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Midnights Children by Salman Rushdie
The Magus by John Fowles
This was one of the most enjoyable books I read in 1998. The story may be hard to believe at points, however, its beautifully written and is well worth following. Many say that it's not so enjoyable for older and more mature readers, which may be true. But given the unlikely nature of the story I think what really kept me reading was the excellent writing and observation. I read it at the same time as The Beach, which was made to look like a comic book in comparison despite its enjoyability. The Magus is a great yarn, but it has the bonus of being told by a master of the language. Whats more its set on an idyllic Greek island, which it evokes wonderfully...ahhh I could almost smell the atmosphere!
Fathers and Sons by Ivan Turgenev
An absolute classic. I have linked the cover to the same version and translation I read, by Rosemary Edmonds. Though I found the first 50 sides or so quite dull this novel therafter (for me at least) hit its stride, and really hit home. The set piece conversations are beautifully written and really evoke the emotions. It's a beautiful book and everyone I know who has read it is unstinting in their praise..perhaps that is more than I could ever say.
The Regeneration Trilogy by Pat Barker
Regeneration
The Eye in the Door
The Ghost Road
N.B I've linked to the hardback version from the book cover as the paperback doesn't seem to be available now. The individual titles of the trilogy (above) are linked to the individual paperbacks.
Regeneration is the story of the stay at Craiglockart military hospital near Edinburgh of Siegfried Sassoon during WWI, after his famous condemnation of the war. It focuses on army psychologist W. Rivers and his relationship with several patients suffering from 'war neurosis'. This is powerful stuff, especially when put together with Sassoon's all too sane protest against the war. It is also brought to life by the relationship with the fictional patient Billy Prior whose further story is at the core of the second novel The Eye in the Door. I didn't find the latter as powerful a work, but it was nonetheless enjoyable; despite a obviously owing a lot to post modern ideas like Foucault's panopticon. Prior was well worth a sequel and this is great reading. The Ghost Road follows the eventual return to France of Prior (in the company of Wilfred Owen) and his/their confrontation with the demons that put them in Craiglockart. It counterposes their experiences with those of Rivers in the South Pacific. Again this is great reading and won the Booker Prize. Pat Barker is also a North Eastern writer, so she must be well worth supporting just from that point of view!
La Brava by Elmore Leonard
My brother gave me this as a Christmas present, thinking I was into Leonard’s books after all the mentions I had given him in connection with recent films. In fact I hadn’t read any of his books, but I can now see why filmmakers are queuing up to make versions of his novels. The tone of this book fitted in with what I have seen in movies such as Get Shorty, Jackie Brown and Out of Sight . It has an interesting plot and the main character was very believable (at least to this Brit who has no experience of Miami or guarding ex presidents or their wives!
Hannibal by Thomas Harris
N.B I have now linked to the paperback version.
This is the long awaited sequel to The Silence of the Lambs, which became a blockbuster movie in the early 90’s. It follows further the careers of Hannibal the Cannibal (Anthony Hopkins in the movie) and Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster). Harris’s output is not prolific but both Red Dragon and The Silence of the Lambs are great popular novels (Hannibal makes an appearance in the former too).
Hannibal itself was long awaited before final publication in the summer of ‘99. It has had a mixed reception and upset many of Clarice’s fans. Before reading it I reread both the earlier books and was again impressed by their quality. When I read Hannibal I felt it was overlong and I also thought it lacked some of the quality of observation present in the earlier works. However, most of the mixed reaction can be put down to the plot twists at the end. Many readers, eager to follow the career of Clarice, were very disappointed and felt these twists did not show her true character. There have even been reports that Jodie Foster has refused to play the part again because of the book’s outcome, though it has also been reported she will not decide before seeing a script.
Without giving the plot away, when I read it I thoroughly enjoyed the outcome, devilish as it is. Looking back on it I can see why people have an objection to it as the memory can simply linger on most readily memorable facts, unpleasant as they are. In real life the tabloids could certainly paint an unwholesome picture of Clarice in the light if these facts, which seem so much at odds with her previous image! Needless to say, for those of you that know me, I thought it was more complicated than that ;) Though I am having to think hard to remember how I could ever accept such an outcome! I simply wish we learnt more at the end of the book. It certainly seems to leave the door open for another sequel and I’d like to find out more about Hannibal's and Clarice’s new lives. Hope all this talking around the plot has whetted your appetite to read it yourself! Pun absolutely intended ;)
The Beach by Alex Garland
As I said above, I read this at the same time as The Magus which is undoubtedly a better piece of writing. But don't get me wrong, The Beach is an excellent and enjoyable read based on an interesting proposition.....a backpackers idyllic Thai hideaway, secret from the tourist horde....sounds perfect, except of course that other people are necessarily still part of the equation, and there is no escape from your own past or demons. This leads to a sort of Lord of the Flies meets Apocalypse Now/Heart of Darkness scenario together with something of a trip into psychosis aided by the plentiful supply of dope in this tropical idyll. Apologies to those of you to whom those references mean nothing! All in all a very good read. Perfect for holiday reading. Also now a feature film starring that lad di Caprio, who was pretty good, imho, though I seem to remember that the book finishes differently.
Non Fiction Choices
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly by Jean-Dominique Bauby
This is one of the books of the century - according to the Financial Times blurb on the cover - I certainly wouldn't argue with this. It was dictated by the author after suffering a stroke and becoming a victim of 'locked in syndrome'. This left him almost totally paralysed and only able to communicate with the world by winking one eye - he managed to dictate the book that way! Having said all that, this book defies any preconception that knowledge of the circumstances in which it was written could give you. It reads incredibly easily, but is nonetheless powerful. Don't miss it!.
84 Charing Cross Road by Helene Hanff
This is a really simple book, but absolutely wonderful. It's made up of the correspondence between a television writer (Helene Hanff) in New York and a buyer (Mr Doel) for a second hand bookstore at 84 Charing Cross Road, London. They start corresponding just after the war, while Britain was still on rationing, Ms Hanff realises she has it in her power to improve the lives of those at the store and sends a hamper of food with her payment for some orders...earning her a special place in many of their affections. Through the letters we chart the development of her relationship with the staff at the shop and especially with Mr Doel and also we glimpse their shared passion for English literature. Personally I have not read many of the English classics, and have not had much enthusiasm to do so preferring more modern and international books, however through their letters their mutual love of these books comes alive. It certainly motivated me to acquaint myself more thoroughly with these works, which was no mean feat.
The volume is finished off by her account of her eventual trip to London and her adventures whilst there, after the runaway success of 84 Charing Cross Road. All in all its a marvelous read and I recommend it as highly as any on these pages.
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