Reading Habits – September 2009

Welcome to the second month of Reading Habits, my attempt to entertain you by talking about the books that I’ve read in the previous month.  All books that I read are kept in chronological order, I then alternately read the book I’ve had longest (marked B.H.L.), followed by a free choice (F.C.).  For a full description of my insane book selection rules, please click here.

Books Read

The first book that I read this month was Still Life With Woodpecker (B.H.L.) by Tom Robbins.  I came to own this book in a slightly odd way; my ex bought it on a recommendation from a guy she was chatting to online, who she eventually started going out with.  Don’t worry, I’m not telling you this because it is causing me some kind of psychological distress, but because its quite a unique way to come to own a book.

It’s the story of an exiled princess\cheerleader who falls in love with a serial bomber on Hawaii.  Then, when the bomber has been jailed, she attempts to communicate with him through a packet of Camel cigarettes and becomes obsessed with pyramids.  It’s as wacky as it sounds.  The problem with it is that although it is well written, it never quite comes together as it should do and it is a bit too self-consciously ’weird’.  It also drags a bit, which is never a good sign.

I followed this up with volumes 12 & 13 of Lone Wolf & Cub (F.C.) by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima.  LW&C is a 28 volume managa series of which I have all 28 volumes.  I started buying them when I still regularly bought comic books, and they were released monthly, Volume 12 is from August 2001.  It should be pretty telling that I’ve only just got around to reading it 8 years later.  Each book in the series is about 300 pages long and contain approximately 5 chapters, which are usually stand alone stories.

The series is set in feudal Japan and focuses on Ogami Itto and his son Daigoro.  Itto is the Shogun’s assassin, an extremely prestigious post, but is falsely accused of being a traitor.  Instead of trying to prove his innocence, he decides to become an assassin and eventually avenge those who brought disgrace on his clan.  Those crazy samurai had a weird way of doing things.   The series is considered a classic and has been influential on many western comic artists, but I remain to be convinced.   Most of the chapters are accounts of individual ‘missions’ carried out by Itto and soon become very samey, despite the incredible skill that is apparent in their telling.  Reading them feels a bit like wading through very tasty treacle.

The stories in these two volumes include one about a man using his brain-damaged wife in a live sex show in order to exact vengeance.  Another features the head of the evil Yagyu clan proclaiming that he is going to have a child with his 15-year old daughter, which is justified because he ‘doesn’t consider her to be his daughter’.  Nice bloke.  In a later chapter, the dying brother of the girl attempts to stop his father’s plan by raping her himself.  What a lovely family. Weirdly, whatever conclusions you’re drawing about the series from this last paragraph are also somehow wrong.  Despite the almost constant bloodshed, there is something graceful and touching about the series that is hard to define.  Some of the scenes involving the toddler Daigoro are particularly well done, and really invoke the wonder of the world experienced by an inquisitive young child.   It’s strange then, despite all these plus points, that reading the books remains something of a chore.

Next on the list was The Great Escape (B.H.L) by Paul Brickhill, the book that inspired the film, you guessed it, The Great Escape.  This was a random purchase from the British Heart Foundation shop, mainly because I like the film and wanted to know more about the true story that it was based on.  When I started reading it, I assumed that it was a modern account of the story, but it was actually first published in 1951 and the author was actually a prisoner in Stalag Luft III at the time of the escape.  It might be fair to describe this as a novelization, so you have to bear this in mind when reading it.  It’s also not entirely clear what Brickhill’s actual involvement in the escape was, or how he managed to do his research for the book.

But, assuming this is a generally accurate account, it is a thrilling read.  Because you’ve seen the film so many times (every christmas!), it’s easy to take for granted what these men achieved.  But, if you stop for a moment and think, it’s truly staggering; the tunnelling alone is incredible, but when you take in to account everything, then it’s truly heroic.  There is part of my mind that almost refuses to believe it happened.  The ingenuity shown by these officers was remarkable and the way they were able to produce perfect forged documents, civilian clothing and tools, from nothing, is enough to make you proud to be British.  I have no doubt that if this were to happen today then it could not be replicated, people today just aren’t skilled enough.

Coincidentally, the film was shown on Sky HD a few days after I finished reading this, and, of course, I watched it.  It’s actually impressive how faithful it is to the book, other than the whole Steve McQueen part of it.  In light of the book, it’s only now that I realise how tacked on McQueen’s scenes feel.

As I was now getting towards the end of the month, I wanted to pick a book that I had a good chance of finishing, so I chose Out of the Ordinary (F.C.) by Jon Ronson.  I’d read, and loved, Ronson’s previous books, Them and The Men Who Stare at Goats, but, for some reason, this book was on and off my wishlist.  But then I saw it in Barnardo’s and of course I bought it, and I’m very glad I did.  If Them and Goats were about large scale weirdness, this collection of articles for The Guardian is about the oddness of everyday life.  Part 1 details exploits from Ronson’s own life and is hilarious.  Part 2 is a little more serious, as it deals with topics like the vaguely sinister Alpha course and the trial of Jonathan King, but is no less compelling.  My only criticism of the book is that it is too short, and I don’t say that very often.

Books Acquired

Articles of Faith by Russell Brand – The Works Outlet – This is a collection of Russell’s writing about football.  It is one of those hardback books (RRP 15.99), that seems squeezed in to the format to make money at christmas.  I saw it in ‘The Works Outlet’ at Cheshire Oaks a while back and thought about picking it up because I quite like Russell.  The reduced price was £4.99 and this still seemed too expensive for what it was.  This time that I went in and it was reduced further to 99p, which has to be considered a bargain.

The Teachings of Don Carlos by Victor Sanchez – Bookmooch – Earlier in the year, I bought, and read, all of Grant Morrison’s The Invisibles, and got a little bit obsessed by it.  It’s highly recommended.  I also bought Anarchy For The Masses, a guide to the series.  It’s the kind of series where a guide definitely helps.  In the back of this book is a reading list compiled from recommendations given by Morrison.  The Teachings of Don Carlos is one of those books, and I have no idea what it is about.

The Golden Notebook by Doris Lessing – Barnardo’s Charity Shop  -  This went on my wishlist when I saw that Lessing had won the Nobel prize for literature and I was a bit disgusted that I’d never heard of her.  This seems to be her best known work.

The Grass is Singing by Doris Lessing – Barnardo’s Charity Shop – This wasn’t on my wishlist but I couldn’t help but buy it, it seemed like fate.

A Room With a View by E.M. Forster – Barnardo’s Charity Shop – Well, it was 3 books for £1 and I had to find something to go with my previous two finds.  This seems to be a ‘classic’, so I got it.

Books Given Away On Bookmooch

I Choose To Live by Sabine Dardenne – Borders? –  This is the autobiography of a young Belgian woman who was held captive by a notorious paedophile for 80 days, when she was 12-years old.  Now, I hate to say this under the circumstances, but I thought the book was really boring.  Does that make me a bad person?

Turning Thirty by Mike Gayle – My ex – I don’t quite know what Mike Gayle’s novels are.  Are they chick-lit written by a man, are they bloke-lit (if that even exists), or are they something else?  I’ve read a few of his books and they’re actually pretty enjoyable and a pleasant way to spend a few hours.  I just don’t think I’d ever be motivated to re-read one.  I can’t remember that this was about exactly, but I’d guess it was about a man turning thirty.

Result

Books Read 5 – Books Acquired 5, result – a draw.

I really hoped for my first win this month, but it wasn’t to be.  Things were definitely scuppered by ’3 books for £1′.  Damn those charity shop bargains…. well, I don’t really damn them, I bloody love them!  Fingers crossed for a win next month.