COMPILATION OF BOOK REVIEWS “A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one.” ― George R.R. Martin, A Dance
with Dragons
List of Titles A Confederacy of Dunces (1980), by John Kennedy Toole .............................. 3 A Parrot in the Pepper Tree (2002), by Chris Stewart ................................... 5 A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007), by Khaled Hosseini................................. 7 Animal Farm (1945), by George Orwell .......................................................... 9 Driving Over Lemons (1999), by Chris Stewart .......................................... 11 High Society (2002), by Ben Elton ................................................................. 15 The Catcher in the Rye (1951), by J.D. Salinger .......................................... 17 The Girl on the Train (2015), by Paula Hawkins ....................................... 19 The Kite Runner (2003), by Khaled Hosseini ................................................ 23 The Thing Around your Neck (2009), by Chimamanda Ngozy Adichie ... 27 The Woman who Walked into Doors (1996), by Roddy Doyle ................... 29 Twin Truths (2014), by Shelan Rodger ........................................................ 31
A Confederacy of Dunces (1980), by John Kennedy Toole
Vicente Robles García
A Confederacy of Dunces is a funny and comic novel by the American novelist John Kennedy Toole, who committed suicide partly because of the refusal of this book by editors. Yet, the novel was finally published in 1980 –eleven years after his death– and, since then, it has become a cult book, the author being awarded with the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981. The book title refers to an epigraph from Jonathan Swift's essay Thoughts on Various Subjects, Moral and Diverting: “When a true genius appears in the world, you may know him by this sign, that the dunces are all in confederacy against him.” The book contains such a rich depiction of New Orleans and its dialects that it is regarded as the best and most accurate graphic description of the city ever made. The main characters are Ignatius J. Reilly, an excessive person prone to seeing the whole world against him”; Myrna Minkoff, a former college mate of Ignatius who can be considered as his Dulcinea according to the fascination that he feels for her; Mrs. Irene Reilly –Ignatius’s mother–, widowed for a long time and completely dedicated to her son’s care, while consuming muscatel and falling in love with Claude Robichaux. Under a veritable funny style, the book undercovers a tragedy. In fact, it is a harsh criticism against the modern world, consumerism, ideologies and loneliness. It’s clearly autobiographical as far as the author, just as Ignatius, did not receive recognition for his work. As Walker Percy states in his foreword, Ignatius Reilly is a “ slob extraordinary, a mad Oliver Hardy, a fat Don Quixote, a perverse Thomas Aquinas rolled into one”. The first time I read the book was thanks to a friend whose uncle, a psychiatrist, had recommended it to him. In my teenager mind I felt a kind of restlessness. Even though it was a funny description of misfortunes, I realized the sadness and loneliness of Ignatius. I cannot say a word against this novel. Therefore, I cannot recommend it highly enough.
A Parrot in the Pepper Tree (2002), by Chris Stewart
Cabe Maroto Cazalilla
I would like to tell you about a book that was published as a sequel of “Driving over lemons” by the Englishman Chris Stewart, an ex-drummer of the band “Genesis”. It is entitled “A parrot in the pepper tree” and is set in the Alpujarra Granadina, an isolated area in the mountains of Sierra Nevada. The book centres on the way of living which the author had to struggle with when moving with his family to this remote part in the south of Spain. However, the income here is insufficient to fulfill the family needs, so he will have to travel to Sweden to shear sheep. What called my attention firstly was the title of the book. I thought “What can be the plot of a parrot in a pepper tree? Well, the thing is that the parrot is in love with Cloe, Chris´ wife. Secondly, I had already read the first book of the series when it was a best seller in Spain and some of my friends, who were studying English at the time, recommended it to me. The mix of stories and anecdotes made me laugh a lot. I would thoroughly recommend it since it´s a very reader-friendly book, with not very complicated grammar, but it says much about the laborious way of living and the inhabitants of the Alpujarras.
A Thousand Splendid Suns (2007), by Khaled Hosseini
Enriqueta Ceballos GarcĂa
You don´t necessarily expect a book to live up to your expectations when you make your choice, do you? A Thousand Splendid Suns, written by Khaled Hosseini, is a story I have been deeply moved with. Just as I did, I hope you feel tempted to read it. The story is set in Afghanistan shortly after the Russian invasion and all the catastrophic consequences that followed immediately after that, such as the groundbreaking revolutionary movement, power struggle and finally the seizing of power by force on the part of the Taliban. Afghans were happy at first. However, no sooner had the Taliban taken power than gender persecution, religious fanaticism and plenty of other crimes came over their citizens. Among them, two girls are immersed in that whirlwind that will drag them towards the deepest despair and social alienation. Taken forcibly to a marriage that they hadn´t chosen with the same man, the reader witnesses how their illusions and dreams are being destroyed. To make matters worse, they are also submitted to the most furious and cruel husband someone could ever imagine. After suffering enormous grief, starvation and domestic violence they are involved in a desperate fight against their husband. However, what really has engaged me is that friendship, generosity and sacrifice flourish in the middle of this terrible background. Little could I imagine that I was going to feel so deeply involved in the story that, now and again, I had to stop reading because I was weeping. Although is not the drama what is important, some new outlooks can be discovered. For instance, how are women able to survive in this society? Are they not intelligent, not educated? Of couse they are, but they endure. Have you ever thought that they take advantage of their burka as a way to preserve their privacy?
Animal Farm (1945), by George Orwell
JosĂŠ RamĂłn BarĂłn Morales
I'm going to write about one of the most important books of all times: Animal farm. It was written by George Orwell and has been translated into many languages; there is even a cartoon film based on this novel. I had never read this story before, but I have had an enjoyable time reading it. George Orwell was one of the best writers at the beginning of 20th century. Orwell had an exciting life. He was born in India, he studied at Eaton College, worked as a policeman in Burma and he was in Spain during its Civil War. Furthermore, he chose to experience a life of poverty, choosing to become a homeless in London and Paris. This book is set in an English farm and the plot revolves around a farmer who rules with iron hand. The animals cannot stand it and one of them, Napoleon, suggests revolting against the situation. The rebellion is a success and the farmer has to run away. In that moment the animals start to rule the farm by themselves and they choose Napoleon as their leader. Furthermore, Napoleon promises a new era of property and wealth without pain or punishment. The main characters are Napoleon, a pig who is worried about remaining in power and likes to show his cruelest side with his former palls, Snowball, Napoleon's assistant; and Boxer, Napoleon's most important follower. Having read the book, I have felt part of the story. This book is a fierce criticism of Russian revolution and it has a clear morale: men's desire for power is able to destroy anything and everything. I whole-heartedly recommend this book, as I have learnt an important lesson: power always corrupts.
Driving Over Lemons (1999), by Chris Stewart
Leticia Quesada Morillas
I’d like to tell you about a book I´ve read. Chris Stewart´s novel is an adventure set in Spain. It’s entitled Driving over Lemons and it´s about a couple who flies to Andalucía, more concretely to “The Alpujarras”, which are located in Granada. The plot is well constructed and, as the story develops, it becomes quite gripping. In essence, what happens is that Chris and Ana move to Granada to stablish a new life in this stunning city. They buy “El Valero”, a peasant farm which has no running water nor electricity. The plot tells us that they work very hard and spend all their savings into their farm. In spite of the fact that they go through rough situations, they decide to remain at “El Valero” and not move back to Britain. What I found particularly interesting is the vocabulary which has been used by the writer. He explains every situation at length, such as for instance the slaughter of a pig, or how we can cook fried potatoes with onions. What caught me by surprise was those common expressions which the Spanish are used to saying every day can be weird for foreigners such as drinking red wine from a plastic bottle of coca-cola... I would thoroughly recommend this book. It is certainly one of the best books I´ve ever read. It´s absolutely hilarious! If you ever get the chance to read it, I can assure you you won´t regret it. I would like to read another book by Chris Stewart, since I liked how the writer builds the plot and describes the different events. It is the kind of story line that I would expect from the next book.
Driving Over Lemons (1999), by Chris Stewart
Ana Belén Muñoz Doblado
I am going to write a review about a book entitled Driving over Lemons, a book written by Chris Stewart and published in 1999, soon becoming an international best-seller. What caught me by surprise was, on the one hand, that the author was the drummer of the worldwide famous group of music “Genesis”; and, on the other hand, the fact that he and his wife Ana decided to leave their lives in England and move to the remote region of the Alpujarra Granadina, in Andalucía. This gripping book keeps you reading and smiling all the time since the very beginning, when he acquires The Valero, a derelict farm without basic facilities such as electricity or water. Besides, they have to deal with an ex-owner who doesn´t want to leave the place. The incredibly optimistic Chris, with his fascinating good humor, tries to convince his wife about the decision taken, but it strikes her as absolutely impossible sometimes! Another important point in the novel is how Chris and his wife get to understand the idiosyncrasy of the locals, largely thanks to their friendship with Domingo, a neighbour who helps them in their misadventures and, moreover, prevents them from being fooled more than once. Far from being a travel book, Driving over Lemons might be considered as a guide to learn how to look at life in a different light through the story of two wanderlusts who decided to change everything and set roots in their dreamt home. I cherished good memories when Chris described the blossoming of the orange trees, with their scent, which is my favorite aroma. It was the atmosphere that he created that made me feel delighted. For this and much more, I would thoroughly recommend this novel. Now the ball is in your court, will you give it a chance?
High Society (2002), by Ben Elton
Trinidad Torres García
I would like to tell you about my experience with the novel entitled High Society, by Ben Elton. It revolves around a bunch of heart-rending but also plausible stories of people related to the higher echelons of society such as the politician Peter Paget or the rock star Tommy Hanson. Posh as it may seem at first sight, the novel does not show a glamourous society; quite on the contrary, it reflects upon the dark underworld of ostentation and excesses along with ambitious desires. All that glitters is not gold. In essence, the main storyline centres on drug legalisation, although alcohol abuse, extramarital affairs, and prostitution are also tackled by different characters. It is noteworthy the narrative style of the novel, which drives you to the filthiest slums from Birmingham to Bangkok. Some interesting and repeated expressions or words I came up with were:
For God’s / Christ’s sake! Bloody hell Didnae / wouldnae / aint Nowt Hoity-toity
Nevertheless, to my way of thinking, the complex and fragmented plot and the considerable number of characters complicate the reading. Promising as the beginning may seem, it leads you through a weak middle and a predictable ending with a revenge killing. I’m afraid I would not recommend it in the slightest, as it is not a real page-turner.
The Catcher in the Rye (1951), by J.D. Salinger
Antonio López Jiménez “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody”. The Catcher in the Rye.
I’m going to write about a novel by Jerome David Salinger that was published in July 1951 in the US. It is entitled The Catcher in the Rye and it is set in New York. The novel has always been a reference book, a kind of classic, especially considering the amount of copies sold each year, about a million. The story reveals a sequence of consecutive actions built around the ordinary life of a rebellious teenager. The plot centres on the period in which Holden Caulfield was expelled from his preparatory academy and what happened a couple of days later, when he decides to go back home after an encounter with her little sister Phoebe. In essence, what happened is that he decided not to remain at the School until the beginning of the holidays and decides to leave. Since he could not go home until Christmas day he went to a hotel and hanged around New York meeting strange people and old friends, and suffering different situations which were hard to deal with. Having read the book, I realized that the lexical corpus is not at all the usual one. It has plenty of informal and slang expressions, most of them features of the main character’s discourse. Some interesting vocabulary, phrasal verbs, idioms and expressions I came up with were: to horse around, to shoot the bull, crumbum, the can, chew the fat, get a bang out of that… and also repetitions such as… and all, it really kills me or that killed me, among others. To sum up, I have to admit that I decided to read this book because it was a pending subject to me. I’m afraid I’m still deciding if I liked it. What is certain to me is that this is not a vital book to read before dying. Nonetheless, I would recommend it since, after reading it, you won’t remain indifferent.
The Girl on the Train (2015), by Paula Hawkins
Antonia Romero Mancilla
The book The Girl on the Train was written by the British author Paula Hawkins. Having sold more than 1.5 million of copies, it became a bestseller in 2015. Soon after, on October 2016, the film adaptation was released. It was a very heart-wrenching book for me. Little could I imagine how this read could keep me guessing until the very end. The story revolves around three girls. There's Rachel, the girl on the train; Megan, the girl being looked at by the girl on the train; and Anna, the girl who stole the husband of the girl on the train. The train serves as a metaphor for Rachel's life. Unable to have a baby, Rachel got deeply depressed, started drinking, and her marriage fell apart. Pretending she still has a job, Rachel rides the train from Asbury to London and back again every day. While on the train, she spies on Anna and Tom, her ex-husband, something she also does with an attractive couple (Megan and Scott), who live a few houses away from Tom, fantasizing about their perfect life together. One day, Rachel is stunned to see Megan kissing a man other than her husband. The next day, she learns about Megan's disappearance. The main characters are all exceptionally well-drawn. Drunk Rachel is violent and destructive, whereas sober Rachel is analytical and determined. Megan appears to be the most complicated character, having been a victim for most of her life. Anna has a terrible personality; she is a man-stealing witch. As regards Tom, he is a bad man with an amazing ability to lie and fool people. A page-turner full of twists, the book is written in a style immediately accessible for any reader. Having read the book, I learnt some vocabulary about the sounds and movements of the train, "the train jolts, lurches, sways and screeches back into motion". Really interesting! This is easily the best book I have come across this year. A wonderful read I just couldn't put down. Worth it!
The Girl on the Train (2015), by Paula Hawkins
Inmaculada Vilaplana Ruiz
I´m going to write about the book by the British author Paula Hawkins entitled The Girl on the Train, a pychological thriller that was published in 2015. After selling more than a million of copies in few months and rapidly becoming a best-seller, Dreamworks acquired the rights and the film adaptation came out on October 2016. The novel is set in London and the main character is Rachel, who is deeply and unawarely connected with other two women: Anna and Megan. The story is told in the first-person, the three entangled protagonists relating the story from their particular points of view. The plot revolves around Rachel, who at first sight seems to be an ordinary tired worker who takes the same trains to commute home from London, but she quickly appears as an alcoholic and devastated woman due to her recent divorce. She has lost everything, including her job, but incapable to come to terms with her new situation, she stalks her ex-husband and pretends to go to work every day. Her journey on the train takes her daily along the neighbourhood she used to live in. Unable to look at her old home, where her ex-husband Tom now lives with his new wife Anna, Rachel focusses instead on number 15, obsessed with the young couple living there, and daydreaming about their outwardly perfect lives. However, one day she reads on the paper that the woman, Megan, has vanished. Awkward as may seem, this unconventional protagonist is the key element in this skillful and ingenious ammesia thriller. What caught me by surprise was the flashbacks and twists that make the story absorbing, intriguing and unpredictable. Little could I imagine that the apparently fixed identities of the main characters develop as the same time as the story, depicting a really complex bunch of human being. Having read the book I would thoroughly recommend it, as it is gripping and spine-tingling. It also keeps you guessing until the very end.
The Kite Runner (2003), by Khaled Hosseini
José Manuel Rubio Alonso
One of the most interesting books I have read recently is The Kite Runner, Khaled Hosseini’s first book. The author is an Afghan, brought up in a cultured family: son of a diplomat and a teacher. All of them had to leave Afghanistan after the Soviet invasion in 1978. The story revolves around the memories of a middle-aged man back from his very early childhood in Afghanistan until the present situation in the tale. Currently, the narrator –Samir– has become a well-known writer in the literary circles he moves around. He had made the attempt to escape from everything that could remind him of his past in his home country or his boy age, but just now he feels compelled to return to his country due to a discovery about the people he had lived together with at that time. The main character and Hassan, his best friend, grew up in the same house, that of Amir´s father. Hassan´s family had been serving Amir´s for years. However, Samir and Hassan would share plays, toys and small childish pranks. Amir used to consider Hassan as his more beloved friend, despite the fact that he teases him from time to time because of his illiteracy. One day, Amir wins a kite contest in Kabul and when his friend, proving to be a loyal one, goes to recover the kite for him, he gets praised by Amir’s father. Something horrible happened in between, and from then on Amir is dogged by guilt. Only after several years does Samir see the opportunity to redeem himself. To sum up, the main strengths of the book are the well-developed, skilful characterisation and its affecting story. Although the thought-provoking, evocative plot might sometimes seem to be written for a screenplay, I would recommend everyone such a big read.
The Kite Runner (2003), by Khaled Hosseini
Alejandro Barranco Romero
The Kite Runner novel centres on the story of Amir, a 12 years old Muslim boy who confronts his childhood and a series of traumatic events which happened in Afghanistan over 1975. Amir is desperate to win a local kite-flying tournament and Hassan, his Hazara Muslim servant, helps him. One of the difficulties for Amir is learning to cope with the complex culture he faces, given that he represented the societyapproved and privileged half of Baba, his father, while Hassan constitutes the unprivileged other half. Neither Amir nor Hassan can predict what will happen to Hassan on the tournament´s day, something that will change the rest of their lives. After the championship, Amir witnessed a cruel and crucial episode in which Hassan suffered bullying by Assef and others. However, Amir decided not to act and did vaguely nothing. Eventually, because of the war, the Taliban rule and the political climate, Amir and Baba are forced to run away from Afghanistan. From then on, Amir will try to redeem himself.
The Thing Around your Neck (2009), by Chimamanda Ngozy Adichie
Mª Carmen Fernández Mesa
The Thing Around Your Neck is a collection of short stories, most of which take place between Nigeria and the United States. However, several are set in “Nsukka”, the university town where Adichie grew up. They are all fictional. Those stories revolve around the lives and experiences of Nigerian women who migrate to America, tackling such issues as relationships, loneliness, poverty, injustice, and so on. “Cell One” deals with the theme of bribery where a father abuses power to release his son from prison. “A Private Experience” centres on the difference between Nigeria and America in terms of culture and religion in which two women –one Christian and the other one Muslim– meet in a riot. I find this story tender and intriguing. “The Thing Around Your Neck” portrays Akunna, a young girl who struggles to find a place in America. She got trapped in her uncle’s house, who used to abuse her in return of getting her a visa. The metaphord that Adichie uses are amazing! What caught me by surprise was the author’s style. Adichie tells two of the stories in the second person – “The Thing Around Your Neck” and “Tomorrow Is Too Far”, which gives the reader a sense of approach. Little could I imagine that I would get fascinated from the very first page of the book till the very last. I would thoroughly recommend it, since different as the stories may be, they are all absolutely spine-tingling and breath-taking.
The Woman who Walked into Doors (1996), by Roddy Doyle
Paqui Cañadas Cobo
I am going to write about a book by Roddy Doyle that was published in 1996. It is entitled The Woman who Walked into Doors and it is set in Ireland, with a focus on the lives of working-class Dubliners. It revolves around a battered wife, thirty-something-year-old Paula Spencer, who relates the story herself. This heart-wrenching novel starts with the announcement of her abusive husband´s death. Paula looks back on her blissful childhood, in stark contrast to her sister´s wretched memories. Having left primary school, she faced a rough and obnoxious new environment that turned her into a dauntless teenager. At the age of thirteen, whatever Paula did make her a slut before everyone else´s eyes. The influence of “nurture” forces Paula to become a slut just because she feels compelled to it. Only by going out with Charlo could Paula stop being called a “slut” by everyone. Little could Paula imagine that this charismatic fella would end up dragging her into a domestic batter and drink abuse life. Paula loves him to bits, which makes it harder for her to tell apart whether she deserves what she is going through or not. I would have never thought a male author could describe a woman´s feelings and concerns in such a life-like way. Some interesting vocabulary I came up with was Irish slang, such as “he´s a ride”, meaning sexy; “ceili”, a popular form of folk dancing in Ireland. Apart from that, other violence related vocabulary like “wallop”, “thump”, “to drag somebody up”; and “pavlova”, a meringue-based dessert. I would whole-heartedly recommend it, since it is a thought-provoking and touching read.
Twin Truths (2014), by Shelan Rodger
Carmen González Manzano
I am going to write about a book by Shelan Rodger that came out in 2014. It is entitled Twin Truths and it is set in the United Kingdom, Argentina and Greece. The book revolves around Pippa Patterson, a young British woman who passes herself off as her dead twin sister, Jenny. She lives in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and works as an English teacher. Trying to face up her loss, she behaves in the same way her sister would have and adopts her personality. She and her psychologist, Ignacio, visit the Iguazu Falls, the place where Jenny’s plane crashed. Then she works as a waitress in Greece, where she finds out something that will change her life. Back in Argentina, and thanks to Ignacio, Pippa will enter a self-discovery trip that will reveal many surprises for the reader. Tackling such issues such as the complexity of identity and our sense of reality, and centring on the way we build emotional walls to get through everyday life, this thought-provocking and insightful novel describes in heartwrenching detail this mechanism of self-defence by stablishing a parallel between Jenny’s trauma and the collective trauma that the Argentinian society suffered due to the dictatorship’s “disappeared” people. The mind-boggling mataphors linked to a powerful vocabulary and a complex and gripping plot caught my attention, especially when the protagonist’s feelings are superbly described with literary devices such as the use of conditional sentences to express her sorrow and sense of guilt because of her sister’s death. Moreover, the continuous use of twists or turns enriches the plot. Although the novel starts slowly, the pace picks up as it develops. I would whole-heartly recommend Twin Truths, as it is a really enriching novel that triggers some profound misgivings in relation to our identity and the way we deal with reality.
Level C1 2016-2017 EOI “Roquetas de Mar”