I am astonished by the praise this book has received. According to Gellner, 'the' modern economy demands a 'flexible' workforce, which therefore needsI am astonished by the praise this book has received. According to Gellner, 'the' modern economy demands a 'flexible' workforce, which therefore needs a 'universal' education so that one's 'culture' will allow one to communicate with others in industry. Only the homogeneous state can offer that education. Therefore, 'culture' nationalism and state power grow together:
"Homogeneity imposed by objective, inescapable imperative eventually appears on the surface in the form of nationalism."
Okay, nationalism isn't the liberation of the pre-existing nation. I can get behind that. But to make an argument *this* deterministic, without any mention of power, class, oppression, exclusion, colonization, empire, or anything similar, at all? It's just silly. How silly? This silly:
"With the diffusion of technological and economic might, the balance of power changed, and between about 1905 and 1960 the pluralistic European empire was lost or voluntarily abandoned."
I swear, *something* happened between 1905 and 1960. Remind me what it was, again? Whatever, must have been inevitable.
I mean... when did education get universal, again? Which industries required a 'flexible' and educated workforce? Why does nationalization precede universal education? Where does the unified culture come from? ...more
Not a huge fan of the unreliable narrator as a rule, and even less of the unrequited lover, but this one was well done, and lodged in my mind. I can sNot a huge fan of the unreliable narrator as a rule, and even less of the unrequited lover, but this one was well done, and lodged in my mind. I can see it would be a high school or university assignment, there's plenty to get your teeth into; but it can also be read with less scholarly intent, and with profit. ...more
My favorite Deighton so far, perhaps because the class stuff is a bit more foregrounded here, and also because it's not quite as silly as Billion DollMy favorite Deighton so far, perhaps because the class stuff is a bit more foregrounded here, and also because it's not quite as silly as Billion Dollar Brain or as tired as Expensive Place to Die. Interesting that people keep saying the spy in question is anonymous, when his name is all through the book. Okay, maybe its an alias, but people call him Patrick Armstrong over and over. Not sure that's a good sign for the novel's memorability. ...more
The world demands more of Mme. Maigret! Always nice when Simenon tries something *slightly* outside Maigret's routine, and this one is fun. The world demands more of Mme. Maigret! Always nice when Simenon tries something *slightly* outside Maigret's routine, and this one is fun. ...more
I put off reading this one for about 9 years, if the price sticker on the back is to be believed (purchased July 2015, from the Last Bookstore in LA. I put off reading this one for about 9 years, if the price sticker on the back is to be believed (purchased July 2015, from the Last Bookstore in LA. What a shop that was when we lived there). I put it off because I'd enjoyed so much of Bowen, and this is probably her most famous. Perhaps I'm just jaded and cynical, but it wasn't what I expected. I preferred 'Heat of the Day.' It's always tough to get me motivated by unpleasant men and teenagers. ...more
Not for everyone--not even for me, most of the time--but how can you not be at least intrigued by a novel about a man who winds up in a country where Not for everyone--not even for me, most of the time--but how can you not be at least intrigued by a novel about a man who winds up in a country where he doesn't speak the language, that somehow goes on for 236 pages? Incredibly, Karinthy pulls it off all the way to the end. Provided you can focus on the humor, and stuff the incredible philosophical/political/social terror that all of this raises, it's a pleasant read. Just ignore the possibility that we're all Budai. ...more
Fabulous stuff, provided you're in the mood. To be honest, part of my enjoyment was that this was published in this lovely Penguin Classics edition, wFabulous stuff, provided you're in the mood. To be honest, part of my enjoyment was that this was published in this lovely Penguin Classics edition, with a clean, tactile cover, thick paper, and a perfect cover photo. I am that shallow; this novel is not that shallow at all. ...more
Looking forward to re-reading this in my dotage. I've had a rough few years with fiction, since I've read so much of the low-hanging fruit ("Hey, turnLooking forward to re-reading this in my dotage. I've had a rough few years with fiction, since I've read so much of the low-hanging fruit ("Hey, turns out Virginia Woolf is pretty good!"), and now I have to wait longer between discoveries. This one belongs in a small group of novels that has helped me keep the faith over my life. Not sure that's a recommendation for anyone other than me, but it does mean the book will keep a special place in my heart for a long time, alongside such mismatched neighbors as 'Diary of a Country Priest,' 'Flights,' and Anthony Trollope. ...more
Others have complained about the implausibility. I find the implausible quite plausible these days. And although I'm not that far into it, this is betOthers have complained about the implausibility. I find the implausible quite plausible these days. And although I'm not that far into it, this is better than 'Real Tigers' so far. ...more
Destined for that worst of all possible fates: the slim, relatively insubstantial volume, which is really for completeists only... but ends up being tDestined for that worst of all possible fates: the slim, relatively insubstantial volume, which is really for completeists only... but ends up being the only thing people read from Fosse, because it's so slim. I understand people don't have time to read the bigger ones, but perhaps start with Aliss at the Fire instead. ...more
I didn't much enjoy 'Snow Country,' although it's probably the 'greater' novel of these two; my tolerance for men being unpleasant and earnest is quitI didn't much enjoy 'Snow Country,' although it's probably the 'greater' novel of these two; my tolerance for men being unpleasant and earnest is quite low. 'Thousand Cranes' is both more to my general taste (i.e., 'tea ceremony > hot springs'), and to my literary taste. Also, shorter. But Kawabata is great, and I look forward to reading through his novels over the next few years....more
I'll take a book that tries something and that I don't exactly enjoy or like over a book that doesn't try anything interesting and I cruise through inI'll take a book that tries something and that I don't exactly enjoy or like over a book that doesn't try anything interesting and I cruise through in a few hours. Props to Adam for *really* not playing by any rules.
I will ask that we stop comparing literally any ambitious woman who writes a novel to Virginia Woolf, though (as the Dorothy edition's back cover does.) Like, there are other ambitious artists, you know? And Virginia Woolf is actually pretty unusual, and not in the way that this book is unusual. I'd say this is 2/3rds Dickens, and 1/3rd Hilda Hilst. Though that's probably not quite the marketing coup that 'the new Virginia Woolf' is. ...more
Okay, I'll be honest; I didn't read the whole thing. But I did read all the novellas, and James is great at novellas. Okay, I'll be honest; I didn't read the whole thing. But I did read all the novellas, and James is great at novellas. ...more
Not so good as some of the earlier books, nor as good as Spy Story, which comes next, but it's all relative, and since Deighton can write sentences anNot so good as some of the earlier books, nor as good as Spy Story, which comes next, but it's all relative, and since Deighton can write sentences and jokes, and keeps his books under 225 pages, you have no right to complain. What are you going to do, read some silly contemporary 500 page thing stuffed with cringe inducing 'sex' scenes instead? ...more
I resisted this for a long time, because there were just too many fragment sentences in the first pages; I'm glad I stopped being such a tool. Also, tI resisted this for a long time, because there were just too many fragment sentences in the first pages; I'm glad I stopped being such a tool. Also, the front flap description might be the worst I've ever come across. It completely distorts what is a wonderful novel about varieties of (low-level) suffering, forcing it into the most acceptable best-seller category of anthro-identity-literature (learn about Korea! But also, mixed race identity! But also, centrist feel good politics!). It's far, far better and more interesting than that. ...more
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