Books: The Booker Prize

Discussion in 'Entertainment Lounge' started by HeathDavisSpeed, Oct 24, 2015.

  1. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    Apologies for the pretentious thread. I get the train every day for work and take a book to read. There's a library at work, but it's more of a reference library than a standard one. Hence, the non-reference books in there tend to be literary in nature (for example, I tried looking for 100 Years of Solitude, and they had the book - I went along to get it out and it was in Spanish). As a result, I've struggled to find books in the library that I want to read - but I have found that they have all the Booker Prize winners, so I've decided rather than having to search the library for random books I might want to read, I'll go through the Booker Prize winners. I'll give a brief review of each one I've read in the order I've read them. Feel free to contribute if you've read any of them.
     
  2. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    A huge song and dance was made the year Keri Hume won it. We read a wee bit of it in 6th form English and symbolism was OTT and X rated.

    That will be my only two cents I can contribute in this thread other than I will read your reviews with great interest.
     
  3. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    1. Schindler's Ark - Thomas Keneally

    Year Published: 1982
    Length: 380 pages
    Nationality of Author: Australian

    Brief Synopsis: The story is about Oskar Schindler. An entrepreneur who during the holocaust acts to protect Polish Jews from the Nazis' final solution. A personality piece in some respect about how someone who starts off narcissistic and interested only in profit can change so profoundly in the face of overwhelming evil.

    Comments: To be honest, I was still at school when I read this book. We were studying the 2nd World War, the rise and fall of Nazi Germany etc. and we were tasked to read the book. It's a little tough to provide decent comment as a result, but I would say that given that I usually tried to avoid reading the books that School insisted we should read and I actually read this book and recall it being quite absorbing, that it must have been pretty bloody good.

    Rating: ?/10

    Film Adaptation:
    Yes. A very successful film in fact.
     
  4. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    2. Life of Pi - Yann Martel

    Year Published: 2002
    Length: ? pages
    Nationality of Author: Canadian

    Brief Synopsis: Story of an Indian boy, Pi, growing up in Pondicherry whose family decide to emigrate to Canada, taking the menagerie from the zoo that they own with them. They travel by boat, and the boat sinks in a storm leaving the protagonist's family dead and him only in a life boat with a tiger, hyena, orang-utan and zebra for company. The main section of the story concerns how Pi deals with being alone at sea on a small boat with a group of wild and dangerous animals for company

    Comments: The narrative style is easy to read, which probably helps to explain why the novel was so successful, selling over 10 million copies. The supposed premise of the book is to build a story around the premise of God - that Pi wouldn't have been able to get through his ordeal without some kind of godly intervention. Pi himself is a studier of religion in general - despite being a Hindu, he takes parts of a multitude of different religions into how he lives his life. Without spoiling the story, you either have to suspend your disbelief regarding the story, or instead believe it to be an incredibly clunky metaphor. I didn't find either of these options compelling in the slightest - and in hindsight, I think perhaps that is part of the point but I still felt a bit ripped off by the conclusion to the book.

    Rating: 5/10

    Film Adaptation:
    Yes. Another very successful adaptation and award winner. A decent film, but incredibly overrated in my opinion.
     
    Last edited: Oct 24, 2015
  5. Hurricane JD Hurricane

    I have read the life of Pi. Obama called it the most elegant proof of God's existence. I liked it as a story but not as a metaphor. There are some "discussion" questions at the end of the book and I failed to be able to answer any of them.

    One of them is "What is the significance of the main character being called Pi".
     
  6. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    3. The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton

    Year Published: 2002
    Length: 832 pages
    Nationality of Author: New Zealander/Canadian

    Brief Synopsis: Set on the West Coast of New Zealand during the Goldrush era of the mid-1800s, a newly arrived prospector enters a pub in the town of Hokitika to find 12 men who are clearly engaged in some business, but trying as hard as possible to make it look as if they're not. Gradually, the 12 men relax their guard and let the newcomer into their conversation. This concerns a number of mysteries which have arisen in recent months across the South Island from Dunedin to Christchurch to the Goldfields and then to Hokitika.

    Comments: I'll be honest here, it's a tough old read. The book is deliberately written in an anachronistic style which would have been reminiscent of the language at the time. This makes the prose hard to follow in a nice steady stream as you might need to re-read the last paragraph just to check that you've understood it properly. It also has constructed using underlying astrological principles. This construction was something that particularly excited the critics at the time of publication, but to me just added unnecessary confusion. I guess in theory, the underlying astrology helps you to understand the range of characters better, and their different motivations and personalities. I still don't think it's needed though as given the length of the book, there should be more than sufficient characterisation for you to understand these things without the need for a layer of bullshit over the top. That said, the underlying mystery is superbly constructed and as the book progresses, the layers of the mystery are systematically peeled back - you'll be sure you know who's responsible, but you won't understand the motivation and the method until you've made it to the end. The imagery and description of settlers' life on the West Coast is also incredible - I can't confess to be an expert on whether it's accurate or not, but the book will really help you conjure up your own view of how things would have looked.

    Rating: 8/10

    Film Adaptation: No. At least not yet. Supposedly a mini-series could be in the offing. Would no doubt be very expensive to film.
     
  7. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    Those are the 3 I read before my recent spurt of Booker winners.
     
  8. Number 11 CJ Downes

    Subscribing to thread, keen to see which ones you recommend.
     
  9. Toolman TR Man

    I hated 100 years of solitude, was so boring.
     
  10. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    4. The True History of the Kelly Gang - Peter Carey

    Year Published: 2000
    Length: 401 pages
    Nationality of Author: Australian

    Brief Synopsis: The quintessential Australian hero/anti-hero Ned Kelly story told from Ned Kelly's point of view. Relates the story of Ned Kelly from childhood to the inevitable denouement of the story.

    Comments: This was just fantastic. It was a great entry into reading Booker Prize winners as it is easily one of the best of the books I've read - if I'd chosen a different book first, then perhaps I wouldn't have ventured off on this Booker Prize quest in the first place. Carey replicated the use of language at the time, particularly with reference to Ned Kelly's surviving authenticated writings. The story of Ned Kelly is probably familiar to most Australians, but as a non-Australian I only had a vague knowledge of the full breadth of his life and although this is a fictionalised account it lovingly, painstakingly creates a vision of Australia in the mid-late 1800s. All up, this is a great story - superbly told. In terms of the prose, despite the use of an older style and use of language, it wasn't hard to keep a good steady rhythm when reading - nothing unnecessarily flowery in the word play. I also quite liked the way the ending was handled. It was testament to the strength of this novel that it directly led me to pick up another Peter Carey novel to be next on the list - Illywhacker. Illywhacker doesn't make this countdown as it was only nominated for the Booker but was probably a better book than Peter Carey's other entry into this countdown, which will come later.

    Rating: 10/10

    Film Adaptation: No. Not really. Films have been made of the Ned Kelly story, but not this particular version of his life.

    Leaderboard:

    4. The True History of the Ned Kelly Gang - Peter Carey
    3. The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton
    2. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
     
  11. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    5. The Old Devils - Kingsley Amis

    Year Published:1986
    Length: ~300 pages
    Nationality of Author: English

    Brief Synopsis: Supposedly a comic novel. Set in Wales. Alun Weaver, a writer who has enjoyed modest success, returns to his native Wales from London along with his wife Rhiannon, sometime girlfriend of Weaver's old acquaintance Peter Thomas. Weaver looks to pick up where he left off with a number of friendships that he had abandoned when he moved to London.

    Comments: Well, it's safe to say I'm glad I didn't choose this book first. Supposedly a comic novel, but I can't recall a single moment where I thought this was funny. Depressing, if anything - depressing that so many people had let this one absent figure dominate and ruin their lives. Martin Amis believes it to be his father's masterpiece, writing in his autobiography: "...it stands comparison with any English novel of the century." Based on this, I don't think I'll bother reading any other books by Kingsley Amis. Overall, whilst (as you'd expect) it was well written, I find in slightly hard to believe that this could be considered such a stunning piece of literature. It's not even a particularly interesting story either.

    Rating: 4/10

    Film Adaptation: A television adaptation was made by the BBC in the early 90s apparently. I won't bother with it.

    Leaderboard:

    4. The True History of the Ned Kelly Gang - Peter Carey
    3. The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton
    2. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
    5. The Old Devils - Kingsley Amis
     
  12. Escath LE Schaw

    Eleanor Catton is a bitch though.
     
  13. Julian BJ Taylor

    Spent a day with Tom Kennealy once. An oddball but top bloke.
     
  14. Julian BJ Taylor

    Not interested in Pi in the slightest
     
  15. MrPrez CM Dyer

    Interested to see if Disgrace is part of this list. Just finished it today.
     
  16. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    Finished it yesterday tbh. Moving onto the Life and Times of Michael K next.
     
  17. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    6. Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey

    Year Published:1988
    Length: ~528 pages
    Nationality of Author: Australian

    Brief Synopsis: An epic story about the son of a Plymouth Brethren minister - Oscar Hopkins - brought up in England to become a clergyman and Lucinda Laplastrier, a young woman who inherits her parents' land in Australia when they both die untimely and unfortunate deaths. Lucinda has visions of becoming an industrialist and buys a glass factory in Sydney after becoming interested in a strange glass ornament called a Prince Rupert's Drop. Both protagonists pick up a gambling habit from unlikely sources and meet under equally unlikely circumstances on a boat from London to Sydney. The pair strike up an unlikely friendship which results in a grand bet.

    Comments: It's a real slow burner this one. I forget how long through the book you are before the two main characters meet, but it must be between a third and a half of the way through. The content beforehand mainly serves to set up a construct of the personalities of the two main characters - both outcast-type loners estranged to some extent from their communities. Personally, I don't think so much build up was required - you get a pretty clear view of their personalities, drives and desires without all of the contextual background provided. The actual story of Oscar and Lucinda isn't that long once you peel back all this gumpf. That said, the background of the main story (again, like most Carey books I've read set in the mid-late 19th Century) is exquisitely described, but I didn't like this anywhere near as much as Ned Kelly or Illywhacker. The ending is a bit unexpected and unlikely given what you've learnt about their characters along the way, so that was a little unsatisfying as well.

    Rating: 6/10

    Film Adaptation: Yes. An Australian production starring Ralph Fiennes and Cate Blanchett - along with support from Ciaran Hinds and Tom Wilkinson. Looks good in theory, apparently not that hot in practice.

    Leaderboard:

    4. The True History of the Ned Kelly Gang - Peter Carey
    3. The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton
    6. Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey
    2. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
    5. The Old Devils - Kingsley Amis
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2015
  18. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    7. The Ghost Road - Pat Barker

    Year Published:1995
    Length: ~288 pages
    Nationality of Author: British

    Brief Synopsis: Set during the First World War, the story revolves around the character of Billy Prior, a soldier who has previously been extracted from the Western Front and treated for shell shock. Now "cured" of this, Billy is due to return to the front. However, Billy no longer has much concern for his safety and indulges in a number of wild sexual encounters. Entwined with this story is that of Prior's psychiatrist, Rivers, who reminisces about his formative years on an expedition to Melanesia and learning how the Melanesians deal with medical concerns.

    Comments: A timely read given the prevalence of World War One in the media at the moment. The real problem with this as a book in isolation is that it is the third book of a trilogy (which I wasn't aware of before picking it up). As such, there seems to be an expectation that you should be familiar - or at least a passing knowledge - of what has happened to characters in the past. A number of peripheral characters existed in real life (Wilfred Owen being the most obvious), but it is hard to determine whether their characters in the book provide a fair assessment of their activities in reality. There's a reasonable amount of sex in the book, including buggery, and at times this was a little bit jarring. The juxtaposition between the scenes in the 'modern day' war theatre and the parts set in Melanesia was a little bit confusing, but started to come to some resolution as the book progressed. The parts in Melanesia with the Western educated psychologist expecting to educate the natives, but finding more out about himself - whilst always with a pinch of fear behind his relationship with the locals was one of the stronger parts of the narrative. The ending, as with a great deal of World War One literature was incredibly poignant. Hard to assess this one without having read the books which precede it, but not one of my favourites thus far.

    Rating: 6/10

    Film Adaptation: Nah.

    Leaderboard:

    4. The True History of the Ned Kelly Gang - Peter Carey
    3. The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton
    6. Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey
    7. The Ghost Road - Pat Barker
    2. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
    5. The Old Devils - Kingsley Amis
     
  19. HeathDavisSpeed HT Davis

    8. The Siege of Krishnapur - JG Farrell

    Year Published:1973
    Length: ~344 pages
    Nationality of Author: British/Irish

    Brief Synopsis: The story takes place in India during the decline of British power in the mid 19th Century. The book draws on real life events such as the sieges of Cawnpore and Lucknow by Sepoys in 1857. The plot develops around a small town in India and the even smaller British community based there, who come across as complacent, but at the time fearful of mutiny of local Indian troops given rumours of unrest elsewhere. The main characters in the book are firstly the Collector - the main pillar of the local British community. He's a stereotypical Victorian believer in progress and the greatness of the British Empire, often found daydreaming of the Great Exhibition. The next main character is Fleury a poetical young man from England who learns to become a soldier. Around them buzz a variety of different British colonial types and some indifferent locals who - in the main seem to not be particularly bothered about who runs the town and treat the siege as some carnival event to attend as you would watch the circus.

    Comments: I found this one quite interesting, mainly due to the history embedded within it which wasn't a topic I knew much about. The content of the book manages to be a "Zulu-esque" tale of colonial derring-do whilst at the same time criticising the nature of that very colonial era. The descriptions of how the very traditional, starchy, hierarchical Victorians have to deal with the sacrifices and problems of the siege are superlative. The language used to express the decay and decline of the British cantonment is equal parts wonderful and disturbing. I'm almost certain given my lack of knowledge of the history involved meant that I was missing some subtext here, but it clearly serves as a critique of Colonialism, but as I said it succeeds in making this point whilst also being an entertaining, easy-to-read book.

    Rating: 7/10

    Film Adaptation: Nah.

    Leaderboard:

    4. The True History of the Ned Kelly Gang - Peter Carey
    3. The Luminaries - Eleanor Catton
    8. The Siege of Krishnapur - JG Farrell
    6. Oscar and Lucinda - Peter Carey
    7. The Ghost Road - Pat Barker
    2. Life of Pi - Yann Martel
    5. The Old Devils - Kingsley Amis
     
  20. Zakaron SDR Laing

    I'm more of a Sarah Douglas, Traci Harding and terry brooks kind of reader
     

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