tinod4be

I originally assumed, based on its title, that A History of the World in 10 1/2 chapters was actually a history of the world in 10 1/2 chapters. I thought it would be a quirky, ultra-condensed version of all recorded history. And it IS quirky. But it's actually a series of history-themed short stories. I had it on my wishlist based on the rave reviews from Amazon, claiming that the book is pure genius. A top review calls it a "sardonic, original, and mischievous mind on a tear." Too bad it bored me so much. With a postmodern approach, the book is clever and experimental...but clever and experimental doesn't automatically mean good. It's the type of read where every once and a while I would think "That's a neat description," or "What a creative take," and a couple times I chuckled, but I was never hooked. The highlight of the book is probably its first chapter, where Barnes tells the story of Noah's Ark from a wood worm's point of view. Another stand-out is an account of a shipwreck, followed by a chapter beginning with the question, "How do you turn catastrophe into art?"

2022-11-14 13:47