Well it took me nearly a year but i’ve gone through all the books listed throughout the years 2000 to 2008 and it was quite an experience. I only read a grand total of 15 so I was exposed to lots of new authors and writing styles. Also it was the first time I’ve seriously read works which were translated, although I admit I didn’t like a good number of them. Anyway here are some of the themes that were common in this batch.
The twin towers disaster and general destruction of the world
Politics – especially countries run by dictators
The second World War, particularly the holocaust – probably this was one of the most prominent themes.
I also have to say with some exception I wasn’t particularly keen on the majority of the thicker books.
some quick reflections :
Books I liked the most : Philip Roth’s The Plot Against America, Haruki Murakami’s Kafka on the Shore, Roberto Bolano’s 2666 and Mosin Hamid’s The Reluctant Fundamentalist.
Books I disliked : Dan Sleigh’s Islands , Colm Toibin’s The Master, Frank Schatzing’s The Swarm and W.G. Sebald’s Austerlitz.
Most pleasant surprise ” Ali Smith’ The Accidental
The Bobsphere 