Michael Ondaatje was only the name of a highly regarded author to me and I thought it was about time to make his acquaintance. Having no idea what "WaMichael Ondaatje was only the name of a highly regarded author to me and I thought it was about time to make his acquaintance. Having no idea what "Warlight" was going to be about I was surprised to find myself reading of mysterious things and places whose significance I could begin to guess at from having encountered them in another recently published novel. Even a character from the other novel seemed to have re-appeared, under a slight disguise. Both novelists had done their research! And the subject matter is fascinating.
I enjoyed trying to solve the mysteries which each novel presented, took notes, puzzled over them and was, happily, mostly wrong. "Warlight" was the more self-consciously literary novel of the two and I read it with great care. The first person narrative lingered longer over descriptions and introspections than I'd hoped it would. This method, of course, gives the reader the development of the personality of the narrator as well as of the plot. All is seen through his eyes and guessed at through his intuitions - characters and events.
I can't give "Warlight" 5 stars because I found the narrator dull company - solemn, long-winded and self-obsessed. I'd have liked him to record more direct speech to help me form my own opinions about the people he met. I don't think I smiled once during the reading and there were times when I would have given up if I hadn't paid for my copy. But there were times when I looked forward to reading on....so, 3 and a half starts rounded up to 4....more
I was prompted to read this book by listening to a podcast talk by Stephen Pinker. I have found the statistics he quoted cheering and his optimism is I was prompted to read this book by listening to a podcast talk by Stephen Pinker. I have found the statistics he quoted cheering and his optimism is very appealing. I love facts and the title itself agrees with my own biases. I had just reached a point where I had to stop and think hard about the benefits to society of economic inequality and gazillionaires... I'll have to be thinking for a good, long while as it's the old story - the whole library system seems to have only one copy and it's in demand.
Months later:
I bought my own copy and read on with the same concentration and enthusiasm. I skimmed the last chapter and a bit but only because I felt in sympathy with the author's defence of scientific, quantitative methods of understanding the history and ways of the world and was not in need of further convincing. I've lent my copy to a friend. ...more
I love to sing and envy Stacy Horn's experience of singing under the guidance of a conductor whose rigorous approach to his task I admire without reseI love to sing and envy Stacy Horn's experience of singing under the guidance of a conductor whose rigorous approach to his task I admire without reservation. She has interesting things to say about works her impressive choir has performed. The thrill of part singing is beautifully described (with references to the neuroscience that helps explain all the delight).
I am recommending this inspiring book to chorister friends (the Kindle edition is going for AU $1.44).
I'm taking off a star because of the (nice) author's self-absorption and humourlessness. ...more
Ms Harper has set her novel entirely within the bounds of a densely wooded state (national?) park and has, with a limited number of characters and witMs Harper has set her novel entirely within the bounds of a densely wooded state (national?) park and has, with a limited number of characters and within a contracted time frame, kept up the tension to the last pages.
I am delighted to report that all my surmises about the ending were wrong....more
Frannie Turner is an elderly woman who is weary of her life and consumed with regret for the child she had never been able to conceive. When she encouFrannie Turner is an elderly woman who is weary of her life and consumed with regret for the child she had never been able to conceive. When she encounters an agent of the Devil in the guise of a supernaturally gifted and beautiful hair dresser, Frannie accepts an offer of 12 months of youth so that she can conceive the longed-for child, and then...
Youth is given Frannie. As are an unbargained for beauty and wealth plus a discerning eye which leads to a dazzling Manhattan career in her favourite, lovingly described, area of interest - art. There are paintings that carry a hint of infernal interference in Frannie's (now Fernanda's) life and there are other occasional moments of terror - a Faustian dog, repellent manifestations of the female Mephistopheles and bleak intimations of what is to come. Fernanda adjusts in time to the mores, language and style of her new coevals. She takes part in their bacchanalia. Still, she needs to find the right father for her projected child....
It's been a while since I've sacrified sleep for a novel but I was propelled through the twists and turn of this sophisticated, wry, morality play. The suprises continued to the very last word....more
Since I took up the piano again I've picked up a few hints about the neuroscience behind the practice of physical skills. Charles Cooke relays similar hints from his own experience and that of famous pianists. I haven't found him wrong in any of his actual advice, particularly as he records opinions from great pianists who occasionally disagree (which I feel absolves me, for instance, from developing technique via exercises). I am also avoiding memorising the score. But it is comforting to know that practising the tricky bits a gazillion times is not derided but applauded by the author. He supports my own realisation, as an adult, that practising can be deeply absorbing fun - more fun for me than performing to my piano group.
Of the piano literature he writes - "no matter what the level of his technical ability [the pianist] has within reach a display of treasures that outdazzles the loot in Ali Baba's cave".
I don't share all of H. L. Mencken's prejudices - how could I, over a century later and half a world away? But I loved his crisp way of executing his I don't share all of H. L. Mencken's prejudices - how could I, over a century later and half a world away? But I loved his crisp way of executing his victims, relished his irony and enjoyed being taken by surprise and obliged to laugh out loud....more
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