Bookworms: Monthly Readings, December 2018

things to do


I started bookworms series in 2015 when I actually had time to finish 3-4 books in one month and so I challenged myself to keep reading and keep posting. My big expectations landed me in failure and disappointment. I could hardly manage such pace back then, not to mention now - with a toddler in my hands, on my head and in my books!

I enjoy reflecting over my readings though and writing a post is a great way to do it. And so I decided to keep the Bookworms series called 'Monthly Readings', no matter how little truth there is to that title. Last year I read 8 books. I read maybe twice as much if I included motherhood related literature, but I figured reflections over 'My child won't eat' or 'Secrets of the baby whisperer' would need a whole new blog.

Without further ado...we all keep in mind that I read these books somewhere in the first half of 2018. Not in December. And yet, the title:

Books I read in December
Max Frei “Crow on the bridge”, “The Earth’s Tuft”;
Gabriel García Márquez “One Hundred Years of Solitude”, “No One Writes to the Colonel”;
Jerome K Jerome Three Men in a Boat”;
Olga Kotrus “The city who ate me”.


Max Frei

Crow on the bridge, The Earth's Tuft 

(cycle of books - Chronicles of Echo)

Country – Russia
Year – 2004/2006
Language – Russian
Genre – Fantasy
Read in Russian



If you are a fantasy reader and always on the hunt for a new great find, dig no more! The universe of Echo, with magicians' orders and never ending adventures, hilariously narrated in several cycles of books will keep you hooked for long. Ooops, my bet. I did not consider available English translations...but I saw some books on Amazon, so there's a start for sure.

I have to be fair and mention that English translation was not praised by the majority of readers who found it plain, lacking the wit of the author's sense of humor. I read the books in Russian and was carried away into lively, obscure, somewhat irrational parallel world inhabited by kind, scintillating and mischievous characters. If I had to find comparisons I would pick Alice in Wonderland. Imagine unimaginable, madcap and making no sense reality which yet lights up your eyes and gently walks you further hand in hand unfolding its bizarre captivating wonders.

The main protagonist and the character who happens to be in the center of whirlwind of events, sir Max, is a charming guy, kindhearted and unpretentious but not without a kick of pungency. He is your ordinary next door fellow who sleeps too much during the day and stays awake at night and one day he accidentally finds an entrance into a parallel world. And it all starts right there...

Some say Max Frei failed to create a detailed, complex and logical universe one expects to find in a good fantasy. I on the contrary enjoyed the lack of logic or order or predictable schemes and mechanisms of a universe as we anticipate it to be. I appreciated the author's manner of narrating, unobtrusive and frolic. It makes you feel a part of a friendly circle where you are always welcomed.

"There is nothing simpler than carrying out the impossible. You just have to imagine what you must do, and turn your mind off completely, When you come to your senses, everything is already behind you."
"The fact is, i don't have a drop of patience. If something goes wrong in my life, I'm not able to wait for an auspicious moment to remedy the situation. I'd rather spoil everything once and for all, as long as it's today, than subject myself to anguished expectation and breathing exercises with an eye towards the future."

Gabriel García Márquez

One Hundred Years of Solitude

Country – Columbia
Year – 1967
Language – Spanish
Genre – Magic Realism
Read in Russian



Do you ever reread books? I do. Some of my favorites I reread regularly. This year I read One Hundred Years of Solitude for the second time and I will get to it again some time. And again.

It was named the landmark, the greatest revelation, one of the "most shaped the world" literature. Gabriel Garcia Marquez won the noble prize for literature not without One Hundred Years of Solitude's contribution.

When it comes to classics and the greatest works of art, music or literature, I have a theory that I simply ought to see, listen and read all of those creations called classics. I am not obliged to take liking in them, but I must get to know them, learn to appreciate them at the very least and to be grateful. They shape the trace of humanity, they give hope and faith.

One critic referred to One Hundred Years of Solitude with this remark:
 "...every page is rammed full of life beyond the capacity of any single reader to absorb." 
It was meant with a negative connotation, but for me it is the biggest asset of the book. Abundance of life in all shapes and forms. Joy and appreciation of life in all shapes and forms, without shame or prejudice. Raw, real, palpitating life, that book is for me.

I will not bother unfolding the plot, as this endeavor is impossible to achieve. Well, if only something like "the story of many generations of the Buendia family".

So, just do it. Just read it.

"There is always something left to love."
"...time was not passing...it was turning in a circle... "
"He really had been through death, but he had returned because he could not bear the solitude."
"He soon acquired the forlorn look that one sees in vegetarians." 

Jerome K Jerome

Three Men in a Boat

Country – United Kingdom
Year – 1889
Language – English
Genre – Comedy Novel
Read in Russian


If you asked me what kind of sense of humor I am into, I'd redirect you to Jerome K Jerome and his comic novel Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog). This book is hilarious, quirky, witty and just soooo what I enjoy in literature and in satire.

Three men (and their dog obviously) embark on a two weeks or so journey in a boat on Thames. All kinds of funny accidents await the trio along their trip and the reader learns that misfortunes exist not to dispirit but to create ambience for the most humorous remarks and conversations.

"I can't sit still and see another man slaving and working. I want to get up and superintend, and walk round with my hands in my pockets, and tell him what to do. It is my energetic nature. I can't help it."
"But who wants to be foretold the weather? It is bad enough when it comes, without our having the misery of knowing about it beforehand."
"It always does seem to me that I am doing more work than I should do. It is not that I object to the work, mind you; I like work: it fascinates me. I can sit and look at it for hours. I love to keep it by me: the idea of getting rid of it nearly breaks my heart." 

Olga Kotrus

Город, который меня съел (The city who ate me)

(My literal translation of the book’s title. The book has not been translated into English)


Country – Ukraine
Year – 2017
Language – Russian
Genre – Novel
Read in Russian


This book was only published a year ago and it does not have an English translation. Why would I include an untranslated book unto a blog post intended for an English speaker? My blog is foremost my personal diary, which I decided to make public, but I write primarily for myself. Yap. I put myself before my readership (maybe that is the reason I hardly have any😁)

Anyways, another reason for including a Russian novel is simply to drop a name and to create some word of mouth effect happening. This is a lovely story of one Ukrainian girl and her human like relationship with Paris. Beautifully narrated. Airy-spirited. A delight to read truly.

Great gift to a Russian speaker friend, by the way! (female I would say)


Did you read any of these books? 
What are your recent reads?
Thank you, as always, for spending your time on my page!

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    CONVERSATION

    3 comments:

    1. You made me wanna read Three Men in a Boat! I think I’d like that kind of humor!

      ReplyDelete
      Replies
      1. Julia, is this you? That's what she had? :) I can bet you will love it!
        If this is a whole other Julia - I'm glad I've triggered your interest, cause this book is hilarious!

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