Reading. Books: several of them. I’ve been wallowing in my book pile and, prompted and inspired by my blogging chum Pauline from way down under who listed the titles nestling on her bedside table, here’s a little resume of what’s been distracting me the past few weeks.
First up is The Children Act by Ian McEwan. This was a book group choice. Nice and brief and classic McEwan. You either love or loathe him and as I’ve read a fair few of his works I guess I fall into the former category. A friend who struggles with him thinks he’s pompous which I can understand as he’s quite wordy and very British but his characterisations are spot on and often humorous. The Children Act introduces us to Fiona, a high court judge who specialises in family law. She is faced with a case involving a seventeen year old boy suffering from leukaemia who is refusing a blood transfusion to save his life because of his and his parents’ religious beliefs.
Fiona, who is highly regarded amongst her peers and for whom home and work life has to this point been straight forward is thrown by the vulnerability of this boy’s situation which then begins to reflect the disharmony in her personal life.
I read this book quickly, bounding towards the unexpected ending so typical of McEwan’s work. Definitely worth a read.
Next was The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton. This book had very mixed reviews which I trawled through after I’d finished reading the novel. Set in 17th century Amsterdam I thought the author evoked the darkness and damp of a major European trading city very well. The story revolves around young Petronella who is recently married to an older, well heeled Merchant who spends much of his life at sea. He presents Nella with a doll’s house replica of their home and she begins to furnish it with miniatures created by the mysterious Miniaturist. Strange co-incidences begin to occur between events in Nella’s life and the items delivered by the Miniaturist. It’s as if the pieces are for-warning her of subsequent tragedies. This is not a happy tale, there are several despicable characters here but this all adds to the darkness and gloom. The descriptions of place are excellent and the historical facts surrounding the trading laws at this time interesting.
The main criticism I read afterwards was that the ending didn’t tie things up but in my view, that was the point. I made my own mind up about the character of the Miniaturist (who, incidentally, we never meet) and I recommend that if you read this novel you take that approach too!
Ishmael’s Oranges by Claire Hajaj was a title we nearly chose as a book group read but it was considered too long for the time we had which was a shame because I think it would have provided us with a good debate. Essentially the book deals with how the Israel-Palestine conflict affects ordinary people. The story is presented from two points of view – those of Salim – a Palestinian and Judith who is Jewish. They meet in London in the 60’s and we track them through their life together, the familial conflicts they encounter and the heart rending decisions they are forced to make when their cultures collide. It’s an ambitious task for a first novel and I found some of the subsidiary characters unbelievable which weakened the plot slightly but that said, I enjoyed the read and although the ending was predictable my attention was held till the last page.
I’m just about to finish Nora Webster by Colm Toibin. His writing is beautiful, very wordy which slows the pace but that works well in this story of a small town Irish woman, recently bereaved, and how her life is changed. She has to become independent, find a job, sell the family’s summer house and manage her children. To be honest, not much happens but the relationships between Nora and her family and the new friends she makes through her love of singing are completely believable. The dialogue is written so that the gentle Irish lilt comes through – very clever.
Colm Toibin’s novel Brooklyn has recently been adapted and released as a film starring Julie Walters. I think we’ll be in for a treat.
And lastly – I must share with you the reading material being delivered to our eleven year olds in the run up to Christmas. One of my favourite modern tales, Millions by Frank Cottrell Boyce can be enjoyed on so many levels. The class teacher and I are already drawing short straws for which one of us has to read out the ending. (It’s a tear jerker). The story deals with so many issues – happiness, bereavement, greed, friendships and is told through the voice of young Damian who has an odd but endearing penchant for Saints. In his quest to be ‘excellent’ he collects them while practising mortification. There are some laugh-out-loud passages (at least for the grownups in the room) and the story provides the opportunity for plenty of class discussion. Prior to beginning reading, the students were asked if we could ever care for a fictional character. One little girl answered that there would be no point in reading a book if we didn’t. She nailed it for me.
And with that in mind as well as the previous mention of the wonderful Julie Walters, here she is as one of my favourite characters of all time.
Who’s your favourite fictional character?
Missed you. Hope it is not so long between your writings in the future.
Holly – that’s a lovely thing to say, thank you! So nice of you to keep dropping in to my blog. I’ll keep going but maybe not quite so frequently for a while…unless something crops up that’s worth sharing. How’s things in your part of the world?
I was just about to do a search of the spam folder in case WP had decided to put CFTK in the bin. And there you are making my cell phone go ‘bing’ at 5:47 this morning.
Very enjoyable synopsis of your reads. Glad you weren’t relegated by WP
Oops, hope I didn’t wake you up! WP does funny things – for a while I stopped getting posts from you and a couple of others in my Reader – I had to do a re-follow.
Glad I wasn’t in Spam – but wait a minute, is this a case of the pot calling the kettle black or something like that? I’ve missed you posting – and what’s happened to All Downhill From Here, I wonder😀
Oops busted. I think downhill has gotten rusted up in the English autumnal showers
I too made a search to see if your posts had missed the Reader again. Glad to see you were only missing from the blogosphere because you were knee-deep in literature. And if I don’t become immediately involved in a character then I don’t finish the book.
Stay well Jenny xx
Ah, thanks, Jude.
Yes, just been occupied elsewhere although I’ve been dipping in and out of my Reader too, just to keep up with you all. I’m like you, if I’m not drawn to the protagonist straightaway then I ditch the book. Life’s too short.
Looking forward to reading more about your county town, by the way 😉
I like quirky characters, enjoyed the book summaries and was a little disappointed in the “Miniaturist,” had hoped would not be so “gloomy.” Jenny, your book list is admirable and diversified. I am impressed. Great “shout out” to our beloved ♡ Pauline, too. Hope to stay in touch but I now have a book deadline, book club on the Wednesday before Thanksgiving week. No real reading while up at Mom’s for 9 days, but kept a bit caught up with blogging. xo
Oh yes, quirky characters, me too. Have you ever read any Kate Atkinson? She’s fantastic at those. My favourite novel of hers is Behind the Scenes at the Museum.
Good luck with your book deadline. I hope you enjoy your new book group. I sometimes don’t enjoy the chosen group read which is really annoying when I’m itching to start one of the titles on my reading pile. Now I only have one to go – Meadowland – and then I’ll be out searching for a new list. 😊
Jenny, I did not finish a few books in my life that didnt capture my interest. I have read for my book club, the “Glass Castle” and “Flight Behavior,” also enjoyed the “House Girl” book.
I liked the Siamese cats, Koko and Yum Yum who are owned by a detective named Qwilleran. (Author Lillian Braun Jackson) I also liked the Robert Parker books with Spencer and Hawk as characters and his character played by Tom Selleck in, Jesse Stone books and television specials. One of my favorite women is Elizabeth in “Pride and Prejudice.” 🙂
I will try to write this down and look for Kate Atkinson, for Behind the Scenes at the museum, Jenny. Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂
Loved the Julie Walters sketch! That started my morning with a chuckle 🙂
I’ve read two of your four books – The Miniaturist which at the time I think I said I found hard to enjoy – yet I finished it hoping there would be some kind of redemption. I guess there was, with the husband, but I agree with you – dark gloomy and some unpleasant characters. I’ve reached an age when I require my books and movies to be uplifting and if the story is harsh I want to see some hope at the end of it.
I shall try and lay my hands on a copy of ‘Millions’ it sounds like a fun read!!
Thanks for the shout-out 🙂
You’re welcome Paulline. I hope you find Millions – it’s a sweet story and one I’ve read several times over the years with different sets of eleven year olds. There’s also a film version, I think it might be a BBC production. The casting of the characters, especially Damian is absolutely spot on.
Glad to have helped start your day with a chuckle. I’m just off to bed now 😊
You’ve done what I hope to do in the near future, plow through my ever growing TBR stack. Not only do I have paper books stockpiled, but they’re loaded up on my Kindle as well. The Children Act sounds like my kind of read, Jenny. Yay, Pauline! She rocks!
I think a wallow in your reading pile will be great reward once you’ve put your manuscript to bed! Reading spawns inspiration so before you know it you’ll be back on the treadmill! Hope the editing is going well Jill😀
You’ve found a new talent Jenny! I only managed two books last month but that was a lot for me. I finally read Apple Tree Yard by Louise Doughty and loved it. It was so edgy and clever and a real page turner. Then I went to Guildford book festival and met Peter James again and got another signed copy. This time he has written a ghost story and I really enjoyed it, even though it didn’t end well!
I really like Ian McEwan, so. Aye I will try that, although I have promised myself to get Adele Parks next historic novel set in WW1.
Good for you for getting to the book fest. I completely ignored it this year which is really bad as there must have been something that would have inspired. Last year’s was good. Ah well, there’s always next year.
I’ve never read any Adele Parks or Peter James so maybe I’ll have to search them out. Looking back at my reading list and the kind of book I tend to go for I think I’ve worked out that I prefer character driven stories rather than plot.
So many books…so little time.
Wow. What a great list! 🙂 I will be looking for some of these for summer reading. I am unfortunately too busy right now. 😦
I am a Jane Austen fan and it’s trite but true that my favourite fictional character is Elizabeth Bennet. I haven’t been reading much fiction over the last several years, though. I’ve been quite into reading biographies.
Great post. 🙂
I bet Elizabeth Bennet would be a favourite for many people. I have to admit to not being a Jane Austen fan but I think this is largely due to the way she was presented and taught at school – it’s left a lasting negative impression. Perhaps I should revisit.
Biographies are good and true events – like scaling Everest or cycling to India always make good reading. The Hare with Amber Eyes is a good historic read detailing the family ancestry of British potter Edmund de Waal. I enjoyed that one.
This is so good! I liked The Children Act immensely, but I’m a fan of McEwen. I felt it really explored the consequences and responsibility one undertakes when entering someone’s life. I also like Nora Webster. Very quiet, but with fierce undercurrents. I love Atkinson. Quirky characters–A God in Ruins was really good–Ursula does show up! And I’m taking away Ishmael’s Oranges for my list. Great reading list you have.
Hi Lisa – it seems that you and I have similar reading tastes. I haven’t read A God in Ruins but have pretty much read all her other works. This will definitely be on my new list! Life After Life was extraordinary, wasn’t it?
If you do read Ishmael’s Oranges I’d love to know what you thought. No pressure, no rush! I’m going to trawl through some book listings this afternoon and make a new pile…
I’m looking forward to this reading exchange thing. Will certainly tell you about Ishmael’s Oranges. The title makes me think of continuous and fairly humorous references to groves of oranges in Muriel Spark’s Mandelbaum Gate. Bet their’s a different take on it here.
A reading exchange! What an idea! Perhaps we should suggest that we pool our reading choices each month or every six weeks or so and set up an online global book group…that would be fun😉
I think that’s a great idea. As more people review things, there with be interests and affinities and when new books float up, we can think, “hey, Jenny (or Pauline or…) liked that so I bet I would too. I’ve already seen recommendations for things I didn’t know about, so that’s exciting!
I liked THE CHILDREN ACT very much, Jenny, and thought Ian McEwan was right on mark. My two favorite books this past week were Watson’s MONTANA 1948 (I loved the characters of the boy and his parents, especially when things got messy), and the character of Rachel in THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN, which had pay-close-attention structuring that really paid off in the end.
Thanks for your list!
Thanks for those other suggestions, Marylin. I’d steered clear of Girl on the Train because the suggestion was that if you enjoyed Gone Girl then you’d enjoy this one. I loathed Gone Girl although I did finish it. Far too nasty for me. I may have to rethink Girl on the Train and pay minute attention to the structuring!
How lovely to be able to get down to the pile of unread books. Haven’t read any you mentioned but have read Brooklyn by Colm Toibin and can’t wait to see the film. Excellent article by him in Times this weekend. Just read Spool of Blue Thread and mostly enjoyed it. My “pile” includes Unravelling Oliver and The Ice Twins for book club. Will start later today. I like Ian McEwan but had not fancied this one. May have to re-think that.
Happy reading.
Do you know, it’s been a real treat and I haven’t even felt guilty that I’m not writing. I’m looking at it as research. I must fish the Times out of the recycling and read that article. I keep looking at Spool of Blue Thread but I struggled with an Ann Tyler before so it sort of put me off. Time to retry?
Happy reading to you too.
Impressive reading, Jenny. Of those you list, I have read none, although I have read a few McEwans. His Sweet Tooth is in my queue. I’d be hard put to remember a favourite fictional character.
Sweet Tooth is wonderful. You’re in for a treat.
I’m not really sure if I have a definitive favourite fictional character – I’m not actually very good at remembering what I’ve read. The story has to be exceptional to lodge in my long term memory!
I’m the same re remembering what I’ve read – as will become clear in tonight’s post 🙂
All Downhill is alive and well. I’ll post soon. Just taking a break. Been home to HK too. I too am reading all the time. Just started Adair Turner’s latest book. My favourite fictional character is probably Nicholas Nickleby. Or maybe Jim Hawkins. Or Ratty. Good grief….. I have no idea 😢
Well it’s a relief to know that you’re malingering on a plateau somewhere rather than having reached the bottom of the hill just yet 😀
My next read will be Meadowland which I think you mentioned in connection to H is for Hawk (another excellent book).
I couldn’t really name a fave character either – it all depends on my mood…
Classic Julie Walters, loved her as Mrs Overall in Acorn Antiques. I suppose I’ll always be a Rowan Atkinson fan though – memories of my kids in total stitches watching Mr Bean many years ago.
Ah yes, Mr Bean. Most memorable to me must be him eating (or not) oysters and langoustine in the cafe at the Gare de Lyon on his way to Cannes. Priceless.
Hey Jenny! I love your picture which is new to me. I have been painting away and although I purchased a new computer, (my old one was a 2006), I have stayed away from ALL things keyboard except for my phone and the occasional Facebook post.
I was wondering what you looked like under those sunglasses! Such a pretty girl you are!!! Want you on my community list but this WP doesn’t want it apparently. When Lyla gets home for Thanksgiving, I am going to ask her to navigate me through all that. Love your photo!!!
Hi Hollis! Thank you – I thought it was time for an overhaul😀 I’ve been wondering how you’ve been getting on with your latest project – I’ve missed your postings and updates. Hope it’s going well. I think the last time we communicated was when you had teamed up with that young artist wearing the skirt😊
You won’t believe this but I trawled through my emails only yesterday trying to find our last thread. I was going to contact you that way. I’m a tardy correspondent these days. Will send updates very soon.
Haha…loved the Julie Walters sketch, she’s brilliant isn’t she? Reminds me of some not so wonderful restaurant experiences… ! Your young student nailed it for me too, if I don’t care about the characters then why read the book? If I’m not right in there, then I can’t keep reading. All the books you mention here sound really good, but the one I’m most drawn to is The Miniaturist. Thanks for the recommendations, from both you and Pauline 🙂 I hope things are going well for you Jenny, and you enjoy a lovely weekend despite the awful weather xx
Had a mooch around London and the British Museum in weather that wasnt quite as bad as forecast. No inclination yet for Christmas shopping though!
If you try The Miniaturist I’d be interested to hear what you think as it has had such mixed reviews.
Loved your post this morning, btw.
I’ll let you know Jenny, if and when. My TBR list is ever-growing. Your mooch sounds really nice and glad the weather held off for you. And thanks again about my post, I’m so glad you enjoyed it…it was one of those that I just had to get out of my system. I want to go back now, but of course it helped that we had the most glorious weather that day, it really was perfect… Hope you have a good week my friend xx