bwl 90 - Autumn 2018
Fiction
| José Eduardo Agualusa (translated by Daniel Hahn) - A General Theory of Oblivion
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| Winner of the Dublin International Literary Award in 2017. Set in Angola during the violent years as the country became independent. Ludo walls herself into her apartment with only her dog as her companion - and remains there. Outside life goes on. Lively, extraordinary - and surprisingly fun. Full of character and characters. This for me proved to be a real surprise that I loved. (Ferelith Hordon)
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| Sam Byers - Perfidious Albion
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| Contemporary Britain, a society losing its grip on truth and identity in a welter of social media hysteria manipulated by large corporations and unscrupulous politicians. People are trapped in multiple lives as commenters, trolls, fantasists, consumers and propagandists. Relating to one another on a simple human level and knowing what is real suffers. Overreaction is rife and violence is in the air. A few twists too many perhaps but an often funny tale which feels bang up to date. (Tony Pratt)
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| Robertson Davies - The Deptford Trilogy: Fifth Business, The Manticore and World of Wonders
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| A small village in Canada, at 5.58 p.m. on 27 December 1908 a snowball is thrown, a little boy ducks and a heavily pregnant woman falls to the ground. This action will determine the lives of the three main protagonists - school-teacher Duncan Ramsay, sugar-baron Boy Staunton and Paul Dempster whose birth it precipitates - and whose destiny will be the most extraordinary of all. I had never read any of Robertson Davies's books and when I began this trilogy I wasn't even sure I wanted to, instead I was under his spell all through the summer. Here is a world which is real and often uncomfortable but always there is a feeling of magic and wonderment. Who did kill Boy Staunton? What is a Manticore? - read and find out! (Jenny Baker)
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| E M Delafield - The Diary of a Provincial Lady
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| Four books in one, absolutely fascinating, written in diary form in the 1930s and taking us to America and up to WWII. It gives a true feeling of what life was all about: all is nice, do not grumble and do not think of yourself. The later life quite reminiscent of my time as an evacuee in Oxford with 3 elderly ladies. Dry, caustic and very funny, it left me wanting to know more at the end. (Shirley Williams)
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| Elizabeth Gaskell - Wives and Daughters
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| Searching for something to read I came across this delightful, forgotten work. Gaskell has an observant eye and a nice touch in disguised humour in this tale of a misguided re-marriage and its consequences on the daughter of the small-town doctor and their society. I was shocked to discover Gaskell died before finishing it, but the ending is all lined up (happy, of course, after obligatory hiccoughs), so never mind. I call this a real discovery! (Annabel Bedini)
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| Robert Harris - Lustrum
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| This second volume of the trilogy, tests Cicero's authority to the limit as he confronts the conspirators' plot to overthrow the state of Rome. Cicero's eloquence, his greatest weapon, is the mainspring of his courage and genius which as an orator he uses to huge effect. This account based on the diaries of his secretary and slave is a riveting read - not for the squeamish. (James Baker)
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| Imogen Hermes Gowar - The Mermaid and Mrs Hancock
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| Set in 18th century London this novel opens in Mr Hancock's Deptford household but soon we are immersed in the bawdy, perilous lives of Soho courtesans after an unlikely find at sea brings them together. The story moves quickly with wonderful, atmospheric language and witty dialogue and the hopes and insecurities of the times are made very real. There is a dark, uneasy element too. I wasn't convinced by the end but it kept me guessing, made me chuckle often and I raced through it. (Victoria Grey-Edwards)
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| Han Kong - The White Book
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| The Korean author begins the book with a list of white things: snow, white paper, moon, newborn's gown, etc. This could very well turn into an artistic or emotional exploration of the colour WHITE. Instead, the author takes us on a journey to a world of grief made beautiful by its simple honesty. It is a deep and shimmering story, and a work of exquisite genius. (Sharron Calkins)
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| Gaston Leroux - The Mystery of the Yellow Room
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| One of the earliest locked room mysteries by the author of The Phantom of the Opera. With detailed floor plans, clues and red herrings a-plenty, young reporter Rouletabille and renowned detective Frederic Larsan pit their wits against each other to reveal who is attempting to kill Mademoiselle Stangerson - each time the perpetrator is spotted he simply vanishes into thin air. Kept guessing until the end, the dénouement is unexpected, absurd, impossible yet completely right. (Jenny Baker)
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| Ian McEwan - The Child in Time
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| A trip to the supermarket, a moment's inattention and Stephen's three year old daughter disappears. Superficially a story of loss, guilt, grief and the redeeming power of love, it becomes an exploration of how attitudes to child rearing have changed over time, the nature of childhood and the dangers of trying to recapture it, memory, reality, the parental role of government, the fluidity of time itself and how a lost child still lives within us all. I loved it. (Denise Lewis)
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| Ron McLarty - The Memory of Running
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| I picked this up for €1 in Dublin and read it on the flight home. The narrative is two-fold, I won't spoil it, but what is important is how things learnt as a child become physical, imprinted memories which can help heal wounded areas of the adult self. More about cycling than running, a story of love and frustration, loss and deception, courage and second chances. (Sally Guttierez Diaz)
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| Haruki Murakami - After Dark
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| A beautiful young woman has announced to her family that she is going to go to bed early. Two months later she remains in a deep and peaceful sleep. Meanwhile, the unplugged television in her bedroom shows unexplainable images of her, both sleeping and awake. All of this 'unusualness' is woven through the rather ordinary daily life of her concerned younger sister. Very Haruki Murakami. (Sharron Calkins)
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| Haruki Murakami - Men Without Women
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| This book of short stories would be an excellent introduction to the works of Murakami. There are many moments to give you pause as you read these stories that mix humour, a philosophic view, and a touch of surrealism on the subject of modern loneliness. The book will not disappoint. (Sharron Calkins)
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| Lawrence Osborne - Beautiful Animals
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| Wealthy expatriates, and their family tensions, in Hydra - the Greek island is superbly but unhurriedly evoked. Two daughters become friends, discover a refugee and want to help, triggering an increasingly dramatic series of events. If the plot sometimes flirts with being far-fetched, it still adds up to a real page turner, not least because you are interested in the people. Some contemporary social and political resonances add spice to the story. (Tony Pratt)
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| Rachel Rhys - Dangerous Crossing
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| Inspired by a true life account of a 1930's ocean voyage, a story of love, murder, adventure and dark secrets. All taking place on a 4-5 week sea journey to Australia. The accounts of the different classes of people are excellent, mixed with the forthcoming war prospects lying ahead and how this will affect the classes and races aboard the ship. The times brought back many memories. (Shirley Williams)
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| C J Sansom - Winter in Madrid
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| I was originally gripped by this tale of subterfuge and pretence in the grim conditions of Madrid just after The Spanish Civil War but It was the author's brilliantly researched knowledge of the conditions experienced by the characters in that uncertain world that remained in my mind at the end. I was not convinced by the rather contrived element of thriller and I found the ending disappointingly dull but I am glad to have learnt a lot about Madrid at that time. (Jane Grey-Edwards)
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| Rose Tremain - Music and Silence
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| Fiction woven deftly around fact when a young English musician arrives at the court of King Christian IV of Denmark. Told in the voices of the characters it is a tale of love, suspense, intrigue and betrayal. The narrative never flags blending sadness and hilarity in equal measure. A fascinating story which inspired in me further exploration of the life and times. My first but certainly not last Rose Tremain novel. (Sue Pratt)
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| Anne Tyler - Saint Maybe
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| Can Ian ever atone for his part in the tragedy that his family are struggling to survive? Compassionate, perceptive with underlying humour, all the characters from Ian to his parents, the three children he has inherited, the endearing members of the Church of the Second Chance and the inept foreign students next door are brought to three-dimensional life. Is family a haven or a curse, can any of us survive it? Vintage Tyler. (Jenny Baker)
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Non-Fiction
| Noam Chomsky and David Barsamian - Imperial Ambitions: Conversations with Noam Chomsky on the Post 9/11 World
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| These transcripts of interviews with Chomsky between 2002 and 2005 have a clarity of thought and expression that make a refreshing change from much of the current political posturing and sabre-rattling. From historical roots to the regular and cynical use of influence and military force, America's current global domination is examined and it's relationship with other nations and organisations discussed. 'America First'? Definitely not a new concept but an intrinsic cornerstone of American political policy. (Clive Yelf)
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| Michael Booth - The Meaning of Rice: And Other tales from the Belly of Japan
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| I wasn't expecting 'scary food stories' when I purchased Booth's book recounting his sampling of traditional delicacies as he travelled through Japan. I found myself genuinely caught off guard when he led me through his food adventures of eating rotten fish; chopped seafood still twitching on the plate; and all foods slimy and fermented. I read the entire book with fascination, chuckles, and a few shudders. (Sharron Calkins)
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| David Enrich - The Spider Network: The Wild Story of a Maths Genius and One of the Greatest Scams in Financial History
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| The manipulation of Libor, too technical for most, but a financial yardstick which impacts millions, was the perfect illustration of why bankers and the City got a bad name. This is the story of how one brilliant trader but limited human being became the fall guy while his equally culpable collaborators lied themselves away from trouble and the bosses smoothly walked clear. A vivid story of eye popping excess which leaves the reader questioning an entire system. (Tony Pratt)
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| Christopher de Hamel - Meetings with Remarkable Manuscripts
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| If you liked The Hare with Amber Eyes (bwl 59 and 61) you will definitely love this one which invites the reader into intimate conversations with twelve famous manuscripts from St. Augustine to Chaucer and beyond. Sounds hardwork? It isn't, but go for the hardback with full-colour illustrations. One for the Christmas list perhaps. (Jenny Baker)
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| Christopher Hitchens - Mortality
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| Christopher Hitchens was diagnosed with oesophageal cancer in June 2010 and died in December 2011. Between these dates he continued his writing, including these meditations and thoughts on the process of his disease and its inevitable outcome. This is not, however, the story of a 'battle' but a thoughtful examination of the changes that occurred in himself and others as his illness progresses. Cancer claimed Hitchens' voice but he never lost the ability to write. (Clive Yelf)
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| Adam Hochschild - Bury the Chains: The British Struggle to Abolish Slavery
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| In 1787 twelve men met in a printing shop in London and set in motion a grass roots movement that changed the world. Slavery and serfdom were the norm for the greater portion of humanity. However despite it being against the interests [the financial loss being huge] of the most powerful in the land it took just 50 years to abolish slavery from the British Empire. Hochschild's in-depth research brings the past alive with quotes and meticulous detail - impossible to put down or to forget. (Lynda Johnson)
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| Ben MacIntyre - The Spy and the Traitor: The Greatest Espionage Story of the Cold War
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| The thrilling, unputdownable story of Oleg Gordievsky, double agent, who revealed the KGB's inner secrets to British Intelligence, not for financial gain but from a high, moral imperative. His defection was an enormous coup for MI6. In an act of outstanding bravery he returned to Russia and underwent a harrowing ordeal before being rescued by the British in an epic escape. He was honoured by the Queen and now lives in a free country. What a story! (David Graham)
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| Philip Marsden - The Barefoot Emperor: An Ethiopian Tragedy
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| This is a fascinating, lively and extremely accessible account of the reign of Tewodros II - or as we might recognise him, Theodore - king of Ethiopia from 1854-1868. The story may be unfamiliar, though Magdala may resonate. Tewedros was an extraordinary man whose character, charismatic embodied extremes, Ethiopia in the 19th century almost unknown, a history of arrogance, assumptions and mistaken expectations. Well worth reading - eye opening. (Ferelith Hordon)
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| William H McRaven - Make your Bed: Small things that can change your life... and maybe the world
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| Admiral McRaven shares with us what could be thought of as the 10 Commandments for the U.S. Navy SEALS, and asks us to consider how these could enhance our own lives. Greatly enjoyable too are the real-life stories which are used to illustrate each 'rule'. When you finish the book, you will still be thinking about the tough training of a Navy SEAL. You might even be inspired to make your bed - perfectly - the next morning. (Sharron Calkins)
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| George Monbiot - Feral: Rewilding the Land, Sea and Human Life
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| A timely book by a renowned environmentalist in which he debates the issues around re-wilding the planet looking closely at hidden agendas; constantly questioning himself and others. He looks at a number of conservation projects which attempt to control nature as versus enabling it to develop naturally after having put back some of the elements we have destroyed. His understanding of the natural world is prodigious. The need for debate and action is urgently needed. Lyrical. (Lynda Johnson)
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| John Suchet - The Last Waltz: The Strauss Dynasty and Vienna
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| The story of the Strauss dynasty, full of family dramas, tensions, triumphs and disasters set against the backdrop of the fall of the Habsburg Empire. It's a fascinating saga told in Suchet's enthusiastic, anecdotal style so the narrative is always informative and entertaining. He relates personal lives, the politics of the day and musical history in such a beguiling way that prior musical knowledge is absolutely not necessary. Highly recommended. (Denise Lewis)
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| Tara Westover - Educated
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| The author grew up in rural Idaho in a Mormon family obsessed by their preparation for the imminent End of Days. Mind control, violence and manipulation, entangled with deep family love, hold the seven siblings in the grip of their charismatic parents and those who escape face huge costs. It's sometimes horrifying (awful scenarios repeat themselves depressingly often), but the determination shown as they strive to break away and learn to use their own minds and their considerable intellect are inspiring. (Victoria Grey-Edwards)
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| Feedback |
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| I started a review for Adam Hochschild's To End All Wars (bwl 82) which I think is one of the most incredible books i have ever read: it will always be in my head. Halfway through the review I checked the list and found it had already been done! The plus side is that having discovered Hochschild I'm working my way through some of his other works - one of which Bury the Chains I've now reviewed. (Lynda Johnson)
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