I love a good yarn and this one delivers. "Clayhanger" is a bildungsroman set in industrial England in the late 1800s. Edwin Clayhanger grows up motheI love a good yarn and this one delivers. "Clayhanger" is a bildungsroman set in industrial England in the late 1800s. Edwin Clayhanger grows up motherless with his two sisters and their father, Darius, a rough and dominating printer. Edwin has many flaws, especially his impotence in front of his father, and he follows him into the printing business rather than pursuing his ambition of becoming an architect. The reader learns Darius's life story, too, and it is a shame that Edwin does not. Aside from Edwin and his family, the story focuses on Edwin's friendship with a neighboring family, the Orgreaves. He becomes acquainted with them through a schoolmate while young, and his idea of becoming an architect begins after meeting the vivacious and successful patriarch of the family. There is a good deal about the era involving politics and class, religion and society. The strict division of gender roles is upfront and center throughout the story, not because the author meant to make it a topic, it is just a clearly defined part of life at the time. Edwin can be a wimp, but also has flashes of cringey machoism. Although Edwin is not an entirely sympathetic character, my favorite part of the story is when he is able to eke a little pleasure out of existence, whether through books or looking at buildings or watching a woman dance. After one great disappointment, he picks up a book on Notre Dame and finds "the sources of happiness were not exhausted." The main plot point is Edwin's relationship with Hilda Lessways, the somewhat enigmatic family friend of the Orgreaves. She is the center of the sequel to this book, also called "Hilda Lessways." I read Arnold Bennett first last year when I found "The Old Wives' Tale" in a used book store in Spain. I didn't have high expectations for it and was happily surprised by the writing and story. After that I read "Buried Alive," which was engaging but not as good, and I ordered "Hilda Lessways" last week, if it's any testament to Arnold Bennett. I do wish it had arrived already when I got to the last page of "Clayhanger."...more
Aside from the youth group at the center of this novel, (the) Crossroads is supposedly where the blues artist Robert Johnson sold his soul to the deviAside from the youth group at the center of this novel, (the) Crossroads is supposedly where the blues artist Robert Johnson sold his soul to the devil in exchange for mastery of the guitar. Which makes me think what these characters have exchanged something precious for.
The question seems most compelling in the case of Marion, the grumbly middle-aged wife of a disgraced pastor who has a secret past she finds shameful but also somehow exalted. At the height of her marital crisis, after she takes up smoking and sets about possibly regaining that past, she realises that the somewhat spiteful self-validation of that means she’d be giving up some other things she cares about, and those may outweigh whatever positives a break with her present life might bring. She does get her digs in, though, in a satisfying way.
The Christianity is occasionally oppressive and some of the passages seem unnecessarily drawn out, but it’s worth the satisfactions this book offers. Interesting to discover it is the first of what should be a trilogy. Sign me up. ...more
An excellent novel of a particular time and place with a wide sweep of characters (listed in an index covering eight pages). The centerpiece of the noAn excellent novel of a particular time and place with a wide sweep of characters (listed in an index covering eight pages). The centerpiece of the novel is the battle of Stalingrad, a turning point in WWII when the Russians encircled the decimated German forces. The historical aspect of both the war and what was happening in Russian society were very interesting. It was a long read but very worthwhile. The book was written in 1960 but not published until 1980, after it was smuggled out of the country. ...more
This covers about 80 years in the lives of a Korean family, beginning in Korea and ending in Japan. It's a good story and I learned something about This covers about 80 years in the lives of a Korean family, beginning in Korea and ending in Japan. It's a good story and I learned something about the plight of Koreans in Japan in the last century, and Christian Koreans specifically, which was very interesting. It never occurred to me that Koreans lacked the social status of Japanese, but I shouldn't be surprised. Sociologically it was an interesting book. The characters were lively, though they lapsed into stereotypes in some cases: the innocent girl betrayed (Sunja), the handicapped man with a heart of gold (Hoonie), the martyr-like wife (Yungkee), the pure Christian (Isak), the rich man who leads youth astray (Hansu). I will say that I lost some interest in the last generation, which culminates in the person of Solomon, who acts as the socio-savior. I felt the character of Hana was superfluous. I did like the plot development, though some of it was predictable. At some points I didn't think the writing was particularly good. When Hansu, the rich corrupter of youth, reappears in Sunja's life after 10+ years, this is the paragraph: "Hansu stood before her, wearing a black coat over a grey wool suit. His hair was still dark and his face more or less the same, with a slight thickening along his jawline. Reflexively, Sunja checked to see if he was wearing the white leather shoes he used to wear long ago." That struck me as awkward and inauthentic. Nevertheless, overall I enjoyed the companionship of this story, if it doesn't stick out in my mind as great writing. ...more
Interesting novel about a young English-Spanish man, Tomas Nevinson, who is pressed into becoming a spy, his double life and conflicts, as well as thoInteresting novel about a young English-Spanish man, Tomas Nevinson, who is pressed into becoming a spy, his double life and conflicts, as well as those of his wife Berta, who narrates much of the book. The story revolves around Tom's career, his wife's discovery that he is not a plain old civil servant, his long absences, sad relationships, and morality and duplicity. Part of the book's appeal is how it's hung on the poetry of T.S. Eliot, whose lines haunt the novel. I felt that worked well. There are many literary references in the book -- to Shakespeare, Faulkner, Stevie Smith and Herman Melville. I enjoyed the book, though not as much as A Heart So White, which also had its intrigue. Much has to do with England in and around the Margaret Thatcher era -- the Falklands War, the Irish conflict, the fall of the Berlin Wall. Fascinating times. But it does reach into the 90s and beyond and their trappings, with Berta (Marias) ranting about the Spanish male's newfound love of the "man bun." Points for that. ("I noticed on the top of his head a kind of Japanese or rather samurai bun, perched aloft like a pom-pom.") Nevertheless, I didn't feel I really got a grasp of Nevinson's character. He was much discussed, his own father called him 'mysterious' even as a child, but that didn't come through to me. He seemed a rather plain if smart and talented person who got sucked into a bad position. He was conflicted of course but not particularly complex. The other weak spot from my point of view was the lengthy rumination. Sorry, but I did feel it went on too long in places, unnecessarily. For what it's worth, I've ordered another Marias book, so I'm a fan. ...more
Can't pretend this wasn't a slog. I did enjoy the first two, but it had been a long time since I read the second and I had difficulty keeping track ofCan't pretend this wasn't a slog. I did enjoy the first two, but it had been a long time since I read the second and I had difficulty keeping track of who was who. Interesting in terms of history. It's good not to have a king. ...more
Big fan of Dorothy Whipple. My favorite is "Because of the Lockwoods," but I haven't read one I didn't like.Big fan of Dorothy Whipple. My favorite is "Because of the Lockwoods," but I haven't read one I didn't like....more
There were some moments when I considered giving up. Some of the characters came off as not believable, whether in personality or in action. But in thThere were some moments when I considered giving up. Some of the characters came off as not believable, whether in personality or in action. But in the end I enjoyed the story. ...more
Not bad, well written, but I found it tedious and gave up shortly after page 400. It had its funny moments but I had zero emotional or intellectual inNot bad, well written, but I found it tedious and gave up shortly after page 400. It had its funny moments but I had zero emotional or intellectual investment in it and I have better things to read in my short time on the planet. ...more
Well written, but also complicated. That wouldn't bother me, except that the plot(s), at least the way it was laid out, wasn't especially compelling. Well written, but also complicated. That wouldn't bother me, except that the plot(s), at least the way it was laid out, wasn't especially compelling. ...more
700-plus pages about a severely damaged man —emotionally and physically— who’d like nothing more than to die and the circle of male friends who want t700-plus pages about a severely damaged man —emotionally and physically— who’d like nothing more than to die and the circle of male friends who want to prove his worth to him and keep him alive. I found it tedious with a capital T.
At his bedside after one of the jillions of times this poor, tortured individual has come close to checking out of life’s hotel, his bestie whispers into his semi-conscious ear:
“You’re Jude St. Francis. You are my oldest, dearest friend. You’re the son of Harold Stein and Julia Altman. You’re the friend of Malcolm Irvine, of Jean-Baptiste Marion, of Richard Goldfarb, of Andy Contractor, of Lucien Voigt, of Citizen von Straaten, of Rhodes Arrowsmith, of Elijah Kozma, of Phaedra de los Santos, of the Henry Youngs. You’re a New Yorker. You live in Soho. You volunteer for an arts organization; you volunteer for a food kitchen. You’re a swimmer. You’re a baker. You’re a cook. You’re a reader. You have a beautiful voice, though you never sing anymore. You’re an excellent pianist. You’re an art collector. You write me lovely messages when I’m away. You’re patient. You’re generous. You’re the best listener I know. You’re the smartest person I know, in every way. You’re the bravest person I know, in every way. You’re a lawyer. You’re the chair of the litigation department at Rosen Pritchard and Klein. You love your job; you work hard at it. You’re a mathematician. You’re a logician. You’ve tried to teach me, again and again. You were treated horribly. You came out the other end. You were always you. ( etc etc etc…) And I will never let you go.”
If that doesn’t sound like a voice-over in some motivational/inspirational personal coaching program, I don’t know what does. When he says “You’re a New Yorker,” I had to throw up in my mouth a little bit.
I almost gave it one star, but it’s saved by not having absolutely miserable prose. I wouldn’t say it’s good (note the treacle of "The porch light washed the night with honey”) but it’s not terrible. This one is for the "Bel Canto" crowd....more
Warning: I don't add spoilers to history or historical fiction. Everyone dies! Look it up!
That the French Revolution happened seems amazing, more astWarning: I don't add spoilers to history or historical fiction. Everyone dies! Look it up!
That the French Revolution happened seems amazing, more astounding than the American Revolution (colonies revolting against a distant king seems rather predictable). It’s no easy feat to topple a monarchy. You need well-placed folks with charisma and a savvy outreach program.
"A Place of Greater Safety" follows three key figures of the revolution from childhood to the guillotine (though one ekes out a few more months). There’s the macho Danton, the dashing bisexual Camille Desmoulins, and the idealistic ascetic Robespierre. There’s also Camille’s sympathetic wife Lucile and her mother Annette, Marat, known to me before this book only for dying in a bathtub, and the jerk with the great name, Saint-Just. There are plenty of bad guys but the consolation is that pretty much that the guillotine comes down on everyone at some point. Adieu!
There are many many other characters. It was hard to keep track of who was who, especially since I entered knowing very little about the French Revolution. The guys whose names began with H were pretty much “the guys whose names begin with H.” Luckily there’s a list of characters at the beginning, though it’s not Hugely useful. A more diligent reader would have taken notes. I resorted to secondary sources and the Revolutions podcast series. Build yourself a little scaffold of background and you’ll get through this just fine.
Two interesting things I learned: 1) I hadn’t realised the French were the Euro champions of waving heads around on pikes. Whoa. As brutal and primitive as it gets! Nothing to be proud of, that.
2) This isn’t really covered in the book, it’s just assumed you know (I didn’t), but the revolution created its own calendar with the months renamed and the weeks rejigged and it was really quite marvelous, if evocative of North Korea. It might help you forget those heads thrust onto pikes.
I admire Mantel’s writing. Of course she’s imagining most of this based on the particulars of people’s lives and the events of the revolution. But she does make it lively. She does breathe into it. Her story is very much character-based. Camille is so quick-witted. You can see clearly what each character lacks. The end scene at the guillotine is excellent. Then there’s the very last scene, recalling Robespierre’s childhood, and comparing reimagining history through fiction to tatting:
One day, a long time ago, his mother sat by window, making lace. The broad morning light streamed in on both of them. He saw it was the gaps that were important, the spaces between the threads which made the pattern, and not the threads themselves. ‘Show me how to do it,’ he said. ‘I want to learn.’ ‘Boys don’t do it,’ she said. Her face was composed; her work continued. His throat closed at the exclusion. Now, whenever he looks at a piece of lace —even though his eyes are bad— he seems to see every thread in the work.
I really enjoyed this and think it’s almost as good as Mantel’s Wolf Hall, but not quite. Maybe if she’d split this dense book in two …? Or three…? It really is quite long, and there are plenty of gaps not yet filled in....more
Despite a distaste for the protagonist, Peter Leigh, I found this novel enthralling and imaginative. The setting and characters are well-drawn, even iDespite a distaste for the protagonist, Peter Leigh, I found this novel enthralling and imaginative. The setting and characters are well-drawn, even if the plot is hardly new: a journeyer arrives on a new planet just as the one he left starts collapsing. Peter comes as a Christian missionary without knowing what awaits him. To his credit, he also doesn't know what kind of hell(s) is about to break loose on Earth, where his wife Beatrice, who was rejected by the mega-corporation sponsoring the trip to space, grows increasingly furious with him and increasingly vulnerable to catastrophes big and small, societal collapse, and feelings of abandonment. Peter expected to have to work hard to convert the natives of the planet Oasis. But many of the colorfully robed Oasans are ripe for Christianity and its promise of everlasting life. They are indeed a bit charming, even if their faces resemble two fetuses plunked together. Peter is in a pretty good place, safe, too, from the temptations that tripped him up before he met his wife. Whether Peter is as emotionally cool as the others making a go of Oasis is hard to say, but like them he went through a grueling screening process and was approved. He loves Bea, but it would be nice if she didn't tax him with her faith-shattering problems. He also begins to forget the names of his parishioners back in England, much less to care about them. You get the feeling he's having a special-boy adventure, and can't be bothered with humans. He often struck me as despicable. But the story develops very well, and there are revelations and interesting characters. Peter's not irredeemable. One of my favorite parts of the book was the description of the climate of Oasis, super humid and breezy, subject to torrential, muscle-flexing rains. There's a lot of sweating, intimate breezes, and lush muckiness to engage the senses. One of the most touching aspects of the book is the parallel to Michel Faber's relationship with his own wife, who was diagnosed with a fatal cancer while he was writing it. As an exploration of separation and love, it is moving and affirmative. Faber has said it's the last book he'll write. ...more
Nearing page 100 I wasn't enjoying the story or style. It was one of those books you'd look at on the table and quickly think of something else you'd Nearing page 100 I wasn't enjoying the story or style. It was one of those books you'd look at on the table and quickly think of something else you'd rather be doing. I've had so many experiences where it took me weeks to read something because I basically didn't want to, meaning I was putting off reading 10 things I would have enjoyed. I wish I'd been charmed, but I was relieved when I finally decided I didn't need to do this to myself. Pulitzer-schmulitzer. ...more