Book Review: The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest

Having immensely enjoyed the first and second installments of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, I couldn’t wait to read the concluding novel, The Girl Who Kicked the Hornets’ Nest.

In this third volume, all the stories of the previous two books are brought to a close. While the focus is more on a legal drama than an investigative thriller, there is still more than enough action to keep any junkie satisfied.

Furthermore, Larsson’s absolutely fascinating characters are further developed and revealed in all their complexity.

These books are incredibly enjoyable, while also being very intelligent, tackling many serious issues (yes, even Sweden, where they’re set, has issues apparently) and having such compelling plots that they’re impossible to put down.

The Millennium trilogy is an definite must-read.

Book Review: The Girl Who Played with Fire

I couldn’t wait to start the second novel in the Millennium trilogy, having recently finished the first.

The Girl Who Played with Fire continues to build on the characters and settings introduced before. The primary focus of the novel is an exposition of its heroine’s past and personality. She is a truly fascinating character, with enough depth and complexity to drive the story with a relentless pace.

The whodunnit nature of the plot is also excellently carried out, with a real mystery and an increasing sense of time running out.

I cannot wait to start with the third and final novel in this series.

Book Review: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

Stieg Larsson’s bestselling Millennium trilogy, having done the rounds through the rest of my family, finally landed with me. Having heard considerable praise from everyone that read them, I had rather high expectations.

The first of the three novels, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, sets the context and introduces the main characters of the greater story. It is also, however, an excellent investigative suspense story in its own right.

The writing is compelling and the plot brilliantly executed. Not only is the story intellectually gripping, it is also well-written and absolutely fascinating. Larsson is also a master of keeping the reader in suspense, and once started this is not a book that can be put down.

Book Review: How Languages are Learned

I have an ongoing interest in language and especially how it works. As a result I was rather interested in reading How Languages are Learned, a textbook on language acquisition, particularly second language acquisition.

While the content of this book is reasonably good, all it stood to show is that people do not, ultimately, know a great deal about language acquisition. There are many theories, most of which come down to common sense, and no convincing research overwhelmingly favouring any of them.

Furthermore, the focus of this work is on the teaching of languages – how classes should be run and so forth. As I am more interested in a theoretical understanding of how the learning actually works, this wasn’t quite what I was looking for.

Nevertheless an interesting read, but not one I would suggest for anyone but serious language lovers.

Book Review: Mister God, this is Anna

The combination of a rather lazy holiday and a very busy first two weeks after the holiday has meant that I’ve read a few books but not yet posted them here. As a result there will be regular posts for a few days.

Fynn’s Mister God, this is Anna is a book I’ve read a few times before, and find incredible meaning in each time I rediscover it.

Falling into the same class as classics like Jonathan Livingstone Seagull and The Little Prince, this book tells of the author’s experiences befriending and getting to know a young girl, Anna.

Through Anna’s intelligent, wise and joyful view on life, and especially her thoughts on God (or Mister God, as she refers to him), the reader is presented with a new and refreshing perspective on life and faith. As someone with a decidedly atheist take on religion, I nevertheless find this book one that I can relate to and find meaning in.

I can very strongly recommend this to anyone.

Book Review: The Picture of Dorian Gray

I have wanted to read Oscar Wilde’s The Picture of Dorian Gray for quite some time (and had in fact started it once before, but was stopped when the copy I was reading burnt down), and have now finally done so.

The novel tells the story of Dorian Gray, an exquisitely beautiful young man who, through various circumstances, acquires a painting of himself and lands in the enviable position where his painting ages, but he does not. From this premise, it tells the tale of his gradual moral corruption and fall from grace.

Throughout this rather dark book one is confronted with rather difficult questions relating to morality, ethics and aesthetics. All this is couched in Wilde’s brilliant and witty dialogue, which is always a pleasure (if at times rather dense).

An interesting read, Dorian Gray will leave a reader with much to ponder over.

Boekresensie: Fees van die Ongenooides

Ek het die afgelope week of twee PG du Plessis se onlangse oorlogsroman Fees van die Ongenooides gelees.

Die verhaal vind plaas gedurende die Anglo-Boere Oorlog, maar anders as ander boeke wat ek onlangs gelees het, is die fokus daarvan nie op die oorlog in sigself nie, maar eerder die effek daarvan op die mense wat deur dit moes lewe. Die storie draai om die Van Wyks, ‘n ryk en bekende Boerefamilie, en vertel van hul doen en late gedurende die oorlog.

Fees van die Ongenooides is ‘n absoluut uitstekende boek, wat die hartseer en weemoed van die oorlog perfek vasvang. Dit is intelligent geskryf, en wys hoe almal aan beide kante van die geveg daardeur beïnvloed word. Laastens is du Plessis se taalgebruik puik en pragtig.

Hierdie boek is beslis een om aan te beveel.

Book Review: The Boer War Diary of Sol T. Plaatje

I found this thin, unassuming volume quite by accident on my parent’s shelves, and having heard Plaatje mentioned in other books I’ve read recently, I was intrigued to read a diary by this famous black intellectual. I have also covered a bit of Angol-Boer War literature lately, and am slowly gaining some kind of perspective on that period of history.

The diary tells of Plaatje’s experiences during the seige of Mafeking, from October 1899 to March 1900. While I have little interest in the seige itself, both the insight into the society of the day, as well as the views and expressions of the diarist are fascinating. It is also novel to read a war diary from this period written from a ‘native’ perspective, rather than that of the British or Boers.

Plaatje comes across as a very intelligent, decidedly optimistic and all-round pleasant person. While writing in English, he also frequently uses words and phrases from the various languages he spoke, most notably Tswana, Sotho, Zulu and Dutch.

The diary is well supported by excellent editing, that gives extensive notes explaining various topics of interest that a modern reader would be unaware of. This, together with Plaatje’s very enjoyable personality, make this a most worthwhile read.

 

Book Review: Pride and Prejudice

Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice is one of the best-known literary classics, and one which has had a persistent legacy. It is only the second of Austen’s book I’ve read (the other being Sense and Sensibility), but was very enjoyable

From a modern perspective the plot seems somewhat uninteresting. There is almost nothing that ever actually happens; except for an endless series of dinners, balls, rides through the country and agonising about what Mr. So-and-so really meant when he said this or that.

This largely inactive story, however, provides a fascinating look into society life two hundred years ago, particularly its obsession with marriage as the ultimate aim in any person’s life. It also leaves plenty of room for the development of the characters and the intrigues linking them together. As far as these are concerned, the novel is excellently written, with believable personalities ranging from loveable to quite unpleasant.

Through it all, Austen’s use of language is exquisite (although it takes a few chapters to get used to), and an absolute delight to read.

Boekresensie: Op soek na Generaal Mannetjies Mentz

Ek is Christoffel Coetzee se roman Op soek na Generaal Mannetjies Mentz deur ‘n vriendin geleen, en het dit werklik treffend ervaar.

Mannetjies Mentz vind tydens die Anglo-Boer Oorlog plaas, en vertel die verhaal van ‘n veggeneraal, Mannetjies Mentz. Desnieteenstaande dat Mentz fiktief is, word die verhaal aangebied asof dit navorsing is oor ‘n egte geskiedkundige figuur, en as sodanig is dit baie oortuigend. Waar daar na ander bekendes en gebeure verwys word, is dit duidelik dat hulle geskiedenis wel deeglik nagevors is.

Dit is steeds vir my lekker om boeke te lees wat my iets leer oor die land se geskiedenis, en hierdie is beslis só ‘n boek. Dit is by tye nogal grusaam (soos hierdie tydperk maar was), maar is absoluut uitstekend geskryf.

Die skrywer is ongelukkig oorlede kort na hy dié boek geskryf het, en het gevolglik geen ander nie – ‘n ware verlies vir die letterkunde. Ek kan Op soek na Generaal Mannetjies Mentz ten sterkste aanbeveel.