Books read in 2008

This year, I’ve succeeded in reading some new books at the beginning of last year, as opposed to last year when it took me about three months. I’ll keep this up-to-date throughout the year.

Notes from an Exhibition, by Patrick Gale. Four stars

Patrick Gale is a middlebrow (this is where my literary understanding stops - I could not tell you why he has never been near the Booker shortlist, but even I know on reading that he wouldn’t get near it). British author, who writes stories about the complications of families. Like many, this one takes a generation for the story to unfold, and tells the story from multiple points of view. He is excellent at writing so that you really understand and accept a character’s motivations and actions, no matter how monstrous they might seem from others’ points of view. This book reminded me why I enjoy reading fiction, I haven’t read much in the last couple of years.

Stiff, by Shane Maloney. Four stars

I had already seen this on TV, but when I found a jumbo volume of three at the bookshop, I thought I’d give it a go. Shane Maloney is one of those writers who love being clever with words (not as addicted to the pun as Kathy Lette, but similar style), which didn’t come across on TV. Overall, very funny, and almost a period piece now, as its set in the early 80s.

The Brush-Off, also by Shane Maloney Four stars again

I enjoyed this just as much, but found it harder to read. Murray Whelan (the lead character) seems so powerless at times that I found myself feeling powerless to match.

Nice Try, also by Shane Maloney. Four stars again

How to Twist a Dragon’s Tale, by Cressida Cowell. Five stars

This is a children’s book, but since our whole family had a great time reading it aloud (actually Mr Penguin did the reading), and we all loved it, it belongs here. Very very funny rip roaring adventure of a young viking, who is a bit of a weed (he gets very seasick, for example), but always saves the day with nerve and intelligence and help from his friends. Highly recommended. An earlier book in the series is available as an audio book, read by David Tennant, who does some great voices.

The Gods of Amyrantha, by Jennifer Fallon. Three stars

I enjoyed this, but not as much as her previous trilogy. I liked the previous books because I liked the characters - they were believable, human, interesting, and not perfect. The characters in this one are mostly less likeable, but they also seem less real. A good read, but I didn’t have to stay up to finish it.

The Kite Runner. Four and a half stars

I’m definitely behind the zeitgeist on this one. I bought it after all the reviews of the movie came out. I read it in a big gulp (staying up to midnight to finish it) that I felt probably didn’t to the lyrical language justice; but I wanted to find out what happened!

Through a Glass Darkly, by Donna Leon. Three stars

This is a readable, but lightweight series of detective books set in Venice. They are originally in english, which is why I found it irritating that Leon insists on describing the italian grammatical forms - using the plural you, using the formal tu etc. etc. To me that would have been reasonable in a translated book, where the forms might matter, but someone writing in english should find a less clumsy description of formality.

Mind you, I do love Venice (even as touristy as it is), so they’re fun to read if you’ve been there.

The Palace of Impossible Dreams, by Jennifer Fallon. Three stars

This is the third in a series, and….. it doesn’t end. That’s always a bad sign in a fantasy writer. Starting to look like delusions of grandeur. I’ve enjoyed Fallon’s books, but this is starting to feel its a bit like writing by numbers. I’ll probably buy the next one, though.

Half of a Yellow Sun, by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. Five stars

After starting this book a couple of weeks ago, I took it to NZ with me. After an early dinner, I picked it up and started reading at about 8.30pm. At midnight, I finished it, and couldn’t sleep, as my head was buzzing with the horror of the war, and processing this wonderful book. It’s not a good book to read when you are away from your children, (it gave me some nasty dreams) but a wonderful book.

People of the Book, by Geraldine Brooks. Four stars

I’ve been a fan of Geraldine Brooks since I read her reportage book (from being a journalist in the middle East) Nine parts of Desire. As well as having been a middle east correspondent, she is also a convert to Judaism (when she married). So this book, which imagines the history of the Sarajevo Haggadah brings together many of her enthusiasms. Mostly, I loved this book. I’m a sucker for scholarship, and stories of people who cared about scholarship, and beautiful things, over many centuries. The subplot, though, of the scholar who restores the Haggadah, and her relationship with her driven, neurologist mother, tried my patience at time. The mother seems deliberately a charicature - the ultimate horrible working woman who does not care for her child.

Exit Right; the Unravelling of John Howard, by Judith Brett Three and a half stars

I read quite a few reviews of this before succumbing and buying it - there was polarised opinion. I enjoyed it, and found it an interesting angle on why the liberals ended up losing so decisively. It talks about three models of leadership, and John Howard is characterised as a strong leader, who thrives on conflict. But while that creates an interesting framework for analysis, I’m not sure I agree that, for example, John Howard’s leadership style was what stopped him from being able to effectively change direction on global warming (when that is what the voting public were doing).

Best Australian Essays of 2007 Four stars

This book last year was the impetus for Club Troppo’s initiative to find the best blog posts of 2006, as their view was that there should have been some blog posts in there. It’s a rare blog post that’s long enough for this book. Interestingly, though, for the essays I hadn’t read, for many of the most interesting (Kevin Rudd’s discussion of religious philosophy, Noel Pearson’s essay on white guilt and victimhood), I felt I already knew the arguments well from having read numerous blog discussions referring back to them. Looking at where the essays were first published, I’m tended to subscribe to the Griffith Review, as well as the Monthly.

Griffith Review, Edition 11 - Education four and a half stars

I really enjoyed reading this collection of essays about education.  I can see why the Griffith Review featured so heavily in the Best Australian Essays collection. I was particularly interested that at least two contributors blamed feminism for the reduction in quality of teachers over the past 30 years  - far more opportunities for talented women, when teaching and nursing used to be just about the only options. I don’t agree - teaching also had much higher salary status relatively 30 years ago than it does now - partly because of the rise in proportion of white collar work - but it was an interesting argument.

Dreams from my Father, by Barack Obama. Four stars

I’ve been wanting to read this for a while now. Elizabeth reviewed it on Half Changed World long before Obama announced his candidacy and I’ve looked for it in bookshops ever since. Mostly, though Australian bookshops have carried The Audacity of Hope, which sounds like a more political, less interesting book. After reading this, I thought that those who accuse Obama of being a coconut, of not being an authentically black american because he grew up in a white family in Hawaii are being a bit unfair. He’s certainly thought deeply and ruthlessly about race, and his own experience of it, and what it means for america. Far more than any white politician ever could, or would.

The Logic of Life, by Tim Harford. Five stars

I read this in a gulp, after seeing Harford speak when he was in Sydney. Thought provoking, rigorous, and very readable. Highly recommended. I’m going to try and review it (although I have a few of those on my list!)