Jude the Obscure

If there was an award for the most depressing book I've read - this takes the cake. I do feel really sorry for Jude and Sue - the poor things with their children and their bigamy and how nobody seems to respect them - their illnesses and lacklustre lifestyle just make everything even more sad. It's basically a male version of his Tess of the D'urbervilles...

Characters:

My favourite characters are Jude and Sue; maybe even Arabella. But, Jude and Sue are the best. They always seem so happy together - but then something tragic happens and everything becomes a catastrophe of guilt and decadence. The destruction of religious-political culture is evident and there is a serious state of depression and corruption that waves over Jude's entire life. 

Themes:

Poetically brilliant, the themes seem to jigsaw together in a cause-and-effect way. The depression is caused by the tragedies, the illness is cause by depression etc. But, the best theme here is love and pain. Purely because I find that it's so well written into the story that we just can't get enough of the painful unrequited love that Arabella seemingly becomes subjected to. 

Storyline:

The book takes place over around 11 years - when Jude is 19 is when the book begins - ending when he's around 30. There are no words to describe what I would do if all that happened to me in 11 years. Oh my God. You need to read it to believe it. 

Verdict:

I give this book 8 out of 9.

100% for character: 

Purely because I love the idea of Jude and Sue being happy - but never being at their happiest together. 

100% for themes:

We are all fascinated with love and pain. Torture and Lust. This is the perfect novel for just that. 

2/3 for storyline:

Only because Thomas Hardy couldn't have made this book more depressing. The rest of it was fine. I just felt like I had Hell dragged out of my stomach afterwards. Admittedly, I cried at the end of this book. 

Kafka on the Shore

Upon an escape plan hatched from a very Freudian Oedipus Complex - this set-to-be ancient greek tragedy of Japanese origin puts into motion exactly why Murakami has a fascination with cats. I read this book a few years ago and just forgot about it - I write about it now purely after seeing it on my bookshelf and thinking about it for long lengths of time. Kafka on the Shore has to be one of the first Murakami books I read - and also one of the most meaningful of his novels. 

Characters:

As with everyone who is familiar with Murakami's works - my favourite characters are Nakata and Kafka. Funny thing about this book is that we start off with Kafka's story - and we shall do this for all oddly numbered chapters (1,3,5 etc.) - but Nakata's story is told for all the even chapters (2,4,6 etc.). This strange narrative goes on for the entire book and involved old men looking for lost cats (oh yeah, that really narrows down the Murakami range). 

Themes:

I love the connections between the contemporary and classical in Murakami. All of his books are set in the present with connections to the past. For example: we have Japanese Shinto - we have a connection between young characters listening to music by Handel and Beethoven - we also have the ageing process as a sign of reflection and deep thought. A powerful writer sets his themes in all of his books to teach us how nostalgia is not the only importance when we look into the past. 

Storyline:

As I said, Nakata and Kafka are the main characters of the story. The main storyline tells us of the escape from an Oedipal Tragedy - but then Nakata's tells us of magic realism and enlightenment. These two stories are interwoven - yet completely contrast each other. This is why I suggest that everyone read Murakami.

Verdict:

I give this book 9. 

100% for characters: 

I really felt for Kafka and Nakata - I also loved the kind of friends they made along the way such as Hoshino the truck driver. 

100% for themes:

As with all Murakami novels - the themes are unbeatable. 

100% for storyline:

I think Murakami really planned this one carefully. It is one of his best works and the writing style is so intense, you get carried away without even realising it. 

Kafka was the Rage

Anatole Broyard's killer memoir. This book was pretty awesome to be honest. I loved the allusions to music, passion, love and literature. Famously called "A Hemmingway-esque portrait of Bohemia" (I forget who said it!) this book is a MUST for reading about everything you thought was very 40s. 

Fact: If you were paying any attention, especially those of you who went up to Cumbria with me in April - you would've noticed that I was reading Kafka was the Rage all the way there. Finishing it in the space of a few hours...What a brilliant novella - a short and sweet memoir of existential nightmares.

Fact 2.0: I found this book whilst browsing on David Bowie's reading list - this came up quite early on...


Characters:

My favourite character is the narrator themselves. As this is a "memoir" - I shall refer to this person as Broyard. Broyard and his 40s lifestyle come under siege by psychotic girlfriends (and I mean psychotic), musical passion, literature love and avant-garde recreational underwhelming sexual encounters. This is because our witty and sarcastic narrator cannot yet come to terms with his own personality and new (and less exciting) friends; as everything around him burns in the colours of decadence. 

Themes: 

Oh! The best theme in this is probably the allusions to literature. Even the title "Kafka was the Rage" is a literary allusion - almost making Kafka seem like some kind of immortal rockstar. Mentioning things like The Metamorphosis and the Trial. This book is almost a psychological metamorphosis of character for Broyard and this is why we love the book. 

Storyline: 

As a memoir - this book covers all the necessary emotive structures that we require to become empathetic towards Broyard. A masterpiece of a book - it interweaves this with friends getting terminally ill, lifeless sex and focusses on what next? A brilliant read start to finish - I seriously recommend this book for anyone looking for a short read. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9. 

100% for characters: I really felt for Broyard, especially after his friend became terminally ill.

100% for themes: You'll kick yourself when you understand how the title fits into the book! 

100% for storyline: A memoir centred around psycho-girlfriend-sex-drama-with-critical-literature-genius-acting-pretentious-but-secretly-having-existential-crisis? Yeah, I'm sold.

Mission Earth

A series of books by L Ron Hubbard that is considered one of the greatest Sci-Fi novels of all time. It centres itself around 10 volumes of descriptive Sci-Fi intellect and mixes passion with confession in this emotive cycle of events. Admitting it, the first time I read this - it was a serious WTF moment. I had to re-read it in order to understand what I had just experienced. It was fair. 

Characters:

The best character, I thought, was Heller or even Soltan Gris. They were the most three dimensional of all characters with each having their own action-inflicted storyline. Be that as it may, I found Heller was given too much time - a little ambiguity would have made it more gripping to read. 

Themes:

Hubbard's theme of confession and passion is prominent here. Soltan Gris' confessions are the ones that get the ball rolling away from ambiguity - and it's a shame because I like ambiguity in Sci-Fi, it makes everything more intelligent. But, Heller's passions are like fire and seem to overcome these Voltars and their destructions of the ambiguous. For some reason, as passionate as it was - I found it predictable. 

Storyline:

All over the place, but seriously the best part. There was no real running storyline except for when Heller wants to destroy Votar's empire. Soltan Gris' confessions are the only source of real ambiguity in the reader because we don't figure out how important they are until the end of the series. Everything is connected, but not connected...If you know what I mean. 

Verdict:

I give this book 7 out of 9.

100% for characters: This is only because I hold Heller in some regard. A very good three dimensional character with changing and morphing archetypes of hero and anti-hero. Very well played Hubbard, well played indeed. 

2/3 for themes: Apart from trying too hard to be 1984-esque, I think the the themes of this novel were, on the whole, well done. They didn't seem out of place or just stuck in for effect, they were well equated and divided up with a clear focus on confession and passion. Although, it gets 2/3 for being a tad bit predictable. 

2/3 for storyline: Only because I thought the ending was rushed. (That's the ending to the tenth book by the way). 

Sons and Lovers

A D.H Lawrence masterpiece. I never actually thought that I'd like this book - but I did have a soft spot for it in the end. It's a story of love and loss (non-cliche) that entails domestic abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse - and every other "abuse" you can think of. Altogether? It was quite poetic in the way it romanticised loss and grief.

Fact: My mother's friend told me to read this book. 

Characters: 

Okay, even though I don't really like her that much, Gertrude Morel was my favourite character. Why? Well, DH Lawrence created her as the most three dimensional suffocating matriarch I've ever seen. She's a headstrong grief of a woman who doesn't seem to know who she is until the final chapters of the novel. Uncanny resemblances to feminine heroes of the Victorian era here. Wow, she is a woman - who is not a woman - but thinks that she's a powerless woman - who ends up being a powerful woman....You know what I mean....

Themes: 

The theme of love is strongest in Sons and Lovers I believe. The maternal love VS the sexual passion is always a good start for the comparison of character internally and externally in Gertrude Morel. She is the central character for all themes here. Don't believe me? Read it for yourself! It is brilliantly worded. 

Storyline:

The storyline of Sons and Lovers is very easy to understand - unrequited love leads to suffering love and caressing. Paul and William are great examples of this. A perfect storyline entrapped in themes that don't even feel out of place in the slightest. A brilliant piece of literature. 

Verdict:

I give this book 8 out of 9. 

2/3 for characters: This is purely because I don't feel sympathy for her that much - mainly because she suffocates Paul and William. Not nice. 

100% for themes: The best theme being love and the secondary being grief. These themes are explored extensively in the main plot line of the novel. 

100% for storyline: A really good storyline - and to think, I preferred Lady Chatterley's Lover! 

The Trial

Franz Kafka's incomplete novel on social decay, innocence, retribution, death and love - and...anonymity? This novel is full of unexpected turns when Josef K. is arrested on account of something he not only didn't do, but he is not told the charges of either. The idea of this novel is centred around the anonymous entity that is the everyman and a crime unknown (probably morality based knowing Kafka) with a punishment severe...WAIT! Does this sound like a Dostoyevsky novel to you? Try "Crime and Punishment" and "Notes from the Underground".... 

Characters: 

My favourite characters are Willem and Franz - who are the two officers who arrest K and don't tell him why. Now, it's official - yes they are a-holes, but they do speak with such ambiguity that you don't even recognise you're not being given information for a reason - it definitely takes a second read to be able to tell. 

Themes: 

The theme of ambiguity is the best one here. The whole book centres itself around telling you only what you need to know and not what you want to know. Kind of like a 1984 thing going on with a bit of Burgess and Dostoyevsky and Animal Farm as the world around K keeps morphing according to what we know and what the characters know. Obviously there is some massive reverse dramatic irony going on here and Kafka has done it perfectly. 

Storyline:

The storyline is surprisingly short - A man gets arrested for something he has no idea about, but here's the catch - neither do you! Now, Kafka can go several ways with this and how he does it is incredible. He uses information as his main symbol. Information is everything to Kafka and revealing it little by little makes the storyline evermore tense and full of thrilling suspense that even if K was sitting there staring at a brick wall - we'd probably still want to know why he's staring at the brick wall. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9 out of 9. 

100% for characters: No matter how villainous and horrible Willem and Franz may seem to be, there is always something great about Kafka's use of language. Here, we see that information gets us everywhere. 

100% for themes: The theme of ambiguity seems to be Kafka's forte. An ambiguity that is put forward so "de haut en bas" (in the words of DH Lawrence) that there is no room for the unknown of  things (as condescending as Willem and Franz may want to speak) - even though that's how we play it out all the way through the book. 

100% for storyline: The storyline as simplistic as it is, relies heavily on what we know, how much we know - and more importantly, what we don't know and how much is concealed from us. Kafka is brilliant at the reversal of dramatic irony and poses his own sense of social critique of "the system" or "the government". Hahaha, Kafka... 

To Kill a Mockingbird

This novel is considered the greatest of its kind. I can't argue. The sheer depth of the narrative and the extensive uses of metaphors, themes and symbolism in a world that's dividing itself and trying to stitch itself back together again. Scout, Jem and even Atticus are the central figures to what is a case of dignity and freedom rather than that of truth and heroism. As one of the best novels even written, let me take this time to explain my appreciation for it as much more than just a piece of literature. 

Characters:

Okay, just like everyone else's - my favourite character is Scout Finch. She is headstrong, willing, determined, confused, playful and yet only a child. This child narrates a symbol of apartheid and segregation of black and white people in a place that seemingly becomes more biased and out of control. Boo and Nathan Radley make her confused and scared of the future - her perceptions of people change (and even more so in Go Set A Watchmen) and morph to form new identities that will serve as our impressions of these people. Her world is divided into good and bad - yet she tries her utmost not to group them; and when one person hangs in the middle of her world's separation - she, as many others are trying - attempts to stitch them up and accept the good and bad in everyone. Not just for realisation in herself, but accept it as a requirement of human nature. 

Themes:

The best theme in this novel - I feel - is innocence. Famously:

"You can shoot all the Bluejays you want... but it's a sin to kill a mockingbird." 

The Mockingbird is the obvious symbol of innocence - and then it morphs to become the symbol of the "coloured" people in the novel. As a realisation - Scout takes this on board and as she grows in a court case that seemingly only lasts one or two chapters - she explains to us that the mockingbird never did anything to us - so we have no excuse to criminalise it. 

Storyline:

The storyline is surprisingly simple - and I believe that the most important thing in this novel is not the storyline - but the message we take from it and the interpretation of symbols, themes and motifs in the novel. The storyline itself is exactly what you'd expect of a young girl - she plays outside, she's confused by strangers etc. It's only when we get to talking about her father, Atticus Finch, that things seem to move on and she talks more like an adult than a young child. Through this novel, the storyline shows her narrative voice morphing and changing with various interactions - sounding more like a child and by the end of the novel, sounding more like her father. She, as a person changes so much that we cannot accuse her of first-person narrative bias - it's impossible for a girl who grows as we read. The court case, I believe, changed her the most though - and having an insignificant amount of time in the book only made it more poignant and believable that this is all witnessed by a young girl. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9 out of 9. 

100% for characters: All the characters seem three dimensional - and even through the eyes of a young girl, we get vast an extensive descriptions of emotion and an understanding of human rights. 

100% for themes: All themes, I believe, in this novel link to innocence in some way, shape or form. There are massive amounts of detail and a huge focus on the different kinds of freedoms and how they are attained. The understanding of basic human rights that Scout shows, but the blacks are denied - makes you wonder how an adult of the community can deny someone their human rights when such a young child knows what they are and how they work. 

100% for storyline: With such a simplistic storyline, this novel seeks us to highlight the importance of innocence and freedom - the importance of human nature and how human rights are deserved of those who are wrongly convicted. 

The Elephant Vanishes

This Murakami book is unlike the others - as it is a set of short stories. The Elephant Vanishes is a great short read for anyone looking to dip into some good Murakami. Now, having read all of Murakami's works I can most definitely say that he is our modern day Anthony Burgess. Themes of alienation, insomnia and motifs of dream states are common to Murakami - but if they're not yet common to you - The Elephant Vanishes, I think, is where you should start. 


Characters:

Well, as the characters have no specific names - I am going to say that the woman from the story "Sleep" is my favourite as she denounces her sleep in order to read Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. If I could stop sleeping and just read I could....Oh wait, I do that most of the time anyway. I think that not giving this woman a name leaves out a vital part of her identity and this is what makes us empathise with her - if we knew her name, she would merely be a character to us. But, not giving her a name gives her more of a symbolic status - thus, making us remember her more. 

Themes:

I'm going to say themes, symbols and motifs of music is probably my favourite in here. As in "The Second Bakery Attack" they listen to Wagner and in "The Kangaroo Communique" they listen to Mahler and Brahms - music (especially classical) is used to enhance the atmosphere at times of requirement and Murakami uses this so well - we don't even realise it's happening. 

Storyline:

Now, as there's no particular storyline - I'm going to tell you about my favourite story in the book, "Sleep". This is obviously about a woman who denounces sleep to be able to stay up, drink wine and read Anna Karenina. But, as she takes a drive in her Civic, everything seems to become scary and unusual, having not slept for long lengths of time by now - she comes to see that sleep may be a necessity and that she was wrong for denouncing it. The end, whether it is real, a dream state, or sleep paralysis - we'll never know. But by God, the ending to this story is amazing. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9 out of 9. 

100% for characters: From the woman making spaghetti to the woman who denounces sleep - Murakami has three dimensional characters without a name and creating identities for characters down to an absolute that I, myself, could never achieve. 

100% for themes: I love the themes that are so typical of Murakami - but saying this, he does a different thing with them each time. 

100% for storyline: I have to say, "Sleep" really shocked me, and so did "The Second Bakery Attack". These stories have such simple plot lines, but require us to understand who the characters are in depth - without knowing their names. 

The Strings of Murder

Oh, I love this book! I re-read it sometimes. It's like a YA Sherlock Holmes. Brilliantly written, this book just gives off such a tense and provoking atmosphere filled with dark humour that even when you read it a second time, you're still left in awe. 


Characters:

My favourite character is Frey. Frey seems to be the Sherlock Holmes of the situation - he's witty, clever and has some attachment issues. The three dimensional characters are created through brilliant dialogue and some really poetic descriptions. I believe that if we are to compare any character to Sherlock Holmes - I would say that Frey would be right up there. 

Themes:

The theme of tragedy is brilliantly interwoven with character and storyline. After the murder of the musician - as a tragedy, we must look into McGrey's past - which is also tragic. Both contain amounts of superstition that we, as readers, find hard to process in the modern day - but our empathy towards McGrey helps us to befriend the characters and come to terms with their losses. 

Storyline:

Each theme in this novel seems to be hand-picked for the storyline. An amazing sense of lyricism and a brilliant poetically charged novel - the storyline is very Sherlock Holmes but with more tragedy, grief and lucidity. This storyline, I believe, is extremely clever with a brilliant self-awareness; that after a while - it almost seems like the tangle of a murder is undoing itself. 

Verdict:

Out of 9, I give this book 9. 

(Before anyone asks - yes I did enjoy this book more than Sherlock Holmes)

100% for characters: Frey and McGrey both seem like such three dimensional characters - it is almost as if they are perfectly real. You can feel them when they talk - you can put a voice to them and you can also feel their pain. 

100% for themes: As I said before, the themes are seemingly hand-picked for the storyline - no theme seems out of place or odd. Everything fits like a jigsaw puzzle. This, I believe, is just another layer to this multi-layered story. 

100% for storyline: I love how simplistic the storyline is and how multi-layered it has been written as. This contrast offers so many opportunities to the reader - do we feel empathy for the characters? Do we try to solve the mystery for ourselves? Do we concentrate on the superstition aspects? Where do we look. And, like a good magic trick - wherever you look in The Strings of Murder - you've not only found one thing - but you've missed something else. 

After Dark

This book is weird as it is brilliant. The motifs of typical Murakami novels means that you won't even have to see who wrote it after a while - if there's Alienation, Insomnia, Cyclic Realities and Dream States - It's a Murakami. After Dark is no exception - with its weird dream state realities - this novella becomes almost sublime in its explanation of the insomniac. 


Characters:

Mari Asai is my favourite character. Purely because she has a brilliant sense of the night and fits right into Murakami's motif of Insomnia. She's a 19 year old student who is found in a coffee shop at midnight. It seems odd - but with Murakami's winding path of weird, it isn't actually the strangest thing that could happen. 

Themes:

My favourite theme in the book is sleep. There's so much language in the book that seems to romanticise the dream state and make sleep seem like something not only sublime - but impossible to actually achieve - or distinguish from being awake. Again, Murakami's language choices for this theme make it 3D, linking it to every single part of the book. 

Storyline:

The storyline - I will admit, is hard to follow, but it doesn't mean it's not intriguing. The amazement that is left in the reader after reading the book is that they can remember very little of what happens in the story - as they are constantly between dreams and reality. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9.

100% for characters: All the characters just seem to fit in Murakami's strange world

100% for themes: Murakami is the king of themes to do with sleep. He could've wrote Inception

100% for storyline: The storyline is deliberately simple, and that makes the themes shine through. A brilliant Murakami trait. 

The Paper Magician

The Paper Magician is a legendary YA novel that roots itself in magic realism. I know, you're probably thinking "we've heard it before...so much!" - No. No you haven't. This, for me, has sparked a new cult following - not one person I have given this book (and trilogy) to - or borrowed to, or even suggested this book to have come back and said anything bad. All ages, all reading types and all types of people can enjoy this book with a good imagination. 

Characters:

My favourite character is Ceony. Ceony Twill is the next great heroine of literature. She's brilliantly three dimensional and gets to make all the shocking decisions - even though some important decisions are made for her. She requires the confidence and ability to take up challenges she previous knew to be impossible - and all of her knowledge is challenged when she almost loses a game she didn't even know anything about at the beginning of the book. 

Themes:

I love the theme of magic realism here. We are required to accept Ceony Twill's magic abilities and those of her tutor. She not only makes us accept magic, but she has to accept her own position - she also asks us to accept the fact that she challenges the impossible. Not only can she do magic, but she asks us to believe the impossible through her constant seeking for adventure. Even though she doesn't talk to us directly - we can still see her thoughts. As if we have the powers ourselves. 

Storyline:

Ah! As we think the whole book is about Ceony's life - I guess we are wrong! It is about Ceony's acceptance of her new life - through the teachings of a man called Emery Thane. (As I believe), Ceony must accept her new (and only) magic - she also must learn to use it properly. This is because she will be asked to do so - sooner than she thinks...

Verdict:

This book gets a 10/9 - Yes, 10 out of 9

100% for characters: Ceony Twill > All other heroines. Read the book and you'll think so too. This woman needs a following. 

100% for themes: Magic realism is only good if done well. Here, Holmberg didn't do it well - she did it BRILLIANTLY! 

100% for storyline: At first I was skeptical about the whole YA genre and the storylines sounding a bit cheesy. But, then I found The Paper Magician - which was different and restored my faith in the YA novel and all its diversity. (It really is a brilliant book - I'm not exaggerating!) 

NB: Please! If you're trying to get into reading - those of you who don't read enough already - please! Read The Paper Magician and its trilogy. It will definitely get you into reading! I guarantee it!

The Prince

So, this book isn't exactly fiction. But, it is one of my favourite books on this Earth. Written in 1513 to teach leadership and how to rule - this book is a defiant work of literary genius by the philosopher and politician, Niccolo Machiavelli. Even the name "Mach-Evil" seems to conjure up major negation. But, I'm here to prove that Machiavelli actually has nothing to do with being evil, but merely explains what our instincts as humans are - reasoning for whether these qualities are good, or bad in terms of leadership and rule. 

I am not going to split this into characters, themes and storyline like I normally do. But I will concentrate on particular quotations - analysing how effective they are and what they teach us about great leadership. 

1) 

"It is far safer to be feared than loved, if one cannot be both." 

This quotation is one of the most famous and most infamous in then book and requires us to understand that a leader must appear as a man who must make drastic decisions like this. Unfortunately, it has been constantly taken out of context and used as Machiavelli's main act of evil. It is a work of deception that proves necessary to a good leader - but it is not an act of evil.

2) 

"Princes who have little regard for their word have achieved great things, being experts at beguiling men's minds." 

A quotation solely based on the requirement for deception. A beautifully written guide to military genius - Machiavelli explains the necessity for deception and cunning in a world full of common people who are unaware of what is really good for the state. He states that this is what actually happens as opposed to what ought to happen - and the difference between these two things is a drastic one. 

3)

"...men are wicked and not prepared to keep their word to you, you have no need to keep your word to them." 

Preceded by a quotation on what the world would be like if it were full of good men - Machiavelli explains the brutal truth of the matter. That people seek for themselves and that a Prince should do what they believe is right instead of what the "people" want. That is normally, if they are two different things. 

4)

"A deceiver will always find someone willing to be deceived."

A brilliantly artistic quotation on the Prince as the "deceiver" and the people as the "deceived" - I think that this quotation is very important in recognising the cunning and brilliantly genius military and political mind of Machiavelli. Maybe this is one of the quotations that made the OED's definition for the Machiavellian.

5)

"Of course, it is best to both seem merciful, loyal, humane, upright and scrupulous. And yet, one's spirit should be calculated in such a way that one can, if need be, turn one's back on these qualities and become the opposite." 

A brilliant representation of everything that is considered Machiavellian. The qualities one needs to 'appear' to have (or seem in this case) vs. the qualities one needs to have in private. It is necessary here for the Prince to assume a likability, but also to have the genius to use cunning and deception where it is good for the state. Another great quotation by Niccolo Machiavelli. 

6)

"If a prince wants to succeed, he must learn how to be able not to be good." 

The Machiavellian must learn that there are requirements for deception. This quotation is one that is normally taken our of context and called "the work of evil". When really, it does not suggest any evil doings. Machiavelli meant that there must be a balance between doing what is good and doing what is right when they are not the same thing - and most of the time they are not. Machiavelli, I believe, meant that there is a religious hypocrisy that a Prince must abandon (seeing as religion is mentioned nowhere in the book) in order to succeed - and this is what I believe he suggests by "learning how to be able not to be good." 

Dubliners

This James Joyce novel has various metaphysical topics that are accustom to his writing style. Even though I prefer Finnegan's Wake. I am sure that The Dubliners impressed me almost as much - but a lot more than Ulysses did. Written with beautiful Irish context - Joyce reveals the Irishman's and Irishwoman's lifestyle through brilliant descriptions and witty, sarcastic dialogue. 

Characters:

This may sound abnormal, but my favourite character is Little Chandler. The language of melancholy in his chapter is brilliant - basically I only like Little Chandler for the language of happiness and sadness that is contrasted throughout the chapter. 

Themes:

Obviously, the theme of Irish Identity is key here. The Dubliners wouldn't be anything without Joyce's trait for "being Irish" and "what makes on Irish". I think his writing on this topic is amazing and vibrant with extensively descriptive and witty language. 

Storyline:

The story of The Dubliners creates the identity of Irish (as I have said previously), but also contrasts emotions and descriptions using vast metaphors and brilliant similes within a story of the everyman's Ireland. A great set of storylines within a short book - a legendary piece of light reading!

Verdict:

I give this book 9.

100% for characters: The characters in this book are all presented with underlying Irish identity within a world where they must encounter various problems with their identities and identification - then seek to fix them. I love the way in which Joyce narrates a set of characters as being Irish by description and even by speech. 

100% for themes: I gave the themes 100% because I'm biased to loving Irish Fiction - Irish literature is some of my favourite and I love the way Joyce embraces the identity within contrasting themes and descriptive narrative. 

100% for storyline: The storyline, focussing on the everyman, really gives us an insight into Ireland that is only felt by the pen in Joyce's hand. Just like Finnegan's Wake it is a tale of identity in a changing world - and how it effects each and every Irishman and Irishwoman in it. 

Anna Karenina

This book is renowned as one of the great novels of war and romance. Written by a Russian Author by the name of Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina tells the story of a young woman forced into infidelity and secrecy through a series of lies, retributions and slanders that increase the chance of 'being found out' one step at a time. 

I remember reading this in my teens and thinking "why is this book so depressing!?" And then, I realised that literature is never depressing. It is just another part of the three dimensional human condition. I learned that little fact from literatureandhistory.com and the podcast of Episode 20: The Problem of Evil. A great podcast for learning about everything associated with literature and the historical context. Especially for us English university students who want to have a good time and be educationally enhanced. 

So, on with Anna Karenina. 


Characters:

I couldn't choose one favourite character; so I went with our eponymous protagonist. She is feisty, heroic, secret, isolated, rich, uplifted, idealistic, valuable, clever, witty and ultimately - she is tragic. That is all I have to say. She's so well constructed that her downfall seems almost confusing - her three dimensional nature just makes us, as readers, want to console her and tell her "everything's gonna be okay." Even though it'll probably turn out terrible in the end. 


Themes:

The theme of love and war are my favourites here. Soldiers and romance; something like Kiera Knightley and Cillian Murphy in The Edge of Love (2007).  I found some of the other themes, such as secrecy and depression - loss and grief, appearance and reality etc. a little underwhelming compared to the overpowering 'love and war' theme. An equal balance is key - but whether Tolstoy did this on purpose, I will never know. 


Storyline:

I'm not going to lie to you - the storyline was a little confusing with all the long names everywhere, people having similar names and then the story itself being that massive - I couldn't have possibly done it without some secondary reading at hand. But, after I did finally get through it a second time, without the secondary reading - I saw that it was beautifully crafted with violent and tragic uses of great extended metaphors and similes that resonate those of classic literature. So, congrats Tolstoy! Anna Karenina did for Love and War - what War and Peace did for Love and War. Brilliant. 


Verdict:

I give this book 7/9

100% for characters: I feel that the characters were all developed brilliantly - even though some were a little bit more confusing than others. The characters of Anna Karenina are all constructed from their own beautiful, yet tragic lies. 

2/3 for themes: This is purely for the inequality I felt when I was reading - sometimes themes would just appear and then never again for the rest of the book. I feel some themes for not treated equally. #ThemeLivesMatter 

2/3 for storyline: I feel that it was just a little generally confusing in places. Some of it sounded a little rushed, but be that as it may, the overall story was not something that could've been told better by a different author. Tolstoy really does know how to read us a tragic romance. 

Paradise Lost

John Milton's Epic Poem, Paradise Lost is a narrative of a different kind of Old Testament story of Adam and Eve. A much more vengeful God and a much more sympathetic Satan take hold in these verses and as Puritan as Milton was...this poem surely was not Puritan. 

Funny fact about Paradise Lost: for those of you who know me, you will know that my edition of Paradise Lost keeps going missing. It's not wordplay - it actually happens. 

Character: 

My favourite character from this entire poem was most probably Satan. Seeing as Milton intended to make Satan more 'sympathetic' and 'likeable' - I do see that happening. Satan is less vengeful than God in some aspects of the poem and there is a serious question of right and wrong. 

Themes: 

Of course, the theme of morality is one of the best and better developed themes of the poem. Personally, I love finding the little morality teachings that are dotted in and around the narrative of Genesis Version 2. Especially when we look at Genesis 3-4 AND Paradise Lost when we see the Fall of Man. There are many things to take away in terms of right and wrong - and we can now see that Milton is a Puritan. 

Storyline:

Well, we know that Paradise Lost copies Genesis in a way. But it also adds some stuff that we don't see. Such as: the representation of the snake as the cunning Satan is not and idea that comes from the Bible. Nowhere in the Bible does it state that the snake represents Satan - this is an idea conjured by Milton's work. The fact that we constantly get them confused just adds to the resonating genius of this poem. 

(In no way am I affiliated with using Paradise Lost for religious purposes. I am not saying that the Bible is like the poem or vice versa - both are individual texts serving different purposes. I apologise for any offence I may have caused). 

Verdict:

I give this book 9/9

100% for characters: The characters of God and Satan are so well constructed that we almost get a three dimensional view of them, just like we do in Genesis. (See: small-print).

100% for themes: The themes in Paradise Lost are not only well developed, but also serve to be a vital part of the narrative in double purpose. I believe that this poem would not be very much without its themes. 

100% for storyline: The narrative mirrors the first Biblical story of the Pentateuch and infers that there is more to tell, in more detail about Adam and Eve's wrong doings. The morality lessons that dot the poem throughout are also a good reminder of how it resonates the biblical text. (See: small-print).  

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The Colony of Unrequited Dreams

The Colony of Unrequited Dreams by Wayne Johnston is probably one of the best Half-On-Sea novels I've read since Moby-Dick. Even though I felt this way - some of the storyline aspects were a bit lacklustre and themes underdeveloped. I still enjoyed it though. 

Characters: 

Charlie Smallwood is my favourite character seeing as he is the main character from the very beginning - having quite a dramatic entry into the story and then we move backwards through a "history of the Newfoundland" and even told how to pronounce it. 

Themes:

The theme of identity and the theme of selfish/selflessness is very important here. The book talks often about who people are. For example, that Charlie Smallwood doesn't like to be simply called "Smallwood" (for reasons you will find out if you read the book). These small quirks around who people are make a good definition of character as we move through the book - giving us a foreshadowing of personalities. Another quirk is "the burning of the boots" (for reasons you will also recognise whilst reading the book). 

Storyline:

The storyline, as I said, is a little bit lacklustre. Once we start speeding up in a chapter and getting past all the description-laden sectors and the setting up of characters; the chapter seemingly ends. I believe this may be intentional by Johnston, but personally it's not my thing. 

Verdict:

I give this book 7 out of 9. 

100% for characters: I believe that Charlie Smallwood is very well presented and then very well represented by various symbols in the book. Especially the symbol of fire - which contrasts to water, but also gives light to his fiery persona that we meet later on in the book. 

2/3 for themes: I like the theme of identity - but I feel themes such as love and loss, grief, history and patriotism are are little bit underwhelming and seemingly not as important as identity. 

2/3 for storyline: As I've said twice now, "a bit lacklustre". I don't mean that it's bad - I mean that it's short chapters with little development. Well, you could read a few chapters and not have made it very far through the story. Be that as it may, the storyline did stir interest as being something done on purpose rather than something done to detach the reader without deliberation. 

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Animal Farm

Okay, two pieces of Orwellian fiction in a row? Yes. Only 1984 and Animal Farm have to go together. They are basically two of the same and I really do like reading Animal Farm. A great short read with some really evocative themes - a controversial storyline and deep, historical meaning behind it all. A legendary allegory of Stalin's Russia. 

Characters:

My favourite character is Boxer - who I believe represents Blind Faith. He works and works, never getting rewards, or gratification, he just does as he's told day-in and day-out. Boxer is a character that requires Clover to look after him, making sure that nobody else takes advantage of him - but even Clover cannot stop Boxer's fate approaching. 

SPOILER ALERT

Boxer is dying, he is told he's being taken to a hospital to fix him up - but really he's being taken away. When he dies, his dead body is used to make glue. 

Themes:

The best theme in this book is probably lies and deceit. Lies and deceit are mainly used by characters such as Napoleon and Snowball, and even by Squealer to some extent. Lies and Deceit are used to not only control other characters, but also to imprison them, kill them, and even stop them from having basic freedoms. 

Storyline:

The storyline to Animal Farm bases itself on the USSR (Stalin's Russia) and its controlling nature. Napoleon and Snowball take over the farm and from the events of making a National Anthem to beginning to trade with the humans; the pig-leaders of the farm bask in having and wanting to be more and more like people. Even though they are still genetically animals. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9. 

100% for characters: Characters such as Boxer, Clover, the Hens, the Sheep and even Mollie are subject to abuse and control. Whereas characters like Napoleon, Snowball and Squealer are the ones in control. Then, the character Moses is the on-looker to the action, reporting back to the humans about what happens on Manor Farm. 

100% for themes: The themes of this novel are similar to those of 1984. But, in contrast, this book deals with more issues around leadership than the government body itself. This book concerns itself with what happens when we give one set of people too much power and how we then try (and fail) to solver that problem. 

100% for storyline: Like Orwellian fiction is, I believe that this storyline is just as futuristic as it is allegorical. 1984 seeks to do the same thing, just in a slightly different way. Both do it perfectly though. A cyclical reality encompassed in the want for liberation without the means to do so. 

1984

As one of the most influential novels of all time, 1984 deserves a place on this blog. I remember first reading this book when I was 12 years old and now - almost 8 and a half years later, I still can't forget the feeling of realisation that once washed over me. Almost a decade of knowing this brilliant novel makes me glad I read in my spare time. 

Characters:

My favourite character is Winston - purely because he is the on-looker (and our eyes) to action. He is the everyman of the 1984 world and one who has access to the reader's minds as well. I think Orwell did that on purpose though - getting us to have faith in his system just like the population of 1984 have faith in their's. Well played Orwell, well played. 

Themes: 

As the world's most famous dystopian novel - I can say that dystopia is a theme I'd like to cover. Within this theme there are many sectors that are presented in the novel:

• Surveillance
• Communism and Dictatorship
• Depression
• Wealth and Poverty
• Human Value
• Fear
• Idealism

Each of these viewed equally through the lens of being trapped in Room 101 makes for a legendary piece of fiction. 

Storyline:

I love the storyline. It seems to be all about trust and faith and how we shouldn't put our faith in those with the most power in society - because it will always get misused and abused. The act of trust is put in normal human beings and the whole idea of dystopia, the thought police and other aspects of depression come to life when one person puts their trust in something they don't fully believe in. 

Verdict:

I give this book 9/9.

100% for characters:

This novel's main character, Winston, is a great example of the everyman and I believe that all of us as readers could learn a lot from Winston and how he treats others. 

100% for themes:

The theme of dystopia. This is the main dystopian novel when we look at the theme. When you say dystopia, you think 1984. Do you not? Exactly. 

100% for storyline:

The storyline is still applicable now. We can apply it to the modern day and practically see the thought police around us in the form of media and advertising. We are told what to think and thinking outside the box gets us ridiculed by others. A brilliant novel that can still be applied - 68 years later :)

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Go Tell it on the Mountain

Go Tell It on the Mountain is a brilliant novel about religious hypocrisy, new life and self-destruction that all takes place in one family, on one day in Harlem City. This jaw-dropping read is so good, you'll never want to finish it - and then you dread the ending...but stay hopeful, just like the main character, John. 

Characters:

My favourite character here is Roy - his accident seems to be the beginning of all the madness. Roy is a three dimensional character living in a two dimensional world; as a result of this - John is confused over who he is as all of this madness takes place on his birthday.

Themes:

The most important theme in this book is probably identity. Identity plays the role in John's self-discovery that no other theme can play - it plays the role of self-improvement and self-destruction; with the vast ability to do both where he is concerned. Gabriel also seeks the same sense; but is too afraid to show it in front of The Lord. 

Storyline:

This book has an amazing storyline as the entirety of it is set on John's birthday and yet, it tells his complete family background through prose and song and prayer and person. John's idea of self-discovery is enlarged as we learn that to know who John is - we must know about those around him and how this has constructed his identity. Finding parallels between their personas and his is the most important thing we must do for ourselves whilst we read. 

Verdict:

I give this book 8/9

2/3 for characters: The only reason for this is because I don't like Gabriel - nor is he sympathetic when we read his backstory. I also do not feel much for Florence, but I do (however) like Roy, John and Elisha very much. 

100% for themes: The themes in this book are so very well constructed that it's hard not to look at this book as art and not just a piece of literary fiction.

100% for storyline: I say "fiction" - but the storyline makes it hard to believe that this book is a work of fiction. It might as well be real because it would have the same emotional effect on us. 

This is the copy I have. Do you want the book too?