≡ Read Gratis Death Of A River Guide Richard Flanagan 9781843542193 Books

Death Of A River Guide Richard Flanagan 9781843542193 Books

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Death Of A River Guide Richard Flanagan 9781843542193 Books

This book was not as special to me as it was to other reviewers. Certainly there are some high points including a very creative concept for telling the story, some memorable characters, Flanagan's excellent prose, and his ability to evoke deep emotions from his readers.

On the other hand, I think his literary devices got in the way of telling an outstanding story. The drowning/life-flashing-before-my-eyes
was clever at first, but as the story went on, for me, it became a bit unbelievable and a distraction. Another difficult aspect and distraction was the author's overuse of introducing a name, object, or brief description of an event significantly sooner in the story line than the reader is able to connect the dots. This, of course, is a common literary device that when used with discretion is very effective. It is one thing when a reader has to turn back to re-read a passage for his or her 'ah-ha' moment, but it was a constant event for me as I read - very tiring. The jumping back and forth in time was a criticism I have read on other reader boards - it was a challenge for me too. There are so many characters in this book that one almost needs to keep a note sheet to keep them straight, understand who they are related to, and in what chronological order.

Compounded in the overall difficulty of following the story line is that it is set in Australia, particularly in parts that I am unfamiliar with. I regularly found myself consulting with Wikipedia to figure out where, what and why. I wish the author would have incorporated a little more historical information.

The book has been described as "soaring, lyrical, and mysterious." I agree, but at times it soared too high, the visionary lyrics were confusing, and the mystery often was "what the heck is going on?" I don't like reading a book where my mind skips over the confusing stuff with hopes of picking up the plot line here and there.

All in all there were some terrific aspects of the story where the reader will feel things deeply, and ponder in a philosophical manner. However, I feel like a fantastic story was overshadowed by an overly ambitious attempt to create literary brilliance. In other words, style caused substance to suffer.


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Death Of A River Guide Richard Flanagan 9781843542193 Books Reviews

My third book by Flanagan - I could go on and on- hope he can keep up! All his books start simple/simply, lay some footings, meet some people, the gradual intensity, growing characters - that seem so real you think you know them. he takes difficult subjects - death, loss, poverty,war,abandonment, introspection with sincere honesty, loss of home, immigration,war, violence....and makes each aspect unique and real - as they all are, and often with a humor that is biting, funny, sad. In this book you know the narrator has his ghosts, not sure why, the reasons slowly unfold and so does his confronting them in a most unique approach.
One of the best writers - true literature.
Aljaz Cosini, a Tasmanian, has signed on as lead guide on a rafting trip down the Franklin River in Tasmania. Cosini has been away from his homeland for a decade and is not in the best of shape for such a grueling job, but he's broke and needs a job. His co-guide, Cockroach, is young and strong but doesn't know the river at all. Still, it's a week and they need the money. They collect their group who are a typical group of tourists and set out. But the river is in the mood for blood. The weather turns and steady rain causes the river to rise precipitously When one of the tourists makes a foolhardy move, Aljaz jumps into the river to save him. Instead, he finds himself head down stuck between two rocks, slowly drowning.

As his last minutes tick away, Aljaz finds himself having a series of visions. He sees his life rush past, with jobs from footballer to sailor to handyman. His marriage to the only woman he has ever really loved flashes past with the reason it failed in the biggest tragedy of his life. He not only sees his own life, but that of his ancestors. That includes his parents. Harry marries an Eastern European woman he finds and falls in love with in Italy in a misbegotten attempt to become a sewing machine salesman. They return instead to Tasmania where they live out their lives, their closest friend the midwife who assists at Aljaz's birth. But Aljaz sees even further back to ancestors such as Ned Quade, who comes to Tasmania as the result of transportation for a crime he doesn't even remember. He also has visions of the Aboriginal woman whose place in his genetic background is never talked about.

Richard Flanagan is acknowledged as one of Australia's premier authors. He won the 2014 Man Booker Prize for his novel, The Narrow Road To The Deep North, an exploration of the Australian experience during the second World War and the Japanese POW camps. This was Richard Flanagan's second novel. As always, he explores the history and lush environment of the land he lives in and loves. He captures the beauty and the despair that is the characteristic of the people who live there. He explores the exploitation of both Tasmania's natural resources and the native people who are supplanted there by those who come and conquer the land. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.
This book was not as special to me as it was to other reviewers. Certainly there are some high points including a very creative concept for telling the story, some memorable characters, Flanagan's excellent prose, and his ability to evoke deep emotions from his readers.

On the other hand, I think his literary devices got in the way of telling an outstanding story. The drowning/life-flashing-before-my-eyes
was clever at first, but as the story went on, for me, it became a bit unbelievable and a distraction. Another difficult aspect and distraction was the author's overuse of introducing a name, object, or brief description of an event significantly sooner in the story line than the reader is able to connect the dots. This, of course, is a common literary device that when used with discretion is very effective. It is one thing when a reader has to turn back to re-read a passage for his or her 'ah-ha' moment, but it was a constant event for me as I read - very tiring. The jumping back and forth in time was a criticism I have read on other reader boards - it was a challenge for me too. There are so many characters in this book that one almost needs to keep a note sheet to keep them straight, understand who they are related to, and in what chronological order.

Compounded in the overall difficulty of following the story line is that it is set in Australia, particularly in parts that I am unfamiliar with. I regularly found myself consulting with Wikipedia to figure out where, what and why. I wish the author would have incorporated a little more historical information.

The book has been described as "soaring, lyrical, and mysterious." I agree, but at times it soared too high, the visionary lyrics were confusing, and the mystery often was "what the heck is going on?" I don't like reading a book where my mind skips over the confusing stuff with hopes of picking up the plot line here and there.

All in all there were some terrific aspects of the story where the reader will feel things deeply, and ponder in a philosophical manner. However, I feel like a fantastic story was overshadowed by an overly ambitious attempt to create literary brilliance. In other words, style caused substance to suffer.