'G' by John Berger

So I haven't blogged in a LONG time... I've been very busy with work and work experience applications recently. Not to mention dealing with French landlords and other such soul-destroying tasks. I seem to have spent hours poring over French modules, researching areas of town without having ever been there, and have got absolutely nowhere. Anyway, if anyone's still out there in the 'blogosphere', please make yourself known! Anyone?

I'm actually getting started on a French novel which is probably also why I haven't updated this in so long. 'Novel' makes it sound more impressive than it probably is, actually, but I thought I'd better ease myself into it, right? 

I'm also finishing G by John Berger, winner of the 1972 Booker Prize. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before – although I like trying different genres and authors, I’ve generally always been pretty unadventurous in the kind of structure I go for in a novel. G is so very untraditional, but it was refreshing to read in that sense. It’s partly prose, partly poetry and at one point, partly something I can only describe as…graphic cartoons. However, I can’t imagine anyone, even the most ardent admirer, describing this book as likeable.

‘G’ actually refers to the protagonist, the son of an Italian merchant, whose life, loves and troubles we follow against a pre-WW1 European backdrop. The plot is broken up with different voices and events. Berger conveys some really unexpected and insightful messages about class, life, gender and relationships; there were a few points where I was genuinely surprised by the writing, which is a definite plus in my book (no pun intended).

The novel is extremely intense, sometimes uncomfortably so, but that kind of seems like Berger’s intention. This also makes it quite tough going, so not one if you’re looking for a chilled and easy read; I found that I couldn’t read more than a few pages at a time without needing a break and a cuppa! On the other hand, I love that it’s experimental and that it seems to have this effect on the reader. A profound and commendable work, but in all honesty, I don’t see myself picking it up again. I can’t quite put my finger on it.

NB. I don't know why some of the text on my blog sometimes goes highlighted - please be patient while I contact my technical team (my brother).