What's black and white and red all over? Our reviews for this week's reading challenge! Or a newspaper. Or a zebra with a sunburn. Or a really embarrassed panda. Or a chilli in a tuxedo. You know what, let's just go to the reviews, shall we?
Sharon Bryan read The Red Pony, by John Steinbeck.
Regular readers of these reviews may recall that, back in week 27, I attempted to read another Steinbeck book (the Grapes of Wrath) and ended up deciding that life was too short to read the Grapes of Wrath. So there is an element to which I chose The Red Pony (810 STEI 1C RED) for this week's challenge out of pure stubbornness - if I can't finish one of Steinbeck's grown up novels, maybe I can tackle a short book that's supposedly for kids.
Just to clear things up, this is not a book for kids. Do not give this book to a child unless they are an older kid who is a precocious reader who likes challenging books. If you know a child who is horse mad and loves books like the Saddle Club series, only give this book to them if you don't like them and you want them to feel sad.
This book is actually a collection of longish short stories (not quite long enough to be long stories, but not the shortest of stories either). In every other chapter/story, a horse dies a traumatic death. There are only four chapter/stories, but given the high horse-death ratio, that's probably a good thing. Originally, there were only three stories - so basically the book ran like this: Chapter one - horse dies traumatic death; chapter two - old man steals old horse because neither are appreciated, and they run off to the hills to presumably die; chapter three - horse dies traumatic death. With the addition of fourth story, we also get: Chapter four - old man realises no one likes listening to him and feels crappy.
Good times.
It is a very well written book, and I didn't hate it. In fact, I actually enjoyed it in spite of all the dead horses. But I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a cheerful read.
I went to see Bill Bailey perform in Cairns on Thursday. I’m still wondering if it was the knowledge that I was going to see Manny from Black Books that led me to reading The Black Book (894.35 PAM 2C KAR) this week. While I did think about explaining Pamuk’s novel using only references to the TV show, good sense and respect for this writer have prevailed.
And yes, I am saying black is a colour, regardless of its place (or lack thereof) within the visible spectrum of light.
This is the third of Pamuk’s books that I have read and I have enjoyed them all. In The Black Book the protagonist, Galip, is a lawyer who turns detective when his wife, Rüya, disappears from his life. Galip becomes convinced that the disappearance of his famous cousin (Celal, a newspaper columnist) is connected to his missing wife.
This novel alternates chapters between Galip’s story and columns written by his cousin. We get the sense that both would like to be someone else at times. Galip starts to assume the identity of his famous cousin in his search for answers, wearing his clothes, staying in his apartment, and even writing some of his columns.
It’s great to delve into a new, unfamiliar world and see where it leads. In this case Istanbul is such a part of the story, the city feels like a character. A character from a book with a colour in the title.
Brenda
Carter read Beyond White Guilt: The Real Challenge for Black-White Relations in Australia by Sarah Maddison.
In her introduction to this book Maddison writes, “White Australia was settled on a land that did
not belong to us. Deep in our hearts every Australian knows this to be true” (p.
3). The author builds on this premise to explore constructive ways for dealing
with feelings of guilt, both personal and collective.
Maddison
examines the mistreatment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait islander peoples and
the white interventions which have failed to restore justice and achieve
reconciliation. Rather than shaming the reader, however, the author encourages
us to tackle the adaptive work necessary to bring about real and lasting
change.
The
proposed solutions go beyond denying guilt and criticising government policies.
“To learn our way forward we may need to rethink ourselves in some profound
ways, questioning old beliefs, identities, values and our ‘images of justice,
community and responsibility’” (p. 11). Beyond
White Guilt (305.800994 MAD) offers hope and a way forward for all Australians.
Sharon Bryan read The Red Pony, by John Steinbeck.
Just to clear things up, this is not a book for kids. Do not give this book to a child unless they are an older kid who is a precocious reader who likes challenging books. If you know a child who is horse mad and loves books like the Saddle Club series, only give this book to them if you don't like them and you want them to feel sad.
This book is actually a collection of longish short stories (not quite long enough to be long stories, but not the shortest of stories either). In every other chapter/story, a horse dies a traumatic death. There are only four chapter/stories, but given the high horse-death ratio, that's probably a good thing. Originally, there were only three stories - so basically the book ran like this: Chapter one - horse dies traumatic death; chapter two - old man steals old horse because neither are appreciated, and they run off to the hills to presumably die; chapter three - horse dies traumatic death. With the addition of fourth story, we also get: Chapter four - old man realises no one likes listening to him and feels crappy.
Good times.
It is a very well written book, and I didn't hate it. In fact, I actually enjoyed it in spite of all the dead horses. But I wouldn't recommend it to anyone looking for a cheerful read.
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