Books on my Nightstand
There
are so many books on my reading list right now that I can barely keep up with
what I’ve written to my Evernote
wish list. For the lazy days of this Easter holiday, I chose two books : the
first person narrative by Nathan Filer, The Shock of the Fall and the quirky, utterly unique story of The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared by Jonas
Jonasson, that would take me out of my reading comfort zone. Both books are
bestsellers-page turners, with suspense and unexpected depths concealed (or
not!) beneath the dark humour. I’m so glad I bought a copy of both, as I wouldn’t
be able to appreciate their stunning cover design and embossed feel with an e-reader.
The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer: A
novel that deals with fragile, often well hidden parts of life, mental illness
(schizophrenia) and family grief. An emotional journey is bravely narrated and to
my surprise is analysed without much sentimentality, but often treated with
dark humour, by the patient – hero of the book. So vividly, he explains: "Mental illness turns people inwards.
That’s what I reckon. It keeps us forever trapped by the pain of our own minds,
in the same way that the pain of a broken leg or a cut thumb will grab your
attention, holding it so tightly that your good leg or your good thumb seem to
cease to exist." p. 277
Despite
the fact that the main event of the story is revealed in the first chapter of
the book, "I’ll tell you what happened
because it will be a good way to introduce my brother. His name’s is Simon. I
think you are going to like him. I really do. But in a couple of pages he’ll be
dead. And he was never the same after that." p.5, there was an underlying
suspense throughout that kept me turning the pages and refused to let it go
until I had finished it. I believe it’s a groundbreaking story that well
deserves to be shared with other readers!
I am half-way
through The Hundred-Year-Old Man Who Climbed Out of the Window and Disappeared
and I will report back next month.
Please leave a comment letting me know of any books you highly
recommend – I’m always looking to add to my reading list.
Επειδή, το βιβλίο The Shock of the Fall δεν έχει
μεταφραστεί μέχρι τώρα στα ελληνικά, η σημερινή ανάρτηση είναι μόνο στα
αγγλικά. Αν όμως θέλετε να δείτε βιβλία που στο παρελθόν έχουν περάσει από το
κομοδίνο και την κουζίνα μου, μπορείτε να ρίξετε μία ματιά εδώ, εδώ, εδώ , εδώ και
εδώ.