skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Surprisingly before this year, I had never read this book. Earlier this year, the writer probably made most famous by this novel died and a couple of weeks later I picked up a cheap copy of this book at a local second-hand book shop. I had previously read Franny and Zooey which I would go as far to say that I enjoyed slightly more. Nonetheless, this book remains a classic and it is easy to see why.
It tells the story of Holden Caulfield, a young man expelled from prep school who runs away to spend time by himself in New York, preferring that to facing his parents. We learn early on about the death of Holden's brother which continues to trouble him, as well as his troubling life experiences and propensity to lie. Holden masks his troubled past with a gruff manner as he struggles to get back the innocence he lost when his brother died.
There is no doubt that this is an amazing work of literature. Holden likely stands as one of the most loved fictional characters of all time. Most people are able to comprehend and associate on some level with Holden and his want for the innocence of childhood to return. This is a stellar book with a brilliant character and excellent prose. I'd recommend it to everyone.
The first thing I would say about this novel and about a lot of Murakami's work is it's impossible to know how much of it could be lost in translation. It is impossible to know if the beauty that comes through in her writing is also evident in its original Japanese but one assumes it is. The main narrator in this book is known only as 'K', who is a teacher in love with Sumire, a young woman who wants to be a writer and is in turn in love with a wine importer called Miu, who she ends up working for. As K finds himself increasingly cut off from Sumire's life, she takes a work trip with Miu and it is here that she disappears and K is brought over to help search for her.
This novel tells the reader a lot about loneliness. The loneliness firstly of K's unrequited adoration for Sumire and Sumire's own loneliness in her feelings for Miu that causes her to go off into another world. Aside from these two, there is also Miu's loneliness caused by a traumatic experience years before, that causes the colour to seep out of her and is the root of the impossibility she has in relationships and intimacy.
This is the only book I've read by Murakami so I cannot make comparisons with his other work. The crafting of this story is perfect though and the language, one can imagine, preserved well by the translators which builds the slightly mysterious and even paranormal part of this work and entices the reader even more. The plot is never really resolved, but this fits with the mystery of this story. I will certainly be seeking out and reading more of Murakami's work.
I used to read the Adrian Mole books as a kid and I'm pretty sure this was the only one I've never read - it was written fairly recently. The loveable Adrian gives the title to this book when he writes a letter to Tony Blair requesting that he inform a travel company of the danger of the weapons of mass destruction. It seems after all this time, Adrian still hasn't changed. He's still in love with Pandora Braithwaite and he still somehow manages back living with his parents. We see Adrian as a dedicated believer of Tony Blair's mission in Iraq and his slow realisation throughout the book that perhaps something is not right - especially when his beloved Pandora (a Minister in the Labour government) splits from Blair.
As usual Townsend has brought us back a character who has never gotten passe. His potential to embarrass himself and to take himself too seriously is once again evident throughout the book. This is as well as his support for his son Glen who is off in Iraq, a member of the army. Adrian finds himself deep in the credit economy and his debts begin to pile up as he gets credit card upon credit card with no idea how to pay for them.
As usual Sue Townsend has fully delivered on one of the most amusing characters ever to be put in literature - definitely up there with Bridget Jones.
