Everything Is Illuminated
Everything Is Illuminated, December 2006, 8/10.
Written by Jonathan Safran Foer. Published by Harper Perennial
Very nice novel deems designed to raise questions about the past and our actions. A little too blunt at the start re the letters. Sweet obscurity.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: 8/10, American, Fiction, First Book, Jonathan Safran Foer, Magical Realism, Modern, World War II
Suite Francaise
Suite Francaise, December 2006, 7/10.
Written by Irene Nemirovsky. Published by Chatto & Windus.
Touching and eerily disturbing book. Question whether author’s notes enlighten reader or remove some of the mystique. Not as good as I had hoped, but enjoyable regardless (it is incomplete, I suppose).
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: 7/10, Fiction, French, Irene Nemirovsky, Translated Books, World War II
What Is The What
What Is The What, December 2006, 6.5/10.
Written by Dave Eggers. Published by McSweeney’s.
Decent book, but not up to the high praise of so many of the reviews. Disturbingly graphic, but I suppose that’s half the point. Felt it didn’t quite cover enough of the US experience, but can’t quite place why I felt this. Unimpressed by the ‘request’ for donations at the back.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: 6.5/10, Africa, American, Civil War, Dave Eggers, Lost Boys, Nonfiction, Sudan
A Tale Of Love And Darkness
A Tale Of Love And Darkness (Translated by Nicholas de Lange), December 2006, 8/10.
Written by Amoz Oz. Published by Harcourt.
Beautiful language, very touching. Clearly seems to be missing a bit about the next generation.
Categories: Uncategorized
Tagged: 8/10, Amoz Oz, Israel, Israeli, Middle East Books, Nonfiction, Person History, Translated Books
