Guardian Newspaper 1000 Novels discussion

Here is the thread for May 2017's War and Travel read.

I actually jumped the gun and read it already (thoughts to come)! Who else will be joining? It got 5/6 votes in the poll, so I'm expecting a rousing discussion!

I need to get this from the library - probably towards the middle of the month.

I've already bought my copy!
but won't be starting it for a week or two...

I just started the audiobook (luckily my library had THIS one).

I'm not really sure what's going on....

My library hold has come in so I will be starting today or tomorrow.

I have started but am a little put off. Not sure if I really want to continue but will at least read the first 50 - 100 pages before deciding...

I'm about 100 pages in and enjoying it so far - diary form of young guy getting involved in bohemian radical poets society in Mexico City (and discovering girls!) - presume a plot element is due along soon...

I don't know how many pages in I am as I've got the audiobook, but I hope an actual plot shows up.

I'm 140-odd pages in now, and most of the rest of the book looks like it's going to be a series of short "witness statements" - so a large number of different POV's, but characters revisited to string longer threads together and hopefully an overall picture will emerge...
the individual sections are mostly little gems in themselves though, so it's still holding my attention...

So it'll get better? So far, it's just a bunch of random pretentious poetry and smut! I mean, I'm no prude. But if we're going to have sex talk, can we have some plot, too?

I wouldn't get your hopes up for a plot! I'm 180-odd pages in now and the kaleidoscope of mini-chapters continues - I'm getting into the swing of it now though and really enjoying it.
(the sex talk has eased off to a large extent though, if that helps!)

Kaycie - Thankyou so much for nominating this
I had it ear-marked for 2018, but v.glad to have brought it forward
immersive experience (although I can easily imagine some people not liking it at all) - just can't put it down now!
200 pages to go, and already not wanting it to end...
:oD

I am glad that you enjoyed it Darren, and I agree with you. I think if some of the readers are looking for a solid plot, they will be disappointed by the end. Fortunately, I read 2666 before starting this, and so I knew what to expect from Bolano - basically that plots are less tangible things than one may realize, and that it is up to each individual reader to sort of assemble it for themselves.

Personally, I enjoyed this more than 2666, but probably because I spent the entirety of that gigantic novel searching for the plot. For TSD, I was able to just sit back and let it wash over me.

In the end, I don't love Bolano or his style, but this novel was a change from the usual, and I did end up getting really into the book - unable to put it down, as Darren has mentioned. I do wish there was more to tie it together in the end, but I was still satisfied enough by the ending of this one to be happy that I completed it.

went on a bit in the mid section, but churlish to mark it down from 5 Stars

My Review:
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...