This Booker longlisted novel is mostly set in the Malaysian province of Penang. Lesley and Robert Hamlyn live a comfortable life, though their marriagThis Booker longlisted novel is mostly set in the Malaysian province of Penang. Lesley and Robert Hamlyn live a comfortable life, though their marriage has begun to strain. They welcome the author, "Willie" Somerset Maugham, an old friend of Robert's, to stay at their sizable home. Maugham has troubles of his own - he is a closeted gay man, travelling the world with his "secretary" Gerald, much to the chagrin of his wife Sylvie. But he's also in financial trouble and running out of things to write about. That all changes when Lesley begins to unburden her secrets to him - there are stories of revolutionaries, infidelity and even murder in her past. For an artist fresh out of ideas, these shocking revelations couldn't have come at a better time.
This is an elegantly told story. I don't know a huge amount about the life of Somerset Maugham, but from what I can gather, the narrative blends fact and fiction together very well. We surmise early on that Lesley has some mysteries to spill, and though the reader might try to predict them, the twists still come as a surprise. I also found the dichotomy of Maugham's existence interesting - a sought-after celebrity who succeeds through meeting new people and spinning their stories, but also an introverted soul who wrestles with a clandestine sexual identity. I did find the pacing a bit off - the first act of the novel is a slow burn that might test the patience of some. However, those who persevere to the end will be rewarded with a neat pay-off....more
This debut novel is set in late 1980s England. Gopi is 11 years old, the youngest of three daughters. They are all reeling from the recent loss of theThis debut novel is set in late 1980s England. Gopi is 11 years old, the youngest of three daughters. They are all reeling from the recent loss of their mother. To focus their minds, their father sets them up an intense squash training schedule. Gopi shows the most talent for the game and she revels in it, finding a freedom from the struggles of life on the courts. She befriends another player named Ged, the son of an employee at the local sports centre. They are both suggested to take part in an upcoming tournament and turn their training efforts up a notch in preparation. But while Gopi enjoys her new identity as an athlete, the rest of the family are finding grief a heavy burden to bear, and cracks begin to show.
I probably wouldn't have heard of this quiet, understated story if hadn't made the Booker shortlist. To be honest I found it hard to connect with. Apart from Gopi, the other characters aren't particularly memorable. And even though it's a short novel, there isn't a whole lot of momentum to the story - it all felt a bit aimless. I did appreciate the perceptive way in which bereavement was examined - each family member seemed to deal with it in their own particular way. However, I was underwhelmed on the whole by Western Lane - it may be sensitively written, but for me there is something lacking that I can't quite put my finger on....more
"I am a stutter of a person, a glitch that flickers; I am the air blurred by the summer sun."
Sunday is a single mother, living with her teenage daught"I am a stutter of a person, a glitch that flickers; I am the air blurred by the summer sun."
Sunday is a single mother, living with her teenage daughter Dolly in a rural English village. She's neurodivergent and prefers to live life to her own particular rhythm. Social situations are difficult for her - in fact she uses an etiquette guide from the 1950s to help navigate such events. Most days Sunday works in a greenhouse, enjoying the solitude and calming atmosphere. Her parents have passed on and her sister Dolores died tragically, so Dolly is her only family, but even she is beginning to tire of her mother's peculiarities. Their world is upended with a new arrival next door. Vita is everything Sunday is not - loud, vivacious and incredibly posh. In spite of their differences, the two women enjoy one another's company. When Vita and her husband Rollo invite Sunday and Dolly over for Friday night dinner, a friendship blossoms. But Dolly begins to spend more and more time with her new friends, and Sunday feels like she has no say in where things are headed.
This is a solid debut with a memorable protagonist. I've since learned that the author is also autistic and she gives us a fascinating glimpse of what life is like as a neurodivergent person. It's not hard to feel sympathy for a character who finds everyday interactions so much more difficult to manage than most. Sunday has had to put up with a lot and the layers of her sad history are gradually peeled back - I found the conversations with her ailing mother particularly heartbreaking. I did feel like the pacing of the story was a bit off: the first three-quarters of the book are a slow burn, and then a lot happens towards the end. But maybe that also chimes with Sunday's gentle life being upended so dramatically. It's a fine beginning from Viktoria Lloyd-Barlow - I'm already intrigued to see what she does next.
Favourite Quotes: "Sometimes I imagine how it would feel to access the effortless communication that Dolly and Vita enjoy. Oh! I would say, shocked at the ease of conversation. I see! I know what they mean, understand what they all want. What would it be to live without the laborious work of translation, to hear and instantly know what you have heard?"
"I was born with this intolerance of noise and light, and an accompanying greed for touch and smell."
"It is impossible to understand the need to deviate from repetition, this ceaseless desire for the new and the colourful. Yet people’s yearning for variety touches me, too, as a demonstration of hope, or perhaps it is faith. Whatever it is, I am without, and wanting. Their childlike belief that there is always something as yet untried, but superior – a different dress, or house, or menu – only to be discovered by those who keep looking, keep trying."
"I would rather be a tiny person who wonders and trembles at their surroundings than rule over everything, manipulate it to my preference, and in doing so, come to despise it."
"If loud noise and artificial light do not pain you, you cannot know the sublime relief of silence, of dullness."...more
It's 1979 and a small island off the coast of Ireland hosts two distinctive guests. First there is Mr Lloyd, an English artist who has come to paint tIt's 1979 and a small island off the coast of Ireland hosts two distinctive guests. First there is Mr Lloyd, an English artist who has come to paint the cliffs. He is fussy and demanding, immediately setting noses out of joint. But he does strike up a kind of friendship with 15-year-old James Gillan, reluctantly taking him on as an apprentice. The other notable visitor is Jean-Pierre Masson, a Frenchman who has spent the last few summers on the island studying the Irish language, which is slowly dying out. The two men clash - Lloyd can't concentrate on his work with all the hubbub Masson is making, while Masson is annoyed by the artist speaking English, a malign influence on the locals. Also, they both have eyes on James's mother Mairéad, a beautiful widow. Interspersed with all of this activity are reports of murders in Northern Ireland, with the Troubles at its height.
There is so much going on in this thoughtfully written novel. Magee deftly examines common themes like grief and jealousy, while carefully considering other subjects like the struggles of living on an isolated, rocky outpost, or a culture becoming extinct. Even the pressure a person can feel to follow in the family way of life is explored in the expectation that James will become a fisherman, like his father, who died at sea. I initially wondered what the bulletins from Northern Ireland had to do with it all but I believe they are employed to contrast with the island's more peaceful existence. We eventually learn that they are being heard on the radio in the Gillan house - the rising violence they describe becomes harder to ignore and it all lends itself to the notion that the island is being shaped by external influences, like it or not. The one aspect of the book that I didn't find all that interesting was Masson's childhood and his struggle with French/Algerian identity. But all in all, this is a captivating, expertly told story with many layers to uncover....more
This is not my first rendezvous with Graeme Mcrae Burnet. I've previously read and enjoyed His Bloody Project and The Disappearance of Adèle Bedeau. SThis is not my first rendezvous with Graeme Mcrae Burnet. I've previously read and enjoyed His Bloody Project and The Disappearance of Adèle Bedeau. So when his most recent novel earned its place on the Booker longlist, I needed no encouragement to get stuck in.
The story is mostly concerned with the affairs of Collins Braithwaite, a leading proponent of the anti-psychiatry movement of the 1960s and at one point known as "Britain's most dangerous man." At the beginning, the author tells us that he has come into the possession of several notebooks written by a former patient of Braithwaite's, who believes that he was the leading cause of her sister's suicide. The book then splits into two separate narratives. One gives us a biography of Braithwaite - his troubled upbringing, his study of psychology, his hellraising ways. The second storyline looks at the nameless narrator's attempts to investigate her sister's death. She becomes a patient of Braithwaite's under a false name, Rebecca Smyth. She exaggerates Rebecca's fragile emotional state, in the hopes that he will continue to treat her, and she in turn can learn more about him. But she begins to enjoy this alter-ego a little too much, and it threatens to take over her whole life.
Once again, Mcrae Burnet takes pleasure in blurring the lines between fact and fiction. I had to do a quick Google to verify that Braithwaite was not in fact a real person, so convincing was his description. But I must admit that I didn't enjoy this book as much as the author's previous efforts. Not all of the story's mysteries were satisfactorily concluded, in my opinion. The biographical sections about Braithwaite were a little dry and pedestrian, for my tastes. Rebecca's descent into madness became harder to fathom and my interest waned. As I turned the last page, I wondered about the point of it all. Something to do with the nature of identity, but I couldn't summon the enthusiasm to think any further about it....more
Life is hard for 17-year-old Kiara Johnson. She lives in a studio apartment with her older brother Marcus and they can't afford to pay the rent. NeithLife is hard for 17-year-old Kiara Johnson. She lives in a studio apartment with her older brother Marcus and they can't afford to pay the rent. Neither of them are employed - Kiara left school early and no supermarket or restaurant is willing to give her a start, while Marcus is focusing his efforts on a rap career. No parents are on the scene - their father died years ago and their mother is in a halfway house after committing an unforgivable act. And if that wasn't enough, Kiara has taken on the responsibility of looking after Trevor, a young neighbour whose mother is a crack addict. Kiara visits a strip club one evening to see if a friend who works in the bar can get her hired. There is no luck on that front but she drowns her sorrows in some free drinks. Feeling buzzed, she walks outside where a man takes advantage and has sex with her. He pays her $200 and she can't believe how easy it is. Suddenly she has a solution to her money worries. She decides to try this line of work full time, but she has no idea of the kind of trouble she's getting herself into.
For a first novel from a 20-year-old writer, I have to say that Nightcrawling is a pretty impressive debut. Leila Mottley grew up in Oakland where the story is based, and she displays a keen eye for documenting the city's problems. Poverty and police corruption are two of the main issues that are addressed, and they are so oppressive that it feels like there is no hope for these characters. But Kiara is brave and resilient, the kind of girl that is easy to root for. The writing did get a little florid for my liking at times but I reminded myself that this is a young author still honing her craft. I'm glad that the Booker committee decided to longlist Nightcrawling as this kind of talent deserves a leg-up. Her best work may still lie ahead of her - I predict a bright future for Mottley....more
This clever, challenging story is told in four different ways. It begins with Bonds, a novel by Harold Vanner, which describes the life of Benjamin RaThis clever, challenging story is told in four different ways. It begins with Bonds, a novel by Harold Vanner, which describes the life of Benjamin Rask, a reclusive man who makes his fortune on Wall Street in the 1920s. Rask marries an intelligent girl named Helen whose mental health eventually begins to unravel, ending up in a Swiss institute in her attempts to get better. The next section consists of an unfinished memoir by a financier named Andrew Bevel, whose life shares many parallels with the aforementioned Rask. The third part of Trust is what ties the whole novel together. It's told by Ida Partenza, a journalist who is hired by Bevel. Greatly irritated by Vanner's book, which he believes is a fictionalization and exaggeration of his own life, he charges Ida with writing the real story of his fortune, and marriage to Mildred, in order to set the record straight. The final section of Trust is Mildred's diary from her time in hospital, found by Ida many years later, which contains some shocking secrets.
I was a big fan of Hernan Diaz's first novel so I was always going to read his next work. With Trust he demonstrates his versatility and the breadth of his imagination - it's a completely different kind of story to his debut, both in terms of subject matter and the way in which it is told. The latter is what really wowed me - each part of the novel has its own unique, authentic voice. Bevel's attempt at a memoir is so drab and unimaginative, echoing his cold, robotic personality. Mildred's journal is fragmented and jumbled, but there are flashes of her sharp intelligence. Vanner's tale of two idiosyncratic people who realise they are perfect for one another really drew me in. I must admit there were parts of Ida's recollection I didn't find that interesting, particularly regarding her father's politics and boyfriend trouble, but her working relationship with Bevel was quite fascinating. All in all, I was hugely impressed by this intricate, innovative story which explores the ways in which different versions of the truth can be expressed, and how it's only by examining all of them together that we can establish the full picture....more
Theo Byrne is an astrobiologist. As part of his job, he speculates on what planets outside the Solar System might look like, and shares his ideas of tTheo Byrne is an astrobiologist. As part of his job, he speculates on what planets outside the Solar System might look like, and shares his ideas of these worlds with his 9-year-old son Robin, as a kind of bedtime story. Robin is going through a hard time - he's on the spectrum, though his condition has never been definitively diagnosed. He's also grieving the loss of his mother Alyssa, who died in an accident two years ago. Theo struggles to look after his son's special needs. He takes him camping which helps to ease his mind, but as soon as Robin gets back into the routine of school, old problems resurface. Salvation arrives in the form of a neurological experiment, which allows the boy to recalibrate his emotions based on a recording of his mother's brain activity. This proves a big success, but also becomes a media sensation, and Theo & Robin end up with a new set of problems to deal with.
I was a fan of Powers' previous novel, The Overstory, so I had been looking forward to this one. I thought it started off brightly - I was engaged in the hardship facing father and son, and felt sympathy for their plight. But as the story progressed, I became less enamored, and most of my bugbears were to do with Robin. As the treatment takes hold, he turns into a kind of ecological savant. Some of the stuff he came out with made me cringe, his sentimentality about the natural world seemed over the top. And the overall message of the book felt so preachy, a heavy-handed attempt to press home the anxieties of the climate crisis. While The Overstory had its flaws, I thought it addressed environmental concerns with a much subtler approach - its characters were well-rounded and the story was compelling. Bewilderment, however, is wrapped up in schmaltz and though it has admirable intentions to tackle an urgent topic, I found it an unconvincing, awkward effort....more
This Booker longlisted novel is a reimagining of a true story. Set in 1950s Cardiff, it examines the sad demise of Mahmood Hussein Mattan, a Somali seThis Booker longlisted novel is a reimagining of a true story. Set in 1950s Cardiff, it examines the sad demise of Mahmood Hussein Mattan, a Somali seaman who was executed for a murder he didn't commit.
And I'm afraid to say I didn't get along with it very well. The opening chapters are quite slow-paced, providing intricate backstories of Mahmood and the Volacki sisters, one of whom is killed. There is a real lack of momentum to this part of the book and I found myself struggling to continue with it. Once the crime had occurred and the police investigation began, I expected the story to perk up, but it still felt like wading through treacle. To my mind, there was a mountain of unnecessary detail, including histories of supporting characters and quite an amount of awkward expository dialogue.
I must at least commend the author on her efforts to paint an authentic picture of post-war Cardiff, and her intentions to bring a little-known injustice to light. But for me, the pacing of the story is a real problem, and it is bogged down with superfluous information. In truth, I was relieved to finish it....more
Two storylines are interwoven in this engaging novel from Sunjeev Sahota. The first is set in 1929 and examines the fate of 15-year-old Mehar. Along wTwo storylines are interwoven in this engaging novel from Sunjeev Sahota. The first is set in 1929 and examines the fate of 15-year-old Mehar. Along with two other girls, she has been married to three brothers in rural Punjab, but the identity of her husband is kept from her. Mistakenly believing it to be Suraj, the youngest sibling, she gives herself to him one afternoon, and a relationship blossoms despite the circumstances. In the present day, the narrator recalls the summer of 1999, when he travelled to the same part of India to stay with his uncle, in an attempt to battle his drug addiction. He turns out to be the great grandson of Mehar and is fascinated to hear stories of his ancestor that echo through the village. Assisted by a beguiling local doctor, he takes it upon himself to redevelop the crumbling house in which she lived, including the china room in which the three wives once slept.
The book is based on Sahota's family history, specifically a rumour that his great-grandmother was married to one of four brothers, not knowing which. I don't know if the young man battling the heroin problem is him, but it's a convincing account of a self-destructive struggle. I've seen a few reviews complaining that the two storylines don't have enough connecting them, but I disagree. There is the family link, and the present-day narrator comes to recognise the trauma that both he and his forebear went through. There is also an element of forbidden love to both strands. For me, the juxtaposition of storylines worked, and the book held me under its spell, wondering how the main characters would overcome their difficulties. A deserving Booker nominee, China Room is a precisely crafted and engrossing tale.
Favourite Quotes: "Later, she’ll wonder if that is the essence of being a man in the world, not simply desiring a thing, but being able to voice that desire out loud."
"‘You know what the best thing is about falling out of love? It sets you free. Because when you’re in love it is everything, it is imprisoning, it is all there is, and you’d do anything, anything, to keep that love. But when it withers you can suddenly see the rest of the world again, everything else floods back into the places that love had monopolised.’"...more
The Promise examines the fortunes of a South African family over a number of decades. It begins in the 1980s with the death of the mother, Rachel SwarThe Promise examines the fortunes of a South African family over a number of decades. It begins in the 1980s with the death of the mother, Rachel Swart. Her husband Manie and children are all grief-stricken. Eldest child Anton returns from the army, with no motivation to continue in that role, and vague ambitions of writing a novel. Amor, the youngest, is more concerned with the vow her mother made to Salome, the family's black servant. On her death bed she instructed her husband that the woman should be given full ownership of the house she lived in, which was located on the Swart's property. Over the years Rachel's promise seems to fade from the family mindset, but Amor never forgets. And a decade later, when the Swarts reunite due to another bereavement, she intends to raise the matter once again.
I probably wouldn't have read this novel had it not been longlisted for the Booker Prize. I'd heard of it, but the synopsis never really grabbed me. And to be honest, I didn't find the story very captivating. None of the characters were particularly interesting, and there was nobody to root for, except maybe Amor, though I never fully understood her motivations. I must admit that the book is well written - I especially admired how the narration moved so fluidly between cast members. And I liked how sensitively the state of South Africa is portrayed throughout the story. At the beginning there is rage and unrest stemming from the Apartheid system, but as the years progress and the old ways are dismantled, there is a more peaceful atmosphere. So I did get something out of The Promise: it wasn't the emotional family saga I was expecting, but I learned something about a volatile country that underwent a massive change in a short space of time....more
I'm afraid there is a significant flaw in this story that I just can't get past. I'm talking about the massive coincidence that the whole plot hangs uI'm afraid there is a significant flaw in this story that I just can't get past. I'm talking about the massive coincidence that the whole plot hangs upon: (view spoiler)[ Emira, babysitter for Alix's daughter, is accosted by a security guard in a Philadelphia store one night. A bystander named Kelley films the episode on his phone. Later on, Emira and Kelley meet on the subway and start dating. BUT IT JUST SO HAPPENS that Kelley and Alix used to date years ago back in high school (in a totally different town), breaking up in acrimonious circumstances. (hide spoiler)]
I'm willing to suspend belief when reading fiction. I know that sometimes, unlikely events need to happen in order to advance the plot. But this was a stretch too far for me. And the thing is, the characters don't even remark upon the highly improbable fluke of it all. Even if one of them had said something like "What are the chances?", I might be prepared to cut the book some slack. But they all carry on like it's the most natural thing in the world.
Leaving that aside, the story itself is interesting enough. It takes a modern look at topics like class, race and white guilt. And it moves at a quick pace to hold the reader's attention. However, I'm a bit mystified as to the gushing praise it has received. I don't think it's anywhere near as 'intricate' or 'carefully observed' as some publications have claimed. It was lucky enough to come along at the right time and rode a wave of media hype. And lots of folk seem to have enjoyed it. It just wasn't for me....more
This ecological tale is set in the near future. American cities have become overcrowded, consuming massive amounts resources, so that there only one aThis ecological tale is set in the near future. American cities have become overcrowded, consuming massive amounts resources, so that there only one area of untouched terrain left. Twenty volunteers choose to take part in an experiment, to see how they can survive in this "Wilderness state". They have minimal possessions and are allowed to hunt & forage, but they must leave no trace of themselves behind. They are expected to follow rules laid out in a manual, while Rangers watch their movements. Among this community are Bea and Agnes, a mother and daughter. Agnes was very sick as a child in the city, and Bea brought her on this study in the desperate hope that her health would improve. She has thrived and taken to this new life in a positive way, picking up many valuable skills. Bea on the other hand misses her old life and finds herself becoming a reluctant leader of the group. The story follows the community's struggle to survive, as they drift farther from the guidelines set out for them.
I'm afraid this novel moved too slowly for me to enjoy it. Especially at the beginning, it takes such a long time to get going. It seems like there are endless descriptions of the landscape. Eventually the mother-daughter friction starts to get interesting, but I'm afraid it will have lost many readers by that point. It is a very timely tale, addressing an urgent topic like climate change in a thoughtful way. And its portrayal of maternal love is quite moving at times. I just wish the book's editor had cut about a hundred pages from it. With some tightening up, it could have been a much more effective parable....more
This heartbreaking tale of alcoholism and poverty in 1980s Scotland knocked me over. Yes it's bleak, but it's a completely engrossing story of a boy'sThis heartbreaking tale of alcoholism and poverty in 1980s Scotland knocked me over. Yes it's bleak, but it's a completely engrossing story of a boy's love for his mother. A remarkable debut from Douglas Stuart.
We begin in 1992. 15-year-old Shuggie Bain is living in a grim bedsit, doing his best to avoid the advances of the creepy old man in the room next door. The story then flashes back a decade earlier. A tiny high-rise apartment houses the Bain family, in a downtrodden part of Glasgow. Shuggie's father Hugh (nicknamed Big Shug) drives a taxi at night, and has an eye for the ladies. His mother Agnes has a drinking problem, which tends to get worse when she suspects her husband's philandering. Catherine and Leek, Shuggie's older siblings, tend to avoid the flat when their mother is one of her benders. However, little Shuggie has no option but to stay at home. There is one ray of hope: Hugh has secured a house on the outskirts of Glasgow, where the family will have more space and a front door of their own. A chance at a fresh start, Agnes tells herself. But the move ends up posing a new set of problems to the Bains.
The story paints a sorry picture of 80s Glasgow. It's a city on its knees, crippled by unemployment and an uncaring Tory government. Shug watches it through his taxi windscreen and doesn't like what he sees:
"The city was changing; he could see it in people’s faces. Glasgow was losing its purpose, and he could see it all clearly from behind the glass. He could feel it in his takings. He had heard them say that Thatcher didn’t want honest workers any more; her future was technology and nuclear power and private health. Industrial days were over, and the bones of the Clyde Shipworks and the Springburn Railworks lay about the city like rotted dinosaurs. Whole housing estates of young men who were promised the working trades of their fathers had no future now. Men were losing their very masculinity."
Though the title bears Shuggie's name, the story is really about Agnes. Her alcoholism worsens with every disappointment that life brings. She's a good-looking woman and has always felt that she deserved more than her unhappy existence. Leek understands that this frustration drives his mother. When he comes home filthy from the quarry, she's not cross with him for hanging around in such a dangerous place, it's for showing her up:
"It was the dust that bothered Agnes. It was what the neighbours must think when they saw him come back covered in soot and dirt. How she could no longer pretend that she was nothing like them, that she was better born and stuck only temporarily in their forgotten corner of misery. It was pride, not danger, that made her so angry."
What's most moving of all is the unconditional love Shuggie has for Agnes, even after all the torture she has put him through. Cleaning the vomit from her face after another heavy night's drinking. Going hungry again because she has spent all of their money on beer and vodka. The absolute terror that she will eventually kill herself. These are all things a child should never have to experience, but Shuggie still believes that nobody can compare to his Mammy:
"She was no use at maths homework, and some days you could starve rather than get a hot meal from her, but Shuggie looked at her now and understood this was where she excelled. Everyday with the make-up on and her hair done, she climbed out of her grave and held her head high. When she had disgraced herself with drink, she got up the next day, put on her best coat, and faced the world. When her belly was empty and her weans were hungry, she did her hair and let the world think otherwise."
It's a heart-wrenching story, and it brought me close to tears on many occasions. You can't help rooting for these characters, even for Agnes in all her vanity and self-destruction, willing her to give AA just one more try. And the first line of the book's acknowledgements might be the most poignant sentence of all. A magnificent novel, told with unflinching honesty and profound emotion....more
I'm afraid I didn't enjoy Apeirogon as much as I expected to. It tells an important story and I learned quite a bit from reading it, but its fragmenteI'm afraid I didn't enjoy Apeirogon as much as I expected to. It tells an important story and I learned quite a bit from reading it, but its fragmented structure prevented me from properly engaging with it.
The book revolves around Rami and Bassam, an Israeli and a Palestinian respectively, who have both lost a daughter as a result of the conflict between their nations. Though the men are on opposing sides, they become friends and advocates for peace in the region. We are given their backstories. Rami was a member of the Israeli military, later becoming a graphic designer. Bassam served time in prison for resisting Israeli occupation, and during his internment he became a believer in the power of action through non-violent means. They remember the moments of horror, when their innocent children were taken long before their time was due. The two men, united in heartbreak, set about improving the relationships between their countries through meaningful dialogue.
The story is told in 1001 segments, some that go on for several pages, some that are as a short as a sentence. They veer off on various tangents, such as the migratory habits of birds, the manufacture of bullets, the high-wire artist Phillipe Petit and so on. They are all loosely connected to the main story and McCann always returns to this central tale of Rami and Bassam. But this fragmented account only served to pull me out of concentrating on the men's plight. Some of the segments were interesting, though to be honest they were more of a distraction than anything else. I'm all for experimenting with forms of narrative - however in this case, it didn't work for me.
Where the book does succeed is in its examination of grief, and its sensitive, nuanced exploration of a complex political conflict. It's a daring effort, and while it might not entirely succeed in its ambition, it has a moving and hopeful story at its heart....more
Micah Mortimer is a 43-year-old freelance IT consultant, living in the basement of a Baltimore apartment building, of which he is also the super. He lMicah Mortimer is a 43-year-old freelance IT consultant, living in the basement of a Baltimore apartment building, of which he is also the super. He lives each day to a strict routine, heading out for a run at 7.15, starting work at 10.00 and assigning cleaning chores to himself, which are never missed. Even his relationship with girlfriend Cass is quite regimented - she lives at her own place and certain boundaries are very clear. Micah's family, loud and disorganised, are the complete opposite of his personality and tease him about his carefully-ordered existence. Things change when the son of an old flame turns up on his doorstep, believing Micah to be his father. This sets in motion a change of events that cause Micah to question his lot and whether he really is happy with staying in his comfort zone.
I've read Anne Tyler before, The Accidental Tourist being a particular favourite. I wasn't that keen on A Spool of Blue Thread, my last encounter with her. This sits somewhere in between the two, if you ask me. She is still a keen observer of human behaviour - you gradually understand why Micah has turned out this way, living a distanced, controlled life (especially after meeting his rambunctious family.) I didn't find it especially profound, and I wasn't wowed by many sentences. But it's a short, easy read, and by the end you will be rooting for Micah to reject his self-imposed isolation and grab that chance of happiness....more
Eyebrows were raised at the number of debuts on this year's Booker longlist, but Gabriel Krauze's scintillating Who They Was is surely a worthy contenEyebrows were raised at the number of debuts on this year's Booker longlist, but Gabriel Krauze's scintillating Who They Was is surely a worthy contender. It has been referred to as 'literary non-fiction', as the shocking events it describes were all experienced by the author in his younger days.
Krauze grew up in a disadvantaged part of London and was attracted to a life of crime from an early age. The gangs that ruled South Kilburn, along with the power and money involved in their illegal enterprises seemed like a logical path to success. He went by the name Snoopz and took part in various shady dealings, from drug-dealing to robbery and worse. His family were dismayed at the life he chose to lead but their pleading fell on deaf ears. However, Krauze possessed an intelligence and a will to better himself that was lacking in his peers. He studied English at university, while he was living the gang life, and you read on hoping that this is his way out.
The story is told in London slang, and though it's a little jarring at first, it settles into an easy rhythm. It also adds to the authenticity of Krauze's account. You begin to wonder how somebody with his intellect could have been lured into such a dangerous existence, but he explains its thrills quite eloquently in his own way:
"I’m tapping the zoot to pack the weed and baccy down tap tap tap so it’s nice and tight, and it hits me how I don’t want an easy and boring life. I want to run from the law and feel my heartbeat making me sick. I want to fuck gyal like it could be my last night on Earth. I want to see fear in people’s eyes and eat my own fear. I want to live dangerously, on the edge of existence."
"Now that I’ve committed to it there’s no backing out. Better to take risks, better to plunge into the fire and feel alive, if only for a moment, than not to have really lived at all. Some people spend their lives dying. Fuck dat."
It's quite a violent story and Snoopz commits many horrific, despicable acts. But in a strange way, I rooted for him. He is better than this, and he has the means to escape if he can only realise it. There are moments of poetic insight in his account that offer a glimpse at his true potential:
"Warm yellow lights keep secrets behind curtained windows in the three-storey blocks that sit in the precinct. Street lights fight with shadows and lose. Nightfall. In the distance, rectangles of yellow float in unshakeable loneliness: windows in the concrete towers of South Kilburn."
And though he acts like a tough man on the street, fleeting moments show that there is a heart underneath that hardened exterior:
"As I leave the flat I start crying silently, tightening up my face with my eyes all blurry, but I can’t work out if I’m sad or if it’s just the way I’d clocked my father’s love for me has no limits, even while it pushes against something terrible."
At times I felt ashamed for how exciting I found the descriptions of the crimes that Snoopz commits. But I don't think that the book glorifies violence. It describes how a person can become addicted to this lifestyle; how easy it is to fall in with a gang when you grow up with it on your doorstep. And it sadly reveals the consequences of gang life - Krauze is one of the lucky few who got out. I was hugely impressed by Who They Was - it is a powerful, startling story, showing me a life that I had only caught a glimpse of in statistics and newspaper reports....more
This is such a clever book. Though at times the plot was so elusive I couldn't help find it frustrating. I'm sure I missed certain motifs and allusionThis is such a clever book. Though at times the plot was so elusive I couldn't help find it frustrating. I'm sure I missed certain motifs and allusions but on the whole, it was an enjoyable read.
The story begins in 1988. Saul Adler is our protagonist, a handsome 28-year-old historian. On his way to meet his girlfriend Jennifer, he is hit by a car on Abbey Road, but apparently left unscathed. He proposes to Jennifer - instead she breaks up with him. A little glum, Saul travels to Berlin so that he can research a paper about life in the GDR. There he falls for the enigmatic Walter and they begin a brief relationship. He also spends a night with Walter's unhinged sister Luna. Strangely, Saul seems to know the future - for example he can predict that the Berlin Wall will fall in 1989. When the second half of the book begins, it is 2016, and Walter is in a hospital bed, having been struck by a vehicle on Abbey Road. Curiouser and curiouser...
So what is this novel trying to say? I think it's primarily about perception: how we see ourselves and and how other people see us. Saul is a total narcissist and completely unaware of this. The reason Jennifer breaks up with him is because of how self-absorbed he is. It's also a story about memory. Saul's mind has been fractured by his accident, and his recollections from his hospital bed are becoming completely muddled. He sees people from bygone days in his room and mixes up past events. The few friends and family who attend his bedside are saddened by his shattered mental state.
It's a book that impressed me with its style and intellect. But it never really moved me, and I found it hard to care about any of the characters (I guess that's the problem with having such an egocentric narrator). However, it is a fun novel to analyse and decipher, and I will enjoy reading other people's interpretations of it. I think it deserves its place on the Booker longlist, even though it is competing with novels more deserving of the prize....more
I can see why Lost Children Archive has been nominated for awards. It addresses one of the most pressing issues of modern times. It's inventive, it taI can see why Lost Children Archive has been nominated for awards. It addresses one of the most pressing issues of modern times. It's inventive, it takes risks with form. Not all of them succeed, in my eyes, but you have to give the author respect for trying something different.
The story centres on an American road trip. A woman and her husband, both documentarians, are travelling from New York to Arizona with their children from past relationships - a ten-year-old boy (his) and a five-year-old girl (hers). Once they get there, the husband is planning to start a new project on the Apache culture. The wife has been helping a Mexican woman whose daughters have been detained after crossing the border, and is hoping to find out more about their situation. On the journey, the four of them listen to news reports about the immigration crisis along with audiobooks like Lord of the Flies. The father teaches the children all he knows about Native American history. We also get the sense that the marriage is in trouble. And then about two-thirds of the way through, the family have a new crisis thrust upon them.
This late plot twist gives much needed impetus to a story that had been meandering, and it left me wishing that had happened sooner. For all its topicality and sincerity, I was beginning to find the earlier sections a bit aimless and repetitive. But it flickers into life whenever the wife talks about the gradual disintegration of her marriage, or when she explains the immigration problem as best she can to her inquisitive children:
"A refugee is someone who has already arrived somewhere, in a foreign land, but must wait for an indefinite time before actually, fully having arrived. Refugees wait in detention centers, shelters, or camps; in federal custody and under the gaze of armed officials. They wait in long lines for lunch, for a bed to sleep in, wait with their hands raised to ask if they can use the bathroom. They wait to be let out, wait for a telephone call, for someone to claim or pick them up. And then there are refugees who are lucky enough to be finally reunited with their families, living in a new home. But even those still wait. They wait for the court’s notice to appear, for a court ruling, for either deportation or asylum, wait to know where they will end up living and under what conditions. They wait for a school to admit them, for a job opening, for a doctor to see them. They wait for visas, documents, permission. They wait for a cue, for instructions, and then wait some more. They wait for their dignity to be restored."
Though the kids often sounded too advanced for their age, if you ask me. The narrative also includes part of a book that the mother has been reading about lost children, which alludes to works by Conrad, Eliot & Pound, among others. I'm not sure this device was really necessary - it all felt a bit pretentious to me. And at the end of the main text, Luiselli includes a "Works Cited" section, to tell you all of the classics she has made reference to in these "Elegies", just in case you missed them.
There's a lot going on in Lost Children Archive. I do think there is the kernel of a great novel in there somewhere but it is buried beneath some showy literary affectations that don't always work. When the story directly addresses the refugee crisis, and when this emergency begins to have an immediate impact on the family in question, that's when this book comes alive....more
I'm sorry to say that I didn't get on with Everything Under. Like everyone else, I was delighted to hear that a 27-year-old writer had made the BookerI'm sorry to say that I didn't get on with Everything Under. Like everyone else, I was delighted to hear that a 27-year-old writer had made the Booker shortlist with her debut novel - just the kind of shake-up that the prize needs. But even though I can acknowledge some of the ambition and invention in this book, I found it exasperating to read.
The story involves Gretel, a woman looking for her mother, Sarah, around the canals of Oxfordshire. When Gretel was a teenager, they lived alone on a houseboat, but Sarah abandoned her daughter, and she ended up in foster care. Sixteen years later, Gretel receives a short phone call from her mother and vows to find her. The search causes her to remember her childhood, the unusual vocabulary she and Sarah used, and a boy named Marcus who spent some time on their boat. It also brings back terrifying memories of the Bonak, a strange creature that haunted their dreams.
I know that Everything Under is a retelling of a Greek myth, and that fact somehow makes it worthy of awards recognition, but it's all so frustratingly vague. The constantly shifting timeline doesn't help things, it only serves to disrupt the flow of the narrative. And maybe the opacity of the plot is meant to reflect the confusion surrounding Gretel's memories and Sarah's dementia, but it doesn't make an entertaining story. Also, one major plot twist seemed implausible to me: (view spoiler)[would a teenager really leave home for good after being informed of such an unlikely prophesy by her neighbour? (hide spoiler)]
I'm clearly in the minority. The praise for this book has been effusive and Daisy Johnson has been singled out as an exciting new talent. I wouldn't rule out reading any of her future novels, but this one just wasn't for me....more
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