Noble Savage (Pere Atzil)

 By Dudu Busi

[Also titled as Noble Brute]

Since we can't simply go to the library and pick a book nowadays, I had to read a book I own while waiting for the book I ordered to become ready for pick-up. I hadn't realized that I read it so long ago -- in 2004. For some reason it seemed a lot more recent. I thought I remembered quite clearly what happened in the book, but was surprised upon re-reading the extremity of some of the events. This book tells the story of a boy who is the son of a divorced drug-addict mother and a crazy artist. He's fat and in love with the most beautiful girl in his school. The book is written from his point view a few years later, when he's 21, and describes the events happening when he was around 15. The language is very casual, which makes is a super fast read. It is funny and shocking. I just learned that it was also adapted to a movie, and I can tell just by viewing the trailer, that they've taken some serious liberties... [Hebrew; 270 pp.]

Link to book

Lucy Gayheart

 By Willa Cather

I so love reading Willa Cather's books. They are just beautiful works of art. They are grounded in life and they pull you in. This one was particularly beautiful (though it may be just because it's the last one of hers I've read -- I feel similarly every time I read/finish reading one of her books). 

Lucy, as her name last name suggests, is a joyous young woman, and spreads light and happiness wherever she goes. But that doesn't mean life only gives her roses. Growing up in a little Nebraska town, she studies music in Chicago, where she gets involved with a famous singer. But that's just a simplified summary, the actual story is way more complex. [208 pp.]

I just can't stress enough how much I like reading Willa Cather's books. I want there to be a thousand more of them. 

Link to book

Robinson Crusoe (The Life & Adventures of Robinson Crusoe)

By Daniel Defoe

This was an interesting read in terms of how it was written in contemporary, or even earlier English (mid 17th century) and seeing how spelling was different there. A constant reminder that this isn't happening in our time, or even a couple of centuries ago, because otherwise, in terms of the Human Condition, nothing really has changed. Sure, some norms were different (for example, I was quite disappointed that he never even asked what Friday's actual name was!). It was also a little frustrating that there's not much mention of tropical fruits that might have been found in the island - The only fruit he regularly harvested was grapes. I'm not a native fruit expert, but I'm sure there must have been more than that he could have tried. 

Religious sentiments are rampant in this book (another thing that reminds one of the time this book was written), which was a bit excessive. And there were some very long descriptions of minutia that were quite tedious, which made it take me quite a long time to read (though I did finish it about 10 days ago). But overall, it was, as I said, interesting. This edition also included reports on Alexander Selkirk, who was in part the inspiration of this story. [318 pp. including notes]

Link to book  (This is a later print. I read the one from 1972, Penguin English Library)

When All The World Was Young

By Ferroll Sams

This is the third part of the trilogy, where Porter Osborn Jr. is entering med school only to deliberately flunk it on the second year, so he can join the fighting forces. After some training and a lot more waiting spent due to bureaucracy, Sambo is finally sent to France as part of a General Hospital. Throughout the book, he is exposed to people of diverse backgrounds, helping him further to learn more about himself and reassess assumptions he was born into. It is interesting to see, how even though the young man (and the boy he was in the first two books) is always very sensitive and open minded, he still holds on to referring to the Civil War as War Between the States, and to honor the Confederate leaders while feeling bad at setting foot on streets or hotels named after Union Generals. [604 pp.]

The Whisper of the River

By Ferrol Sams

The second in the trilogy, this book covers college years for young Porter Osborne, Jr. Race, religion and sex are the major themes, while WWII looms in the background. Pranks are plentiful (at times very immature) and humor is widespread, with occasional moments of tearing up. Second read was a bit more attentive than first, since I didn't have to rush through it as before, but impressions remained quite the same, as far as I can tell. [528pp.]

Link to book

The Master and Margarita

By Mikhail Bulgakov

This is a second reading, about 23 years or so after the first. It was not quite as I remembered. Perhaps I am now seeing things through other people's eyes as well as my own, and my criticism and/or sensitivity levels are increased. I remembered this book as much more humorous and more focused than it seemed on this read. It is still interesting and worth the read if you're into magic realism. Also, this edition contains many helpful notes that explain the historical and political context of the book. [412pp.]

Link to book.

Run with the Horsemen

By Ferrol Sams

This is a second reading. The first one was quite rushed (though not as rushed as the 2 following books in the trilogy). This reading was quite as I remembered it from just about 3 years ago. Funny, fun, and heartwarming. [422 pp.]

Link to my Trilogy Bookcover project