Noll's 2010 Reading List

[Nollaig]

Have you not read it before? It's not an easy read the first time through - at least three complaints so far from other readers are - difficulty following the family tree, difficulty remembering exactly what's happened and having to re-read pages, and hating all the characters. I would add to that, having to constantly look at the footnotes to translate the language. I find it easy now because I've been reading it since I was 14, but it's a depressing and somewhat difficult book.

[Rawr]

I would probably put it down and read other books like I usually do to be honest, so joining in a reading group is probably a useless idea for me I should just clear some books at the top of my mountain and set aside a time period for it.

[frankie]

Have you not read it before? It's not an easy read the first time through - at least three complaints so far from other readers are - difficulty following the family tree, difficulty remembering exactly what's happened and having to re-read pages, and hating all the characters. I would add to that, having to constantly look at the footnotes to translate the language. I find it easy now because I've been reading it since I was 14, but it's a depressing and somewhat difficult book.

 

I admit to the first three offences, but I feel very sad for the one who complained about hating all the characters Rawr do join us!

 

I started reading the Finnish edition last night, right from the start as a sort of a remainder of what's been happening so far, and I find the translation is just awful There's no way I can finish the whole book with this edition, I have to get back to the English one as soon as I've read til the part where I'm at in the English version.

 

I would probably put it down and read other books like I usually do to be honest, so joining in a reading group is probably a useless idea for me I should just clear some books at the top of my mountain and set aside a time period for it.

 

I would have to disagree. If the book is a difficult one or a particularly long one, I feel that group pressure is essential. I might give up if I were reading a book on my own but if there's a group of enthusiast readers who support each other all the way through I just could not let myself give up. But whatever takes your fancy

Edited March 11, 2010 by frankie

[Nollaig]

I committed the first two offences my first couple of times through the book - luckily I was using an edition with extra extra notes and a printed family tree. Once I actually got the story into my head, I could set about actually enjoying reading it

[BookJumper]

Bye, bye I, Lucifer . Subliminal message coming through: readVlad readVlad readVlad !

[Nollaig]

Yeah, you would definitely not get on with I, Lucifer. And as much as I love the first half, I can honestly say you're not missing out THAT much.

 

Hahaha, I'm probably going to finish both Wuthering Heights and No Way To Say Goodbye by tomorrow with any luck, and will be moving on to read Witchfinder by William Hussey and Vlad together.

[Kylie]

I hope the one about hating the characters wasn't me, because I think I said I didn't particularly like them, and that remains true. Well, I was mostly referring to Catherine and Heathcliff and young Linton. The others weren't too bad.

[BookJumper]

will be moving on to read Witchfinder by William Hussey and Vlad together.

*rejoices* (is it mad of me that whenever I use that word, my brain adds 'in the inferiority of your connections'? in Colin Firth's voice? )!

[Vladd]

Bye, bye I, Lucifer . Subliminal message coming through: readVlad readVlad readVlad !

 

Mmm now what should I read next i wonder?

[Nollaig]

What are the choices?

[Nollaig]

I'm just over 50 pages into Vlad: The Last Confession, and so far I'm absolutely loving it. Given the large cast I expected it to be quite difficult to follow but it's arranged very well - describing characters and their actions before giving their names so you have something solid to apply them to.

 

In addition to the map and the three-page-dramatis-personae, there's a glossary of Osmanlica, the mostly-Turkish language used throughout the land at that time and quite frequently throughout at least the first 50 pages of this book. There's also a long bibliography (IMMENSE research went into this book) and notes from the author on the factual events he incorporated into the story.

 

I'm also finding it helps that I read The Historian - that novel offered a multitude of basic facts about Vlad Dracula - things that could have been discovered by going to wikipedia, yes, but insightful all the same. For anyone who has that basis in their head (locations (Poenari, Targoviste, parts of Hungary, Serbia, Turkey etc), rulers and political events (Sultan Murad Han, who took Dracul's two sons as political barter, and his son Mehmet who was the Turkish ruler Vlad was faced with, etc)), this novel even 50 pages in is a real treat. It just gives great depth and life to what is otherwise a mere history lesson.

Edited March 12, 2010 by Nollaig

[Nollaig]

After about half an hour ho-humming over several other books, I finally decided on ordering these from Amazon:

 

The Lone Ranger & Tonto Fistfight In Heaven - Sherman Alexie

Flowers For Algernon - Daniel Keyes

Dracula: His Life & Times - Radu Florescu

^ Those three weren't in question. The next two were:

The Art Of Racing In The Rain - Garth Stein

Quantum - Manjit Kumar

 

So yay! Books coming in the post, always makes me happy.

 

The ones I decided against (just for now) were:

The Once & Future King - T. H. White

Dorian: An Imitation - Will Self

The Maze Runner Trilogy - James Dashner

Dracula: The Dragon Prince - Michael Augustyn.

[AbielleRose]

Flowers For Algernon - Daniel Keyes

 

Yay! I hope you like this one. Its a really great book.

[Nollaig]

I finished Vlad.

 

One word.

 

"Wow."

 

That is all.

 

ETA: Also just finished re-reading Wuthering Heights. I will be writing more extensive thoughts on both soon.

Edited March 20, 2010 by Nollaig

[~Andrea~]

Quantum - Manjit Kumar

 

Yay!! I hope you love it too

[Nollaig]

I'm sure I will Andrea It's been posted and should be here Wed/Thurs

[~Andrea~]

Great stuff. I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it

[Nollaig]

 

(2009)

 

Genre: Historical Fiction

Synopsis: DRACULA. A name of horror, depravity and the darkest sensuality. Yet the real Dracula was just as alluring, just as terrifying, his story not of a monster but of a man - and a contradiction. For the one they called 'The Devil's Son' was both tyrant and lawgiver, crusader and mass slaughterer, torturer and hero, lover and murderer. His tale is told by those who knew him best. The only woman he ever loved, who he must sacrifice. His closest comrade and traitor. And his priest, betraying the secrets of the confessional to reveal the mind of the man history would forever remember as Tepes - 'The Impaler'.

 

***

 

Review:

 

It may be worth pointing out (though I wish I didn't have to) that this IS NOT A BOOK ABOUT VAMPIRES.

It's virtually common knowledge by now that Vlad Dracula did little to inspire the title character of Stoker's classic novel, but for those unfamiliar with Elizabeth Miller's work, it has been proved. Therefore, the association of Vlad's own name with vampires is unfair and inappropriate. This book is about the man, who was far more interesting than a vampire anyway. Yeah I went there. On with the review.

 

When I opened this book, and saw a three page Dramatis Personae and a map in the front, a bibliography, author's note and three pages of a limba Romanian glossary in the back, I'll admit, I thought the novel could turn out to be a heavy slog through over-researched and heavily detailed irrelevancies. Now, I feel bad even writing that in this review. Before I write any further, I would like to clearly state that this novel is as compelling and epic as the man himself. It gets 11 out of 5 shiny stars. Three characters are recovered from their little corners of existence, a forest, a convent, and a cell in the ground, to play the role of Vlad's biographers and confessors. Characters whose stories are as slowly and surely unfurled as Vlad's - this novel is not just about him, it's a faithful, largely historical dramatization of a period in political history, an illustration of life in 1400's Romania, of those nearest and dearest to Dracula. At it's heart it is not just a story, but a raw, emotional storytelling; woven from factual threads into a complex and fascinating expanse of possibilities.

 

From the outset, it's hard not to like Vlad. Starting with his life as a teen hostage in the hands of his fathers enemies - Turks ruled by Sultan Murad Han, we are introduced quite early to the intelligence, passion and heart of Vlad's character, as well as to the rivalry, which will last as long as he lives, with the Sultan's son, Mehmet Celebi. Sound crazy? Well, what the novel first and foremost does is place the man in his historical and cultural context. When he is no more than a name in a history book, imbued with exaggerated fabrications about his deeds (and lore unjustly associated with a character created some 250 years later), it is easy to forget he was also just a man. One raised by his father's enemy, taught against his will to torture and maim, while his family was viciously destroyed by those same enemies and traitors. It is easy to forget that he believed in a Christian God and in the times he lived, the greatest thing a Christan could do was declare crusade and wage holy war. Does that justify his actions? Not at all. Does it complicate his condemnation? Hell yes.

 

Absolutely, completely, utterly impossible to put down, you'll be awake at 3am and willing your eyes to just hold on to the end of the next (five) chapters. It's dark, graphic, uncompromising; awe-inspiring, sympathy-evoking, completely engrossing. It turned my stomach on occasion, it broke my heart on others, and I declare shamelessly that the ending is perfection. It's the ultimate juxtaposition of artistic licence and otherwise-faithful historical recounting. Vlad's is a undefined story embellished with myth and altered for fireside tellings over the years - if you're going to faithfully tell his story now it would almost be an injustice NOT to add a personal touch; a nod to his ongoing legend - a view to view his story anew. If there's a better touch out there than that of the masterful Mr. Humphreys', to coin a classic, I'll eat my hat.

 

The ONLY downside to this novel (and again, I hesitate to include this because I'd hate to think I deterred anyone from reading it), is the sudden skipping of weeks, months or even years from one chapter to the next. Of course, this is wholly necessary in a novel covering the stories, histories and politics of several people, their nations and their enemies, so it's not a mark against the novel in any way. It's skillfully done - it's adds a quality of human memory to the telling, fragmented though vivid; and after all, this is a collection of memories, painful, memoiric recollections, recounted by those who knew Dracula best. The only reason I feel it is a downside is because 430 pages wasn't enough for me - I could have read another 400 quite happily if only filled with the mundanity of those quieter years - a tribute to the ability of the author.

 

An enthralling, disturbing, thought-provoking and wholly satisfying read.

 

Rating: 5/5

Edited March 21, 2010 by Nollaig

[Vladd]

Three guesses what I just ordered from Amazon

[Nollaig]

Excellent! You won't be disappointed. It's a great book.

[DanC_84]

That was an absolute killer review Roxi, I'm gonna throw that one on my list also.

[catwoman]

Once I have got The Historian off my TBR pile I will be ordering Vlad straight away. Wow what a great review Noll!

[Nollaig]

Aww thanks guys! I thought the review was rather long-winded, but I couldn't help ranting I hope yous enjoy it! It's really awesome.

[Nollaig]

I've been M.I.R.A (Missing in reading-action) for some time due to being ill, followed by going to my parents for Easter, followed by being ill at my parents over Easter. The joy.

 

So, what I'm up to at the moment (and I know nobody cares, I just like having regular updates to look back on at the end of the year so I can remember what I was reading when -) is this:

 

On Hold:

Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell

Prince Of Many Faces

Witchfinder

Those are three I started a while back and slowly left to look at other things. I plan on finishing all three this month.

 

Reading:

The Art Of Racing In The Rain

An easy read to get me back into the, er, game. Yes.

 

Reviewing:

No Time To Say Goodbye

Cinema Blue

Review for the former is nearly done, and I'm nearly finished reading the latter (which was also on hold due to illness). Both reviews should get done within a week at MOST. I'm saying it now so I have no excuses.

 

Upcoming reads:

The Lone Ranger & Tonto Fistfight In Heaven

Flowers For Algernon

Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality

The Children's Book

I have no idea what order to attack those in, so they'll probably occur simultaneously, thus creating in my head the greatest fictionalized account of the nature of Indian reality for mice and children.

[vodkafan]

Hey Noll

 

Quantum: Einstein, Bohr, and the Great Debate about the Nature of Reality

 

This one looks interesting I will look it up on amazon