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My final book to read from this years Booker longlist and there might have been a reason I held off for so long. I must have intuited Levy was not for me. In actual fact I liked the writing but I found the entire thing very “meh” as a whole as well as needlessly obtuse. It is quite an emotionally “cold” book but luckily it is short !

This was a beautiful book that I found myself totally immersed in. It had me stopping mid-sentence to think about the meaning of things - how our history defines us, how perspective is everything, and how brief moments can change us. Thanks @Rissreads for putting this in my hands.

It's official. This book is not the right read for me right now. Maybe I will try again some other time.

Edit-I probably should have made this a review.

Just starting this one.

I don't know how I feel about this book. It's interesting and not interesting at the same time. I've seen comments from Littens that suggest there is a lot of symbolism. Should I seek out that information now or wait until I'm finished reading (if I even decide to finish)?

Litsy is full of #beautifulstranger (s) who have become beautiful friends. And this lovely little package and card arrived today as a reminder of that. Thank you Nerrisa @Rissreads for your thoughtfulness 💜#movember

Saul Adler, the main character in this book, is not a very likeable character, but the way Levy places him in the middle of the turbulent second half of Europe‘s 20th century is brilliant.

I can‘t say much without spoiling things, but be prepared that even the smallest details recur, reform, and return with new significance and meaning in Saul‘s struggle to bring order to his life and story.

#booker
(Pic: Dutch skies)

Such a great new idea from @Cinfhen , to do a #weeklyforecast on Sunday followed by a#Bookreport on Saturday!

I started the tagged book today and when it‘s as good as other Levy‘s, I‘ll finish it soon. Then I will start The Lowland for the #ReadingUSA2019 challenge, a book I have been dreading for years, I don‘t know why. On @SerialReader and hardcopy I started The Princess of Cleves, a #1001read. This will take a while I think.

It's hard to say very much about this without spoilers, so I'll just confine myself to saying that it is beautifully written and teeming with ideas. If you want a linear story it is not for you, but if you want something to chew on you couldn't do better.

This book looks at the way we see ourselves and the way others see us. Also how our interpretations of events can differ from others, and how memories can change over time. Deborah Levy's writting is exquisite. The story unfolds in 2 parts about the narrator but nothing is as it seems. If you like books with clear beginnings and endings then this is NOT the book for you. It's a puzzle with no clear answers but one that is a joy to be a part of.

Latest read.
🧡💛 I'm loving it so far. 💙💚

I finished this on Sunday, but needed time to let it sink, because that ENDING.

In the 1st part we meet Saul Adler in 1988. He‘s hit by a car as he crosses the road, but he gets up and continue his day and future plans as nothing happened. In the 2nd part there‘s a time jump to 2016, and Saul‘s been in another car accident (?) and everything you thought you knew from the 1st part, are questioned.

A book about family, siblings and the truth

Next up.

I‘ve seen a lot of love for Hot Milk, and I hope this is a good place to start reading Levy. This novel was also on this year‘s Booker Longlist.

So happy when a new Deborah Levy book arrives! I read the first page straight away - marvellous writing!

Saul, young historian, was hit by a car while crossing the famous Abbey Road, and from there on the reader is thrown into his self-obsessed thoughts, his relations with family, love and the world. It‘s difficult to say anything else about the content, because the narration and the structure is set up in quite twisty way and could be easily spoiled. Enigmatic story about inner and outer walls, beautiful language with some very vivid and ... 👇

Levy is kinda brilliant. This sly, subtle novel is ultimately about human connection and how one can “see” and remember another person or situation. The MC Saul is very focused on his own outer beauty, and never really connects with those around him. This observation is frequently mixed with references to mirrors and photos, which can capture an image without really conveying much of what‘s behind it. 👇🏻

What a difference in the covers!

I wasn't sure what to expect with this one based on her previous books. Saul studies the GDR in the 80s, never felt like he fitted in with his working class, communist father. He wears a set of pearls from his mother, a child refugee from Nazi Germany, and likes a bit of blue eyeliner. I liked how Saul's experiences in Berlin were beyond cliche.

Total Books Read July 2019: 24

Audio: 2
eBook: 10
Print: 12

Library: 7
Purchased: 5
Review: 12

Asia 2019 Project: 4
Women in Translation: 6
Man Booker Longlist: 1

http://readingenvy.blogspot.com/2019/07/books-read-july-2019-160-183.html

#Netgalley #ManWhoSawEverything #ARC #BookerPrize2019

This book ticked almost all my boxes I loved it. Love the way everything is turned upside down by the 2nd half

Full review here https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/2914618930

This doesn't come out in the states until October but this might be the book that finally wins Deborah Levy her Man Booker Prize! I love how it starts as one kind of novel and then plays with expectations, while the writing is still able to resonate deeply with the reader. This is a novel to be experienced so don't read a lot about it, just read it.