Just let me finish this chapter...

I tried watching it with a dodgy internet connection the last time I was home but it was too hard to enjoy it.

I got about an hour into it but it struck me as a film that you'd need to really pay attention to. I did like how it captured the novel's connection with the landscape and it flowed a lot like the book. I hope to get round to watching it properly soon.

The Book of Evidence by John Banville

It begins at a breathtaking pace and draws the reader in before a lull in the second half of the book. A middle-aged member of the landed gentry is on trial for murder and this is a confessional of sorts.

He is an oblivious, self-centred, reckless type who has never had to take responsibility for his actions, just running away from any problems he's got himself into. There is some development as the story goes on but we may be lulled into a false sense of security as the narrator, by his own admission, is dishonest and a drunk and we can never be entirely sure of who exactly he is addressing, whether it is the court, his diary, the reader or his lawyer.

It reminded me of The Sea at times. A good read, though there is a bit of jumping back and forth in the timelines.

The Valley of the Squinting Windows by Brinsley McNamara

Quite scandalous for the time, I imagine. It's a terrifying description of the insidious gossip and one-up-manship of small town life in early 20th century Ireland. The story is fine but it wasn't written in a manner that I found easy to read. There was an awful lot of getting inside the character's heads and explaining a lot more as opposed to letting that play out. There were parts of it that I found to be quite clunky and I struggled through some parts, in spite of it being a relatively short book.

Cancer Ward by Alexander Solzhenitsyn

A re-read of this one and I still find new things of interest from it. A damning indictment of Stalinism and its repercussions even after Stalin's death. It also addresses the meaning of life and what people look for in terms of their purpose.

Its not an easy read; its set among cancer patients in the Soviet Union, there's a lot of characters, Russian naming customs can be tricky to follow and it is quite long but I still find it to be a fulfilling read and I'd reckon this is at least the third time I've read it now.

Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides

There is a lot to get through with this one. I had read the Virgin Suicides and enjoyed it greatly but much more effort is required to get through this one.

Cal is intersex and raised as a girl, though later identifies as male. This book may seem quite topical now even though it was published in 2002. It approaches the topic from a medical perspective. Because of a chromosone deficiency, as a result of his family's incest, the protagonist is believed to be a girl at birth and it isn't until adolescence that he notices this isn't the case. It addresses the concepts of gender and sex and nature versus nurture in a sensitive and scientific approach. It also includes examples of the immigrant story, in this case Greeks to America, and the cultural assimilation of subsequent generations. There are also many parallels drawn through the suffering of disenfranchised people through history and how that empathy fades as distance is put between them.

The writing is quite detailed and literary. There are lots of references to Greek mythology. I don't have that much knowledge about this so it may have hindered my ability to truly appreciate the story.

I would argue that Eugenides packs too much into the story. It does have a satisfying resolution but there are parts which diverge quite substantially from the main thread of the story. It provides a whole to the story but at times it strays too far, making it a harder to remember when he returns.

I read the Virgin Suicides about twenty years ago so I can't remember it too well but I know it left me wanting to read more of his stuff. Having seen the film, I thought it was a faithful adaptation.

I'd start there and see if you like his style. Middlesex is a bigger commitment and there were times when I wanted to skip forward. Thankfully, it did have a satisfying conclusion. If I had come at it without reading the Virgin Suicides, I might have been more tempted to ditch it.

Though the reverse could also apply; read Middlesex and if you enjoy it, the Virgin Suicides will be a breeze.

Finished the Bee Sting last night and I would highly recommend it.

It does have a tidy ending but one that also opens up plenty of possibilities. The pacing is done quite well and the tension is kept going right until the end. While the final part feels a bit more melodramatic, the journey there is quite impressive and there is a great range of sympathetic characters spread throughout.

Wicklow Folk Tales by Brendan Nolan

It's all in the title; a collection of folklore from the Garden County. It is interesting as it does give some insight into the social and natural background of that part of the country, which comes across in the nature of its stories.

The Five - Hallie Rubenhold

Well worth the read. If you're interested in Jack the Ripper, this gives you the stories behind each of the victims, avoiding the usual focus on who the assassin might have been and the gory details.

Wild Houses by Colin Barrett

I'm a big fan of his short stories so was eager to have a read of this. He has a brilliant way of setting the scene and provides the reader with some beautiful descriptions and turns of phrase. The story itself isn't anything new but the way he gets there is quite special. This is enjoyable for those interested in literary exercises of style.

James by Percival Everett

A re-write of Huckleberry Finn from the perspective of the slave Jim. Its a fascinating take and would be quite interesting to put up alongside its literary inspiration. I read that one years ago and remember it being quite whimsical and an adventure for boys, even though there were moments of tension and danger. However, reading Jim's experience, you can see just how more serious the dangers for him would have been. It's very easy to get through and written with cliff-hanger chapters and the odd literary flourish while mainly keeping it tight. There are some interesting concepts explored and I'm sure its message could easily applied as much today as when it was set. The plot twist is fairly blatantly signposted from early on, though.

The Anarchy by William Dalrymple

I love the Empire podcast and this author is a large part of that. There is so much depth and information piled into this that it is hard to keep track of everything and everyone (he even includes a Dramatis Personnae at the beginning). It is more of the same from him, though his writing just isn't as entertaining as his speaking. Recommended if you want a thorough study of the East India Company in India and the conquest of India by the British.

Highly recommend it. It's really well-written, keeps you hooked and goes a lot deeper than it may seem.

The Heart in Winter by Kevin Barry

An enjoyable read written in his unmatchable style. I wouldn't have too much to say about it. I think it touches on a few interesting areas and it has a charmed romance at its heart.

The Slave by Isaac Bashevis Singer

While the overall story is simple enough, a Jew struggles with his faith in 17th century Poland, the philosophical questions which emerge from it are quite intriguing. The story itself is written full of description and a deeper understanding of Jewish religion would likely help the reader understand it better but the point is there anyway.

The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson

A re-read. Still highly entertaining and incredibly insightful, though likely quite dated given it was written nearly forty years ago.

The Gathering by Anne Enright

A brilliant study of grief and family and midlife struggles while questioning your own memory. A gripping read. Highly recommended.

Fordlandia by Greg Grandin

The story of Henry Ford's failed rubber plantation in the Amazon. Fascinating read about the situation while also giving plenty of insight ino Ford himself. Well worth a read.

Well worth it, very atmospheric and kept me hooked. Not a lot happening per se but a detailed, introspective account.