The Noise of Time - Julian Barnes

 

Of all the "pet topics" that authors have, I find Barnes's interest in the idiosyncrasies of the Soviet system to be particularly compelling. 

Yet, unlike the reviewers of The Observer I didn't find The Noise of Time to be a masterpiece, but merely a good book. While the first few pages, with Shostakovich waiting for his arrest by spending the night next to the lift by his flat, blew me away, the rest of the book felt relatively flat. 

Perhaps Soviet Russia was just not the best setting for Barnes to showcase his brilliant humour?

The Porcupine - Julian Barnes

  

More enjoyable than Flaubert's Parrot, less enjoyable than most other books by Julian Barnes; for me, at the very least. 

This is another book with which there's nothing wrong: it's well-written, it's interesting (if not excessively original) and it's an easy (though perhaps verging too closely towards the effortless) read. 

But there are plenty of other books dealing with the Soviet bloc and its systems, often written by authors who were on the other side of the Iron Courtain for long parts of the Cold War, a I generally like them better (except for Kundera's novels, but I've already professed my dislike for him).

Animal Farm – George Orwell

Another book we read in our English class for the linguistically challenged in Canada. It led to wonderful class discussions about “Esnowball” (most of our classmates where native Spanish speakers) and his leadership skills.

I understand why this book was a great read at the time of its publication and for years to follow, but I think it’s now simply too dated (that being said, it should still be read because of its historical value, because its prose is beautiful, and because reading such a short book can give non-readers a much-needed boost).

Also, I’m not a fan of allegories. And, being a historian, the book didn’t really have many surprises for me (although you don’t need to be a historian to feel this way, clearly). So yeah, everyone should read this book for what it meant, but without expecting his/her mind to be blown away by a unique, cutting-edge and insightful critique of the Soviet system.