I was never big on The English Patient. I did enjoy certain passages, and the characters made lasting impressions on me – I can still recall tiniest details about them, but overall I can’t say I loved the book.

So I was not sure about picking up Warlight when it came out in June.

Then, together with my book-loving friend Halima, I went to see a discussion on literature and writing between Michael Ondaatje and Kazuo Ishiguro, who are life-long friends. That I loved. It seemed like they forgot about the audience of several hundred people and were just enjoying themselves. Michael talked about his love of collages, in art or in literature, and The English Patient really is a collage of plots, memories and destinies. They discussed Michael’s approach to writing, to doing extensive research and gaining unbelievably deep knowledge on such random subjects as roof climbing and London canal system (Warlight).

He has such a charming personality that I had to read another book of his.

I think for the first time ever I have to admit that there is absolutely no chemistry between me and the writer I admire. As I dissect his passages, I wonder at his talent, but if I let the book take control, my mind starts wandering. Again, as with The English Patient, many parts of Warlight will stay with me, but only as separate pieces of collage, while the overall picture leaves me cold.

Have you ever experienced that? Did you come back to the writer you didn’t have the chemistry with years after? Did anything change?