Old Goriot (Honoré de Balzac)

Honoré de Balzac
Old Goriot

An interesting tale of Paris high society in the early 1800s and a young mans attempt to enter it. Alongside an old man watching his two daughter in it from afar. The book is more about the younger man although especially towards the end the older man's story takes precedence somewhat. There is another more sinister character in the thread as all three live in the same run down boarding house. The descriptions of characters and the plot reminds me of Dickens. Although the promiscuity that is taken for granted in Paris is not the same as in London at the time - at least not in fashionable novels. It's a very readable book although at times Balzac does bang on a bit about certain topics in particular the joys and pains of being a father. The English translation of the novel's French title, Le Père Goriot, does not give the double meaning of Père which for this story is much more fatherhood than simply old. It seems like an excellent translation though. The deceit, treachery and selfishness of high Parisien society is a temptation and repulse to the young lad and I won't say which path he decides to take. The ending is tragic and brilliantly described, apart from what I consider a bit too much of the old man's moaning. This is part of a wider series of intertwined stories which I'd be interested in reading although apparently this is the best story of the lot. Thanks to Zayn for putting me onto Balzac.

Great Expectations (Charles Dickens)

Charles Dickens
Great Expectations

A true classic from Dickens which most will know the basic story as Magwitch and Miss Haversham have become near folklore not to mention Pip. Typically Dickens flips between pathos and humour indeed often within the same passage as he has a great way to meld differing emotions. However, overall the story is a very dark one with tinges of light at the edges but those are few. The tragedy of the main characters is especially dark with very little light this perhaps being Dickens' darkest novel. Others are pretty bleak (Bleak House!) but for me the personal tragedy of the main characters is darkest. My edition has the original ending which Dickens was advised was too bleak and I won't give a spoiler as to whether the revised ending is any better. Regardless of the ending(s) the tragedy is in the lost lives of the characters. Next I may try Pickwick Papers as apparently a comedy and also has descriptions of cricket, albeit apparently farcical.

Life of Pi (Yann Martel)

Yann Martel
Life of Pi

A fascinating and very readable story (I've read a couple recently) which I finished in just over a day. Admittedly it was during a heatwave so I wasn't doing much else except for lazing in the garden in a hammock, but even so it's not often I read a book continuously. I've not read this classic novel before and bought it for my dad whilst browsing in Oxfam Bookshop. He liked it but said it has a strange beginning and you're not sure where it's going. That is an understatement and the whole story is pretty strange and increasingly unbelievable. Or is it? And what makes you believe a story? I guess that's the point of the book, and the first part primes you for just that. If all that is a little obtuse go read the book as any further explanation is a spoiler.

Wide-Eyed and Legless (Jeff Connor)

Jeff Connor

Wide-Eyed and Legless: Inside the Tour de France

Very readable, interesting and fascinating account of the British ANC-Halfords team and their exploits in the Tour de France in 1987. Written by a journalist who was invited along with the team and who becomes an integral part of it. A warts and all account by someone who wasn't particularly into cycling. Some very funny stories but also shows the efforts needed to complete the tour as regular members of the peloton. And the darker side of cycling. Am sure that those not into cycling would find it a good read

In Patagonia (Bruce Chatwin)

Bruce Chatwin
In Patagonia

A classic travel book which I read years ago and remember not being as enthusiastic as nearly everyone else seems to be. I travelled through Patagonia and Tierra del Fuego so thought I should give it another go. Chatwin focusses on the people he meets rather than the amazing landscape and flora and fauna which is fair enough but less interesting for me. His descriptions are great when he does do that. The issue I have with the people descriptions is that he goes off into the history of people who have lived in Patagonia often with tenuous links to those he meets. Or he goes in search of people who happened to know past outlaws or rebels. So although interesting I feel that it is a skim through of those people just about the times that they spent in Patagonia. So my view remains the same. Interesting book but not "fascinating" or "exceptional". His descriptions of some of the locals especially the poorer "peons" verge on the bigoted.