tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-26881211743343193822024-02-21T09:01:06.615+01:00Random RamblingsMy view on literature, my foray into fictional writing and general musings.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.comBlogger73125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-6685098666981633932017-07-09T13:39:00.000+02:002017-07-09T13:39:38.282+02:00My writing day<div class="MsoNormal">
<b>I’m a copywriter for
a resort in the south of Spain. Not sure if that's considered glamorous or not, but it's my job.<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2017/07/my-writing-day.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0MA-166, 29193 Málaga, España36.808974981307415 -4.33224498749996233.577574481307416 -9.4958189874999626 40.040375481307414 0.83132901250003766tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-33658411261279287012017-04-23T12:53:00.000+02:002017-04-23T12:53:27.822+02:00St. George, books and dragons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo3Vyz_fGe5tJ6mC86UAKddqfjT6auXjNnHdDtcixzd1DXQyjKr-7yAXLkgaPZdwE8eLDQl_TNGAbBq5RlP65VPa6_X_15kIg5plAyP7ebfCrhOO51QxE6775oy-FvjYpZqOK_NCMMBUB/s1600/st-georges-flag-large.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmo3Vyz_fGe5tJ6mC86UAKddqfjT6auXjNnHdDtcixzd1DXQyjKr-7yAXLkgaPZdwE8eLDQl_TNGAbBq5RlP65VPa6_X_15kIg5plAyP7ebfCrhOO51QxE6775oy-FvjYpZqOK_NCMMBUB/s640/st-georges-flag-large.jpg" width="640"></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">April 23rd, St. George's Day and also <a href="http://www.unesco.org/new/en/wbcd" target="_blank">World Book and Copyright Day</a>, which as an English bibliophile makes this one of my favourite days of the year.</span><br>
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<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2017/04/st-george-books-and-dragons.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-81582658323478845072016-10-12T15:15:00.000+02:002016-10-12T15:15:17.390+02:00Charlotte Brönte's Women<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Charlotte Brönte wrote of self-esteem as the antidote to the Victorian woman's equality problem. For Brönte, knowing your own self-worth, not giving into vanity, narcissism or just plain greed was the way in which a woman could be free, and consequently equal to men.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2016/10/charlotte-brontes-women.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-29243767419502873962016-06-12T11:32:00.000+02:002016-06-12T11:32:26.437+02:00CervantesWhen UNESCO chose the 23rd April as World Book Day it was not just as it was an auspicious day as far as Shakespeare was concerned, but also because it was the same day considered* to be the date of Cervantes's death. What this goes to show is just how influential and important Cervantes is seen to be in cultural circles.<br>
<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2016/06/cervantes.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-67538358164461134662016-04-30T14:25:00.002+02:002016-10-16T17:26:37.239+02:002016 - a year of literary celebration<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2016 is a bumper year for literary anniversaries. From the deaths of Cervantes and Shakespeare 400 years ago to the publication of Truman Capote´s <i>In Cold Blood</i> and Jean Rhys's <i>Wide Sargasso Sea </i>50 years ago, there is a lot to celebrate and commemorate.</span><br>
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<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2016/04/2016-year-of-literary-celebration.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-78348705678411046942016-02-26T15:26:00.000+01:002016-02-26T15:26:18.956+01:00Girl with Head in Hands<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yep, I thought I'd jump on the bandwagon and shove 'girl' into my title - bound to get people reading my ramblings, right?</span><br>
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<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2016/02/girl-with-head-in-hands.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-89623927067796462112015-12-13T13:10:00.004+01:002015-12-13T13:10:55.319+01:00Thinking about birds and bees<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've just updated my <a href="http://dcater.tumblr.com/" target="_blank">MA tumblr blog</a>- only been 16 months! - and in it I used a metaphor about writing ideas and birds.</span><br>
<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2015/12/thinking-about-birds-and-bees.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-2083393882728613282015-04-19T15:00:00.000+02:002015-04-19T15:00:45.357+02:00Reviews: 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry' and 'Perfect' by Rachel Joyce<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17119855-the-unlikely-pilgrimage-of-harold-fry" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1356126326m/17119855.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17119855-the-unlikely-pilgrimage-of-harold-fry">The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5309857.Rachel_Joyce">Rachel Joyce</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1253692210">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Joyce's debut novel is a work of art that explores how we should look at our lives, forgive ourselves and others for the past, and make the most of our future. <br />
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Joyce writes fluently and effortlessly, there are no awkward sentences, no jolting dialogue to disturb the flow of this read. By making her protagonist a retired man we can look back at his life, understand his decisions, feel for him over his mistakes, and look forward to a new beginning as he makes both the physical and metaphorical journey to a form of salvation. But do not think this is some sentimental piece of smulch: it is never cloying, never sickeningly sweet. <br />
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In 'Harold Fry' Joyce has achieved what Paolo Coelho set out to do in 'The Alchemist': give us hope and incentive to make the most of our lives. What Joyce doesn't have to do, but Coelho relied heavily on, is regurgitate the teachings of religious texts in an overt way. At the end of this book I felt that I had learned something, without it being rammed down my throat, that I could change my life if I acted upon it. <br />
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This is an enjoyable read that I would highly recommend.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6166837-deborah-cater">View all my reviews</a>
<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17192373-perfect" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Perfect" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1367838351m/17192373.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17192373-perfect">Perfect</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5309857.Rachel_Joyce">Rachel Joyce</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1258741286">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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I chose this book as I had just finished Joyce's 'The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry', which I really enjoyed. <br />
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To begin with I enjoyed the read, but I became irritated with one of the characters which put a bit of a dampner on the experience. The character's flaws were necessary to make the plot and storyline what they are, the irritation is purely of my own making - I find both fictional and real people like that incredibly annoying! - but the novel was saved by the way in which Joyce writes.<br />
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Joyce has a lovely use of language that means that you can trot through the book at a decent pace, feeling neither rushed nor as if the story has become lethargic. Her background in writing radio plays is evident in the way she keeps the storyline moving. <br />
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The Perfect life is, as we all should know, not attainable, though sometimes we get close, and Joyce shows that behind the curtains all is not as it would seem. 1972, when time was adjusted by 2 seconds, fractures Byron's seemingly perfect world. However, we are shown and Byron comes to see that, 2 seconds or not, perfection is not within the grasp of his family. The latent snobbery of the school mothers reminded me of Marjory from the Good Life except here there weren't any laughs.<br />
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The ending was particularly poignant and, as with 'Harold Fry', we are reminded that whilst life is far from perfect and we all make mistakes there is still hope.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6166837-deborah-cater">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com029792 Cajiz, Málaga, España36.7586979 -4.185617200000024236.7555174 -4.1906597000000243 36.7618784 -4.1805747000000242tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-12506162945648967662015-04-13T15:37:00.000+02:002015-04-13T15:37:30.221+02:00Review: Elizabeth is Missing by Emma Healey<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24179216-elizabeth-is-missing" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Elizabeth Is Missing" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1421670125m/24179216.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24179216-elizabeth-is-missing">Elizabeth Is Missing</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7751367.Emma_Healey">Emma Healey</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1253693890">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Dementia is my greatest fear. To gradually lose your mind, for your memories to become disjointed and your ability to communicate to deteriorate, as you become a completely different person to those who know and love you, and to yourself - I can't imagine how frightening that must be.<br />
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Healey does well to put across the deterioration of the mind of Maud, in her 80s and concerned about the whereabouts of her friend Elizabeth. Her continuing concern - Elizabeth is Missing is written on little notes stuffed in pockets, her bag and around the house - is not just for Elizabeth but for the solution to a mystery that dates back almost 70 years.<br />
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The clues to the latter are woven into Maud's increasingly random comments and questions, as she fails to recognise her daughter and granddaughter. I worked out the solution to the mysteries fairly early on, but that did not stop me wanting to read on. I was interested in how Healey could present the solution without betraying her characters - she managed it. <br />
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Healey manages it because she writes so well. The prose flows, unlike Maud's jerky and repetitive mind, and I read this book in less than a day as the words swept me along. Ordinarily, I am frustrated by people who repeat themselves - I'm well known for sighing like Maud's daughter Helen as a story is retold for the umpteenth time - but this was one unreliable narrator I didn't want to turn away from.<br />
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Healey portrays Maud with dignity, showing Maud's own frustration at not being able to remember simple words, not just the frustration of those around her. The end is particularly poignant and saddening, a reminder that whilst old mysteries can be solved, there is no turning back from this awful illness.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6166837-deborah-cater">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com029792 Cajiz, Málaga, España36.7586979 -4.185617200000024236.7555174 -4.1906597000000243 36.7618784 -4.1805747000000242tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-54437743446617189102015-03-01T15:03:00.000+01:002015-03-01T15:03:42.962+01:00Pandora's Box of Writing<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently opened my W-I-P box, my personal Pandora's box.</span><br>
<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2015/03/pandoras-box-of-writing.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-28504658842850894672015-03-01T12:46:00.000+01:002015-03-01T12:46:31.839+01:00<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22428098-the-miniaturist" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Miniaturist" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1401959929m/22428098.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22428098-the-miniaturist">The Miniaturist</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7125422.Jessie_Burton">Jessie Burton</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1214863602">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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A well-researched historical novel is a pleasure to read from a such a viewpoint, as was this work by Jessie Burton. <br />
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Burton also uses language well, with actions and adjectives ascribed to things you would not normally associate them with. This kept me hooked, the pace of the book without such skill would have seen it gathering dust on the bedside table. <br />
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The pleasure I found in Burton's writing also saved it from the mass of messages she was trying to impart. Feminism, homosexuality, racism, puritanism and capitalism were all combined in the cauldron with a sprinkling of ghostliness in the form of the eponymous miniaturist; the pot was in danger of boiling over. Burton did manage to keep the lid on it, but I think her recipe would have benefited from an ingredient or two less.<br />
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The feminism theme was heralded with the introduction of Peebo, the protagonist's parakeet. A caged bird: how free will it be allowed to fly, will it be burned like Coco in Wide Sargasso Sea, or will it remain in a gilded cage? The reader is under no illusion- this is a feminist text: an unmarried sister, a young woman who will readily flaunt the accepted rules of womanhood and a maid who steps beyond the usual limits for a servant. Then there is the cabinet-size replica house - a doll's house - the nod to Ibsen and the strong-willed Nora. All it needed was a madwoman to be discovered in the attic and we would have the full house.<br />
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As for characterisation, the female characters are believable but they are nothing new. Nella is young, naive yet strong-minded and liberal, whilst Marin is the archetypal austere, dominating, unmarried sister dressed in black who runs the household on a shoe-string despite their wealth. Johannes, on the other hand, is rather two-dimensional: he has his work and his vices and I cannot understand where his pleasure in Nella comes from. As for Otto, he is shepherded in and out of the plot and we do not really get to understand the character who is so pivotal.<br />
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All this seems rather negative for a book that I have given three stars to, but these are really my only bug-bears (other than understanding the true size of the miniatures - how could she see Jack's doll on the doorstep?). It is beautifully written, the jacket blurb and copious reviews that adorn the inside pages of the book are not wrong there. Whilst slow-paced there is sufficient intrigue to keep the reader wanting more, with some surprising twists and turns, and some less so.<br />
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An enjoyable read, but not as powerful as historical feminist pieces such as those by Sarah Waters.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6166837-deborah-cater">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com029792 Cajiz, Málaga, España36.7586979 -4.185617200000024236.7555174 -4.1906597000000243 36.7618784 -4.1805747000000242tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-29445654858902796472015-01-07T14:43:00.000+01:002015-01-07T14:43:14.962+01:00Quick Review of 'Dancing for the Hangman' by Martin Edwards<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5397839-dancing-for-the-hangman" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Dancing For The Hangman" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1337345371m/5397839.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/5397839-dancing-for-the-hangman">Dancing For The Hangman</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/31252.Martin_Edwards">Martin Edwards</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1159427569">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This is a very well researched book that gives a fictionalised autobiographical account, interspersed with extracts from actual records of the events, of Crippen's life leading up to the murder or disappearance of his wife Cora, aka Belle Elmore.<br />
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A certain amount of sympathy is elicited for Crippen, and questions whether he truly did murder his wife, a crime for which he was hanged.<br />
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The book moves along at a good pace and the characters are very well drawn with both Cora and Crippen depicted as dreamers who would never quite make the grade, try as they might. Crippen was part of the homeopathic quackery that was big business in the late Victorian period onwards, whilst Cora dreamed of being an operatic star, subsequently downgrading to vaudeville and failing even at that. Not only is the book a look at the events leading up to Crippen's 'crime', conviction and hanging, but a light touch look at Victorian/Edwardian society in London.<br />
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An enjoyable read.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6166837-deborah-cater">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com029792 Cajiz, Málaga, España36.7586979 -4.185617200000024236.7555174 -4.1906597000000243 36.7618784 -4.1805747000000242tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-29858696812268376202014-12-26T11:59:00.000+01:002014-12-26T11:59:22.756+01:00Keeping up Appearances<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have an unnerving resemblance to Daisy and Onslow, so said Stefano last night.</span><br>
<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2014/12/keeping-up-appearances.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-63551931146930558692014-12-21T10:58:00.001+01:002014-12-21T10:58:23.755+01:00Sunday Morning Stream<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Don Quixote. The good thing about the Kindle is it tells me the percentage read. </i></span><br>
<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2014/12/sunday-morning-stream.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com029792 Cajiz, Málaga, España36.7586979 -4.185617200000024236.7555174 -4.1906597000000243 36.7618784 -4.1805747000000242tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-48686939515305685932014-09-30T15:55:00.000+02:002014-09-30T15:55:02.428+02:0010 books that have stayed with me<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was set this challenge as part of a Facebook thing. It's not my <a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com.es/2013_03_01_archive.html" target="_blank">Top 10 favourite</a>, it is a list of ten books that, for one reason or another, have stayed with me. Sometimes the reason they have remained firmly in my memory bank is not pleasant...</span><br>
<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2014/09/10-books-that-have-stayed-with-me.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-1737135955163842482014-08-22T15:46:00.000+02:002014-08-22T15:46:12.662+02:00Quick reviews of 'The Bell' by Iris Murdoch and 'Sacred Games' by Vikram Chandra<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16058557-the-bell" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="The Bell" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1350845002m/16058557.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16058557-the-bell">The Bell</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7287.Iris_Murdoch">Iris Murdoch</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/1033436604">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Murdoch shows us how to combine philosophical questions with readable fiction. Love and religion, two subjects that when combined often leave both author and reader disappointed, are brilliantly dealt with in this 1950s, middle-class England story. There are no cringe-worthy moments, no point at which you find a philosophical argument uncomfortably shoe-horned into the story, this is a seamless piece of writing.<br />
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Some people think too much, others not enough and so it is with the characters in the novel. Those who think are slow to act, and when they do act impulsively it creates problems. Dora Greenfield, one of the main protagonists in the novel, rarely thinks until it is too late, and her actions help bring about the implosion of the small lay community at Imber. <br />
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Both hetero- and homo-sexual love are treated with care and tenderness, which considering the novel was written in the 1950s when homosexuality was illegal in Britain (though the Wolfenden report of 1957 had set the ball rolling along the decriminalisation path)makes the philosophical argument about love all the more poignant and meaningful. <br />
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The symbolism of the delicate butterfly which Dora rescues and sets free near the beginning of the novel encapsulates the argument for and about love. The bell rings in the changes - out with the old, in with the new - although for some the pattern is repeating albeit in different hues and places. This is a perfectly balanced piece of writing, neither contrived nor muddled though the philosophical questions remain.
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6166837-deborah-cater">View all my reviews</a>
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1220212.Sacred_Games" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Sacred Games" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1347497097m/1220212.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1220212.Sacred_Games">Sacred Games</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22496.Vikram_Chandra">Vikram Chandra</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/965989062">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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This book is a lot of things all rolled into one (and at over 900 pages there is space for that): a gangster story, a detective story, a post-colonial look at India, an Indian's view of the different castes, religions and sects found in India and Pakistan, a commentary on the creation of Pakistan and a history lesson; then again it is not completely any of the above.<br />
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I took my time reading it, and the form in which it is written lends itself to that, it is easily 'put-down and pick-up-able'. The different strands of story are neatly woven together, but I have to admit to a slight disappointment with the ending, which with its insets was just too neat for my liking. <br />
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The different narrative p.o.v.s all seemed to have the same voice, there really wasn't much to separate the different characters other than the events occurring to them...I wanted to love this book, but could only like it. Perhaps a second reading will show me things I missed the first time, but my wrist needs a rest from holding up this weighty tome. Sometimes, less is more.<br />
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<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/list/6166837-deborah-cater">View all my reviews</a>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com029792 Cajiz, Málaga, Spain36.7586979 -4.185617200000024236.7555174 -4.1906597000000243 36.7618784 -4.1805747000000242tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-48500269457698401312014-08-19T16:08:00.001+02:002014-08-19T16:08:21.137+02:00Budding authors...never lose hope.Jan Ruth was turned down 30 years ago from traditional publishing houses as she did not fit into a definable genre.<br>
<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2014/08/budding-authorsnever-lose-hope.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-56089489012665484292014-06-13T10:07:00.000+02:002014-06-13T10:07:21.997+02:00Review of 'Day of the Oprichnik' by Vladimir Sorokin<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9479238-day-of-the-oprichnik" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="Day of the Oprichnik" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1316637027m/9479238.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/9479238-day-of-the-oprichnik">Day of the Oprichnik</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/39839.Vladimir_Sorokin">Vladimir Sorokin</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/965989621">3 of 5 stars</a><br />
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Sorokin is not a fan of Putin and I am quite certain that there is much in this novel with which Putin would be less than happy with. After a bearded woman (transvestite Conchita Wurst) won the 2014 Eurovision Song Contest, Putin was quoted as saying that Wurst could live the life she wanted, but that there should be more traditional values in life. Putin is certainly not tolerant or accepting of homosexuals, having caused the wrath of those more liberal than himself with his stance on the subject. How then would he react to the bechaviour of the Oprichniks as they celebrate a successful day of controlling Russia with a homosexual orgy?<br />
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The oprichniks in Sorokin's dystopian novel, are a revival of the old protectors and controllers employed by Tsar Ivan from 1565-1572. Their oath of obedience was <br />
"I swear to be true to the Lord, Grand Prince, and his realm, to the young Grand Princes, and to the Grand Princess, and not to maintain silence about any evil that I may know or have heard or may hear which is being contemplated against the Tsar, his realms, the young princes or the Tsaritsa. I swear also not to eat or drink with the zemschina, and not to have anything in common with them. On this I kiss the cross." (Wikipedia)<br />
The oath would have change very little in the novel. The Oprichniks of Sorokin's world are cloaked in a veneer of monasticism: they thank God for everything, they do not swear, they protect the Tsar and his country with all that they have, and support the decisions of His Majesty seeing all that he does as for the good of the country. The Oprichnina are both the past and the future of the Russian secret police.<br />
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It is hard not to draw parallels between present day Russia and Sorokin's Russia of 2028 - there are too many to ignore - and Sorokin is an arch-satirist, not to mention writer-prophet. 'Day of the Oprichnik' was published in 2002, forseeing a Russia only 26 years into the future. By the time I got round to reading it that distance had almost halved to 14 years, and in an incredibly short space of time it seems that a number of Sorokin's ideas have become, or are becoming, a reality: Russia annexed Crimea (theoretically in order to protect Russia and her people); Russia is becoming separated from Europe by a virtual wall, much like the Iron Curtain and ideologically similar to the Western Wall of the novel that keeps Russia safe from the putrefying effect of Europe; Russia has signed a deal with the Chinese over gas supply which could see the dominance of the $ as the petrocurrency wane (China is Russia's main trading partner in the novel, though that does lead to some taxation issues); and perhaps most tellingly, New Rus has returned to Tsardom, and I am far from the first to remark upon the resemblance of Putin's leadership to that of the tsars who have gone before.<br />
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Recently, Putin has been likened to Hitler and within the novel there are two particular actions that have been identified by other reviewers as Hitler-esque: the book-burning by the psychic and the style of the Russian bookstand. Komiaga, the Oprichnik whose day it is that we follow, is happy with a bookstand that provides reading materials that are standardized and approved by the Tsar and the Literary Chamber. He sees control as necessary for the good of the country but he also believes that the selected literature and writers are "caressed by the love of the people and His Majesty". As for the book-burning, I do not feel that this sits so comfortably with Komiaga, though he does not say as much and indeed requests more books from the Tasrina for the psychic to burn. The monkish attire of Komiaga and the book-burning brings to mind not just Hitler but also Savonarola who, with his supproters, held Bonfires of the Vanities in 15th century Florence. These bonfires not only included manuscripts and books but any items that could be seen to encourage vanity or tempt one into sin. Komiaga and a number of fellow Oprichniks lit one very large bonfire in the form of a dissident nobleman's house at the start of the day, at the same time gang-raping his wife; the latter not something that Savonarola would have approved of.<br />
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This is the irony - the veneer of monasticism is paper-thin. The Oprichnina indulge in crimes for which they would torture, mutilate or kill citizens of New Rus for committing. As well as the burning and gang-rape, they 'do deals', take hallucinogenic fish drectly into the vein and the day climaxes with an orgasmic caterpillar with glowing members. Despite these nefarious activities, I was not as disturbed by the novel as I was led to believe I would be; Sorokin has written far more undigestable works than this. Perhaps it is the light touch with which Sorokin paints the picture, reminiscent of Solzhenitsyn's 'Day in the Life of ...', or maybe it's because with no plot to be absorbed within, I was less involved.<br />
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This is a work that looks back almost as much as it looks forward; like a pushme-pullme, it is going nowehere. However, the blend of futuristic - mercedovs, mobilovs, news-bubbles and rayguns - with the ancient - knives, torture rack and the Tsardom and Oprichnik revival - drives home the realisation that for all the technological changes the human race has changed very little.<br />
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Sorokin draws upon dystopian and Sci-Fi novels of yesteryear with Bradbury's 'Farenheit 451' and Orwell's '1984' to name but two that are evident. Orwell's use, or misuse, of language is similarly employed by Sorokin. When Komiaga listens in on radio channels for dissidents he hears of 'medhermeautical adultery' and a barrage of meaningless neologisms strung together with some standard conjunctions (like listening to a Homi Bhabha theory being read aloud, it's a wonder Komiaga's ears didn't start to bleed!). Sorokin also employs a number of italicised words which draw attention to the way in which ordinary, seemingly innocent, words and phrases are used to describe contradictory actions: the rape is described as 'succulent work' and book-burnings take place in the Oprichnina 'courtyard', which to my mind is like calling the gas chambers in Auschwitz ovens - these are not innocent spaces.<br />
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All in all, this is a very readable novel despite the violence. I have seen it described a funny or hilarious, not adjectives I would readily use, but there is a dark humour to its scarily predictive text. I must read it again soon to see what Putin will be up to next.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com063061 Massignano Ascoli Piceno, Italia43.0500851 13.7981058000000343.0384816 13.77793580000003 43.0616886 13.818275800000031tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-64002023414642610702014-05-29T10:38:00.000+02:002014-05-29T10:40:39.906+02:00Phenomenal Woman - Maya Angelou<span style="background-color: #073763; color: white; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21.005998611450195px;">Yesterday witnessed the passing of Maya Angelou, an incredible writer with an early personal history that few would wish to have but which continued to influence her writing throughout her life. 'I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings' was the book that brought her to the attention of the world, dealing with her early life including rape, sexism and identity. She published a further 35 books including poetry, essays and autobiographies. </span><br>
<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2014/05/phenomenal-woman-maya-angelou.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-82520377771830545122014-05-09T17:31:00.000+02:002014-05-09T17:31:13.816+02:00'We' - quick review<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/386000.We" style="float: left; padding-right: 20px;"><img alt="We" border="0" src="https://d.gr-assets.com/books/1341201419m/386000.jpg" /></a><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/386000.We">We</a> by <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/43298.Yevgeny_Zamyatin">Yevgeny Zamyatin</a><br />
My rating: <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/925516100">4 of 5 stars</a><br />
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The edition of 'We' that I read was the 1959 translation by Gregory Zillborg, where the totalitarian world dominated by the Well-Doer is known as United State (this differs from many reviews I have seen that refer to One State). <br />
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The reader is introduced into the dystopian world through the journal of D-503, builder of the Integral and a once content member of society, more than comfortable with his manner of living, until he happens upon I-330; and so his world unravels. <br />
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The unravelling of D's world is reflected in the unravelling of his previously well-ordered mind. Piece by piece, all that he thought was perfect, well-ordered and controlled by the Well-Doer is seen for what it really is - though he fights against this realisation as best he can. <br />
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The influence upon Orwell's '1984' is evident, including providing an ending in which I was disappointed (hence only 4 stars). Despite this, it is a work that grabs you and in light of recent uprisings around the world, where the people are making their voices heard and fighting against dictatorial regimes, it is very poignant.
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0San Benedetto del Tronto Ascoli Piceno, Italy42.9609785 13.87464690000001642.8679695 13.713285400000016 43.053987500000005 14.036008400000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-34513370203769883282014-04-23T11:24:00.000+02:002014-04-23T11:24:33.757+02:00My brain - where indecision reignsMy brain is a mish-mash of stuff.<br>
<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2014/04/my-brain-where-indecision-reigns.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0San Benedetto del Tronto Ascoli Piceno, Italia42.9609785 13.87464690000001642.8679695 13.713285400000016 43.053987500000005 14.036008400000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-76283442554433357192014-03-23T12:38:00.000+01:002014-03-23T12:38:20.455+01:00Where I write (or would if it wasn't so poky).I stumbled across the old series about writers' rooms in <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/series/writersrooms" target="_blank">The Guardian</a>, this morning.<br>
<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2014/03/where-i-write-or-would-if-it-wasnt-so.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0San Benedetto del Tronto Ascoli Piceno, Italia42.9609785 13.87464690000001642.8679695 13.713285400000016 43.053987500000005 14.036008400000016tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-38672909053648081342014-03-12T11:11:00.000+01:002014-03-12T11:11:39.155+01:00My favourite opening lines.World Book Day last week (6th March), got me thinking about my favourite opening lines. An opening line has been said to be one of the most difficult to write - some authors have created some very memorable lines...<br>
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<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2014/03/my-favourite-opening-lines.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-74999498997640236872014-02-23T14:45:00.000+01:002014-02-23T14:45:33.884+01:00A very thought-provoking article in The Guardian: <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/feb/21/on-liberty-edward-snowden-freedom%C2%A0" target="_blank">http://www.theguardian.com/books/2014/feb/21/on-liberty-edward-snowden-freedom </a><br>
<a href="http://deborah-randomramblings.blogspot.com/2014/02/a-very-thought-provoking-article-in.html#more">Read more »</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17056976416268218470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2688121174334319382.post-41563889993922071582014-02-20T09:50:00.000+01:002014-02-20T09:50:19.204+01:00A little humour on a Thursday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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