12 New Authors Challenge

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1. Murasaki Shikibu - The Tale of Genji 9/10. Long but worth it; would have given it 10 apart from the ropey beginning and some off chapters in the middle.

2. J W von Goethe - The Sorrows of Young Werther 8/10. Been meaning to read this one for a while. Reminded me a lot of the style of Kafka/Hamsun. A sad but interesting read.

3. Joyce Carol Oates - Black Water 9/10. Joyce Carol Oates was one of the female writers I didn't get around to last year. Black Water is a poetic interpretation of the events leading to the death of Mary Jo Kopechne in the car accident with Teddy Kennedy, which I didn't know anything about. Names changed to protect the innocent, of course. A really beautiful, sad book. I loved it, and am keen to read more by Oates as a result.

4. Gunnar Gunnarson - The Good Shepherd 7/10. An odd, short little book about an Icelandic man who goes looking for lost sheep in a bad winter storm. Both his life and faith are challenged. I suspect there as a lot I missed about this one, so maybe a re-read would be in order at some point.

5. Salman Rushdie - Midnight's Children. Hmm, really torn on this one. It's a well written book, funny, interesting story, clearly Rushdie is an intelligent and creative writer but, well, really I found this one a chore. On technical skill I'd give it an 8/10 but on enjoyment/engagement I'd give it a 4/10. I just felt excluded, in every way, from the story. Glad to have finished it, to be honest.

6. Susan Hill - The Woman in Black - A real disappointment this one. Not scary, a bit boring. Nicely written, though. 6/10

7. Graham Greene - The End of the Affair - Really good book. Short and tightly written, it really packs a punch. 8/10

8. Koushun Takami - Battle Royale - gruesome J-pop kid killing spree. Interesting concept, clunky translation. 6/10

9. Anita Brookner - Hotel du Lac - absolutely perfect little book. Well written, surprisingly deep and very enjoyable 9/10

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10. The City & The City by China Mieville - brilliantly odd little thriller. Loved it. 9/10.

Only 2 to go!

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Originally Posted by qimissung

The Sheltering Sky
The Enchantress from the Stars-a YA book, but really, really good. I really recommend this one.

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Night-Elie Wiesel
Oryx and Crake-Margaret Atwood

So far I have loved all of these books. The Sheltering Sky and Oryx and Crake in particular were rich and strange.

I haven't formally accepted this challenge, but I have challenged myself to read any novel on the library "new" shelf that has serious pretensions to literature. In doing this I find I'm well on target to read twelve new authors this year. New authors I've read and *really* enjoyed:

Three men in a boat : to say nothing of the dog! Jerome K. Jerome.
Starlight Stella Gibbons.
The drinker Hans Fallada
Blindness Jos Saramago
A man in full Tom Wolfe.
Heartbreak Craig Raine.
Breakfast at Tiffany's Truman Capote.
Bed : a novel David Whitehouse.
A small town in Germany John Le Carre.
Alms for Oblivion Simon Raven
The Handmaid's Tale Margaret Atwood

I'd recommend all of these to anyone as "must reads", and will certainly be reading more by these authors in the future. There are a handful of new authors I haven't enjoyed much, but I'll not bother mentioning them.

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Originally Posted by Seasider

1. I'd like to try Sir Walter Scott. I have a vague recollection of a film of Ivanhoe so Ill try that.[/I]

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I tried Scott for the first time last year and was plasantly surprised - so much so that I've now read all his major novels! Ivanhoe is definitely the one to start with - unless you fancy tackling Scottish dialect :) The Wordsworth edition was excellent - good notes as well as good price.

So many people putting posts in bold! I am loving the excitement at this.

Don Delillo - White Noise and one more book

Ernest Hemingway - For whom the bell tolls and one more book

Scott Fitzgerald - Tender is the Night and The Great Gatsby

Thomas Pynchon - V

Iain M Banks - The Algebriast

Anais Nin - House of Incest

Henry Miller - Haven't decided yet which one

and two others that I will decide later on.

I just realized I do not like short novels. I feel strange about it given that I am quite a slow reader.

The Sheltering Sky-Paul Bowles
The Enchantress from the Stars-Sylvia Louise Engdahl
Night-Elie Wiesel
Oryx and Crake-Margaret Atwood

A Room With a View-E.M. Forester The movie is a favorite of mine, but I've never read the book. I'm glad I did. It is very charming. Who we love is part of who we are, and how we get there is mysterious indeed.

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Originally Posted by qimissung

A Room With a View-E.M. Forester The movie is a favorite of mine, but I've never read the book. I'm glad I did. It is very charming. Who we love is part of who we are, and how we get there is mysterious indeed.

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Read that book twice in various languages but never seen the movie. You are the second person who mentions it this week. I will see if I can find a copy and watch it.

Love the story, by the way :)

It is very faithful to the book, Scher, and very well-acted. Helena Bonham Carter plays Lucy and she is delightful. Daniel Day-Lewis is Cecil and Julian Sands is George. They all do a terrific job; let me know what you think!

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Originally Posted by qimissung

A Room With a View-E.M. Forester The movie is a favorite of mine, but I've never read the book. I'm glad I did. It is very charming. Who we love is part of who we are, and how we get there is mysterious indeed.

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Ah, one of the best movies ever and the book is gorgeous too. But Qimi, is it the first EM Forster book you've read? I am thinking about that lovely poem you once wrote, Only Connect the title of which comes from Forster's Howard's End. Have you not read the book? I have it on my shelf (I have many books on my shelves), unread but waiting :)

It is one of the best movies ever, isn't it? And yes, as a matter of fact "A Room With a View" is my first Forester book ever. I did get my 'only connect' from his book, of course, but I knew of it from articles I've read about him or "Howard's End".

I do plan to read it, and I have a copy of it waiting, but I wanted to dip my toes into Forester first; I've long wanted to read "A Room with a View" any way. It was excellent, and I'm glad to say that I found Forester highly readable! My thanks to the New Authors Challenge!

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Originally Posted by qimissung

It is one of the best movies ever, isn't it? And yes, as a matter of fact "A Room With a View" is my first Forester book ever. I did get my 'only connect' from his book, of course, but I knew of it from articles I've read about him or "Howard's End".

I do plan to read it, and I have a copy of it waiting, but I wanted to dip my toes into Forester first; I've long wanted to read "A Room with a View" any way. It was excellent, and I'm glad to say that I found Forester highly readable! My thanks to the New Authors Challenge!

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Ah, that's so cool that you wrote that lovely poem having been inspired by articles. If you fancy reading Howard's End with company some time let me know. I've been wanting to get around to it, and reading it with you would be an excellent excuse. I can also recommend A Passage to India which is absolutely brilliant (as is the movie).

Further update...

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1. Murasaki Shikibu - The Tale of Genji 9/10. Long but worth it; I would have given it 10 apart from the ropey beginning and some off chapters in the middle.

2. J W von Goethe - The Sorrows of Young Werther 8/10. Been meaning to read this one for a while. Reminded me a lot of the style of Kafka/Hamsun. A sad but interesting read.

3. Joyce Carol Oates - Black Water 9/10. Joyce Carol Oates was one of the female writers I didn't get around to last year. Black Water is a poetic interpretation of the events leading to the death of Mary Jo Kopechne in the car accident with Teddy Kennedy, which I didn't know anything about. Names changed to protect the innocent, of course. A really beautiful, sad book. I loved it, and am keen to read more by Oates as a result.

4. Gunnar Gunnarson - The Good Shepherd 7/10. An odd, short little book about an Icelandic man who goes looking for lost sheep in a bad winter storm. Both his life and faith are challenged. I suspect there as a lot I missed about this one, so maybe a re-read would be in order at some point.

5. Salman Rushdie - Midnight's Children. Hmm, really torn on this one. It's a well written book, funny, interesting story, clearly Rushdie is an intelligent and creative writer but, well, really I found this one a chore. On technical skill I'd give it an 8/10 but on enjoyment/engagement I'd give it a 4/10. I just felt excluded, in every way, from the story. Glad to have finished it, to be honest.

6. Susan Hill - The Woman in Black - A real disappointment this one. Not scary, a bit boring. Nicely written, though. 6/10

7. Graham Greene - The End of the Affair - Really good book. Short and tightly written, it really packs a punch. 8/10

8. Koushun Takami - Battle Royale - gruesome J-pop kid killing spree. Interesting concept, clunky translation. 6/10

9. Anita Brookner - Hotel du Lac - absolutely perfect little book. Well written, surprisingly deep and very enjoyable 9/10

10. The City & The City by China Mieville - brilliantly odd little thriller. Loved it. 9/10.

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11. The Angel's Game - Carlos Ruiz Zafón - really enjoyed this and interested to hear that it's not considered his best work (I believe that's The Shadow of the Wind). Beautifully written gothic / supernaturalish / bookish thriller. A bit saggy in the middle, but hard to put down all the same. 9/10.

Fifth, I would like to say thank you for remembering that poem. I would say I was more inspired by the quote itself than by anything else. I've got to finish my reader's challenge, but once I've done that, which is going to take me considerably longer than it has taken you, btw, I would love to read "Howard's End" with you. And of course I do want to read "A Passage to India" someday. I saw the movie years ago; it's really good, too, although probably not as good as the book. :D

Lolita's on my list of books to read (actually I started it then put it down). I think now might be a good time to pick it back up again.

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Originally Posted by qimissung

Fifth, I would like to say thank you for remembering that poem. I would say I was more inspired by the quote itself than by anything else. I've got to finish my reader's challenge, but once I've done that, which is going to take me considerably longer than it has taken you, btw, I would love to read "Howard's End" with you. And of course I do want to read "A Passage to India" someday. I saw the movie years ago; it's really good, too, although probably not as good as the book. :D

Lolita's on my list of books to read (actually I started it then put it down). I think now might be a good time to pick it back up again.

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Oh, if you want to read Lolita it would be great to share thoughts. I have just started reading it this morning and so far so good. It's beautifully written, and the main character Humbert Humbert is simultaneously repulsive and compelling. I suspect, already, that this will be a book to tear the soul.

Anyway, I'll let you into my secret of completing the challenge early - read short books ;) most of the books on my list have been quite short (at least half are around the 150 page mark). Cheating? Pish posh. I call it 'creative solutions' :D

Another update from me...

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1. Murasaki Shikibu - The Tale of Genji 9/10. Long but worth it; I would have given it 10 apart from the ropey beginning and some off chapters in the middle.

2. J W von Goethe - The Sorrows of Young Werther 8/10. Been meaning to read this one for a while. Reminded me a lot of the style of Kafka/Hamsun. A sad but interesting read.

3. Joyce Carol Oates - Black Water 9/10. Joyce Carol Oates was one of the female writers I didn't get around to last year. Black Water is a poetic interpretation of the events leading to the death of Mary Jo Kopechne in the car accident with Teddy Kennedy, which I didn't know anything about. Names changed to protect the innocent, of course. A really beautiful, sad book. I loved it, and am keen to read more by Oates as a result.

4. Gunnar Gunnarson - The Good Shepherd 7/10. An odd, short little book about an Icelandic man who goes looking for lost sheep in a bad winter storm. Both his life and faith are challenged. I suspect there as a lot I missed about this one, so maybe a re-read would be in order at some point.

5. Salman Rushdie - Midnight's Children. Hmm, really torn on this one. It's a well written book, funny, interesting story, clearly Rushdie is an intelligent and creative writer but, well, really I found this one a chore. On technical skill I'd give it an 8/10 but on enjoyment/engagement I'd give it a 4/10. I just felt excluded, in every way, from the story. Glad to have finished it, to be honest.

6. Susan Hill - The Woman in Black - A real disappointment this one. Not scary, a bit boring. Nicely written, though. 6/10

7. Graham Greene - The End of the Affair - Really good book. Short and tightly written, it really packs a punch. 8/10

8. Koushun Takami - Battle Royale - gruesome J-pop kid killing spree. Interesting concept, clunky translation. 6/10

9. Anita Brookner - Hotel du Lac - absolutely perfect little book. Well written, surprisingly deep and very enjoyable 9/10

10. The City & The City by China Mieville - brilliantly odd little thriller. Loved it. 9/10.

11. The Angel's Game - Carlos Ruiz Zafón - really enjoyed this and interested to hear that it's not considered his best work (I believe that's The Shadow of the Wind). Beautifully written gothic / supernaturalish / bookish thriller. A bit saggy in the middle, but hard to put down all the same. 9/10.

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12. The Prophet - Kahlil Gibran - a beautiful inspiring book. 10/10.

Mission accomplished!

I'm about on page 100 of Lolita. I had put it down earlier this year, but I am quite enjoying it this time around. And Nabakov's language is delicious! Although I find the incessant plays on words a trifle annoying.

I was a bit nervous about how things would turn out with Charlotte, but the thing that makes Humbert appealing is that her character is actually treated with some sympathy. She is not demonized, which would have been easy for the author to do. Also, I can see why, and I won't say anything more, people sometimes rationalize that Lolita is more complicit than is actually the case. It wouldn't really matter as her age makes it a moot point.

Nabakov handled that scene deftly. It's disgusting, but it could have been so much more so. He tiptoes up to the line of what we can endure, then softly backs away, because in the end this is not a pornographic novel, but a psychological examination of a corrupt soul-and literature.

Oh, and congratulations, Fifth!

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A Room With a View-E.M. Forester The movie is a favorite of mine, but I've never read the book. I'm glad I did. It is very charming. Who we love is part of who we are, and how we get there is mysterious indeed.

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I agree! If you haven't read Forster then this is a good one to start with. I've recently read two new authors, to me, that I'd highly recommend:

Tobias Wolff - Old School
Liz Moore - Heft

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Originally Posted by qimissung

I'm about on page 100 of Lolita. I had put it down earlier this year, but I am quite enjoying it this time around. And Nabakov's language is delicious! Although I find the incessant plays on words a trifle annoying.

I was a bit nervous about how things would turn out with Charlotte, but the thing that makes Humbert appealing is that her character is actually treated with some sympathy. She is not demonized, which would have been easy for the author to do. Also, I can see why, and I won't say anything more, people sometimes rationalize that Lolita is more complicit than is actually the case. It wouldn't really matter as her age makes it a moot point.

Nabakov handled that scene deftly. It's disgusting, but it could have been so much more so. He tiptoes up to the line of what we can endure, then softly backs away, because in the end this is not a pornographic novel, but a psychological examination of a corrupt soul-and literature.

Oh, and congratulations, Fifth!

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Thanks Qim :D

On the Lolita is complicit point, I can see why that argument might be put forward and to a certain point I wondered that too, but then I think that Humbert is an erudite but unreliable narrator and I found, as I read more through the novel, that I was questioning more whether it was Humbert trying to justify himself or, perhaps more being hopeful, rather than there being any actual acts of objective or knowing complicity. Certainly I felt the longer I was reading there was much more doubt creeping in even from Humbert's perspective (particularly references to her listlessness, her bargaining, her frequent objections 'oh no' and 'not again' which are referred to with increasing regularity as the novel progresses.

Yes yes. It is an interesting and soul splitting book. On the one hand it is abhorrent. On the other you can (or I could) see that Humbert is a charming character who in real life (and in unknowing of his acts) you might find yourself liking.

Hmm.