It’s Monday! has been in repeat mode for the past few week as I’ve slowly, sadly read Vera Brittain’s memoir of her WW1 experiences in The Testament of Youth.
But this week will see it draw to a close. It has been such an emotional read and so consuming that I’m struggling to see what book might fill its place.
During the past few weeks, I have also knocked over a few quick, easy teen reads for light relief, so I don’t need more of that. (Although there was nothing easy or light about The Ghosts of Heaven by Marcus Sedgwick – see review below).
How do you solve the dilemma of what to read next?
This time, this book, this ‘what next’ I will resort to a well-known phrase from the Monty Python gang “and now for something completely different!”
The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro
An extraordinary new novel from the author of Never Let Me Go and the Booker Prize-winning “You’ve long set your heart against it, Axl, I know. But it’s time now to think on it anew.
The Buried Giant begins as a couple set off across a troubled land of mist and rain in the hope
Sometimes savage, often intensely moving, Kazuo Ishiguro’s first novel in nearly a
Winner of the 2013 David Unaipon Award
In this award-winning work of fiction, Ellen van Neerven takes her readers on a journey that is
mythical, mystical and still achingly real.
Over three parts, she takes traditional storytelling and gives it a unique, contemporary twist.
In ‘Heat’, we meet several generations of the Kresinger family and the legacy left by the mysterious Pearl.
In ‘Water’, a futuristic world is imagined and the fate of a people threatened.
In ‘Light’, familial ties are challenged and characters are caught between a desire for freedom
and a sense of belonging.
Heat and Light presents an intriguing collection while heralding the arrival of an exciting
new talent in Australian writing.
(Apologies to those of you who use intensedebate comments. I’ve tried everything to create an account/log in, but I simply cannot leave comments on your blogs.)
This Reading Life 
I'm keen to read The Buried Giant but worried I won't appreciate it as a should (given my somewhat prosaic taste!!!).Deb
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I'm with Deborah on this one, although I do have itvon my TBR in case I am ever feeling a bit intellectual. HAHA Here's my post: http://ebogie.blogspot.com/2015/03/its-monday-what-are-you-reading-39.html
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I'm really eager to read The Buried Giant, although I don't think I'll be able to get to it right away. Sigh…. There are just too many books to read!
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This book sounds amazing, looking forward to hearing what you end up thinking of it! I just finished a book, so I'm in that limbo state of not knowing what to read next haha.
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Enjoy The Buried Giant, it's on my list!Shelleyrae @ Book'd Out
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I figure a new release is my reward for reading a classic that has been sitting on my TBR pile for nearly a year 🙂
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The Buried Giant is on my list, it'll be my first Kazuo Ishiguro … just not sure when I'll get to it. Happy reading 🙂
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I hope to read Buried Giant before the author comes to visit here in Houston in three weeks. Just waiting for the book to arrive…Here's my It's Monday!
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I read Never Let Me Go last year for a book club, so it may be a while before I read another by this author. Many of my reading selections are deadline driven–starting a book because the book club meeting is next week, or because it's due back at the library and can't be renewed. But in between I challenge myself to see how many other books I can read before those deadlines.My recap: http://www.bookclublibrarian.com/2015/03/weekly-book-recap-101.html
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The Testament of Youth sounds like a very intense read, but one that I would like to undertake at some point. If a deadline (book club, readalong, etc) does not dictate my next read, I usually sit down with a small stack of books and read the first several pages or chapter of each. Usually one fits my mood better than the others.
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I've heard a lot of great things about the new Ishiguro but I was one of those weirdos who didn't love Never Let Me Go. I will interested to see what you think of it, though!
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I see Testament of Youth has recently been released as a film.I decide what to read next much the same as JoAnn. I select a number of books and read a few pages of each. I usually find that one booktakes over.Yvonnehttp://adarngoodread.blogspot.com.au
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Like you I didn't love Never Let me Go…I didn't hate it, but I was very much 'really? what's all the fuss about?'But I did adore Remains of the Day, which is why I've decided to give this one a go 🙂
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ToY, the movie, won't be released in Australia until Anzac Day…which is partly why I wanted to read the book now :-)And also parttly thanks to the Jon Snow connection as well 😀
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I totally understand your situation with Testament – I just finished A Little Life and was the same way afterwards. I went for a light, fun, and completely different \”recovery book\” to follow it.
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I must check out your review of A Little Life – it's not yet available in Australia but it sounds intriguing.
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