21st Century Literature discussion

This folder is for general discussion and background information. Please do not post anything here that may be regarded as a spoiler by those who have not yet read the book.

The Noise of Time is the most recent novel by the English novelist and Booker Prize winner Julian Barnes, and is a mixture of fact and fiction, telling the story of three pivotal moments in the life of the Russian composer Dmitri Shostakovich.

I have found a wealth of reviews of this book. These may contain spoilers, but the concept of a spoiler is unlikely to matter much to anyone who is already familiar with Shostakovich's life story!

https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-ent...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/books/what...
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/15/bo...
https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/03/bo...
http://www.newyorker.com/books/page-t...
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/b...
https://www.lrb.co.uk/v38/n04/sheila-...
http://www.npr.org/2016/05/10/4764861...
https://www.ft.com/content/6cd1f9b2-b...
http://www.irishtimes.com/culture/boo...
http://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/b...
http://www.startribune.com/review-the...
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entert...
https://literaryreview.co.uk/instrume...
http://www.spectator.co.uk/2016/01/th...
http://www.scotsman.com/lifestyle/cul...

A few Wikipedia articles that may provide additional background information on characters and events in the book:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muddle_...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitri_...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Testimo...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_P...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicolas...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tikhon_...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Union_o...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_...

This would also be the best place to discuss your previous experiences of reading Barnes, and what you know of Shostakovich. I have read all of his 12 novels plus Levels of Life and two short story collections, and I am impressed with his range and his ability to write in such a variety of voices without ever repeating himself. As for Shostakovich - I like what I know of his music, particularly the string quarters, but I wouldn't consider myself an expert, and the only other book I have read is the disputed memoir Testimony.

I am starting this a few hours early partly so that I can test my access to the moderator only folder settings. I will add the rest of the topics tomorrow.

A couple of suggestions group members have contributed:

From DanitaL:
These are links to a few of Shostakovich's symphonies which I would occasionally listen to while reading. They create an additional level of appreciating both the writer, Barnes, and the composer. Maybe others would also be interested:

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 5
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FF4H...

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 7
https://open.spotify.com/album/79iVAd...

Shostakovich: Symphony No. 9
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfakI...

From James E.:
just want to say it might be interesting to compare the book to Vollmann's treatment of the same subject in "Europe Central".

On Europe Central - this looks like a very interesting book, but it is quite difficult to get hold of in the UK and it is also a much longer book. I would be interested in hearing from anyone who has read both, though it might be better to use the whole book spoiler discussion for this rather than this one.

Wow--thanks for all those links, Hugh! Just picked up my copy of the book on hold at the library today. Never read any Julian Barnes, but he sounds like the type of writer I'd love.

Not exactly neglected by reviewers, is he?

I've only read a couple of Barnes' books before. A History of the World in 10½ Chapters, which I read soon after it came out in the early 90's. I recall enjoying its cleverness, but little of it struck me on a deeper level. I probably wouldn't have picked him up again, but a few friends whose taste I trust were talking up The Sense of an Ending, which I thought was amazing. His writing has an emotional detachment which in general I find off-putting, but which perfectly suited the narrator and revelations of that book.

Thanks Marc and Whitney.

This one explores similar themes to two other Barnes books - Arthur & George is a similar mixture of fact and fiction, again imagining the detail behind real events, and The Porcupine is a study of Power, as manifested by an Eastern European communist dictator.

At the other end of his range are the comic novels - Talking It Over is very funny in places...

I've read three Julian Barnes novels

The History of the World in 12 1/2 chapters - I thought that the woodworm story was inspiring and I liked the picture interpretation chapter the rest dragged a bit.

Flaubert's Parrot - great. Couldn't put it down.

The Sense of an Ending - even better! A classic in it's own right

Arthur & George has been on the TBR pile since 2012 and Nothing to be Frightened of since 2009.

aaaaannd I managed to snag a copy of The Noise of Time so I'll be reading that for the club :)

Thanks Robert. I meant to say that it would be nice if those of you who are intending to participate in the discussion say so here.

Thank you for all the links, Hugh. I am still on hold at the library - hopefully I will be able to join mid-month.

I bought The Noise of Time even before the poll's winner was announced. I wanted to read it so I thought the Universe will conspire with me and it will be chosen for the club. I am glad it did.

I read The Sense of an Ending by the author and Barnes seems to be exactly the type of writer that I love. I can't wait to read more of him and discuss his books here.

Thank you Hugh for the links, especially to Shostakovich's symphonies as I was planning to read this novel with music. It will be a first for me as I usually need silence to read.

I've started this today, so I hope to be active in this discussion! I read this when it was first released, so this is a second reading for me.

That said, The Sense of an Ending is the only other Barnes I have read. I loved that one, but didn't enjoy this one so much first time through. I've always had a nagging feeling that I missed something with this, though, so I am really pleased to be re-reading it now: it will either confirm my view from first time or will give me a chance to correct it!

This time through, I decided to start by doing a small amount of research into the man and the time. I think that helps.

Neil, I'll look forward to your thoughts. It would certainly be harder to be sympathetic to Shostakovich if you knew nothing about Stalin's purges, but I think Barnes does quite a good job of explaining that...

Thanks for the music links, Hugh! I'm listening right now.

The only other Barnes book I've read is The Sense of an Ending. It was by no means a favorite for me. In fact, in reviewing my review, I see I found reading others reviews to be more interesting than the book. But this one I loved.

Neil wrote: "I've started this today, so I hope to be active in this discussion! I read this when it was first released, so this is a second reading for me.

That said, The Sense of an Ending is the only other ..."

I loved The Sense of an Ending and most of his other books. The Noise of Time didn't grab me, for whatever reason, as I too love classical music, but got a fair way in and thought " Life is too short'....

I plan to participate in the discussion! It looks like most of us have in common that we've read The Sense of an Ending. I loved that one - I am fascinated by books about looking back on life and how our memory doesn't always serve us.

I plan to listen to this book starting today, so will port over to the discussions on specific sections as I make progress. Thanks for all the links, Hugh!

I saw that many of you read The Sense of an Ending so this might be of interest to you. I discovered yesterday that a movie will be released this month after the book. Here is the trailer if you want to learn more: https://www.facebook.com/vintagebooks...

One thing I would like to contribute for this part of the conversation is that one can listen to Symphony #4 first (remembering that its premier was pulled on the last day and by virtue of that, Shostakovich was likely left to live out his natural life due to a brief moment of benevolence on the part of Stalin), survive the tremendously beautiful modernism and then listen to #5 which was subsequent to the Pravda editorial, and you will hear clearly the difference between music as the greatest art, and on the later piece,. music which is controlled by the iron fist of socialism. Many may prefer the 5th, but as you decide that, remember that it was intended to be more popular. If you listen to enough Shostakovich, the 4th would become a favorite and the 5th would become more of a sardonic masterwork rather than a great piece of music.

Carl wrote: "One thing I would like to contribute for this part of the conversation is that one can listen to Symphony #4 first (remembering that its premier was pulled on the last day and by virtue of that, Sh..."

I am going to listen to #4 and #5 again with that in mind. I appreciate these comments as I don't know that much about classical music and was introduced to Shostakovich only through novels. This adds to the reading experience. Thank you.

@Carl - I agree with Jill. I appreciate this background to his music.

Thanks to you both...I'll be interested in hearing your independent reactions to the two pieces.

Sounds great! I'll start reading it in a day or two. I'm expecting it to be like Murakami's books where I can play the music he refers to, and that enhances the experience of reading!

Welcome Gargi - hope you enjoy it

Just got my copy from the library. I've got some catching up to do!