I thought this novel, undeniably full of vile language and barbaric behaviour, was a great read. What does that say about me?
Before I knew it was a noI thought this novel, undeniably full of vile language and barbaric behaviour, was a great read. What does that say about me?
Before I knew it was a novel, the TV series hooked and reeled me in, and I wondered how such a storyline could be effectively translated from book to screen. Now I’ve read the novel, the adaption was, in my opinion, done very well and I would consider watching the series again, with fresh and convinced eyes.
In contrast to many favourable responses, there are some who have written excellent reviews expressing distaste for this text. I respect this, I really do. We are lucky to respectfully share opposing views on this platform.
For me, this novel worked.
Some of the landscape scenes were notable: “There is open water stretching to the south of them, but to the north, a granular and monotone landscape of ice boulders and melt pools, sculpted smooth by wind in places, but elsewhere cragged, roughened and heaved upright into sharp-edged moguls by the alternations of the seasons and dynamisms of temperature and tide.”
Ian McGuire did also write in a way that made me shiver with the iciness and wince at the foul odours – and yes, there were quite a few unpleasant descriptions of god-awful stenches. No euphemisms used here.
I was curious to know if he had researched the legitimacy of the profanity uttered by his characters and pleased to see he was interviewed about this at the end of the book: “… no one really knows how 19th century whalers talked, so what I tried to do was to imagine a plausible and (just as importantly) lively and interesting version of the 19th century whaler-speak. They’re clearly not speaking contemporary English but they’re not speaking a more usual Dickensian version of Victorian English either. I wanted it to be somewhere in-between those alternatives – to feel old, but old in an unfamiliar kind of a way. There is a lot of inventive swearing in ‘The North Water’, but they’re working-class men squeezed together for several months in a dangerous and hostile environment so it made sense to me that they would sear almost constantly.”
Maybe that serves both as a spoiler and warning?
Minor quibble = at times, dialogue was separated from the text or description leading up to it which meant it jumped a line and made it initially unclear which character was speaking. ...more
Why would I swoon over a children’s book published in 1954 and given to me a decade later? Why would th10 BIG and BRIGHT stars from me! Read many times.
Why would I swoon over a children’s book published in 1954 and given to me a decade later? Why would this review end up being one of the longest I would write?
It’s often about the context.
In this case, the context of childhood experiences that can reappear and become gloriously exaggerated at the other end of our lives. A context that allows us to feel sentimental for a while, to reminisce about our parents and growing up in a child’s world free of adult complexities. To feel grateful that, like me, some of us experienced easy upbringings, blissfully unaware that that was not always the case for many children. This story of ‘Colin the Cowboy’ was a part of my upbringing.
When I joined Goodreads, this was the first book I searched for - but failed to find it until I met a savvy German Goodreads Friend who uploaded it for me (see below).
Okay, let’s get one thing out of the way. It’s my best-ever book, but I never understood why Enid Blyton used a hyphen in the word ‘cowboy’, writing it as ‘Cow-boy’. Maybe that was how it was written decades ago? I am going to be as bold as the protagonist in the story and omit the hyphen in this review.
‘Colin the Cowboy’ is a simple story about a blond, wide-eyed wannabe real cowboy who looked just like me as a kid - ah, yes, all those childhood fantasies flooding back to me…
(If you’re bored with this review already, please try and hang in there).
So now, I float down the river of childhood memories -
When my parents emigrated to lutruwita/Tasmania from England, this book accompanied me. I still have it. A birthday gift from my grandparents. I treasure it.
I tried to instil the same enthusiasm for it in my children and then the grandchildren, but there was tough competition with the likes of ‘The Very Hungry Caterpillar’, ‘The Gruffalo’ and the 'Mr and Little Miss' series. As a result, ‘Colin the Cowboy’ sat on the bookshelf, waiting patiently for the right ‘context’ to come along that would allow him to shine once more.
Disclaimer: I am aware quite a number of Enid Blyton’s books became controversial and I am certain the somewhat patronizing approach to American First Nation people in ‘Colin the Cowboy’ would understandably raise eyebrows today, but hope we can look beyond this in the context of this review.
The storyline in a nutshell: Colin has a wooden horse, but he’s not satisfied and wants a real one. Colin meets a tall, dark, handsome ‘real’ cowboy who shows him a 'real' horse called Thunder. He says: "See if you can mount him - but be careful, or he might run away with you!" Colin is most excited. He fetches a saddle and then he mounts the beautiful horse.
Okay, so I pause here to admit I didn’t uncover any subtext or metaphors in all this when I was an innocent child, but I have a habit of searching for such things in my book reviews as an adult - so I must not overthink all this stuff in the context of this review.
Colin urges Thunder to go faster. He is brave and invincible, but of course, he gets thrown off and lands on a prickly cactus plant. Along comes a little Indian boy called Red-Feather who’s beached his canoe on the banks of the nearby river. Red-Feather has a guitar slung over his shoulder - he looks really cool. Red-Feather frees Colin from the cactus and the two quickly become very good friends. It doesn’t take long for Red-Feather to invite Colin back to meet his tribe: From the text: "Colin leaps gaily into the canoe… and upsets it at once! Into the water they go - what a good thing it is shallow just there!" My younger sister and I used to giggle at what came next. A double page spread of Colin and Red-Feather sitting butt naked, except for their hats, around a camp fire, the guitar strategically placed to hide any rude bits - censorship in the 1960s, remember. Colin plays Red-Feather’s guitar (no, I’m not going to overthink this) and the little Indian sings loudly,
“Dry us, little camp fire, and our clothes too, and make us warm and happy!” Nope, not going to overthink that one either!
In the morning, the two best buddies arrive at the Indian camp, enjoy a wonderful party of dance, games and "the most enormous meal". They stage a shooting competition - Colin has his gun and Red-Feather shoots with his bow and arrows. There’s drama when a mad bull escapes. And you guessed it. The two buddies lasso it and save the tribe from danger. There is a grand celebration then everyone is euphoric and tired. We are not told where Colin sleeps that night, but my guess is he shared a tee pee with his new best mate. The next day, it’s time for Colin to leave. The two friends exchange clothing… maybe that’s a metaphor? Colin now has moccasins, a blue leather coat (very stylish) and an outrageously oversized headdress of long white feathers, and Red-Feather is now dressed as a cowboy…
(I've just realised Blyton did not hyphenate cow-boy within the text, just on the book cover. I’m confused).
Anyway, Red-Feather’s dad (Eagle-Feather - um Gottes willen, all these hyphens!) gives Colin a beautiful little foal as thanks for his bravery, to be kept at the camp until Colin returns - as a man?
I think I get the hyphen thing now. Enid Blyton wrote cowboy as ‘Cow-boy’ to match Red-Feather and Eagle-Feather as a sign of unity and equality. Nice.
All jokes aside, I do love Colin and Red-Feather. They still hold a special place in my old heart.
For this book to come back to me in the context of Goodreads interactions, is very rewarding.
I thank Michael, my Goodreads friend from Germany, for finding the publication somewhere on the net and uploading my photo of my well-worn cover of ‘Colin the Cow-boy’....more
Observations (note, I am deliberately avoiding the word ‘criticism’): At times, the biblical analogies of Cain and Abel, good vs.One word: Remarkable.
Observations (note, I am deliberately avoiding the word ‘criticism’): At times, the biblical analogies of Cain and Abel, good vs. evil were weighty, but Steinbeck peels away the layers of society in such an engrossing way that nothing can blemish the craft of his storytelling and character development.
Highlight: Steinbeck created a chilling, complex but, to me, fascinating female character who is unrivalled. Are there hints of misogyny? Maybe. Or just another biblical pretext to show the stark contrast between good and evil?
Regret: This should have been a Goodreads buddy read! I needed to discuss, debate, marvel, rant, curse, question, clarify, talk, talk and talk about this novel.
Action: Looking forward to checking out more reviews (including the not-so-favourable ones for balance) and will seek out the film of the same name that features James Dean. ...more
Yikes. I’m conflicted. Brilliant and chilling. I will keep spoilers to a minimum - it’s all in the book blurb anyway. I’m unsure if this type of ‘abductiYikes. I’m conflicted. Brilliant and chilling. I will keep spoilers to a minimum - it’s all in the book blurb anyway. I’m unsure if this type of ‘abduction’ story was effectively covered prior to the 1960s, when ‘The Collector’ was released, but there have certainly been derivatives since then. Was this the ground breaker? If so, wow. I’m reluctant to recommend this. The misogyny (deliberate? I sure hope so) may be disturbing to some. It disturbed me. The clashes of class and sense of entitlement may grate on others. It did on me. If ever a novel set out to manipulate the reader, this is it. I felt well and truly ‘had’. My initial anger/disgust for the ‘collector’ (euphemism for abductor – he collects dead butterflies, you know) turned to a degree of compassion for him – yuk… I know, I know. I became irritated by the evolving snobbishness and triviality of the victim (the author made me do it), before returning to disgust and concern. A full circle of reactions. Chilling. John Fowles is a devious author. That’s why, for me, this novel is brilliant. ---- Footnote: My trusty buddy reader @Marge Moen marked this as ‘to read’ shortly after I listed it as my current read. I convinced her to start it – a buddy read by default. I look forward to take on this one....more
I heard Louis Theroux gave his own latest publication 5 stars on Goodreads. I would love to do the same for mine, oh if only it were permitted! INSERTI heard Louis Theroux gave his own latest publication 5 stars on Goodreads. I would love to do the same for mine, oh if only it were permitted! INSERT SMILEY FACE...more
I want to sit down with Eddie Ayres and chat! That was my immediate response after finishing 'Danger Music' – a detailed account of his time teaching mI want to sit down with Eddie Ayres and chat! That was my immediate response after finishing 'Danger Music' – a detailed account of his time teaching music (then as Teacher Emma) with the Afghanistan National Institute of Music (ANIM). I have questions (always a sign of a good book for me). I want to compliment him, to praise him and say, 'Well done!' It was written in 2017. Ayres shared so many stories about his Afghani colleagues and all the wonderful, young musicians he taught. I felt I was there with him and learning all about the torrid lives of these people, and their single love of music in all its forms. He educated me on Afghanistan/Kabul vs. what we hear and see in the media. The writing is sharp, often disturbing, many times beautiful. Was there a clear connection (a metaphor) between the struggles of Afghanistan and his own personal struggles on identity? Or was I overthinking this? Once I finished it, I wanted to know what had become of this institute and the musicians since the recent withdrawal and ensuing chaos in Afghanistan. I dared to google it, dreading what I would find – only to be relieved, and somewhat surprised, to see some promising news… Oh, and I nearly jumped out of my chair when Ayres referenced Barenboim’s collaboration with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, joining young Arab and Israeli musicians, breaking down barriers to play and record all the Beethoven Symphonies. Their recording of the Beethoven Ninth, as mentioned by Ayres, is breathtakingly fresh. No doubt he experienced the same youthful, freshness in her work at the ANIM. I've said enough – not only will I run out of adjectives to describe this read, but have also given away too many spoilers already. I recommend book, and not only for music fans....more
I read this novel many years ago. Looking at the cover reminds me of the favourable response I had to the story. Will put it on my ‘read again’ list. I read this novel many years ago. Looking at the cover reminds me of the favourable response I had to the story. Will put it on my ‘read again’ list. And yes, I've also got the accompanying CD of all the music described in the book....more
I read the original version, 'Schindler's Ark'. Amazing book. Why was the title changed? Maybe in line with Spielberg's cinematic yet confronting mastI read the original version, 'Schindler's Ark'. Amazing book. Why was the title changed? Maybe in line with Spielberg's cinematic yet confronting masterpiece? ...more
An amazing classic. By far, my favourite Thomas Hardy, which happens to be his last novel. I read it first and then went on to enjoy his others. Some tAn amazing classic. By far, my favourite Thomas Hardy, which happens to be his last novel. I read it first and then went on to enjoy his others. Some tough themes, for sure. I think it was banned on release. Was Hardy too ahead of his time with this one?...more
I've read this more than once and can say it is my favourite J Irving novel. It has a tapestry of warmth to it. I've read this more than once and can say it is my favourite J Irving novel. It has a tapestry of warmth to it. ...more
I can't recall what exactly it was about this book that made an impact on me. I just recall feeling satisfied at the end. It was dramatic, but not melI can't recall what exactly it was about this book that made an impact on me. I just recall feeling satisfied at the end. It was dramatic, but not melodramatic. Again, it could be the context when I read it - from memory, it followed 'The Magus', which I loved, and like 'The Magus', I read it on holiday with no interruptions....more
It's not easy to describe why this book resonated with me. I did not fully 'get' it - but perhaps that's unnessary, and perhaps that's why I give it aIt's not easy to describe why this book resonated with me. I did not fully 'get' it - but perhaps that's unnessary, and perhaps that's why I give it a five star rating? I've read it three times, many years ago, and at one time named it the best book I've read, and will add it to my list of re-reads....more
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