This story begins in 1992, with a beach combing boy in a coastal town. Along with shells and flotsam, the boy finds the decomposing head of a girl. In the present day, we meet Peg, her grandmother and aunt. Peg has been raised by them in their bungalow, remembering little about the time 'before'. Now, however, Peg's grandmother displays all the signs of advancing dementia and her aunt, disabled since birth, is now so enormous that she can't leave her bed.
But the influence of Peg's partner, and her own gradual memory recoveries, begin to haunt her. Why didn't she know about the death of an infant uncle? And where is her father? Did her mother really die the way she had always believed?
With her whole life in turmoil, Peg begins to realise that her past is much more complicated than she ever imagined. Even dangerous, and from a quarter that she wouldn't have considered in a million years.
Suspenseful, chilling and can't-put-downable, a book to make you realise that even the most innocuous places can hide unexpected secrets. Recommended.
'Tarnished' is published by Hodder Headline, ISBN 978-0-7553-7805-0
Tuesday, 21 January 2014
Room at the Top by John Braine
I can't remember when I last picked up a book by John Braine so, when this one sort of placed itself under my hand, I had to give it another go.
Room at the Top is the gritty story of Joe Lampton, an ambitious young man from a dirty mill town somewhere in the north of England. It's set in the years just after WWII, so some of the references might be lost on modern readers, but that doesn't detract from the brilliance of Braine's writing.
Joe has left his home town, to which he returned after war service, to take a new job in the town hall of a more prosperous area. He falls in love with the town, and is desperate to join the life he sees in the big houses and clubs. He's sensitive and defensive of his origins but desperate to be accepted in his new home. He's handsome, intelligent and ambitious but does his ambition take him too far and too fast? Tragedy and success come in equal measure but Joe finds that adjusting to both harder than he imagined.
Braine engages us with his characters from the first page. His language is lyrical, poetic and beautiful. The Sunday Times said, when the book was published, that it was "Remarkable". I entirely agree, and hope that doesn't sound arrogant. Thoroughly recommended.
Room at the Top is currently published (as a classic) by Arrow Books, ISBN 978-0-099-44536-4
Room at the Top is the gritty story of Joe Lampton, an ambitious young man from a dirty mill town somewhere in the north of England. It's set in the years just after WWII, so some of the references might be lost on modern readers, but that doesn't detract from the brilliance of Braine's writing.
Joe has left his home town, to which he returned after war service, to take a new job in the town hall of a more prosperous area. He falls in love with the town, and is desperate to join the life he sees in the big houses and clubs. He's sensitive and defensive of his origins but desperate to be accepted in his new home. He's handsome, intelligent and ambitious but does his ambition take him too far and too fast? Tragedy and success come in equal measure but Joe finds that adjusting to both harder than he imagined.
Braine engages us with his characters from the first page. His language is lyrical, poetic and beautiful. The Sunday Times said, when the book was published, that it was "Remarkable". I entirely agree, and hope that doesn't sound arrogant. Thoroughly recommended.
Room at the Top is currently published (as a classic) by Arrow Books, ISBN 978-0-099-44536-4
Tuesday, 7 January 2014
The Golden Mean by Annabel Lyon
Hilary Mantel credits this book as "One of the most convincing historical novels I have ever read". A fulsome review from a well respected author.
The story begins in 342 BC, in Macedon (Macedonia) and the central character and narrator is Aristotle, the philosopher. We learn about his personality, his thinking, his loves and his bio-polar condition. Aristotle has been summoned to Macedon by King Philip to be a tutor to the heir to the throne, Alexander - later Alexander the Great. Alexander's early training and, perhaps, his natural bent, shows through in his precocious love of violence and war. Aristotle sees that his duty is to try to teach the boy about the philosophical "golden mean" - the path to mental balance between extremes - in a bid to temper the violence he displays and provide Alexander with some semblance of self-control for when he assumes the throne.
History shows us that Alexander didn't learn this lesson. He went on the wage war over much of the known world, leaving regents to manage his kingdom and desolation, as well as Greek influence, in his wake. His path can be traced in the many cities he founded that bore, and some that still bear, his name.
The characters in this book are finely drawn and multi-layered, with that of Aristotle being a delicate blend of idealistic humanitarian, bemused husband and father, passionate man and gentle teacher. The boy Alexander's portrait reflects everything we know about him as a man - violent, loyal, ambitious and driven. Annabel Lyon cares deeply about her characters and it shows in the care she has taken to make them rounded people with whom we can identify.
If you like historical fiction, this one is for you. Recommended
Published by Atlantic, ISBN 978-1-84887-531-9
The story begins in 342 BC, in Macedon (Macedonia) and the central character and narrator is Aristotle, the philosopher. We learn about his personality, his thinking, his loves and his bio-polar condition. Aristotle has been summoned to Macedon by King Philip to be a tutor to the heir to the throne, Alexander - later Alexander the Great. Alexander's early training and, perhaps, his natural bent, shows through in his precocious love of violence and war. Aristotle sees that his duty is to try to teach the boy about the philosophical "golden mean" - the path to mental balance between extremes - in a bid to temper the violence he displays and provide Alexander with some semblance of self-control for when he assumes the throne.
History shows us that Alexander didn't learn this lesson. He went on the wage war over much of the known world, leaving regents to manage his kingdom and desolation, as well as Greek influence, in his wake. His path can be traced in the many cities he founded that bore, and some that still bear, his name.
The characters in this book are finely drawn and multi-layered, with that of Aristotle being a delicate blend of idealistic humanitarian, bemused husband and father, passionate man and gentle teacher. The boy Alexander's portrait reflects everything we know about him as a man - violent, loyal, ambitious and driven. Annabel Lyon cares deeply about her characters and it shows in the care she has taken to make them rounded people with whom we can identify.
If you like historical fiction, this one is for you. Recommended
Published by Atlantic, ISBN 978-1-84887-531-9
Thursday, 2 January 2014
The Book of Fires by Jane Borrowdale
Agnes Trussel is from a poor, rural family where life is changing. The enclosure of common lands threatens their food supply and, with another baby on the way and a father who can't earn enough to feed the children he already has, Agnes sees only deepening poverty and shame ahead of her. She's young, pregnant, and desperate to avoid the fate meted out to girls such as she in 1752.
When fate presents her with the opportunity to run away and head for London, with some ill-gotten gold coins in her pocket, Agnes leaves her family and trusts to fate and her own luck. She narrowly avoids an even more desperate fate and, with luck on her side, finds a position in the household of John Blacklock, a maker of fireworks.
Blacklock is a widower, a quiet and secretive man, who takes Agnes as his apprentice, teaching her how to mix, prepare and make fireworks, which are all the rage in London at this time. Agnes believes she is keeping her pregnancy a secret and, through the winter, bundles herself into layers of warm clothing as she works in the draughty workshop. But does Blacklock, or either of his domestic staff, suspect Agnes's secret? In her innocence and continuing denial of her precarious situation, is she fooling herself that she will find a way out when her time comes?
At first sight this novel looks like a bit of a bodice-ripper but it's actually finely drawn, delicately woven and gently poetic. Touches of factual history enhance the store telling and help us understand the enormity of Agnes's fear. We're kept guessing, right until the end, about her fate and the ending could have you either……………well, I'll leave you to decide for yourself!
I enjoyed this story, which was shortlisted for the Orange prize for new writers, and will watch for Jane Borodale's next publication. Recommended.
Published by Harper Press, ISBN 978-0-00-730573-5
When fate presents her with the opportunity to run away and head for London, with some ill-gotten gold coins in her pocket, Agnes leaves her family and trusts to fate and her own luck. She narrowly avoids an even more desperate fate and, with luck on her side, finds a position in the household of John Blacklock, a maker of fireworks.
Blacklock is a widower, a quiet and secretive man, who takes Agnes as his apprentice, teaching her how to mix, prepare and make fireworks, which are all the rage in London at this time. Agnes believes she is keeping her pregnancy a secret and, through the winter, bundles herself into layers of warm clothing as she works in the draughty workshop. But does Blacklock, or either of his domestic staff, suspect Agnes's secret? In her innocence and continuing denial of her precarious situation, is she fooling herself that she will find a way out when her time comes?
At first sight this novel looks like a bit of a bodice-ripper but it's actually finely drawn, delicately woven and gently poetic. Touches of factual history enhance the store telling and help us understand the enormity of Agnes's fear. We're kept guessing, right until the end, about her fate and the ending could have you either……………well, I'll leave you to decide for yourself!
I enjoyed this story, which was shortlisted for the Orange prize for new writers, and will watch for Jane Borodale's next publication. Recommended.
Published by Harper Press, ISBN 978-0-00-730573-5
A Presidential Novel by Anonymous
Back again after a break for a long awaited holiday, Christmas and New Year!
Yup, the author is, truly, anonymous but I venture that he or she is either someone who worked at the House House or was so close to it that any distance is unimportant. The US 'president' of the title is called simply 'O' and the cover picture is a back shot of a tall, slender man with a slight stoop and slightly sticky out ears. Get the picture?
Anyway, the president in this story is building up his campaign for re-election and the story centres on the key players, and their actions, in that campaign - Chief of Staff, Communications Chief, Campaign Manager, rising journalist star, wealthy financial backers etc. The president began his first term in a blaze of optimism only for his good intentions to become the victim of the Washington machine; a dangerous place for a president when he is in the opposing party from that of Congress and the House of Representatives. Now, somehow, he has to revive that early optimism in the voters again. But his opponent is a popular soldier, a general with a squeaky clean record of bravery, commercial and public service success. A formidable opponent indeed, and also familiar from the real thing.
The president's aids must decide whether they will campaign on the president's own merits, or find some way of discrediting their opponent. Dirty politics, as usual; just what the president promised he would change.
This book is strap-lined as for those readers who miss "The West Wing" television show. Well, I found it illuminating, compelling and (as far as I can tell and fiction will allow) a reasonably accurate portrayal of US political machinations. It isn't about politics, however, but about the human beings behind the politics, and their frailties. Worth a read. Recommended for those who like their politics mixed with a little sex, partying and over inflated egos!
Published by Simon and Shuster, ISBN 978-0-85720-497-4
Yup, the author is, truly, anonymous but I venture that he or she is either someone who worked at the House House or was so close to it that any distance is unimportant. The US 'president' of the title is called simply 'O' and the cover picture is a back shot of a tall, slender man with a slight stoop and slightly sticky out ears. Get the picture?
Anyway, the president in this story is building up his campaign for re-election and the story centres on the key players, and their actions, in that campaign - Chief of Staff, Communications Chief, Campaign Manager, rising journalist star, wealthy financial backers etc. The president began his first term in a blaze of optimism only for his good intentions to become the victim of the Washington machine; a dangerous place for a president when he is in the opposing party from that of Congress and the House of Representatives. Now, somehow, he has to revive that early optimism in the voters again. But his opponent is a popular soldier, a general with a squeaky clean record of bravery, commercial and public service success. A formidable opponent indeed, and also familiar from the real thing.
The president's aids must decide whether they will campaign on the president's own merits, or find some way of discrediting their opponent. Dirty politics, as usual; just what the president promised he would change.
This book is strap-lined as for those readers who miss "The West Wing" television show. Well, I found it illuminating, compelling and (as far as I can tell and fiction will allow) a reasonably accurate portrayal of US political machinations. It isn't about politics, however, but about the human beings behind the politics, and their frailties. Worth a read. Recommended for those who like their politics mixed with a little sex, partying and over inflated egos!
Published by Simon and Shuster, ISBN 978-0-85720-497-4
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