This week all book geeks should catch up on their book reviews. If they’re following Weekly Geeks, that is ;) This specific recurring question is how I came to know of Weekly Geeks so I can’t refuse, can I?
Now before I go on, MY QUESTION TO YOU is: which one would you like me to write about? And what question(s) about the book should I answer in my post?
So, here are some of the books that I still need to review…
Crossroads (Zo God het wil / Come Dio Comanda) by Niccolò Ammaniti (2006)
I bought this book because of a very positive review in Simon Mayo’s Book Panel. Great podcast to listen to btw! Crossroads was compared to Cormac McCarthy’s The Road (but said to have more humor), and to movies by the Coen Brothers… I finished it recently during my holiday on Madeira. I’m waiting for Mr Gnoe to read it because I would really like to discuss whether this is a good book or if it will be thought another The Shadow of the Wind in a while…
The Native (De inboorling) by Stevo Akkerman (2009)
In 1883 a Colonial Exhibition was held in Amsterdam, and real people from the Dutch colonies were part of it. De inboorling is a novel about a black Dutchman who, at a time when the Rijksmuseum is planning an exhibition in remembrance of the centennial of this event, discovers his great grandfather was one of the people exhibited. An interesting ethical subject for a museum employee like me! I bought this book at Teylers Museum, where an exhibition about exploitation of humans in exhibitions and art fairs just closed (De exotische mens).
The End of Mr. Y by Scarlett Thomas (2006)
I am really embarrassed that I haven’t reviewed The End of Mr. Y yet, because it was given to my as a RABCK by Rapturina: a Random Act of Bookcrossing Kindness. And I have a personal rule that I always review bookcrossing books that are sent to me, either as book ring, ray or rabck. Also I can’t send this book on the road again until I’ve made a journal entry about it! This novel about books and time traveling was an appropriate read when I had the flu ;)
South of the Border, West of the Sun (Ten zuiden van de grens, ten westen van de zon / Kokkyo no minami, Taiyo no nishi) by Haruki Murakami (1998)
Haruki Murakami is one of my few favourite authors. Some fans read all his books in one continuous flow, others (like me) like to take it slow and read a book every once in a while. Savour it, so to say :) South of the Border is my 9th book of this author since I started with The Wind-up Bird Chronicles in 2004 and I read it together with Elsje, who’s a Murakami addict of the other type ;)
BTW Did you know there’s a new Murakami novel coming soon? It’s called 1Q84 and has been for sale in Japan since the end of May. It’s a great succes already. Ha! Another 1000 pages to enjoy soon ;) Erm, soon? It will be published in Holland in 2011…
Anyway, here’s a bonus for all Murakami lovers in suspense of the new novel: 1984 by the Eurythmics on YouTube. Why? Q = kyū= 9 > 1984!
ETA: in the end I reviewed The End of Mr. Y based on your questions!
Graasland 
20 reacties
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zaterdag 13 juni 2009 bij 19:04
Sandra
I’m interested in The Native. Does it deal with museums and exibitions or mostly with the protaganist’s personal feelings? Does any of the story takes place outside of the Netherlands, or in the past? By that I mean the grandfather’s time, I realize the story is set in the 1980s.Which language did you read it in and which language was it written in? Just general information, I don’t like to know details of a story before I read it. I like things to surprise me. Thank you in advance. I’m glad I found your site through Weekly Geeks.
zaterdag 13 juni 2009 bij 19:20
gnoegnoe
I hear ya! I also like to stay in the dark about details of a story — I usually don’t even read the blurb of a book! :) Will get back to your questions in a while…
zaterdag 13 juni 2009 bij 19:07
gautami tripathy
Tell us about the Murakami book. What is it about? What do you think of it. I would like to read it.
WG: Review Catch up
zaterdag 13 juni 2009 bij 19:25
Becky
I’m curious about Crossroads. Did you like it? Would you recommend it? Do you think the comparisons were fair ones? What would you compare it to? Who would most enjoy this book?
zaterdag 13 juni 2009 bij 19:51
Gavin
I am interested in “Crossroads” and “The Native” and can’t wait for your reviews. Did you enjoy them? If so, why?
The premise of “The Native” reminds me of a book titled “Give Me My Father’s Body” by Kenn Harper, an intense and interesting read.
zaterdag 13 juni 2009 bij 20:06
rikkiscraps
I’e onyl read “wild sheep chase” by Murakami, so I’d go for his book. The storyline sounds very interesting, what with romance, settling for someone else and then meeting again. Happy weekend!
zaterdag 13 juni 2009 bij 21:00
Trisha
Regarding The End of Mr. Y, what do you think the novel is saying about the unconscious mind? Do you think the book carried its weight in philosophy or was it more sci-fi?
I’ve heard of the book before and thought about buying it, but I haven’t gotten around to it yet.
zondag 14 juni 2009 bij 00:40
uncertainprinciples
Which one would we like you to write about? Can we be demanding, and say all? ;)
Seriously though, I’ve read a couple of books by Murakami, and have really enjoyed reading his work (read Norwegian Wood and What I Talk About When I Talk About Running). If you’ve read any of his other works, how does ‘South of the Border, East of the Sun’ compare?
Also, ‘til I read your blurb, I hadn’t heard of Crossroads. Have you read The Road? If yes, do you think it’s a fair comparison?
zondag 14 juni 2009 bij 03:56
Maree
I’d like to know more about The End of Mr Y – love the cover.
Happy Weekly Geeks :)
zondag 14 juni 2009 bij 05:40
Weekly Geeks v9.22: Review Catch-Up | Literary Escapism
[…] Gnoe 7. Becky’s Book Reviews 8. Sandra (Fresh Ink Books) 9. gautami tripathy 10. […]
zondag 14 juni 2009 bij 12:28
Kristen
I’m interested in your review of the Murakami novel. My brother is really into these books but I’ve not read any of them. Why have they captured so much adoration?
zondag 14 juni 2009 bij 14:12
Bart
What, did you think about the-story-within-a-story of Mr Y himself?
zondag 14 juni 2009 bij 15:09
Louise
I am very interested in hearing about the Murakami-book. Also, could you give us your opinion as why he has become such a bestselling author? I find his writing to be very convoluted and haven’t been able to enjoy anything by him at all, although I am a huge fan of Paul Auster, to whom Murakami is often compared.
Louise
maandag 15 juni 2009 bij 08:50
pussreboots
Yes… I’m jazzed about 1Q84. It will have to onto my even longer to be read pile. My post is here.
maandag 15 juni 2009 bij 10:03
Dreamybee
Let’s hear about The End of Mr. Y so that you can send it on it’s way! I’ve never participated in a RABCK or anything similar. Have you done this often, and do you enjoy seeing the journey the book has taken?
maandag 15 juni 2009 bij 12:56
Gnoe
Thanks all! I’m afraid I don’t have the time to completely review all books, no matter how much I would want to oblige you! I’ll decide what to do in a while… Review one of them or do a short ‘Q&A’ with your questions about all of them. Maybe I’ll draw a straw about it! :P
maandag 15 juni 2009 bij 21:18
Eva
What did you think of Ammaniti’s writing style? I have another book by him on my TBR list, but I want to make sure he’s a good writer! :)
The only Murakami book I’ve read was Norwegian Wood, which I really enjoyed. I’m a fan of magical realism in general; do you think I’d enjoy South of the Border, West of the Sun? Why or why not?
dinsdag 16 juni 2009 bij 02:21
softdrink
How does South of the Border, West of the Sun compare to Murakami’s other works?
dinsdag 16 juni 2009 bij 14:14
elma
Ooh, you’ve got a whole literary discussion group going in here – no wonder you don’t have so much time for the boekgrrls recently!
donderdag 18 juni 2009 bij 19:12
Jackie (Farm Lane Books)
I loved The End of Mr Y. Did you understand all the science it contained, and if not, did it matter?