Review: The Room by Jonas Karlsson

Title:  The Room Author:  Jonas Karlsson Publisher/Publication Date: Hogarth; February 15, 2015 Genre:  Literary Fiction Format/Source: Paperback (Review Copy), Blogging for Books Book Summary from Penguin Random House Funny, clever, surreal, and thought-provoking, this Kafkaesque masterpiece introduces the unforgettable Bjorn, an exceptionally meticulous office worker striving to live life on his own terms.         Bjorn is a compulsive, meticulous bureaucrat who discovers a secret room at the government office where he works–a secret room that no one else in his office will acknowledge. When Bjorn is in his room, what his co-workers see is him standing by the wall and staring off into space looking dazed, relaxed, and decidedly creepy. Bjorn’s bizarre behavior eventually leads his co-workers to try and have him fired, but Bjorn will turn the tables on them with help from his secret room.       Debut author Jonas Karlsson doesn’t leave a word out of place in this brilliant, bizarre, delightful take on how far we will go–in a world ruled by conformity–to live an individual and examined life. Book Trailer My Thoughts I really don’t have much to say about The Room by Jonas Karlsson.  The story wasn’t exactly what I imagined; however, it was bizarrely entertaining. It followed Bjorn throughout his experiences as the new—quite odd—person on the job.  The main elements of the story dealt with office politics and the mystery surrounding “the room”.  Overall the story was okay, but the ending was vague and could be open for interpretation.  About the Author JONAS KARLSSON writes plays and short fiction. One of Sweden’s most prominent actors, Karlsson has performed on Sweden’s premier stage and in several acclaimed feature films and television series. In 2005, Karlsson made his debut as a playwright, earning rave reviews from audience and critics alike. Spurred by the joy of writing for the stage, Karlsson began writing fiction. Rating 3/5 "I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."

ARC Review: The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber

Title: The Book of Strange New Things: A Novel Author:  Michel Faber Publisher/Publication Date: Hogarth, October 28, 2014 Genre: Literary Fiction Format/Source: ARC, Publisher Amazon     Barnes & Noble     Goodreads Book Summary from Goodreads It begins with Peter, a devoted man of faith, as he is called to the mission of a lifetime, one that takes him galaxies away from his wife, Bea. Peter becomes immersed in the mysteries of an astonishing new environment, overseen by an enigmatic corporation known only as USIC. His work introduces him to a seemingly friendly native population struggling with a dangerous illness and hungry for Peter’s teachings—his Bible is their “book of strange new things.” But Peter is rattled when Bea’s letters from home become increasingly desperate: typhoons and earthquakes are devastating whole countries, and governments are crumbling. Bea’s faith, once the guiding light of their lives, begins to falter. Suddenly, a separation measured by an otherworldly distance, and defined both by one newly discovered world and another in a state of collapse, is threatened by an ever-widening gulf that is much less quantifiable. While Peter is reconciling the needs of his congregation with the desires of his strange employer, Bea is struggling for survival. Their trials lay bare a profound meditation on faith, love tested beyond endurance, and our responsibility to those closest to us. Marked by the same bravura storytelling and precise language that madeThe Crimson Petal and the White such an international success, The Book of Strange New Things is extraordinary, mesmerizing, and replete with emotional complexity and genuine pathos. My Thoughts The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber presents an interesting world in which a pastor has gone through rigorous testing and leaves his wife behind to minister to aliens in a faraway galaxy. However, it took me awhile to finish this book. At times, the pacing was slow. The Oasans were hard to connect with, and they were presented in a manner that made it difficult for the reader to understand some of their language. In addition, Faber made failed attempts to include diverse characters into the story as one character was described as chimpanzee-like and another had skin too dark to write notes on—who does that anyway. Peter was a minister depicted with imperfections. His behavior towards his wife made him unlikeable as his wife struggled with her beliefs, the changes taking place in the world, and the distance between them. And even though the ARC was 496 pages, the ending left too many issues unresolved. Rating-1/5  I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.