Book Review: Addlands, by Tom Bullough

This was not a book I had heard of before I stumbled across it in a local bookshop. It was truly a serendipitous find.  I bought it because it was a book about the local area (well, somewhere about 15-20 miles from where I live) by a local author,  and I'm very glad I did. It is a totally absorbing read, lyrically beautiful and with the power to totally immerse the reader in the life of the isolated valley in mid-Wales where it is set.

It is huge in scope (but not in length, being a very manageable 293 pages long) following the fortunes of the Hamer family over 70 years and 4 generations as they scratch out a living from their hill farm. The characters are brilliantly brought to life and the changing seasons of the farm and the hillside on which it nestles lyrically described. The language is often poetic as it seeks to show how the place where these characters live is just as much a part of them as any other character trait.

Etty is a young woman, already pregnant when she marries Idris Hamer and comes to live on the remote Funnon Farm, on Llanbedr Hill near Builth Wells. She is the rock around which the novel revolves, the anchor to which all the other characters are moored, and the reader quickly grows to love her. Her son, Olly is a different matter altogether, wilder and more unpredictable yet also completely rooted to the farm and his mother.  Olly was born in 1941 and we follow his life from then until 2011 -  over a period of monumental change and modernisation for this part of mid-Wales. We see the closing of the local railway, the gradual moving away from the hold of the methodist church on the local population, the arrival of electrictiy, the move from horse power to tractors and the life-changing foot and mouth outbreak of 2001. All these upheavals and the personal triumphs and tragedies of the characters are contrasted with the quiet natural rhythms of the landscape which remain the same year on year.

It is a beautiful and affecting book, which will make you laugh and cry. The local dialect is cleverly employed, helping with the total immersion of the reader in this landscape and bringing the characters vividly to life. It is a haunting examination of continuity and change: how the landscape we live in makes us who we are and how the last century has changed us all.

When you have finished reading if you are anything like me you will yearn for the hills of Radnorshire and will be thinking about the characters and what the future holds for them for a long time to come. Highly recommended.

3 Extraordinary Books about the extraordinary lives of ordinary women, on International Women's Day.

On International Women's Day I thought it would be an idea to share some of my favourite books celebrating women. There are so many to choose from that I got a bit bogged down thinking about it, so in the end I have kept my list fairly short:

One of my all-time favourite books is The Red Tent by Anita Diamant. This tells the story of Dinah who makes a (very) brief apppearance in The Bible in the book of Genesis as the daughter of Jacob ( the man famous for his 12 sons!). It is a fscinating account of the life of a woman in biblical times, in particular a strong woman trying to make her own way in the world. It is one of those books that completely transports you to another time and place and leaves you thinking about Dinah and her life long after closing the book.

Diary of an Ordianry Woman by Margaret Forster is an unforgettable story charting the life of Millicent King, an ordinary woman, born in 1901 whose life spans the 20th century. The novel is presented as an edited diary and this gives a sense of intimacy and allows us to feel that we really know Millicent. The 20th century was a time of incredible social change, particularly for women and this book shows, in brilliant detail, what it was like to be a woman at this time.

Women Who Blow on Knots by Ece Temelkuran was originally published in Turkey. It charts the journey of four  Muslim women from different backgrounds who embark on a journey together from Tunisia to Lebanon during the revolutions of the Arab Spring. It explores the social questions of politics, religion and women in The Middle East, whilst also being a page turning mystery (why has the septuagenarian Madam Lilla brought these women together for this journey?) and an examination of the universal bonds of sisterhood. An unusual book that is definitely worth a read.

What books would you add to this list?

A selection of recommended John Boyne books

I have just finished reading The Heart's Invisible Furies, by John Boyne. John Boyne is a fairly prolific Irish writer (he has written eleven novels, five children's books and one collection of short stories) and this is the third of his novels that I have read, but I don't think of him as a particularly famous author - he does not seem to be a household name. Each time when I finished his book I was left profoundly moved, and unable to stop thinking about the protagonists, so I thought it was time to spread the word about Boyne's fantastic and very moving writing and encourage more people to read his work. He writes on a very wide range of topics, some but by no means all are set in his native Ireland and examine Irish social history, in particular the relationship of the Irish state with the Catholic Chrurch, and some are about real historical events. Here are the 3 that I have read and would recommend (although several other Boyne novels are on my 'to be read' list).

The Heart's Invisible Furies is an epic novel covering the first 70 years in the life of the protagonist Cyril Avery. Cyril is born in Dublin in  the 1940s and given up for adoption by his unmarried mother. Cyril is gay, and the novel explores his search for happiness and acceptance (self acceptance and acceptance by others) in a society that did not tolerate homosexuality. The writing is beautiful and whilst the novel is very sad Boyne tempers this with moments of humour in a very effective way. The characterisation is fantastic and Cyril quickly begins to feel like a friend to the reader. This is one of those novels where you feel bereft when you come to the end. The book also provides an interesting social commentary on attitudes to homosexuality over the last 70 years both in Ireland and the wider world and made me feel desperately sad for the prejudice and hostility that people had to contend with whilst searching for happiness. The novel does end with a sense of hope and peace as Cyril reflects on how far things have moved on in his lifetime, but I can't help feeling overwhelmingly sad at everything Cyril and his contemporaries went through. I really enjoyed the novel and it reminded me in many ways of A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara, which I would also recommend.

The Absolutist is a First World War novel with a different perspective. It is told through the eyes of Tristan Sadler and the narrative takes place in two time frames. One happens during the war, describing Tristan's friendship with Will Bancroft whom he meets at training camp and fights alongside at the front line. Will becomes a conscientious objector during the war, in fact an 'absolutist' who refuses to have anything to do with war effort at all, bringing shame on his family, and the second part of the narrative describes Tristan's journey to meet with Will's family after the war as there are things he needs to tell them. 

I have read a lot of First World War fiction and this is totally different, something completely new. It has themes of identity, morality (particularly what happens when personal morality clashes with perceived cultural and national morality), bravery, regret and unrequited love. It is powerful, moving and highly recommended.

A History of Loneliness is another powerful and deeply sad book. It tells the story of an Irish Catholic priest, Odran Yeats, from when he enters the seminary in the early 1970s, over forty years until the point when child abuse scandals have rocked the Catholic church in Ireland (and elsewhere) to breaking point. These revelations, and what Odran himself has lived through and witnessed (including friends and colleagues standing trial and being jailed, and his own family members' lives destroyed) challenge Odran's own faith and leave him tormented by guilt as he examines his own complicity in what happened. I found it incredibly sad as I believed that fundamentally Odran was a good man who wanted to see the best in others but ultimately this was not enough and his life, faith and belief system was shaken by his own inaction.  The book also examines the impact of abuse by trusted and respected members of the community has on the lives of the victims and their families with devastating honesty and provides empassioned social commentary on Ireland and it's relationship with the Catholic Chruch. Sad on so many levels, but powerful, timely and in my opinion a must-read.

It is also worth noting that John Boyne also writes novels for younger readers. The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas is perhaps his most famous book - a novel for children describing the friendship through the fence between 2 children, one a Jewish boy interred in a concentration camp and the other the son of them camp overseer. My eleven year old daughter has just finished reading Boyne's Stay Where You Are And Then Leave ,which she really enjoyed. It examines shell shock and mental illness in soldiers of the First World War, through the eyes of a young boy whose father is suffering from shell shock in 1918. She said it was very thought provoking, and definitely promoted discussion between us.

John Boyne is a versatile and talented writer, who in my experience creates compelling narratives and engaging characters. I am looking forward to reading more of his work. If you have your own favourites amongst the novels of John Boyne, please tell me about them.

The Man Booker Prize shortlist 2018

The 2018 Man Booker prize winner has been announced this evening as Milkman by Anna Burns. This year I have managed to read 4 out of the 6 shortlisted novels, including the winner. Here is my take on those novels.

Milkman by Anna Burns

Although the city is never named in the book, this novel is set in 1970s Belfast and tells a heartbreaking story of a city fractured by sectarian violence. The main character, known only as 'middle sister', is never named and neither are any of the other characters, but this does not stop us getting to know them and empathise with them. Middle Sister longs to remain unnoticed (by both the state and the paramilitaries who control her neighbourhood) and develops many strategies to achieve this aim, so she is upset to learn that she has unwittingly drawn the attention of a local paramilitary bigwig and thereby become the object of much unwanted gossip. As a result her life and relationships are turned upside down with some very disturbing consequences. 

This novel reads almost like a thriller - the tension is constantly ratcheting up in the background, and although this tension does not actually build to any one single cataclysmic event, plenty of horrific things happen along the way. It also forces you to think about love and loss and what the fear of loss can do to a person. Burns builds a frighteningly realistic picture of life in a civil war, and how ordinary things in extraordinary circumstances first adapt and then just become ordinary themselves. 

I wanted to love this novel, but I didn't. The unusual narrative style made it difficult to get into for me (it took me a very long time to read) and the way the narrative jumps across time frames was at times confusing, but this didn't stop it from being a powerful, eye-opening and ultimately worthwhile read. I think the distinctive and unusual style is what helped to make it a Booker Winner.

The Overstory, by Richard Powers

This is an unusual, powerful and affecting novel.Trees of all kinds, but especially those native to North America are the real stars of this book and they are the glue that holds a complex web of characters and stories together to forma novel. There are 9 main characters who start out as strangers, and gradually over a period of 50 years or so their lives become intertwined with trees (each for a different reason) and then with each other.  It is a long book but there is strong narrative drive throughout and I found it very difficult to put down. It is fascinating, traumatic and depressing in equal measure as it forces you to reflect on the impact of humans on the planet and what that may mean for future generations. It is beautifully written and highly recommended. This is the novel I would have chosen to win.

Washington Black, by Esi Edugyan

This is a novel of great scope. It begins on a sugar plantation in Barbados in 1830 where we meet the eponymous Washington Black, a young slave, who then escapes from the plantation with the owner's brother Titch. They travel first to America, then the frozen north of Canada where Titch disappears and Washington Black is left to fend for himself in this alien world. There follows Washington's search to find his place in the world and also for Titch who he cannot stop thinking about, which takes us (through incredibly vivid descriptions and beautiful writing) to Nova Scotia, London, Amsterdam and Morocco.
I started out absolutely loving this book, but that feeling started to wane. I think that there was simply too much going on and too much story trying to be told and when I reached the end I was left feeling a little flat. It is beautifully written and the science explored along the way (from early aviation to the first aquarium) is fascinating. The descriptions of the brutality faced by Washington Black both before and after his escape are haunting and cause us to reflect on this terrible notion that slaves were no more than livestock. There is a lot to think about in this book, and the over-riding theme is of Washington Black struggling to live a fully human life in a prejudiced world. Some food for thought and some beautiful writing in a book undeniably worth reading, but not a Booker Prize winner, in my opinion.

Everything Under by Daisy Johnson

This is another powerful, original and affecting novel. The writing is lyrical and descriptive and the narrative utterly compelling as we follow Gretel in her search for her estranged mother and examines her unconventional childhood and their difficult relationships. Emotive themes of suicide, abandonment, dementia, fluid gender identity, and ambiguous sexuality are explored sensitively,and though the novel is ultimately quite dark (inevitable in a modern retelling of a Greek tragedy) it is a thing of beauty that will stay on your mind for a long time after finishing.

8 Crime Fiction series that will make you fall in love with crime fiction

I am currently reading Snap by Belinda Bauer, which has been longlisted for the Man Booker Prize 2018. It wouldn't be controversial to say that it is unusual for a crime fiction novel to be included on this prestigious list, but it did get me thinking about how crime fiction is often derided as trashy with formulaic plots, one dimensional characters and poor writing. I am sure there is some crime fiction out there that conforms to these stereotypes, but there is so much out there that is just fantastic. I LOVE crime fiction, and here is a selection of my favourite writers and detectives: the series' that have me queuing up at the bookshop when a new one is published. Whether you are already a lover of crime fiction, or someone who has always thought crime fiction is not for you, give these a whirl - you won't be disappointed.

Shetland series, by Ann Cleeves

Ann Cleeves creates unusual, believable characters who do not conform to normal detective stereotypes, but she also creates an amazing sense of place in her novels, and this is what, for me, makes them stand out from the crowd of other crime fiction. When reading these novels I was so completely transported to the Shetland Isles that they have rocketed to the top of my 'places I would like to visit' list. The ladscape and climate she describes often have a vital part to play in the crimes being investigated by her detective Jimmy Perez too. There are 8 novels in the series, Raven Black, White Nights, Red Bones, Blue Lightning, Dead Water, Thin Air, Cold Earth, and Wild Fire.

Adam Dalgliesh series, by PD James

There are 14 books in this series. The first was published in 1962 and the last in 2008, so some of them can feel quite dated (especially as Inspector Dalgliesh has not really aged significantly during the series) but they are still examples of fine writing and very clever, subtle plots. Adam Dalgliesh is a cerebral and private man, but a likeable one whose integrity shines through.

Rebus series, by Ian Rankin

There are currently 21 books in this series. John Rebus and his sergeant Siobhan Clarke are 2 of my favourite characters in literature and their working relationship and ongoing friendship is something I always look forward to revisiting. The dynamic between the 2 characters is one of the things that makes this series so enjoyable (although Clarke does not appear in the first few and these are no less enjoyable). Rebus is to some extent a stereotypical crime fiction detective: a loner with a troubled past who drinks and smokes too much and is not afraid to bend the rules; but he is much more than that and his character is so well developed over the series that he begins to feel like an old friend. Add in to the mix the clever, yet believable plots, the social commentary and the subtle way Rankin has of juxtaposing the Edinburgh presented for tourists with the 'real' Edinburgh Rebus deals with, and you have some truly great fiction.

Vera series, by Ann Cleeves

Another gem by Ann Cleeves, there are also 8 novels in this series: The Crow Trap, Telling Tales, Hidden Depths, Silent Voices, The Glass Room, Harbour Street, The Moth Catcher and The Seagull. Vera is a dishevelled middle aged female detective with few social graces, but likeable to the reader nonetheless. These novels are set in the wilds of Northumberland and as with the Shetland series the sense of place is well conveyed and important.

Dublin Murder Squad series by Tana French

These novels, In the Woods, The Likeness, Faithful Place, Broken Harbour, The Secret Place and The Trespasser, differ slightly from conventional crime series' because there is no single detective as the main character in the series. Instead each novel has a different lead detective, who was a small part of the investigation in the previous book. This clever strategy keeps the novels fresh and stops them becoming formulaic as each of the lead characters is very different to the last. Fast paced, with plenty of plot twists, these are long novels but they fly by.

Shardlake series by CJ Sansom

Another series of crime novels with a difference, this series (Dissolution, Dark Fire, Sovereign, Revelation, Heartstone, Lamentation and the soon to be published Tombland) has as its central character a lawyer from Tudor London, Matthew Shardlake. CJ Sansom's historical writing is second to none and the reader is completely transported to Tudor times, warts and all, and learns a lot about the history of the period (including the dissolution of the monasteries and the fate of Henry VIII's various wives) along the way. They are gripping reads and Shardlake is a very human, likeable and believable character despite the 500 year time gap. Heartily recommended, these novels transcend the genre of crime fiction to be just great fiction.

Wallander series, by Henning Mankell

These novels are set in Sweden and originally written in Swedish. Kurt Wallander is a somewhat stereotypical middle aged police detective with an unhealthy lifestyle and a history of failed relationships, but he is very likeable and as the series progresses the reader comes to know him well. The novels are perhaps a little grittier than the other series' mentioned here and deal with some pretty bleak themes, but they are well worth a read - fast paced and gripping with plenty of plot twists.

Harry Hole series by Jo Nesbo

Another Scandinavian series, origianlly written in Norwegian  and mostly set in Norway, although Hole's investigations also take him to Africa and Australia, these are also more graphic and gritty than the other series' I have recommended. Hole is another troubled detective with an addictive personality who is not always likeable, but those who like their crime fiction with more than a hint of thriller, with some really dark crimes and fast paced twists and turns of plot these novels will certainly hit the mark.

What are your favourite crime fiction series?

Book Review: Home Fire, by Kamila Shamsie

Home Fire, by Kamila Shamsie was announced as the winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction 2018 back in June so I have been eagerly anticipating reading it. It is a modern retelling of  Sophocles's Antigone, but is also a compelling and thrilling story of  contemporary Britain.

Isma Pasha is a young British Muslim who has been responsible for raising her teenage twin siblings Aneeka and Parvais, since the death of their parents. As the novel begins Isma is finally able to realise her dream of studying in America,. Whilst there she meets and befriends Eamonn, the son of a British Pakistani father and an Irish American mother, who soon becomes involved with the whole Pasha family. Matters are complicated by the fact that their father was a jihadi who was captured in Afghanistan and killed while en route to Guantanamo Bay, and Eamonn's father is the British Home Secretary, Karamat Lone. Cue a complicated story of conflicting loyalties and clashing cultures - a real Greek Tragedy.

The story with its themes of love, loyalty and clashes of both family and faith (Ancient Greek themes that are very relevant  today) is revealed from 5 different viewpoints  (Isma, Aneeka, Parvais, Eamonn and Karamat) and builds to a brutal and devastating climax that left me reeling.  I don't want to give away too much of the plot but need to tell you that it is an insightful exploration of the dilemma faced by Muslims in Britain today that draws you in and leaves you a little changed for reading it. It is a Greek Tragedy, so you shouldn't be expecting a happy ending but if you like a book to be a slightly uncomfortable read that will really make you think, then you should read this. 

8 of the Best Booker Prize Winners

The longlist for the Man Booker Prize 2018 was announced today and The English Patient, by Michael Ondaatje was recently announced as the winner of the Golden Booker, readers' favourite Booker prize winner. This got me thinking about my own favourites amongst the previous winners of this prestigious prize and I came up with my own list of the best of the Booker Prize winners (I have read The English Patient, but it doesn't make my list!).

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha by Roddy Doyle

The 1993 winner is told through the eyes of Paddy Clarke, a 10 year old boy in 1960s Dublin. It is a fantastic recreation of childhood and the voice of Paddy Clarke is beautifully created. Consecutive paragraphs skip from one topic to the next totally unrelated topic as Doyle captures perfectly the speech patterns of children, together with the boundless curiosity and never ending questions.His innocence / naivety provide poignancy as we realise we (and he) are witnessing the unravelling of his parents' marriage. Desperately sad and laugh out loud funny, it also provides social commentary on working class Dublin at this time - a must-read book.

The God of Small Things by Arundhati Roy

Arundhati Roy's debut novel won the Booker prize in 1997 to huge critical acclaim. It is a much loved and often talked about book. The prose is hauntingly beautiful and a real celebration of the English language. the book follows twins Rahel and Estha, growing up in Kerala. Their beautiful and much-loved cousin Sophie Mol comes to stay and dies tragically. We find out that she dies on page 3 but don't find out how or why until the last chapter. However, the ramifications of her death echo throughout the book and affect every character. 

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

This extraordinary book won the Booker Prize in 2002. It tells the story of a boy and a tiger marooned together on a life boat and will make you question everything you thought you knew. Probably the most thought-provoking book I have ever read. 

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

This novel won the Booker prize in 2006. The story is told through 3 main characters: 16 year old Sai, who lives with her grandfather the judge, in a dilapidated hill station in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, and Biju, the son of the judge's cook, struggling to find a better life in New York. This is a searing examination of class and identity, and is a beautifully written and compelling story.

The Luminaries by Eleanor Catton

The 2013 winner is a huge novel in both length and scope. It is set in New Zealand during the gold rush of the 1860s. A very clever plot structure opens with a man stumbling upon a secret meeting of twelve men all gathered together to tell their stories. It turns out that all these stories are linked (often through many intricate layers) and a compelling mystery is gradually revealed. It is a page turner - you really want to get to the bottom of this mystery (even the nature of the mystery is not immediately apparent - is it a murder, disappearance, fraud?) and the way it is revealed is original and intelligent. The structure of the novel is important, but does not overpower it. The writing is eloquent and highly evocative of time and place. A real triumph!

True History of The Kelly Gang, by Peter Carey

This won the Booker prize in 2001 and it's easy to see why. It is a novel unlike anything else, where Carey completely transports the reader to the 19th Century and the life of the notorious bush ranger, Ned Kelly. Carey has written in the voice of Kelly, uneducated and barely literate and this is what helps to totally immerse the reader in the time and place, but also means that it can be hard to get into. A page turning adventure and a mind-blowing accomplishment from this talented author.

Wolf Hall and Bring up the Bodies by by Hilary Mantel

Hilary Mantel is only the third author (and the first British author, and first woman) to win the Booker prize twice: first for Wolf Hall in 2009 and then for its sequel Bring up The Bodies in 2012. Both books centre on Thomas Cromwell: the first covering his rise, from the humble beginnings of a blacksmith's son, to becoming one of the most powerful men in England, as adviser to the King; and the second centring on the downfall of Anne Boleyn and Cromwell's part in it. The historical detail and the beautiful descriptive writing mean that Tudor London really does come alive. The novel is written almost as Cromwell's stream of consciousness and that, coupled with the authentic language and turns of phrase from the sixteenth century, can make it difficult to get into, but persevere because it is worth it. This kind of total immersion in another time and place is what I crave when reading and Mantel achieves it. I really felt like I was living in Tudor London. A fascinating insight into a turbulent period in history and a look at power and the desires, dilemmas and corruptions associated with it. I found Bring up The Bodies to be faster paced and the more absorbing read, but  Wolf Hall is still a very rewarding read, and you can't really separate the two - they need to be read together.

What is your favourite Booker prize winning novel? What would you add to this list?