When I started this blog I thought I’d write short book reviews, I quickly found that although I can talk about books for hours I suck at writing down my opinion about them so I’ve pretty much let it go. Too bad because I wish I could write something that reflects how much I loved Self by Yann Martel. When he won the Booker prize I looked at Life of Pi a few times, considered buying it but the subject just didnt interest me all that much. Since he lives in Montral I did want to read something by him and The Facts Behind the Helsinki Roccamatios caught my eye although I read it in french, the only version I found at the time (nothing against french, I just like reading the original versions). I loved that one too, or first which is why I bought Self. Now the very next time I’m in a bookstore, I’ll be getting Life of Pi, still not interested in the subject but I just have to read more.
4 Comments
Interesting that you liked “Self.” I haven’t read it, but it was totally ignored by the reading public. I think many people assumed (as I did) that it was blow-hard navel-gazing. (A first novel named “Self” does not bode well…)
I wasn’t interested in the subject of “Life of Pi” either, but I thoroughly enjoyed it when I read it on the “Rost of Maxus” a few weeks ago.
(http://www.blork.org/blog/2003_05_01_arc.shtml#200357552)
I saw your post but I didnt read it, you did warn of spoilers so I skipped it.
I had the same assumption of self centered-ness and it IS about one character’s life but the discovering of one’s self isnt too in your face. It’s not “I learned this, I’m so great”, very readable. Plus I like the way he writes, just from a pleasure of reading the phrases one after the next.
The facts… is still one of my favourite collections of short stories by anyone. Ever. Especially the story about the vets in DC. I did not warm to Self as much, and I’m saving Pi for the summer canoe trip…
Am reading SELF..and i agree, the pleasure of the phrases….when imagination married expression!