Nocturnes: Short story snobbery...
Everyone's got those books. You know, the ones you thumb through in the bookshop and think about buying - you're so familiar with the cover and sypnosis - but you never quite get around to it?
I was like that with British author Kazuo Ishiguro - which is probably why it took me so long to read his 2005 Booker Prize shortlisted Never Let Me Go.
If you haven't done so, I urge you to read it. It's fabulous, stretches the mind and makes you feel faintly chilled...and you might want to read it before the film comes out.
Apparently Keira Knightley started shooting last month.
But more importantly...
Mr Ishiguro has released a new collection of short stories, called Nocturnes.
The book is billed as being five short stories about "music and nightfall".
Now, I'm obviously a novel fan and I've noticed there is a little snobbery among fellow book lovers about short stories, almost like they are not the real deal.
Anyone who's read Roald Dahl's short stories - absolutely superb, particularly Switch Bitch - will disagree. Any self respecting book lover should have a copy on their bedside table. The stories are fantastic - unnerving, powerful and with a worrying insight into the human mind.
Perfect for when you can't get to sleep - and need something bitesize - or even when you've finished a moving novel and aren't quite ready to dive into the next one.
It will be interesting to see whether Nocturnes lives up to the master.
You can read The Times review HERE.
Older/Newer
« You can't beat an oldie... | Argh! Great novels get a Twitter makeover... »
0 TrackBacks
Listed below are links to blogs that reference this entry: Nocturnes: Short story snobbery....
TrackBack URL for this entry: http://firstruleofbookclub.merseyblogs.co.uk/cgi-bin/mt421/mt-tb.cgi/123836
3 Comments
Leave a comment
Blog Authors
Vicki Kellaway - a Merseyside reporter who would happily spend her days lounging about and reading - if she won the lottery. Vicki's in a book club, which consists of six girls who meet once a month to discuss their latest tome, drink a few glasses of wine and eat far too much cheese.
My postings |
I hate people who thumb through books in shops - they are not libaries.
There is nothing worse than seeing dirty marks on a book.
Great site though.
Like the upgrade
I stand admonished! I'm sure I can't be the only one though. Surely everyone picks up books when they're browsing in a book - otherwise why would they print the sypnosis on the back??
I tried short stories years ago and didn't really enjoy them. Now that I've matured somewhat, I'd like to give them another shot. This collection sounds wonderful.