Read: Books Read in 2005
Submitted by 1922 on Mon, 01/03/2005 - 10:08
Tags:
Masterpiece
Homo faber (Max Frisch) [13/02/05]
- After having read 'Andorra' and 'Firebugs' by Max Frisch, I expected quite a lot before getting to this novel. But it topped everything. The drawing of its characters is extremely complex and psychologically deep, and the story progresses in an excellent manner. I cannot tell you too much about this book, otherwise I'd spoil this outstanding and must-read work by an incredibly skilled writer.
Im Westen Nichts Neues/ All Quiet on the Western Front (Erich Maria Remarque) [24/01/05] + [18/05/05]
- The most famous and most-read book of German literature gives us (even today) an interesting and involving portrait of an entire generation of young people who wanted to lead an adventurous life and therefore became soldiers. What makes this novel even more memorable is the fact that Remarque managed very well to avoid all the stereotypes of the genre and to create a work the reader will never forget: intense and brilliant.
Great
Martin Scorsese (George Seeßlen) [04/04/05]
- A well-structured and complex analysis of Martin Scorsese's works (from 1963 till 2002). The author made me aware of many things in Scorsese's films (e.g. 'Taxi Driver' or 'Raging Bull') I hadn't noticed at the first (or second) viewing. Apart from that, the book is very well illustrated (with tons of pictures and comparisons), so that you do not have to be a film fanatic to understand and enjoy this great work.
Very Good
The Illustrated Woody Allen Reader (Woody Allen & Linda Sunshine)
- Very original! Through quotes from Allen's essays, books, plays and (of course) screenplays we learn more about his views and his attitude about such "big" themes as love, life, death, etc. Actually you can enjoy this book on two levels: the quotes are VERY funny, but at the same time you feel that there is more behind it. The nucleus is serious, but the packing is humorous. The crop of the creme are the many great illustrations. Definetly recommended!
Reclams Sachlexikon des Films (various authors) [07/10/05]
- A very interesting and informative book about the alphabet of film, even though at times pretty difficult to understand. However I learnt a lot through this, especially about film history, but also editing, cinematography, and some filming techniques. At least, I think so.
Mes plaisirs de cinéphile (Martin Scorsese) [06/10/05]
- After having discovered this at the local library, I just *had* to have a closer look at it, and it is pretty much what I expected. Scorsese describes on about 200 pages his personal experiences about film in general, his earliest childhood experiences, the genesis of some of his movies (from 'Mean Streets' to 'Casino'), and about some of his friends, such as Robert De Niro, Thelma Schoonmaker, Brian De Palma or John Cassavetes. Included are also some interviews with Scorsese, and also Thelma Schoonmaker, especially focussing on 'Casino' and 'Kundun'. Granted, their views on 'Taxi Driver' or 'Raging Bull' would probably have been more interesting, but this is nonetheless a very informative look at Scorsese, the man *and* the filmmaker.
Der Steppenwolf (Hermann Hesse) [01/06/05]
- After my first, rather negative experience with Hesse ('Beneath the Wheel'), this one really surprised. It is a deep, intense and profoundly involving work. Actually, it remembered me of films such as 'Week-end' (by Godard) and 'Mulholland Dr.' (by Lynch). Over most of the 280 pages, this book seems to have mythical and mysterious dimensions, which are difficult to define. Especially interesting is also the mirror structure of the novel. Hesse did not just draw an excellent portrait of the protagonist, Harry Haller, but also of the reader, who can easily identify with the 'Steppenwolf'. Just give me some time. This book gives so much material to think about that I'll need some days or weeks to get mentally through it. Then it will probably even climb in this ranking order... Well, enough thinking, and no it doesn't climb. Recommended nevertheless.
The Graduate (Charles Webb) [13/06/05]
- One of the rare cases where the film tops the book, and that without the slightest problem. Yet, that is not to say that this novel is not good. I particularly enjoyed its characters (Ben Braddock being a very pleasent guy, and Elaine Robinson probably more convincing than in Mike Nichols' masterful adaptation). Only the character of Mrs. Robinson seems too one-dimensional here (probably because it lacks the presence of the late Anne Bancroft). All in all this is a light and fast read. Something very nice for in-between.
Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide 2004 (Leonard Maltin)
- OK, 'read' is maybe not the right word for a film dictionary of 1600+ pages. But still, I wanted to briefly share my thoughts about it. It is well-done, and (for my needs) pretty complete. Positive are also the 4-star-ratings given for each movie (even though I will never forgive the **1/2- rating for 'Taxi Driver'). I borrowed this from a library, but I still do not really see why you would need such a book. At least, I don't.
Reclams Filmführer/ Reclam's Film Guide [02/07/05]
- I'm not really happy with the selection of films, but otherwise this well-structured work gives some interesting POVs about many interesting and some less interesting films.
Good
The Rough Guide to Cult Movies [01/12/05]
- Comment to come
Les films de ma vie (François Truffaut) [09/01/05]
- French director François Truffaut published this book in the early 70s. In it he presented some of his favourite films, but also what cinema means to him (and how his passion began). The book sometimes lacks a good structure, and it is (of course) not very up-to-date, but all in all Truffaut managed to give us his view on several (more or less) interesting films (e.g. '12 Angry Men', 'To Catch a Thief', 'Citizen Kane', etc.).
The Comedians (Graham Greene) [02/01/05]
- First of all: This novel has one great effect on (almost every) reader: it makes him interested in Haiti. On the other hand, I also noticed that most of Greene's novels (or at least, the three I have read: 'The Third Man', 'The Quiet American' and this one) have got several things in commmon: the narration (first person), the structure, the types of characters and the settings. This book has got some great moments, but all in all I was a little bit disappointed (and not the first time by Greene), which was above all due to two things: firstly, I felt that the story should have been more focused on one element (either the characters or the political situation of Haiti, which where both interesting enough for such a novel), and Greene is not always able to keep the right balance between the comic and the tragic elements of the story.
Le Roi Se Meurt (Eugène Ionesco) [12/06/05]
- Maybe I'm not fan enough of the theatre of the absurd. After having tried Edward Albee's 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?', which I gave up after a certain time, I didn't expect too much from this (especially after having seen the greatly played, but otherwise mediocre play in Paris). The writing itself is not bad at all, full of puns (some are great, others rather ridiculous). The problem is just that the whole play focusses too much on one single idea: the decay of the king (representing humans in general) and of his kingdom. On the other hand, the characters are, majorly due to that, masterfully drawn. Admirable is also Ionesco's consequence with which he has written this.
Heart of Darkness (Joseph Conrad) [25/09/05]
- Frankly I can't say I'm not disappointed. I expected sth. psychedelic and gritty as 'Apocalypse Now', but the novel goes into another direction. The omnipresent, mysterious atmosphere of Coppola's film cannot be found here. On the other hand, the character of Marlow is more elaborate, and somehow deeper. Even though the story only spans approximately 110 pages, it was like an eternity for me to get through this. Not bad, but I thought it would be better.
Average
La guerre de Troie n'aura pas lieu (Jean Giraudoux) [12/11/05]
- Theatre of the absurd again... I think I'll give it up. Ionesco was already too much for my taste (read 1 play, seen 3), and Giraudoux goes even further. Moreover I didn't fully understand the author's intention, and the often hyperbolic and (only apparently, maybe) non-sense replies by the different Trojan and Greek characters didn't make me think about the play (as probably wished by Giraudoux). Sorry, but I really didn't get into this.
About John Ford (Lindsay Anderson) [09/01/05]
- Director Lindsay Anderson's approach to analyse John Ford's entire work is interesting enough: He mixed up facts, analysis and personal experiences he made in his "relationship" with Ford. Unfortunately he didn't eventually manage to make the reader interested in his point of view. The distance between reader and author just seems to big. I feel that this could have been much better than it finally is.
Focus on Hitchcock (various authors) [11/02/05]
- For this book there are similar problems. The magic of Hitchcock's films is not transmitted through this work and unfortunately the fascination gets lost because of that. The layout is very poor, and the most interesting part of the book is finally a detailled analysis of the plane scene in 'North by Northwest'.
Disappointing
Breakfast at Tiffany's (Truman Capote) [28/06/05]
- This novella of only 55 pages has got some wonderful passages: poetic and powerful. Unfortunately these are not too frequent. The characters are superficial (as the whole story actually is) and Capote's intention seems very fluid. Not recommended.
Horizon's West (Jim Kitses) [19/03/05]
- Nothing really special here. Kitses tried to analyse the themes, heroes, villains and principal ideas of three different western directors. Unfortunately he chose the wrong ones: Anthony Mann, Budd Boetticher and Sam Peckinpah. While Peckinpah is by far the most interesting one, I'd have preferred directors like John Ford, Howard Hawks, Fred Zinnemann or even Sergio Leone. The structure is great, but the content itself is very poor.
Adolphe (Benjamin Constant) [02/01/05]
- A French romantic novel... not my type of book. After having read this weak and totally uninvolving, uninspired and uninteresting book, I am sure about this. It is a story of around 150 pages, but it took me an eternity to get through it. Now I also feel that putting 'Adolphe' into the tier 'Disappointing' is not absolutely correct: as I expected nothing, the book could not let me down.
An Unsuitable Job for a Woman (P.D. James) [10/05/05]
- The first book I have read by P.D. James and it really let me down. This may be due to the fact that I'm not at all a fan of classic crime novels (and this is certainly one). The protaognist is unconvincing, the plot badly developped and the resolution of the case not really believable, yet absolutely predictable. That these are not the most positive points, especially in this genre, is obvious. Yet the worst part is still to come: the whole story is completely uninvolving. It lets you indifferent, because it is so uninspired and unoriginal. No, thanks!
Awful
Le Rouge et le Noir (Stendhal) [07/04/05]
- A nightmare! It took me nearly three months to read this awfully bad book. The book is divided into two parts: In the first part, the hero, Julien Sorel (the story is set in the 19th century) is crazy in love with a married woman called Madame de Rênal. On about 100 pages, they are angry with each other, because of a 'hand affair', as I call it. First of all, Julien is annoyed that she doesn't take his hand, then (after 60 pages) she does this, but then he no longer wants to. If that is your kind of novel, then just try this book (around 600 pages!). In the second part, Julien goes away, and after a short time (2 or 3 pages), he has already forgotten Mme de Rênal and falls in love with another girl. Come on. This novel is considered as a realistic one. If that is realistic, then the writer of these lines is a camel!
Impossible to Rank
Aus einem anderen Leben (Madeleine Weis-Bauler) [02/01/05]
- After having read this book, I felt that it would not be correct to put it into such a rating scheme. That's why I made an additional tier ('impossible to rank').
Faust I (Johann Wolfgang von Goethe) [04/12/05]
- Comment to come
Author Comments:
25 books
Newly added:
1. Faust I --> Impossible to rank
2. The Rough Guide to Cult Movies --> Good
3. Leonard Maltin's Movie and Video Guide 2004 --> Very Good
Do you know any other good books?
Cloned From:
Would you please share your thoughts on Homo Faber?
Also, I couldn't recommend 'The Tipping Point' by Malcolm Gladwell more highly. I'm sure every library has a copy.
Homo Faber is really a terrific novel. It is incredibly complex (probably even the most complex book I have ever read, as it is easily possible to write at least 3 to 5 pages about each page in the book). Important is however what to look for in the story, to know which elements are important. If you want to read it, I'd advice you to get some information (Internet, etc.) about the author Max Frisch. You can e.g. find inspirations from the writer's private life inthere.
Apart from that, you should really try to get an edition with notes and explanations (I'm pretty sure that such a version is also available in English).
Roughly: Frisch criticizes the American Way of Life (but in a VERY subtle manner), but also the main character's (Walter Faber) prejudices and wish to control his life (no surprises, ...) and also (to some degree, at least) the other people around him.
You see, it is difficult to tell what this book is about. Certain is that it definetly won't let you cold, even though there will always be a certain distance to the book (in an entirely positive way).
P.S.: Thanks for the tipp, I'll have a look at that.
Lol, yeah I think I'll have to try to find the version with notes.