Gutenberg's Apprentice by Alix Christie

The suspense, thrill, the secrecy of the printed word!

About Gutenberg’s Apprentice by Alix Christie: An enthralling literary debut that evokes one of the most momentous events in history, the birth of printing in medieval Germany—a story of invention, intrigue, and betrayal.

Youthful, ambitious Peter Schoeffer is on the verge of professional success as a scribe in Paris when his foster father, the wealthy merchant and bookseller Johann Fust, summons him home to corruption- riddled, feud-plagued Mainz to meet “a most amazing man.”

Johann Gutenberg, a driven and caustic inventor, has devised a revolutionary—and, to some, blasphemous—method of bookmaking: a machine he calls a printing press. Fust is financing Gutenberg’s workshop, and he orders Peter to become Gutenberg’s apprentice. Resentful at having to abandon a prestigious career as a scribe, Peter begins his education in the “darkest art.”

As his skill grows, so too does his admiration for Gutenberg and his dedication to their daring venture: printing copies of the Holy Bible. But when outside forces align against them, Peter finds himself torn between two father figures—the generous Fust and the brilliant, mercurial Gutenberg, who inspires Peter to achieve his own mastery.

Caught between the genius and the merchant, the old ways and the new, Peter and the men he admires must work together to prevail against overwhelming obstacles in a battle that will change history . . . and irrevocably transform them all.

My two cents

"Books everywhere .. Imagine how the world would look if anyone could buy one."

And so that has come to pass. I know little about Gutenberg other than the commonplace knowledge that he invented the printing press. Being a bibliophile, I naturally have a love affair with the printed word, so why not read this book about Gutenberg?

This read more like a suspense-thriller to me than historical fiction! In this day of instant-everything, who could have ever imagined that printing a book (and the Bible at the that!) would demand much innovation, expense, time, and so much secrecy? It's mind-boggling, it's humbling, and we should be so lucky to be benefiting from an invention that has such a lasting impact on humanity.

The breadth and depth of this novel is quite ambitious and I found each facet fascinating.

First, the personalities: the egocentric and explosive Gutenberg, the longsuffering and painstaking scribe Peter Schoeffer, the good-willed financier and Schoeffer's father-figure Johann Fust -- and don't forget the women in their lives. Then there are the lesser characters who make up the crew that did all the dirty work. Their lives so entwined in this venture and so entwined in this group.

Second is that this highlights the five critical years of trial-and-error of developing the printing process. The author is a letterpress printer and this novel lovingly describes the nuts-and-bolts (literally) of book printing. While some may find the detail a bit much, I devoured it: I loved hearing about things that make up printing -- the script behind the type, the individual letters that were individually shaped, the painstaking job of typesetting, and the backbreaking work of pressing metal to vellum or paper.

Third, I thought this was an especially intriguing piece because of the details of medieval politicking and machinations. Taking place in Mainz, Germany, I was fascinated with the shroud of secrecy that surrounded this new process, the buying off of guilds to protect this secret, and moreso the profound influence of the church with the very idea a process like printing would be viewed as as heretical.

***

I got pretty hooked on this novel and found it highly informative, engaging, and extremely readable. I loved how the layout of the book celebrates the beauty of old typography in each of its opening chapter pages.

Verdict: I recommend this to anyone who loves their printed books or those who love a good meaty historical fiction read. Find out in this homage to the famed Gutenberg, the lesser known Schoeffer and Fust, and all the people involved in this fictional recounting of how the Gutenberg Bible, and consequently all books, were birthed into this world.

About Alix Christie

Alix Christie was born in California, spent her childhood summers in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley, and has lived in Paris, San Francisco, and Berlin. She has been a widely published journalist for thirty years, with work featured in the Washington Post, the International Herald Tribune, The Guardian, Salon, and the San Francisco Chronicle. Her short fiction has been published by Southwest Review and Other Voices. A letterpress printer since her youth, Alix Christie currently lives in London, where she reviews books and the arts for The Economist.

Connect with her through her website, Facebook, or follow her on Twitter.

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via TLC Book Tours in order to participate in this tour. Don't forget to check out the rest of the tour here. 

Hardcover: 416 pages, Publisher: Harper (September 23, 2014)

Eight Girls Taking Pictures by Whitney Otto

Life lived. And reimagined through a woman's camera lens.

Synopsis of Eight Girls Taking Pictures by Whitney Otto: A deeply affecting meditation on the lives of women artists, Whitney Otto's vivid novel explores the ambitions, passions, conflicts and desires of eight female photographers throughout the twentieth century. This spectacular cast of spirited, larger-than-life women offers wide-ranging insight about the times in which they lived. From San Francisco to New York, London, Berlin, Buenos Aires, and Rome, Otto spins a magical, romantic tale that creates a compelling portrait of the history of feminism and of photography.

While their circumstances may differ, the tensions these women experience—from wanting a private life or a public life; passion or security; art or domesticity; children or creative freedom—are universal. Otto seamlessly weaves together eight breathtaking vignettes to form a moving and emotionally satisfying novel.

My two cents 

The book in one sentence: Live life large whether in front or behind the lens.

Amazing! This makes it as another of my favourite reads for the year. With the same appeal as Otto's How to Make an American Quilt, this is altogether bold, romantic, tender and outspoken. I loved everything about it and I could relate on so many levels, as a woman, and as someone who has always been fascinated with photography and art in general.

The novel is broken up into eight sections, each featuring a famous female photographer and her story. The obvious common thread -- photography -- is just one among the many threads that hold the individual stories together. Spanning decades (early 1990s to the present), across several continents, during various historical moments -- these themes are the stuff of our lives. I just breathed it all in! I am betting that women readers will be able to relate to one (or more) of the eight characters in some way.

Women photographers are simply ordinary women who face the issues all women do: the men (or women) who we love, fulfilling the roles expected of women (or breaking out of them), feeling comfortable in one's sexuality, children (or none at all), of wanting to carve out one's one path personally and career-wise. What makes a woman happy? What makes you happy?

What sets these eight women apart is their vision (and tempestuousness) to continue with their craft -- and do so with great courage and passion -- despite (or inspite) of the many hurdles. They all managed to make their mark in photography in rather profound ways.

Opening photo for first photographer,
Cymbeline Kelly (US)

Each vignette opens with a photograph which figures in the story somehow (and which I tended to flip back and forth to try and see the image through that particular photographer's eyes).


The first photographer's story opens with the photo of an unmade bed with some hairpins. Note that all these photos are apparently taken by real women photographers, and then the characters' lives are reimagined by the author based on that photo. How creative and what a wonderful way to draw readers in! Of course I want to find out who Cymbeline is, who this "woman in love" is! Of course I want to know the story behind that unmade bed. Like we always say, a picture is worth a thousand words ... in this case, the words follow.

Each has made their own distinctive mark in the world of photography -- with some extremely fascinating points woven into the narratives. There are references to photography styles and influences, lenses and cameras and details that will satisfy the photography buff. And since this draws from the lives of women photographers, there is a list at the end of the book you can check out.

The stories are interspersed and coming from a small art niche, the paths of some of these women either cross physically or professionally. This makes for the reappearance or reference to the eight main characters throughout the book (and the first time it happened, I was a little surprised!)

***

Photo for photographer Amadora Allesbury (UK)

What I liked: 

• The combination of story and photography history lesson. 
• The photos at the beginning of each section.
• The realistic depiction that women are complicated creatures. Add that to a hard-headed artist wanting to make their mark in the artwork, and you've in for fireworks. 

What I didn't like:

• The characters seem to be made from the same stuff - they're all very outspoken, very comfortable in their sexuality, and yet ... their relationships are such messes! I attribute that to the fact that they are women artists. And that photography was a male-dominated industry. Or is this just a stereotype? I'm a little on the fence about this because I loved this book!

***

Verdict: A beautifully written set of vignettes about the complexity of women and their photography. Highly recommended for Otto fans and photography buffs.

***

Random quotes:

Among the things she said: "Women seem to possess all the natural gifts essential to a good portraitist ... such as personality, patience and intuition. The sitter ought to be the predominating factor in a  successful portrait. Men portraitist are apt to forget this; they are inclined to lose the sitter in a maze of technique luxuriating in the cleverness and beauty of their own medium." - p. 66 (ARC, page may change)

It was hard not to feel resentment that men weren't forced into these choices. Some days she felt that she would spend all her time trying to forget her life before children because she loved them too much to be reminded of the heat of Rome in the summer and a beautiful girl who turned heads as she walked down an Italian strada. - p 253 (ARC, page may change)

Later, Jenny would say she seldom knew what she would take a picture of when she picked up a camera, that she only knew once she peered through the viewfinder, as if the photograph had finally found her. - p. 309 (ARC, page may change)

Read more at Whitney Otto's Official Website.

I received an ARC on Goodreads First Reads.

Book Depository

The Reader by Bernhard Schlink

A woman who loves to be read to covers up a lifelong shame, at the expense of her life.

Synopsis of The Reader by Bernhard Schlink: Hailed for its coiled eroticism and the moral claims it makes upon the reader, this mesmerizing novel is a story of love and secrets, horror and compassion, unfolding against the haunted landscape of postwar Germany. When he falls ill on his way home from school, fifteen-year-old Michael Berg is rescued by Hanna, a woman twice his age. In time she becomes his lover--then she inexplicably disappears. When Michael next sees her, he is a young law student, and she is on trial for a hideous crime. As he watches her refuse to defend her innocence, Michael gradually realizes that Hanna may be guarding a secret she considers more shameful than murder. 

My thoughts

I heard about the movie, and decided that if it is by the same producer of The English Patient - which happens to be one of my favourite books and films - plus it deserves an Oscar, then The Reader is definitely worth reading.  


The book in one sentence: Where illiteracy is more shameful than murder.

In the slew of Holocaust literature, this is among those one should read. It is a thoughtful insight into how people, in war, just are.

The prose is sparse. But the story is so rich in nuances -  the story creeps up on you. I initially thought that this was a coming-of-age story of Michael, a young man in Germany in the 1950s. Hanna chances upon the boy getting sick in the streets, and "rescues" him. This initial meeting soon turns into a year-long May-December affair - where Michael is initiated into manhood by Hanna's confident woman-ness. Suddenly, Hanna disappears and Michael is heartbroken. But life goes on.

Years later, Michael is in law school. And their paths cross one more - Hanna is in the fight for her life, accused of willfully allowing the murder of hundreds of Jews under her care as an SS guard. What ensues in the courtroom is an unapologetic look into the difficult decisions and actions of people during war - where the rules suddenly change and inhumane circumstances become run-of-the-mill. The stunner here is that Hanna decides her fate of a guilty verdict - and a lifetime in jail - instead of admitting that she is illiterate. The years in jail lead Hanna to discover the written word through Michael's tape recorded stories. Their love story continues over decades - albeit long distance - until Hanna is finally granted parole as an old woman. 

This book reminds me slightly of The Book Thief in that both main character has a love affair with the written word and would go to great lengths to be able to indulge. On the other hand, the unexpected revelation of Hanna's illiteracy and the whole story coming from the viewpoint of the perpetrator - rather than the victim - reminds me of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

Book-to-movie: The book was translated beautifully into this movie. I am a huge admirer of Kate Winslet in this film as she brings so much sensitivity and depth to her portrayal of Hanna.

Verdict: You have gotta read this. And you have gotta see the movie too.

Amazon.com

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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne

 
When friendship sprouts up in the most unlikely of places.

Synopsis of The Boy in the Striped Pajamas by John Boyne: Berlin 1942. When Bruno returns home from school one day, he discovers that his belongings are being packed in crates. His father has received a promotion and the family must move from their home to a new house far far away, where there is no one to play with and nothing to do. A tall fence running alongside stretches as far as the eye can see and cuts him off from the strange people he can see in the distance. But Bruno longs to be an explorer and decides that there must be more to this desolate new place than meets the eye. While exploring his new environment, he meets another boy whose life and circumstances are very different to his own, and their meeting results in a friendship that has devastating consequences.

My thoughts

I picked up The Boy in the Striped Pajamas upon the recommendation of so many readers out there. I loved The Book Thief's unique perspective of storytelling but little did I know that this slim book would pack such a powerful story.

The book in one sentence: Nine-year-old Bruno, son of Nazi commandant, forges an unlikely friendship with a boy in striped pyjamas.

***

Typically, the horrors of the Holocaust are recounted from the point of view of the victim. This story does the exact opposite - it tells it from the viewpoint of the oppressor, or at least a representative from oppressor's group ... as the storyteller is the child of a Nazi commandant. Being such, it is told with such heartbreaking innocence and naivete that led me to wonder: Did Bruno not have an inkling of anything going on?

Bruno, just nine years old, moves with his family to a new home because of his father's promotion. The place is so remote, he has no one to play with but his sister Gretel (who isn't much of a playmate anyway). Peeking through his bedroom window though, he realizes that there are other children in nearby "farm." He finds it strange though that there are no women and all the people on that side of the fence are dressed in blue pyjamas.

He loses interest in the things nearby and being the inquisitive boy he is, he plays explorer. He finally finds his way to the fence of the "farm"and he meets Shmuel, a boy exactly his age. Over time he develops a friendship with Shmuel, finding so much in common between them despite the fence dividing them. Through repeated visits and gifts of food, Bruno learns about Shmuel's life on the other side of the fence.

Boyne euphemizes everything through Bruno's childlike descriptions: of his new home Out-With, of his mother's taking credit for the good deed of their waiter Pavel, of the lessons he and Gretel learn through their private tutor, of what it means to be wearing striped pyjamas. All these have horrific implications which only an adult mind can understand. Only through the voice of a child does Boyne drive home the point that there are more victims than we realize, and the saddest of them is our children's innocence.

The book ends in tragedy. But the friendship of Bruno and Shmuel teaches us friendships can bloom and last in even the most unlikely places.

I also watched the movie and it is every bit as good as the book (the acting is superb!). I wouldn't recommend a child younger than 12 watching it (or reading the book) as although the lead characters are young boys, and there is nothing too graphic or disturbing, the story is difficult to understand without some background of Nazi Germany.

First line: One afternoon, when Bruno came home from school, he was surprised to find Maria, the family's maid - who always kept her head bowed and never looked up from the carpet - standing in his bedroom, pulling all his belongings out of the wardrobe and packing them in four large wooden crates, even the things he had hidden at the back that belonged to him and were nobody else's business.

Last line: Not in this day and age.

Verdict: A must-read, powerful, disturbing. Prepare yourself for the tears, or at least a lump in the throat. While there is some controversy surrounding the factuality of the novel, the message is clear: stories like these need to be told to remind us that

Fences like this exist all over the world. We hope you never have to encounter one.

Amazon.com

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