People of the book came highly recommended from a number of reviews. As with Geraldine Brooks’ other book that I’ve read, March, I liked lots of things about People of the book. The story starts in Sarajevo in 1996 where a book conserver is at work on a precious Jewish holy book that was wonderfully saved from destruction by a dedicated librarian.* Different chapters are then interspersed that tell the story of the book backwards to its creation in the 14th century. The set up was a very clever way to explore snippets of history, especially as these sections seemed like the product of loving research.

Sadly the historical chapters often demonstrated the way apparently stable societies can be split apart by racial hatred. As I read I got depressed remembering just how recent so many of the atrocities in Europe alone have occurred. But I also think remembering these events is very important.

Despite enjoying People of the book , as a whole it was still slightly disappointing (which was also the case with March). I felt a little disconnected between the different sections and the ending was a bit dramatic for my tastes. And sometimes the Australianess of the main character was a bit over the top. The pattern of the language felt Australian enough to me that I don’t think all the additional slang words were necessary.

I don’t know if it’s because I would expect to adore a book with a plot like this, and getting closer to being a perfectly satisfying book is more frustrating than simply not being my thing at all. Happily, most people seem to enjoy it so I don’t need to feel bad!

*This book and some of its story was based on the real-life Sarajevo Haggadah. Very cool.

Tags: books, historical, march

Scott Westerfeld recently provided links to some discussions on the coolness of YA fiction. In these and other discussions of YA books, there are often comments along the lines of “it’s not just Sweet Valley High anymore”. I agree that the post-Harry Potter boom in YA, particularly in fantasy, has been phenomenal. It’s fantastic seeing the growth in this area. But I want to acknowledge the scores of YA authors that were around when I was a child and teenager in Australia in the 1980s and 1990s. Many of the authors are Australian or New Zealanders, but I’m sure other countries must have had their equivalents?

It’s hard without my books with me (I’m even picturing book covers here but not recalling the title/author), but I here are some of the authors I remember from the YA (or “older children’s” or teenage as they were generally called) sections of libraries in the 1990s*:

In fantasy and YA, Diana Wynne Jones, Garth Nix, Isobelle Carmody, Margaret Mahy, Sally Odgers, Tamora Pierce, Madeleine L’engle, Diane Duane, Ken Catran, Victor Kelleher, David McRobbie, Caroline McDonald, and Gillian Rubenstein (now writing as Lian Hearn) all wrote books that I devoured eagerly.

In other types of novels, I remember reading authors such as John Marsden, Robin Klein, Paula Danziger, Catherine Jinks, Libby Hathorn, Gary Crew, Cynthia Voight (though I loved her fantasy books, too) and Melina Marchetta.**

I know these lists are sure to be incomplete but will avoid driving myself mad by just posting now and updating as necessary!

* of course there were plenty more in the children's and adults sections too
** scary aside for other Australian readers my age, Melina Marchetta’s Looking for
Alibrandi came out in 1992!

Tags: books, young adult

( Happy things from my week )

Tags: happiness list

Here’s a sample from the diverse range of books that have been keeping me busy in my non-internet writing days of recent weeks.

Wives and daughters by Elizabeth Gaskell. This novel follows the life of teenager Molly as she learns to cope with life beyond her sheltered home and her father’s remarriage. It’s a novel focussed around family relationships and growing up in a small town (including a sweet romance). I enjoyed it, but less so than North and South, perhaps because I found the social observations in the latter more interesting. When I read Wives and daughters I didn’t realise it had been written as a serial, but I wasn’t surprised as it definitely feels like a drama that has been stretched out further than is strictly necessary (however as I read it on a long train trip I certainly didn’t mind!). I also didn’t realise Gaskell died before completing the story and so was very shocked when I reached the last chapter and read “and here the story ended” with another writer finishing up the book!

Melusine by Sarah Monette was recommended to me by Checkers and other people and it was a very different type of book! (Lots more swearing for one thing!) The setting is a fairly typical fantasy world with magic etc but with an abundance of small details and interesting politics and social problems of its own. Melusine is very fast paced book and is narrated by two very different characters. I often find this type of storytelling difficult and want to keep skipping ahead to stay with one narrator but in Melusine I was interested enough in both stories to read it all in order! It finishes fairly abruptly with lots of preparation made for the sequel, which is already out (thank goodness!).

I only heard about Jeanne Birdsall's The Penderwicks: a summer tale of four sisters, two rabbits and a very interesting boy when I read a review of the sequel (not out yet) at Bookshelves of Doom. The references to Nesbit and Enright were enough to get me trotting around to the library. Having read the book, I agree that the story of a family’s summer adventures did have that lovely old fashioned and happy feel - I can see why it might be too cozy and sweet for some readers. For me, though, it was a really enjoyable read and I can’t wait for the sequel to come out later this year!

Tags: birdsall, books, fantasy, gaskell, monette, romance

Eek, having visitors is even more time consuming (though fun!) than I thought! Though the holidays have been great. I’ve been missing my list making, though, so here are seven great things from recent weeks:

( Eight (woops) great things from recent weeks )

I have so many books to talk about but alas work, travel and now overseas visitors (ie frantic cleaning) and more travel (yay!) have interfered. I haven't even got to read any of my blogs! *sniff*. I'll be back next weekend, hopefully feeling relaxed and rejuvenated, with lots of pretty photos to share.

As I’ve said, we had a fantastic time in Spain. Not only was it great catching up with an old friend and meeting a new one, but the too-short time we had around the country convinced me I need to go back.

( Warning for very long post with pictures )

Tags: travel

Sorry about the non-blogging week, guys. I know better than to promise it will improve, but I amazingly I am still managing to write down books I'm reading so have no shortage of books to blog about once I get some time.

( This week's list )

Tags: happiness list

April is shaping up to be as mad as March for me, so posts will probably be light on the ground. I am still planning a Spain post, though! And I've been reading lots of interesting books so I will endeavour to write about them too.

( For now, a happy list! )

Tags: happiness list

Spain was great! I’ll write a post about it soon (with piccies! Hopefully great ones as one of my travelling companions had a very nice camera and an awe-inspiring dedication to good shots).

I admit once I was free of posting along with the group I just gobbled down I, Claudius. And any virtuous thoughts I had about keeping notes went out the window once Sangria and the Prado and the Alhambra entered the picture. So I’ll just post thoughts about all of the chapters in the last half of the book in a big jumble.

( I have forgotten lots of stuff but here are some quick reactions, spoilers as usual )

I, Claudius was a great book to read. It was slow at times with the lack of dialogue and the name-heavy prose. But the sly humour and the sheer madness of the storyline (and the fact that many of the bits were true!) made it worthwhile. I just wish I had been around more to do it justice in my blog.

Claudius the God is on hold at my library. I’m eager to read it. Will Claudius revenge Caligula’s death as he promised even though it was a Good Thing that the mad emperor was offed? Will his fourth (? I’m losing track) wife turn out better than the previous two? Will he make Livia a Goddess? Will the population of Rome boom now that people can survive a year without being poisoned? Good times ahead, my friends!

Edited to add, thanks to Leila at Bookshelves of Doom for arranging this Big Read! It was great trying out a book I probably wouldn't have got around to picking up myself!

Tags: books, graves, historical