A Novel Look At... Look Who's Back by Timur Vermes

My God, when it came to picking an idea for his first novel, German writer Timur Vermes went all out by choosing to resurrect Adolf Hitler and sticking him in modern day Germany. But you know what, being controversial gets you attention and Look Who’s Back definitely got the satirist some attention (and a few lovely book sales too, I imagine).

            We begin with Hitler waking up in the middle of an undeveloped plot of land where presumably his bunker once stood. He is dazed and confused about where he is and how he got there and so he dusts himself off in search for answers. But Hitler is horrified at what his beloved Motherland has become in his absence and vows to restore Germany back to its former glory.

            Look Who’s Back takes a very daring approach to mocking our modern love-affair with celebrity culture by presenting global supervillain Hitler as a hit on the internet and German TV. Vermes did a very good job of undercutting Hitler’s views on present Germany by having the other characters really believe that Hitler is actually just a very convincing method actor. The whole thing is funny because the people are so against Hitler’s ideology but they want to spread the message as far as they can for internet hits and TV ratings.

            The novel is a very interesting read, especially for a fan of History such as me. However, there are so many references to historical German figures that it is impossible to know who they all are and what role they played and that goes for double if you live outside of Germany. There is a handy guide written by the novel’s translator, Jamie Bulloch, which explains everything a non-History buff would need to know but having to flick through to the end of the book to improve the context isn’t exactly ideal.

            Overall, Look Who’s Back provides an eye-opening view on the world we live in where ratings mean everything. I wouldn’t recommend this novel to many people though. Entertaining as it was, reading it becomes effort if you want to understand it fully and likewise, you can get a little lost if you choose to ignore the translator’s guide. But if you like History and mocking celebrity culture, this is definitely the book for you.

A Novel Look At... The Curious Incident Of The Dog In The Night-Time by Mark Haddon

If someone was to tell me many years ago that one of the best books I will ever read would be about a teenager with Asperger’s Syndrome trying to find the killer of his neighbour’s dog, I would have told them that they were talking absolute nonsense. Yet here I am, having just finished The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, feeling somewhat amazed at how well the story works and simply astounded by the adventure I have been on.

            The novel centres around fifteen year old Christopher Boone whose mind works differently to that of the normal everyday teenager. He loves maths, hates the colour yellow and has a very strict moral code. Though it is never actually stated in the book, young Christopher has Asperger’s Syndrome which means he perceives the world around him in a unique light, favouring logic and science over magic and whimsy. When he learns his neighbour’s poodle has been killed with a garden fork, Christopher decides to become a detective and find the murderer, against the wishes of his father, the police and the dog’s owner. Little does Christopher know that his detective work will uncover more than just the identity of the dog’s killer.

            Christopher is one of the most interesting characters I have come across in the world of literature. His disability hinders him in the most unique manner and his drive to overcome issues such as going further than the end of his street by himself is inspiring. Through Christopher, we see the universe in a way that most of us can’t possibly comprehend. Sure, many of us hate crowds and don’t like talking to strangers but we do it with little fuss because of how hard it is to function in everyday life without doing so. It’s almost scary to think how these acts we take for granted can cripple a person whose brain is wired a little differently.

            Despite the book not being about a funny subject matter, there are many light touches of humour spread throughout. The blank way Christopher addresses the other characters will make you laugh and the bewildered way in which characters react to his actions will put a smile on your face too. Whether endearing or not in real life, your first instinct is to laugh at how certain scenarios play out. I’m sure I wouldn’t find it funny at all if someone pulled a pen-knife on me just because I wanted to know if they were okay but in the realm of the pages, you pretty much have a pass to let out a little chuckle.

            I couldn’t help myself; I flew through this book, utterly engrossed at what I was reading. It was funny and tragic simultaneously and it opened my eyes to a condition that I had next to no knowledge about before I started the novel. I urge everyone to read this book not just for the story but as a tool for understanding how unique people can be.

A Novel Look At... Casino Royale by Ian Fleming

James Bond is one of the most iconic characters to ever grace the big screen but believe it or not, Mr. Bond actually began life as a book character (I know, who would’ve thought it?) On the front cover of the latest printing, Casino Royale states that ‘there is only one Bond.’ I’m here to tell you that’s absolute nonsense, there are six different Bonds and I’ve seen all six of them so why is this book lying to me? Why lie, spy? But enough about taglines full of deceit, I have a book review to write.

            We join British Secret Service agent, James Bond, as he tries to bankrupt Le Chiffre, the paymaster for Russian counterintelligence agency, SMERSH. Le Chiffre is a keen gambler and an extraordinary card player, risking his organisation’s huge cash flow at the baccarat table. Bond is tasked with defeating Le Chiffre to deplete SMERSH’s funds. As neither side can afford to lose, the two men realise they are not just playing for money; they are playing for their lives.

            When you start reading, you are immediately sucked into a world full of glamour, strolling through the casino, eyes on the rich and powerful winning and losing. It’s a beautiful place with an ugly underside but for all of Ian Fleming’s intricate descriptions, I found myself getting bored. There was so much background information about who was doing what and which country was helping who that I flipped through the book to see when the action picked up. Then there was the game of baccarat itself. Mathis, one of Bond’s accomplices, explains for the benefit of another undercover agent the rules of the game (though really, I’m sure it was an explanation for the readers who didn’t have the foggiest clue how to play). I don’t know how but I was more confused after the explanation than I was before it.

            I didn’t find any of it exciting. I really tried to get into it but I couldn’t. I still read the whole thing through because I paid good money for it but I was dying of boredom and confusion the whole way. Even when the main conflict was resolved, the novel dragged on for about 50 more pages about Bond and his love interest that had no repercussions for the follow-up novel, Live and Let Die (for which there will be no review because I found that to be a tedious read too).

           As an avid reader, I’ve spent most of my life trying (and failing) to convince people that films based on books are never as good as the source material. When it comes to Bond books though, my argument falls flat on its face. Stick to the films because they’re awesome.