"Ink, thinks Jacob, you most fecund of liquids."
~~~~~~
"Steam rises from a bowl of water; light is sliced on the bright razor. On the floor a toucan pecks beans from a pewter saucer. Plums are piled in a terracotta dish, blue-dusted indigo."
I hope I'm tantalising you with a glimpse of David Mitchell's The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet - though apologies, if I am, because it's not out yet - but having talked about poor writing the other day, I wanted to redress the balance in favour of quality literature because this book is magical stuff!
I'm only part way through, but my notes show a run on my stock of superlatives, it's just so good. Do not, however, read the opening chapter if you are expecting a baby soon, though obstetric practices have thankfully progressed from the crude methods which would attend a difficult birth in 1799, but it's a perfectly rendered scene of an extremely tricky delivery (transverse breech, concave position with prolapse of the arm, since you ask - I could direct you to an illustration but I'll spare you that).
But back to the point: it's finding books like this that makes the reading life exciting, that shows that ink is truly the most fecund of liquids - if it's a skilled hand that's holding the pen.
I wasnt the biggest fan of Cloud Atlas and yet this one is actually getting me very excited bookwise and I am not sure why but it really appeals. I dont write an author off for one book I didnt much like so this sounds like a good second try to watch out for.
Posted by: Simon (Savidge Reads) | 12 March 2010 at 10:30 AM
I loved Cloud Atlas and can't wait for this one! Thanks for the tantalizing glimpse you give.
Posted by: adele geras | 12 March 2010 at 02:00 PM
This arrived the other day, but I must admit your description of the opening pages hasn't made me desperate to read it (I also have no recollection of having been told I'd get a copy, or giving my address to the publisher, so goodness knows how it got here.)
Posted by: Simon T | 13 March 2010 at 12:16 AM
Hmmm, maybe it's the lack of context, but the quotes didn't do anything for me. A bit Pseud's Corner. I think as I get older I incline more and more to one of Elmore Leonard's 10 rules of good writing: "If it sounds like writing, I rewrite it." But good to hear your faith in publishers is partially restored.
Posted by: Linda Gillard | 14 March 2010 at 11:59 PM