I'm doing really well lately.
I tend to read a lot of disposable pulp when i'm not catching up on all my back-reading of "Good Weekend"s.
This was my first Tim Winton, and he was a pleasure to bed nightly. The story doesn't really 'go' anywhere - it's more a window, a history, a story, of lives, of homes, family, people.
But that's what makes it completely perfect.
I didn't recommend it to my husband, who prefers the Inspector Rebus style of "whodunnit, hediddit, gogeddim".
But i'd recommend it generally, to people who like to read and think and relate, and enjoy reading for it's own sake.
Now, don't get me wrong, I enjoy the Inspector too, and we've read all the various Patricia Cornwells and James Patersons too, when they were pulping them out.
I just don't like to see their titles on my bookshelf.
Pulp.
We tend to 'pass them on'.
Call me a snob ( I know I can be ), but I only like 'thoughtful' books on my shelves.
Ones I will read again and again in a lifetime, and that leave a scent of memory when the final page is closed.
"Cloudstreet", you can stay.
16 comments:
I really, really loved Cloudstreet. I know it sounds like a cliche but it truly is the Great Australian Novel - well I think so. I also saw a theatre production of it where some of the actors actually flung themselves into Sydney Harbour as part of the ending of the play! It was the middle of summer, so they were OK ;-)
I read Dirt Music before Cloudstreet and prefer the former, though they are both so wonderfully Australian. So love to hear such genuine enthusiasm for books!
And you know, I don't consider Rebus pulp at all, and would definitely reread the series. So thoughtful, so tortured. The rest you mentioned, pah, rubbish, I agree :-)
I too was going to to mention Dirt Music but LC got there before me LOL
Tim winton is a Great Australian author
Try to get hold of a copy of Angus and Robertson's Top 100 List - you'll find some good books recommended there
Cathy
I haven't read Cloudstreet (yet) but when we were living in Melbourne, some national radio show did a daily reading from it as a sort of send-up (one sentence a day with a seagull soundtrack squawking in the background.) It was pretty funny...I never got any grasp of the story, but it cracked me up anyway.
Cloudstreet is one of my favourite books - I love everything that Tim Winton has ever written. They can all stay on my bookshelf as well :)
Well after that glowing review I will give it a try.
Gee, you *are* a book snob. *heehee*
I generally pass on most of my books too and hold on to any that I actually really love.
Nothing wrong with being a book snb (says a fellow book snot), it means you have fine, refined taste!
A couple of years I did a cull of books I was embarrassed to have on my shelves (several old pulp fiction titles) and I released them into the wild (bookcrossing.com) Only one has ever been recorded as being picked up!
I listened to Dirt Music in the car, and while that wasn't a great susccess for me (not an auditory person) I did get the gist of it being a fantastic book, which I must read.
I haven't read Cloudstreet, but I loved Dirt Music. It must have had a similar plot -or non plot, but the writing is wonderful.
clearly I need to read before I hit publish - snb, snot - sigh.
Oooh, I've read Dirt Music and Cloud Street! Finally a book post I can personally relate too. Yay!
I am so with you having a bookshelf you can be proud of. I don't mind a bit of Patricia Cornwall or even the odd Dan Brown, Marilyn Keyes or Maeve Binchy when the mood strikes, but I won't let them grace my shelves. They go in a box ready for the second hand book shop.
The Thomas Hardies, Ian McEwans, Carol Shields, they can all stay. So much more respectable!
I think Cloudstreet is Tim Winton's best. I found his others a bit disappointing in comparison. Sorry, don't mean to burst your Tim Winton bubble.
I'm with Stacey. I adored Cloudstreet but can't stand anything else the man has written. And I'm with Nutmeg - I think it's the great australian novel too.
I loved Telfair's comment. Does anyone remember the radio send up of Brideshead Revisited, called Brunswick Heads Revisited? Australian version, set in the caravan park at Brunswick Heads up near Byron. There's a true Australian classic for you.
I'm wondering if I'm over book-snobbery. I loved these Tim Wintons too, and have a few other earlier novellas. I've thoroughly enjoyed them all.
We have SO MANY books on the shelves and I've dispensed with most of the trash already, but it may be time to donate lots & lots to a worthy cause. How many am I really ever going to reread?
OOOh, Cloudstreet is my favourite Tim Winton. I loved it. Tim Winton is a fantastic writer.
(Ps....I'm a bit of a book snob myself. But I hide all the trash downstairs!)
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