HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY- 15 READING RECOMMENDATIONS!

HAPPY  INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY LADIES! I've worked for 12 hours straight today, so I'm pretty tired. Still, it was a good day. I love this holiday, honestly. I love being a woman. It's such a wonderful thing! Despite my long day, somehow I managed to find the energy to go through my blog archives and come up with 15 reading recommendations. 

READING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

1) HUMAN ACTS, A NOVEL  BY HANG KAN  4/5

READING UPDATE: TWO BOOK REVIEWS (HUMAN ACTS BY HAN KANG AND HOGFATHER BY TERRY PRATCHETT) (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

Human Acts is a beautifully written tale of a historical tragedy. This novel is very potent and meaningful, but it is not the easiest book to read. Set in the midst of a tragically ended student uprising in South Korea, much of the novel focuses on the death of a young boy named Dong-ho and the effect his tragic death had on his family and friends. It speaks of a painful time in South Korea's history, of the brutal dictator this country lived under, the military regime it experienced and the horrible massacres committed by the army. The fact that it was based on true events makes this story even more chilling. The author did a lot of research for this novel, she studies the fates of victims in detail. You can feel this in writing. While you read the novel, it does feel real. 

“Is it true that human beings are fundamentally cruel? Is the experience of cruelty the only thing we share as a species? Is the dignity that we cling to nothing but self-delusion, masking from ourselves the single truth: that each one of us is capable of being reduced to an insect, a ravening beast, a lump of meat? To be degraded, slaughtered - is this the essential of humankind, one which history has confirmed as inevitable?”

Early in the novel, Dong-ho, a young student, is killed. He is not the only young and innocent person whose life ends suddenly. In fact, the novel opens with a massive tragedy. We meet Dong-ho as he is volunteering to help the grieving families identify their family memories killed by the army, hoping to find his school friend Jeong-dae (who we will learn was mercilessly killed as well). As Dong-ho watches over the corpses, we get to see the death in all of its horror. Dong-ho fights nausea but together with two brave young women (whose stories we will learn as well) he keeps working on standing watch over the bodies. In the end he refuses to save himself and leave. His character really grew on me. The young student who is looking for his friend was such a well crafted character. At the same time, the writer does a great job of setting the atmosphere of a tragically ended student protest, the prosecution and the horror of live under the military regime.

2) DAMNED CROATIAN WOMEN BY MILANA RUNJIĆ 

SUMMER READING AND REREADING UPDATE: P. MERIMEE, F.S. FITZGERALD AND M. VUKOVIĆ RUNJIĆ (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

Another book that I absolutely loved was Proklete Hrvatice- od Cvijete Zutorić do Ene Begović by Milana Runjić Vuković (here you can read my review for one of her other books). This book focuses on lives of several notable Croatian women. I found it absolutely fascinating and I enjoyed the writing style very much. The author wrote about these women from a more personal point of view, often wondering what they must have felt like in different stages of their life and I quite liked that. Since I read and reviewed this book in Croatian, I'll share my review of it in the language it was written in: 

Pročitala sam knjigu Proklete Hrvatice u jednom dahu moglo bi se reći, imala sam dojam da sam jednostavno potonula u nju, u likove, povijest i događanja. Svidjelo mi se što je spisateljica o njima pisala iz osobne perspektive, gledajući ih, barem mi se tako činilo, prvenstveno kao žene, pitajući se kako su se osjećale u pojedinim trenucima. Povijesne žene, ali prikazane kroz osobnu i modernu prizmu. Čak mi se i jezik jako dopao i čitajući ovu knjigu shvatila sam koliko mi nedostaje čitati takve knjige. Hrvatska klasična književnost pa i ona novija mi je nekako uvijek pri ruci, ali lijepo je pročitati i nešto iz današnjice.  Koliko god volim klasike, jednako volim čitati i modernije knjige na hrvatskom. Ova knjiga me nekako i ranila i izliječila, rastužila i usrećila. Bilo mi se lako poistovjetiti sa sudbinama i životima svih ovih žena, možda zato što sam o njima dosta i promišljala (ipak sam sa njima dosta upoznata). Osim mađarske plemkinje koja je odlučila postati ilirskom i Hrvaticom, sve su mi ostale žene bile otprije poznate. Imam dojam da bi i sama mogla o njima nešto zanimljivo napisati (možda nekad i sama napišem nešto više o njima, a u međuvremenu sam sretna što mogu o njima čitati). Ova knjiga je bila više nego dobrodošla lektira o znamenitim ženama čije su sudbine bile često tužne i tragične i vidim je i kao poticaj za daljnje čitanje. To svakako nije opširna knjiga, no upravo u tome je njezina draž. Kratka je i lako se čita, a opet prepuna je ne samo povijesnih podataka nego i emotivnih pitanja. Stil pisanja je jednostavan i prisan, bez pretenzija, a sama povijesna građa dobro je predstavljena. Sveukupno, Proklete Hrvatice je zanimljivo i hvalevrijedno ostvarenje. 

3) THE LAST VOYAGE TO VIENNA, IRENA VRKLJAN

Best know for non-linear poetical autobiographical novels, Irena Vrkljan was an authentic writer with an unique voice. She lived and worked both in Croatia and Austria (Vienna). Irena died last year, but her artistic legacy survives. Today I'll review another of Vrkljan's novels, but this time a crime novel. I was quite curious the first time I came across The Last Voyage to Vienna. Now, Irena is not the kind of writer I would expect to write a crime novel, mostly because her writing style is quite poetical and artistic. I was surprised by how easily she switched genres. Indeed, Irena Vrkljan managed her transition to crime writing quite well. I think this proves that crime novels can be written in many styles- and still be an enjoyable and rewarding read. As someone who enjoys reading both 'serious' literature and crime novels, I'm always happy to see established authors venturing into the crime genre. 

Zdravo! Evo me natrag s ogledom knjige. Prije otprilike mjesec dana napisala sam pohvalni ogled za roman Marina ili o autobiografiji hrvatske spisateljice Irene Vrkljan. Zapravo je ovaj roman na mene ostavio trajan dojam, pa sam sklona dosta visokom mišljenju o njegovoj autorici. Najpoznatija po nelinearnim poetskim autobiografskim romanima, Irena Vrkljan bila je spisateljica jedinstvenog glasa i rijetke autentičnosti. Živjela je i radila u Hrvatskoj i Austriji (Beč). Irena je umrla prošle godine, ali je njezina umjetnička ostavština još uvijek tu da u njoj uživamo. Danas ću podijeliti svoj ogled za još jedan roman Irene Vrkljan, ali ovaj put se radi o krimiću. Bila sam prilično znatiželjan kad sam prvi put naišla na Posljednje putovanje u Beč. Irena nije spisateljica od koje bi očekivala da napiše krimić, ponajviše zato što je njezin stil pisanja prilično poetičan i umjetnički. Iznenadilo me kako je lako promijenila žanrove. Doista, Irena Vrkljan je prilično dobro ostvarila svoj prijelaz na pisanje krimića. Mislim da ovo dokazuje da se kriminalistički romani mogu pisati u puno stilova – a da pritom budu ugodni i korisni za čitanje. Kao netko tko voli čitati i 'ozbiljnu' literaturu i kriminalističke romane, uvijek sam sretna vidjeti etablirane autore koji se upuštaju u žanr kriminalističkog romana.

IRENA VRKLJAN, THE LAST VOYAGE TO VIENNA/ POSLJEDNJE PUTOVANJE U BEČ (BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION) (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

4) MARINA OR ABOUT AUTOBIOGRAPHY, IRENA VRKLJAN

In this post I shall review a novel Marina ili o biografiji (Marina or About Biography) by Croatian writer Irena Vrkljan.  Published in 1985, this lyrical novel is a poetical blend of biographical and autobiographic writing. This dual exploration of women's psyche and life is Vrljan's signature writing style. While writing about these two remarkably talented women with sad fates, Irena writes about her private sorrows as well. Irena examines the inner lives of Russian poetess Marina Tsvetaeva and Croatian actress Dora Novak. You could say that Irena seeks to write a biography of their souls, or at least catch a glimpse of it. 

Three times the charm. Unless I'm mistaken, this was my third reading of this poetic novel.   That doesn't mean there won't be a fourth reading, just that this third reading felt special. Didn't I say this was going to be a year of rereading for me? Rereading Marina or About Biography was an emotional experience for me. Irena's sentences really resonated with me on a deeper level this time. What is so special about this novel? What is it that makes me want to reread it again and again? To start with, it has something to do with how poetical and layered the writing is. Secondly, I'm drawn to painful  honesty of this book. Thirdly, I'm equally drawn to all the women artists it explores. Finally, it simply is an amazing novel. 

This novel was published the year I was born in but it feels timeless. Vrkljan died last year. I'm always shocked when a writer dies, even if I know that it is a fate that awaits us all. Perhaps as a literature lover I feel the writers might or should be immortal.  Perhaps only a literature lover can understand how much a loss of a writer can hurt.

U ovoj objavi pisat ću o romanu hrvatske spisateljice Irene Vrkljan Marina ili o biografiji. Objavljen 1985. godine., ovaj lirski roman poetičan je spoj biografskog i autobiografskog pisanja. Ovo dvojno istraživanje ženske psihe i života karakteristično je Irenin stil pisanja. Dok piše o ove dvije izuzetno talentirane žene tužne sudbine, Irena piše i o svojim privatnim tugama. Irena ispituje unutarnji život ruske pjesnikinje Marine Cvetaeve i hrvatske glumice Dore Novak. Moglo bi se reći da Irena nastoji napisati biografiju njihovih duša, ili je barem baciti pogled u nutrinu tih ženskih duša.

Treća sreća. Ako se ne varam, ovo je moje treće čitanje ovog poetskog romana. Što ne znači da je neću pročitati i četvrti put, ali ovo treće čitanje po nečemu ipak bijaše posebno. Ne rekoh li kako će ovo za mene biti godina ponovnog čitanja? Ponovno čitanje romana Marina ili o biografiji za mene je bilo emotivno iskustvo. Irenine rečenice su mi jako odjeknule u duhu. Što je tako posebno u ovom romanu? Što je to što me tjera da ga ponovno i iznova poželim čitati? Za početak, to ima neke veze s tim koliko je pisanje poetično i slojevito. Drugo, privlači me bolna iskrenost ove knjige. Treće, podjednako me privlače sve umjetnice koje spisateljica istražuje. Konačno, radi se doista izvarednom romanu. 

Ovaj roman je objavljen godine u kojoj sam rođena, ali se čini bezvremenskim. Vrkljan je preminula prošle godine. Uvijek sam šokirana kad pisac umre. Možda kao ljubitelj književnosti osjećam da bi  pisci mogli ili trebali biti besmrtni. Možda samo ljubitelj književnosti može shvatiti koliko gubitak pisca može povrijediti.

MARINA ILI O BIOGRAFIJI, IRENA VRKLJAN (BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION) (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

5) THE LATHE OF HEAVEN BY URUSLA K. LE GUIN

THE LATHE OF HEAVEN BY URSULA K. LE GUIN (BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION ) (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

Once I picked The Lathe of Heaven up, I had a hard time putting it down. I found the story quite easy to read and follow, but simultaneously very engaging and interesting. I warmed up the protagonist immediately. The original and inspiring story kept my interest through the novel. The Lathe of Heaven is a novel that has aged well and kept it relevance. 

 Published in 1971, this science fiction novel was nominated for Hugo and Nebula award. The Lathe of Heaven won the Locus award and was adapted twice. Ursula K. Le Guin was personality involved in the first of the two adaptations. I haven't seen either, but I think you can guess which one I would like to see.

Set in the future (already the past for us), the novel focuses on life of  its passive but well meaning protagonist George Orr (highly possible and probable reference to George Orwell).  George gets himself into a minor trouble with authorities for borrowing someone's pharmaceutical card to get a prescription medicine. George needs medication to stop dreaming. Why is so afraid of dreaming? Actually, there is a good reason. George believes that his dreams come true!

6) THE DISPOSSESSED, A NOVEL BY URSULA K. LE GUIN (

THE DISPOSSESSED, A NOVEL BY URSULA K. LE GUIN (BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION) (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

The Dispossessed, a novel by Ursula K. Le Guin. This Utopian science fiction novel is one of the most critically acclaimed and best known Le Guin's works. Published in 1974, this novel won the Hugo, Nebula and Logus Awards for best novel in 1975. The Dispossessed is a part of Le Guin's Hainish Cycle, but (like the other books in the Hanish Cycle) it can be read independently from other books. 

I've been looking forward to reading this novel for a long time. I was made aware of it years ago, but I didn't actively search for it. Sometimes I like to wait for books to come to me. So far in my life, books have often arrived just in right time for me to be able to fully appreciate them. This cemented a belief in me that as long as I frequent libraries and bookshops regularly, the right book for me will somehow find me. Sure, sometimes it works the other way around and I just look or ask for a book. However, there is something to be said about having faith in life's 'reading' timing. The day when I browsed Le Guin's bookshelf in the library and found this one was a happy one. It was in mid December last year (so about a month ago). If I remember correctly, I finished the novel in about two days' time. 

What can I say now that I have finally read The Dispossessed? To start with, I can acknowledge that is a novel of remarkable complexity. This book  is political in the sense that it examines social structures and organization but it is also philosophical because it goes beyond political to study humanity. The Dispossessed is  novel well worth the hype. Besides excelling in work building, this book features a charismatic scientist for its protagonist. It examines the following themes: revolution, anarchism, class, communism, capitalism, technology, society, education, individualism and love. Yes, love. The author didn't forget about that one eternal topic when she wrote this SF utopia. 

Pozdrav Suzemljani! U ovoj objavi podijelit ću književni ogled za  Ljude bez ičega (The Dispossessed u originalu), roman Ursule K. Le Guin. Ovaj utopijski znanstvenofantastični roman jedno je od najcjenjenijih i najpoznatijih Ursulinih djela. Objavljen 1974. godine., ovaj roman nagrade Hugo, Nebula i Logus za najbolji roman 1975. Ljudi bez ičega je dio Le Guininog Hanish ciklusa, ali (kao i druge knjige iz ciklusa Hanish) može se čitati neovisno od drugih.

Već dugo se veselim čitanju ovog romana. Čula sam da njega prije dosta godina, ali nisam aktivno tragala za njim. Ponekad volim pričekati da mi knjige dođu. U životu su mi knjige često stizale nekako baš u pravo vrijeme kada sam ih mogla u potpunosti cijeniti. To je u meni učvrstilo uvjerenje da će me, sve dok redovito posjećujem knjižnice i knjižare, prava knjiga za mene nekako već pronaći. Naravno, ponekad proces ide obrnuto i jednostavno potražim ili zatražim knjigu koju želim. Međutim, ima nešto u povjerenju u odabir vremena 'čitanja' samog života ili sudbine. Dan kada sam provjerila policu Ursule K. Le Guin u knjižnici i pronašala ovu knjigu bio je sretan. Bilo je to sredinom prosinca prošle godine (dakle prije otprilike mjesec dana). Ako se dobro sjećam, roman sam završila za otprilike dva dana.

Što mogu reći sada kada sam konačno pročitala Ljude bez ičega? Za početak, mogu priznati da je to roman izuzetne složenosti. Ova je knjiga politička u smislu da istražuje društvene strukture i organizaciju, ali je i filozofska jer nadilazi političko te prelazi u filozofsko proučavanje čovječanstva. Ljudi bez ičega (The Dispossessed) je roman vrijedan hvale. Osim što odlično stvara i prikazuje jedan svijet, za svog protagonista ima karizmatičnog znanstvenika. Ispituje sljedeće teme: revolucija, anarhizam, klasa, komunizam, kapitalizam, tehnologija, društvo, obrazovanje, individualizam i ljubav. Da,ljubav. Na to autorica nije zaboravila kada je napisala ovu SF utopiju. 

7) THE LOVER BY MARGUERITE DURAS

L'AMANT (THE LOVER), A NOVEL BY MARGUERITE DURAS (BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION) (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

Published in 1984, The Lover is a short and poignant lyrical novel. The novel’s dreamy atmosphere, lyrical writing and compelling narrative voice that switches between the first and the third person, makes it a hypnotizing read. Set in Vietnam (French Indochina at the time), The Lover focuses on Duras’ adolescent years, mainly on her intimate relationship with a twenty something Chinese man named Leo. Translated in more than forty languages, this book continues to enchant readers around the world. The author was seventy years old when she wrote this novel. In this complex novel, Duras revealed very personal, painful and intimate details from her life. 

The Lover, this powerful Noveau Roman, is one of Duras’ best known works. Having read it, I can certainly see why it is such a popular and praised book. This short but complex book possesses unique literary and artistic quality. Before I start reviewing this wonderfully sophisticated novel in more detail, I will answer some questions about The Lover to give you a more general idea of what kind of novel it is. That way you can also skip those questions that don't seem interesting to you. At different times in our life, we might be interested in different books.

8) THE ISLAND OF THE MISSING TREES BY ELIF SHAFAK 

THE ISLAND OF THE MISSING TREES BY ELIF SHAFAK (BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION) (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

I was actually gifted this book by a student on eight of March. What a wonderful present it proved to be! Published in 2021, this postmodern  novel  follows two  story lines and uses framed narration. The Island of Missing Trees tells the life story of a Greek Turkish couple and their adolescent daughter. This novel examines and explores a number of topics such as identity, migration, immigrant life, war trauma, memory, love and family. It's an ambitious novel that examines serious topics with due respect and sensitivity. I read it months ago, but I remember it vividly. Honestly, I cried a lot while reading this novel. It really moved me greatly. In fact, that is probably why it took me this long to finish this book review. I needed to emotionally process the story.

 The Island of Missing Trees is set in London and Cyprus. The narration isn't chronological. The story jumps back and forth, following two main timelines, one set in modern time London (approximately year 2010) and the other during the civil war on Cyprus. So, one story line follows a young girl (the daughter of the couple in question), and the other ( focusing on the couple living on island Cyprus) is set mainly in the seventies. Through it all, there's the narrative voice of the fig tree. The fig tree in question was replanted to London from Cyprus. 

If the idea of a talking fig tree sounds odd to you, then you haven't read much magical realism. If you're new to magical realism, it's basically a literary style that features fantastical elements in otherwise realistic narrative. Yes, the style of writing in The Island of Missing Trees can be described as magical realism. Moreover, The Island of Missing Trees can be compared to works of Orhan Pamuk, Laura Esquivel, Isabel Allende and Salman Rusdie.  I do like magic realism, so I enjoyed those fantastical elements. 

THE FRAMED NARRATIVE - WHERE DOES THE STORY BEGIN?

I think the framed narrative worked really well in this novel that emphasizes the fact that life doesn't have a clear beginning or end.  I didn't find the narrative jumps confusing at all, but than again, I usually don't. Somehow the nonlinear narrative functions perfectly in this one because it turns novel almost in a mystery, making the reader wonder what really happened. Often I felt a little bewildered as a reader. While I was trying to make the sense of things, I found myself more emotionally attached to this story. So, I think Elif Shafak was really clever with how she went about writing this one. 

“Where do you start someone's story when life has more then one thread and what we call birth is not the only beginning, nor is death exactly an end.”

9) NOWHERE IN AFRICA: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL BY STEPHANIE ZWEIG

NOWHERE IN AFRICA: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL BY STEPHANIE ZWEIG (BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION) (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

Written by Stephanie Zweig, it tells a tale of a German Jewish family surviving in Kenya during the Second World War. I would especially recommend it to German readers, as they can read it in the language it was written it. There is also an awarded movie version for those of you who aren't exactly bookworms.

 With the expectation of Slaughterhouse 5 that I read and reviewed fairly recently (also set in WW2), it's really been a while since I read an autobiographical novel and I was really up for it. It was one of the first books I've read this summer and now as the summer is slowly but surely coming to its end, it's time for me to review it.

 Nowhere in Africa is a novel about a Jewish family that escapes Nazi Germany and flies to Kenya to an uncertain future. It's an autobiographical novel, meaning that the author based it on her own experiences. It's beautifully written and feels absolutely authentic. It's touching but it's not sentimental. It's sensitive when it talks about the sensitive topics but it's real enough. The writing is realistic but it's not emotionless. In fact, there is a lot of emotion in this novel. It's not overwhelming, though. 

The father is the first to leave Germany and immigrate Africa, a continent completed unknown to him. I call him father before I ever name him  (his name is Walter). There's a reason for that. The author herself said this is a book about a father who has taught her daughter how not to hate. Such profound words! The perfect way to describe this autobiographical novel. Walter is based on Stefanie's father. He's an important character in this novel. 

 Walter sort of establishes himself there in Africa, but his life is anything but easy. Walter doesn't speak English, he doesn't have any money or connections. In reality, his circumstances are quite desperate. He survives with the help of the locals and by that I mean more Kenyans than other Europeans. Other Europeans seem to keep to themselves. Not once in the novel it is revealed that European Africans don't really like the Jews. 

During their time in Africa, the family establishes close relationship with some of the locals.  The father gives it all he has, but everything is absolutely uncertain. His wife Jettel arrives as well, but struggles with adapting to life in Africa. Life in Africa for them is indeed hard and uncertain. Walter complains because Jettel buys an evening dress prior to arriving.  Walter  wonders- Where is Jettel supposed to wear the dress? Educated and respected, lawyer Walter and his wife Jettel once lead a comfortable life in Germany. They are just refugees now, uncertain will they see their family or any of their parents even again. Imagine the isolation and fear they must have felt. Trying to manage a farm for some European for a few dollars. They who have been urban dwellers, upper middle class, and know nothing about farm management must learn not only how to work on a farm but how to survive with almost nothing. 

10) OUR KATE: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL BY CATHERINE COOKSON

 Our Kate: Her Personal Story is a deeply touching work of literature. It is a literary autobiography of writer Catherine Cookson and her mother Kate. The relationships between mother and daughter is the focus of this novel. The stories of their lives are interwoven, their relationship close but strained. Our Kate is, in many way,  a story of a mother and  daughter relationship troubled by dire poverty and other problems. This was my first book by this author. Catherine Cookson, or to give you a full title and name: Dame Catherine Ann Cookson  Dame Catherine Ann Cookson is one of twenty most widely read British novelists.

Our Kate is perhaps the best book I've read this year and certainly one of the best autobiographies I've ever come across. The reason why it took me so long to read this book is because it was so filled with different emotions, meanings and meditations. Some paragraphs I had to read very slowly so I can decipher the meaning intended. This book does not only a fantastic job of transporting us back to a certain historical time and place but also manages to capture the heart and soul of its characters. This is a writer that made her break-through as a regional writer. Catherine is brilliant at capturing the idiom of the place she grew up with. Her characters speak the English  of their region and background and this makes the dialogues sound very natural and convincing. 

The psychological portrayal of Catherine Cookson and her family is amazingly detailed but very warm at the same time. Her family members (her mother, aunt and uncle, grandma and grandpa) feel like real people. Even those individuals that are seldom mentioned seem convincing and well rounded. This book is not a light read but it is a very meaningful one. The topics this book touches on (such as alcoholism, cruelty, domestic abuse, depression, miscarriages, illegitimate or unwanted children, extreme poverty) are extremely hard to read about at times. However, there is such sincerity to Catherine's writing that it is find to put down this book, no matter how depressive it gets at times.

I like how Catherine approached many of the difficult topics this novel dwells on. Catherine doesn't make excuses for her characters, but she chooses not to look back in anger, if you understand what I mean. She paints her characters as flawed but human. You see all the nuances of their personalities and that it hard for you to judge them, but at the same time, you can judge their behaviour. I feel that as a reader you are made to see that extreme poverty is not an excuse for certain types of cruel behaviour. The author does a great job of making it clear that certain things like alcoholism should not be pardoned or bad behaviour excused, but at the same time there is forgiveness in her heart. I think that's a very health way to look on things, both in life and writing. It can be tempting to make excuses for both ourselves and others, but at the end of the day- everyone has got a choice.  That's what I love about the writing, it is both emotional and rational. In fact, there is a very good balance between the heart and the mind in this book. The overall impression was very touching. It must have been hard to write this book for Catherine as the matters discussed are deeply personal. I was very touched by the author's honest, emotional and rational way of looking at things. 

The only time I ever remember being so touched and impressed by an autobiography was when I read A Portrait of an Artist As a Young Man. Like Joyce's famous book, this one is a literary autobiography. Plus, it's really the only autobiography I can compare this book with. It is seldom that one comes across a book that feels so thoroughly honest and authentic. Our Kate is a book about the mother of Catherine Cookson, but it is just as much about Catherine Cookson herself. In many ways, it is a book about a troubled relationship between an alcoholic mother and an illegitimate daughter. The author showed with perfect clarity the horrible reality of growing up and living with an alcoholic and yet at the same time, Catherine did not demonize her mother but showed her as a person with weaknesses and strengths. At one point in the novel, when Catherine descends into depression, she realized how much hate she has gathered against her mother. In a way, it is her mother that was the reason for her mental breakdown as the years of worrying about her took their toll. Still, despite everything their bond remains strong. I was glad that Kate (the mother) found peace at the end. I hope Catherine the writer did too. If this book is any judge, Catherine was definitely an inspiring and brave woman and a wonderful human being. If there is a lesson we can take from this book, for me it is this one: Love others, but don't make excuses for them. The truth is always liberating. 

OUR KATE: AN AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL NOVEL BY CATHERINE COOKSON (BOOK REVIEW) (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

11)  VIRGINIA WOOLF, A ROOM OF ONE'S OWN

BOOK REVIEW: VIRGINIA WOOLF, A ROOM OF ONE'S OWN (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

 Let me just exclaim: 'What a wonderful essayist Virginia Woolf is!' I don't think I have enjoyed a book of essays in English this much since I've read George Orwell's essays. Considering how famous and well known this book is, I worried that reading A Room of One's Own will be a a deja vu experience, but I needn't have worried. Despite the fact that I've read many fragments from this book and probably know many quotes by heart, I still found it a fresh and an interesting read. Have a look at the opening words of this book:

But, you may say, we asked you to speak about women and fiction--what,
has that got to do with a room of one's own? I will try to explain. When
you asked me to speak about women and fiction I sat down on the banks of
a river and began to wonder what the words meant. They might mean simply
a few remarks about Fanny Burney; a few more about Jane Austen; a
tribute to the Brontës and a sketch of Haworth Parsonage under snow;
some witticisms if possible about Miss Mitford; a respectful allusion to
George Eliot; a reference to Mrs Gaskell and one would have done. But at
second sight the words seemed not so simple. The title women and fiction
might mean, and you may have meant it to mean, women and what they are
like, or it might mean women and the fiction that they write; or it
might mean women and the fiction that is written about them, or it might
mean that somehow all three are inextricably mixed together and you want
me to consider them in that light.

VIRGINIA TRIES TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THINGS

Virginia Woolf is wonderfully intelligent, logical and eloquent in her essays. She follows every thought to it logical end and she often reexamines them. While it might seem that Virginia is contracting herself at times, I think it's more a case of her being intellectual honestly and wanting to get at the bottom of things. I got the feeling that if Virginia thinks something logical, she will write it down even if it contradicts her feelings. At times, however, Virginia is more prone to listening to her heart or rather the general emotion of the historical period she lived in. That's understandable and not something I would mind. At one point in the book, Virginia gets angry on a certain man who wrote about the inferiority of women, but instead of just following this emotion, she cools down and delivers such a fantastic psychological analysis of the man in question. Virginia writes her critique of him in such an intellectual way it is a true PLEASURE to read. For example, Woolf points out that such men are likely to be very insecure on the inside. I absolutely agree with that. I think when one writes or talks about the inferiority of others, one often feels insecure of one's own superiority and needs to reinforce it by pulling others down.

12) Françoise Sagan: Réponses 1954- 1974 

Recommendation of the day: Réponses, a book of interviews by Françoise Sagan, another author I hold in high esteem. Perhaps best known for her first novel Bonjour Tristesse, Sagan was actually an amazingly prolific author. Sagan published 21 novels, 3 short stories collections, 2 biographical books, 7 autobiographical works and 9 plays during her life. Sagan even wrote a ballet! After Sagan's death, 8 more books of hers were published posthumously.  You could say Sagan proved many times that she is more than a one hit wonder. Still, most people know Sagan solely by her youthful hit. Maybe it is because Bonjour Tristesse  has caused such a sensation upon its publication? 

 I liked her youthful hit Bonjour Tristesse (Hello Sadness) a lot, but her other works even more. It was once I have read Sagan's more mature works (Scars on Soul and Lost Profile) that I have really fallen in love with her writing. Obviously, when I saw a lovely copy of this book in an antique bookshop, I simply had to have it. Thank God for translators because I don't speak a word of French  (but I simply adore French literature), so translations save the day for me. I read Réponses (1974) in a  Croatian translation (Odgovori -a literal translation of the French title). This book, consisting of selected interviews with this great French writer was an extremely enjoyable read. I read it back in October, but I kept picking it up this November as well. It's the kind of book you can read many times, so I'm really glad I have this lovely vintage copy to hold onto. 

13)  BLACKBERRY WINE BY JOANNE HARRIS

A BOOK REVIEW : BLACKBERRY WINE BY JOANNE HARRIS (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

A NOVEL THAT KEPT ME INTERESTED BUT WHOSE PLOT DIDN'T IMPRESS ME

I quite enjoyed this novel, especially one character (more about that later). It wasn't as good as I think it could have been, but it was still pretty good. I suppose that like with Elephant Moon, I felt like this was a novel that didn't fully live up to its potential. I felt like the writer sacrificed potential depth for entertainment. Let me explain. There is a series of events in this novel that while interesting to read about seemed to take away from the magic of this book. I wanted to know more about Giddy and Joe, characters from the past of the protagonist. The whole plot of the book (the one dealing with present day events seemed a bit predictable to me).

THE NARRATIVE STRUCTURE OF THE BOOK- WINE AS THE STORYTELLER

The narrator of this book is a bottle of wine. It's been with the protagonist Jay for a long time. It tells us stories about his past. It talks with other wines in Jay's collection. Making a wine bottle the narrator of the story was an interesting choice. A lesser writer would make some of the wine world play and metaphor's tacky. Joanne Harris makes it work. Her descriptions are rich and imaginative. At times, the story flows effortlessly. 

JOANNE HARRIS, THE ENGLISH- FRENCH WRITER KNOWN FOR WRITING STRONG FEMALE CHARACTERS

As I said, this was my first book by this author. Joanne Harris is an English- French writer. Her father was British, while her mother was French, a fact that seems to play a big role in her writing. From what I noticed from this novel, Joanne seems very knowledgeable about both the British and French culture. What particularly impressed me is how she understand that different generations of British and French people belong to different cultures.  Culture is dynamic and different generations can perceive it quite differently. Moreover, Joanne Harris is simply wonderful at contrasting these two cultures in her writing. Considering Harries has grown up with both of these cultures, I imagine she drew from personal experience a lot.

14) A RIVER SUTRA, A NOVEL BY GITA MEHTA

BOOK REVIEW AND RECOMMENDATION: A RIVER SUTRA, A NOVEL BY GITA MEHTA (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

 I'd like to recommend this novel A River Sutra by an Indian author Gita Mehta. This was my first Gita Mehta book.

WRITING STYLE AND NARRATIVE USED IN A RIVER SUTRA BY GITA MEHTA

A River Sutra is written in mid to late twentieth century style, so it is true to its time period, one could say. This novel uses a framed narrative. The narrator of the novel is an aging burocreate who decides to leave the world and retire as an in keeper.  In some sense, the novel could also be called a collection of short stories. Almost every chapter in a novel is somebody's life story. All the characters in the novel including the protagonists are Indian. There are no foreign characters in the novel. The in keeper, that is the protagonist, comes in contact with both local people and travelers. The protagonist and the narrator of the novels listens to all of these stories, sometimes adding his own comments to them once they are done. However, the protagonists of these stories are narrators in their own right for it is them who tell their stories. I would say that Gita Mehta choose a good narrative technique as it enables the stories to come to life.  A framed narrative is quite suitable for this work of literature and works into this novels' advantage. This novel is often about people, as the novel's opening quote from Love Songs of Chandidas implies: "Listen, O brother, Man is the greatest truth. Nothing beyond. "

THEMES THAT A RIVER SUTRA EXAMINES: RELIGION, LOVE AND LIFE

The novel opens with a paragraph: "The government still pays my wages but I no longer think of myself as a bureaucrat. Bureaucrats belong too much to the world and I have fulfilled my worldly obligations. I am now a vanaprasthi, someone who has retired to the forest to reflect." However, the protagonist doesn't exactly retire to a forest, he only assumes a different role. The protagonist goes on to explain that he has always wanted to withdrawn from the world but was aware that he is not equipped to wander the forests and survive on fruits so he chosen to apply for a vacant post at a Government rest house overlooking Narmada river. The very first page tells us something about themes that this novel examines. Religion and spiritual are very important themes in this novel. The protagonist claims that he wants to denounce the world but what does this really mean? Is the life of an aesthetic the only way to do it? Is there a correct way? The protagonist himself gets questioned on this in the course of the novel as he interacts with different characters and listens to their stories.

15) THIS MUST BE THE PLACE, A NOVEL BY MAGGIE O'FARRELL

THIS MUST BE THE PLACE (BOOK REVIEW AND AN EARLY SPRING OUTFIT) (modaodaradosti.blogspot.com)

 This Must Be the Place is a complex novel about life, marriage and loss, written by an English author Maggie O'Farrell. I read this book a month or so ago, but only now found the time to blog about it. As you can see above, I decided to score this novel quite highly. When I finished This Must be the Place, I thought to myself: 'I'm going to give this novel five stars because it absolutely enchanted me. It held my interest completely while I was reading it.' Indeed, a novel that can keep one's interest in this day and time must be something special, right? How to describe this novel? It tells a story of Daniel, an American who lives in Ireland with a recluse ex-movie super star, but it is not a linear sort of story. Well, I watched a YouTube interview  with Maggie O'Farrell in which the author herself described it as a novel that explores many themes but is perhaps mainly about 'marriage and the forces that keep it together and tear it apart.' Would I agree with that? I just might, especially towards the end, when their marriage really gets tested. 

What is the novel like? What's the writing style like?

 A part of the novel is written in almost an experimental way, with time switches and digressions. Generally speaking, I found the writing in this to be rather on the brilliant side, really.  So in that sense I liked the novel from the start. As for the experimental bits I found them interesting. I felt they add a bit of freshness to the story. I read the afterword and the author said she wanted to experiment with a novel and break some rules. I'd say she didn't get carried away, she kept the right balance.

What is so wonderful about this novel?

This was actually my first novel by Maggie O'Farrell but I'm sure it won't be the last. This novel is wonderful in that it deals with some difficult topics such as loss and grief in a respectful and a realistic way. Moreover, I enjoyed the way family relationships were portrayed in this one. The challenges of parenthood and marriage, the special link between siblings and family members, now these subjects were described so well I'm sure they will always stay with me. Maggie O'Farrell knows how to write about the subtle parts of human relationships, about things that sometimes go unnoticed. I was really impressed with her writing style, the way she crafted characters and drew me into the story. I loved every single minute of reading this book.

“He thinks of his grief over his sister as an entity that is horribly and painfully attached to him, the way a jellyfish might adhere to your skin or a goitre or an abscess. He pictures it as viscid, amorphous, spiked, hideous to behold. He finds it unbelievable that no one else can see it. Don’t mind that, he would say, it’s just my grief. Please ignore it and carry on with what you were saying.”
― Maggie O'Farrell, This Must Be the Place

PREVIOUS POSTS POSTED ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY

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