The Rachel Papers – Martin Amis

So I don’t really have anything against this book, but I kinda didn’t like it. Like I kinda didn’t like Charles Highway – not in a ‘I freaking hate his guts’ kinda dislike, but more of a ‘what’s that bad smell’ kinda dislike.

Currently Reading: The Rachel Papers – Martin Amis

Gosh. It’s always great knowing someone who has a bigger collection of books than you do. Thanks Panty Shanty – I hope you never find out that I am only using you for your books…

Kafka on the Shore – Haruki Murakami

I always get a bit nervous when talking about Japanese or Japanese-influenced books (of course, with the exception of Memoirs of a Geisha – totally made up by a white man) simply because there is so much to Shintoism that is so different from western culture. Kafka on the Shore is no different.

There is a whimsical quality to this novel and general avoidance of answers that is typical of Japanese art and way of living. These are also qualities that would rightly piss people off in any other book, but surprisingly, Kafka (and the rest of the Murakami collection) is much loved by the Australian reading population. Maybe Kafka on the Shore offers the true example of someone accepting and just going with the flow, a quality that Australians love to say that they possess.

Or (and this is probably more likely) the other possiblity is that Aussies love how Murakami makes Colonel Sanders a pimp. And what a rockin’ pimp he is!

The Blind Assassin – Margaret Atwood

The Blind Assassin the first time around sucked butt. The second time, it was better, but I got bored. The third? Well… it was just amazing. Spectacular. Set it’s place on the list my top ten faves. Weird, eh?

Books are, I think, like relationships. Sometimes you just aren’t ready to be with the people who you have recently met by chance. They are people who you would be perfect with ten years later. People who, if you had your time with them again at a later date, may be the one you want to spend your life with. Pity you can’t just put someone on the shelf until you are ready (well, some people try…).