Americanah

I recently read a review of Purple Hibiscus, another work by this author which I read a long time ago, and was struck by the high praise it was given. So when I spotted this book in an independent bookstore in a nearby town, I picked it up and decided to give it a go. 

This one is the first in my Cornish holiday reads! Hooray!

Americanah

Author:

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Genre:

Romance, social commentary, race, contemporary... Lots really!

One-sentence summary:

Ifemelu and Obinze fall in love at their high school in Nigeria, but their lives take very different turns when Ifemelu heads to America and starts a successful blog about race, and Obinze, failing to get a visa, heads instead to England.

Review:

I found this book challenging, but also immensely enjoyable. Adichie does not shy away from exposing her characters' falsehoods, and does not let them get away with being one-dimensional. Everyone has their idiosyncrasies and their clashing approaches and agendas. No character or relationship escapes change, and are all subject to a ruthless realness that sets Adichie apart as a writer.

While the story is really about her two main characters, Obinze and Ifemelu, the book is also unashamedly about race. I was made to think about many things that I've never considered before, both big (Ifemelu struggles to get a job because of her skin colour) and mundane (why is it that 'skin colour' underwear and make-up is always for white people anyway?). Adichie makes nothing unsayable, and talks about uncomfortable topics that are not often addressed.

And the book also deals with all the subtle tensions of culture, origin and belonging. Adichie sharply describes the Nigerian expats' sense of home while living in America, 'a blurred place between there and here', and the disparity between expectation (theirs and their families') and reality. Ifemelu also feels this alienation from both cultures, embarrassed during her parents' visit (though ashamed of this embarrassment), but also not fitting into Americans' social circles.

I liked the writing as well. For the most part it was invisible, allowing the reader to just take in the story unhindered. Other times I was struck by a remarkably perceptive or powerful turn of phrase. And I thought the storytelling was just wonderful.

Final thoughts:

I found this book both challenging and entertaining, and thought it was made particularly enjoyable by the immensely likeable, but realistic, main characters. Adichie's writing seemed at first unremarkable, but grew on me as I read on. She is at once harsh, in her close scrutiny of characters and situations, but also forgiving in her depiction of humanity. I will most definitely be reading more of her work.

What did you think of Americanah? Did you agree with my review? Have you read any other of Adichie's books, and if so, what did you think of them? Let me know in the comments.

Epigraphs

I was inspired to hunt for epigraphs in my book collection while reading this post by Sanne at Books and Quills. She didn't seem to find that many in her books, but I actually found quite a few! This is just a selection of my favourites.

Winnie the Pooh by A.A. Milne

 

Peter Pan in Scarlet by Geraldine McCaughrean

...and...

The J.M. Barrie Ladies' Swimming Society by Barbara J. Zitwer

Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Vera Rigler

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith

Smoke and Mirrors by Neil Gaiman

Captain Corelli's Mandolin by Louis de Bernières

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams

...and over the page!

The Ebb Tide by Robert Louis Stevenson; Taken at the Flood by Agatha Christie

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Bonjour Tristesse by Françoise Sagan

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis

What do you think of these lovely epigraphs? Have you found any interesting ones in your books? Let me know in the comments! 

Bridget Jones's Diary

Recently, while I was doing my work placement in France, a friend of mine came to stay, bringing only one book with her. This book, she explained, was her favourite book in the world. Not because she saw it as the pinnacle of modern literature, but because she really identified with the main character, and with all her flaws and misplaced intentions...

Bridget Jones's Diary

Author:

Helen Fielding

Genre:

Humour

One-sentence summary:

Bridget Jones navigates diets, drinking and singledom with her many escapades involving colleagues, dashing lawyers, blue soup and an infuriating mother.

Review:

Having seen the film many times before finally getting round to reading the book, I couldn't help comparing the two pretty much constantly while I was reading. And I have to say, they both held up extremely well. But this review will be focussing on the book (since this is a book blog after all!) 

Since the book is written in the form of a diary (hence the name...), the first thing that struck me was the character of Bridget, whose voice, naturally, resonates throughout the book. Though a little frustrating at times, Bridget rings painfully true in her comments on life, and her well-intentioned but lacklustre attempts at dieting, giving up smoking, and generally 'improve' herself. The reader sees the world through Bridget's eyes, so at times it was hard to distinguish her skewed viewpoint from the reality (i.e. is she actually supposed to be fat??? 9st doesn't sound all that heavy to me...). But hints are offered throughout as to what is real and what is simply Bridget's out-of-proportion view on things.

The writing itself is absolutely hilarious, yet sometimes surprisingly close to the bone with its laid-bare honesty. It's snappy, full of zing, and paced just right for maximum comedic effect. 

Though I did enjoy the plot, I found myself somewhat annoyed at the constant onslaught of unfortunate and embarrassing events that occurred during the story. Those involving Bridget's mother were particularly infuriating. On many occasions, I had to force myself not to hurl the book across the room or punch a cushion I was imagining to be Bridget's mother's face. I know she's meant to be profoundly irritating, and I suppose it's a good sign that she got me so riled up, but there is a limit! Also, some of the events towards the end felt a little rushed, especially Bridget's inevitable romantic success. Give us some time to revel in it!

Final thoughts:

I found Bridget Jones's Diary to be a highly fun, satisfying read (though a little infuriating at times), with surprising depth of perception in certain parts. Though some parts were a little flawed, it certainly deserves to be read and re-read. Not exactly 'great literature', but a lot of fun nonetheless!

I give it:

What did you think of Bridget Jones's Diary? Did you agree with my review? Do you identify with Bridget? If so, in what way? Let me know in the comments.

A Seaside Getaway - Holiday TBR

It may seem a little bizarre to be talking about a seaside break when I've just got back from France (where I was living right on the beach!). But this time I'm heading to Cornwall in the UK to visit a German friend and her family who are on holiday there (long story!), and will be gone until Sunday. In between introducing the Germans to the wonders of Cornish pasties and cream teas, I will be taking the opportunity to get through some books on my To-Be-Read list.

A lot of orange in this pile for some reason!

I'm really looking forward to reading most of these, but this one especially:

This one's by Mark Gatiss, Dr Who writer and actor (among other things). Having picked this up ages ago at a market stall, I've been meaning to give it a go for a while:

Though the cover is a teensy bit stained... and not by me!

This is a recent purchase so I'm still feeling the buyer's buzz, but I'm not actually very keen on dystopian novels, so we'll see how I find this one. Doesn't look very long though so I should be OK...

On the plus side, hooray for cool typography!

Need to power through and finish this one... I was actually really enjoying it, but nonetheless managed to put it down and pick up something else because, urgh, French:

That cover! *shudders*

Finally, this is what I'm currently reading (though I put it temporarily aside to re-read Harry Potter). Looking forward to getting stuck in again.

And, of course, I've always got my trusty kindle in case of emergencies!

In my trusty Sherlock Holmes kindle case!

I've scheduled some posts to come out while I'm away, so I shouldn't drop off the face of the blogosphere completely! 

What do you think of my holiday TBR? Any opinions on the books I've chosen? Have you ever been to Cornwall? Let me know in the comments.

A Very Potter Book Haul

Friends, something very special happened to me the other day!

There I was, ambling aimlessly through the grounds of the cathedral in my small English home town, when I was seized with the sudden urge to have a quick browse of the cathedral's second-hand bookshop.

It's closed in this picture, but you can just see all those beautiful books peeping through the windows...

As you may already know from my bookshelf tour, I only own two of the Harry Potter books (and I call myself a fan???), but have been looking to expand my collection.

Pitiful...

Imagine my delight when I spotted, on a top shelf, the full set of these beautiful books, their bright covers gleaming in the afternoon sun.

So, without further ado, I bought six of them to complete my collection. (I re-bought the fourth book in hardback, and sold my paperback copy to a loving new home.) All for only £10!!!

And here it is. The full set.

Don't they all look lovely balanced on a suitcase?

And on my windowsill + artistic blurred effect...?

*Swoon* 

So my current book has been briefly suspended while I re-read the sixth in the series (my favourite), Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince.

Which Harry Potter is your favourite? Why?

A Passage to India

After spontaneously deciding to give A Room With a View a try, and absolutely loving it, I didn't see how I could regret trying another Forster novel. I can't remember exactly when I bought this one, but I do know that I've been wanting to read it for ages.

This one is:

A Passage to India

Author:

E.M. Forster

Genre:

Classic. Also has airs of travel and politics about it, but really doesn't particularly lend itself to a single genre.

One-sentence summary:

In India, relations are stable but strained between the Indians and the English, but one event sends pretence crumbling down and reveals the heart of both sets of people, as well as India itself.

Review:

I think the thing I admire the most about Forster's writing is his refusal to reduce anything or anyone to absolutes. None of his characters are straightforward or cut and dried. They all possess various flaws and various levels of sincerity, which shift and change as the book progresses. The writer is not afraid to have his characters profoundly change, and not in a way that feels comfortable or reassuring. He doesn't show the 'darker side of man', but rather the disconcerting middle ground where misunderstanding is rife, and man's nuanced desires, adherence to convention (or lack thereof), muddled views, and mixed loyalties are explored. Nothing is simple, especially not people's relationships to one another, which, in fact, seem infinitely complex and changeable. I was especially fascinated with Dr Aziz's relationship to Mrs Moore. It was not based on anything substantial, but his internal state seemed to mirror hers somehow. I hated the change in her character towards the middle of the book, though it was wonderfully written and hugely evocative. It just gave me the impression of decay and despair.

This also ties in with the author's willingness - even his enthusiasm - to say the unsayable. He pushes his characters further than you want them to be pushed, and creates situations that ring profoundly true. And he also, with this lack of black-and-white distinctions between 'good' and 'bad', lays the story bare, devoid of attempts to steer the reader towards sympathies. Even Fielding, who supposedly holds a more enlightened attitude and is probably the most sympathetic of all of them, is only like that by chance.

He had no racial feeling - not because he was superior to his brother civilians, but because he had matured in a different atmosphere, where the herd-instinct does not flourish.

No character escapes having these inner truths exposed, and none escape change either.

The plot, though it does exist, is really quite minimal, and the story is much more one of shifts within and between the characters. But another aspect of the book is its deeply atmospheric writing. Each page is packed with minute and mundane observations; not on a descriptive or even physical level, but instead cutting to the core of the human condition. He writes profound truths while seeming to write simplicities (too often it's the other way round!).

While reading this, I could sense the heat and the oppressive echo of Forster's India, and the country, vast and untameable, felt almost like a character in itself. This impression of India, while extremely real-feeling, was certainly different to that of an actual Indian writer, but was still no less valid. After finishing this book (and, in fact, during), I found myself lost in its world, and it took me quite a while to snap out of it.

Final thoughts

I found this book incredibly immersive, and Forster's writing throughout it is spectacular. All the characters and situations are nuanced and nothing stays constant, reflecting a reality that is often smoothed over in books. Some of the changes left me with profound feelings of sadness or discomfort, which is why I'm not sure just yet if this will feature among my favourite books... But it certainly shows a level of brilliance in the writing.

I'm going to award it a rare

What did you think of A Passage to India? Did you agree with my review? Do you have any suggestions of equally evocative books written by Indians? Let me know in the comments.

The Opposites Book Tag

I spotted this Opposites Book Tag on youtube (the video I saw was on Little Book Owl's channel - original video here) and decided to give the written form a go. To celebrate finally being reunited with my bookshelves, I have decided to include only physical books on this list (no ebooks!), and only books that I personally own and currently have on my bookshelf.

Enjoy!

1. The first book in your collection/The last book you bought

The collection of children's poems Read Me was (I think) the first book I ever bought for myself. When I was in primary (elementary) school, we used to celebrate World Book Day by having a book sale in the school hall, and each pupil was given a £1 book token (they really splashed out!) to encourage them to buy something. I don't know if I ever read all the poems in this anthology, but I definitely remember enjoying at least a couple of them. At the time of writing this post, I am in the process of re-organising my bookshelves, so there's a chance this book will be relegated to a box in the attic/charity shop, but it still counts for now!

The last book I bought was actually two books at the same time, so they'll have to go together. Having returned to England and rediscovered an all-but-forgotten Waterstones book voucher, I seized my chance to buy some brand shiny new books (a rarity for this second-hand bookshop fiend). I chose The Road by Cormac McCarthy and The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (a.k.a. J.K. Rowling) and have added them to my enormous TBR pile.

2. A cheap book/An expensive book

Not counting books I picked up for free, this Italian edition of the Chronicles of Narnia is probably the best value book on my shelf. This volume is enormous and contains all seven stories, but cost me less than £4. Bargain!

Though I received this as a gift rather than paying for it myself, this is probably the most expensive book on my shelf. Being something of a language nerd, I do have a grand total of six enormous dictionaries, but this was the best looking of the lot, and I think (though I could be wrong) the most expensive. Needless to say, I have certainly not read this one! At least, not cover to cover...

3. A book with a male protagonist/A book with a female protagonist

For my book with a male protagonist, I chose A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. I think everyone knows this story: the miserly Ebenezer Scrooge is visited by three ghosts who show him the error of his ways. It's a highly entertaining tale of redemption and the power of good, and has become somewhat iconic as a story. It is also my first Dickens.

My book with a female protagonist is Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (though I could quite easily have chosen any of Jane Austen's). I love this story of sisterly love, quarrels, rivalry and reconciliation, with the feisty Jo March as heroine. I love how she knows her own mind, but also strives to please others and do right in the world. It's a book I can re-read time and time again.

4. A book you read quickly/A book that took you a long time to read

I actually wanted to choose the fifth Harry Potter book here, as I remember whizzing through that one especially quickly. But, sadly, I only own two of the Harry Potter books myself (I originally just read my sister's copies - she has the full set), so this is Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. The plots of these books are so gripping that I'm sure I sped through all of them pretty quickly anyway.

Edit: I now own the whole Harry Potter collection! Excitement overload!!!

Greenery Street by Denis Mackail took me a really long time to read. I didn't ever actively put it down and pick up something else while in the middle of it, but nonetheless it took me weeks to finish. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy it - quite the opposite! But it is a very slow-paced book, and I think that's deliberate. It's one to savour, rather than rush to the finish line. It's a book I can imagine dipping into many times in the future.

5. A pretty cover/An ugly cover

I have to confess, I most certainly judge a book by its cover. If a book isn't pretty, chances are I won't buy it even if I really want a copy of the story or even already know I will love it. It also goes the other way; I've lost count of how many times I've bought a book because the beautiful cover has caught my eye. Death of a Red Heroine by Qiu Xiaolong is definitely one of those books! I don't even know what it's about. But it is definitely one of my favourite covers from my bookshelf (though I do have so many beautiful books it was hard to choose just one!).

My ugly book is one that I bought in France very recently. I had already downloaded a free copy of Cyrano de Bergerac by Edmond Rostand (a famous French play) on kindle, but realised that I wanted to be able to make notes on the pages, so I purchased a cheap paper copy as well. This is probably why I didn't pay too close attention to what it looked like when I bought it. But the more I look at the cover now, the more I hate it! I hate everything about it, from the colour to the ugly picture of Cyrano. And why oh why would you put the price in huge letters (well, numbers) on the front!?!? 

6. A national book/An international book

For my national book, I have chosen At Bertrams Hotel by Agatha Christie to represent the UK. Though this may not be Christie's most quintessentially British book (and there are many!), it does feature the brilliantly British Miss Marple, and there's a London bus on the front! How British is that!?

Being a language student, I happen to have a great many foreign language books, so it seemed only fitting to choose one of those. Out of my sizeable selection, I went with Der Tod in Venedig (Death in Venice) by Thomas Mann, who is one of the iconic German writers of the last century. I haven't got round to reading this yet, but it's definitely on my TBR pile. This book is especially international because it's written in German but is about Italy (I assume... I haven't actually read it).

7. A thin book/A thick book

Finn Family Moomintroll by Tove Jansson is probably not the thinnest of my books, but is definitely my favourite thin book. I own four of the books in the series and adore them all. They're so bizarre but beautifully written! And I find there's something magical about getting lost in a children's book once in a while.

I don't think my thick book will come as a surprise to anyone... It's A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin. I do actually have thicker books on my shelves, but I wanted to choose only fiction books (there's only so much one can take of my ever-present dictionaries), and decided against anthologies and book collections. I do own the complete works of Shakespeare and Edward Lear, as well as that Narnia collection I mentioned earlier, but this is my longest single book.

8. A fiction book/A non-fiction book

I own a lot of fiction, but The Restaurant at the End of the Universe by Douglas Adams immediately stood out in my mind as the most fictitious and far-fetched of them all. This is the only one of the Hitch-hiker's Guide series that I own in non-ebook form, so really it's acting as representative of the whole series. The story involves the extremes of space and time travel, with various antics and shenanigans along the way. You can't really get more fictitious than that!

For my non-fiction book, I've chosen Is That a Fish in Your Ear by David Bellos. It deals with the fascinating questions surrounding translation and its implications in our lives. Essential reading for any language enthusiast!

9. A romantic book/An action book

I have to say, I'm not big on romance as a genre. But this book immediately springs to mind when I think of romantic books I own. Written in verse, What My Mother Doesn't Know by Sonya Sones is the story of a teenage girl who falls in love. Simple but beautifully told.

Action-packed and laugh-out-loud funny, Pirates! In an Adventure with the Romantics by Gideon Defoe is my chosen 'action book'. This is a speedy, hilariously-written read with plenty of crazy plot twists and random events.

10. A book that made you happy/One that made you sad

Along with Jerome K. Jerome and Douglas Adams, P.G. Wodehouse is one of my all-time favourite funny writers. Everything he comes out with is pure gold! I don't laugh out loud at books all that often, but Wodehouse's books are notable exceptions. Any Jeeves and Wooster novel is sure to bring a smile (and a hysterical laugh) to my face!

And finally, Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl is the book I've chosen for 'sad book' category. Though the much of the book is actually thoughtful and uplifting, the diary is inextricably linked to its author's real-life tragic fate, which is really what makes it so sad. I recently visited the Anne Frank museum in Amsterdam, and one thing that really struck me was Anne's father's commentary on publishing her diary. Otto Frank talked about how he had realised, on reading the diary after Anne's death, that he had never really known his daughter at all, which just adds another level of sadness to the whole thing. Though Anne was only around 13 when she wrote it, the words are poignant, insightful and beautifully expressed. I would recommend this book to anyone of any age, not just as a unique record of history at an individual level, but also as a wonderful piece of literature in its own right.

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So there you have it! My list of 10 book opposites. Please feel free to comment with your own answers down below, or even create a blog post of your own and link it in the comments. I'd love to see what you come up with!