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Rapids
Paperback, as pictured (f-P)
256 pages, Paperback
Published January 1, 2005
4 people are currently reading
62 people want to read
About the author
Tim Parks
121 books585 followersBorn in Manchester in 1954, Tim Parks grew up in London and studied at Cambridge and Harvard. In 1981 he moved to Italy where he has lived ever since, raising a family of three children. He has written fourteen novels including Europa (shortlisted for the Booker prize), Destiny, Cleaver, and most recently In Extremis.
During the nineties he wrote two, personal and highly popular accounts of his life in northern Italy, Italian Neighbours and An Italian Education. These were complemented in 2002 by A Season with Verona, a grand overview of Italian life as seen through the passion of football. Other non-fiction works include a history of the Medici bank in 15th century Florence, Medici Money and a memoir on health, illness and meditation, Teach Us to Sit Still. In 2013 Tim published his most recent non-fiction work on Italy, Italian Ways, on and off the rails from Milan to Palermo.
Aside from his own writing, Tim has translated works by Moravia, Calvino, Calasso, Machiavelli and Leopardi; his critical book, Translating Style is considered a classic in its field. He is presently working on a translation of Cesare Pavese's masterpiece, The Moon and the Bonfires.
A regular contributor to the New York Review of Books and the London Review of Books, his many essays are collected in Hell and Back, The Fighter, A Literary Tour of Italy, and Life and Work.
Over the last five years he has been publishing a series of blogs on writing, reading, translation and the like in the New York Review online. These have recently been collected in Where I am Reading From and Pen in Hand.
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Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews
May 16, 2021
Maybe after three books I loved by Parks, a stinker was inevitable.
That said, maybe like Tim Winton on surfing, Parks is good on rapids. But I liked reading Winton on surfing, whereas I can't say I enjoyed this book in any way.
Yet I finished it. I kept thinking I'd get it. But I didn't.
NB: my esteem for Parks has not been dented, I have half a dozen others on the to-read-shelf in the loungeroom and finish them I will.
That said, maybe like Tim Winton on surfing, Parks is good on rapids. But I liked reading Winton on surfing, whereas I can't say I enjoyed this book in any way.
Yet I finished it. I kept thinking I'd get it. But I didn't.
NB: my esteem for Parks has not been dented, I have half a dozen others on the to-read-shelf in the loungeroom and finish them I will.
November 2, 2016
A group of unknowns take a white water rafting trip down a river in Italy. Drama ensues. Whether or not you enjoy said drama will depend on whether or not you "buy" the characters, sympathise with them, care about them or care about the story. For me, none of this matters. Tim Parks is one of those writers I like for their writing. It´s something hard to describe but I like reading his books just for the things he does within them.
He´s a European writer, not an English writer, for me - not in the sense of nationality, but in what he tries to do with his books. There´s some sense of experimentation going on which is not necessarily "look at me!" author tricks and idosyncrasies, or showing off to the literary critics, but what I see as an assumption or assimilation of a freer, less rigid style of writing and telling a story. He doesn´t try to fudge things to confuse the reader and take the "this is too hard for you mortals to understand" route (an American and very London failing), but instead takes you through the story from different angles; makes you work a little with the text, with the words.
I´m all for more of this. There´s enough of the other crap.
He´s a European writer, not an English writer, for me - not in the sense of nationality, but in what he tries to do with his books. There´s some sense of experimentation going on which is not necessarily "look at me!" author tricks and idosyncrasies, or showing off to the literary critics, but what I see as an assumption or assimilation of a freer, less rigid style of writing and telling a story. He doesn´t try to fudge things to confuse the reader and take the "this is too hard for you mortals to understand" route (an American and very London failing), but instead takes you through the story from different angles; makes you work a little with the text, with the words.
I´m all for more of this. There´s enough of the other crap.
November 16, 2009
I'm sure this novel was aiming for something deep. Psychological conflict, small groups of strangers in dangerous situation yada yada. Whatever it was, it never got there.
The writing is okay, if a bit shallow, and the bokk starts out okay. We get to know the group of canoeists meeting for the summer holidays, learn a little about every character, the usual. Good set-up, if it were leading somewhere.
Then a father and a daughter arrive, and it becomes clear immediately that the father and the female team leader will have a thing (or not, but he will want to). A little obvious, but still okay. Later, we find out about the problems about the two team leaders who are in a relationship. Still okay.
While the father is fighting to improve his canoeing skills by overcoming his own problems in life, the teamleader (girl) tries to comit suicide.
Woah, wait? How did that happen?
Exactly, I have no idea why that happened. I can imagine the story that would lead to her suicide attempt, but sadly, it's not in this book. I'm just not very convinced by the events the author is describing.
Other things that bothered me were
- the political component (both team leaders are political left-wing, taking part in anti-globalization protests), because again, the author kind of leaves you hanging. Does he want to make a statement about this? Is it just to show the difference to the world the father (banker) is living in? What's the point?
- the many many sexual references. Okay, so there are teenagers, but really, even teenagers don't make sexual comments ALL the time. Also, because the book focuses on the father, but many of the sexual comments occur in connection with his daughter, they seem rather inappropriate. And I'm far from being prude. It just seemed to superflous, and sex can be such a powerful tool, why use it in a way that annoys the readers (unless that was intentional, and if it was, I completely missed the point anyway, so I rather doubt it.)
Altogether an easy to read book that people whose library consists mostly of Stephen King and David Baldacci (or whatever his name is) will probably enjoy. I didn't.
The writing is okay, if a bit shallow, and the bokk starts out okay. We get to know the group of canoeists meeting for the summer holidays, learn a little about every character, the usual. Good set-up, if it were leading somewhere.
Then a father and a daughter arrive, and it becomes clear immediately that the father and the female team leader will have a thing (or not, but he will want to). A little obvious, but still okay. Later, we find out about the problems about the two team leaders who are in a relationship. Still okay.
While the father is fighting to improve his canoeing skills by overcoming his own problems in life, the teamleader (girl) tries to comit suicide.
Woah, wait? How did that happen?
Exactly, I have no idea why that happened. I can imagine the story that would lead to her suicide attempt, but sadly, it's not in this book. I'm just not very convinced by the events the author is describing.
Other things that bothered me were
- the political component (both team leaders are political left-wing, taking part in anti-globalization protests), because again, the author kind of leaves you hanging. Does he want to make a statement about this? Is it just to show the difference to the world the father (banker) is living in? What's the point?
- the many many sexual references. Okay, so there are teenagers, but really, even teenagers don't make sexual comments ALL the time. Also, because the book focuses on the father, but many of the sexual comments occur in connection with his daughter, they seem rather inappropriate. And I'm far from being prude. It just seemed to superflous, and sex can be such a powerful tool, why use it in a way that annoys the readers (unless that was intentional, and if it was, I completely missed the point anyway, so I rather doubt it.)
Altogether an easy to read book that people whose library consists mostly of Stephen King and David Baldacci (or whatever his name is) will probably enjoy. I didn't.
September 30, 2015
I didn't think I would finish this book. To begin with, it bored me livid. Too many characters, interacting with no apparent reasoning, no plot to speak of ... too many of the younger characters also annoyed me; childish, too similar. Even some of the adults were hard to distinguish against. You often thought to yourself: which is that one again?
It isn't until quite far into the book that you realise there isn't a plot as such, more of an interaction between characters, and what occurs during the rapid rafting week they meet up for. When you can accept that you are just following the tensions of the young and old, the widowed and the problematic relationships, you begin to relax into the story more. Especially when most of the characters bugger off home and you are left with a more central figure to follow.
In hindsight, this isn't a bad novel, just a poorly conceived one. It is difficult to read at first because of the lengthy paragraphs, the lack of speech marks to distinguish dialogue.
I think it deserves another read to truly contemplate what Parks was trying to do. The whole green peace, look after the world, global warming themes are interesting, especially as he covers every base - not siding with any argument.
It isn't until quite far into the book that you realise there isn't a plot as such, more of an interaction between characters, and what occurs during the rapid rafting week they meet up for. When you can accept that you are just following the tensions of the young and old, the widowed and the problematic relationships, you begin to relax into the story more. Especially when most of the characters bugger off home and you are left with a more central figure to follow.
In hindsight, this isn't a bad novel, just a poorly conceived one. It is difficult to read at first because of the lengthy paragraphs, the lack of speech marks to distinguish dialogue.
I think it deserves another read to truly contemplate what Parks was trying to do. The whole green peace, look after the world, global warming themes are interesting, especially as he covers every base - not siding with any argument.
December 14, 2011
The basic plot is as old as the hills; put a disparate group of people together and see how they interact. This book sets the action in a group of kayakers in the Tirol. But the ending is a let-down, without credibility.
Parks writes in an abbreviated and staccato style, without punctuating conversation, which could be irritating but works.
Parks writes in an abbreviated and staccato style, without punctuating conversation, which could be irritating but works.
June 26, 2015
This is not the kind of book I would normally choose to read but I had finished the 2 books I took with me on holiday and finding a book in Greece written in English is rather hard to find.I very nearly gave up on it, but after 150 pages the storyline started to improve and I quite enjoyed the rest of it.Hence giving it 3 stars rather than 2.
February 28, 2016
No speech marks and not defined by paragraphs so not the easiest to define narrative and speech. Too many characters introduced with very little definition of them so the minor characters were very forgettable and that detracted from the main players until late on in the book.
Readable but not compelling.
Readable but not compelling.
February 26, 2020
I thought the blurb on the jacket was a bit misleading, but I really enjoyed this book. A mixed group of people goes on a kayaking trip. The fast-paced novel explores both the water adventurers and the mental musings of some of the characters, as well as how being in the same group affects them. Good psychological portraits in a very subtle way. As some of the characters are dealing with loss and misunderstandings, there is a lot of stream of consciousness in the book but it's in no way too lengthy. As far as the writing goes, despite the lack of speech marks for dialogues and jumping from past to present tense the book reads well. I enjoyed the unusual style very much. I took one star away because I thought the ending was somewhat week. I highly recommend this book and will be reading more of Tim Parks.
November 7, 2018
What a fabulous book, and the perfect antidote to the last book I read, also based around water, but which I am choosing not to publicise because it was so awful! The story weaves around a group of varying ages and abilities, and who are all keen to kayak along a river in Italy. I know nothing about this sport, although have been in a canoe, and have been white water rafting, and after reading this book I am unlikely to take it up, but nevertheless this was a fantastic read. One of those books you try to savour rather than gobble up in one go, even though you don't want to put it down.
January 23, 2019
The back-cover blurb and endorsement quotes do this novel a grave disservice. This is not a high octane thriller but an exploration of love, loss and grief. Once I stopped waiting for the action to start, I could settle into the story and enjoy it for what it was.
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January 9, 2026tbc
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حورية المطبخ |
اكلات عربية |
طريقة عمل التوفي المنزلي
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حورية المطبخ |
اكلات عربية |
طريقة عمل التوفي المنزلي
March 12, 2016
Review: Rapids by Tim Parks.
The story was an adventure for six adults and nine adolescents coming together on a white water kayaking experience in Italy from a swelling river below the melting glaciers from above. With a twisting surface and threatening undertows, the rapid river was a hazard thrill to those who live to feel the rush of risk. Tim Parks also was creative enough to describe the harrowing white water ride not only through the landscape of the Italian Alps, but also through the expressions of quirks and eddies of the human heart.
This group of people were on a Holiday vacation led by two licensed instructors learning how to allow the river to safely navigate them down through rough terrain, learning capsizing, spinning in the eddies, jarring around boulders and tree branches and still being able to have fun for the thrill. Just before dark they would carry their kayaks back to camp and sit around chatting of what happened that day and what lessons did they learn.
At these moments in the story Tim Parks weaves the personalities, secret intentions, unrewarded ambitions and petty arrogance of the characters to make it not only an analogy of social and psychological but also a political novel. The two instructors, Clive and Michael are political idealist and estranged lovers which soon transformed an innocent pleasure trip into something darker, and eventually chilling. Than there is Vince who comes with his eighteen year old daughter Louise who he feels is pulling away from him because of the bereavement of her mother, his wife. The entire group had issues but took this trip to get their lives back on track and to find resolution before they went home.
Parks embedded messages to the reader throughout the story on various issues as; global warming (the glaciers melting), three men handcuffed together as a human bomb in Berlin (terrorist threats), a kayaker from the group attempts suicide over the falls (mental insecurities) and teenagers drinking and having sexual encounters ( bad teenage behavior). Among reading all about white water rafting which was really interesting and enjoyable the reader also gets the messages that Tim Parks wants his book to deliver….
The story was an adventure for six adults and nine adolescents coming together on a white water kayaking experience in Italy from a swelling river below the melting glaciers from above. With a twisting surface and threatening undertows, the rapid river was a hazard thrill to those who live to feel the rush of risk. Tim Parks also was creative enough to describe the harrowing white water ride not only through the landscape of the Italian Alps, but also through the expressions of quirks and eddies of the human heart.
This group of people were on a Holiday vacation led by two licensed instructors learning how to allow the river to safely navigate them down through rough terrain, learning capsizing, spinning in the eddies, jarring around boulders and tree branches and still being able to have fun for the thrill. Just before dark they would carry their kayaks back to camp and sit around chatting of what happened that day and what lessons did they learn.
At these moments in the story Tim Parks weaves the personalities, secret intentions, unrewarded ambitions and petty arrogance of the characters to make it not only an analogy of social and psychological but also a political novel. The two instructors, Clive and Michael are political idealist and estranged lovers which soon transformed an innocent pleasure trip into something darker, and eventually chilling. Than there is Vince who comes with his eighteen year old daughter Louise who he feels is pulling away from him because of the bereavement of her mother, his wife. The entire group had issues but took this trip to get their lives back on track and to find resolution before they went home.
Parks embedded messages to the reader throughout the story on various issues as; global warming (the glaciers melting), three men handcuffed together as a human bomb in Berlin (terrorist threats), a kayaker from the group attempts suicide over the falls (mental insecurities) and teenagers drinking and having sexual encounters ( bad teenage behavior). Among reading all about white water rafting which was really interesting and enjoyable the reader also gets the messages that Tim Parks wants his book to deliver….
November 4, 2016
I was somewhat disappointed in this, as I'd just read Parks book about Italian train travel. This book is oddlyw ritten, without quotation marks when characters are speaking. This was mildly distracting and confusing at times. At the risk of sounding a bit idiotic, there were a lot of characters to keep trck of, most of them minor. The primary story is about Vince, a banker whose wife died six months previously. It turns out he begins to question his very planned-out cautious life while on the trip. He ends up resigning from his job and helping the young super-attractive (of course!) Italian guide with her business. It just all seemed a bit silly and a nice middle-aged man's fantasy. That said, I will give Parks more chances. I learned a bit about the Southern Tyrol and the village of Sand in Taufers. I looked it up online and it is very beautiful.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 30, 2014
A lot of characters to follow, and all of them talked about at the same time and in the same context. Ultimately the book seems really to be about three people, perhaps even only two, but this realization only comes at the very end, making one wonder why one had to follow the travails of a whole group for 80% of it. Parks tries to put flesh on the central characters although at times it feels as though the same characteristics are being drawn out repeatedly to no obvious end. The subtext of global capitalism contrasted with nature is fine but doesn't sustain.
March 24, 2011
Learned a lot about white water kayaking. Musings about what to do with a life.
November 20, 2011
If you were into white water kayaking this would be the novel for you. Aside from that the plot was a little thin and the main characters not believable. It was OK.
January 22, 2016
Fast pace informative exciting style. VERY satisfying read.
Displaying 1 - 19 of 19 reviews