Finishing line in sight!

Evening Mists now clear, I see Swimming Home curling fingers at me. What a mixed bunch this shortlist is! First glimpse at Deborah Levy's bio suggests there may be strong undercurrents and swirling eddies in this one . . .

The Lighthouse

I certainly found this the most readable of the three books I have read to date.

I certianly enjoyed it but didn't really feel it was an exceptional book. I added a comment to the main entry. 

Back from France....

...having read Swimming Home and Evening Mists while I've been away...very interesting, Evening Mist is not a book I would have picked up from the library shelf, but I'm so glad I have read it - I can't say that I loved it, but I loved the rich description - apart from chapter 19 ! See everyone in Nuneaton on Monday.

Garden of Evening Mists

I have just finished reading 'The Garden of Evening Mists' and found it totally fascinating.  It has taken me just over a week to read, it is a long and complicated story, with many memories and flashbacks.  It is written in beautiful English, with wonderful descriptions of nature, gardens, the Highlands, weather and skies.  This migitgates the horrors of violence and cruelty, which I believe sadly, are probably very accurate.  I am looking at Carla's discussion points now and will need to think about them.
Nicole

Bodies comfortably interred

Whew . . . Anne Boleyn finally got what was coming to her! (Though I refuse to sit in judgement - all the characters in this book are dodgy.) Trying to decide between Evening Mists and Swimming Home for next read. Think I'll go for the thickest . . .

Reviews for all books

Don't know if you've noticed, but if you go to the Index (to the right) and click on the word 'Review', you will find links to reviews for all 6 shortlisted titles. With added stunning artwork nicked from Google images, to jazz things up a bit. :D

Umbrella now furled up in the corner...

I expected from remarks others had made and a quick glance that this novel was going to prove a challenge.

Indeed, I was only able to complete Umbrella by following the advise of my housemate who suggested that rather than try to make sense of its structure (or lack thereof) that I just allow the words to wash over me . It worked quite well for the stream-of-consciousness format.

I am still formulating my thoughts and will add them as comment to the novel's entry when I've had a little more time.

However, quite early on I came across John Crace's Digested read: Umbrella by Will Self: http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2012/aug/19/umbrella-will-self-digested

I didn't read it until I'd finished as this kind of satire works best if you know the novel being sent up. I found it quite amusing summing up the novel's 400 pages in 400 words.