Challenge: 50 Books discussion

My 50 Book Challenge :)

1. Great Gatsby - F. Scott Fitzgerald

2. Brave New World - Aldous Huxley

3. The Fault in Our Stars - John Green

After hearing many great things about this book, I thought I would give this novel a read; and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

Centred on the life of 16 year-old, thyroid cancer patient, Hazel Lancaster, who despite having to cope with an unfortunate disease which quite literally drains her life, falls in love with 17 year-old Augustus ‘Gus’ Waters, a typical high-school, amputee, adolescent in remission of osteosarcoma;
the book deals with issues surrounding cancer both in terms of how it has a physical effect on their youthful lives but also the existential questions which surround their periled existence: befitting of the book’s title. However, the book is never strikingly depressive or pessimistic, or, overly fanciful idyllic, and instead balances dark humour and young love to form a tragically realistic yet entertaining tale. The comedic attributes of the book do not feel out of place, and much enjoyment is derived from the characters bouncing quips of each other, which would otherwise make the book tragic or even morbid. But it is the deeper philosophical themes of heroism, existence, and fate which provide depth and artistic merit; as Hazel accurately states, her life, and subsequent death, is not, and will not be, extraordinary or inspiring, or even, courageous or heroic, but a life which is unknown and unmemorable to those outside of her; her comparatively short life, despite being unfair, is the fault of no one; she is in not, as many commonly say, a metaphorical ‘battle’ with cancer, rather she is living with dying: a life which borders on ‘existence’ and ‘non-existence’. But it was only through tragic circumstance that her’s and Gus’s romance could come about.

The story itself is fairly simple and ordinary. Far from being complex, Green’s writing style is equally simple and easy to follow, giving the first-person narrative accuracy, and which allows the characters to truly (no joke intended) come alive and the difficult philosophical questions some medium.

A great book.

4. An Abundance of Katherines - John Green

Witty, smart and funny with lovable characters.
A fun read.

5. Looking for Alaska - John Green

The first book by John Green and arguably his best.
In my opinion, it was smartly written book which seems influenced by the late Sallinger's 'Catcher in the Rye'; both central characters are intelligent adolescents going through their maturation.
The parallels end there though; the two have remarkably different perspectives of the world, which is not only due to their environment and experiences.
The book is split in two halves: before and after the eventful day.
The first half consists of Mile's first few months in boarding school and his meeting of other smart individuals. Together, they form a small group of friends hellbent on causing mischief.
The second half, however, takes a less jovial tone and is altogether more serious. But, this darker tone is befitting of the shocking preceding event. Without spoiling the shocking twist, the characters' response feels so natural - its very hard not to share their sentiments.

Altogether, I loved this book.
Though I would admit this is mostly because it is a contemporary 'coming of age' novel written in a modern style and because I am the intended audience being a young adult, it is not solely for these reasons that I love the book. It is because the characters seem so realistic and this book could quite easily be the diary or memoirs of some real life person; it speaks of the realities few adults delve into.
And you connect with the characters to the point that you feel like you're part of this misunderstood and rebellious group.

But most of all, you share in their laughter and you feel saddened by their pain; you come to some resolve by the time you finish it.

6. Catcher in the Rye - J.D Sallinger

Personally, I didn't like the book; it just has too many annoyances. I would like to say that I don't think the problem is down to the difference of time periods from when this was written; the reader of any novel is meant to dispose of their own space and take on the age and setting of whatever they are reading.

No, the main problem is because it's very difficult to share the mentality of Holden without growing annoyed by him. His perspective feels very immature and his actions seem contrived. His neuroticism, apathy and loathings of the things in his life just seem childish and because of that neither his complaints or attitude seem interesting . While the book does indeed represent the teenage experience, I think the book draws too heavily on the 'angst' ridden youth cliche. These problems are not helped by the overall style of the book. The various anecdotes which interject into the narrative hinder the book rather than help it. And the way the book is just a sequence of events through a partial character only adds to the problem.

But, perhaps these criticisms are just of the hard facts of the book rather than the deeper connotations and meanings between the lines. At any rate, I don't reject the book on its controversial nature of the book, which some have criticised the book for. I don't even think it's shocking or controverisal even the edgy sexual remarks. But may be that's just a result of the way society has changed so much today, to the point that Sallinger's paintings of controversy hardly carry any real weight or shockingness.

If the intention of the book is to illustrate various themes and messages through a difficult character then ,I guess, the book succeeds. I think that's the book's greatest strength, the deeper questions which you really have to think on and read through the lines.

My interpretation of the book is that the problems we face in our adolescence are no less important and are just as real as the ones we have as adults. When we grow from our childhood, we experience the notable stage where our intelligence proceeds our maturity and experience.
The whole catalogue of iniquities and problems of the world didn't just appear, we were just never aware of them until we grew out of being children. It is when our naive picture of life is smudged. And I don't think we lose innocence; I think that's something which exists right until we grow much older. As adults, our experiences have only forced us into accepting the harsher reality of the world. We are able to subsist because we swallow the pill. The problems don't disappear, time just makes us forget them.

I guess then the purpose of the main character is to be studied from an outer perspective; to illustrate deeper messages and to facilitate the forum of discussion of interpretations. My interpretation is probably wrong, but that's the merit of the book - the discussion.

But given all the problems of the book, especially the disconnection with Holden, I don't think it really gives you a way into those deeper questions. The fact that the book forces you into the mindset of Holden just isn't enjoyable.

7. In Praise of Older Women - Stephen Vinzinczey

A fantastic read.
An unknown author, this book was picked up purely by chance. And I had some immediate trepidation about a 'coming-of-age' or bildungroman (what a word, eh?) told in reflective narration, particularly one centrally about sex. But those fears weren't well founded.

Though it is ostensibly a novel about sex, I think the connotations of sex novels, being smutty or overly indulgent, are wrongly applied to this book.

8. One Flew Over the Cuckoo Next