Is our ability to create and react emotionally and intellectually to stories the one thing that makes really human? As opposed to just a biological coIs our ability to create and react emotionally and intellectually to stories the one thing that makes really human? As opposed to just a biological counterpart of artificial intelligence? Are stories really the most defining factor of our lives and existence? And, with a nod to the title鈥榮 similarity to the famous Barthes essay, are stories created for us or for their readers and the resonance and meaning they each find within a novel.
In this story about an author, with a second story within and around it, we are left in no doubt about the importance of stories. We use them to understand ourselves, to learn new ways to think and to celebrate and preserve our cultures.
Zelu and her android counterpart Ankara are fascinating characters, not perhaps always likable but certainly strong and interesting. The insights to Nigerian American life, customs and thinking are also a highlight. The really outstanding feature of the novel though is the ending. Unexpected, even shocking, while at the same time being provocative enough to leave the reader impressed. ...more
Interesting, yes. Readable, yes. Thought-provoking, occasionally. Did I feel inspired to read more in the Binti series. Not really.
Binti is an intereInteresting, yes. Readable, yes. Thought-provoking, occasionally. Did I feel inspired to read more in the Binti series. Not really.
Binti is an interesting character and the challenges she faces as a gifted outsider, both ethnically and culturally even on her own planet could make for an excellent novel. The author clearly has the ability to write that.
I鈥檓 not sure the final result did justice to the concept and the themes here though. Was it too ambitious for the novella format, I don鈥檛 know, but for me there were important aspects that were glossed over, forgotten or missed out. The second half seemed to fizzle out into a rather non-descriptive happy ending.
I鈥檓 going to read the author鈥檚 recent novel, to see if that builds more effectively on her creativity and strengths...more
Finally! I鈥檝e had an older translation of this novel for many years but found the old-fashioned language, small print and sheer length of it made me pFinally! I鈥檝e had an older translation of this novel for many years but found the old-fashioned language, small print and sheer length of it made me put off starting to read it until last year. Some suggestions: 1. Read the Rutherford translation, the English is far more modern, colloquial and readable 2. Read it on an e-reader where you can increase the text size (unless of course you have superhero level vision!) 3. Cervantes writes it as a very long series of loosely connected episodes so read it the same way. A few chapters each day. You鈥檙e likely to get burn out if you try to read it cover to cover in one marathon sitting
Once I understood those three aids to reading, I greatly enjoyed the novel. In fact I was surprised to find how modern, relevant and genuinely amusing it is. Sancho Panza with his rambling proverbs mixed with pearls of wisdom (and, later, his judgements that King Solomon would have praised) is a wonderful character. Quixote himself can be more than a little long-winded but remains lovable throughout. Cervantes makes his two protagonists funny but also uses them kindly. For this reason they are rarely irritating or boring.
Apart from the author鈥檚 stated aim to ridicule the misleading and poor quality contemporary stories of chivalry being churned out to influence the ignorant and the naive (shades of modern populist politicians and their nonsense?), Cervantes also uses Quixote and Sancho to voice opinions on such equally modern things as corruption, the status of women, the futility of war, the distortion of religious belief and the irrational hatred and persecution of those who are different - in this case the Moriscos and Moors.
The satire is often biting but always enjoyable. I just wish he鈥檇 made the first part of the book shorter!...more
I finished this with tears in my eyes, because the final story, De barro estamos hechos, is one of the most tragically beautiful things I鈥檝e read. PerI finished this with tears in my eyes, because the final story, De barro estamos hechos, is one of the most tragically beautiful things I鈥檝e read. Perhaps also because I was sad to finish such an outstanding collection of short stories, each universal in its message while also being inextricably tied to the history, traditions and cultures of Latin America.
I decided to read it in my still shaky Spanish so it鈥檚 taken me many months, but I鈥檓 so glad I did make that effort because Allende鈥檚 language is masterful (we need a gender neutral word for that!), magical and so rich that even to this ageing language student she brings her world and its characters into vibrant life.
I really cannot understand how the FT, New Statesman and Spectator could鈥檝e provided the rave quotes shown on the cover. Probably one of the most disaI really cannot understand how the FT, New Statesman and Spectator could鈥檝e provided the rave quotes shown on the cover. Probably one of the most disappointing and boring novels I鈥檝e read by a recognised author.
In fact it鈥檚 less of a novel and more of a simple short story padded out by pages of irrelevant and often repetitive description of the building (which seems to be a pessimistic metaphor for Thailand itself), long and unconvincing looks into the thoughts of all the characters, as well as endless attempts to build those characters using minor details about their back stories.
I wouldn鈥檛 recommend it to anyone, but in particular, anyone who has more than a beach holiday acquaintance with Thailand and the Thais. If you鈥檝e lived here and have Thai friends (real people as opposed to the high society names the author quotes in his acknowledgements), you鈥檒l find yourself scoffing at the unlikeliness of it all. One example of many is that the maid and the building caretaker speak perfect English even touching on more demanding concepts and vocabulary. To give more examples would be spoiling the (weak) plot
Two stars only because the English is good and I get the sense he is capable of something far better than this
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