The Enemy of the Good

A national newspaper review of 'The Enemy of the Good' by Michael Arditti, says that this is a story of faith in the 21st century. This is a simplification of the complex (and, at times, rather overworked) tale about a quietly disfunctional family. The story covers so many facets of religion, faith, homosexuality, sibling rivalries, bereavement, loyalty, relationships and society's ways of accepting or rejecting non-conformity, that it makes your head spin. And yet, while the reader is actually following the story, it seems entirely plausible that all these different issues and situations can, and do, occur within one family. A rather literate soap opera, in fact.

I enjoyed this book very much, even when I found it stretched my credulity to the limit. Probably because the devise of using 3 different voices to tell the story teases out levels of understanding the players much more fully than would using only one 1st or 3rd person narrator for the book's entirety. One of the central characters - homosexual artist Clement - explains his unconventional and, sometimes, challenging beliefs with such gentle and erudite conviction that one can't help but sympathise even when he talks of killing his father.  

Not the easiest of reads, especially for those of strong and narrow opinions based solely on the letter of Bible and the Torah, but well worth it.

This week's good read................

Shortlisted for the Booker Prize, Rose Tremain's 'Restoration' is the story of a small life touched and destroyed by the presence of greatness. Robert Merival falls under the spell of Charles II to the point of obsession. He allows himself to be used to facilitate the promiscuous King's love life, at the cost of his already fragile self esteem. Robert is a complex character, capable of great humour, loyalty and bravery but totally lacking in self respect. In a time when ostentatious lust for life substitutes for good taste and constancy, Robert believes himself to be a man of his time. He's wrong, and therein lies his tragedy.

I loved this story. Robert's gentle character is quite enchanting and I found myself willing him to recognise his own strengths and to stand up for himself right to the very end of the book. Brilliant!   

Jeremy Clarkson

Has Jeremy Clarkson finally, and totally, lost touch with reality?

As a sometime tutor of young people, I grew used to hearing all sorts of wild and inflamatory statements born out of naivity, inexperience or bravado. One expects this sort of thing from our young as they explore their world and come to terms with their responsibilities, stretch their metaphorical wings and learn about consequences. But to hear this sort of bombast from a grey haired wrinkly is unexpected, astonishing and outrageous. He's been around long enough to realise that his words were bound to generate an uncomfortable backlash. Whatever the context (and he's bound to say that his remarks should be seen in the light of context and that he's been misunterpreted), his words were inexcusable - he can't claim to be inexperienced or naive.

What about the right of free speech? Well, what about it? With rights come responsibilities. It's about time he grew up and recognised his!