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anusha_reads's reviews
418 reviews
The Silver Bone by Andrey Kurkov
mysterious
fast-paced
4.0
BOOK 11: THE SILVER BONE, ANDREY KURKOV, TR. BORIS DRALYUK, LONGLISTED FOR #INTERNATIONALBOOKER2024
The Silver Bone is a historical mystery, set in 1919 Kyiv, featuring power shifts, crimes, violence, and people living in fear. Samson, who loses an ear and his father early in the story, becomes a detective and tackles his first case involving the titular silver bone.
This is a rather unusual book on the long list.
In The Nose (Nikolai Gogol), the nose runs away. In contrast, Samson's severed ear possesses magical hearing abilities, allowing him to listen to sounds from afar and nearby.
It’s an easy read, and since it's a mystery, I won’t reveal much. I enjoyed it, and the translation was masterfully done.
Some Quotes from the book:
“WE ARE GIVEN EARS NOT SIMPLY TO HEAR BUT, ABOVE ALL, TO LISTEN.”
“THE ONLY WAY TO BE HEROIC, TO SAVE SOMEONE, IS TO ACT WITHOUT THINKING AHEAD. IF YOU’RE USED TO THINKING AND CAN’T HELP BUT THINK AHEAD, IT WON’T WORK.”
“ILLITERATE PEOPLE AREN’T NECESSARILY STUPID. ONE CAN LEARN TO READ AND WRITE, BUT INTELLIGENT THINKING IS ANOTHER MATTER.”
“IT’S A SHAME TO LEAD A SENSELESS EXISTENCE WHEN THE SENSE OF YOUR EXISTENCE CAN BRING SOME GOOD TO THE WORLD.”
The Silver Bone is a historical mystery, set in 1919 Kyiv, featuring power shifts, crimes, violence, and people living in fear. Samson, who loses an ear and his father early in the story, becomes a detective and tackles his first case involving the titular silver bone.
This is a rather unusual book on the long list.
In The Nose (Nikolai Gogol), the nose runs away. In contrast, Samson's severed ear possesses magical hearing abilities, allowing him to listen to sounds from afar and nearby.
It’s an easy read, and since it's a mystery, I won’t reveal much. I enjoyed it, and the translation was masterfully done.
Some Quotes from the book:
“WE ARE GIVEN EARS NOT SIMPLY TO HEAR BUT, ABOVE ALL, TO LISTEN.”
“THE ONLY WAY TO BE HEROIC, TO SAVE SOMEONE, IS TO ACT WITHOUT THINKING AHEAD. IF YOU’RE USED TO THINKING AND CAN’T HELP BUT THINK AHEAD, IT WON’T WORK.”
“ILLITERATE PEOPLE AREN’T NECESSARILY STUPID. ONE CAN LEARN TO READ AND WRITE, BUT INTELLIGENT THINKING IS ANOTHER MATTER.”
“IT’S A SHAME TO LEAD A SENSELESS EXISTENCE WHEN THE SENSE OF YOUR EXISTENCE CAN BRING SOME GOOD TO THE WORLD.”
Simpatía by Rodrigo Blanco Calderón
medium-paced
4.0
BOOK 10: SIMPATÍA BY RODRIGO BLANCO CALDERÓN, TRANSLATED BY NOEL HERNÁNDEZ GONZÁLEZ AND DANIEL HAHN, LONGLISTED FOR #INTERNATIONALBOOKER2024
I obtained this book after much searching. I finally got it on Kobo but found the app to be very stubborn. It only displays the chapter pages and not the total pages or the current page number. It wouldn’t highlight text easily. Anyway, I finished this novel. Yaay!
Like Ulysses (Odysseus), our protagonist, Ulises Kan, is also on a mission. Ulises’s wife leaves him, and his father-in-law dies, and he inherits a will that tasks him with transforming their Ayala estate into a nonprofit dog rescue home within a specified timeframe He takes up this challenge and faces more and more difficulties. Some help him and others make things worse. A fan of the movie Godfather, he is found quoting it here and there. There is a constant reference to the Collected works of Elizabeth von Arnim, which delves into dogs' lives, among other topics.
I found this novel rather confusing. It is set in a Venezuela plagued by poverty and corruption, and the stray dogs portray some aspect of it??
Did you know Tasseography is a fortune-telling method that interprets patterns in tea leaves, coffee grounds, and even wine sediments? A part of the book talks about coffee reading, lucky, not lucky, danger, etc.
Although there are no stray dogs in Amsterdam, a very interesting point was made regarding the availability of bikes as cheap commodities, which are frequently stolen and discarded into the river. I never understood the relevance of this comparison. Perhaps the author was trying to compare the two countries, Venezuela and the Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam. So, are people in Venezuela heartlessly dumping dogs as opposed to the cycles in Amsterdam?!
I loved the huge dog Iros, a Leonberger. Did you know that the breed Leonbergers could weigh sixty to eighty kilos?
The translation is impeccable, and i didn't feel like i was reading a translated literature.
"SOMETIMES ONE SIMPLY DECIDES THAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT SUFFERING FOR ANOTHER PERSON. JUST LIKE THAT. AND ONLY DEATH, WHETHER THEIR OWN OR THAT OF THE OTHER PERSON, CAN BREAK THAT BOND."
I’m unclear about many aspects of the book. The ending was ambiguous, leaving me with a sense of lack of closure, and maybe that was intentional?!
I obtained this book after much searching. I finally got it on Kobo but found the app to be very stubborn. It only displays the chapter pages and not the total pages or the current page number. It wouldn’t highlight text easily. Anyway, I finished this novel. Yaay!
Like Ulysses (Odysseus), our protagonist, Ulises Kan, is also on a mission. Ulises’s wife leaves him, and his father-in-law dies, and he inherits a will that tasks him with transforming their Ayala estate into a nonprofit dog rescue home within a specified timeframe He takes up this challenge and faces more and more difficulties. Some help him and others make things worse. A fan of the movie Godfather, he is found quoting it here and there. There is a constant reference to the Collected works of Elizabeth von Arnim, which delves into dogs' lives, among other topics.
I found this novel rather confusing. It is set in a Venezuela plagued by poverty and corruption, and the stray dogs portray some aspect of it??
Did you know Tasseography is a fortune-telling method that interprets patterns in tea leaves, coffee grounds, and even wine sediments? A part of the book talks about coffee reading, lucky, not lucky, danger, etc.
Although there are no stray dogs in Amsterdam, a very interesting point was made regarding the availability of bikes as cheap commodities, which are frequently stolen and discarded into the river. I never understood the relevance of this comparison. Perhaps the author was trying to compare the two countries, Venezuela and the Netherlands, particularly Amsterdam. So, are people in Venezuela heartlessly dumping dogs as opposed to the cycles in Amsterdam?!
I loved the huge dog Iros, a Leonberger. Did you know that the breed Leonbergers could weigh sixty to eighty kilos?
The translation is impeccable, and i didn't feel like i was reading a translated literature.
"SOMETIMES ONE SIMPLY DECIDES THAT LIFE IS ALL ABOUT SUFFERING FOR ANOTHER PERSON. JUST LIKE THAT. AND ONLY DEATH, WHETHER THEIR OWN OR THAT OF THE OTHER PERSON, CAN BREAK THAT BOND."
I’m unclear about many aspects of the book. The ending was ambiguous, leaving me with a sense of lack of closure, and maybe that was intentional?!
Lost on Me by Veronica Raimo
funny
reflective
fast-paced
BOOK 9. LOST ON ME BY VERONICA RAIMO, Tr. LEAH JANECZKO, LONGLISTED FOR #INTERNATIONALBOOKER2024
A bildungsroman, autofiction, with a dash of humour, narrated by the author in a nonlinear format. An overprotective, anxious mother and germophobic father, a brother, apparently with a very high IQ; overall an odd family with a strange makeshift house.
“THANKS TO OUR STRICT UPBRINGING, NEITHER MY BROTHER NOR I EVER LEARNED TO DO SUCH HAZARDOUS THINGS AS SWIMMING, RIDING A BIKE, SKATING, OR JUMPING ROPE (IN A FLASH WE MIGHT HAVE DROWNED, CRACKED OUR SKULLS, BROKEN A LEG, STRANGLED OURSELVES).”
Her eagerness to run away from home when she was fifteen, her failed attempts, her constipation, boredom, (inventing games), flashers, her friends, her boyfriends, her grandpa, parenting flaws (as in mistakes made by her parents bringing them up), her love for her grandpa, her problems as a woman, be it menstrual, or pregnancy.
“YOU KNOW WHAT’S THE WORST FOR A DICTIONARY?” “NO.” “NOT HAVING THE LAST WORD.”
She feels her mother's favourite is her brother. Probably, she suffered from low self-esteem as her mother favoured her brother more than her.
“MEMORY, FOR ME, IS LIKE THE GAME OF DICE I USED TO PLAY WHEN I WAS LITTLE. IT’S JUST A MATTER OF DECIDING WHETHER THE GAME IS POINTLESS OR RIGGED.”
One senses a disconnected undertone. Probably, the author wanted the reader to feel the same. Many of the incidents that she narrates, she is not very sure of.
QOTD: How many hours do you read in a day? Preferably when?
I appreciate the author's effort and the unique narrative style but couldn’t connect somewhere. The translation is perfect. It’s an easy, fast-paced read, which is the tale of the fictional life of the author. Her life is packed into a 200+ page novel!
“A STORY IS AN AMBIGUOUS CONCEPT”
The Details by Ia Genberg
fast-paced
4.0
#IBPCHALLENGE2024 BOOK 1: THE DETAILS, IA GENBERG, TR. KIRA JOSEFSSON, LONGLISTED FOR #INTERNATIONALBOOKER2024
It's a short book that reads like a memoir and is beautifully crafted but stands out from the previous Booker Prize nominations due to its uniqueness.
The story unfolds across four chapters, each focusing on a person who impacted the unnamed narrator's life. It mirrors the chapters in our own lives that conclude but remain eternally in our memories.
The narrator, laid down with malaria, feels compelled to read Paul Auster’s “The New York Trilogy,” a book inscribed by her ex-girlfriend Johanna.
The opening lines of the book, “AFTER A FEW DAYS OF THE VIRUS IN MY BODY I COME DOWN WITH A FEVER, WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY AN URGE TO RETURN TO A PARTICULAR NOVEL,” – set the tone for this exploration.
QOTD: DO YOU HAVE THE URGE TO RETURN TO A NOVEL YOU’VE READ EARLIER? WHICH ONE?
The narrative touches on relatable themes such as relationships, memories, love for reading, and mental health. The narrator comes across as a detached person, with the voice lacking warmth, intentional,maybe?
The protagonist is portrayed as both a writer and an avid reader, with friends who share her literary tastes. Their discussions about books, whether in agreement or disagreement, add a layer of enjoyment to the narrative.
“LITERATURE WAS OUR FAVOURITE GAME”
The story introduces characters like Nikki, the narrator's former roommate; Alejandro, her ex-lover who serves as a benchmark for future relationships; and Birgitte, her mother who struggles with mental illness after the narrator's birth.
I particularly enjoyed the parts that revolved around books, featuring authors such as Kundera, Oates, Bukowski, Lessing, Siri Hustvedt, and various Swedish authors like Birgitta Trotzig and Selma Lagerlof and more.
The translation of the book is seamless, capturing the essence as if it were originally written in English. A translator's note at the end reveals that it is Ia Genberg's fourth novel, written after a career shift from journalism to nursing, preserving her writing for fiction.
I was intrigued by the cover adorned with four torn photographs, which might be the four chapters.
She begins the book with a fever. What does the fever represent? A yearning for books? Missing her ex? Or just a deluge of memories?
“AS FAR AS THE DEAD ARE CONCERNED, CHRONOLOGY HAS NO IMPORT AND ALL THAT MATTERS ARE THE DETAIL,THE DEGREE OF DENSITY, THIS HOW AND WHAT AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH WHO.”
It is a very unusual book that evokes an incomplete feeling, which is probably intentional, as it lacks closure.
It's a short book that reads like a memoir and is beautifully crafted but stands out from the previous Booker Prize nominations due to its uniqueness.
The story unfolds across four chapters, each focusing on a person who impacted the unnamed narrator's life. It mirrors the chapters in our own lives that conclude but remain eternally in our memories.
The narrator, laid down with malaria, feels compelled to read Paul Auster’s “The New York Trilogy,” a book inscribed by her ex-girlfriend Johanna.
The opening lines of the book, “AFTER A FEW DAYS OF THE VIRUS IN MY BODY I COME DOWN WITH A FEVER, WHICH IS FOLLOWED BY AN URGE TO RETURN TO A PARTICULAR NOVEL,” – set the tone for this exploration.
QOTD: DO YOU HAVE THE URGE TO RETURN TO A NOVEL YOU’VE READ EARLIER? WHICH ONE?
The narrative touches on relatable themes such as relationships, memories, love for reading, and mental health. The narrator comes across as a detached person, with the voice lacking warmth, intentional,maybe?
The protagonist is portrayed as both a writer and an avid reader, with friends who share her literary tastes. Their discussions about books, whether in agreement or disagreement, add a layer of enjoyment to the narrative.
“LITERATURE WAS OUR FAVOURITE GAME”
The story introduces characters like Nikki, the narrator's former roommate; Alejandro, her ex-lover who serves as a benchmark for future relationships; and Birgitte, her mother who struggles with mental illness after the narrator's birth.
I particularly enjoyed the parts that revolved around books, featuring authors such as Kundera, Oates, Bukowski, Lessing, Siri Hustvedt, and various Swedish authors like Birgitta Trotzig and Selma Lagerlof and more.
The translation of the book is seamless, capturing the essence as if it were originally written in English. A translator's note at the end reveals that it is Ia Genberg's fourth novel, written after a career shift from journalism to nursing, preserving her writing for fiction.
I was intrigued by the cover adorned with four torn photographs, which might be the four chapters.
She begins the book with a fever. What does the fever represent? A yearning for books? Missing her ex? Or just a deluge of memories?
“AS FAR AS THE DEAD ARE CONCERNED, CHRONOLOGY HAS NO IMPORT AND ALL THAT MATTERS ARE THE DETAIL,THE DEGREE OF DENSITY, THIS HOW AND WHAT AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH WHO.”
It is a very unusual book that evokes an incomplete feeling, which is probably intentional, as it lacks closure.
Pavilion of Women by Pearl S. Buck
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
5.0
PAVILION OF WOMEN, PEARL S. BUCK, published in 1946.
PEARL S. BUCK won the PULITZER PRIZE for The Good Earth in 1932. She won the NOBEL PRIZE FOR LITERATURE in 1938.
This is my second book by this author, my first one being GOOD EARTH, which I thoroughly enjoyed. A stark difference between the two is that Good Earth is about a man, and the Pavilion of Women is about a lady and the ladies around her, all in close quarters. Like The Awakening by Kate Chopin, this also deals with a woman stuck in a suffocating matrimony.
The book begins with Madam Wu’s fortieth birthday celebrations and her sudden announcement that from then on, her husband needs a concubine. By doing so, she feels she could retire and give her husband the pleasure of a woman much younger than herself, who could also produce children for him. This does come as a shock, and I felt terrible, thinking why one woman in her senses could think of arriving at such a decision. One must bear in mind that the story is set in China before the world war, and the women then had to follow strict family traditions and rules.
Madam Wu goes through an ethical dilemma, debating, arguing, and justifying everything she does in her thoughts. I loved the character Madam Wu, for she is the epitome of resilience, beauty, and courage, a lady who runs the rich household without getting flustered.
Women of that era, be they from any community or country, had to bottle up their wishes and desires and had to give in to the male-dominated, male-centric society. I have heard tales about talented women who had to forego their aptitudes to rear children and merely take on the home front. A lot has changed and not much has changed too in the so-called modern society where things are brushed under the carpet, calling it customary or ‘things which have been going on for generations’ in one family. It is subtle, but it is still there!
Does a woman have the right to get bored with her life? Can it happen that the mundane life makes her want to run away or do something that takes her mind off the routine? How does society help women when they are burned out? Have you heard of a torturous custom called Foot-binding, where girls’ feet are bound to change shape and size?
Arranged marriages still prevail in India, but can people who have married out of love get bored of each other? What do they do?
“SHE WANTED TO SIT, ALIVE, ALERT, ALONE, SEARCHING OUT THE WHOLE OF HER NEW KNOWLEDGE”
Clarity comes amidst confusion. True to the saying that one learns, unlearns, and relearns to live a good life, Madam Wu gets enlightened, leads a renewed life, and helps other ladies with great care and calm.
I want everybody to read this beautiful piece of feminist work. The novel is written in simple language but is profound. It's not a novel as famous as Good Earth, but it is a must-read!
"AS LIFE HAS PROVED," HE SAID, "IT IS TRUE THAT A WOMAN'S BODY IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN HER MIND. SHE ALONE CAN CREATE NEW HUMAN CREATURES. WERE IT NOT FOR HER, THE RACE OF MAN WOULD CEASE TO EXIST. INTO HER BODY, AS INTO A CHALICE, HEAVEN HAS PUT THIS GIFT. HER BODY THEREFORE IS INEXPRESSIBLY PRECIOUS TO MAN. HE IS NOT FULFILLED IF SHE DOES NOT CREATE. HIS IS THE SEED, BUT SHE ALONE CAN BRING IT TO FLOWER AND FRUIT IN ANOTHER BEING LIKE HIMSELF"
"I WOULD EVEN SAY, MY DAUGHTER, THAT HAD YOUR BRAINS HAVE BEEN INSIDE THE SKULL OF A MAN, YOU COULD HAVE SAT FOR THE IMPERIAL EXAMINATIONS AND PASSED THEM WITH HONOR AND BECOME THEREBY AN OFFICIAL IN THE LAND. BUT YOUR BRAIN IS NOT IN A MAN'S SKULL. IT IS IN A WOMAN'S SKULL. A WOMAN'S BLOOD INFUSES IT, A WOMAN'S HEART BEATS THROUGH IT, AND IT IS CIRCUMSCRIBED BY WHAT MUST BE A WOMAN'S LIFE. IN A WOMAN, IT IS NOT WELL FOR THE BRAIN TO GROW BEYOND THE BODY."
Mater 2-10 by Hwang Sok-yong
funny
informative
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.0
BOOK 8 (from the longlist), (and the 6th from the shortlist): MATER 2-10 BY HWANG SOK-YONG, TRANSLATED BY SORA KIM-RUSSELL AND JOSEPHINE BAE YOUNGJAE, SHORTLISTED FOR #INTERNATIONALBOOKER2024
If James Watt hadn’t invented the steam engine, then would humanity have been spared of all difficulties associated with industrialization?
A laid-off factory worker, Yi Jino, stages a sit-in. He sits next to a chimney, atop a factory. His protest goes on for more than a year. He narrates the story of his family, many of whom are railway workers.
I came across this German word WELTSCHMERZ, which means mental depression or apathy caused by a comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state. That got me thinking, and I found that Hwang Sok Yong has depicted WELTSCHMERZ beautifully across many generations.
It is a historical saga that explores chaos theory and how changes impacted the trajectory of Korean history, which is a major part of the book. The book is about conflicts, movements, displacement due to the laying of railroads, the impact of development; injustice, exploitation, and cultural impact due to imperialistic Japanese rule, Parts of it read like a political thriller with police chases and conspiracies. The book incorporates subtle elements of humour, adding a touch of lightness amidst its serious themes.
The book portrays the fights staged by various generations, showcasing the perennial problems faced by people regardless of their era. To obtain what's rightfully yours, one must fight and fight they did! Whether it was the pro-democratic movement or a sit-in against unjust factory management, the angst, struggles, and fights are depicted beautifully throughout the book.
QOTD According to you, what features in a book make it interesting?
The working of a coal-driven train is explained at length. My father used to really admire these beautiful chugging engines, and I’m sure he would have enjoyed reading about it too if he were alive.
“BAEKMAN TOLD HIS GRANDSON JISAN TIME AND AGAIN, ‘THE RAILROAD WAS BUILT FROM THE BLOOD AND TEARS OF THE PEOPLE OF JOSEON.’”
I enjoyed reading about Juan-daek, wife of Baekman, great grandfather of Yi Jino. Her strength, her determination reminded me of characters and some parts of the book Whale (Cheon Myeong-Kwan)
What I loved the most were the apparitions, which would pop up now and then, helping or guiding them when they were in dire straits; adding a touch of magic to the story.
“THERE’S ONE THING I’VE OFTEN FOUND KIND OF STRANGE. DOESN’T IT SEEM LIKE LIFE IS ALWAYS FALLING SHORT OR TURNING INTO SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT WE HOPE FOR? AND IT’S USUALLY ONLY AFTER A VERY LONG TIME HAS PASSED THAT ANYTHING CHANGES. COMPARED TO THE PASSAGE OF TIME, WE’RE NO MORE THAN SPECKS OF DUST.”
The translation was seamless, feeling as if it were originally written in English. Though it was a 500+ page book, it was overall a great read.
If James Watt hadn’t invented the steam engine, then would humanity have been spared of all difficulties associated with industrialization?
A laid-off factory worker, Yi Jino, stages a sit-in. He sits next to a chimney, atop a factory. His protest goes on for more than a year. He narrates the story of his family, many of whom are railway workers.
I came across this German word WELTSCHMERZ, which means mental depression or apathy caused by a comparison of the actual state of the world with an ideal state. That got me thinking, and I found that Hwang Sok Yong has depicted WELTSCHMERZ beautifully across many generations.
It is a historical saga that explores chaos theory and how changes impacted the trajectory of Korean history, which is a major part of the book. The book is about conflicts, movements, displacement due to the laying of railroads, the impact of development; injustice, exploitation, and cultural impact due to imperialistic Japanese rule, Parts of it read like a political thriller with police chases and conspiracies. The book incorporates subtle elements of humour, adding a touch of lightness amidst its serious themes.
The book portrays the fights staged by various generations, showcasing the perennial problems faced by people regardless of their era. To obtain what's rightfully yours, one must fight and fight they did! Whether it was the pro-democratic movement or a sit-in against unjust factory management, the angst, struggles, and fights are depicted beautifully throughout the book.
QOTD According to you, what features in a book make it interesting?
The working of a coal-driven train is explained at length. My father used to really admire these beautiful chugging engines, and I’m sure he would have enjoyed reading about it too if he were alive.
“BAEKMAN TOLD HIS GRANDSON JISAN TIME AND AGAIN, ‘THE RAILROAD WAS BUILT FROM THE BLOOD AND TEARS OF THE PEOPLE OF JOSEON.’”
I enjoyed reading about Juan-daek, wife of Baekman, great grandfather of Yi Jino. Her strength, her determination reminded me of characters and some parts of the book Whale (Cheon Myeong-Kwan)
What I loved the most were the apparitions, which would pop up now and then, helping or guiding them when they were in dire straits; adding a touch of magic to the story.
“THERE’S ONE THING I’VE OFTEN FOUND KIND OF STRANGE. DOESN’T IT SEEM LIKE LIFE IS ALWAYS FALLING SHORT OR TURNING INTO SOMETHING OTHER THAN WHAT WE HOPE FOR? AND IT’S USUALLY ONLY AFTER A VERY LONG TIME HAS PASSED THAT ANYTHING CHANGES. COMPARED TO THE PASSAGE OF TIME, WE’RE NO MORE THAN SPECKS OF DUST.”
The translation was seamless, feeling as if it were originally written in English. Though it was a 500+ page book, it was overall a great read.
What I'd Rather Not Think About by Jente Posthuma
dark
sad
medium-paced
5.0
BOOK 7: WHAT I’D RATHER NOT THINK ABOUT, JENTE POSTHUMA, Tr. SARAH TIMMER HARVEY, SHORTLISTED FOR #INTERNATIONALBOOKER2024
In this narrative, we encounter fraternal twins, a brother, and a sister, with the sister serving as the narrator. The story unfolds through vignettes from their past and their present, not constrained by chronological order, each reflecting the sister's introspection on her bond with her brother and her quest to understand the 'why' behind his passing.
The narrative delves into the profound challenges of mental health that the brother faced, as recounted from the sister's perspective. The author skilfully portrays his inner struggles and the impact on those around him. It's a poignant exploration that does not shy away from the complexities of mental well-being, particularly regarding the sensitive subject of ‘ending one’s life’ and its aftermath on loved ones.
“BY MY TWENTY-SEVENTH BIRTHDAY, I OWNED 142 SWEATERS, AND IT WAS HIGH TIME I SAW A THERAPIST.”
The sister has an affinity for sweaters, which leads her to impulsively purchase them, often gifting them to her twin; emphasizing their close bond.
The book stresses the beautiful connection between the twins, highlighting the heightened sense of empathy, protective attitude, and understanding for each other.
“A RECOLLECTION IS OFTEN BLEAKER THAN THE EVENT ITSELF.”
Why are some memories called fond memories while others are easily forgotten?
How do people deal with recurrent memories?
As they mature, their paths diverge, and the narrator tries hard to maintain the closeness. To her, what seemed like a lifelong bond abruptly ended when her brother took his own life, evoking a profound sense of sadness. Witnessing the brother’s mental health challenges, suffering, and eventual termination of his life was heart-wrenching. It was equally difficult for her as she grappled with the aftermath.
“I THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THE LOVE WE HAVE INSIDE US AND HOW ONLY A SHRED OF THAT REACHES THE PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT.”
QOTD: WHAT GENRES DO YOU READ THE MOST?
EVERYTHING HAD TO GO, THE WORLD WAS BUCKLING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF OUR POSSESSIONS. THE FACT THAT REUSING THINGS WAS FAR BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THAN DESTROYING THEM DIDN'T SEEM TO GET THROUGH TO HIM."
The author's references to historical events and literary figures like Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, and a few others, who all took their own lives, add depth without overshadowing the core theme.
The translation preserves the narrative's emotional depth.
Despite its brevity, it's a weighty read, tackling difficult subjects with grace and empathy.
In this narrative, we encounter fraternal twins, a brother, and a sister, with the sister serving as the narrator. The story unfolds through vignettes from their past and their present, not constrained by chronological order, each reflecting the sister's introspection on her bond with her brother and her quest to understand the 'why' behind his passing.
The narrative delves into the profound challenges of mental health that the brother faced, as recounted from the sister's perspective. The author skilfully portrays his inner struggles and the impact on those around him. It's a poignant exploration that does not shy away from the complexities of mental well-being, particularly regarding the sensitive subject of ‘ending one’s life’ and its aftermath on loved ones.
“BY MY TWENTY-SEVENTH BIRTHDAY, I OWNED 142 SWEATERS, AND IT WAS HIGH TIME I SAW A THERAPIST.”
The sister has an affinity for sweaters, which leads her to impulsively purchase them, often gifting them to her twin; emphasizing their close bond.
The book stresses the beautiful connection between the twins, highlighting the heightened sense of empathy, protective attitude, and understanding for each other.
“A RECOLLECTION IS OFTEN BLEAKER THAN THE EVENT ITSELF.”
Why are some memories called fond memories while others are easily forgotten?
How do people deal with recurrent memories?
As they mature, their paths diverge, and the narrator tries hard to maintain the closeness. To her, what seemed like a lifelong bond abruptly ended when her brother took his own life, evoking a profound sense of sadness. Witnessing the brother’s mental health challenges, suffering, and eventual termination of his life was heart-wrenching. It was equally difficult for her as she grappled with the aftermath.
“I THOUGHT ABOUT ALL THE LOVE WE HAVE INSIDE US AND HOW ONLY A SHRED OF THAT REACHES THE PEOPLE WE CARE ABOUT.”
QOTD: WHAT GENRES DO YOU READ THE MOST?
EVERYTHING HAD TO GO, THE WORLD WAS BUCKLING UNDER THE WEIGHT OF OUR POSSESSIONS. THE FACT THAT REUSING THINGS WAS FAR BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT THAN DESTROYING THEM DIDN'T SEEM TO GET THROUGH TO HIM."
The author's references to historical events and literary figures like Sylvia Plath, Virginia Woolf, and a few others, who all took their own lives, add depth without overshadowing the core theme.
The translation preserves the narrative's emotional depth.
Despite its brevity, it's a weighty read, tackling difficult subjects with grace and empathy.
The House on Via Gemito by Domenico Starnone
sad
medium-paced
4.0
BOOK 6. THE HOUSE ON VIA GEMITO, DOMENICO STARNONE Tr. OONAGH STRANSKY, LONGLISTED FOR #INTERNATIONALBOOKER2024
The book opens with the impactful line, “WHEN MY FATHER TOLD ME HE HIT MY MOTHER ONLY ONCE IN TWENTY-THREE YEARS OF MARRIAGE, I DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER REPLYING.”
Set in post-war Naples, the story is narrated by Mimi, the eldest son of Federi, a railway station ticket vendor with an artist's soul. Mimi harbours shame and fear towards his father due to his explosive temper.
“HE SUFFERED AND HE MADE US SUFFER. WHY HE MISTREATED US MERELY BECAUSE HE WAS MISTREATED STILL CONFUSES ME, AND I WISH I UNDERSTOOD IT BETTER.”
Mimi witnesses his father’s abusive behaviour towards his mother and his disrespect and disregard for his close relatives. Though he narrates various incidents from his father’s life, he is not sure of the truth behind it as he talks about how his father keeps narrating different versions of the same incident, fabricating stories, to justify the physical abuse or boasting about his accomplishments.
Federi feels frustrated by the lack of recognition and for not being able to give enough time for art. Federi took to painting from a very young age and felt that he would become a famous artist.
“IT REALLY IS TRUE—MY FATHER, WHO WAS ALSO HAPPY, SAID—WOMEN ARE BROODMARES. IT’S PART OF THEIR NATURE. THEY’RE ONLY HAPPY WHEN THEY’RE FOALING.”
Rusine, Mimi’s, beautiful, popular, creative, and dreamy mother, sacrifices her dreams for Federi’s ever-controlling, abusive, possessive nature. Mimi observes everything as a child but never does anything. Federi blames her for anything and everything.
“I WAS ALWAYS SULKY. I LAUGHED AND SMILED BUT, ON THE INSIDE, I NURTURED ONLY UNKIND SENTIMENTS. ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT: WHAT AN ANNOYING ALLUSION. IT SEEMED EVEN WORSE THAN THE BEATINGS HE GAVE RUSINÈ.”
The book poignantly depicts the impact of parental conflicts on children like Mimi.
One impactful scene from part two of the book involves Mimi posing uncomfortably for his father’s painting, symbolizing the fear and eagerness to please his ill-tempered father. The painting is the infamous painting called The Drinkers, which is also the cover of the book. It is the author’s father’s painting.
The story behind the possession of the titular house was also very interesting.
The narrative weaves flashbacks from Federi's life without a strict chronological order.
Many believe that Domenico Starnone is the writer behind the pseudonym Elena Ferrante. (source: Wikipedia)
The book is divided into three parts and, while lengthy, could benefit from fewer repetitions and verbal outpourings from Federi.
Despite its length, the storyline is beautifully written, with a spectacular translation that sparks curiosity about the original Italian phrases.
The book opens with the impactful line, “WHEN MY FATHER TOLD ME HE HIT MY MOTHER ONLY ONCE IN TWENTY-THREE YEARS OF MARRIAGE, I DIDN’T EVEN BOTHER REPLYING.”
Set in post-war Naples, the story is narrated by Mimi, the eldest son of Federi, a railway station ticket vendor with an artist's soul. Mimi harbours shame and fear towards his father due to his explosive temper.
“HE SUFFERED AND HE MADE US SUFFER. WHY HE MISTREATED US MERELY BECAUSE HE WAS MISTREATED STILL CONFUSES ME, AND I WISH I UNDERSTOOD IT BETTER.”
Mimi witnesses his father’s abusive behaviour towards his mother and his disrespect and disregard for his close relatives. Though he narrates various incidents from his father’s life, he is not sure of the truth behind it as he talks about how his father keeps narrating different versions of the same incident, fabricating stories, to justify the physical abuse or boasting about his accomplishments.
Federi feels frustrated by the lack of recognition and for not being able to give enough time for art. Federi took to painting from a very young age and felt that he would become a famous artist.
“IT REALLY IS TRUE—MY FATHER, WHO WAS ALSO HAPPY, SAID—WOMEN ARE BROODMARES. IT’S PART OF THEIR NATURE. THEY’RE ONLY HAPPY WHEN THEY’RE FOALING.”
Rusine, Mimi’s, beautiful, popular, creative, and dreamy mother, sacrifices her dreams for Federi’s ever-controlling, abusive, possessive nature. Mimi observes everything as a child but never does anything. Federi blames her for anything and everything.
“I WAS ALWAYS SULKY. I LAUGHED AND SMILED BUT, ON THE INSIDE, I NURTURED ONLY UNKIND SENTIMENTS. ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT: WHAT AN ANNOYING ALLUSION. IT SEEMED EVEN WORSE THAN THE BEATINGS HE GAVE RUSINÈ.”
The book poignantly depicts the impact of parental conflicts on children like Mimi.
One impactful scene from part two of the book involves Mimi posing uncomfortably for his father’s painting, symbolizing the fear and eagerness to please his ill-tempered father. The painting is the infamous painting called The Drinkers, which is also the cover of the book. It is the author’s father’s painting.
The story behind the possession of the titular house was also very interesting.
The narrative weaves flashbacks from Federi's life without a strict chronological order.
Many believe that Domenico Starnone is the writer behind the pseudonym Elena Ferrante. (source: Wikipedia)
The book is divided into three parts and, while lengthy, could benefit from fewer repetitions and verbal outpourings from Federi.
Despite its length, the storyline is beautifully written, with a spectacular translation that sparks curiosity about the original Italian phrases.
Kairos by Jenny Erpenbeck
slow-paced
4.0
BOOK 5: KAIROS, JENNY ERPENBECK, TR. MICHAEL HOFMANN, LONGLISTED FOR #INTERNATIONALBOOKER2024
QOTD: HAVE YOU READ BOOKS BASED ON INFIDELITY/ EXTRA MARITAL AFFAIRS?
AOTD: I have read Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier), Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy), Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert), and The Unbearable Lightness of Being (Milan Kundera).
This book also deals with infidelity. The story delves into a complex labyrinth of love, morality, and deceit. This labyrinth unfolds against the backdrop of the collapse of the GDR.
Hans is a fifty-something married writer who falls in love with nineteen-year-old Katharina. Hans has a son who is fourteen years old. Hans was brought up in the fascist times before GDR was formed. She was born 34 years later.
"...THE BUS MOVED OFF, AND SHE FELT FOR A HANDHOLD. AND THAT’S WHEN SHE SAW HIM. AND HE SAW HER."
They see each other on a bus. The two feel connected. Was this the moment of Kairos? In ancient Greek, Kairos meant the right or the critical moment. Kairos is also the God of Fortunate moments. They fall in love and share a common taste for music, discussing Greek gods and goddesses. They both like going to the movies.
Hans is very possessive of Katharina. He has had many other affairs earlier. He expects Katharina to be faithful to him, though he commits adultery. He expects utmost loyalty from her even though he cheats on his wife many times.
From the beginning till the end, I wanted Katharina to be free from the relationship she had with Hans.
"STRANGE, SHE THINKS, THAT TIME, WHICH IS INVISIBLE, BECOMES INDIRECTLY VISIBLE IN TERMS OF UNHAPPINESS. AS THOUGH UNHAPPINESS WERE THE COSTUME OF TIME."
The story unfolds against the backdrop of Germany's significant changes, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, widespread chaos, unrest, and social upheaval.
What about the sanctity of marriage in the context of this extramarital affair? What about morals? Why couldn't Katharina think straight at the first instance?
"HE TAKES HER COAT DOWN FROM THE HOOK, HOLDS IT OPEN FOR HER, SHE SLIPS IN FRONTWISE, AS BEFORE, AS ALWAYS, QUICKLY HUGS HIM, THEN SLIPS OUT AGAIN AND PUTS IT ON RIGHT WAY AROUND." These lines, repeated throughout the book, symbolize her deep affection for him.
I found the book a tough read as it is rather fragmented, and I am not very fond of this topic. I enjoyed reading all the rhetorical questions sprinkled all over the novel. The translation maintains an elegant style, narrated in the third person. The writing is brilliant, and it’s a remarkable novel.
"THE DEAD HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD, BUT HOW MUCH TIME HAVE THE LIVING GOT TO DEAL WITH TRUTH WITHOUT BEING CONSUMED BY IT?"
QOTD: HAVE YOU READ BOOKS BASED ON INFIDELITY/ EXTRA MARITAL AFFAIRS?
AOTD: I have read Rebecca (Daphne du Maurier), Anna Karenina (Leo Tolstoy), Madame Bovary (Gustave Flaubert), and The Unbearable Lightness of Being (Milan Kundera).
This book also deals with infidelity. The story delves into a complex labyrinth of love, morality, and deceit. This labyrinth unfolds against the backdrop of the collapse of the GDR.
Hans is a fifty-something married writer who falls in love with nineteen-year-old Katharina. Hans has a son who is fourteen years old. Hans was brought up in the fascist times before GDR was formed. She was born 34 years later.
"...THE BUS MOVED OFF, AND SHE FELT FOR A HANDHOLD. AND THAT’S WHEN SHE SAW HIM. AND HE SAW HER."
They see each other on a bus. The two feel connected. Was this the moment of Kairos? In ancient Greek, Kairos meant the right or the critical moment. Kairos is also the God of Fortunate moments. They fall in love and share a common taste for music, discussing Greek gods and goddesses. They both like going to the movies.
Hans is very possessive of Katharina. He has had many other affairs earlier. He expects Katharina to be faithful to him, though he commits adultery. He expects utmost loyalty from her even though he cheats on his wife many times.
From the beginning till the end, I wanted Katharina to be free from the relationship she had with Hans.
"STRANGE, SHE THINKS, THAT TIME, WHICH IS INVISIBLE, BECOMES INDIRECTLY VISIBLE IN TERMS OF UNHAPPINESS. AS THOUGH UNHAPPINESS WERE THE COSTUME OF TIME."
The story unfolds against the backdrop of Germany's significant changes, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, widespread chaos, unrest, and social upheaval.
What about the sanctity of marriage in the context of this extramarital affair? What about morals? Why couldn't Katharina think straight at the first instance?
"HE TAKES HER COAT DOWN FROM THE HOOK, HOLDS IT OPEN FOR HER, SHE SLIPS IN FRONTWISE, AS BEFORE, AS ALWAYS, QUICKLY HUGS HIM, THEN SLIPS OUT AGAIN AND PUTS IT ON RIGHT WAY AROUND." These lines, repeated throughout the book, symbolize her deep affection for him.
I found the book a tough read as it is rather fragmented, and I am not very fond of this topic. I enjoyed reading all the rhetorical questions sprinkled all over the novel. The translation maintains an elegant style, narrated in the third person. The writing is brilliant, and it’s a remarkable novel.
"THE DEAD HAVE ALL THE TIME IN THE WORLD, BUT HOW MUCH TIME HAVE THE LIVING GOT TO DEAL WITH TRUTH WITHOUT BEING CONSUMED BY IT?"
Crooked Plow by Itamar Vieira Junior
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
5.0
BOOK 4: CROOKED PLOW, ITAMAR VIEIRA JUNIOR, TR. JOHNNY LORENZ, LONGLISTED FOR #INTERNATIONALBOOKER2024
This is the most beautiful book I have read this year! I really hope this book wins!
The story is about two sisters, subsistence farmers, and their families that live near a river in a place called Agua Negra. The area is tormented by either droughts or floods. The people here are mostly uneducated. It is a society where people help each other, but all the farmers are slaves and don't own the land!
"THE ROADS AROUND THE PLANTATION AND EVEN THE FLOORS OF OUR HOUSES WERE JUST FLATTENED EARTH. MADE OF MUD, NOTHING ELSE, THE SAME MUD WE’D USE TO MAKE PIES FOR OUR CORN COB DOLLS, THE SAME MUD FROM WHICH THE PLANTS WOULD GROW, THE PLANTS THAT FED US. THE SAME MUD IN WHICH WE’D BURY THE PLACENTA AND UMBILICAL CORD OF EACH NEWBORN CHILD. THE SAME MUD IN WHICH WE’D BURY THE MORTAL REMAINS OF OUR DEAD. THE SAME MUD INTO WHICH WE’D ALL DESCEND ONE DAY. NO ONE ESCAPES."
Bibiana and Belonisia, when they are seven and six respectively, out of curiosity, fish out a knife from their grandma's bag. The knife cuts them but severs Belonisia’s tongue, rendering her speechless.
"MY VOICE WAS A CROOKED PLOW, DEFORMED, PENETRATING THE SOIL ONLY TO LEAVE IT INFERTILE, RAVAGED, DESTROYED."
Their father, Zeca Chapeu Grande, is also a Jare healer and is revered by the people living in that region. People come to him to get cured of many ailments. The father dons a garb, and he becomes Saint Barbara and performs frantic dances, similar to Velichappadu, in Kerala, India. Velichappadu performs a dance called Thullal, accompanied by drums called ‘Chenda.’ The belief about not building during a full moon is there in Indian Vaastu Shastra too, which can be seen in the book.
The story primarily focuses on families, their lifestyle, and their hardships. The draught and the flood punish them with hunger and ruined harvest. They still work hard trying to make ends meet. People face food scarcity, forcing them to eat anything available like starved dead animals, lizards, or some cacti.
The story about Grandma Donana, her missing daughter, and Zeca was very touching and propelled me to read more to learn more about their lives.
It’s a bildungsroman, magical realism, and a romance novel. The book is divided into three parts; the first part is narrated by Bibiana, the second by Belonisia, and the third is by the Encantada, an ancient spirit that possessed various humans. I loved the third part the most.
"EVERY WOMAN FEELS THE STRENGTH OF NATURE HER BODY HOUSES IN THE VITAL TORRENT OF HER LIFE."
Abusive men, yelling drunkards who ill treat their partners or even fail to acknowledge their efforts. The author beautifully portrays what living with the men does to the lives of these women, but they rise and bounce back, determined to bring about a change.
A flawless translation of a moving, powerful story that resembles the works of Pearl S Buck, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, or Steinbeck.
The author himself conducted doctoral research on Quilombos, the Afro-Brazilian communities organised by escaped slaves and their descendants.
This is a book that I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone!
This is the most beautiful book I have read this year! I really hope this book wins!
The story is about two sisters, subsistence farmers, and their families that live near a river in a place called Agua Negra. The area is tormented by either droughts or floods. The people here are mostly uneducated. It is a society where people help each other, but all the farmers are slaves and don't own the land!
"THE ROADS AROUND THE PLANTATION AND EVEN THE FLOORS OF OUR HOUSES WERE JUST FLATTENED EARTH. MADE OF MUD, NOTHING ELSE, THE SAME MUD WE’D USE TO MAKE PIES FOR OUR CORN COB DOLLS, THE SAME MUD FROM WHICH THE PLANTS WOULD GROW, THE PLANTS THAT FED US. THE SAME MUD IN WHICH WE’D BURY THE PLACENTA AND UMBILICAL CORD OF EACH NEWBORN CHILD. THE SAME MUD IN WHICH WE’D BURY THE MORTAL REMAINS OF OUR DEAD. THE SAME MUD INTO WHICH WE’D ALL DESCEND ONE DAY. NO ONE ESCAPES."
Bibiana and Belonisia, when they are seven and six respectively, out of curiosity, fish out a knife from their grandma's bag. The knife cuts them but severs Belonisia’s tongue, rendering her speechless.
"MY VOICE WAS A CROOKED PLOW, DEFORMED, PENETRATING THE SOIL ONLY TO LEAVE IT INFERTILE, RAVAGED, DESTROYED."
Their father, Zeca Chapeu Grande, is also a Jare healer and is revered by the people living in that region. People come to him to get cured of many ailments. The father dons a garb, and he becomes Saint Barbara and performs frantic dances, similar to Velichappadu, in Kerala, India. Velichappadu performs a dance called Thullal, accompanied by drums called ‘Chenda.’ The belief about not building during a full moon is there in Indian Vaastu Shastra too, which can be seen in the book.
The story primarily focuses on families, their lifestyle, and their hardships. The draught and the flood punish them with hunger and ruined harvest. They still work hard trying to make ends meet. People face food scarcity, forcing them to eat anything available like starved dead animals, lizards, or some cacti.
The story about Grandma Donana, her missing daughter, and Zeca was very touching and propelled me to read more to learn more about their lives.
It’s a bildungsroman, magical realism, and a romance novel. The book is divided into three parts; the first part is narrated by Bibiana, the second by Belonisia, and the third is by the Encantada, an ancient spirit that possessed various humans. I loved the third part the most.
"EVERY WOMAN FEELS THE STRENGTH OF NATURE HER BODY HOUSES IN THE VITAL TORRENT OF HER LIFE."
Abusive men, yelling drunkards who ill treat their partners or even fail to acknowledge their efforts. The author beautifully portrays what living with the men does to the lives of these women, but they rise and bounce back, determined to bring about a change.
A flawless translation of a moving, powerful story that resembles the works of Pearl S Buck, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, or Steinbeck.
The author himself conducted doctoral research on Quilombos, the Afro-Brazilian communities organised by escaped slaves and their descendants.
This is a book that I wholeheartedly recommend to everyone!