads
I'll check out the bolds in 2020. Already have about 15 unreads now so can't get more yet hahah (plus reading War and Peace for a few sections in between other novels)If you're still on the prowl for surreal/abstract suggestions, I quite enjoyed these...
Caveat emptor: I take zero responsibility for you being disappointed or feeling that you've wasted your time, sorry!
- The Melancholy of Resistance (Krasznahorkai)
- People of Paper (Plascencia)
- Blow-Up / Other Stories (Cortázar)
- Valerie's Week of Wonders (Nezval)
- The Shadow of the Wind (Zafón)
- My Body and I novella (Crevel)
- The Old Woman novella (Kharms) @harms might know more about the most sincere translation, I read the Aizlewood version.
- 2666 (Bolano)
- Power of Silence (Castaneda)
How did you find that? I read The Angel's Game from the same series recently. It was interesting, claustrophobic and flowed pretty well until about three quarters in when he became Liam Neeson on a revenge mission, which got a bit silly.If you're still on the prowl for surreal/abstract suggestions, I quite enjoyed these...
Caveat emptor: I take zero responsibility for you being disappointed or feeling that you've wasted your time, sorry!
- The Melancholy of Resistance (Krasznahorkai)
- People of Paper (Plascencia)
- Blow-Up / Other Stories (Cortázar)
- Valerie's Week of Wonders (Nezval)
- The Shadow of the Wind (Zafón)
- My Body and I novella (Crevel)
- The Old Woman novella (Kharms) @harms might know more about the most sincere translation, I read the Aizlewood version.
- 2666 (Bolano)
- Power of Silence (Castaneda)
I'd say it's better and more grandiose...similarly vivid, enchanting prose — also based in Barcelona, but with a stronger framework supporting the story (one that didn't call for an absolute suspension of disbelief). The Angel's Game felt more intimate (Martín's interactions with Cristina were particularly captivating for some reason), and really had me hooked until the third act — where Martín's apparent schizophrenia and the Faustian business of “Lux Aterna” with Corelli were painfully brought to boiling point with a series of ambiguous and boring expositions!
Yeah I gave up on that about 50 pages in. Never been a big fan of Roth generally.
Even though I think Roth's a fantastic writer a lot of his books often end up feeling like a slog at certain points. Sort of writer who tends to make the same point again and again - the only thing that saves him is the fact he's usually making said point with excellent prose. But always feel like his books, even when very good, could use a more strenuous edit. Recently read The Plot Against America and while there are profound passages that are superb it's remarkable how little happens for stretches of it despite the overarching plot.
That's a brilliant summary, far more eloquent than I could ever muster. The disappointment of how it ultimately ended has put me of reading Shadow of the Wind a bit tbh.I'd say it's better and more grandiose...similarly vivid, enchanting prose — also based in Barcelona, but with a stronger framework supporting the story (one that didn't call for an absolute suspension of disbelief). The Angel's Game felt more intimate (Martín's interactions with Cristina were particularly captivating for some reason), and really had me hooked until the third act — where Martín's apparent schizophrenia and the Faustian business of “Lux Aterna” with Corelli were painfully brought to boiling point with a series of ambiguous and boring expositions!
Just finished Birdsong by Sebastian Faulks and did it while on a cycling holiday in France. Great book. Brought WW1 to life with a wonderful story too.