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The Sunday Salon #11 & 12: More on Remembering Bablyon

The Sunday Salon.com 

I am very slow with completing books this semester  SUMMER, so I thought that it would be fun to have a progress report of my reading.  This is an online reading group where all the participants set aside time to read every Sunday and blog about the experience.

These two weeks I continued reading Remembering Babylon by David Malouf . I had just begun this book the last time I had posted to the Sunday Salon.  Last Sunday, I could not summon the energy to post on Sunday, so I decided to wait.  I am almost 40% through the book and I am getting a better sense of things.  The story is multi-layered.  One of the things I enjoy is that each chapter is told from a different characters perspective.  This technique makes me understand how each person ended up where they are now and how their past informs the way they are behaving in the present. 

This is one of my selections for two challenges:

The Neustadt  Challenge

Orbis Teeravm Challenge

Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 at 12:42PM by Registered Commenter[beastmomma] | Comments7 Comments

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Reader Comments (7)

The use of narrative voice is always something that fascinates me. I think particular technique is a really good way of exposing how little we know about ourselves as truths about a character are revealed by what other people say about them. I remember looking at the Malouf when it first came out but didn't get round to reading it. I must give it a second look, thank you.
May 25, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterAnn Darnton
If I had not signed up for the Neustadt Challenge, I would not have picked up this book either. The different narratives do help the story move forward in a way that single narrative does not.
May 25, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterbeastmomma
Hey BM!! How's Seattle? Things are good, but muggy, here in Oki.
I wanted to say that I agree with you on enjoying a book when each chapter is told from a different character's point of view. The most recent book I've read that used this form of story telling was "Change of Heart" by jodi Picoult. The story of a murderer and the family he victimized is told from many points of view. A fellow inmate, a priest, the pro-bono defence lawyer, and the mother/wife who lost most of her family to the killer. It was very very good.
XOXO-K
May 25, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterKaren
looks like you are working hard on it. hope you take a break and enjoy the vacation...what am I saying!? read, that would be enjoying your vacation, right? just enjoy.
May 26, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterbethany
Karen: The weather is slowly improving here in Seattle. Thanks for the book recommendation.
Bethany: Reading is part of enjoying my vacation.
May 26, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterbeastmomma
Can't wait to see your final thoughts! :) I really liked how he delved into the different characters too. It ended up feeling like a much longer book than it was, just the amount of stuff packing into it. Very impressive.

What's funny is that I picked this because it was the shortest Malouf book my library had. lol I wasn't sure I'd like him, so I didn't want to be stuck with a chunkster!
June 4, 2008 | Unregistered CommenterEva
I need to get it from my local library. I had to return the book in Seattle before I left; hopefully, I can pick up another copy soon.
June 4, 2008 | Unregistered Commenterbeastmomma

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