I bought a handful of books on Amazon a few months back, and received a variety of products ranging from somewhat tattered used hardcovers, to good as new paperbacks. My copy of
Nights at the Circus by Angela Carter was one of the former, and reeked all over of something sugary and perfumey that made me think it sat in an old woman's house for many many years until she died and her belongings were distributed. So there was that thought following me with every turn of the page.
Otherwise, the story itself was really very adorable and magical in a girly, pretty sort of way. It is a fantasy story about a brutish English woman who has wings, and an American reporter who falls in love with her and follows her into the circus. The winged Fevvers embodies strong, feminist ideals rather than seductive, traditional beauty, which is a refreshing take on a heroine with such a glamorous status. Every scene practically shines with vivid exuberance, and there is so much life in every word that the dream-like plot becomes believable, but with more excitement than any average person could ever hope to experience. It was a quick and easy read that remained lighthearted throughout, and I am happy that I was able to be introduced to Angela Carter by this book. I will have to try her others as well.
I traveled to Japan at the end of December, and thought
Fear and Trembling - Amelie Nothomb's account of her experience working for a corporate business in Japan - would be a fitting choice for the plane ride there. Ms. Nothomb is apparently a French woman who was born in Japan, and as I love basically anything French and am Japanese, was originally drawn to this choice. After reading it however, I am unsure of why this made it to the list. The plot reminded me a bit of a book I actually love about an American in France called
A Year in the Merde...however, the latter is charming due to its hilarious voice and genuine feel, neither of which
Trembling was able to master. I felt that there was too much literal symbolism through characters' names, and though I appreciate seeing how people of other cultures perceive Japanese people, too many liberties were taken to generalize and exaggerate Japanese people and customs. The end was the only part showing humanity in a pure, successful way and I imagine Nothomb writing this book solely for those one or two lines. Nothomb made it a point to leave out any other experiences during her year in Japan besides those hours spent in the office, and I think that was a mistake. I did not care about a single character, nor sympathized with Nothomb's character as she struggled in the ridiculous asian workforce. Though it was a very thin volume, it very much felt like a waste of 132 pages.
