I was in a similar place to you when I read The God of Small Things, enjoyed it, but not overly so - I mean, how much can you really “enjoy” a bleak novel in the true sense of the word anyways. But it’s been almost a year now since I’ve read it and looking back I remember almost all of the plot, which really speaks volumes to how much the book has stayed with me (and I do not have a brain for details, ha). In hindsight I think I didn’t quite realize how much it (the storyline critiquing the caste system in particular) affected me. And I feel like what you mentioned about the plot being so intricate and then the ending so rushed actually helped with that - after all I think that parallels the nature of tragedy somewhat: Life itself is so intricately woven, but then when tragedy itself hits, it takes barely a few hours, minutes or even seconds to unravel it and turn it upside down. Anyways, loved the video and your content!
That's fascinating! I was thinking how my thoughts on it might evolve and who knows, I might have a similar process with it like yours. Thanks for sharing!
Suggestion. Read all of your viewers a short story every now and then. It would be great, and most entertaining. I love how animated and spontaneous you are! Thanks always for giving all of us your time. Toni from St Clair Shores , Michigan. USA
"God and other stuff" 😂 I really liked Lincoln in the Bardo. I did it on audio alongside my reading and it was awesome. I like George Saunders a lot in general. Still reading The God of Small Things. The writing is great and a very unexpected way of story telling. So happy you loved The Sense of an Ending! I love Julian Barnes' writing.
Yeah, I think Roy is an excellent writer, the novel overall didn't really give me much of an impact but there's no denying her mastery of language. I must read another of Julian Barne's novels!
The God of Small Things really is masterful and bleak and it kept popping to mind for ages after I'd read it...even when I didn't want to still be thinking about it 😅 Tempted to read Disgrace but I've read quite a few books brutal books recently so probably a 2023 read 😅
I found your channel by way of, I think, KD Books. And, I just read Disgrace by JM Coetzee after hearing it was one of Kiran’s favorite books. I had it on my shelf, so I dived in not knowing much. I enjoyed it so much. What nuance, layers, abuse of power, and so much more. Wow.
I can’t believe I have watched a booktube video that not only reviewed two books in my top 20 of all time, but did so back-to-back (Lincoln in the Bardo and Sense of an Ending)! I will read anything Julian Barnes writes and love it. Yes, even Elizabeth Finch. It is my favorite read of the year.
I think the best way to read Lincoln in the Bardo is to listen to it... 😀 I did it last year, and thought it was a very profound meditation on bereavement and grief. Hope you're doing well, Ben. X
Thank you so much, Ben, I love your wrap-ups!🌷So to hear Rushdie’s quality of life will be quite compromised after such a brutal attack. Freedom of expression should be felt as a basic right by all who dwell on earth, but, sadly, this is not the case. I’ve had Midnight’s Children on my shelves for ever, and having planned my autumn reads around India as a theme, I may tackle that as well. My first priority would actually be Joseph Anton, but I’m still waiting for my copy to arrive. I don’t think his attacker expected such a surge in popularity of Rushdie’s books as one of the consequences of his deed! Of the books you’ve mentioned, I only read God of Small Things (India again!😊) many years ago, when it won the Booker. I remember that I found it beautifully written, but was devastated by the ending.
I too, was surprised to see Alan Garner on the list The Weirdstone of Brisingamen was a big part of my childhood, [yes I'm quite old !]I really hope he gets shortlisted. You've given me a great desire to read Lincoln in the Bardo too. Thanks for another great video
Screaming out your window is a mood. I’m here for it. Also here for the push towards backlist books! I started lincoln in the bardo on audio earlier this month but the first chapt is read by nick offerman who was relishing his own performance during the poop bits so I turned it off and have a distaste for it (ha) but now I’ll give it another go w a physical copy for that ending! And the sense of an ending!! I read it a few yrs ago and upon finishing it i threw the book and screamed UGH MEN!!! 😂 I’ve been missing your longer wrapups as i could listen to you all day!
@@doomantidote haha i yell it daily and it goes in one ear and out the other of the men in my life 😅 oh man definitely check out the lengthy list of notable celebs reading the lincoln in the bardo audio, star studded indeed! But all i know is nick offerman reads the first chapter and i really dislike parks and recreation and ron swanson so …purely biased on my end!
Treacle Walker sounds lush. And your hair is looking gorgeously foppish. Still have Disgrace, The God of Small Things and The Sense of an Ending on my shelves to read. I hope Treacle Walker wins the Booker lol even tho I've not read any of the list this yr. It sounds so good.
My friend and I were gushing about the moon moment in Lincoln. Even now one of us only need to say "the moon, the moon", to bring back that exhilarating moment when we realised what Saunders was doing.
what a wonderful month you had and i loved every minute of this video...not least because except for 'treacle walker' i've read and appreciated all the books you talk about here...i fear i don't appreciate proust as much as you do but you help me see it with perhaps a lighter touch..however you'll be pulling ahead of me for the next volume is not on my schedule for this year..this may work better for me though to hear your thoughts to carry me through the 'boring parts' when i get to it...i also appreciate your thoughts on rushdie. it seems midnight's children will fit right in with the off-kilter books you read this month. hope you enjoy it as much as i did which is quite a bit.
Great video and the Booker really has chosen some amazing winners in the past - I completely agree with you on Saunders, Coetzee and Barnes - brilliant novels. Just occasionally a book that I’m less enthusiastic about manages to win and God of Small Things was one of those for me - just felt rather flat really. It was important to say the piece on Rushdie and I would highly recommend Satanic Verses, especially if you enjoy Midnights Children. It is a mind expanding study of immigration and the parts that caused offense were dream sequences. I have finally got round to reading his memoir of his life in hiding Joseph Anton - amazing so far!
Thanks so much! Glad to hear I'm not alone with god of small things ha. I'm looking forward to getting to more Rushdie. I'm enjoying midnights children so far.
@@doomantidote You might also be interested in both the play script and screenplay for Midnight's Children - Rushdie worked on both. I was lucky enough to see the RSC production at the Barbican in 2003 which was spectacular!
Great video! Really enjoyed your talks about each book! Funny, I don’t remember anything about religion in Life of Pi. It was a long time ago. I’m so glad you liked Lincoln In The Bardo!! Just read De Profundis by Oscar Wilde. Have you read that? All I can say is oh, that Lord Alfred Douglas was a bastard, using Oscar the way he did! Poor, poor Oscar! He couldn’t help himself.
So glad you liked Treacle Walker as well! I thought it was so good and engaging! I love it when you gotta figure out the logic or recontextualized meanings of a text. It was so fun! Yesss Sense of An Ending! Lincoln in the bardo was such a ride haha I consumed it on audio and I was even more discombobulated at the start trying to figure out what was up. I’ve got Way of Swans translated by Lydia Davis about, and her collection of essays about her translating it. Psyched/intimidated for that. I liked but didn’t love God of Small Things! I had no idea all these won the Booker lol I just ordered Disgrace yesterday! Wait for a very specific mood for that one… Nice to hear your thoughts on Rushdie
26:33 To be honest I thought the clip you were going to use was "Lesbian? Her birthday's in March, I thought she was a Pisces?" but the one you used was also delightful!
My order of Midnight's Children just arrived (to read after I finish book number 13 of the Booker longlist). I remember reading it years ago and not really liking it but interested to read it again to see if I have a different opinion now that many years have passed. I have never read any JM Coetzee and to be honest, don't think I much want to read Disgrace, it sounds a bit too harrowing at the moment. Perhaps I will start somewhere else with him. Also I greatly appreciate the Proust updates.
I'm about 100 pages into MC and enjoying it, will see how the rest fairs. Yeah Disgrace was... a lot! Haha. And thanks re proust! I'm looking at a November finish time so a couple more updates to come...
Didn't realize "Life of Pi" was a Booker winner. Read it going through a religion crisis of my own...but that was 15+ yrs ago & I've wondered how I'd feel about it now. Also: during that period, another novel about faith, fiction, etc. that made a lasting impact was in fact "The Satanic Verses" by Salman Rushdie. Joy Williams is my favorite writer I've discovered this year (how only now!!?) & she's a huge fan of Coetzee. So I've been wondering which to start with...they seem so brutal! I wouldn't call Williams' novels "brutal," but they are strange & hard to explain...sometimes like missives from Kafka, if Kafka had spent time in Florida.
Okay, I LOVED Life of Pi. I watched the movie many years before reading it so while I had a vague idea of the end, I was still sort of shocked. And I really like what Pi had to say in the first half with the whole religion bit. I think as an Indian, it hits harder since it really dwells into a lot of our communal issues. God of Small Things - again, I mean. It's stunning in terms of the writing. I had never ever read anything quite like it when I first read it. But I hated the ending. lol Midnight's Children - listen to the audiobook if you find things to drag a bit. It's super smart and I loved what you had to say about Rushdie. No one - regardless of whether they've written absolute trash and lies (which he has not) should ever be subject to such a terrible act. Urgh.
@@doomantidote No problem! Hit me up if you ever want like an Indian persons perspective on the things happening. You have the internet, but still I'm hereeeee :))
I was never able to understand his daughter's decision to marry Petrus. It just seemed highly unlikely and therefore a chafing point for me. Your observation about the apple falling not far from the tree as demonstrated by her need to remain true to herself, standing on her dignity, and being stubborn, offers some real illumination. Now I need to think about it again! That attack was so horrific and does add layers to the story. The word "Disgrace" can be applied and interpreted at many levels.
I thought The Sense of the Ending and Disgrace movies were good interpretations / compliments of the movie. In Disgrace John Malkovich plays the Dad...good choice.
Fun video - and very interesting titles. I agree that Life of Pi at some point takes an enormous, Moby-dick-like perspective. I didn’t see the movie but I’m not sure I would enjoy it.
Thank you! From what I remember the film does "over egg the pudding" with the sfx which is understandable I suppose, but I don't have any desire to watch it again either lol
