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mh_books's Reviews (1.12k)
I was a teenager when the Berlin wall came down and so my geography lessons learned in school were about a world where countries such as the USSR and Czechoslovakia existed. Unfortunately, as an adult, I never took the time to learn about these both New and very, very old Countries of Europe that have emerged now that communism has lost much of its stronghold. Fortunately for me, this is now changing as in my work we are beginning to collaborate more and more with these formerly Soviet countries (thanks to the EU). So I guess I really should have read this book a long time ago as, for instance, it might have helped to know a little about Albania before we started that collaboration last year.
Written in 2006/7 Michael Pailin visited a lot the countries he too had heard very little of as part of a travel program he was making with the BBC. He writes with good humor and a genuine interest, hope and kindness for the places and people he meets along the way. The historical facts are interesting (though I see from another review that the Bulgarian history may be inaccurate). His hope that Europe can be unified by co-operation shines through the book (I am guessing from this he was anti Brexit).
Unfortunately, though for my personal rating of the book, there were just too many countries and too much history to keep straight. I felt like I have felt when I have spent too long in a Museum or Art Gallery, I love the places at first but after a few hours my headaches from the information overload. Nevertheless, It has renewed my interest in traveling to every Country in the EU (and now those that are looking to join). It will also be a handy reference book for when I do so as it gives a snapshot in time of these countries, before the world recession but recently after communism. It will be interesting to see how my own opinions compare to Palin’s at the time.
Written in 2006/7 Michael Pailin visited a lot the countries he too had heard very little of as part of a travel program he was making with the BBC. He writes with good humor and a genuine interest, hope and kindness for the places and people he meets along the way. The historical facts are interesting (though I see from another review that the Bulgarian history may be inaccurate). His hope that Europe can be unified by co-operation shines through the book (I am guessing from this he was anti Brexit).
Unfortunately, though for my personal rating of the book, there were just too many countries and too much history to keep straight. I felt like I have felt when I have spent too long in a Museum or Art Gallery, I love the places at first but after a few hours my headaches from the information overload. Nevertheless, It has renewed my interest in traveling to every Country in the EU (and now those that are looking to join). It will also be a handy reference book for when I do so as it gives a snapshot in time of these countries, before the world recession but recently after communism. It will be interesting to see how my own opinions compare to Palin’s at the time.
Why I really really enjoyed this book, I did not enjoy it as much as Kafka on the Shore. I don’t what this is? Maybe it’s because I had the flu for most of it, maybe it was the narrators voice which was a little grating (I listened to it on audible), maybe it’s the war or politics that form an essential part of the story or maybe nothing is quite as good as your first experience or Murakami?
Saying all of that I am a Huge fan of Murakami’s brand of surrealist magical realism. Dozen’s of magical tales interweave themselves in not particular chronological order but if you relax (think of yourself as being in a dark quiet place, maybe a well) it all has an overriding theme and makes sense. At the heart of the story is a deep and overriding love of a man for his wife and what he will do to get her back.
I will get this in hardcopy sometime to see if the narrator affected my love of the story. Meanwhile on to 1Q84……
Selkies are Scottish mythological seals who can shed their skin to become human on land. This tale follows the narrative of the most common story told legend.
With this old legend comes a problematic beginning to this story and I am not sure the author was able to justify the initial behaviour of Arthur or his mother. However, despite my protests, Su Bristow eventually won me over with this slow burning tale set on the West Coast of Scotland of what it means to be human.
With this old legend comes a problematic beginning to this story and I am not sure the author was able to justify the initial behaviour of Arthur or his mother. However, despite my protests, Su Bristow eventually won me over with this slow burning tale set on the West Coast of Scotland of what it means to be human.
