Writing
Some of my creative output. More available on my DeviantArt profile.
Book Reviews
A few thoughts on my latest reads. More available on my Goodreads profile.
Black Dogs by Ian McEwanMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Interesting and short read. Explores several interesting concepts. The narrator, whilst not the central focus of the narrative's main thrust, was set up as an intriguing character, though this was mainly to allow him to take an interested in June and Bernard, who are the more important characters in the novel. The narrator's life is much more peripheral.
I thought the text presented an interesting set-up in the way that the narrator appropriated other's parents in order to fill the gap left by the death of his own. In many ways, I thought this tied in with a central theme which became apparent as I was reading, which is the idea of legacy. The discussion of Communism and then the use of Nazism later in the book and the effects they have had on the future, as well as the use of the encounter with the dogs and how it changed the couple's life all employ this concept of events having ramifications in the future.
Orthodoxy by G.K. ChestertonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Chesterton provides an intriguing and very convincing account of Christian thought and the way he considers it (with regards to its ability to reconcile paradoxes, such as optimism and pessimism) has shed some light on some of the problems I have had when considering Christianity in the past. However, I think that his reading, though evidently not without thought and a large amount of effort devoted to argumentation, is very much coloured by his preexisting devotion to Christianity. His conceptualisation is a convincing one if we accept his general reading on things, though he omits a huge amount when it comes to actually addressing what Christianity is and how it has behaved throughout history. He seems able to credit Christianity with the preservation of our entire culture and, whilst there may be some truth to that, the very suggestion that the Church alone was able to do such a thing, and that it alone could have done so betrays his bias. Finally, I found his reading of Ancient attitudes intriguing, though ultimately malformed. He has evidently read the Ancients and dismissed much of their thoughts as "pagan" garbage and I think there is real evidence that he has failed to engage with it on a deep enough level. The same goes for some of his points on Nietzsche.
Call Me by Your Name by André AcimanMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
I thought the book had a promising start, but I found it increasingly difficult to believe in the narrative and my disbelief made it impossible to enjoy. Originally, I liked the character of Elio and then it became apparent that he has no real character, he's a non-person, completely consumed by his desire. I get that this was kinda the point, but still - it became overly self-indulgent and pretty pathetic. That said, it's not entirely without merit, so I have given it 3 stars.
The Goldfinch by Donna TarttMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
Once again, Donna Tartt has displayed excellent literary ability and, whilst it took me a while to get through it, I definitely enjoyed reading The Goldfinch. It is the kind of book that I will be thinking over for a while to come before I have become even remotely close to exploring it properly. Excellent work!
Stoner by John Edward WilliamsMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
I thought that this book was an exceedingly good read, though others might find it slightly difficult to get into, as it has a great emphasis on the University setting. In places I found it a difficult book to read, for though the prose is very clear and the style is, for the most part, simplistic, there is an unsettling undercurrent which pervades this book. Though the plot itself is nothing elaborate or fanciful, it does have something to say and I think that it is something worth listening to.
In Two Minds - 50 Short Poems by Daniel TorridonMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
The poetic style used by Torridon is very simplistic, though this does not lower the quality of the poems. Some of them are so short as to be almost more akin to aphorisms or short noted observations, though I can definitely taste a reasonably distinct poetic voice behind the work in this volume.
There is not a huge degree of ambiguity within his work, with most things state very clearly and openly in his text, rather than hiding little meanings behind his words.
The collection does not take long to finish, and one is able to read all of the poems in under and hour. In short, I would definitely consider this to be worth a look, even if it is not, in and of itself, groundbreakingly new or original. There is some wonderful expression here.
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