NASIM MARIE JAFRY: ON WRITING, READING and CHRONIC ILLNESS: A Tale For The Time Being, some thoughts

Thursday, 10 October 2013

A Tale For The Time Being, some thoughts

I have only read one of the Man Booker-shortlisted novels and am afraid I was rather underwhelmed. Here is my recent Goodreads review of A Tale for the Time Being by Ruth Ozeki. Even some of those readers who loved the book and gave it 5 stars seemed to find the sections narrated by 'Ruth' to be a little dull. I really was disappointed in this novel but have tried to highlight the positives as well as the negatives - it is always easier to write the negative stuff when talking about a book - or film you - didn't love.

3 comments:

Crafty Green Poet said...: Seems like par for the course, an underwhelming Booker nominated book...; October 13, 2013 3:26 pm
nmj said...: Indeed. And even if I don't like a particular book I can see technically why it might be shortlisted for an award, but not in this case... I just don't get the all the hype about this one! I really was disappointed.; October 13, 2013 4:37 pm
nmj said...: http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b03d67jw/The_Review_Show_Man_Booker_Special/

Just caught up with Review Show, glad I was not being harsh, seems I am not alone in my thoughts.

Am really curious now to see who wins! I love how we all get fired up about book prizes, it is all about a love of reading.; October 15, 2013 11:30 am

Reviews I like

'Stylistically The State of Me is an easy, unpretentious read, peppered with acerbic internalisations that every ME sufferer wants to vocalise to every well-meaning person with a suggestion on how to get better. That said, there is no real bitterness to the book, quite the contrary, and the stories of those surrounding the narrator (nostalgically evoking the 1980s) give it many layers.' Mischa Hiller, author of Sabra Zoo and Shake Off '

'The amazing feat of this novel is to give one a sense of the pain and frustration of this condition, and yet to be bouncing with life, the inner life and the irrepressible psyche of Helen' Elizabeth Baines, author of The Birth Machine

'They say the ending can make or break a book, and the ending of The State of Me is beautifully crafted and uplifting' Lisa Glass, author of Prince Rupert's Teardrop

A remarkable first novel ... word perfect on neurological ME' Tony Britton, Publicity Manager, ME Association

'A really enjoyable read, with a wicked sense of humour... It took a little time to get into, but after a while it was like The West Wing, I was hooked and did not want it to end' John Barrett, MP for Edinburgh West, 3 May 2009

'Nasim writes in spare, measured sentences. The effort is contained and elegant as if the author had to calculate each word, the length of each paragraph before attempting it' Peregrinations blog

'...is it at all possible that your book is more about the destabilising power of love than ME? I don't know how you'll receive this - and I'm not sure how to describe it, either - but the ME, whilst central, is also (I know, this sounds ridiculously contradictory) secondary, a kind of despairing background noise to the main event' Periodic Englishman, writer and blogger

'It is a balanced, non-didactic account of a young person grappling with a dreadful illness. All doctors will benefit from reading The State of Me' NHS blogdoctor

NASIM MARIE JAFRY: ON WRITING, READING and CHRONIC ILLNESS

Thursday, 10 October 2013

A Tale For The Time Being, some thoughts

3 comments:

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