Book rec!

[baleanoptera]

Perhaps it is a bit early to start calling something "one of the best books I’ve read this year", but I’m going to take a chance and do it anyway. For Christmas I got the wonderful In Europe - travels through the Twentieth Century by Geert Mak, and it is nothing short of a page turner. An 832 page thick pageturner that is

Comments

[sunnyskywalker]

I love that idea of organizing by location! It's like the third person limited POV vs. the standard texbook omniscient.

[baleanoptera]

Exactly! (and very well said btw. Much better than my late ramblings. ;) )

Now Mak could be criticized by his choice of locations (he seldom moves outside central Europe and spends a lot of time in Berlin, but give the time period that is also understandable), but the idea in itself is wonderful - and for the most part I think he executes it perfectly.

I also like how he blends oral history with more general reflections.That, combined with the location focus, really give the book a personal and gripping edge.

[baleanoptera]

Anything to cause you pain joy darlin' ;P

Actually I'm just glad I managed to finish the book before the semester started. I foresee nothing but film books and media analysis in the near future. *whimpers*

Oh, and I'm loving that icon. Where is it from?

[baleanoptera]

man, I'm never going to have the time to read that book..."

I can sympathise so much with that statement it's almost painful.

And semyaza makes some wonderful icons. She recently did some based on stained glass windows, and they were gorgeous!

[baleanoptera]

Hello! Always nice to meet new people - especially when they like both The Wire and ASOIAF.

I've added you back - but beware as I've just started watching season 5 of The Wire, so there might be further spoilers for you to avoid. ;)

[baleanoptera]

Better and better. :)