The Unconsoled

What the actual fuck did I just waste months of my life on. I spent 535 pages convinced that SOMETHING, ANYTHING would eventually happen or some sort of clarity to be revealed, but it NEVER DID.  I knew I didn't like Ishiguro's writing, but my god, is he just a master of trolling his publishers with straight garbage and jumbles of words that have no meaning?

I guess what he does well is create the ambiance of a real dream that you're trapped in and can't make sense of. But that's where any praise ends. The experience is extremely unpleasant, stifling, and at times, like you're straight up being gagged. Conversations are mundane and everyone takes five hours to spit one coherent thought out. 

The book is divided into parts, and every time I would get to the beginning of a new one, some fresh hope would awaken in me that something would change. But no, FALSE. WHY BREAK THE STORY INTO PARTS IF NO TIME OCCURS BETWEEN THEM, AND NO SHIFT HAPPENS IN THE STORY? JUST TO TORTURE US????

And why even introduce plot points if you're never going to explain them? Sattler? WHO THE FUCK IS HE WTF. Gustav? DO YOU KNOW HIM OR NOT WTF. 

I hate this book. I hate it so much. I'm so glad it's over. That's all I can even say.

The Summer Book

 

The Summer Book by Tove Jansson (of Moomin fame) reads like a playful picture book. Jansson's writing is calming, like something intended to keep a child soothed and interested, but also has a tinge of nostalgia in it that is clearly catered for adults. 

The relationship between Sophia and her grandmother is loving, though often surprising (at least to an American) as the two often swap roles and subvert traditional expectations of what a granddaughter and grandmother should behave to one another. When they speak, Sophia (and sometimes the grandmother, too) uses jarring, harsh language that often made me question whether it was intentional or a strange translation choice. She often swears, or "screams" at her grandmother when she disagrees, and displays the selfish cruelty that children have, but are almost never portrayed with, in almost every interaction she has. Grandmother, on the other hand, balances patience with carelessness, seesawing between being Sophia's constant playmate and equal, to her guardian and mentor. 

Overall, it's a pleasant little collection of short vignettes that's perfect for a dreamy summer afternoon spent outside or near a window, close to nature. With Jansson's lovely descriptions of the island, and her adorable illustrations, it's almost certain you'll feel transported to the little Finnish oasis, and to feel your heart rate slow to a pleasanter, calmer, (happier?) tempo.

The Talk of the Town

The author, Ardal O'Hanlon, is described on the back cover as an "award-winning stand-up comedian and actor...best known for his portrayal as loveable dimwith Father Dougal Maguire in Channel 4's comedy, Father Ted", which led me to expect a lighthearted, sarcastic romp of a novel. But turns out O'Hanlon's first go at writing was much more nuanced than that. Quite gritty and obscene, it's a realistic (as far as a 30-something asian lady in America can tell) look at what it means to be a teenager/young adult in middle class Ireland. 

It reminds me a bit of a handful of TV shows that have gained popularity recently. Netflix's Adolescence, for instance, is quite similar in addressing boys' angst and the irrational mood swings that go on inside their heads. In the same way, this story ultimately ends in violence with an unclear, yet certain sense of doom that hangs in the air, weighing the consequences of uncalculated outbursts. I wonder if the novel inspired the show in any way.

Anyway, it's a modern novel that is easy to read in terms of length and jargon...so at times I felt reprieve in reading something from this list that never felt pretentious. I never felt bored or disliked the plot, yet it isn't something I think I would tap for a re-read. Perhaps I can find something more upbeat for my next read.

Asphodel

The forward by editor Robert Spoo is interesting. In it, he says that H.D.'s transcript, which he used as a basis for this published version, was full of misspellings and errors that made it unclear as to whether the words written were unintentional misses or creative choices. It's a tough job, I think, to be in those shoes—to be on the hook for representing an author's true intent but only being able to use educated guesses and when it comes down to it, your own gut judgment. I enjoyed having this insight, and it made me respect the work (both his and H.D.'s) and the history behind it in a deeper and more humanized way.

As Asphodel is based on the author's own life (though still considered to be fiction), I leaned quite heavily on the appendix to teach me how the characters related to those in H.D.'s life. Layering "Hermione"'s emotions onto the author's real life experiences felt quite intimate, and made me feel very close to this author that I so looked up to in college. 

At times, the stream of conscious style of writing was hard to follow, but there was always a poetic aspect to it that always had me thinking in the back of my head about a writer's intentionality. This work is more than just a one-note story of a woman's life. There's something else there, full of pain and relief, struggle and nostalgia, all of it wrapped in a bare honesty that sways back and forth between the meaningful and meaningless.

"There are no fields of asphodel this side of the grave."

Lost Illusions

As a one-off read (especially in the year 2024), Honore de Balzac's Lost Illusions feels a bit long-winded for what it is. It certainly offers a detailed look into French life in the 1800s, showcasing a variety of classes and exploring the spectrum within virtues, naivety, and greed of humanity. But did it really need to take 630 pages to do so? 

I did find myself engaged in Lucien's debut and struggles in Paris, but lost interest after a while of so many repeated acts of selfishness. The pages after pages detailing the inner workings of the publishing industry, too, were maybe groundbreaking at the time (?), but I could have done with a briefer summation. I got the sense that it was a personal topic for the author, which sort of made me excited at times, but it ended at that.

I found it odd, too, that the story completely switches focus during the end and zeroes in only on Eve and David. I did care for them as characters, but feel that it would have been more balanced to read of their goings-on at the same time as during Lucien's dandy rampage. The ending certainly felt flat, with the two ending up just fine after all the focus that was put on the struggles that befell them. Is it just to point out that Lucien is a POS leech of a human? But then again Lucien isn't even mentioned at all in the final epilogue-ish roundup at the end???? He's just...gone now, taken by a Spanish priest? Weird.

All that said, my copy of the novel worked very hard to detail the impact that Balzac had on literature as a whole. The fact that he developed the same set of characters throughout many works written during his career, and writing stories that revealed true depictions of societal issues and human nature is certainly interesting and something to applaud. I'm sure it shaped a lot of the novels I love today, and also gives people in the future (me) an honest look into "regular" life 200~ years ago. 

The Once and Future King

 The Once and Future King by T.H. White is, simply put, a masterpiece. It's everything in one—whimsical, adventurous, humorous, adorable, playful, thoughtful, emotional, intelligent, and above all, kind. Nearly every single character that White introduces has a depth and lovability to them that's impossible to avoid becoming attached to, and the level at which he can create dimensionality and complexity to each one so that they feel like true flesh & blood is so impressive. 

Though based on the classic legend, you don't need to have any prior context about the King Arthur stories in order to enjoy this book to its fullest. At times full of jest, and at others, deeply serious, White's writing is always self-aware and accessibly engaging. Part I consists of an episode of the carefree and formative years of youth, the middle sections add introduction and context to new characters and relationships formed mid-life, with the final section ending with a wistful reflection back on all that has passed. 

At the finale, looking back at where the story started, you (or, at least I) really realize what a true saga you've a part of, and it feels like such a privilege to have been able to witness not only Arthur's whole life but the journeys of those around him. You come away hoping old Wart will be protected at all costs—not only physically, but emotionally...and you realize that the story wasn't really only one about a king and his round table, but one of humanity itself.

The 13 Clocks

The foreword in my copy of James Thurber's The 13 Clocks was written by the venerable Neil Gaiman, and describes it as "probably the best book in the world". He goes on to say that "it doesn't need an introduction. It doesn't need me." and this loving, devoted praise written in playful, honest jest set me up to love the book before it even started.

The 13 Clocks is wonderful, dreamy, adorable, and sometimes frightening. It's the shortest adventure I've ever gone on, over in the wink of an eye, but introduces more fantastical new ideas than I could usually find in 30 volumes. There's a prince, and a princess, and witches and creatures with riddles, described in jestful language that keeps you reading more. You can tell just how much fun Thurber was having writing it, and the feeling is infectious.

Marc Simont's accompanying illustrations are equally masterful, and the perfect match to the magical world in which the story takes place. There's a cute, innocent look to the characters that balances a graceful beauty that perfectly captures the childlike fantasy of Thurber's rhymes, shadowed by the darker curiosities of an adult world. 

Playful, witty, and endlessly creative, this story is pure delight and it's one I'd happily read again and again.