Tom Wolfe - just finished reading .........

Bonfire of the Vanities by Tom Wolfe

9.5/10

I started reading this a while ago, in anticipation of going to New York for a visit.
Various sources say that there are some iconic texts that capture the feel of the place and people of New York. This is one of them, and also 'Let the Great World Spin' by Colum McCann.

This book is a long one and it took me ages to read, but that says more about my life being cluttered than anything about the quality of the book. I want to compare it with 'The Wire', which was about law and politics in Baltimore. But this book is bigger and reaches further, into Wall St, the church, racism, policing, political manoeuvring, society, the arts, fashion and whims, greed and sex. I find myself to be a hopeless reviewer of books, because I want to share the feel of the book, rather than the plot.

I wish I had finished it before I hit New York. Then walking on Park Avenue and seeing the canopied entrances to very opulent apartment blocks would have meant something more.

Have you read it? Whatever does happen to Sherman McCoy?

Louis Sachar - Just finished reading .....

Holes by Louis Sachar

10/10

What a lovely book. It is aimed at 'young adults' so I thought 'that's me!' and picked it up. I've read it in 2 days, which is always a bonus because you feel like you are in the world of the book with the characters. When it takes a fortnight or more to read a book, interrupted by all kinds of other bits of living, you feel more disconnected.

Where was I?
Ah yes - a lovely book. We go with Stanley to a camp, and meet some weird and wonderful characters. We get to know Stanley better, and we have an adventure with him. It is a heart-warming book, full of optimism about the human condition, I think. I'm not saying anything else. I don't want to spoil it. But if you go on this adventure with him, take your sun screen and a guide for identifying lizards.

http://www.louissachar.com/HolesBook.htm