Review: Enoch Soames: A Memory of the Eighteen-Nineties

Enoch Soames: A Memory of the Eighteen-Nineties by Max Beerbohm
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I find it difficult to review this without spoilers. It is a very short story involving 19th century writers, time travel, and the devil. Excellent story and outcome. If you get the chance you should read it.


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Review: Sugli specchi e altri saggi. Il segno, la rappresentazione, l'illusione, l'immagine

Sugli specchi e altri saggi. Il segno, la rappresentazione, l'illusione, l'immagine by Umberto Eco
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In this age of online shock-value headlines, conspiracy theories and general lack of critical thinking, it's a breath of fresh air to read essays by Umberto Eco, which provide the opposite.

I must say, however, that while the first essay on mirrors was excellent, some of the others dragged on a bit and were a tad repetitive (which makes sense, being a collection of articles, essays, etc.). I also enjoyed his thoughts on Dumas' Count of Montecristo (I had no idea he had been paid by the word).


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Review: A True Novel

A True Novel by Minae Mizumura
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm sorry. The first thing you hear about this book is how it is a "remaking" of Wuthering Heights. I'm not overly pedantic, and I don't even remember every detail of Wuthering Heights. And even if I did, I fully understand that a Japanese author who lives in New York in the 20th century (and has original thoughts) would write a very different novel.

Still, the one thing that I remember (and that stuck with me) about Wuthering heights was that it was supernatural. There was a literal ghost knocking at Heathcliff's window.

I understand this novel may have many other elements, but couldn't we just as well say it's a "re-imagining" of The Great Gatsby? (Taro starts off poor, becomes a rich well-known man, then disappears from public life). Actually, in a way it was more reminiscent of À la recherche du temps perdu by Proust, since it discusses a changing Japan and the passage of time, like Proust discussed his personal memories and a changing France.

Anyway, again, not to be overly pedantic, but I guess I was looking forward to an equivalent.

I'd say this is a great story about changing Japan and a gravitation toward the US (and back). There is also a story of star-crossed love spanning the entirety of the novel. But mainly, the novel is divided into two: the "I" novel and the "True" novel.


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Review: Beauty Looks Down on Me

Beauty Looks Down on Me by Eun Hee-kyung
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I had issues with pretty much every one of these short stories, but I'm still giving it 5 stars. Mainly because I think it's my fault.

Each one of these stories seems to stem from some research. In other words, I feel like each story made me smarter, whether it be regarding weight loss, time and memory, or Russian cosmonauts.

However, don't expect closure as such from any of these stories. The proverbial quest is the journey itself (or whatever the expression is).

- Beauty Looks Down on Me: A great story about a man and his weight loss
- Discovery of Solitude: The oddest story, probably, but full of nostalgia.
- Weather and life: A perfectly normal girl is actually quite resilient, although I'm not sure she ever figures it ou
- Map addict: Seems to show the juxtaposition between routine and adventure. A guy joins a hike in the Rockies.
- Praising Doubt: A woman is meeting a man with her same name for a date, but his twin brother shows up instead. This is just the beginning of it.
- Yuri Gagarin’s Blue Star: My favorite story. A man stuck in a comfortable routine receives an odd email that arouses memories. I wish this had a conclusion. I really felt it left me hanging, but it was great.




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Review: Man's Search for Meaning

Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor E. Frankl
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The first part discusses his life in a concentration camp, while the second discusses psychology, and how Meaning gives purpose in life.

Both parts are extremely poignant and educational. I didn't think I'd find much new in either section, given how long ago it was written, but I was wrong on both counts.

Well worth the read.


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Review: The City and Its Uncertain Walls

The City and Its Uncertain Walls by Haruki Murakami
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

If, like me, you read this book right after having read "Hard-boiled wonderland and the end of the world", you will be very confused at the beginning. I couldn't tell if this was a prequel, a sequel, or another story from the same universe, or a retelling of the same story.

Luckily Murakami provides an explanation at the very end, so I won't expound on it.

The story itself wasn't among my favorites. Based on his explanation, I tend to agree with another reviewer in that this was something Murakami felt he had to get out of him and do correctly. Let's hope he got it out of his system. I enjoy all of Murakami's worlds, but I've spent enough time in this particular one.


Still, a solid 4 stars.



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Review: Dark Shadows: Inside the Secret World of Kazakhstan

Dark Shadows: Inside the Secret World of Kazakhstan by Joanna Lillis
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was quite interested in reading this, since I know next to nothing about Kazakhstan, and the book does not disappoint.

It has an interesting format, focusing first on the former dictator, followed by a somewhat 'social studies' analysis of Kazakhstan (which, between the Turkic, Russian, Chinese and Muslim links, is singular). The third part is a collection of human interest stories.

I confess I expected more of a history of the region from beginning to end. This was probably a much more entertaining format, but I'm not sure I prefer it.

Regardless, this is probably the definitive book for those interested in learning something about Kazakhstan.



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