Героиня романа
Сесилии Ахерн “There’s No Place Like Here”, действие которого происходит в
Ирландии, занимается розыском без вести пропавших. Это становится делом всей ее
жизни после перенесенного в десятилетнем возрасте потрясения. Пропала ее
одноклассница, Дженни-Мэй, буквально испарившись в никуда; ни тела, ни следов
происшествия обнаружено не было. С тех пор Сэнди – так зовут главную героиню,
от лица которой ведется рассказ, не может успокоиться, пока не вернет пропавший
объект на место. Однажды, разыскивая очередного исчезнувшего человека, Сэнди оказывается там, где живут все эти люди.
Там есть свои развлечения, свои законы и правила жизни. Жизни или существования
после смерти? Сможет ли она, досконально знающая историю каждого, подобно
Моисею, вывести его в реальность?– на эти вопросы Сэнди предстоит ответить в этом
мире утрат, в месте под названием Здесь.
Таков
вкратце сюжет романа от автора нашумевшего бестселлера “PS, I Love You”.
Стиль
повествования напоминает сценарий: быстрая смена кадров-событий, на которую
работает и продолжительность глав, не более десяти страниц. Вначале действие
сосредоточено исключительно вокруг главной героини, затем автор добавляет второстепенных
персонажей, образующих собственные сюжетные линии. Любопытно, что они разворачиваются
сами по себе до тех пор, пока Сэнди не попадает в “потерянный мир”. Здесь
действие начинает происходить параллельно, как бы повторяясь в ином ракурсе, и,
наконец, сплетается в неделимую цепь, неумолимо двигаясь к развязке.
Примечательно,
что Ахерн крайне редко использует здесь описания природы, и вообще ограничивает
языковую палитру глаголами и существительными. Видимо, таким образом
подчеркивается modus operandi главной героини, которая привыкла существовать
в пределах действия: планировать, двигаться к цели, осуществлять задуманное. Сантиментам
и эпитетам в ее жизни места нет.
Сэнди
осознает, что очутилась в месте, откуда нет выхода, но смириться с таким
положением она не в состоянии. В это время жители ставят “Волшебник страны Оз“,
символично, не правда ли? Дороти тоже мечтала вернуться домой, вспоминает
Сэнди, ей достаточно было произнести: Нет
ничего лучше дома / There’s no place like home. А пока девочка находилась в
волшебной стране, она помогала своим друзьям. Постепенно Сэнди понимает, что навязчивая идея розыска пропавших людей есть
не что иное, как попытка избежать внутренней проблемы – поиска утраченного чего-то
очень важного внутри себя, в своей жизни.
Немалое
значение в этом играет Ванда, милая любопытная беззубая щебечущая девчушка,
которая на вопрос “Сколько тебе лет?”, поднимает ладошку, чем очаровывает всех
и раздражает Сэнди.
“What age are you?”
She held up her hand displaying four fingers and a thumb.
“Four fingers and a thumb?” I asked.
She frowned and looked at her hand again, her lips moving as she counted.
“Is there a special school kids go to, to learn to do that” I asked. “Can’t
you just say five?”
“I can say five.”
“So what, you think holding up a hand is cuter?”
She shrugged. …
That’s why I hated children: there were so many empty spaces in their minds
and not enough answers, the exact reason why I’d hated being one myself.
Признаться,
этот роман показался не столь увлекательным по сравнению с “PS, I Love You” или “Love, Rosie”. И, тем не менее, он не отпускал;
есть нечто в манере Сесилии Ахерн, что заставляет дочитать до конца.
Книгу Ахерн брала с собой в дорогу, и, по обыкновению,
не рассчитала. Чтобы не перессориться с попутчиками из-за е-ридера, купила в Праге
роман Милана Кундеры “Вальс на прощание”. Из двух чешских авторов, предлагаемых
на русском, Кундера показался более подходящим для отпуска, нежели Кафка. К тому
же, Кафку я читала, а с творчеством Кундеры была знакома лишь по фильму "Невыносимая легкость бытия".
“Вальс на
прощание” начинается с банальной истории об обнаруженной беременности после
случайной связи, однако первоначальное впечатление затасканной темы быстро исчезает. В первую очередь, благодаря языку, свежему и нестандартному. Вот послушайте,
как объясняет ситуацию потенциальному отцу Клима его приятель Бертлеф, сибарит
по образу жизни и философ в душе:
Жизнь надо принимать во всех ее проявлениях. … Ребенок
– сама непредвиденность. Вам не дано знать, что из него получится, что он
принесет вам, и именно потому вы должны его принять. Иначе вы живете лишь
наполовину, живете, как человек, не умеющий плавать и плещущийся у берега,
тогда как настоящее море только там, где оно глубоко.
А вот как Ружена,
та самая охотница на мужчин, воспринимает уговоры Клима:
Печаль, которой дышали его последние фразы, имела для
нее сладостный запах. Она вдыхала его, словно аромат свиного жаркого.
Неожиданное
сравнение звучит как звоночек. Какой
может оказаться девушка с подобным “обонянием”? И действительно, в сцене с
отловом бродячих собак, когда разгорячившиеся охотники готовы смести с пути
даже ребенка, Ружена становится на их сторону. Она принимает роль зрителя, который
безоглядно готов придержать для палача жертву.
Помимо того,
Кундера удивляет образами. Казалось бы, что может быть ярче в описании ревности,
чем шекспировское green-eyed monster? Здесь автор упоминает никогда не дремлющие подозрительные щупальца.
Так характеризуется жена Клима красавица Камилла, которая боялась соперниц и
замечала их повсюду. Он знал, что она опять
не будет спать ночью, и потому был полон желания гладить ее, целовать, убаюкивать,
но тут же осознавал, что все это пустое, ибо ее щупальца в этой нежности обнаружили
бы только нечистую совесть.
Разговор о
сиюминутном выходит волею автора на уровень философского обобщения. Я намеренно
не рассказываю сюжет, потому что эту лунную историю (редкая авторская ремарка) стоит
прочитать. Еще и потому, что она остро перекликается с событиями наших дней.
Он вспомнил, как несколько лет назад его столичные соседи
у двери квартиры нашли своего кота, у которого в оба глаза были вбиты гвозди, вырезан
язык и связаны лапки. Дети с их улицы играли во взрослых.
Это история о
любви. О разных ее проявлениях: безоглядной, неосознанной, патологической, и о той,
которую все лелеют в своих мечтах. Которая входит, словно чудо. Оно было совершенно необъяснимым, но казалось
тем реальнее, ибо основные вещи на свете существуют вне всяких объяснений и поводов
– они сами себе причина.
А вы читали что-нибудь интересное?
Спасибо за интересный комментарий! Кундеру захотелось прочитать! Этот роман Ахерн я читала в переводе, как и целый ряд других ее текстов, и, возможно, перевод был неудачный, п.ч. осталось ощущение, что она не дотягивает... Заявки интересные, художественные решения нестандартные, но чего-то не хватает... А я закончила перечитывать роман Р.Стоуна "В зеркалах". Первый раз я его прочла почти 20 лет назад и было интересно увидеть, куда я выросла. Роман Стоуна, кстати, тоже перекликается с сегодняшним днем. А это, на мой взгляд, один из признаков хорошей прозы, которая всегда, в любом времени отзывается новыми смыслами и вместе с тем созвучна тому, что происходит здесь и сейчас.
ОтветитьУдалить“Yes, I’ve read!” would be my answer definitely.
ОтветитьУдалитьI would like to represent
The ballad of the flexible bullet written by Stephen King
The main theme of the novel is madness, how it influences on once mind.
It’s a kind of story within a story. One day, during the BBQ the editor of a struggling magazin told a strange story about the man who had committed suicide. The editor’s name was Henry and one day he received a novel from Reg Thorpe. He felt at once that the story was worth reading. More over it might be a bestseller. But Reg appeared to be suffering from a severe phase of paranoia. Reg was sure as hell that his typewriter was possessed by a certain Fornit, the creature which helped him to write his marvelous novels, tiny elves who brought creativity
and good luck. Through his correspondence with Thrope the editor believed that his typewriter served as home for Fornit as well. This could be considered a case of folie à deux.
To tell the truth, I’m quite sure we all have superstitions in one or another form. Stephen King tried to touch us up to a question. This question is: “Are we truly normal? Or we just are barely examined?”
i think this story is very interesting. I've read it in one breath. It's not the story which we use to kill time, but to think about something.
Here are my favorite quotes:
She had not committed suicide because of success but she had gained success because she had committed suicide
Madness is a kind of mental suicide. Don’t the doctors say now that the only way to truly measure death is by death of the mind? Madness is a kind of flexible bullet to the brain.
There are plenty of people who won’t walk under ladders or open an umbrella in the house. There are basketball players who cross themselves before taking foul shots and baseball players who change their socks when there are in a slump. I think it’s the rational mind playing a bad stereo accompaniment with the irrational subconscious.
Madness maybe a sort of flexible bullet, but any ballistics expert worth his salt will tell you no two bullets are exactly the same.
All I’m saying is that a man’s misspellings or a woman’s are his literary fingerprints. Ask any copy editor who has done the same writer a few times.
For extra reading I’ve chosen The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I’ve read only about 60 pages, so my feelings are quite conflicting. I’m not very familiar with Gatsby so far, but I like parts where the author describes life and problems of rich people, for example Tom and his wife Dais, they relations.
And finally I would like to read “There’s no place like here” by Cecelia Ahern. I think the story is quite extraordinary. Sorry for my pithiness :)
Daisy, their relations*
УдалитьAs for me, I would choose to read the novel written by Cecelia Ahern «There’s No Place Like Here». Why this one? I think one of the main reason is her another novel «P.S., I Love You». I mean it’s always interesting after one writer’s creation try to read and estimate another one. Unfortunately, I read none of Cecelia Ahern’s story, just saw the film «P.S., I Love You» (and I liked it, the plot is really touching), but this love story is in my list of books.
ОтветитьУдалитьI already told you that I’ve read Stephen King’s «Pet Sematary», and for today it’s that book, which impressed me most of all. Seeing my feelings and emotions even my friend wanted to read it too. I don’t know what magic the author used, but definitely there were some. I couldn't stop reading and all my thoughts and impressions were written on my face during the process. Without doubt, he is a master in his area. The master of horrors. And one of his favourite ways of narration is «to give a hope and then take it back». Sometimes it was cruel, but it’s exactly his manner.
I don’t know will someone laugh or not, but I’ve chosen for extra reading «Harry Potter» written by J.K. Rowling. I just will be tired by counting how many times I saw films and read books in Russian, but the strange thing is that I’ve never read it in original. Why so? Honestly I don’t know myself. But I think that the moment has come so I began my interesting journey. I’ve read the first four chapters, and can surely say that read book in the original and in translation are not the same. The atmosphere is absolutely different. By the way, there are some words in the first chapter, which always touch me (but I’ll show the whole paragraph):
Harry Potter rolled over inside his blankets without waking up. One small hand closed on the letter beside him and he slept on, not knowing he was special, not knowing he was famous, not knowing he would be woken in a few hours' time by Mrs. Dursley's scream as she opened the front door to put out the milk bottles, nor that he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley... He couldn't know that at this very moment, people meeting in secret all over the country were holding up their glasses and saying in hushed voices: "To Harry Potter -- the boy who lived!"
That time, when I read it in original, I looked on it from another side. Before it «To Harry Potter -- the boy who lived» these words touched me. But now I didn’t pay attention to it. I suddenly realized that the idea is that the boy, who has saved the whole magic world, just didn’t know about it. He just slept peacefully, drifting dreams, without knowing he was special, he was famous, he was the savior. Such an irony, don't you think that? And also some more words about the translation. The Russian is: «Не зная о том, что несколько следующих недель кузен Дадли будет щипать и тыкать его—да и несколько последующих лет тоже...». If I’m not mistaken «да и несколько последующих лет тоже...» these words weren’t in the original. Probably I’m a bit captious, but this fact made me upset. It’s one of the reasons why people should read books in the original.
And finally just few words about thing which surprised me. Just it’s Hagrid’s speech, for example:
It's gettin' late and we've got lots ter do tomorrow," said Hagrid loudly. "Gotta get up ter town, get all yer books an' that."
As I understand, «ter» is «to», «yer» is «your». Only in the original I was able to discover it, so it strongly surprised me.
So, I`ve thought a lot what I can tell you about. Yeah, I`ve definitely read some interesting books, but my favorite one was read a couple of years ago. It is written by a russian writer Dmitri Glukhovski, genre is a post-apocalyptic novel. You can say that the theme is quite primitive, but the book was the first beam of such compositions. Oh, excuse me, the title of the book is “Metro 2033”. It is a story about a young man, Artem, who had to change his behavior and attitude to life, because of the one reason - to save his native home. By the way, it`s worth mentioning, that in the world of the “Metro” people live at the stations of the Moscow metro, and each one is considered to be a small, independent city, with its own laws, economy and ways of survival. Stations of a lane form some kind of a union, for example “Polis”, ”Fourth Reich”, Red line etc. And in the very beginning the author introduces us the situation at “VDNH” station, where Artem lives. We learn that a strange type of creatures, called “black” are used to attacking the base. The only thing, that may help is to destroy their dwelling, located on the ground surface. I`m not going to retell you the whole story, but i`d like to impress my feelings on it. In the process of reading the book, I`ve paid much attention to how a “green” boy turns into a seasoned man, though no one believes in his success. Of course it takes some time; quite a few difficulties must be gone through. What about the finale, well, it has made me stare at one point for about half an hour. It was already clear for me, that usually people are not enthusiastic with new things. It is always easier to solve a problem without even exploring the source of it, getting deeper into one, trying to find some alternative ways of solution. We, naturally, can draw a parallel with the relationship between people: ignoring any opportunities to better learn one`s type of thinking, one`s character, goals, people feel like making mistakes, from arguing to waging wars. We just must keep in mind that we all are “people”, all of us aren`t deprived of drawbacks; our tastes differ. Once you learn it, you become a bit wiser.
ОтветитьУдалитьAs for my extra reading, well, “ The Lord of the Rings” is a special book for me. It influenced me greatly. But, there was another series of books, when I was a child, which was one of the main sources of rules of conduction. “Redwall” . You know, I`ve read all of the books, published by that time. And through his works Brian James, the author, taught me, that kindness, honesty and courage are the greatest treasure in our world. Still, let`s continue discussing “TlotR”; the language, used in this novel, is so “British” - when reading the book you can feel yourself as a native Englishman, sitting by the fire in the rain. And these landscapes, described so careful that sometimes pictures in your mind are even more detailed than a photo, made in one of your journeys.
“ It was a cold grey day near the end of December. The East Wind was streaming through the bare branches of the trees, and seething in the dark pines on the hills. Ragged clouds were hurrying overhead, dark and low. As the cheerless shadows of the early evening began to fall the Company made ready to set out.”
It`s a masterpiece, isn`t it? Perfectly selected attributes help us to recreate the world, the author has made.
And I do like that John Tolkien has took pains to give his characters real natures, due to this fact, relations between them look pretty much the same as in the real life. We would be likely to lose the sense of reality contained in the novel, being deprived of this generosity ( the opportunity to remark heroes` relationship ).
I can spend hours, talking about “ The Lord of the Rings “, the world itself is very interesting and exciting, but I won`t bore you with my fanatical speech. Just be careful - it is enough to read only one chapter to get slaved to the novel, until the last page is read. (another one…)
Kasperovich Alexey
To Ilya P.: I hope you’re reasonable enough not to go exploring the phenomenon of madness. It is not that fascinating as Stephen King made it look, take my word for it.
ОтветитьУдалитьJudging by your favourite quotes, you like juggling of words. Here no one can compete with Oscar Wilde! Try his plays – The Importance of Being Earnest, An Ideal Husband, you’ll be amazed by his paradoxes.
To Aлина Тимофеева: You have no idea how many surprises and wonderful discoveries reading in the original has in store for you!
As for the Russian translation of the episode with cousin Dudley, I guess you missed something, those words are present in the original version: “he would spend the next few weeks being prodded and pinched by his cousin Dudley”, see?
To Ilya P. and Aлина Тимофеева: I’ve always wondered why young people today are crazy about horror fiction and fantasy. Does real world lack anything that you can find in horror books or movies? What makes them so appealing to you?
To Alekseich Wry: “special” writer you chose to read might be the material for your course paper or diploma in future. When you’re inspired by the author, the work at your paper is less troublesome. I recommend you to think of it. If you like to know my attitude to Tolkien, read the post “Do you speak Sindarin?”
Honestly, to me the description of December day doesn’t sound “a masterpiece”. Of good quality, I’d rather say, which renders the atmosphere, no more.
And last but not least: books that really make you “a bit wiser” are usually classics. Glukhovski’s novel might have taught you something, but with your tenacious mind you’re sure to expand your horizons reading classical authors. Want a bet?
To Irina: I think, Irina Alexandrovna, madness is the last thing we all should explore in this life. To tell the truth I’m not a great fun of Stephen King, but anyway I suppose his novels being extremely interesting. As for “The Ballad of the flexible bullet”, a friend of mine has recommended it to me, he is a big fun of horror fiction and fantasy. I still have some books he gave me, here are “Hard to be a God” by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky and “Insomnia” by Stephen King. Frankly speaking these 2 novels are on the bottom of the list of books I’m going to read in the nearest future. I’m aimed at reading extra of course now. Recently I decided to read “The Idiot “ by Fyodor Dostoyevsky. I tried to read it 2 years ago, but gave it up in the beginning so I’m going to finish what I've started. And finally Carlos Castaneda has drawn my attention. But after your words I’m likely to put plays of Oscar Wilde in my list of books.
ОтветитьУдалитьDear Irina – Thank you for the introduction of this story and the author. Recently I haven’t read books. To be exact, I have read the same books repeatedly with my 17-month boy, as her mother started working. It’s a joy to have him around, though the time to do my own things decreased a lot. His main interest might look turning pages of a book, but he brings voluntarily his favorite book and sits on my lap. I also like to see my daughter telling a story to him in a very amusing way and the little boy always respond in the same part. He’ll be another book lover.
ОтветитьУдалитьYoko
What a lovely picture: granny and her little one on her lap.Reading together is an incomparable pleasure, something precious you cherish in your memory all your life. I still remember reading with my parents when I was a little girl, I remember reading to my son when he was a child, enjoying together. Such a cuddly feeling...
УдалитьThank you Irina Aleksandrovna for you interesting blog , I wish you success in you activity.
ОтветитьУдалитьI like books written by Cecelia Ahern, while reading her story you completely lose the reality and sink into the amazing love story. As for me, the most impressive book by Cecelia Ahern that I read was the novel P.S I love. Speaking about this book, on the one hand it's love story, but on the other hand it is so dramatic, that my heat is breaking. I actually don’t deal okay with stories where people die, it's really hard to understand how difficult to lose someone you love more than anything in the world. No doubt , when such accident happened you should move on because there are another people who need us here. So, the main character Gerry helps to put Holly together after his death, picking up the little pieces that has left from her. He gave her a new life without him, made her don't give up. To tell the truth, I can talk about this novel for ages, but to my mind, the main think I should mention is what I've learned from this story. The first : to value your close people ,the second: to understand how short and wonderful life, and the last, to value every second, every minuet, every day being near your true love... P.S :) to taught me to be strong
When I was on my summer vacation, I read some interesting books, the first book written by Oscar Wilde, The Picture of Dorian Gray. The second book written by F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby. Both The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Great Gatsby were impressed me so much. Especially, The Great Gatsby. You can ask me why i love this novel so much? Answer is very simple, In this book you can find love, passion, adventures, anger, jealously, intrigue, luxury, all this emotions and things we are in need in a common life. It was so interesting to know how people lived in 1920, and how they loved each other. That is why I think, The Great Gatsby is an American classic and a wonderfully work. I do like F. Scott Fitzgerald and his books, because Fitzgerald seems to have had a brilliant understanding of lives that are corrupted by greed and incredibly sad and unfulfilled. So, for my extra reading I chose short stories by Scott Fitzgerald.
I read two interesting short stories by Scott Fitzgerald. The first is The Rich Boy and the second is
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button.
The story The Rich Boy began with words-:
"Let me tell you about the very rich. They are different from you and me. They possess and enjoy early, and it does something to them, makes them soft where they we are hard, and cynical where we are trustful, in a way that, unless you were born rich, is very difficult to understand. They think, deep in their hearts, that they are better than we are because we had to discover the compensations and refuges of life for ourselves. Even when they enter deep into our world or sink below us, they still think that they are better than we are."
To my mind, according to this words we can understand, the main topic of the story. As I've said, Fitzgerald knew how to tell a story. He knew how to introduce a reader to am world of rich. But he also knew how to deliver in the short story format.
Here the protagonist is Anson Hunter,who would seem to have the whole world ahead of him. By his early twenties, he has found his ideal woman as well: the exquisite and very rich Paula Legendre. They were different but they love each other, to my mind, his main mistake lies in the belief that when he is ready, Paula will be waiting. To tell the truth she waited for Anson, when he get up the nerve and to make her an offer. But waiting can't be forever. So, Paula married another man. I think, the main idea of the novel is: to find someone you love is not too difficult, the most difficult and important to choose the right one, to choose love not money or career, and unfortunately people understand than someone is very important after you have lost him or her.
Another the short story is The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, was impressed me so much, the literary genre is fantasy,it's really curios case of old-young person.
ОтветитьУдалитьI saw the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, but between movie and book common is only the main idea, about the baby was born old.
Talking about the movie it's full enough, because in the film we can observe not only the life of man but also beautiful love story between Daisy and Benjamin Button. The movie wants to show us how love can overpass all difficulties.
Talking about The short story it is absolutely differ from movie. This story explores a particular kind of transformation: aging. The story reminds us that physical changes are necessarily accompanied by personality changes: older people tend to be less lively and more set in their ways, while younger people tend to be emotional and eager to learn.
For example:
"Mr. Button persisted in his unwavering purpose. Benjamin was a baby, and a baby he should remain. At first he declared that if Benjamin didn't like warm milk he could go without food altogether, but he was finally prevailed upon to allow his son bread and butter, and even oatmeal by way of a compromise. One day he brought home a rattle and, giving it to Benjamin, insisted in no uncertain terms that he should "play with it," whereupon the old man took it with--a weary expression and could be heard jingling it obediently at intervals throughout the day. There can be no doubt, though, that the rattle bored him, and that he found other and more soothing amusements when he was left alone. For instance, Mr. Button discovered one day that during the preceding week be had smoked more cigars than ever before--a phenomenon, which was explained a few days later when, entering the nursery unexpectedly, he found the room full of faint blue haze and Benjamin, with a guilty expression"
Showing all this, I think author wanted to tell us how it was difficult for Ben to build relationship, and how it was difficult to change his nature for his father, showed us their complicated relationship. To tell the truth, in the text you can find a lot of arguments when people didn't understand him. And how all his life he made efforts to be normal like another people, sometimes even tried to be more better than others.
For example:
"He was due at the registrar's in five minutes. There seemed to be no help for it--he must go as he was. He did.
"Good-morning," said the registrar politely. "You've come to inquire about your son."
"Why, as a matter of fact, my name's Button----" began Benjamin, but Mr. Hart cut him off.
"I'm very glad to meet you, Mr. Button. I'm expecting your son here any minute."
"That's me!" burst out Benjamin. "I'm a freshman.
"What!"
"I'm a freshman."
"Surely you're joking."
"Not at all." The registrar frowned and glanced at a card before him. "Why, I have Mr. Benjamin Button's age down here as eighteen."
"That's my age," asserted Benjamin, flushing slightly.
The registrar eyed him wearily. "Now surely, Mr. Button, you don't expect me to believe that." Benjamin smiled wearily. "I am eighteen," he repeated. The registrar pointed sternly to the door. "Get out," he said. "Get out of college and get out of town. You are a dangerous lunatic." "I am eighteen." Mr. Hart opened the door. "The idea!" he shouted. "A man of your age trying to enter here as a freshman. Eighteen years old, are you? Well, I'll give you eighteen minutes to get out of town."
Benjamin increased his gait, and soon he was running. He would show them! He would go to Harvard, and then they would regret these ill-considered taunts! Safely on board the train for Baltimore, he put his head from the window. "You'll regret this!" he shouted. "Ha-ha!" the undergraduates laughed. "Ha-ha-ha!" It was the biggest mistake that Yale College had ever made.... "
ОтветитьУдалитьSo , this episode touched me so much , I nearly started to cry , in that moment I thought how people sometimes can be evil. In most cases society don't give a chance to unusual people to fell normal person, and it's sad.
I can spend hours talking about books , but It will be better if you read it yourself. It's not about you Irina Aleksandrovna, I am sure you have read all these stories, I am talking about people who don't read.
Thank you for your attention.
Solodko Julia
Taking about books You mentioned, I’ve read only “PS I love you”. But I read it several times, cause this story is really touching and in spite of the tragic moment in Holly’s life it gives you a beautiful atmosphere of hope, humor and love. I must say, that “Where Rainbows End” by Cecelia Ahern is also in my must-read list, but now I can’t find enough time for it.
ОтветитьУдалитьTaking about summer, unfortunately I was rather naive to bring some books to summer camp, too busy to read a lot during the vacation. But there was an interesting discovery for me - Martin Eden. It was the most fascinating summer book and I read avidly. I can also remember The Girl with dragon tattoo and Love in the time of cholera, but they didn’t justify my hopes.
Being in the habit of reading several books at the same time, now I’m reading Bridget Jones's diary, Lady Chatterley’s lover and almost finished and the Hellish practice by Sergei Sadov.
I think that Bridget Jones's diary and Lady Chatterley’s lover have smth in common. In both books there is a woman looking for happiness and love. Their stories are different, they are divided by centuries, but they face the same difficulties on the course of life and they are strong enough to cope with the problems singly.
I think that thanks to the screening , almost everybody knows the plot of Bridget Jones's diary and it’s not worth retelling. Talking about David Lawrence’s work I haven’t read a lot, but I’ve already appreciate the language and the plot of the book.
Kotenkova Daria
ОтветитьУдалитьAs for me, I would choose to read the novel written by Kundera. I have always been attracted to the story, which can be refract to real life. I believe that even the trivial stories has sense, everything has its own flavor. I paid attention – “ a love story in its various manifestations ...” because of course, beautiful love story is everyone's dream, but only the other faces of this feeling make you think and understand something important.
Some years ago, I watched the screen version of the novel that I chose. I remembered those conflicting thoughts and emotions. That’s why I made up my mind to read this book in the original.
The title of the story is “Atonement”, it is written by Ian McEwan. The main personages are Cecilia, Robbie and Briony.
"Atonement" is a book written in three major parts. The author by means of several words takes us into the hot summer of 1935 and introduces us with Tallis family living in London, England. One of the main personages is Briony Tallis, the thirteen-year-old youngest daughter of three, who aspired to be a writer. She had written a play to be performed at dinner for her brother, Leon, and put on by herself and her three cousins who were staying with the Tallises for the summer because of a divorce between their parents. Before the play could be properly rehearsed, Briony saw a scene between her older sister Cecilia and the son of the family charwoman Robbie Turner.It was misunderstood by the young imagination, it had eternal consequences. Then Briony read a letter from Robbie to Cecilia. In it she discovered perverse desires and decided to protect her sister from this maniac Robbie. But these good intentions turned into evil for her sister.
From the first lines the atmosphere of the novel doesn’t make you thonk about other things. The first part is beautiful, delicate and romantic. It is important to remark that, the number of dialogues are limited, I think it lets us understand the personages better, enter their inner world.
From my point of view, the author reviles the problem of consequences of our actions and words. What can cause our actions? Are there mistakes that can’t be improved? Beeing sure you do good, is it possible to hurt? - --Yes. This book put in front of me all of these questions but at the same time answers.
What impressed me most is the novel, There's No Place Like Here ". To be honest, I’ve never read or watched Cecelia Ahern's works, but the plot of this book attracted me. It seemed to me that in this book there is something enigmatic, something mysterious, I do not know why, but I like the books of this genre. Maybe it's silly, but I enjoy books written in the genre of detective. Reading them, I'm always in a state of anxiety and even begin to think in different way, imagining that I myself am a detective. For example, at the age of fourteen, I couldn’t live a day without reading at least one story of the deeds of the great Sherlock Holmes. I even made a decision to choose for extra reading stories about Mr. Holmes. But unfortunately, they are too short, so I’ve selected two books that a little close to reality – “Jane Eyre” and “Lady Chatterley's Lover”.
ОтветитьУдалитьTo tell the truth Jane Eyre was chosen by me as reading for pleasure, I started to read the novel in the original about 5 years ago, but the language seemed to me really difficult, so I was not able to finish reading the book to the end, but when I picked up the book again, I was pleasantly surprised! I mean, that is the language that I thought that I would never able to manage, seemed quite normal, the story is read pretty easily. Meanwhile I read the 7 chapters, but Jane Eyre for me is a good example of the power and will. Despite all the difficulties of life with which she meets on her way, Miss Eyre only go forward without turning. It always amazes me how such a small fragile girl combines femininity and masculine character. Comparing her with me, I understand how she is above me in terms of morality. Judging her actions I just want to be better, aspires to something more spiritual.
The second novel chosen by me is “Lady Chatterley's Lover” was written by D. H. Lawrence and published in 1928. Speaking about it, as I’ve understood from reading this story about the relationship of men and women, as well as a love triangle. The main heroine who was named Connie married aristocrat Clifford Chatterley, who was paralyzed in the war. Despite the fact that Connie helped her husband to recover, he could not stand up (Unfortunately he became disabled). In this way Constance was deprived of “female pleasures”. Sometimes she thought about what would drop everything and go back home to the other life, In this way Constance was deprived of female pleasure. Sometimes she thought about what would drop everything and go back home to the other life, but the author emphasizes the fact that Connie and Clifford were one spiritually. He absolutely could not do without her, and Connie enjoyed spending time with her husband. Everything goes fine but once, when in the Chatterley’s manor came guest, a famous writer, Constance could not cope with the rush of surging on her feelings and betrayed her husband to make love to Michaelis. It goes without saying, they did not want to open the whole truth Clifford and decided to keep silent about their relationship. The author points out that Connie was happy at this moment and did not consider it disgraceful. In my opinion, I was shocked by this fact, and in general all the events, no wonder that this novel is named the most outspoken and vulgar novel of the twentieth century.
Speaking about the two books aforesaid, the first one seems more attractive to me. Not only because I’ve seen the film shot according the book “PS, I Love You” (and I really like it), but also because the action of this story is taking place in Ireland. The setting is a very important factor, it makes the atmosphere. As for me, I do like the picturesque views of Irish and English nature. Sorry to say you’ve said that the author almost paid no attention to it, but still…
ОтветитьУдалитьAnd now I want to tell you about the last thing I’ve read before I began “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” for extra. “Runaway” is a book of short stories by Alice Munro (is a modern Canadian author). The fact is in 2013 she’s got a Nobel Prize in Literature as a "master of the contemporary short story" (it was written on the cover), also she was compared with Chekhov (by The Boston Globe), and some others complimenting quotes of different famous publishing houses made me buy this book. There are eight stories about different women gathered under the title “Runaway”. This is that kind of stories which doesn’t let you forget them. Even now, doing something or thinking about something it unexpectedly occurred to my head, making me think some of the moment over again and again. The book isn’t a light pulp fiction, the characters seem to be real, you are sure to know them, some of them are easy to understand and the others are not, like in real life. I exactly impressed by this book, and I’m going to reread some of the stories in order to understand them deeper. Every story has someone running away and not always in the direct meaning… some people just running away from themselves, from their memories… If you want to understand it better you should read this book. There you’re likely to find a lot of to think of…
And just a few words about “Tess of the D’Urbervilles” written by Thomas Hardy, the book which I’ve chosen for extra reading. Frankly speaking in my opinion 70 pages are not enough to appreciate this book. Still a lot of things are going to happen. But I can say, that I like the way the author described the nature, people and their life. While reading I can easily imagine the science and feel the characters emotions. Judging by the text before the novel, this book doesn’t promise to be the happy one. As I can understand I’ve already read about the two fateful meetings in Tess’s life. Here is the description of one of them:
“Enough that in the present case, as in millions, it was not the two halves of a perfect whole that confronted each other at the perfect moment; a missing counterpart wandered independently about the earth waiting in crass obtuseness till the late time came. Out of which maladroit delay sprang anxieties, disappointments, shocks, catastrophes, and passing-strange destinies.”
Frankly speaking, you know, I’m not very fond of reading, especially if it is a literature of foreign authors. Therefore, you probably guess that I haven’t read anything, mentioned in your article below. But don’t haste to punish me and criticize my opinion. What is most for me, when read, I have a strong desire to start reading at least one of mentioned novels. It is the novel of Milan Kundera “The Farewell Waltz”. According to your personal opinion about this novel and several lines from the original, I feel that I’ve missed something interesting and emotional to read and to be strongly impressed.
ОтветитьУдалитьIt can seems unbelievable, but being so “inspired” reader, I also have one brilliant book, which I’ve read several days ago and which attract me very much. The novel is entitled “An American Tragedy”. This is written by outstanding and well-known all over the world American writer of the 20th century Theodore Dreiser. I must say it wasn’t my personal choice, but my grandmother’s, who is a well-educated woman of letters in our university, so I understand it should be the book, which is worth to be read. Frankly speaking, the style of writing produced negative emotions at the first chapter of book, mostly because of big amount of monotones pre-history and descriptions of the main personages of the story. We meet with the Griffiths, who was a religion family with low prosperity. And if the head of the family Eisa Griffiths and his wife were quite contented in this lifestyle, their children Clyde and Esta dreamed to change the surroundings and start from scratch. Then comes the incredible adventures of Clyde’s life with a lot of magnificent actions, meetings with the gilded youth, which changed Clyde’s attitude to life, with pure love and horrible betrayal, choice between quite family life and the opportunity to reach the top of the society. Two memorable killings and as the culmination of the story infinite remorse of the main personage Clyde, which didn’t help him to escape the justify punishment.
Beginning to read this novel, most of all I’d like to know what an American Tragedy is. What kind of tragedy it is? I came to the conclusion, that there are several tragedies. First of all, Clyde’s tragedy, connected with strict upbringing, naive desires and thoughts and personal position in the society. The tragedy of Roberta Alden, who was pregnant from Clyde, and who was killed by Clyde, was that her fear of being rejected if she confessed the truth. In general, an American tragedy is the strongly desire to reach the top of the society by fair means or foul, especially if you are poor as a church mouse. Don’t you find any similarity between this and the topic that money can makes us happier. Excellent example, from my point of view.
I’d strongly recommend to read this novel, because T. Dreiser not only the great psychologist, who masterfully descripted the characters, feelings and emotions of the main personages, but also a talented documentary, who masterfully revealed the structure of American society - its top (rich industrialists and their not knowing the needs in something children), and a bottom of the social (poor family of preachers, factory workers), its judicial and political structure, where everybody pursue their own objectives forgetting about other people. To put it in a nutshell, the author presented the truly life and peculiarities of that days.
i'm sure, if you won’t read this brilliant novel, you will lose a lot!
Well, as for me, I would choose the book by M. Kundera. I love books about man and woman, their relationships, their attempts to know each other. Besides, I love being absorbed in reading and trying to learn how eternal questions of love, friendship, jealousy, love triangles can be solved. I think I’d read this book after finishing reading “Tender Is the Night” by F. Scott Fitzgerald, which I chose for my extra reading. Hope I would be lucky to understand the main idea of Kundera’s book.
ОтветитьУдалитьFor reading for pleasure I chose “Jane Eyre” by Sh. Bronte. I can tell for sure this book became one of those dog-eared paperbacks I would read avidly many times from cover to cover. I got pleasure from everything: the language, the plot, descriptions and main characters. I’ve read it at one breath. I empathized with relations of Jane and Mr Rochester through the whole story. But at first, I’d like to say some words about Jane and Rochester and then proceed to my impression.
Jane is an orphaned girl. She has no beauty, high social position, family and friends. In her youth she must depend on others for support. Jane feels isolated, and strives for her personal freedom and meaningful connections with others—to find the loving family she never had. Jane is intelligent, imaginative, and principled. During the novel, Jane learns to temper her passions with self-control—she controls her feelings with judgment based on self-respect and Christian humility. She must reconcile her contradictory desires to be both independent and to serve a strong-willed man.
Mr Rochester — the wealthy owner of Thornfield Hall. Over the course of his life, he grows from a naive young man, to a bitter strong-willed man. He is not so handsome, but his inner strength can’t let smb be indifferent to him. While reading, I could feel him, his temper, his mood, his intentions. Certainly, I’ll fall in love with such man like him immediately. He is the man of great intellect and his haughtiness, his manners compelled my attention very much.
By the way, I don’t like such full descriptions of nature and surroundings in the book. What I like most is dialogues between main characters. I liked to see the action proceeding and tried to imagine their feelings and thoughts right at the moment.
When J and R decided to marry I was over the moon, they were so harmonious couple! I was happy for their union. Can you imagine how deeply upset I was when I found out Jane left her beloved? As for me, I would never dare to leave the man I love, even in such circumstances. (I’m not so principled, I guess) And by the end of the story, I could hardly hold back tears of happiness. The fact that she married a blind man, they finally got over all obstacles and had a baby makes me believe in such strong, devoted love. And in this case, If I were Jane, I would certainly do the same as she did, at any circumstances!
To Ruslan Yusupov: You’re right that Dreiser illustrated that thesis if money can make us happier. I think, lots of authors have done it in a more vivid way, “foreign authors” among them. Would you name at least 3 reasons against reading them? Your sort of beginning was not very inviting, don’t you think?
УдалитьTo Анна Бондарева: You seem to have a tenacious mind. And eye! Try not to miss anything in Hardy’s novel. Like, for instance, names of colour, or how Angel saw in Tess on that May day. With classical authors anything matters. And of course enjoy the beauty of the language. What a metaphor: “a mere vessel of emotion untinctured by experience”!
To Анастасия Мурзина: You won’t be disappointed if you read Kundera’s book, romantic soul. The more so because Kundera was on the final list of Nobel Lierature nominees this year. If you ask me, he deserves it more than Murakami.
To Kotenkova Daria: Thank you for close reading and analysis of “a love story in its various manifestations”. There is much more in this novel than love line, you know. The book makes a profound reading which you with your tendency to reflection will be sure to appreciate.
So many comments (I'd rather call them compositions) in English!
ОтветитьУдалитьНо пост написан по-русски, комментрий тоже будет русским:))
Конечно, P.S. I love You - очень трогательная и душевная вещь, но не самая моя любимая из того, что написала Сесилия. Я бы очень рекомендовала прочитать её же романы "Время моей жизни" (потрясающе мотивирующая книга) и "100 имен" (абсолютно не похожа на все предыдущие).
Что читала (читаю) последнее время. Сергея Довлатова ("Ремесло", "Иностранка", "Чемодан"), Дж. Уэбстер "Длинноногий дядюшка" (одна из любимых книг детства, перечитывала в самолете), Бенгт Янгфельдт "Язык есть Бог. Заметки об Иосифе Бродском". Появилось желание найти эссе Бродского, написанные им на английском языке (в книге говорится, что эссе намного удачнее английских стихов поэта). В перспективе - Генрик Сенкевич "Камо Грядеши".
Список внушительный, жаль, что перечислением. Как показался Довлатов? И что любопытного в заметках о Бродском?
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