Fever Dream – Samanta Schweblin (Book Review)

A young woman named Amanda lies dying in a rural hospital clinic. A boy named David sits beside her. She’s not his mother. He’s not her child. Together, they tell a haunting story of broken souls, toxins, and the power and desperation of family.

The book is written as a conversation between Amanda, and her friend’s son, David. They are in a hospital with seemingly few people around, and Amanda knows the end is near. Her company, David, is a strange child who is quite antagonistic.

David was poisoned when young and, through a ritual cured but has since been not the same person – even his parents are aware and distant from this new person he has become.

The conversation reveals the events leading up to their current situation, along with the unanswered questions along the way.

The book has elements of the magical and unknown in it – just what exactly happened to David, and why is it seemingly effecting the rest of the town?

I wish I had taken the time to read this in one sitting – it is certainly short enough to do so.

Overall a very unique book which I enjoyed reading! Strangely managed to do so whilst having a fever myself and being consigned to my bed for a few days… Irony?

I recommend this if you want a short, strange read from a very unique writer.

Submarine – Joe Dunthorne (Book Review)

After reading Joe Dunthorne’s latest book earlier this year, I was excited to revisit his most well known one, much thanks to Richard Ayoade’s film adaptation.

This hilarious coming-of-age novel follows Oliver Tate as he tries to find out why his father sometimes stays in bed for days at a time, why his mother is getting surfing lessons – and probably more – from a hippy-looking twonk, and as he tries to lose his virginity before it becomes legal – in just over a year.

I don’t often go for “coming-of-age” novels as such, but this one is a little bit more unique. Oliver Tate is a strange but intelligent teenager who seems almost a disinterested anarchist in his approach to life – especially towards his parents to whom his emotions seem mixed.

He enters into a relationship with an equally strange girl who has a bit of an obsession with fire, and is equally disinterested in entering an adult world which seems dull and peripheral.

Oliver, believing his mother to be having an affair, sets out to save his parents marriage in a way he seems most suitable – scaring off the potential partner.

The story is a little strange and at times a little weak. I do appreciate the dialogue in the text and Dunthorne has a very unique way of writing which is gripping and entertaining. That being said the story did seem a little simple, though I appreciate the emotional development as we begin to see Olivers true feelings towards his parents who he hypothetically dislikes, but in reality loves.

The film and book are fairly similar, and if you aren’t interested in reading it, it is worth watching for it’s eclectic atmosphere. I find stories set in English seaside towns to have a certain atmosphere which, having grown up in one myself, catches the real feeling of both desperation and community found there.

Day of the Oprichnik – Vladimir Sorokin (Book Review)

I haven’t read much modern Russian literature and so this is my first!

Moscow, 2028. A scream, a moan, and a death rattle slowly pull Andrei Danilovich Komiaga out of his drunken stupor. But wait—that’s just his ring tone. So begins another day in the life of an oprichnik, one of the czar’s most trusted courtiers—and one of the country’s most feared men.

In this new New Russia, where futuristic technology and the draconian codes of Ivan the Terrible are in perfect synergy, Komiaga will attend extravagant parties, partake in brutal executions, and consume an arsenal of drugs. He will rape and pillage, and he will be moved to tears by the sweetly sung songs of his homeland.

The book follows almost along the lines of the famous A Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich by Solzhenitsyn but from a different class of people altogether. We follow Andrei throughout an average day in his life, from waking up and going to bed. As a member of the feared oprichnina, his duties include serving the tsar and mostly this means stamping out anyone who wonder slander the regime. His first meeting the day involves the execution of a nobleman, and the rape of his wife – all for the glory of the state, of course.

As we follow his day we get a glimpse of this “New Russia” too, and see the open humiliation of those who hold different ideologies or break certain rules, such as swearing.

Though well-written an interesting in places, perhaps I missed a lot of nuance in this book due to not being overly familiar with certain happenings in modern Russia (this book often been considered as a sort of satire of it). The following along the lines of Ivan Denisovich is interesting though, and seeing a modern take on such a famous Russian classic was definitely worth the time taken.

There are certain scenes in this book which I found a little uncomfortable to read, and it’s likely that if you have read you will know which I am referring too. Perhaps I get that particular remark on Russian culture though…