A Wild Sheep Chase - Review

  That's right, readers... I go on an amazing holiday with amazing people, and all I want to do is talk about the latest book I have read. What can I say? I have strange priorities...

Book Review

A Wild Sheep Chase - Haruki Murakami

  I was stuck at the airport for hours in Tokyo, because I am a fantastic friend and opted to join the girls on their early morning airport pilgrimage rather than sleep a few hours extra and meet them in Korea. This meant I had time to kill in Narita Airport, so I alternated between snacking and eating for the most part. I was woken up by a crying child and figured there must be a better way to spend my time and I went wandering around and found some super well-stocked book shops. They had a great mix of Japanese and English books, so I stood in the English section for a good 30 minutes deciding what book I wanted to read. I was really happy to see plenty of Japanese books with English translations, so I picked up some that had the 'ol tag line of "best seller" on them. Many of them were by some guy named Murakami, so I grabbed one of his and flipped to the back to see what the deal was. To be honest, they all seemed a little, well, weird. Some borderline supernatural, some murder mysteries, some action, and some romance (are sex and romance the same thing?? I seriously doubt it, but I think you get my point). I ended up settling on a book called "A Wild Sheep Chase", which was apparently about a guy who goes looking for a lost magic sheep with his girlfriend who has ears that give her ESP. Ok, like I said, it was strange pickings. 

  Can I just say, it was the best thing I have read since "American Gods".

  The narrator is a recently divorced guy who, through strange circumstances, ends up being blackmailed into hunting for a lost sheep that was photographed by a friend. This sheep is kinda magic - it possesses people and they end up doing great things. I see now that the sheep must be a metaphor for something, but I am still thinking about this book and puzzling over what it could be. 

  Anyway the guy goes off with his new girlfriend on the hunt for the sheep, and ends up meeting people from his past on the way. I think the Narrator himself is a pretty messed up dude, and in a way going on this little sheep hunt is a way of him sorting through his own life. I wont give away the ending, but it certainly didn't end the way I thought it would, which I quite like in a book. I used to read a whole lot, so endings to stories tend to become rather predictable... This one ended badly but well fitting for the story. Some might actually say it was a happy ending of sorts. Have a read and tell me what you think I spose. 

  The book is writing in the first person, a style I am not accustomed to but fitted this story well. He ducks into the past at times, but tells these things as if he is talking to you real time. The author is descriptive without going into retarded detail, and keeps things on point. Certain parts of the story seemed a little irrelevant to me, but it all went towards character development so I guess it all worked out. So if you are reading, stick with the seemingly off bits. 

  Having just been in Japan and seeing certain sites mentioned, it was nice to put a real image to the places. The story is mainly set in areas in Northern Japan, and even if you have never been there (which I haven't) you can certainly get a feel about what its like. 

  I liked the main character. I felt like he was totally relatable, because everyone at some point knows what it feels like to simply feel, well, there. Just being present without actually being present. Utterly mediocre and static. He needed something to put him back into motion and remind him to live. I don't know what happens to him after the book, but in my head I have made up a great scenario for him, where things turn out well. Unfortunately I don't think that they would have... I think he may have gone the way of "Rat".

  An interesting side the the actual writing is that no one is named. Some people have nicknames, but not one person is actually named. I thought this was quite clever... 

  So anyway I really think you should read it. It was a good book, but kinda makes you think. Like I said earlier, I am still undecided about what the sheep actually represents. I googled it, and some people have said personal ambition, some religion/faith, some depression, some drugs. I honestly don't know. 

Side note on my holiday/vacation

  Yes, I went to Japan for 8 days and then back to Korea where I spent a drunken week in Busan with 2 of my Aussie friends. Nay is still here in Korea, so after she leaves and I have a bit more time, I will let everyone know what we got up to (G-rated version) and how the whole thing was. I also took some adorable videos of my kids for Summer Camp so I will get them up too. 

  I can already tell this next 6 months is gonna fly by... I signed my new contract yesterday with Songshin, so I am locked for another year in this mad place. I mean mad in the literal sense, not this whole "mad"/"cool"/"awesome" sense. Its crazy here, I am going to come home and need to be locked away in an asylum for another 12 months. I'll be mid-30's before I am fit for Australian society again. 

  So yeah I will update next week or something. No promises, because I break them all the time. 

xoxoxo

Book Review - Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen - Paul Torday

This book took me ages to finish because I was slack, not because it wasn't a good book. Let me break it down a bit...

Plot

  The story is I suppose centered around Dr. Alfred Jones, a Fisheries Scientist from England. Through a series of events he ends up working on a ridiculous project to introduce salmon for fishing to a river in Yemen. The story is told from a few different perspectives and people, in the form of diary entries, letter correspondence  email correspondence and interviews. 

  Although the story centers around the salmon, the true story is how the project affects the lives of the characters, and how they change and evolve. 

  The story is set in the UK, Scotland and Yemen. Although Dr. Jones in the key story-teller, I feel that the main character and catalyst for the story was the Sheikh who initiates and plans the project. The story isn't some religious tale, but there are questions asked about belief and and love. 

Character Development

  I would have loved to have actually heard things from the Sheikh's perspective. He was like this... mystical character that was never properly explored but you got a feel of him through the opinions of other characters. Which I guess is exactly how the author wanted it. One Character I didn't like was Peter Maxwell, who was an adviser to the English Prime Minister. He was a weak and annoying character in my opinion. 

  

  I would also loved to have seen what happened like, 5 years after the book finished. Just to see where everyone ended up. I didn't get enough closer, and I think it was because the characters were actually still evolving at the completion of the story. Certain people you never hear from again. 

  Harriet's character slid downhill dramatically. I didn't like that... I am a fickle person, because I hate predictable endings but at the same time I always enjoy a happy ever after. I think that's another reason why I felt the story unfinished and needed a "last chapter" to give all characters the happy ending (a non-sexual ending I mean). 

As a text...

  Look, I wouldn't use it for ESL. The fact that it jumps from character to character, and from one method of delivery to another, I don't feel it would be appropriate. Obvs this depends on what type of student you have - it could potentially be perfect for an upper high school kid you are tutoring or whatever. But I think it could be potentially a bit challenging  The language in it was decidedly British, and had many references to England. In saying that I had no trouble following even though There were lots of "transcripts" from the House of Commons and things like that which I have no idea about. 

  

  There was no swearing that I can remember, or anything inappropriate. There was one intimate scene that was tactfully mentioned, but on the whole nothing sexy or rude. It was relevant to the story without taking away from it. 

  I didn't really like the different medias. I think it should have been all journal, or a;; interviews, or all newspaper articles or whatever. I had a little trouble following timelines, but this seems to be the standard for me when I am reading books with multiple character (where the hell where Aragon and Legolas while Sam and Frodo were in Mordor? Where they in Rohan or Gondor? I have no idea). Still, it was well done. I guess I will need to hear someone else's opinion to see if it was me or the book. 

On the whole

  On the whole I really enjoyed the book. All of the books I have read this last few months have been different from each other and different from what I usually read. It made me think a little, but not too much. I think personally this type of story I prefer to have a bit more resonance with it... Like, I feel that the ultimate underlying message and theme was to have more faith. But I didn't come away from it thinking "wow, I need more faith myself, look what they achieved in the story". Maybe the book isn't supposed to do that.

  

  It has been made into a movie, I think with George Clooney, so over the weekend I will download it and watch it and see how they compare. If George is Alfred Jones (which I assume he will be) I will be a bit disappointed, because I imagined Alfred to be not very good looking and we all know George Clooney is a silver fox. 

  So yes, I liked the book, and I would tell other people to read it. There wasn't really anything I disliked about it, although I would have changed the ending. I'll not tell you what happened in case you a) haven't read the book or b) haven't seen the film. If you haven't done either of these things then I think you should. 

Now Jess, I will return the book to you at some point. Over toast perhaps?

In other news...

  The school Principal was a jerk to me earlier today. I said hello and did a super low bow and he glanced at me then pretended I wasn't there. So I have decided that he is a racist. Another cross in the Songshin box.

Yes, I am probably going to do a second year here. Sorry to people at home who have to find out this way but there you go. I love life here too much and I just don't want to come home yet. But, I will be coming home for Christmas and New Year so please get ready Melbourne. I want an EPIC New Year, doing something fun and getting hammered. 

  I haven't decided if I want to stay around here or move closer to the city, but I guess all that depends on what is happening school/budget/job wise over the next few months. I will get back in contact with my recruiter at some point and see what the options are. 

  Guys, again, I am not worried about North Korea. I mean, I am worried about issues that are fermenting in that whole region, but I am not worried about an invasion. I trust that both the ROK and US will look after the whole situation and keep everyone in South Korea safe. I know some of you are worried (Mum, I am talking mainly to you here) about what I would do in an emergency... The Australian Embassy knows I am here and I am sure they will contact me. I have given Smart Traveller my updated details so they can also locate me. If I was evacuated Jess will look after Milky, and we will make Sangwon promise not to eat him. And then when everything settles down either go back and keep teaching, or have Milky flown home. Honestly though, I really don't want to leave and I don't think it will come to that. The general mood here is that everyone feels safe and are really not too concerned about the threats. The Military are concerned, but that's their job. My job is teaching (ha) not worrying about invasion. If I had to leave I would be worried sick about all my kids and my friends here.

Peace out, Citizens

xoxoxox

Book review - Dodger

Ok, so I have not reviewed a book since high school, and it for for an assignment. I am not pretending that I am any good at book reviews so please hold back judgement and harsh criticism (but constructive feedback and opinions are always welcome!). There is a bit of a spoiler alert, so sorry in advance. I did really enjoy this book, it was light-hearted and easy to read. I give it 3 and a half paws outta 5.

Dodger - Terry Pratchett

Pic courtesy of Wikipedia, cover design by  Paul Kidby

Basic plot

This book is set in London sometime during the early years of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and the main protagonist is Dodger. This character is clearly based on the well known Artful Dodger (a character of Charles Dickens, who incidently is also a character in the story) but as a young man living pretty much on the streets as a tosher. In this tale the young Dodger happens across some men beating up on a girl and comes to her rescue. He then makes it his primary concern to see that she is kept safe from the people trying to hurt her. He makes some unlikely friends and finds help in unlikely places, and ultimately the boy gets the girl and there are happy endings all round. Sorry for ruining the ending but there you go.

My thoughts?

I think my favorite character was Simplicity, the girl that Dodger rescues and falls in love with. She has a back story that you never actually get to hear about but is hinted at, and I like that I can kind of invent her story myself. You have enough sketchy details to make it cool. And I really like how she saw past the fact the Dodger is a street rat. 

Something about the whole thing reminded me of the latest 3 Musketeers movie (the one that come out some time in the 2000's, with the young super cute guy) where the lowly unlikely hero ends up dining with royalty and gets the pretty lady. 

The funniest thing is I don't usually read these types of stories, I usually prefer something more serious. I also used to go mental for a good sci-fi fantasy story but I have gone off them a bit recently. 

Writing?

It is well written. But it should be, Terry Pratchett is a really famous author so if it was bad it would be a worry. The English is easy to read and follow, unlike some books I have read that try and use "old English". I look at books now and try and decide what level of reader it would be suitable for. If they had reasonable good comprehension this book is suitable for high level middle school, there is a little bit of violence but nothing too bad, a bit of kissing but only really light and cute. No sex or sexual references. No innuendo  There are some very uncommon expressions and metaphors that ESL learners would have trouble with but it might make for a good conversation topic. I would think it could potentially be used for high school or adult reading classes, none of the words were too bad for pronunciation and all that but I have never had to pick a book for this sort of thing before. 

If we were at home and I was teaching a class of Australian students I think it would actually be a fun book to use for reading activities. I have no idea what age it is aimed at but I would think older teens would have no problems, and even younger teens might enjoy it. 

I have never read any of Mr. Pratchett's other books, but I know he is famous for the Discworld novels... I did enjoy this book so maybe I will give some of his other stuff a try. 

So, i'm not sure... in reviews am I supposed to talk about themes? Because I don't really know much about this type of thing. 

When I read books I try not to over analyse things. Some books stay with me for a long time after I read them, and even then I don't know if I would want to start dissecting it. So I won't do it for this one either (or any of the other ones I may or may not review). All up, yes, I would recommend this story for a light, easy read. Was it one of the most amazing stories ever? No. It was not a serious read although I suppose there were some darker themes in it. 

:D

In other news...

I am still trying to figure out exactly how this school calender works. It seems that now I have no classes until March, and the students actually have the last 2 weeks of February off for 'spring break'. So I will be desk warming until then. On the plus side we have a seriously long weekend coming up, I get the Friday, Monday AND Tuesday off for Lunar New Year. So thats super cool. I just wish I had known sooner cos I might have been able to plan something fun. 

I am really sad at school that one of my co workers is leaving. Jeong I will miss you!!!! Who will I talk to at school now?!?!?!?! But good luck with your studying. 

The first of my Korea friends is going home soon. And so comes to pass the things I have been dreading - saying goodbye to friends. I know this was to be expected, but that doesn't mean I am happy about it. I like to think that the friendships I am making here in Korea will be life long but I know how hard it is to keep in contact with people you don't see every day. Look at high school! Pretty much all of us still live in the same state and we never catch up. So I know it will be hard for my friends overseas. I must be very diligent about keeping in contact and staying connected. And the longer I am here and the more we all hang out the closer everyone gets. I am gonna cry like a baby when my besties start dropping off. Thank God Jess is here forever wuahahahahaha.

Anyway, signing out for now. I'm starting another book today so maybe after the weekend I will have another stupidly written review for ya.

xoxoxoxo