The Doogster
New Member
Howdy fellow readers
Have any of you read this book? I finished it a couple of weeks ago, and have been reflecting on it since.
I have to say that it's one of the most frustrating books I have read in a long time. I don't mean that in a negative sense.
The book teeters between a surreal, dreamy masterpiece and saccharine romantic tripe. I loved its intense artistic style, yet its subject matter is often banal. Still, I couldn't put it down because it was so moving.
The characters are like they are out of a Hermann Hesse novel - they are delicate and exist in a rarified world of high art. However, the writer keeps them at arm's length as if to taunt the reader.
The ending (which I won't give away) is straight out of a Mills and Boon schlock-o-rama novel. I wanted it to end so differently, but the author took the soft option. It was like she couldn't be bothered coming up with a real ending (or else she's in training as a Hollywood screen writer!).
I'd be interested to hear anyone else's thoughts on this book. I find it interesting that the critics (as if I care what they think) had such a mixed reaction to it. Many critics compared it to The English Patient, but I thought it better than that (I found The English Patient's style too sparse and slow - them's fighting words!).
Regards
The Doogster
Have any of you read this book? I finished it a couple of weeks ago, and have been reflecting on it since.
I have to say that it's one of the most frustrating books I have read in a long time. I don't mean that in a negative sense.
The book teeters between a surreal, dreamy masterpiece and saccharine romantic tripe. I loved its intense artistic style, yet its subject matter is often banal. Still, I couldn't put it down because it was so moving.
The characters are like they are out of a Hermann Hesse novel - they are delicate and exist in a rarified world of high art. However, the writer keeps them at arm's length as if to taunt the reader.
The ending (which I won't give away) is straight out of a Mills and Boon schlock-o-rama novel. I wanted it to end so differently, but the author took the soft option. It was like she couldn't be bothered coming up with a real ending (or else she's in training as a Hollywood screen writer!).
I'd be interested to hear anyone else's thoughts on this book. I find it interesting that the critics (as if I care what they think) had such a mixed reaction to it. Many critics compared it to The English Patient, but I thought it better than that (I found The English Patient's style too sparse and slow - them's fighting words!).
Regards
The Doogster
