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50books_poc3 - Beloved by Toni Morrison
Somehow in my thirty-four years, I have carelessly failed to read Toni Morrison. I was lucky to have a fabulous introduction to her writing, via the audiobook of Beloved, read by Morrison herself. There is nothing like hearing the words exactly as they were intended to be read. This book blew me away, and I'm prepared to put at least some of that down to her wonderful reading.
The thing I really liked was the circuitous narrative, in which hints that are dropped near the beginning gradually build to tumultuous revelations in the second half of the story. I listened to several sections with my heart in my mouth ('scuse the cliché). Some of it read like poetry, and I loved the way the various monologues, the stories that the characters wanted to tell, sometimes vied for attention.
It's the kind of book that takes over your mind; as I went about my daily life, part of my mind was always thinking of Sephe and her experiences, or wondering what Paul D went through after he left Sweet Home, or picturing Denver playing with Beloved.
Audiobook at audible.co.uk and audible.com (the contrasting opinions of reviewers regarding Morrison's reading abilities are fascinating, too).
4 - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Funny and sad by turns - and perhaps made even sadder by the humour that the narrator uses to deal with some of the horrific things that happen to him. This is the pointed story of a Spokane Indian who decides that he wants to do something with his life - and that means going to a school outside the reservation on which he lives.
His challenges include health problems, a goofy appearance, accusations of being a traitor, dysfunctional and addict family and friends, lack of money, and the various forms of racism he encounters outside the reservation.
Junior/Arnold deals with things by drawing cartoons, which are reproduced in the book via the art of Ellen Forney. These illustrations are a brilliant addition - the artist has really captured the spirit of the book, IMO.
The book is enjoyable, but the author also has a point to make, and boy, did it hit home with me. I'll be reading more of Alexie's writing.
ETA: I also wanted to mention the BBC's World Book Club podcast, in which authors are interviewed and then answer audience questions about one of their books. Recent authors include Toni Morrison (yay!), Chinua Achebe, Mohsin Hamed and Alice Walker, all of whom should be of interest to watchers of this community.
Somehow in my thirty-four years, I have carelessly failed to read Toni Morrison. I was lucky to have a fabulous introduction to her writing, via the audiobook of Beloved, read by Morrison herself. There is nothing like hearing the words exactly as they were intended to be read. This book blew me away, and I'm prepared to put at least some of that down to her wonderful reading.
The thing I really liked was the circuitous narrative, in which hints that are dropped near the beginning gradually build to tumultuous revelations in the second half of the story. I listened to several sections with my heart in my mouth ('scuse the cliché). Some of it read like poetry, and I loved the way the various monologues, the stories that the characters wanted to tell, sometimes vied for attention.
It's the kind of book that takes over your mind; as I went about my daily life, part of my mind was always thinking of Sephe and her experiences, or wondering what Paul D went through after he left Sweet Home, or picturing Denver playing with Beloved.
Audiobook at audible.co.uk and audible.com (the contrasting opinions of reviewers regarding Morrison's reading abilities are fascinating, too).
4 - The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
Funny and sad by turns - and perhaps made even sadder by the humour that the narrator uses to deal with some of the horrific things that happen to him. This is the pointed story of a Spokane Indian who decides that he wants to do something with his life - and that means going to a school outside the reservation on which he lives.
His challenges include health problems, a goofy appearance, accusations of being a traitor, dysfunctional and addict family and friends, lack of money, and the various forms of racism he encounters outside the reservation.
Junior/Arnold deals with things by drawing cartoons, which are reproduced in the book via the art of Ellen Forney. These illustrations are a brilliant addition - the artist has really captured the spirit of the book, IMO.
The book is enjoyable, but the author also has a point to make, and boy, did it hit home with me. I'll be reading more of Alexie's writing.
ETA: I also wanted to mention the BBC's World Book Club podcast, in which authors are interviewed and then answer audience questions about one of their books. Recent authors include Toni Morrison (yay!), Chinua Achebe, Mohsin Hamed and Alice Walker, all of whom should be of interest to watchers of this community.
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Date: 2009-03-27 02:27 am (UTC)I also enjoyed The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. It just seemed to deal with so much human emotion and human fate.
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Date: 2009-03-27 04:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-27 04:15 am (UTC)Really want to read the Sherman Alexie one, now!
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Date: 2009-03-27 04:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-27 01:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-03-28 07:38 am (UTC)(I didn't know there was a film, either - will look out for it.)
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Date: 2009-03-27 09:09 pm (UTC)Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the book.
no subject
Date: 2009-03-28 07:39 am (UTC)