Rum Diary

Today's book is rather like the over looked brother of another book. However, things are looking up for our friend rum diary as it is set to hit the big screen soon with Johnny Deep in the lead. The book whom's shadow rum diary is in is Fear and loathing in las Vegas. Both are works by Hunter S. Thompson with heavy drinking journalists as the protagonist.
The rum diary was actually Thompson's first published novel but enough of the boring stuff, what was it like to read?
Well after seeing the name Thompson on the front cover I thought I knew what I was in for, I wasn't. Some books race at an unrelenting pace seemingly scared of losing the reader's attention, others are so over descriptive that it takes pages for a character to just enter a room and start talking. This was different, when a friend asked me to describe it I found myself saying 'imaging you are floating gently down a river, surrounded by beautiful scenery and your rather sozzled'. Strange eh? But on reflection this metaphor is rather analogous to the journey Thompson takes you through. It feels like a lot happens but slowly, not slowly it is only 200 pages long, perhaps sedately or unhurried. Which fits perfectly with the idyllic scene set; sun, beaches, plan trees and plenty of rum.
Unlike fear and loathing this isn't about a self destructive man on the edge rather more someone coming to terms with his own short comings. I think the protagonist is written very truthfully, he isn't a man you would aspire to but possibly the man you could be, there is something very real about Paul Kemp.
For the relaxed Caribbean world it drags you into I would say that this is worth the read. If you can grab a seat in the sun and this book you can have many 'mini breaks' off to Puerto Rico.
Happy reading
Ed

A Brief History of Time

The best book in the last 20 years? Should it be the most influential? If so then for me it has to be Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time.

That last statement may have confused you however I say it as it was one of the driving factors in converting me from a mathematician to a physics.

This book just falls into the 20 year or under category as like me it was first published in 1988. It I think is well known as being one of those books people are scared of due to a fear of not understanding. However if you read it and only understand half you are still half way there & you will get a lot out of it. It stretches your imagination and perception just like any good novel yet you can stand back from it and say this is true. (or is it?). Either way instead of transporting you to a different weird and wonderful world through an author’s eyes it opens your eyes to the beauty that surrounds us. If like some you are not mathematically minded then there is still no need to worry. You can still take in the basic concept so giving not only a sense of wonder but also I like to think a sense of understanding as to why.

So I say to you go out there next time your wanting a book. Pick it up cheap, read, enjoy and hopefully understand. And if not you can still turn heads by saying I have read Hawking’s book.

(Exepose 22/10/07)

Altered Carbon

For all science fiction novels there is a certain donee you must accept upon reading, this book by Richard Morgan is no different.

Death is no longer the end, if you have enough money. All people have 'stacks' atop their spinal cord where all memories and thoughts are digitally stored. Thus were the body, or 'sleeve', to die the mind can be placed in another body and the person will live on. As a result real death has become rare with even those too poor to be resleeved being put into digital storage, occasionally using rented sleeves for relation's weddings and alike.

This brings us to the plot of our novel. A very wealthy man suffers real death and awakes, from a back up copy of his brain, questioning why? The police investigate and find the man to have committed suicide. A prognosis he does not deem to aline with his own ideas. His thinking being he had wanted to end his life he would have made sure he didn't come back. So enters our protagonist, although not by choice. Takeshi Kovacs a former UN Envoy, a solider of the protectorate who can adapt quickly to new environments and bodies, recently discredited and imprisoned for his criminal activities. Kovacs finds himself released onto Earth a planet he had never previously visited and into the custody of Laurens Bancroft, our aforementioned wealthy man. Bancroft gives Kovacs the ultimatum of find the real reason for his death or return to storage.

Finding himself between a rock and a hard place with the bankroll to pay for an army Kovacs delves deep into the quasi-cyberpunk dystopian that Earth has become in search of answers. Due to Takeshi's often blase way of investigating his presence is soon noticed and his own past brings about additional obstacles in his search for the truth.

Throughout this decent into a sordid underground of a modernistic society Morgan develops our protagonist to become much more than just an anti-hero, in some aspects he is also the victim. This style helps to pull you head first through the dark and gritty world it is set without loss of sight of a light at the end of the tunnel.

All told this is one of the best si-fi novels I have found of late. It has an intriguing plot which will keep you reading, with characters which will make you care and set in an all too convincing view of the future.

Thus if si-fi is your thing or your looking to give it a chance I would urge you to start here, with Altered Carbon.

Women

Right a bit of a novelty here as I come to you from a train racing towards Bristol, from my phone. So getting my excuses out the way early.
The book, women by Charles Bukowski. This is one that is very different to any I have read or even bought before. The reason I bought it I must admit was a tv show, californication. If you are familiar with that show and I mention the main character of the book is called Hank you may already be able to guess the sort of thing that goes on.
Hank is an alcoholic, womanising writer and the narrative is from his point of view. I must concede that initially I thought the writing was trash and style crass. However, as I proceed through the book a realisation dawned on me. That realisation was that really the style was clever and elegant as it was the characters whom where crass and uneducated. Thus, when reading through a scene heavy with dialogue it feels dominated by f'ing and blinding. To which I sometimes feel a little offended but then what Charles B has cleverly done is draw you into that world. The elegance is shown first in a sophistication and eloquent monologue of Hank's thought's about the life he leads.
So if you can get past the odd swear I would suggest this is well worth a read.
Ed