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New Statesman
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Customer Reviews
I was excited, feeling I'd found a book that was about to do what I like books to do, not get bogged down in plot, but explore character, quirks and observations.
The first story/tale/segment/chapter, "Reading a Wave" was intriguing. I enjoyed it. I felt there was plenty of Mr Palomar in his reading of a wave, and felt I was getting to know this character, through his observations, and his inclination to actually be watching a wave.
The second, "The Naked Bosom", too, gave me an insight into Mr Palomar, who by now I liked. I loved the humour in that short piece.
Then, I started to drift. Perhaps I was a bad reader, perhaps this book cannot be done justice a chapter a night, in bed, but the next, longer piece, felt quite external to me, and I started losing Mr Palomar. I started to get bored by his observations and thought patterns in a way I didn't expect. I like minutiae, I like contemplation, I like obsessions written down, but this, to me, was too much reading about things in which I was not interested. It started to feel like a catalogue.
I did enjoy Mr Palomar's thoughts on tortoises, blackbirds, the moon, cheese, goose fat...there are sparks of bleak humour throughout, and glimpses of Mr Palomar, but I found myself scanning sections of text, willing the next section to come along in the hope that it would grip me more.
I plan to re-read this book of short pieces, perhaps more carefully, because thinking about it now, and looking back at sections whilst writing this review, I am sure I should like it more than I did on first reading. Reading the back again, it sounds just the sort of book I should love! I feel the book deserves, and perhaps needs, a very careful, uninterrupted reading, in which you can completely immerse yourself in all observations and details.
The stars rating is tricky. I was left feeling slightly disappointed, but looking back, there are such brilliant moments, and I adore the matter-of-fact style of writing, and exploration of "the thingness of things" as one reviewer puts it, through this lovely character, that I have to rate it highly.
Sorry for the slightly confused tone of this review.
Did I like it, then? No, or I would have given it four stars. But if I disliked it, is it right to give it only two stars when the reasons for my disliking it might have been my own inability to grasp whatever point the author was making? Or am I entitled to give a book two stars because I did not like it, my reasons for not liking it being irrelevant? Is there anyone out there who is going to be swayed by a two or four star review, or will everyone make up their own mind? Is there anyone out there at all? Is there any point to this book? Is there any point to this review? I like to review the books I finish, so here is the review. But can I be said to have finished the book if large portions of it went misunderstood? Or did I really misunderstand it or is it actually a bit of a tease for readers to play with? Is not understanding it a perfectly valid reaction? Well, it's given me a bit of food for thought, so maybe I should give it three stars. But, in giving it three stars, am I stating a genuine opinion or just sitting on the fence? Maybe I should re-read the book. But if I'm considering re-reading a book, doesn't that in itself mean it warrants more than three stars? Maybe, if you've waded through my own pontifications you should try Mr Palomar's, which are far more literate. But if they've just got you irritated maybe you should leave this book alone.
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