vendredi 17 juin 2016

Book - Le nouveau Nom

Le Nouveau nom by Elena Ferrante
Pages : 550
Editions Gallimard "Du Monde Entier"
Genre: Contemporary, fiction, Historical and italian fiction

5/5

The second book of the neapolitan saga picks up on Elena and Lila friendship. After following their early teens, the two best friends and rivals are now 16. They still live in the poor district of Naples and strive to get out of their social prison. 

I wasn't convinced of the first book, I enjoyed it but I didn't really love it. The second book completely changed my views. The major quality of The Story of a New Name (the english title!) is of course Ferrante's writing. I was swallowed so deep in it that i forgot that i was reading a book, that these were words. This is a pretty rare quality in books. 

I also got much more involved in Lila and Elena's relationship. The book first didn't convince me because I didn't really care about the two friends. Even though I sometimes disagreed with one or the other, I just couldn't help but caring for them in this second book, and wondering what would happen next. 

It isn't a new favorite of mine, but it was still an amazing novel which i recommend to everyone. 

dimanche 5 juin 2016

Livre - The Constant Gardener


The Constant Gardener by John Le Carré
Pages: 570
Editions Coronet
Genre: Mystery, thriller, politics

3/5

No, this is NOT a book about gardening. 

Actually, the book starts with the savage murder of Tessa Quayle, a british lawyer who lives in Kenya with her husband, Justin a diplomat. Very quickly, it appears that the murder has to do with Tessa's work and investigations on ThreeBees a medical society that cares for a lot of african women, children and men. Justin will take on the investigation, at the peril of his own life to unveil what Tessa couldn't.

I was expecting so much of this book! I thought that this would be thrilling, and powerful. I thought i was going to be swept up by the story and read it in two or three days. Unfortunately it didn't work for me.

*** 

Firstly this book is mostly about politics and how european governments use African Countries and take advantages from their resources. This is interesting and not a common subject for a book. BUT, it seemed to me that this was the only constant theme of the book. And to be completely honest, this wasn't what I signed for. Maybe it's because I read it in English which isn't my native language that it bored me this much... who knows ? But the plot took ages to actually start. So, ok, the murder is discussed from page 1, but then, the investigation and the action never really kicked on. I was waiting, and waiting and waiting for 400 pages ! Every time something interesting happened, it was over in a page or two, like this wasn't a big deal.

I would say that if the book were 300 pages long and not 570, I would have probably enjoyed it much much more. It was just too boring, and slow paced, and just meh for me. I actually didn't finish it.