The Postman Always Rings Twice by James M Cain (35/81)

Category: 1001 Books to Read Before You Die

This short book was my introduction to classic noir. It is the story of the dangerous passion between Frank, a drifter, and Cora, a married woman. Driven by their uncontrollable desires, they plot to murder Cora's husband, referred to only as The Greek.

It is one of those stories where you just know that everything is going to end badly for pretty much everyone and sure enough it does. Narrated by the amoral Frank, the reader is drawn into their world and almost feel some sympathy for them despite their wrong-doings, and this technique still works, but in other ways the book seemed incredibly dated. The dialogue that was supposed to show the intensity of their passion just made me want to laugh, which ruined the drama somewhat.

On reading this I could see why this and other noirs were made into films as I kept think how it would work better on screen than on the page.

Slow Man by J M Coetzee (21/81)

Category: 1001 Books to Read Before You Die

Retired photographer, Paul Rayment, has an accident on his bicycle that leads to him losing a leg. He becomes besotted with his nurse, and contemplates life, loneliness and love. So far so good, but then things take an unusual turn…

This is the first book I’ve read by Coetzee and I was surprised by how easily readable it was. I enjoyed the slow contemplative pace, and although I wasn’t entirely sure about the intentions behind the “twist”, I found the quality of the writing compelling. It has left me keen to read more by this author. Fortunately, he has plenty of other entries on the 1001 list!

Third Policeman by Flann O’Brien (13/81)

Category: 1001 Books to Read Before You Die

This is a very bizarre book and one which I imagine will divide readers. It begins innocuously enough with a description of the narrator’s life following the death of his parents, and how he came to commit a murder. But this isn’t a straightforward tale of wrong-doings and things quickly become stranger. The rest of the book involves greed, guilt, eternity and bicycles!

Absurd is the best way to describe the book, with the situations and dialogue taking surreal turns. Sometimes there is comedy in the absurdity, other times it is nightmarish, or just plain infuriating for the reader.

Running alongside the actual “plot” (such as it is), is this book’s defining feature, its use of footnotes. The narrator has undertaken a project to collect together all the writings on a philosopher/scientist called de Selby and his thoughts (often quite tenuously) turn to the works of de Selby, so extensive footnotes are provided to explain the ideas of the man, and his numerous critics. Of course, de Selby is an entirely fictional character, but the author has created a whole body of work for him and his commentators. Although it was difficult to know how to read at the same time as the main novel, I enjoyed this part most because of the contrast between the ridiculousness of his theories and the serious academic tone of criticism.

This book was very different from anything else I’ve ever read. I would recommend it to others just on that basis, but make guarantee that anyone will like or even understand it.

Black Water by Joyce Carol Oates (8/81)

Category: 1001 Books to Read Before You Die

I was drawn to this book because I had enjoyed Joyce Carol Oates’ story in the “Retro Retro” collection I read earlier this month, and I must admit, because it was a short book.

It is a fictionalised account of the Chappaquiddick incident, where a young woman dies in the car crashed by Ted Kennedy. The Kennedy character is only ever referred to as “The Senator” but there are other clues to his identity such as mentions of a brother, the thread of assassination and that he is known by a diminutive form of his full name. Some of the details of the event have been changed in the book (the time period is later, the location and girl’s name changed) perhaps to avoid being sued, but it unmistakable as that event.

The story is told from the point of view of the woman as she drowns. As the black water of the title comes into the car, we are privy to her thoughts about the events that led up to the accident and what she thinks is happening to her. It is often difficult to write about real life events, but here the author has created a simple but powerful book.

I would not say that I enjoyed reading it because I found it harrowing, but I certainly admired and appreciated the writing and it has left a lasting impression on me.

Brave New World by Aldous Huxley (4/81)

Category: Dystopia
(would also fit 1001 Books to Read Before You Die category if I need to overlap)

I dropped another category before the challenge began in favour of the Dystopia category after reading “Never Let Me Go” by Kazuo Ishiguro. I realised that I am fascinated by these visions of the future and whilst I’d read 1984 and A Clockwork Orange, there were still some classics of the genre that I had shamefully never read. The most obvious example being “Brave New World”, which I was determined to read this year.

I’ve no idea why it has taken me so long to get around to reading “Brave New World”. Perhaps it was just never in stock in the library! I suspect I might have felt a little bit daunted by it too. I think I had in my mind that it was going to be a challenging read. This misconception was blown away within a few pages. It is actually an incredibly easy read in terms of the language used and the accessibility of the plot, but that is not to say that it is a light read as Huxley’s novel provides much food for thought.

Before reading it, I didn’t actually know what the future society in the book was like and again I was surprised to find that it wasn’t portrayed as entirely bleak. Rather than a totalitarian state oppressing the masses, the society could be seen as a utopia. Unhappiness, loneliness, old age and disease do not exist, everyone knows their place in society and is happy with their lot. Unfortunately certain things have been sacrificed to achieve this, namely God, the family, individuality and creativity. The question is raised as to whether “happiness” is the highest goal man can achieve, and the happiness portrayed here is a hollow state, reached through a combination of chemicals, meaningless sexual encounters and rabid consumerism. The portrayal of this “ideal” society where all of our accepted morals and foundations of society (religion, parenthood, marriage, monogamy and nature) are considered “savage” and their opposites held as civilised makes some parts of the novel very humorous to read on one level.

Brave New World was written in the 1930s and Huxley’s predictions for the future were scarily accurate and he saw many of these things come true in his lifetime as materialistic values replaced traditional values. Before reading it, I did wonder if it may now seem dated, but it is just as relevant now, perhaps more so as we are in some ways almost living in this brave new world.

I absolutely loved this book and would encourage anyone who hasn't read it to read it immediately. A deserved classic.