Susan Hated Literature

She'd much prefer to read a good book

man-of-steel-poster-02

15 June 2013
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Man of Steel directed by

This is a Superman film. And a Superman origins film at that, so you can guess at some of the plot. Clark Kent dealing with his superhero side, becoming Superman, and learning about where he really came from. But this is a reboot! they are all the fashion these days, so something different must occur.

I really liked the last Superman film, Superman returns really worked well for me. Unfortunately for me the world didn’t seem to agree and so we got no more of Routh’s. Instead, many many years later we got Zack Snyder & Henry Cavill’s version.

And I didn’t really like it.

I found the beginning very boring. The whole Jor-El storyline part just did not work for me. I found it ponderous and slow, and it had no impact on me whatsoever. I know it played into the rest of the film but it should have been cut down to half, if not a quarter of what it was.

Part of me liked the introduction to Clark Kent, I thought the flashback idea was a nice touch, but it didn’t work as well as it should. And while I appreciate what they were trying to do with the silent, brooding and isolated Clark it just didn’t grab me the way it should. I actually feel that Cavill didn’t get much a chance to show what he can do, apart from take off his shirt. And yes, okay, he has a ridiculously well built body but I’d have preferred if they gave him more actual acting to do. Because when he was required to act he was engaging and charismatic.

Shanon, as the evil General Zod, is intensity embodied. But again I had issues with his character, actually more with his dialogue. I found all the Kryptonians had rubbish dialogue. Much too much over the top.

I’m a big fan of Amy Adams, there is just something appealing about her. And I liked some aspects of her Lois Lane, but I thought that herself and Cavill lacked onscreen chemistry.

I guess overall you could say that I didn’t much enjoy this film.

The-Iceman-Poster

10 June 2013
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The Iceman [based on the book by] by directed by

based on the true story of Richard Kuklinski.

In 1986 Richard Kuklinski was arrested for murder, he worked as a contract killer for the mob, and yet his wife and daughters knew him only as a devoted family man.

This is a competent enough film, there is nothing in it that haven’t been done before, but Shannon is excellent in the role. Scarily excellent. You really wouldn’t to meet him on a brightly lit day never mind down a dark alley-way.

But the film as a whole didn’t really work for me. I wanted more of the family life. The poster sells the film as being about the contrast between Kuklinski’s family life and his life as a contract killer/serial murderer. But there simply isn’t enough of his family life for that. Sure we get the odd scene of him with his wife and his daughters, but those relationships are never examined or focused on. Instead the film is firmly on Kuklinski the murderer, and his life with the mob.

The one good thing about this film is that it never glorifies in the murders, they are never made to look cool or glamorous. But that isn’t enough for me to recommend this film. And when a quick read through wikipedia tells me that Kuklinski didn’t keep the violence out of his home but was in fact a wife beater (I’m not surprised) it makes me like the film even less.

manon lescaut

9 June 2013
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Manon Lescaut by

Just about six months before my departure for Spain, I first met the Chevalier des Grieux –Abbe Prevost - Manon Lescaut - c.1731, 1996.

Read online – Gutenberg

This is a book I would never have picked up if not for the fact that it is on the reading list of an online course I’ve just started. It is the story of the Chevalier Des Grieux, the second son of a wealthy, upper-class French family in the early 18th century. By purest chance he happens to meet the beautiful Manon Lescaut. She comes from a lower class and is on her way to join a convent. Des Grieux himself is destined for the priesthood, but the moment he spots Manon that idea goes out the window.

Unfortunately for him Manon isn’t exactly the most steadfast of lovers. Her fear of poverty is more than enough to send her seeking richer partners. Or so Des Grieux tells us. He, of course, never gives up but follows after her again and again attempting to win her to him forever.

I really disliked Des Grieux. He was such an idiot, and he never ever seemed to learn from his previous errors and missteps. It was the same story over and over again. As for Manon herself, well, the story was told from Des Grieux’s point of view so we never got to see what she thought or felt about anything. Or indeed her reasoning for her actions. All we have to go on is what the Chavalier tells us, and he is an admitted thief, pimp, and cheat. He might not describe himself in those words, not recognise that description as fitting him, but that is what he is.

In the context of the course I am doing it’ll be interesting to see the interpretation we are given for this. The course is entitled The Fiction of Relationship and there is plenty of fiction in the relationship between Des Grieux and Manon Lescaut. A perfect example in many ways.

a-town-like-alice

26 May 2013
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A town like Alice by

James MacFadden died in March 1905 when he was forty-seven years old; he was riding in the Driffield Point-to-Point. –Nevil Shute - A town like Alice -

In post World War II England Jean Paget is tracked down by a solicitor. She is the only surviving member of a client of his, and so stands to inherit his wealth. But because the client didn’t trust single women to run their own finances the will stipulates that Jean is not to receive the full amount, she will get a monthly allowance until she turns thirty five and is old enough to manage herself. Until then Noel will manage the trustfund for her.

Noel finds Jean working as a typist in a leather goods company. He soon learns a lot about her, and the story flashbacks to when she was in British Malaya during the war and what happened to her there as a prisoner of war.

The book is told from the point of view of Noel, the solicitor. And this works well, at first. He related how he tracks down Jean, and the history of the family. And after they get to know each other a little he tells the reader her story, as she told him. And I really liked the first half of the story. Jean’s story is one of just trying to get on with life, no matter the circumstances. She doesn’t see herself as a hero or anyone especially outstanding. She simply made the most of some terrible conditions. But she is still haunted by that past, and by the events she witnessed. In particular what happened to an Australian who tried to help her, and the other women, out.

Unfortunately once she got to Australia I wasn’t as gripped by the book. It is well told and I did like all the characters, but it just tailed off a little too much into a “this happened, and then this happened” sort of a thing. There were parts that I still enjoyed and liked though, so I wouldn’t let that put me off.

One word of caution, it was written in the 1950s, and it is very much a book of that time, so it is slightly dated and sexist and racist. But if you can get over that it is an enjoyable read, and he is an author that I could read more of. I really enjoyed the slow, but never ponderous, way the story unfolded. And although I had a couple of minor problems with how Noel knew all the little details of Jean’s life, I really liked him as a narrator. He was a great character, utterly normal and predictable. Lucky that the book I borrowed from the library is three collected novels then isn’t it :)

Other reviews : Mad Bibliophile ; A good stopping point

Warhorse

16 May 2013
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Warhorse by

Two hours earlier, the C.S.S. Dryden has killed its rotation, moving for the first time in fifteen days back to zero-gee. –Timothy Zahn - Warhorse - c.1990, 2012

For years humans had thought themselves alone in space. But then the Tampies made themselves known. And they, unlike humanity, had the ability to jump through space. Where humans were trapped into a small section of space the Tampies could travel almost anywhere. They had discovered a species that lived in space, these “space horses” they then harness to their spaceships and use them to jump anywhere the horse can see and identify. But although people have tried to capture and tame these horses they have all failed, only the Tampies seem able to.

Which means that the Tampies have a monopoly on deep space travel. And this is not to everyone’s liking. Many people dislike the Tampies and their interfering ways. Tampies see their role in the universe as caretakers, valuing all life and trying to preserve the natural balances and cycles that exist. To them humanity’s tendency to change and alter the natural world is a tragedy.

War seems to be getting closer and closer. In an attempt to see if people and Tampie can work together a ship, the Amity is sent on a mission. It’s crew will be half human half Tampie, to investigate if the two can ever learn to get on.

I bought this a few months ago on impulse. It was recommended somewhere, I can’t quite remember where. And I know part of the reason was the fact that it was called Warhorse, even though I knew it had nothing to do with actual horses.

And I’m very glad I gave into that impulse because I really enjoyed this one. It took a few chapters to get going, but once I got stuck in I was gripped. It is a great story, with original aliens and instead of it being a first contact novel it is all about what happens after that initial hello, especially when the two cultures do not share core values.

The two main characters, Roman and Ferrol, are well drawn personalities, and their interactions are really what make the novel work so well. They hold opposing views on the Tampies, Ferrol has a bad history with them while Roman thinks people can learn to get on with them.

I’d certainly be interested in reading more by Zahn.

Star Trek Into Darkness

12 May 2013
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Star Trek into darkness directed by

Terrorism is everywhere these days. From Iron Man to Star Trek and everywhere in between, you just can’t get away from it. In this case Capt. Kirk is on the trail of a Star Fleet operative gone rogue. He’s blown up a secret research facility. Tried to kill off the top brass, but Kirk is going to track him down and blow him away. Only one small problem. He is on the Klingon home world, and relations between the Federation and the Klingons aren’t exactly rosey.

But for Kirk it is a battle that has become personal, because this terrorist has killed people Kirk was close to…

I went into this film thinking I’d enjoy it. I really liked the first Star Trek reboot, I’ a fan of Star Trek in general, and Cumberbatch is full of the awesome. But this film just didn’t work for me. Some of the scenes in it were fantastic. Cumerbatch steals the show when he is on screen, he really is fantastic. And some of the action scenes are great. But it just didn’t gel together properly for me. I simply never got invested in Kirk and his mission. It all felt a little too predictable. I mean who the puppet-master (in a manner of speaking) was was pretty damn obvious from the second he appeared.

And was there any point whatsoever in that Carole character?

And the death scene Show Spoiler ▼

but it was obvious that that was not going to happen.

I did like the tribble though.

Dollmaker2

11 May 2013
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The dollmaker by

Dock's shoes on the rocks up the hill and his heavy breathing had shut out all sound so that it seemed a long while she had heard nothing, and Amos lay too still, not clawing at the blanket as when they had started. –Harriette Arnow - The Dollmaker - c. 1954 (1972) - pg.7

I originally read this book in October of 2010, my original review is below but I have a few additional thoughts after my reread.

It is still a hugely powerful and effective read, I reread it because I suggested it for a new book club I’ve joined and thought I should refresh my memory. I’m not sure it was a great choice for the club, it is quite hard to find here in in Ireland and the second hand copies people have been buying has quite small print. Plus it is a big long book. But it is a great book club read because of its contents, imo anyway, we will see when we meet up at the end of the month.

I adore the character of Gertie Nevels. She is just a wonderful person, and yet at the same time she isn’t idealised or held up as some shining example. She is a person who makes the best out of what she got, and what she got is not a lot.

Spoilery discussion to follow.

Show Spoiler ▼

It is a great book and everyone should read it.

original review :

ISBN: 0380009471

The world is at war, and the army is stealing away the men, and those that are left are being hauled off to work in the factories in order to assist the war effort. In rural Kentucky Gertie is lucky enough to still have her husband around, he drives the coal truck, but knows that this situation cannot last. He has his date with the army already lined up. But she is preparing as best she can. She has been saving her money and almost has enough to offer on a nearby farm. Without having to pay half what they earn on rent Gertie and her family will be able to plan for the future. But on the eve of her plans coming to fruition all is ruined and she must uproot her family and follow her husband to the city of Detroit.

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After tomorrow

8 May 2013
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After tomorrow by

The first raid happened on an ordinary, boring evening. –Gillian Cross - After tomorrow - c. 2013

In the near future the economy has collapsed. Money is pretty much useless. Matt and his family have been lucky, they can grow some food and have been sensible, trading and bartering for what they need. But now the raids have started. Those with nothing are coming after those with something, no matter how small that “something” is. The only option for Matt and his family is to flee the UK. But their destination, France, may not be welcoming English refugees for much longer.

After tomorrowI’ve listed this as economic fiction, not a great made-up-genre, but if science fiction is fiction partly based on scientific developments, and fantasy fiction has fantasy then it just makes sense to call a book about what happens when the economy implodes economic fiction. Because After Tomorrow isn’t set in the distant future just an alternate today, one where England is a place to flee from rather than too.

I’ve only read one other book by Cross, and judging by that and this one I’d have to say that she is an author I’d recommend. Cross takes a topical issue like immigration and refugees and gives it a little twist that probably makes it a lot easier for British children to relate to. It puts the question directly to them, what would happen to you in this situation, how would you react?

After tomorrow is a a good solid read, with plenty of action to keep your interest. Some of the story is a little easy to see coming, but that doesn’t detract at all. After all, why would Matt see those possibilities, he is just a child forced into trying to survive. Well worth a read.

Read a sample on The Guardian

Other reviews : Bookwitch ; The bookbag

The crane wife - Patrick Ness

27 April 2013
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The crane wife by

What actually woke him was the unearthly sound itself - a mournful shatter of frozen midnight falling to earth to piece his heart and lodge there forever, never to move, never to melt - but he, being who he was, assumed it was his bladder. –Patrick Ness - The Crane Wife - c.2013

Part of my Once Upon a Time reading.

George is an American ex-pat living in England. He has been there for so long that, and is so unlike the stereotypical “loud American” that most people require convincing of that fact. He lives a quiet, almost content life, but a somewhat lonely one. He gets on well with women, but the relationships never last. He is described as being too kind, too giving, but not all there. And so they leave him.

One night he wakes in the middle of the night, a strange sound, a keening, brings him to the back garden and a big white bird that has been shot by an arrow. The next day he meets Kumiko.

This book is loosely based on a Japanese folktale. In that story a fisherman rescues a crane who becomes a woman, and his wife. She brings him great wealth until his greed becomes overwhelming and he forces her to create too much. And so she leaves him.

I loved a lot of this book. Some of the quotes and ideas in it are fantastic. I always enjoy reading stories about stories, and that is a point that is brought up more than once in this book. That a story changes depending on point of view is not an original thought, but I thought it was handled well here. And the idea that no story ever ends, well, that’s true as fanfiction can attest to :)

The book may be called The Crane Wife but it isn’t about Kumiko, it is about George, and to a lesser extent his daughter Amanda. Kumiko isn’t that much of a character in the story, instead she is a catalyst and a turning point. She effects the world around her but she herself remains unchanged, unchanging, and unknowable.

I have read other reviews that say George is too much of a “nice guy” stereotype. One of those who because they do the right thing think themselves entitled to get the girl. I’d have to disagree with that reading of the story. Yes, George starts out as a nice guy, but maybe that’s because he hasn’t been challenged enough in life. He gets by with minimal fuss, and minimal drama. He gives himself in relationships but the women in his life complain that he isn’t really all there. That, to me, indicates a lack of passion. And that is what Kumiko brings to him. A passion that takes over and catches him by surprise.

And he really isn’t such a “good guy” Show Spoiler ▼

but he does try his best, even when he is pushing for knowlesge that he knows he shouldn’t be demanding. He is flawed, but it is a flaw that only becomes visible when he is put under strain.

The first half of this book I loved. It tailed off a little in the second half, but I still think that Ness is such a great writer. This isn’t one I can say that I totally and utterly loved but I still enjoyed it and would recommend it.

Other reviews : Medieval Bookworm ; The book smugglers ; The speculative Scotsman ; Of books and reading

week in winter

21 April 2013
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A week in winter by

Everyone had their own job to do on the Ryans' farm in Stoneybridge. –Maeve Binchy - A week in winter - c.2012

Chicky left her home on the west coast of Ireland and headed off to America after a whirl-wind romance. Full of ideas of everlasting love and romance she abandoned all for the dashing American. Unfortunately, things did not work out and Chicky was forced to re-evaluate her life. Eventually she returned to her hometown, bought a run-down old house and set about converting it into a hotel.

Oh this book is so not my sort of thing, but we’ve started a book club at work and this was picked as the first read. So I read it. And I finished it.

But I really disliked it.

I know that many people love and adore Binchy’s work but it does nothing at all for me. Its strange, people often give out about science fiction and fantasy books as being unreal and an escape from the world. A week in winter is the most unreal book I have ever read. It tells the various tales of Chicky and her family and then the various guests that come to stay in the hotel. All their trials and tribulations!

But everything is just so nicey-nice and unrealistic. Personal disasters may happen, but they are all made better by a cup of tea and a nice chat. Everything from depression to criminal teens can be solved by a good chat! Urghhhhhh. Have I mentioned that I hate this sort of fiction?

As you can guess I do not recommend this book, but if this is the sort of fiction you enjoy then you should check out Maeve Binchy, if you haven’t before. This is her last novel and she hundreds of thousands of people loved her writing. It just isn’t for me.