BOOKS

[saffronlie]

It hit 36 degrees today, so when I went to swim laps after uni the pool was massively crowded and even in the slow lane I had people bumping into me by swimming on the wrong side of the lane, or being asshats and walking and talking in pairs instead of swimming. My laps were therefore not as relaxing as usual, but afterwards I went and floated

Comments

[pandorasblog]

Agree so much on White Oleander. I found the film first and really enjoyed how they rendered Astrid's inner experience visually; it could be viewed as just another troubled teen movie, and (in the UK at least) was packaged and marketed like a Daytime TV Weepie For Mums (SO FAR OFF THE MARK), but they succeeded in making it a bit special. Watching it first worked out well for me because coming to the book afterwards meant I was constantly being pleasantly surprised by its greater depth and further strands of plot and character development. I pass on good-but-hopefully-appealing books to a 17-year-old friend, and this one was a huge success.

[saffronlie]

Oddly enough, I can't remember which one I experienced first. I think it may have been the book, but I'm not really sure. One of those happy occasions where I didn't feel any over-investment in the adaptation, and was quite satisfied with the result. I think it was mostly overlooked here too, or marketed clumsily, but I realise it's not a particularly accessible story. Murderess mothers are hard to stomach, even when played by Michelle Pfeiffer. But of course, that's what makes the book so awesome!

[pandorasblog]

That's a good point - I think people have been conditioned to have a much higher tolerance level for immortality or amorality in male than female characters...

Btw, after you said you loved Hilary Mantel, I noticed from an old newspaper that she'd published a new short story in the Guardian recently. Turns out she contributes there quite a bit, so here's her page in case you didn't know about it already:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/hilary-mantel?INTCMP=SRCH

[saffronlie]

Thank you! Thank you!

[pointedulac]

I'm totes doing this meme.

And I'm worse - I judge books by their literal cover art. I can't help it. There are books people I trust swear are good but the cover art is too cheesy and I can't get past it.

[saffronlie]

I don't blame you. It seems to me like there's a trend towards ugly and/or boring covers these days. Plus anything written by a woman or with a woman protagonist is automatically given the pastels-and-flowers treatment. Ugh.

the meme

[ext_185660]

I loved all these reflections, and also that you read so widely and with such discrimination and judgment, as well as voraciously. A collection for life is such a great thing to build. I am at the stage where I am doing some 'weeding ' of my collection, but not very many get turfed out, and I keep buying. Beautiful lyrical p[rose - oh yes! And elegance and humour, too.

Re: the meme

[saffronlie]

Thank you. I must credit my parents for passing onto me a thirst for reading. The other great thing about a collection is that it can outlive you: my grandmother has promised me her very old editions of L. M. Montgomery books and other childhood favourites. I hope there's a reader or two in your family to share in your collection.

[saffronlie]

Oh gosh, you missed nothing. The Little Friend was ultimately very disappointing in its lack of resolution. The Secret History, however, does have a for-realz ending, and is well worth reading. :)

[saffronlie]

LOL no. Her third book is scheduled for publication in 2012, so I guess that will be the real test. Let's hope there are no more snakes or abrupt endings.