ManBookering discussion

A discussion thread for Bricks and Mortar by Clemens Meyer.

The first book of the Man-Booker that I gave up on after reading 25%. His writing style just did not appeal to me and the subject matter was boring because of the way it was delivered. Curious to her what other's think of it.

I am just over halfway through. It is not a book I would have picked up apart from it being long listed: it's not a subject that interests me. But I find the writing style compelling. It is hard work because of it being multiple stories interwoven and each of them told non-chronologically, but it is almost hypnotic.

Hypnotic like putting you to sleep lol

Hypnotic like being on drugs! I think I saw the word "hallucinatory" in one review.

Neil wrote: "Hypnotic like being on drugs!"

Cool maybe that was my problem. . . not enough drugs.

There's an interesting note from the translator here: http://lovegermanbooks.blogspot.co.uk....

It explains some of the decisions she made and some of the changes she made when translating to English.

I've just come across a character saying "An arse, an arse, my kingdom for an arse." That works in English because arse sounds a bit like horse. But I can't see that that phrase could have been in the original. Perhaps another German quote that works as a pun in German but not in English has been replaced with this one that work in English but not in German?

Was so glad when I started reading The Essex Serpent. . .after struggling with Bricks and Mortar, I felt my body relax into a relaxing afternoon of exquisite writing.

I've just finished this. My review is here: Bricks and Mortar

It's only the second book I've read from the long list, but I think it should make the short list. Very powerfully written as long as you like multiple interwoven story lines that each jump around in time with quite a bit of stream-of-consciousness writing thrown into the mix: it's not a simple book to read, but it is rewarding if you stick with it.