Archive for the ‘The Great Book Project’ Category

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28

The Great Book Project 15 of 20 – Austerlitz by W.G Sebald

Monday, February 28th, 2011

Oh my god. Where the hell do I start with this one? This book was almost the death of my project. I struggled with it so much. But a few days ago I had a chat with a couple of dudes in my work about how I was going to give up on the book – that I was about half way through it and in the depths of dispair. My workmates both gave me a bit of abuse and explained how guff it would be if I threw this book to the side and destroyed the integrity of what I was trying to do. So I just blitzed the final half of the book over the weekend there and today.

Austershitz

There were a few other issues at play here that have all added up to why it has taken me so long to get through it…

I was immediately demotivated my the fact that I couldn’t get this book anywhere in Kindle format. My Kindle has been a great companion to me the last six or so months, so I was gutted when I ended up having to buy this book on ebay for a couple of squid. If you looked at the title of this post you might be fooled into thinking that this is the top 4 book in the Times top 100 books from which I have based my project on, but no, I’ve been putting off leaving my Kindle to the side. Austerlitz is actually number 13. That’s 8 books I’ve read before I’ve had the guts to go back to paper.

Another reason was that I’ve been so busy with Lucid Studio and not had as much time to read as usual. You know what it’s like if you read a book little a bit at a time, sometimes days between reading session. Granted, I would have probably prioritised anything above sticking my nose in this, but I really have been dead busy. Working on my business stuff most nights.

Also, and this might be me getting a bit too personal, I haven’t been 100% the last month or two. Been a bit down so, in my experience, I need to be in the zone emotionally to enjoy relaxing to a book. If I’m feeling down I need to watch telly and veg. Stuff this concentrating palava.

MacBook Pro

Last reason for my book avoiding antics was that I finally got myself a nice shiny new MacBook Pro. You might remember it being on my bucket list. Yes. I finally did it. And as the minutes pass I can’t believe it has taken me so long. Been working on my latest stuff using it and it’s been amazing. I feel so much more productive. I donno what it is about the mac OS, but I just feel it encourages you (subliminally) to do things the right way.

So excuses out the way. What about this god-damn book?

I’m gonna keep this short because the quicker I forget about this the better. Austerlitz is a book written from the point of view of Sebald. It is written as if non-fiction (I’m not sure if it is), and details the life of an architectural historian, named Austerlitz, whom Sebald meets by chance one day in a train station. He portrays this man as an extraordinary human being. Insanely knowledgeable in so many ways. A man who never reached the heights his knowledge should have taken him.

Sadly I found absolutely nothing of interest within the pages. As much as I could recognise the colourful way that Sebald flaunts this geezers knowledge, I couldn’t get through two or three pages without dreaming about giving Angry Birds another shot. I’m not joking here. The WHOLE BOOK is one big paragraph. No chapters. Not one line break. That’s too much for a guy to deal with on the 240 bus at 7:50am.

It’s beyond my intellect to understand how this book made the top 20 of The Times Best books of the decade list.

I’m glad I listened and finished the book for the sake of face, but I’ll be gladly selling this on ebay tomorrow.

Rating: ★★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

I’m so near the end now. I’m going to read something outwith the project next. Back to my amazing Kindle. Then its onto Payback: Debt and the Shadow Side of Wealth by Margaret Atwood. See ya soon! (promise!)

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Posted in Life in General, The Great Book Project | No Comments »

23

The Great Book Project 14 of 20 – Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky

Sunday, January 23rd, 2011

Goodreads tells me that I started reading this book on the 19th of December. Which means I flicked through the first few pages when I got a chance over the Christmas period. I didn’t really get swept away by this book until the first week in January.

It’s hard to know where to start with the latest book in my project. This really is an extraordinary story both within the pages and outwith. Suite Française was written during the second world war but was not discovered until the mid 90′s when Irène Némirovsky‘s daughter decided to open the pages of a journal that she presumed was her mothers diary. Instead it turned out to be the manuscript of this book, unfinished, but with notes on where the epic tale was intended to head. Unfortunately Jewish born Irène Némirovsky was murdered by the Nazis in an Austerlitz gas chamber in 1942.

As a result the published Suite Française is the first two novella’s of an intended five. The first tells the tales of many interconnected French civilians as they attempt to flee the invading German Army. The second is set after the invasion and centres around the small town of Bussy where the German occupiers are living alongside the French. There are some overlapping characters in each novella but both could be read independently.

The first story is all about chaos. It reminded me of Lord of the Flies: How the breakdown of society can bring out the best and worse in people. Throughout the whole novella we never encounter a German soldier, there is never a moment you would associate with a traditional war story. What we get instead is various situations where people are in disastrous circumstances not as a result of guns or bombs, but of the breakdown of traditional values and the new rules of survival.

France during occupation

The second part is, in my opinion, far superior. Némirovsky gives us a very real look into what it would be like to live in a small town by an occupying force. Instead of these Nazis being the nasty, murderous types we get used to in war stories, we get a group of men who are charming, completely considerate and determined to win over the hearts of the town and its people.

Also, unlike the previous part of the book, we are not bogged down (at least I was in the first book) with countless characters. This part of the book is predominantly about a young woman, Lucile, and her relationship with a German Officer who is living in one of the rooms of her home. It was great to see how, as their relationship develops, Lucile uses this to her advantage to become one of the more able members of the town.

It is soul destroying to see the way Némirovsky painted the German Soldiers only to be killed at the hands of them in reality.

Another great book. It took me away from the madness of my bus journeys through the east end of Glasgow. Would have been great to see where the next three books would have went.

Rating: ★★★★★★★½☆☆

Next up it’s (rather ironically) Austerliz by W.G Sebald. I ended up having to buy this book on ebay as I’ve been unable to get it for my Kindle. I’ve had enough of war for the moment though so I’m going to read something outwith the project then start this one after.

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Posted in Books, Life in General, The Great Book Project | 3 Comments »

9

The Great Book Project 13 of 20 – The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

Sunday, January 9th, 2011

Hey folks. Happy new year and all that. Sorry for being away for so long (not that you bloody-well cared anyway). Been a bit hectic over the Christmas period so haven’t had the chance to update my progress on the project.

Had a brilliant Christmas. First as a married man, which was weird, but totally awesome. Got loads of pressies and had [voice of Commandant Lassard] many, many great nights out, including a wedding down in London town.

The Tipping Point

I actually finished this book in the first week of December just before my birthday. That’s how lazy I have been lately (much to the disdain of my business’s clients!). So excuse me if I’m kinda vague when talking about The Tipping Point.

Straight off the bat I can tell you that I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It’s a book of the authors theories surrounding what makes something go ‘viral’. From fashion trends to crime rates to Sesame Street, this book gives us loads of great wee anecdotes to support the rules and strategies. It’s the kind of book that you could have in the toilet and pick up any time. Each little section has enough on its own to keep you satisfied.

When I say Gladwell examines what makes something go viral, he actually investigates the people involved (some people he bloody-well meets in person). He analyses the personality of infectious people and what causes ideas to stick where other ones slide disappointingly down the wall.

Gladwell clearly knows what he is talking about and I found it hard to argue with any of the points he brings up.

It’s difficult not make the book sound like a bit of a drag, but I can assure you that the narrative jumps about enough to make the content very interesting and engaging.

Rating: ★★★★★★½☆☆☆

Something I’d like to point out that I’m discovering through the progress of this wee project; apart from ‘The Rapture‘ I can honestly say that I’ve enjoyed all the books on the list. But I’m noticing that the further I get into the list the less I am being gripped by the books. I don’t know if this is because the books on the list are becoming more refined as we get to the top. Remember, I don’t consider myself to be a literary guru, so I could very well be missing something. I’m also thinking that it’s because I’m learning my own taste now and would rather get through my own ever growing list of books I want to read. We’ll see how I feel as I get closer to the top.

I’ve already started number 14 on my list which is Suite Française by Irène Némirovsky. See ya soon!

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Posted in Books, Life in General, The Great Book Project | 3 Comments »

25

The Great Book Project 12 of 20 – Life of Pi by Yann Martel

Thursday, November 25th, 2010

Coming up to Christmas people! Excited about it this year. Not so much about the pressies, I’m looking forward to the nights out and family gatherings. It’s been a tough/awesome year so I’m determined to go out with a bang. Every weekend from now till the first week in January is currently booked out. There is my birthday, a wedding in London, works nights out, friends nights out, a good friend coming back from Australia and another totally awesome dude coming up from London. It’s going to be epic.

Life of I

Since my last post on this project I decided to read a couple of books not on the list. I read Hector & the Search for Happiness by François Lelord and I am Legend by Richard Matheson. Both great books, I am Legend steals it though. Why oh why did they change the story so much for the movie. FAIL.

So the other night there I finished Life of Pi by Yann Martell. I went into this book having absolutely no clue what it was about. You might find that hard to believe, but remember, I have a Kindle and there is no need to see the front or back cover if you don’t want to. After the first few chapters of the book I began to worry. I was BORED with it. “What in the Hell is going on here?” – I thought. If it hadn’t been for the book being part of my project I would have probably given up. Over and over we are given lessons on the behaviour of animal after animal. I was at the end of my tether, but was encouraged to keep going not only by the need to fulfil my project duties but was also encouraged by a workmate to stick with it.

I’m glad I did. This book was a total roller-coaster of enjoyment for me. So much so that I thought I would add one of those wee graphs that Total Film Magazine (or is it Empire? Can’t remember) do to show their enjoyment during the movie.

As you can see the book only gets better. One third into the book something finally happens of interest and from then on in it only gets better.

There are three books I would consider to have an truly amazing ending. The Hobbit, Walter Tevis’s Mockingbird and this book.

All in all this was a tough reminder to stick a book out because you never know what surprises you are in for.

I have to rate this on the book as a whole so I’ll go for a 7.

Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆

I’ve already started on my next book which is The Tipping Point by Malcolm Gladwell

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Posted in Books, Life in General, The Great Book Project | 3 Comments »

2

The Great Book Project 11 of 20 – A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

I feel exhausted. Not just because I’m just back from my first gym session in over a week, but just from life in general. Been super busy with my business, I’ve changed to a new team in my part time job at Capita and just the sheer volumes of bloody work involved in keeping a house (who knew?).

Most of the Lads at Gommit’s

I’ve had some fun times in-between though. Couple of weeks ago it was my good mate Grommit’s Wedding. Had a blast. Always great to get the whole bunch under one roof. Also, kudos to them for probably they best wedding meal I’ve ever had. Yum.

So A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius marked my heartbreaking return to paper books. The Kindle store did not stock this book so I had to put it aside and call on ebay to deliver me this chunky, beast of a novel.

(And if this wasn’t bad enough, I was checking my Kindle a few days after I started this latest book (I missed it so) and I noticed a defect on the Kindle screen. I shat it. Contacted Amazon support and they sent me out a brand new Kindle that was at my door within two days. I honestly can’t believe how good the customer service with Amazon was. I’ll be making sure that if I buy anything on-line in the future my first port-of-call will be Amazon. Big up y’all.)

An Unstaggering Moron

I had heard great things about this book. Personal recommendations. So I was looking forward to getting to this point on the list. I opened the book and was initially completely weirded out. The acknowledgements section lasted around 80 pages, and there was also an introductory section titled ‘Suggestions and Rules for Reading this Book’ which had, amongst them, the author outlining pages ‘you can skip if you want to’. Of-course, I suspect this is all intended to be quirky and cool, but I donno man. I was getting the feeling this was the author trying way too hard. But as I came to see was part of the books theme.

This memoir by Dave Eggers outlines his struggle after both his parents die within 15 weeks of each other and he is left to look after his little brother – Toph- on his lonesome. In the memoir he is trying to be the ‘cool’ father figure; He is trying to be the ‘cool’ author to us, the readers; and he is trying to make his way in a ‘cool’ career.

Reading the book you know that it’s all exaggeration and extravagance, his words are part of a plea for us, the readers, to find greatness in his life and works. Hence, the self indulgent title.

I thought it was great in places, especially the beginning, but if truth be told, the more this went on the more I was getting fed up with it. And I promise you it wasn’t because I’ve been desperate to get back to my Kindle.

Rating: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆

Next up it’s Life of Pi as I still can’t get Austerlitz or Payback at the Kindle Store :-(

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Posted in Books, The Great Book Project | 1 Comment »

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