If you liked those school books by Gervase Phinn, then you may or may not like this. IMO, it's a pretty poor imitation.
Typical story: a school year with all its ups and downs, funny things children say, scary school inspectors, uncertain romance, ordinary Yorkshire folk, stroppy cleaners... Trouble is, I've heard it all before.
My main complaint is the bad writing: this is full of cliches, stereotypical characters and, perhaps worst of all, clumsy, intrusive, usually irrelevant references to the 1970s in an attempt to place the story in real time. As a previous English SATs marker, I would give it no more than a Level 5 - the standard expected for an average 13 year-old. Hard to believe it's written by a headteacher (maybe he is more of a Maths specialist?).
It's not all bad: a nice touch is, at the beginning of each chapter, a quote from what looks like a genuine school logbook, which relates to the story to follow. And it's clear that at least some of the details ring true, as anyone who grew up in the 1970s can testify. The events in school also have an authentic feel and show just how much things have changed since then.
But if you prefer good writing, read Gervase Phinn instead - he's a far superior writer.
Sunday, 8 December 2013
Saturday, 24 August 2013
Skios by Michael Frayn
This has been out for a few months now, if not longer, and has been well-received.
Having enjoyed an earlier book by Frayn (Spies), though not his play Noises Off, I wondered which camp this one would fall into. Probably somewhere in between.
It's a farcical, satirical tale of mishaps, mistaken identity and humour played out over the backdrop of a Greek island. Details are well-described, characters mostly convincing and there's enough pace to keep the reader wondering what will happen next. I did enjoy this, though not as much as Spies (which was more of a mystery), and there were elements which reminded me of Noises Off, though thankfully not enough to make me put the book down.
It's a light read, a slim novel and great for holiday reading.
Having enjoyed an earlier book by Frayn (Spies), though not his play Noises Off, I wondered which camp this one would fall into. Probably somewhere in between.
It's a farcical, satirical tale of mishaps, mistaken identity and humour played out over the backdrop of a Greek island. Details are well-described, characters mostly convincing and there's enough pace to keep the reader wondering what will happen next. I did enjoy this, though not as much as Spies (which was more of a mystery), and there were elements which reminded me of Noises Off, though thankfully not enough to make me put the book down.
It's a light read, a slim novel and great for holiday reading.
Monday, 15 July 2013
Sorry! The English and their Manners by Henry Hitchings
If like me you're fascinated by people's behaviour, this will be as welcome as a politely proffered umbrella in a shower of rain.
It's a sort of history of manners and how behaviour has changed, more or less since mediaeval times up to the present day. Roughly chronological, there are some interesting snippets here, with evidence mainly from literature or from other historical writings upon the subject of etiquette and the like. Focusing on what English (as opposed to British) people see as good manners, there's nevertheless some allusion to what other people think of us.
Although this is a thick hardback with over 300 pages, and as I said some of it is interesting, I felt by the end that somehow the author had only touched upon the subject: I wanted to know more, and sensed that there's probably more out there to know.
It's a sort of history of manners and how behaviour has changed, more or less since mediaeval times up to the present day. Roughly chronological, there are some interesting snippets here, with evidence mainly from literature or from other historical writings upon the subject of etiquette and the like. Focusing on what English (as opposed to British) people see as good manners, there's nevertheless some allusion to what other people think of us.
Although this is a thick hardback with over 300 pages, and as I said some of it is interesting, I felt by the end that somehow the author had only touched upon the subject: I wanted to know more, and sensed that there's probably more out there to know.
Sunday, 23 June 2013
How To Instantly Connect With Anyone by Leil Lowndes
First a warning: this is written by an American, so some of the advice might seem a bit over-the-top for us reserved Brits. Nevertheless, there are some interesting ideas here, some of which I've taken on board.
The subtitle tells us that there are "96 all-new little tricks for big success in relationships". She's not kidding. There are indeed 96, which is way too many to remember, let alone put into practice, but I would say, as with all of this self-help stuff, take what you want from it.
By "relationships", the author is really talking about anyone you might come across, at work or socially, not people you already know well, though some of them are also applicable to existing relationships. The bulk of the book seems to be about impressing and convincing people professionally, rather than improving your marriage or whatever, so I felt that the sub-title was slightly misleading.
The layout of the book is probably one of its best features. Each "little trick" is described in detail; we are often told its origin, its uses and the effect on other people, then the "trick" is summarised helpfully in a text box, which does help when you are trying to find it again. The text is well-written, chatty, even entertaining at times, so not a heavy read. I would buy, rather than borrow this book, because, if you find it useful, you'll either need to refer to it again and again, or read it really slowly, as it's fairly chunky at over 300 pages.
And do the tricks work? She's fairly convinced they do. In my own experience, it's too soon to tell. Many of them are to my mind simple courtesies which, once you are told about them seem fairly obvious. Many of the most emotionally-aware people I know are already doing most of them, as far as I can see; but for those of us who have to work quite hard at reading people's body language etc., this is a very useful source of ideas and information, even if some of them do seem like a lot of hard work.
The subtitle tells us that there are "96 all-new little tricks for big success in relationships". She's not kidding. There are indeed 96, which is way too many to remember, let alone put into practice, but I would say, as with all of this self-help stuff, take what you want from it.
By "relationships", the author is really talking about anyone you might come across, at work or socially, not people you already know well, though some of them are also applicable to existing relationships. The bulk of the book seems to be about impressing and convincing people professionally, rather than improving your marriage or whatever, so I felt that the sub-title was slightly misleading.
The layout of the book is probably one of its best features. Each "little trick" is described in detail; we are often told its origin, its uses and the effect on other people, then the "trick" is summarised helpfully in a text box, which does help when you are trying to find it again. The text is well-written, chatty, even entertaining at times, so not a heavy read. I would buy, rather than borrow this book, because, if you find it useful, you'll either need to refer to it again and again, or read it really slowly, as it's fairly chunky at over 300 pages.
And do the tricks work? She's fairly convinced they do. In my own experience, it's too soon to tell. Many of them are to my mind simple courtesies which, once you are told about them seem fairly obvious. Many of the most emotionally-aware people I know are already doing most of them, as far as I can see; but for those of us who have to work quite hard at reading people's body language etc., this is a very useful source of ideas and information, even if some of them do seem like a lot of hard work.
Tuesday, 18 June 2013
The Great Gatsby by Scott Fitzgerald
Having, seen the film, I wanted to read the book!
Well, it might have been the book of the film, rather than the other way around. the plot was exactly the same, even the words people said in the film were lifted straight from here.
It's a small book by any standards, and very well-written. Somehow, I wasn't expecting that. Having seen the film of course helped to picture what was going on, so no need for a picture to be painted in words - but it was.
If you haven't seen the film, the plot is slightly Evelyn Waugh - reminded me of Bridehead Revisited. It's basically a decline and fall tale in a "how are the mightly laid low" sort of way. No-one comes out of it particularly well, even the narrator who, one is left feeling, is well-meaning but a bit wet. I don't feel the main female character is very well-drawn, though others are. Clever devices, such as (convincingly, it has to be said) revealing information which should come out later in the story are used to circumvent the problem of a first-person narrative having access only to things (s)he personally has seen. This device is presumably what led to the whole story appearing as a flashback in the recent film.
I would definitely recommend this if you've enjoyed the film, or even if you haven't seen it yet.
Well, it might have been the book of the film, rather than the other way around. the plot was exactly the same, even the words people said in the film were lifted straight from here.
It's a small book by any standards, and very well-written. Somehow, I wasn't expecting that. Having seen the film of course helped to picture what was going on, so no need for a picture to be painted in words - but it was.
If you haven't seen the film, the plot is slightly Evelyn Waugh - reminded me of Bridehead Revisited. It's basically a decline and fall tale in a "how are the mightly laid low" sort of way. No-one comes out of it particularly well, even the narrator who, one is left feeling, is well-meaning but a bit wet. I don't feel the main female character is very well-drawn, though others are. Clever devices, such as (convincingly, it has to be said) revealing information which should come out later in the story are used to circumvent the problem of a first-person narrative having access only to things (s)he personally has seen. This device is presumably what led to the whole story appearing as a flashback in the recent film.
I would definitely recommend this if you've enjoyed the film, or even if you haven't seen it yet.
Sunday, 12 May 2013
Before I Go To Sleep by S. J. Watson
This is a real page-turner. A psychological thriller which keeps the reader on tenterhooks throughout. I found it hard to put down.
Christine has lost her memory and, each morning, wakes with no recall of anything that has gone before. She is encouraged to write a journal by a mysterious doctor, and, by reading this every day, gradually builds up a picture of her life and what happened to cause her loss of memory. Events are recounted in the first person, as if read/written by Christine in her journal; therefore the story is told as it happens, which adds to the tension.
The reader is kept guessing: who is she? Who are the people in her life? Why are there so few photos of her family...? Our sympathies alter constantly as we gather more information and discover that nothing - and no-one - is as they first appear.
I have to say that, early on, I correctly predicted the outcome of the mystery, which could have been the author's intention; but it's no worse for that, as there are many loose ends to be tied up - and they are, eventually; with a happy ending of sorts.
Christine has lost her memory and, each morning, wakes with no recall of anything that has gone before. She is encouraged to write a journal by a mysterious doctor, and, by reading this every day, gradually builds up a picture of her life and what happened to cause her loss of memory. Events are recounted in the first person, as if read/written by Christine in her journal; therefore the story is told as it happens, which adds to the tension.
The reader is kept guessing: who is she? Who are the people in her life? Why are there so few photos of her family...? Our sympathies alter constantly as we gather more information and discover that nothing - and no-one - is as they first appear.
I have to say that, early on, I correctly predicted the outcome of the mystery, which could have been the author's intention; but it's no worse for that, as there are many loose ends to be tied up - and they are, eventually; with a happy ending of sorts.
Peaches for Monsieur le Cure by Joanne Harris
This a sequel to Chocolat, set eight years later in the same place. Vianne Rocher returns to the village where things have changed: new people have moved in, bringing with them a new set of questions for both Vianne and her old protagonist the curate.
As with the other novel, both characters and setting are strongly drawn and the plot is, if anything, even better: there's certainly more going on. Contemporary vibes in the shape of cross-religious relationships set this novel clearly in the present, yet the people's way of life is curiously old-world, with only the references to mobile phones to bring the reader anything like close to the present day. Natural, seasonal change is manifestly present, as with many of Harris's novels, and there's more than a hint of magic in the air. The twist at the end is a genuine surprise.
As with the other novel, both characters and setting are strongly drawn and the plot is, if anything, even better: there's certainly more going on. Contemporary vibes in the shape of cross-religious relationships set this novel clearly in the present, yet the people's way of life is curiously old-world, with only the references to mobile phones to bring the reader anything like close to the present day. Natural, seasonal change is manifestly present, as with many of Harris's novels, and there's more than a hint of magic in the air. The twist at the end is a genuine surprise.
Friday, 12 April 2013
Runelight by Joanne Harris
If you've read anything else by this author, this is very different (with one exception). Chocolat it is not.
Runelight is fantasy, pure and simple. Good and evil, gods, magic, alternative writing systems, alternative worlds, maps of alternative worlds... It's Phillip Pullman crossed with Paul Stewart with a dollop of Joanne Harris as you know her. But perhaps I'm being unfair.
This is a follow-up to Runemarks (the exception I mentioned earlier), so if you've already read that one, you'll know what to expect. I hadn't, though I will now, and I must say it would have helped a great deal if I had. Nevertheless, I did enjoy this, even if I didn't know all the time exactly what was happening - there's a lot of back history to be explained, though the dramatis personae at the beginning, plus the maps, help a great deal.
The characters are great: varied and appealing or not in equal measure, but what kept me going was the desire to discover what it was all about, what was going to happen and who would win in the end. There's humour and some adult themes including sex (though little violence), but I wouldn't say this is in the same league as, say, Ursual Le Guin's Earthsea stories, though there are similarities.
If you're already a fan of fantasy, then you'll probably enjoy this. If you're more of a Blackberry Wine person, maybe not. But then, I'm both, so what do I know?
Runelight is fantasy, pure and simple. Good and evil, gods, magic, alternative writing systems, alternative worlds, maps of alternative worlds... It's Phillip Pullman crossed with Paul Stewart with a dollop of Joanne Harris as you know her. But perhaps I'm being unfair.
This is a follow-up to Runemarks (the exception I mentioned earlier), so if you've already read that one, you'll know what to expect. I hadn't, though I will now, and I must say it would have helped a great deal if I had. Nevertheless, I did enjoy this, even if I didn't know all the time exactly what was happening - there's a lot of back history to be explained, though the dramatis personae at the beginning, plus the maps, help a great deal.
The characters are great: varied and appealing or not in equal measure, but what kept me going was the desire to discover what it was all about, what was going to happen and who would win in the end. There's humour and some adult themes including sex (though little violence), but I wouldn't say this is in the same league as, say, Ursual Le Guin's Earthsea stories, though there are similarities.
If you're already a fan of fantasy, then you'll probably enjoy this. If you're more of a Blackberry Wine person, maybe not. But then, I'm both, so what do I know?
Monday, 8 April 2013
The Beginner's Goodbye by Anne Tyler
I love Anne Tyler's stories about family life in Baltimore, USA, and this is no exception. This one is about coming to terms with bereavement. The main character loses his wife suddenly, and then she returns to him - or does she? Although he has several conversations with her - the story is told in the first person - and even describes for us someone else's reaction to seeing his late wife apparently alive and well, ultimately we only have his word for it, and the reader is left guessing.
As always with this author, the well-drawn, rounded characters (even the minor ones) and the details of everyday life are what makes this a good read and, although the main character can be really irritating at times, the reader's sympathies are with him all the way to the happy ending.
As always with this author, the well-drawn, rounded characters (even the minor ones) and the details of everyday life are what makes this a good read and, although the main character can be really irritating at times, the reader's sympathies are with him all the way to the happy ending.
The Good Man Jesus and the Scoundrel Christ by Philip Pullman
Two things immediately surprised me: this seems an odd choice of subject matter for an aetheist, and this author shows a great deal of knowledge of the Bible: the reasons for both of these gradually become clear throughout this short, thought-provoking novel.
It's basically a re-telling of the life of Jesus from the point of view of a new character who wasn't in the original Gospel versions. The crucifixion of Jesus is orchestrated by his twin brother (the "scoundrel"), egged on by an unidentified shadowy figure (Satan? An angel?), with the purpose of creating a Church which the author clearly sees as an evil institution. Hence, "scoundrel". Jesus, meanwhile, is just another good, if misguided human being who is caught up in all this. Other well-known characters appear, but pale into insignificance beside the three main protagonists.
It's certainly an original idea, and does provoke some interesting questions about the relationship between Church and power - a theme the author visited in the well-known His Dark Materials trilogy - as well as more general questions about the nature of religious and historical truth. As a Christian, I was not offended by it, since it is clearly a fantasy, and I would go so far as to say that some passages would make good material for discussion groups and the like: particularly parts of the speech made by Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, and the author's Afterword, which ends with a brilliant question to all Christians. We should not be afraid to tackle difficult issues. However, this book could be awkward reading for some Christians I guess, particularly those who believe the Bible is literally true or who are easily offended by criticism of the Church.
And it's very readable, despite the heavy subject matter.
It's basically a re-telling of the life of Jesus from the point of view of a new character who wasn't in the original Gospel versions. The crucifixion of Jesus is orchestrated by his twin brother (the "scoundrel"), egged on by an unidentified shadowy figure (Satan? An angel?), with the purpose of creating a Church which the author clearly sees as an evil institution. Hence, "scoundrel". Jesus, meanwhile, is just another good, if misguided human being who is caught up in all this. Other well-known characters appear, but pale into insignificance beside the three main protagonists.
It's certainly an original idea, and does provoke some interesting questions about the relationship between Church and power - a theme the author visited in the well-known His Dark Materials trilogy - as well as more general questions about the nature of religious and historical truth. As a Christian, I was not offended by it, since it is clearly a fantasy, and I would go so far as to say that some passages would make good material for discussion groups and the like: particularly parts of the speech made by Jesus in the garden of Gethsemane, and the author's Afterword, which ends with a brilliant question to all Christians. We should not be afraid to tackle difficult issues. However, this book could be awkward reading for some Christians I guess, particularly those who believe the Bible is literally true or who are easily offended by criticism of the Church.
And it's very readable, despite the heavy subject matter.
Tuesday, 26 February 2013
The Sheltering Sky by Paul Bowles
We saw the film version of this fairly recently and I was left with the thought: what on earth was that all about? So I ordered the book from the library.
Published in the 1940s, it's a typically early to mid-twentieth century sort of story in one sense: modernity meets tradition, decline and fall swiftly followed by gloom and doom ensue... If you enjoyed Forster's Passage to India or anything by Evelyn Waugh or D.H Lawrence, then this will probably appeal too.
Basically, an American couple with a failing marriage travel through north Africa (the country isn't specified, it's just "exotic-desert- land"). They're both unfaithful, he dies, she goes mad. And that's the plot. No happy ending or anything - no ending at all, really. Along the way, though, there's some fantastic descriptions of places and some really unappealing, though intriguing, characters (apart from the main ones, who are daft enough it has to be said). And a lot of questions left unanswered; what is really going on in her head? Why is their marriage failing? What in heaven's name were they doing there in the first place? It's these questions that kept me going.
Though I knew the ending already, this book was interesting enough to keep me reading (the film does stick fairly well to the text but as always, things are explained a bit more in the novel). It's a fairly thick paperback, but I managed to finish most of it during a long train journey, so it's not exactly heavy - in either sense.
Published in the 1940s, it's a typically early to mid-twentieth century sort of story in one sense: modernity meets tradition, decline and fall swiftly followed by gloom and doom ensue... If you enjoyed Forster's Passage to India or anything by Evelyn Waugh or D.H Lawrence, then this will probably appeal too.
Basically, an American couple with a failing marriage travel through north Africa (the country isn't specified, it's just "exotic-desert- land"). They're both unfaithful, he dies, she goes mad. And that's the plot. No happy ending or anything - no ending at all, really. Along the way, though, there's some fantastic descriptions of places and some really unappealing, though intriguing, characters (apart from the main ones, who are daft enough it has to be said). And a lot of questions left unanswered; what is really going on in her head? Why is their marriage failing? What in heaven's name were they doing there in the first place? It's these questions that kept me going.
Though I knew the ending already, this book was interesting enough to keep me reading (the film does stick fairly well to the text but as always, things are explained a bit more in the novel). It's a fairly thick paperback, but I managed to finish most of it during a long train journey, so it's not exactly heavy - in either sense.
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Life and Death of Harriett Frean by May Sinclair
At the risk of beginning with a downer, this is a rather depressing little book.
As the title says, it's one person's life story - and what an uneventful life that proves to be. Rather as in "Waiting for Godot", the reader is waiting and waiting for something to happen, with the growing suspicion that nothing ever will. And the style of prose reflects that, with it's constant reminders of the passage of time: "The years passed..." etc.
Even more bizarrely, the book spans over 60 years during some of the most dramatic social changes ever seen in England, including the First World War, votes for women, the invention of electricity - yet not a mention is made of any of this. It is as if the main character is living in a bubble - one of her own making, and her life ends with a sense of futility, and no suggestion of redemption. If the author was making a point about the empty lives of Victorian unmarried women, then the point is well made.
However, salvation lies in the descriptive detail, the well-drawn characters and the strong sense of some mystery hovering in the background - never quite resolved. That, and the fact that this is a very short book, kept me going, if only to see what the ending would be, and knowing that the end was in sight.
As the title says, it's one person's life story - and what an uneventful life that proves to be. Rather as in "Waiting for Godot", the reader is waiting and waiting for something to happen, with the growing suspicion that nothing ever will. And the style of prose reflects that, with it's constant reminders of the passage of time: "The years passed..." etc.
Even more bizarrely, the book spans over 60 years during some of the most dramatic social changes ever seen in England, including the First World War, votes for women, the invention of electricity - yet not a mention is made of any of this. It is as if the main character is living in a bubble - one of her own making, and her life ends with a sense of futility, and no suggestion of redemption. If the author was making a point about the empty lives of Victorian unmarried women, then the point is well made.
However, salvation lies in the descriptive detail, the well-drawn characters and the strong sense of some mystery hovering in the background - never quite resolved. That, and the fact that this is a very short book, kept me going, if only to see what the ending would be, and knowing that the end was in sight.
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