book of the week

A month or so ago I was browsing through the used book store on campus (that sells consigned textbooks) looking to see if there were any books from an English class that I might like to read. I picked up two.

1) The Wild Sargasso Sea by Jean Rhys.

This book (for those of you who do not know) is the story of Mr. Rodchester's first wife (the mad woman upstairs in Jane Eyre). I have heard of it many times, as it is often read in English classes as it written back to Jane Eyre by an author from the Caribbean, and it is interesting to read from back and forth from the colonial power to colonies... anyways... it was good and I enjoyed it and I am glad I read it.... however it was no where near as fabulous as...

2) The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

This book, winner of the 1989 Booker Prize and turned into a move starring Emma Thompson and Anthony Hopkins is about a British butler and his relationship to the house and to the housekeeper. The book is from the point of view of the butler and it is amazing. Nothing happens in the sense of action-adventure - but it is such a moving, stirring, extraordinary exploration of the human condition. Not to mention the writing is outstanding (hence the booker prize). Now part of the reason I liked it so much might have been that going in I had no expectations. So if anyone out there decides to read, please don't have very high expectations because this book is definetely not for everyone. It was, however, totally for me.