Oct 26, 2009 Posted by booktiger

Revolutionary Road – Richard Yates

Revolutionary Road can be summed up as a depressing book written in beautiful, poetic prose. I hadn’t expected to enjoy it, but despite the darkness of the subject matter and the full awareness of how it was going to end up (tragically -that was clear from the first page), I was riveted. It is a rediscovered American classic which, I believe, has recently been made into a film. I can see why –... read more

Jun 3, 2009 Posted by booktiger

La Symphonie Pastorale – Andre Gide

La Symphonie Pastorale was written in 1919. The copy that I own also contained a second story, Isabelle which complemented the original story perfectly. Both were suffused with longing, loss and tragic disappointment but both were beautifully written (and translated) despite the darkness of their themes. The title story is about a pastor who, upon attending the bedside of a dying woman, discovers her... read more

Feb 25, 2009 Posted by booktiger

The Loved One – Evelyn Waugh

The funeral business in Hollywood was cut throat in the early 1950s. Bigger, better, more glamorous – for a funeral home to really reach the pinnacle, it had to try and compete with Whispering Glades, which was truly the biggest, best and most glamorous funeral home in the whole of Hollywood. Dennis Barlow is an English rogue, trapped in the artificiality of expatriate Hollywood where he must keep... read more

Nov 6, 2008 Posted by booktiger

Heart of Darkness and Youth – Joseph Conrad

Hands up all those people who didn’t study Heart of Darkness at school? Not many of you? OK, those of you who did, hands up those who can’t remember much about it. I know my hand is up, which is why I went back to read it again after I finished Blood River by Tim Butcher a few weeks back. The edition I read was also one which contained the short story Youth as well as an introduction by Tim... read more

Apr 19, 2008 Posted by Nancy Williams

Three Men in a Boat – Jerome K. Jerome

Victorian humour? Is it possible? I certainly wasn’t expecting it, but Jerome K. Jerome proved in Three Men in a Boat that it was indeed possible. Despite my normal aversion to ‘funny books’ (in particular modern funny books) there were moments I actually laughed out loud whilst reading this book. It was ‘Murphy’s Law’ in prose, with delightful observations on the world... read more

Mar 20, 2008 Posted by Nancy Williams

A Farewell To Arms – Ernest Hemingway

A Farewell to Arms is an unusual book. The storyline is simple enough, but the style of writing took some time getting used to. This is the first Hemingway novel I had ever read so I wasn’t prepared for it, but after reading the introduction in the edition which I own, the word ‘detachment’ stood out to me. The story began and I felt like I was outside looking in. Despite being written... read more