I liked Death and the Penguin up to a point, but as the penguin featured less and the girl featured more I became less interested. I liked the ending. I've got another Kurkov book kicking around somewhere, but haven't started it yet.
I like Khushwant Singh, but would recommend the books of his which I read in 2007 more. Those were Train to Pakistan (a book about the partition of India), and Delhi, in which the not-very-likable narrator compares his relationship with his home city to his relationship with a transsexual prostitute(!).
Oops, missed a bit! I liked Changing Planes. It's a travelogue of non-existent places, with each locale occupying a different chapter. It's occasionally patchy but some chapters are excellent, such as the description of an airport which opens the story: "Luggage-laden people rush hither and yon through endless corridors, like souls to each of whom the devil has furnished a different, inaccurate map of the escape route from Hell".
"Monday begins on Saturday" is not really an attempt at science fiction and falls somewhat out of what Strugatsky brothers were writing. It's a joke that was so relevant and good when it was written, that people back home couldn't stop laughing at it (at least the target audience). Without the background (which even most of the young Russians no longer have), I am afraid, the reader is in danger of missing the point entirely.
Comments 7
38 books, not bad, not bad at all!!
Hope you had a lovely holiday!
Reply
I like Khushwant Singh, but would recommend the books of his which I read in 2007 more. Those were Train to Pakistan (a book about the partition of India), and Delhi, in which the not-very-likable narrator compares his relationship with his home city to his relationship with a transsexual prostitute(!).
Are you in Manchester at any point soon?
Reply
Reply
I read such a random mix over the year, I shall nick lots of yours for this year!!
I don't ever plan my trips to mcr, they're so random - when are you next there and free to say hello?
Reply
Reply
I'll lend you Weathercock, that's another of his.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment