Reading the 20th Century discussion

Whew, First nonfiction of 2024 completed --

Guests of the Ayatollah: The First Battle in America's War With Militant Islam by Mark Bowden.
This is a comprehensive recounting of the 444-days takeover of the US Embassy in Iran in 1979-1981. It read easily, like a crime thriller.

My review -- https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Roman Clodia wrote: "I ended up binge-reading Patrick Hamilton's trilogy Twenty Thousand Streets Under the Sky: the first volume is one of this month's buddies but it's so good I couldn't stop there!

ww..."

I think I saw a BBC drama based on that, reminded me a little of Jean Rhys only grittier.

I've seen someone else draw comparisons with Jean Rhys but have to say it's not one I'd make. I can see a certain superficial plot resemblance in terms of alcohol and money but I think their interests are quite different as well as their writing style. But maybe that's because no-one measures up to Rhys in my eyes!

I have been very impressed at how Hamilton writes women though, especially in the third part when we're largely in Ella's head.

Among other books of fiction and another biography I am well into Why This World A Biography Of Clarice Lispector. I have been amazed at the trials of health and religious persecution the family survived in Russia/ukraine before finally being sponsored to emigrate to Brazil. The author, Benjamin Moser, is quite an expert on Clarice and an advocate for readers understanding her work and that it is strongly influenced by her experiences.

My second 5-star of the month, I've just finished The Sorrows of Others by Ada Zhang, a book of startlingly accomplished stories that I wouldn't usually expect from a debut.

www.goodreads.com/review/show/6067416385

I finished Happy Valley: The story of the English in Kenya by Nicholas Best. I talked about it with @Roman Clodia days ago. I found in this book, as I had hoped, Karen Blixen and Denys Finch Hutton although not the aviator Beryl Markham, who also lived in Kenya from 1906, when she was four years old, until her death in 1986. There is also the murder told in the book White Mischief, from which the film starring Greta Scacchi was based in 1987 (you talked about it, Roman Clodia). There is the visit that Queen Elizabeth made with Prince Philip in 1952, precisely in the days in which her father died and she became queen; in those days she slept in a famous hotel that was built on the top of a tree, the Treetops Hotel, where they later put a plaque that said that a girl had climbed up that tree as a princess and she had come down as a queen. Then of course there is also all about the Mau Mau revolt of the 1950s.
I was expecting a more nostalgic and evocative book but in the end it is the story of a colonization, therefore with many shadows and few lights. Still, a very interesting read.

My next audiobook is...



Madame Bovary

by

Gustave Flaubert


...which is my next real world book group discussion in early Feb

Enjoy it, Nigeyb, such a fab book!

Daniela wrote: "I finished Happy Valley: The story of the English in Kenya by Nicholas Best"

Thanks for posting, Daniela, that sounds interesting background to the Markham book... and more.

I was a bit disappointed by Fifteen Wild Decembers which is about Emily Bronte - it ends up being a fictionalised group biography of the Bronte family with nothing new to say and no innovative way of saying it:

www.goodreads.com/review/show/6009721787

Roman Clodia wrote: "I've seen someone else draw comparisons with Jean Rhys but have to say it's not one I'd make. I can see a certain superficial plot resemblance in terms of alcohol and money but I think their intere..."

It's not an unusual comparison:
https://www.academia.edu/29666623/The...

I've only read Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea so don't see a comparison with PH. But I do have her Voyage in the Dark scheduled for April so I may be better able to see any after that.

Alwynne wrote: "Roman Clodia wrote: "I've seen someone else draw comparisons with Jean Rhys but have to say it's not one I'd make. I can see a certain superficial plot resemblance in terms of alcohol and money but..."

Thanks Alwynne, that's an interesting argument about 'unpleasure' - in fact, that whole book looks good - have you read it? I know so little of the theorisation of and about modernism.

Brian E wrote: "I've only read Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea so don't see a comparison with PH. But I do have her Voyage in the Dark scheduled for April so I may be bet..."

Both are 5-stars for me, Wide Sargasso Sea would get 6-stars if I could! Rhys is one of my favorite writers.

Brian E wrote:


"Voyage in the Dark"

I loved it



Nigeyb wrote: "Madame Bovary"

The second time I've read it and, once again, I am finding it quite tedious

What a philistine eh?

I understand how historically significant and ground breaking it was when it was published but, whilst agreeable enough, it seems a bit of a bore to my mind. The reviews I've perused suggest that I am in a tiny minority. Any tips on how to get more out of it would be gratefully received

Alas reading it in French is not going to fly for obvious reasons

Nigeyb wrote: "Madame Bovary" Any tips on how to get more out of it would be gratefully received..."

Listen to it as an audiobook while you do your laundry and you'll at least get clean clothes out of reading it.
I gave both Madame Bovery and A Sentimental Education 3 stars. Not bad, but not great either. A bit tedious.

Oh, I thought you didn't like Rhys, Nigeyb? - must be mixing you up with someone else I guess. I've held back from nominating her in the polls as I thought she wasn't popular here. Delighted to be wrong.

I was going to ask who the translator is of your Bovary as it can make a huge difference, especially if you're reading an old translation. Penguin have been updating their editions with a new translation by Lydia Davis about ten years ago: this is the cover . She did a fabulous job with the first volume of Proust cutting out all the flowery stuff that was never in the original.

Roman Clodia wrote: "Oh, I thought you didn't like Rhys, Nigeyb? - must be mixing you up with someone else I guess..."

RC, I know that while you gave Voyage in the Dark 5 stars and Nigeyb gave it 4 stars, Susan gave it only 3 stars. Not a dislike, though, but more of a meh.

Roman Clodia wrote:


"I thought you didn't like Rhys, Nigeyb?"

I've only read Voyage in the Dark so wouldn't be quite so unequivocal but based on that book I'd say I was in the like camp. Not sure why I didn't read on. I intended to but so many great books out there....

Roman Clodia wrote:


"I was going to ask who the translator is of your Bovary...."

It's Gerard Hopkins and I'd guess quite an old translation. That said I am not convinced that a newer and more sympathetic translation would necessarily transform my experience. The writing is enjoyable and seems to be what appeals to most people. I just find the plot a bit boring and the beauty of the language is insufficient to keep me engaged. There is no solution. It's perfectly agreeable - probably three stars based on the early sections.

If I get the chance I'll have a look at Lydia's new translation

And, as Brian observes....

"Listen to it as an audiobook while you do your laundry and you'll at least get clean clothes"

🫶🏻

It is an audiobook so I'm already on board

I read Mme Bovary in French and thought it was pretty tedious, so I don't think the problem is the translation. it just didn't grab me. it was ok but not wonderful in my opinion. I'd go with Brian's clean clothes idea!

Thanks Barbara


Funnily enough I’m enjoying the bit I’m on at the moment so who knows…?

Nigeyb wrote: "Thanks Barbara

Funnily enough I’m enjoying the bit I’m on at the moment so who knows…?"

Sometimes it helps just to talk things out.

Glad it's picking up for you, Nigey. Perhaps the tedium we feel reading helps us understand Emma's boredom.

Nigeyb wrote: "My next audiobook is...



Madame Bovary

by

Gustave Flaubert


...which is my next real world book group discussion in early Feb"

Oh, I'm so looking forward to what you think of this one. It's been ages, and I hope to re-read it before too long.

Thanks all


It's certainly good on Emma's lack of options and her disappointment in the stolid Charles

One thing I will say about Bovary is that it's very good on the day to day detail, and relative tedium, of French rural life in the mid 19th century. Flaubert parachutes the reader straight into the community and creates a vivid picture.

You're making me want to reread Bovary with your updates - it's been years though many scenes are vivid in my head.

We need a 2024 Bovary review from the House of RC ❤️‍🔥


#makeithappen

Currently reading The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence. Listened to the latest episode on Backlisted and moved it up my TBR pile. Previously read the short stories A Bird in the House, but this is my first full novel from Laurence.
About a third in, and so far it is living upto the Backlisted hype.

I received an e-book of Miss MacIntosh, My Darling from Dalkey Archive Press as part of my pre-order of the paper copy. The paper copy is still being printed (now due out in March), but I'm enjoying the e-book in the meantime.

David wrote: "I received an e-book of Miss MacIntosh, My Darling from Dalkey Archive Press as part of my pre-order of the paper copy. The paper copy is still being printed (now due out in March),..."

I'll be very interested to hear how you get on with that, David - it's been on my TBR forever!

Nigeyb wrote: "We need a 2024 Bovary review from the House of RC ❤️‍🔥


#makeithappen"

I'm very tempted! I'm just finishing Buyer's Market and am thinking that if I read (at least some of) it in French, it's practically work 😉

Exactement

Sonia wrote:


"Currently reading The Stone Angel by Margaret Laurence. Listened to the latest episode on Backlisted and moved it up my TBR pile..."


I look forward to your reaction

Backlisted made it, and her other work, sound very tempting

And the French Kindle edition is just £2.99 which seems like A Sign (as Patrick Hamilton would say).

I've finished the second volume of our buddy read of A Dance to the Music of Time:

www.goodreads.com/review/show/6194886490

Also the audiobook of the engrossing Lady Tan's Circle of Women which does an excellent job of helping us travel to Ming dynasty China:

www.goodreads.com/review/show/5608043156

Roman Clodia wrote: "Alwynne wrote: "Roman Clodia wrote: "I've seen someone else draw comparisons with Jean Rhys but have to say it's not one I'd make. I can see a certain superficial plot resemblance in terms of alcoh..."

I've dipped in and out, I particularly liked the essay on Anita Loos's work.

As part of a January in Japan group read, I finished Kabi Nagata's My Lesbian Experience With Loneliness the first in a series of autobiographical manga. I had mixed reactions to it all but as a depiction of someone grappling with mental health issues and as a form of coming-out story it seems pretty unique and often quite powerful. It's also interesting for the way it reframes and repurposes conventions taken from established manga subgenres.

Link to my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

I'm reading Silence and A Question of Upbringing

I'm rereading Madame Bovary after that prompt from Nigeyb and am loving it again - it's an art to describe the stultifying life of bourgeois provincials without the book being boring. It seems that didn't work for everyone but it does for me. It's been a while since I've read a nineteenth century classic so thanks for the push. I'm just past where Emma's mother-in-law tries to forbid her reading of books as they just fuel her discontent 😊.

This is great news RC. I look forward to your erudite and informed thoughts.


There's no shortage of desriptions of the stultifying life of bourgeois provincials so you're sure to be entranced 🔥

Are you reading it in French?

Stephen wrote:


"I'm reading Silence and A Question of Upbringing"

Splendido Stephen

Very interesting in your reaction to both

Nigeyb wrote: "Are you reading it in French?"

I don't think I'm going to be erudite and I'm reading it in French during the day when I can concentrate and switching to the Lydia Davis translation when reading before sleep - so a bit of cheating 😉

I'm interested in the political subtext which seems to be exploring Emma's attempts to escape the spiritual vacuity of bourgeois capitalism with its emphasis on materiality and propriety. Her fantasies of romantic love seem to be her only way to rebel, while Rodolphe reveals the way 'love,' is a social performance that he can manipulate to his benefit.

I have so much empathy for Emma, however foolish she is!

I finished a debut novel from Danish poet Fine Gråbøl What Kingdom a fluid, accomplished piece championed by writers like Olga Ravn - Ravn's latest novel and this share similar interests in the boundaries between self and society.

Link to my review:

https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Verdigris

very intriguing and different from anything I've read, though it is somewhat unsettling too
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Lady Clementina wrote: "Verdigris

very intriguing and different from anything I've read, though it is somewhat unsettling too
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show..."

Thanks, I've seen some buzz for this one.

Yes, this is all spot on RC....



I'm interested in the political subtext which seems to be exploring Emma's attempts to escape the spiritual vacuity of bourgeois capitalism with its emphasis on materiality and propriety. Her fantasies of romantic love seem to be her only way to rebel, while Rodolphe reveals the way 'love,' is a social performance that he can manipulate to his benefit.

I have so much empathy for Emma, however foolish she is


And with all that in mind I wish I found it more enthralling but to my mind there's a lot of extraneous content

Nigeyb wrote: "Yes, this is all spot on RC...."

Interestingly, that Gerard Hopkins translation from
1946 is known to be about 15% longer than the original and he made various interventions in the French that seems to chime with your sense of extraneous material (more details here if you're interested: https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/events/2015/1...).

In the original, Flaubert is lean and prunes back the text to a plain and unadorned lexicon that matches the paucity of imagination in this provincial world - one of the reasons it's pretty easy to read in French!

That is fascinating RC, and may explain a lot of my frustration with the meandering nature of the book