Mel C > Recent Status Updates

I really hope the prose doesn't get in the way. "...keeping an eye on the children's ascension into the bus"... "She administered to her telephone". The word selection in places feels contrived, like it's trying to be too clever. It's pulling me out of the story.

My progress so far has been, "ok... ok... ok... WHAT THE HELL THAT IS DISTURBING WHAT'S GOING ON"

Oh man. Yes.

This is shit. Is this a good author? Maybe I just don't like this style. No, this is just shit writing. 10 pages in: "Her breasts shook with the force of her heartbeat." Give me a break. I've never seen a breast move from a heartbeat. Nothing rings true. No dialogue, no descriptions, nothing. What a crock of shit.

I may be way off track here but so far this is reading like a really dark Wes Anderson movie. I love it. So vivid.

"Granted: I'm an inmate in a mental institution; my keeper watches me, scarcely let's me out of his sight, for there's a peephole in the door, and my keeper's eye is the shade of brown that can't see through the blue-eyed types like me." oo.

I dunno. I seem to take ages reading each page. Weird flow.

'You oughtn't to ever do anything too long.' 'No. We were up there too long.' 'Too damn long,' John said. 'It's no good doing a thing too long.' Can't decide whether Hemingway is soothing-repetitive or annoying-repetitive... I'm on the fence... leaning toward soothing.

Good old men.

Even though I've just had to sit through two pages describing a nose, and the longest non-sentence sentence in the history of the written word, A SENTENCE THAT SAYS NOTHING AND GOES NOWHERE, I will persevere. At least for a few more pages.

Salman always shits me with his superfluous-ness... his superfluition... his... big word bloat. "Look at me writing the woooords *muppet arms*!" But going to give him another try.

Time for a re-read

Is it weird that I never want this book to end? That once I finish it I want to start it again? I want every line to be imprinted on my memory. I never want to forget it.

"To destroy a man is difficult, almost as difficult as to create one: it has not been easy, nor quick, but you Germans have succeeded. Here we are, docile under your gaze, from our side you have nothing more to fear, no acts of violence, no words of defiance, not even a look of judgement."

*weeps*

This is definitely a book to read slowly, pondering the calm display of monstrosity line by cold and hungry line. Thoroughly engrossed.

My life's starting to hurt which always leads to self indulgent pity. I can think of no better way to get over myself than delve back into Primo Levi's beautiful eye.

Oh god, this hurts my heart.

Well, I'm still waiting for the gore and gruesomeness which is often mentioned in reviews of this book... Something's missing. Not really resonating with the style of writing so far.

This is a slow read. My brain needs to acclimatize to the verbosity. I almost need to read each sentence twice because I feel like I'm missing hidden grains of wisdom.

...come to think of it, quite similar to my experience with high school chemistry books.

Caught the first ep in the mini series and adored it, so decided to grab the book. Chapter one: a little underwhelming... oh dear.

A lesson in suspense, even when the outcome is known. Hnnng.

No one escapes Wilde's wicked wit... I get the impression this whole novel is a 'read between the lines' job...

Wilde quotes all over the joint

"It was as if man existed only to transmit violence to ensure its domain is eternal. For the world did not change, this violence had always existed and would never be eradicated, men would die under the boot and fists and horror of other men until the end of time, and all human history was a history of violence."

I either have to plough through or pause. Either way, tears. The horror.

Whoah. Yes.

An ex-breakfast radio presenter for nova? She's lost me already.