bwl 21 - November 2003
Fiction
| G K Chesterton - The Club of Queer Trades
|
| Basil Grant ex-High Court Judge ('Poor fellow went mad...') and enthusiastic anti-detective (instinct over intellect) investigates a number of intriguing and baffling situations. In doing so he delights in discovering a hatful of brand-new professions (Professional Detainer, Organiser of Repartee and the Adventure & Romance Agency, for example) all bound together by membership of the eponymous Club of Queer Trades. This is a light-hearted and amusing meander through the Edwardian alleys of more famous detectives. (Clive Yelf)
|
| Tracy Chevalier - The Lady and the Unicorn
|
| Nicolas, artist and womaniser, is commissioned to design a set of tapestries for the ambitious Jean le Viste. We move between Paris and the le Viste family - Jean's pious, unhappy wife and his beautiful, rebellious daughter, Claude - and Brussels, home of the weavers and blind Alienor. It is these three women who provide inspiration for Nicolas - each in their way the Lady to his Unicorn. Clever, assured and absorbing. (Ferelith Hordon)
|
| Victoria Clayton - Past Mischief
|
| Set in the seventies, this enjoyable novel begins with the death of Miranda Stowe's unfaithful husband. Left with three children, a large house and no money, she takes in paying guests who include a Hungarian pianist and an elderly painter. Her characters though often deliberately comic and sometimes bordering on caricature are nevertheless believable and strong, as is the narrative even if the ending is a shade too romantic. The food Miranda prepares is mouth-watering! (Jenny Baker)
|
| Patricia Cornwell - Blow Fly
|
| The new Cornwell is here and because of its content she can guarantee we'll want her next one too! Scarpetta, no longer Virginia's most famous Chief Medical Examiner, is no longer a happy woman. Marino becomes really worried about her when Jean-Baptiste Chandone, (the vicious French wolf-man who nearly killed her) asks to see her from his cell on death row. And he's right to worry, because some people are coming back from the dead . . . (Laurence Martin Euler)
|
| Margaret Drabble - The Seven Sisters
|
| Candida Wilton has few expectations of a new life in London following divorce and estrangement from her daughters. However, a 'windfall' enables her to gather her friends, from different periods of her life, for a journey of discovery to Italy. It's beautifully constructed with wittily observed characters and unexpected, subtle twists, making an altogether excellent read - perhaps not so comfortable for men - the references to whom are superfluous in this journey of 'sisters'. (Mary Standing)
|
| Robert Edric - Peacetime
|
| Set on the Fenland coast in 1946, with its limitless skies and limited outlook, an engineer, an outsider, comes to oversee the demolition of the now defunct gun emplacements. Local suspicions are justified when he befriends a Dutch Jew and a German POW. This is a compelling portrait of loss, the loneliness of grief, and the narrowness of lives moulded by forces as impersonal as the wind and waves that perpetually undermine and reshape the coastline. (Kate Hobson)
|
| Esther Freud - Gaglow
|
| Germany, 1914: it is the shared birthday of Eva and her brother Emanuel, eleven years older. So begins a complex tale of a Jewish family, their governess Schu-Schu and Gaglow their country house interspersed with the story of their modern-day descendant Sarah, an unmarried mother who is posing for her father, a painter who has severed all links with the past. Lucidly written with vividly drawn characters, the story never fails to intrigue. (Jenny Baker)
|
| Janice Galloway - Clara
|
| This brilliant novel tells the remarkable story of Clara, wife of Robert Schumann, friend of Brahms. A child prodigy, taught by her father, destined for a glowing career under his control. But love intervened and after fierce opposition, she broke away and married. One of life's survivors, despite having 8 children and being 'only a woman', she continued to teach, compose and perform throughout Europe to support her family and her adored but increasingly unbalanced husband. (Jenny Baker)
|
| John Irving - A Prayer for Owen Meany
|
| Owen is a tiny-statured, huge-spirited sprite who believes his life has a divine purpose (by the end, who can doubt it?). His story is told in retrospect by his best friend, whose mother Owen accidentally kills the one time he manages to hit a baseball. In fact, as this hugely engaging story unfolds it becomes clear that nothing is fortuitous; but oh my! how we wish God might, just this once, change His mind. (Annabel Bedini)
|
| P D James - Death in Holy Orders
|
| After a long arid summer of boring books it was with pleasure that I became enthralled in this story of murders in an Anglican theological college, on a beautiful but desolate part of the East Anglian coast. Commander Adam Dalgliesh wends his usual thoughtful way through the investigation, and we are even treated to the slightest hint of a future romance for our rather lonely hero. (Sandra Lee)
|
| Douglas Kennedy - A Special Relationship
|
| Sally Goodchild, a 37-year-old American foreign correspondent in Cairo, meets and falls in love with Tony Hobbs, a famous British journalist. She becomes pregnant and, as they seem to be happy together, they marry and return to London. And they don't live happily ever after! It's much more the beginning of hell . . . a good read for a grey and cold winter weekend. (Laurence Martin Euler)
|
| Jon McGregor - If Nobody Speaks of Remarkable Things
|
| It took me a while to get into this, but I felt justly rewarded for sticking with it. It minutely examines an afternoon on a particular street in England and the movements and actions of the residents of the houses and flats in a small stretch. From the outset it's obvious that something shattering has happened, but you don't know what until the end. In the meantime, finding out the residents' stories is very involving. (Julie Higgins)
|
| Rohinton Mistry - Family Matters
|
| Coomy and Jal live in a large apartment where they unwillingly care for their stepfather who has Parkinson's. They devise a despicable plot forcing Nariman into the cramped quarters which Roxana, his daughter and their half sister, shares with her husband and two sons. Mistry, brilliantly and brutally, outlines the raw everyday realities of this disease, and demonstrates to what lengths people, good or bad, will go in order to 'win' or to cope. (Polly Sams Plant)
|
| Garth Nix - Lirael
|
| The second in The Abhorsen trilogy, this is as exciting as the first volume - Sabriel. It is a world where, in Ancelstierre, there are guns, telephones, motors; in the Old Kingdom there is magic bound by the Charter. But some magic is not bound and in the hands of necromancers threatens to overturn the world. Conventional ingredients maybe, but they are handled with great assurance. Inventive, action packed - well worth reading. (Ferelith Hordon)
|
| Joseph O'Connor - Yeats Is Dead!
|
| Written by 15 Irish writers for Amnesty International, this is a splendid tale of mystery and intrigue and incredible corruption in the Irish police, and it is very, very funny. From Roddy Doyle to Frank McCourt it keeps you laughing all the way through. (Julie Higgins)
|
| Arturo Pérez-Reverte - The Flanders Panel
|
| A prize-winning thriller, translated from the Spanish original set in the Madrid world of fine-art dealing. The plot kicks off with the discovery by Julia, a young picture-restorer, of a Latin message hidden in a 15th century Flemish painting of chess players. Great on background description, atmosphere and the complexities of high-level chess. No need for expert knowledge to enjoy this intriguing and original story. (Jeremy Swann)
|
| Arundhati Roy - The God of Small Things
|
| From the first word of this book I was completely hooked. I loved the poetry of the writing and the story, including the initial realisation that things were not going to go very well for the people involved. This is a book, it seems, that you either love or hate (I've not heard any opinions in between) and I just adored it. I hope she somehow finds the time soon to write another. (Julie Higgins)
|
| Jane Smiley - Good Faith
|
| Joe Stratford has a very ordinary life selling houses in a beautiful part of America. But one day Marcus Burns arrives from New York with big ideas on how to become very rich. And they start to play Monopoly for real. It's very interesting and you learn a lot about buying and selling houses and of course Joe inevitably will end rather poorer than richer! (Laurence Martin Euler)
|
| Graham Swift - The Light of Day
|
| It is the anniversary of a death and as private detective George prepares to pay his fortnightly visit to Sarah, his ex-client, he gradually unravels the events which led to this day. From the start we can guess at her crime but it's the whys and wherefores that keep us on tenterhooks right to the end as he endeavours to understand the complexities of her relationships with him, her husband and her husband's lover. (Jenny Baker)
|
| Penny Vincenzi - Windfall
|
| Vincenzi novels are well-plotted and intelligently written and this is one of her best. Placed in the world of the rich and fashionable, it could seem very artificial but as Vincenzi's career started in the top fashion and beauty magazines, she has a wide knowledge of and respect for the various problems experienced by the spoiled and not-so-spoiled. A delight as 'a breather' for holidays, relaxing evenings and a much-needed change from heavy brainwork. (Kathie Somerwil Ayrton)
|
| Penny Vincenzi - Another Woman
|
| Vincenzi is at her best with her novels in the fashion and beauty world but this one, almost a whodunit, is not quite up to her usual standard. However, it is well-written and entertaining, she has a flair for the unusual typifying adjective, the descriptions are sharply drawn and the plot original although slightly implausible at times. Her distinctive technique of setting the pace keeps the reader in thrall. No boredom possible with this novel. (Kathie Somerwil Ayrton)
|
| Evelyn Waugh - The Sword of Honour Trilogy
|
| Men at Arms; Officers and Gentlemen and Unconditional Surrender
After many enjoyable hours spent with Roy Jenkins's Churchill (bwl 12), it was an amusing contrast to go back again to Waugh's satirical portrait of an imaginary elderly young man called up for service in the second world war, the period of Churchill's greatest achievements. The story is punctuated by a number of hilarious situations with a handful of characters who must figure amongst the most comic figures in twentieth century novel writing.
(Jeremy Swann)
|
Non-Fiction
| Bill Bryson - A Short History of Nearly Everything
|
| Did you know that 'dinosaur' means 'terrible lizard', that Planet Earth is 4,550 million years old (+/- 70 million), that the blue whale is so huge its tongue weighs as much as an elephant? Bryson's judicious mixture of fact and anecdote makes science palatable to the non-scientist and there is hardly a dull moment in over 400 pages of mainly fascinating information about the world, from the Big Bang to the rise of civilisation. (Wendy Swann)
|
| Bill Bryson - Neither Here nor There
|
| If there's anyone who hasn't yet read this 1991 account of Bryson's journey round Europe as a student, it has all the usual ingredients to recommend it - big laughs, intelligent observations, unexpected quirky insights - but with the added relish of feeling superior because of our inside knowledge into how Europe and Europeans function. As always, enormously enjoyable. (Annabel Bedini)
|
| William Dalrymple - White Mughals
|
| An excellent account of eighteenth century India. It is quite a long book but I found it difficult to put down. It is well written and obviously very well researched. What interested me was the relaxed attitude of both the English and the Indians and it was not until the beginning of the next century with the advent of Wellesley and Victorian ideas that life began to change. (Julia Garbett)
|
| Carolyn Humphries - How to Freeze - Everything you need to know about freezing & freezer management
|
| Do you get frustrated when a cookery book tells you something freezes well and then gives you no idea how to pack it, how long it can remain frozen or how it should be defrosted and reheated? If so, it's worth getting hold of a copy of this paperback. It may not absolutely live up to its sub-title but it does give a lot. It's clearly laid out and concisely written. I swear by it. (Jenny Baker)
|
| 'Johnnie' Johnson, Air Vice-Marshal - Wing Leader
|
| Johnson flew Spitfires from 1940-45 and over time the fear and inexperience of the novice developed into the worries and concerns of the wing leader. Colleagues come and colleagues go, some transferred, some captured, some killed and the emotional price on the survivors is not ignored. The descriptions of flight and of the almost emotional bond between the planes and the men who flew them, combined with an excellent narrative, made for a fascinating read. (Clive Yelf)
|
| Osbert Lancaster - With an Eye to the Future
|
| This is a combination of two autobiographical memoirs of the distinguished English cartoonist (1908 - 1986) as well as author of books on architecture amongst other things. Re-reading these memoirs after a gap of several years, I was immediately struck by the humour, verve and panache with which they were written. Together with his many line drawings, they proved once again a source of much enjoyment as well as amusement. (Jeremy Swann)
|
| Simon Loftus - Anatomy of the Wine Trade - Abe's Sardines and Other Stories
|
| An engaging series of character studies from the wine trade of the mid-eighties. Although the author insists that the profession of wine-buyer is neither glamorous nor enviable he then proves otherwise with these affectionate and kindly portraits. From soil to shop each stage in the wine-making process has its representative, all struggling to make a profit. With the rise of the supermarkets I was left wondering how they had all fared in the intervening years. (Clive Yelf)
|
| Simon Sebag Montefiore - Stalin
|
| A vast amount has been written about Stalin and his crimes against millions of people - mainly his own - during his atrocious reign of terror. This account adds a new perspective in also showing a human side to this particular monster. New evidence from Stalin's archives such as letters, scribbled notes etc. reveal the man behind the crimes with the laughter, simple pleasures, little jealousies, affections, as well as pain and paranoia. Hideously compulsive read. (James Baker)
|
| Camille Paglia - Sexual Personae - Art and Decadence from Nefertiti to Emily Dickinson
|
| The author's opening chapters explain her view of essential tensions within the human psyche. These tensions, put crudely are between the civilised and the pagan, order and chaos, growth and decay, male and female. Art, as an expression of humanity, forms a tangible part of the ebb and flow of this struggle. Artists, authors, trends and movements from the dawn of time to the last century are dissected and defined in this impressive magnum opus. (Clive Yelf)
|
| Anthony Powell - To Keep the Ball Rolling
|
| The autobiography of the well-known author of the 'Dance to the Music of Time' sequence of novels set in the years 1914 - 1980. After his childhood and school days, he worked in publishing and film production and paints a witty and entertaining picture of high and low life in London's literary and artistic circles, also taking in his wartime experience liaising with foreign military missions. Packed with anecdotes about well and lesser known figures. (Jeremy Swann)
|
| Mary Seacole - Wonderful Adventures of Mrs Seacole in Many Lands
|
| 'Mother' Seacole found fame as the black nurse of the Crimea, a front-line bringer of comfort to the wounded and sick. This simple, dignified account of her life covers her childhood years in Jamaica, forays to Panama and finally the Crimean War. An expert in herbal remedies and compassion, she paints a vivid account of the trails and tribulations faced and the love and respect that she earned. An impressive woman and a fascinating read. (Clive Yelf)
|
| Evelyn Waugh - Diaries of Evelyn Waugh
|
| If you enjoy one or more of The Sword of Honour Trilogy, you would almost certainly also enjoy his Diaries, particularly the parts covering his wartime experience on which he drew when writing his trilogy. (Jeremy Swann)
|
| Feedback |
| -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- |
Sandra Lee writes:
If you like flora and fauna and people, do read Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver (bwl 12). It's a celebration of nature and love, and is such a rich enthralling story of lives amid the mountains and farms of southern Appalachia. A lovely book, the sort of book one wishes one could have written oneself. |
| -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- |
Wendy Swann writes:
Alice Sebold's highly successful novel, The Lovely Bones (bwl19) left me feeling a bit sceptical. Here's why (but don't read this if you haven't read the book and are planning to).The murderer made a quite sophisticated underground room in the cornfield which he enticed his victim into and filled in as soon as he had killed her. Despite mud and blood and a stray body part the police never found it. Later, after he had disappeared, his house was sold. Who by? Meanwhile he roamed the country for years in a car (his own?). What about the registration plates? And where did he get money from? You could argue that that's not what the book is about, that it's a fairy tale and we know who the murderer is anyway. But I was unconvinced. |
| -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- |
Mary Standing writes:
I found The Lovely Bones (bwl19) highly original and thought provoking. We all have our personal beliefs, or are still open-minded and still searching for the answer to the big questions. I found the ideas here refreshing and just as plausible as most of the religious doctrines I have come across. Particularly topical and apt while the media relay the Soham trial in great detail. It resolves itself beautifully at the end, leaving a feeling of peace. It made me want to believe it contains some truth and answered some questions. Am I being naive? This book is my choice for discussion at the Reading Group I attend. |
| -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- |
Annabel Bedini writes:
I agree with the reviewer that The Life of Pi (bwl 17) may or may not make us believe in God, but it certainly made me believe in the god-like power (possibly also purpose?) of story-tellers. Yann Martel teases us with the question of how far fiction can go, getting us to suspend our disbelief beyond all reasonable bounds and then, dammit, casting doubts on his own story. At which point we feel horribly betrayed. We (and he knows it - viz. the book's last sentence) would much rather believe than not believe. Why is that, I wonder? |
| -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- |
Ferelith Hordon writes:
Dipping my toes into the Feedback waters! Did anyone watch the Man-Booker Award ceremony on television? I do not have digital but I did enjoy the 30 minute TV diary on BBC 2. I thought it much more lively than the usual offering. I cannot comment on the winner (Vernon God Little by D B C Pierre) - it sounds like a novel I would want to approach with caution. Has anybody read it?
On the subject of buying/selling books - I have not tried the Amazon service, but I can recommend ABE (http://www.abebooks.com) - I bought a sci-fantasy title I have been wanting for a long time - no hassle with the credit card payment and despite being an American bookseller, it arrived within 3 days! |
| -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- |
Julie Higgins writes:
Just a thought (probably one that's been rejected) - what about having reviews of things you didn't like? I, for one, hated the The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency (bwl 17) for me it was the No. 1 detective agency for dim-witted women - but I'm probably very much in the minority.
The following has nothing to do with a particular book but a lot to do with reading:
Aoccdrnig to a rscheeachr at an Elingsh uinervtisy, it deosn't mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoetnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer is at the rghit pclae. The rset can be a toatl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae we do not raed ervey lteter by istlef but the wrod as a wlohe. |
| -o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o- |
|
