Friday 13 April 2012

Contains Mild Peril

I've just been reading for the second time "This Book Will Save Your Life" by A. M. Homes (pub. 2006).  It isn't some sort of self-help-by-numbers though, trust me, I have enough of those in the wardrobe.  The link above will give you a brief outline of the plot. 

What I like about the book is that, although the protagonist and the sub-protagonists are not terribly sympathetic characters, you like them.  You care about them.  Without wishing to give away the ending, you are left literally at sea on the final page.  Nothing is resolved - this is the other thing I like.  The book is suffused with mild and acute discomforts and perils and yet nothing at all is resolved.  Despite this, it's a satisfying book.  Perhaps because that is what life is like, and Homes is acknowledging that.

When you think about it, not much gets resolved.  Things gently rankle, or go un-answered, or are never quite achieved.  And that's ok really.  The non-resolution sort of is the resolution.  (Sorry, I think rather too much on my morning walks).  Life in process is simply life.  And it's fine that way.  Most of the time. 

By the way, we had transport today, after six days with none.  That seems like a resolution, but the matter of increased security for transport staff is still sort of on the table and not entirely answered.





4 comments:

  1. i like this book too and her book about discovering her birth mother and father.

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  2. I haven't actually read any of her others. I have kind of put a stop on buying books until I have somewhere other than a (broken now) wardrobe to put them...

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  3. It sounds very much like a book I would enjoy. Must get a copy.
    Glad to hear transport is back to normal. Let's hope the security measure don't take too long to implement.

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  4. Definitely sounds like one for me and not an author I know, so I can indulge myself with a purchase (my 'bookcase' is currently under the bed..)
    Six days is good going for showing solidarity I think. Glad it's back for your sake, but hope they do get what they want too. Ax

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