Ruth - 2013

[pontalba]

William Holden was indeed a Golden Boy.....and definitely one of my favorites as well Ruth.  I remember when he died....how awful. 

Wasn't he in a long term relationship with Stephanie Powers? 

[Ruth]

Very interesting Ruth. I've always read about him in the Audrey biographies .. which nearly all claimed he was madly in love with her. Did this one give any further insight into that?

Very sad that his adult life was blighted by his alcohol addiction .. too often the case with actors

 

The book does talk about his love for Audrey, but probably doesn't add anything that you won't already know if you've read bios of Audrey.  Very sad really - she loved him too, but because he had had a vasectomy and she wanted children, it wasn't to be.

 

William Holden was indeed a Golden Boy.....and definitely one of my favorites as well Ruth.  I remember when he died....how awful. 

Wasn't he in a long term relationship with Stephanie Powers? 

 

Yes, they were together for nine years until he died.  I have her autobiography - which I bought purely because of the William Holden connection.  She loved him deeply, and I think they were very happy together, but again, his alcoholism did not make things easy.

[Ruth]

Kommandant's Girl, by Pam Jenoff

 

 

Emma Bau, a Polish Jew, has only been married a few weeks when the Nazis come into her home town, and life as she knows it is changed dramatically.  While her husband Jacob leaves their home to go and work for the Jewish resistance, she is forced to take on a fake name, pretend that she is not Jewish, and live with Jacob’s Catholic aunt, Krysia.  When a chance arrives for her to help the resistance by working in the office of a high-ranking Nazi official, she takes it, but against all her inclinations, finds herself attracted to her boss – and the feeling is mutual.  While the devastating effects of the Nazi regime are being felt all around her, Emma (now known as Anna) must keep up the charade, and cope with her conflicting feelings.

 

 

I usually enjoy books set in the WWII, and this was no exception.  I thought it was an easy read, despite the subject matter, and events were moving quick enough that I was drawn in and always eager to find out what had happened.

 

The story was definitely more plot driven than character driven, and I was never sure how I actually felt about Emma/Anna on a personal level.  Nonetheless, the book does highlight the considerable risks that people took to fight back against the Nazis, and I am always slightly awed by such stories (because yes, these characters were fictional, but there were people who took such risks).  I felt that the author tried to humanise the Kommandant, for whom Emma has such unwanted feelings of attraction; he was almost - almost - likeable, but I couldn’t get away from the fact that he was a Nazi.  However, as Jacob barely featured in the book, he was also not a character about whom I could feel very much.  Krysia, on the other hand was a wonderful character – probably my favourite out of the whole book.

 

This aside though, I really like the book a lot, and an hour of reading it seemed to pass by in about 20 minutes!  The atmosphere of suspicion and not knowing who could really be trusted was depicted well, and I certainly felt thankful that I never lived through such times or make such decisions as Emma did.

 

On the basis of this book, I bought another book by Pam Jenoff (actually a prequel to this one, where more is written about the Kommandant’s first wife), and I look forward to reading it very soon.

[Devi]

Added to my wish list!

[Ruth]

Added to my wish list!

 

Enjoy

[Ruth]

The Little Stranger, by Sarah Waters

 

 

Hundreds Hall in Warwickshire, home to the Ayres family for years, used to be a grand country house.  However, in the post-WWII era, it is dilapidated, practically falling down around the family’s ears, and the finances are such that they are struggling to maintain it at all, while coming to terms with a changing society.  Doctor Faraday – the narrator of the book – meets the family, the widow Mrs Ayres and her two grown children Roderick and Caroline, when he comes to the hall to treat their young housemaid, but he is drawn into their lives, and becomes friendly with them.  But a series of strange and unsettling events, starts to take effect on the Ayres’, and it seems that there may be something sinister within Hundreds Hall, that is taunting the family.

 

I have read all of Sarah Waters’ books, and without exception, have enjoyed them.  The Little Stranger was brilliantly written, with a slow, creeping atmosphere, that left me feeling unsettled a couple of times.  Waters’ writing always flows so well, and I found myself reading huge chunks at a time, just not wanting to put the book down.  It was not a light or happy read, and in truth, not all (in fact, not many) of the characters were easy to warm to, although I suspect that may have been entirely intentional.  The Hall itself was just as much a character as any of the people that lived in it, and it was vividly described, making it, and the events which took place in it, all too easy to imagine.  The Doctor’s narration too, perfectly described both the isolated life of the Ayres, and his own, somewhat lonely life as a bachelor with few real friends.

 

I had no clue as to how the story was going to end, and was eager to find out what would happen – and here is my only criticism of the book, because the ending was something of a let-down.  I don’t want to say too much, because I don’t want to give away any spoilers, but I certainly did not find the big twist that I felt sure must be coming at any moment, the nearer I got to the last page.  That kind of left me with a “is that it?” feeling, when I finished the book, which is something that I’m not used to feeling with Sarah Waters books.  All the time I was reading this, I thought it was going to be a 5 star book, but because of the ending, I ended up giving it 4.

 

Having said that however, it was still a book which was thoroughly worth reading, and which I would recommend, purely because the writing itself is so good, and Waters really knows how to ratchet up the tension.

Edited November 9, 2013 by Ruth

[Ruth]

Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen

 

 

(I listened to this as an audiobook, having previously read it many years ago.)

 

At a young age, the virtuous and sweet Fanny Price is sent to live with her Uncle and Aunt Bertram, and her four cousins, the feckless Tom, the moral Edmund, and their flighty sisters Maria and Julia.  Fanny falls for Edmund, but keeps her feelings hidden and has to watch as he falls for their friend Mary Crawford, while Maria and Julia are both attracted to Mary’s sister Henry Crawford.  As the Crawford and the Bertrams become closer, entanglements and complications ensue.

 

In all honesty, there is too much story to put into one small summary, and in many ways this is the most socially aware and least romantic novel of Austens.  It is also probably the least popular of her novels, and I can understand why, although I did enjoy it.

 

The thing that struck me about the characters is that none of them are particularly likeable.  Fanny is sweet and kind, and Edmund is very moralistic and by far the most thoughtful of the Bertram children, but (for me anyway) they were both ever-so-slightly boring.  The rest of the characters don’t have much to redeem them, with Mrs Bertram seeming kind, but practically catatonic for most of the novel, and Mr Bertram being well-meaning, but cold and distant.  The other youngsters are pretty self-absorbed, and Fanny’s other aunt, Aunt Norris, is mean-spirited and never misses an opportunity to put Fanny down.

 

Despite this, there were moments of humour, and the plot was interesting, with a pivotal scene being the play which the youngsters hope to stage, and which is the point at which feelings and attractions start to develop.  (Edmund’s horror at the thought of something so scandalous a play taking place at Mansfield Park – even with no audience – was unintentionally funny!)  There was a lot of angsty dialogue between the characters, and some scenes were overplayed, but I did like the gradual growth in characters as Edmund tries to excuse some of Mary Crawford’s behaviour which he would have found unacceptable in anyone else, and as Fanny starts to be more confident about giving her own opinion (in the first half of the book Fanny is really little more than an onlooker through whose eyes we see the proceedings, but as the story develops she features more, and becomes more interesting to read about).

 

Overall, it’s well worth reading, and I didn’t think it the disappointment that some Austen fans do.  Fanny, while not the most engaging of characters – she does not have half as much personality as Emma Woodhouse or Elizabeth Bennet for instance – is likeable, and eventually admirable, and the story is well told, even if the ending is predictable to anyone who has read any other of Austen’s books.

 

[poppyshake]

Great reviews Ruth Mansfield Park is my least favourite Jane book but there's still plenty to enjoy. I liked all the scandal involving the Crawfords .. I think the book needed it as it was in danger of being a bit too prim and proper otherwise.

 

What was your take on the ending of The Little Stranger? There is a twist but it's not easy to see at first .. though it may be one you guessed earlier which can take some of the suspense out of it. I didn't see it and felt flat (after such a great build up) but then someone told me to look again. All the same I think Sarah says people are to make up their own minds and she isn't saying if it's right or not .. which is a pain .. but she does say the clue is in the last line.

The last paragraph and last line is

'If Hundreds Hall is haunted, however, its ghost doesn't show to me. For I'll turn and am disappointed - realising that what I am looking at is only a cracked window pain, and that the face gazing distortedly from it, baffled and longing, is my own.

That to me says ..  

 

.. it's the curse of the unreliable narrator again .. Dr Faraday is the little stranger. 

[Athena]

Great review, I haven't yet read any Austen but I think Mansfield Park is in my omnibus edition of her works.

[Ruth]

Great reviews Ruth Mansfield Park is my least favourite Jane book but there's still plenty to enjoy. I liked all the scandal involving the Crawfords .. I think the book needed it as it was in danger of being a bit too prim and proper otherwise.

 

What was your take on the ending of The Little Stranger? There is a twist but it's not easy to see at first .. though it may be one you guessed earlier which can take some of the suspense out of it. I didn't see it and felt flat (after such a great build up) but then someone told me to look again. All the same I think Sarah says people are to make up their own minds and she isn't saying if it's right or not .. which is a pain .. but she does say the clue is in the last line.

The last paragraph and last line is

'If Hundreds Hall is haunted, however, its ghost doesn't show to me. For I'll turn and am disappointed - realising that what I am looking at is only a cracked window pain, and that the face gazing distortedly from it, baffled and longing, is my own.

That to me says ..  

 

.. it's the curse of the unreliable narrator again .. Dr Faraday is the little stranger. 

 

Ah, that is VERY interesting.  I remember reading that line and wondering if it meant that

Faraday was the little stranger.  Also, he had been to Hundreds the night of Caroline's death, although he had not gone in and had spent the night in his car.  But his memories of the evening in his car later seemed blurry, and I did wonder whether or not he had actually gone into the house, and caused Caroline's death.

 It's probably a book I'll read again at some point.

 

Re Mansfield Park - agree about the Crawfords  Have you watched The Jane Austen Book Club?  I watched it the other week, and loved it (I've got the book too, but haven't read it yet).  When they talk about Mansfield Park, one character says that just once she would love to read it and have Fanny end up in bed with Henry Crawford! 

 

Great review, I haven't yet read any Austen but I think Mansfield Park is in my omnibus edition of her works.

 

I hope you enjoy it - and all of her books.  I think Emma is probably my favourite, but they are all worth reading

Edited November 24, 2013 by Ruth

[poppyshake]

Ah, that is VERY interesting.  I remember reading that line and wondering if it meant that

Faraday was the little stranger.  Also, he had been to Hundreds the night of Caroline's death, although he had not gone in and had spent the night in his car.  But his memories of the evening in his car later seemed blurry, and I did wonder whether or not he had actually gone into the house, and caused Caroline's death.

 It's probably a book I'll read again at some point.

Though I re-read the ending I'd like to go back now with this theory in mind and see how many clues were there.

 

Dr Faraday claims to have been in his car but he did say he had dreamt that he went back to Hundreds only he only got as far as the drive or something ..  we also know from the maid that Caroline knew her murderer as she said 'You!' before falling to her death. All of this happened just after Caroline called off the wedding and made plans to sell Hundreds.

Re Mansfield Park - agree about the Crawfords  Have you watched The Jane Austen Book Club?  I watched it the other week, and loved it (I've got the book too, but haven't read it yet).  When they talk about Mansfield Park, one character says that just once she would love to read it and have Fanny end up in bed with Henry Crawford!

 That would've spiced it up a bit. I haven't seen it no .. I'll definitely look out for it though so thanks Ruth   

[Ruth]

The Battle for America 2008: The Story of an Extraordinary Election, by Dan Balz and Haynes Johnson

 

 

 

This is a brilliantly readable account of what was indeed an extraordinary election in America in 2008.  It starts from the beginning, with the candidates announcing their intentions to run, thoroughly discussing the Democratic and Republican campaigns to get the nomination, and then the presidential campaign.  The Democratic nomination campaigns quickly became a two-person race, between the well-known Hillary Clinton and the newer face of Barack Obama.  (While I do think Obama is terrific and I was lucky enough to be in a blue state in America for both of his elections, this book reinforced my view that Hillary would also have done an excellent job.)  The book demonstrates how important the Iowa caucus was to both candidates, and how infighting and bad management of finances within Hillary’s campaign caused so many problems.  Barack Obama’s campaign, while certainly not without its problems and mis-steps, seemed to run much more smoothly, in the end helping to win the nomination for him instead of the Clinton powerhouse.  (I actually found Bill Clinton’s part in Hillary’s campaign to be fascinating, as it seemed to hinder her as much as help her.)

 

McCain’s campaign for the Republican nomination was not without its problems either, as many of the party viewed him with some suspicion.  However, he got the nomination and then faced an even tougher battle against the by this time seemingly unstoppable Obama.  The successful parts of his campaign are discussed, although at times there do not seem to be too many of them, and his bizarre choice of running mate is also examined in detail.

 

Sometimes I think if this was fiction and was made into a film, people would find it too unbelievable, but this is all true! The narrative is presented in an engaging tone, and it never feels dull or dry.  It also stays unbiased, and although it reports on some of the more unsavoury press which the candidates received during their campaigns, it never resorts to using the same tactics.  Overall, I would say that this is well worth a look to anybody with even a passing interest in politics or the election process.

[Ruth]

The Jane Austen Book Club, by Karen Joy Fowler

 

 

 

I picked this book up a few years ago in a charity shop, because (a) it was ridiculously cheap, and (b) I like Jane Austen.  I finally got around to reading it because I watched the film adaptation a few weeks ago, and really enjoyed it, and I wanted to see how the book and film compared.  Of the many reviews I’ve read of this book since finishing it myself, the vast majority are unfavourable, but while I can see what might put people off, I actually enjoyed it a lot.

 

Six friends start a book club which meets once a month, to discuss the novels of Jane Austen.  Each takes their turn at hosting, and while the novel does discuss their meetings, it takes much more time to describe each character’s back story, and the issues which they are facing in their current life.  The narration is quite unusual – it is as if the book club has a collective consciousness, and it is from the point of view of this consciousness that the story is told; I can see how that could irritate, but for me anyway, it worked.  I did think that the characters were pretty well drawn, although two of them – Prudie and Bernadette – seemed slightly set apart from the other four, this possibly being because the other four had connections between them that excluded Prudie and Bernadette (this may also explain why these two characters were my least favourites).

 

It’s a very charming book, if slightly predictable.  Not entirely predictable however – the resolutions of Sylvia’s and Allegra’s stories were not what I had expected (or at least in Sylvia’s case, it would have been unexpected, but I knew what happened, only because I had seen the film).  However, as each chapter is devoted mainly to one character (that being whoever is hosting the book club that month), it almost feels like a series of separate short stories which relate to each other through shared characters.

 

I wouldn’t say that you need to like, or even to have read any Austen novels to enjoy this book, as in truth, only small parts of the books are devoted to the actual book club meetings – in fact, you could probably have written this book about any author’s works (Karen Joy Fowler is clearly a big Austen fan, as she notes in her acknowledgements) – but I do think it helps, as I found myself nodding along with the assessments of certain Austen characters.  I enjoyed it a lot, but on balance, I’m not sure I would read it again, while I would certainly watch the film adaptation again.

[Athena]

Great review ! I've got the film on DVD but I haven't watched it yet. The book sounds good too.

[lauraloves]

Great review. I brought this a few years ago but havent got around to it yet. Having read your review hopefully I will pick it up soon!

[Ruth]

Great review ! I've got the film on DVD but I haven't watched it yet. The book sounds good too.

 

Thanks The film is great.  I only watched it because Jimmy Smits is in it and I think he's rather lovely (although he's not so nice in this  ), but I ended up absolutely loving it.  Hope you do too

 

Great review. I brought this a few years ago but havent got around to it yet. Having read your review hopefully I will pick it up soon!

 

Thanks  I've seen some negative reviews about the book, but I really enjoyed it.  If you enjoy it, I would definitely recommend the film too (as you can probably tell)!

[Ruth]

The Remains of the Day, by Kazuo Ishiguro

 

 

The narrator of this book is Stevens, a loyal butler, who has worked at the grand Darlington Hall for most of his adult life.  Set in 1956, when Stevens receives a letter from former housekeeper Miss Kenton, who left Darlington Hall several years earlier to get married, he sets out to meet her.  En route, he reminisces about his time at Darlington Hall, specifically the years when he served the now deceased and disgraced Lord Darlington, in the years between World War I and World War II.

 

I found myself being drawn into this book, and ended up being very moved by it.  The characters – principally Stevens himself and Miss Kenton are believable, and if not always completely likeable, are certainly shown as two very decent people, who may have both missed the best years and opportunities of their lives.  (Such as when Stevens meets some villagers on his journey and allows them to believe that he had more influence over world affairs than he ever could really have hoped to have had.)

 

The dual narration works well, and while most of the book is devoted to Stevens’ time serving Lord Darlington, his present day narration show how those earlier years have affected him, despite his seeming never to want to show emotion.  Tellingly, on a couple of occasions in the present day narrative, he denies having worked for Lord Darlington, due to Darlington’s reputation as a Nazi sympathiser.  At times I wanted to shake Stevens and tell him to allow himself to show his feelings; not to miss out on an opportunity.  He was a perfectly drawn character, sometimes frustrating to read about with his fastidiousness and his occasional obtuseness, and ultimately a sympathetic character.

 

Also, this book is surprisingly funny at times.  Stevens attempts to teach Lord Darlington’s godson about sex (under Lord Darlington’s instruction) had me giggling, and his occasional referrals to the art of banter, and his attempts to learn this art, were also very amusing.

 

In the end, the message behind the book is a simple (and obvious) one, but this story is so beautifully told and so absorbing.  It’s no surprise that this book won the Man Booker Prize…I would highly recommend reading The Remains of the Day.

Edited December 4, 2013 by Ruth

[Athena]

Thanks The film is great.  I only watched it because Jimmy Smits is in it and I think he's rather lovely (although he's not so nice in this  ), but I ended up absolutely loving it.  Hope you do too

x

Thanks !

 

Nice review!

[Marie H]

Yes, lovely review  , of one of the most beautiful and haunting books I've read. Everyone should try it.

[poppyshake]

Great review of The Remains of the Day Ruth. I haven't read it but now I really want to I have seen the film but ages ago and I'm a bit hazy on it so I don't think it will spoil my enjoyment. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson .. that's all I remember  

[Marie H]

Great review of The Remains of the Day Ruth. I haven't read it but now I really want to I have seen the film but ages ago and I'm a bit hazy on it so I don't think it will spoil my enjoyment. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson .. that's all I remember  

The film is really good   , but the book goes much, much deeper, in time scale and in Stevens character. A wonderful book . 

[Ruth]

Yes, lovely review , of one of the most beautiful and haunting books I've read. Everyone should try it.

Great review of The Remains of the Day Ruth. I haven't read it but now I really want to I have seen the film but ages ago and I'm a bit hazy on it so I don't think it will spoil my enjoyment. Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson .. that's all I remember

The film is really good , but the book goes much, much deeper, in time scale and in Stevens character. A wonderful book .

Thanks both of you

 

I saw the film when it came out - I remember enjoying it, but it was quite a while ago, and I definitely wouldn't think it would spoil anything about the book. I thought the book was wonderful (as you can tell!) Haunting is exactly the word I'd use Marie. Hope you enjoy it too Poppy.

Edited December 5, 2013 by Ruth

[pontalba]

I liked both the book and film, but as I'd seen the film first, all I could do was picture Anthony Hopkins......./sigh/  Gotta love the guy.

[frankie]

Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen

 

¨¨

 

A great review of the book! Even though I have such different opinions of it... But that's part of the charm, reading a favorable review on a book I've disliked

 

Like you said, this is the least romantic novel by Austen, and I also agree with you about the characters not being particularly likeable. Like you said, they have their positive attributes... But personally I couldn't take to any of them. And personally, I didn't find it humorous or interesting at all, but I'm fascinated (and happy!) that you did  

 

I've read the book twice, but I can't remember when the last time was, and if I could make more out of the novel now...

 

 

The Jane Austen Book Club, by Karen Joy Fowler

 

'

 

Another great review! I'm happy you enjoyed it more than I did... I liked it okay but couldn't make head or tail of it... I mean for instance, right at the beginning. And I don't remember it word for word... But

the narrator said me and x amount of people. And when we got to read about the people, there was x amount of people, but not that one person who was 'me' in the beginning. It's been screwing with my head all these years

 

 

If you could explain it to me, I'd be happy!

[Ruth]

Thanks Frankie

 

About that bit in the spoilers - yeah that was a bit weird.  It was kind of written from a first person perspective, but there was no actual first person who was saying it!!  I had been warned about that though, so I knew it was coming.  The film is more enjoyable than the book - of the people I know who have read the book and seen the film, pretty much everyone really enjoyed the film, whereas opinions on the book were a bit mixed.

 

Yes I did enjoy Mansfield Park, but I could definitely see why it was the least popular of Austen's novels.  Fanny was a nice girl, but didn't have Emma Woodhouse's spark or Lizzie Bennett's opinions.  Although I liked it a lot, I don't know if I would read it again...second time around I listened to it as an audiobook, which I found a bit more enjoyable, but I doubt I would have physically picked up a copy of it second time around, whereas with Emma and P&P (and probably Persuasion), I think I would actually sit and read the book again.