Phineas Redux – Anthony Trollope

This, the fourth, of Trollope’s ‘political’ novels features the return (or more literally translated, the bringing back or revival) of Phineas Finn whose parliamentary and romantic entanglements were the mainstay of the second volume. At the conclusion of that novel Phineas had exited parliament on a matter of conscience, cut his ties with the society women he courted, taken a local government post back in Ireland, and married local girl and first love Mary Flood Jones.

Now with his wife dead and the job tedious, he is tempted back into politics, where he contests the Tankerville seat in an acrimonious election; the longer term goal to gain a remunerative post in the government of the day. Amid much politicking he is also back amid his society women - quite a fan club he has, though two are married (one happily, one disastrously) and the other is a regular companion of the all-powerful, but aging, Duke of Omnium.

As is his wont, Phineas gets into scrapes; publically sniped at by his old enemy the editor of The People’s Banner, more literally shot at by a disgruntled husband, and put into in a perilous situation when a political rival is bludgeoned in the street. All the while he struggles to come to terms with his current romantic feelings and how much they are just echoes of past loves, misdirected expressions of gratitude, and coloured by his need for independent means.

Trollope moves the reader through the political, emotional and moral issues that arise with an assured hand and graceful prose to a resolution of sorts; though as ever with this author, not necessarily the outcome all readers would choose.

The Dream Lover – William Boyd

Two dozen short stories mainly involving relations between men and women, mostly from the male viewpoint and often concerning their perspective of the relationship rather than the reality. So they are more to do with the dream than the love; and less about the love than the desire (with a sprinkling of hate, revenge, ennui and betrayal).

The settings, periods and characters cover an impressive range. To give a taste of those that stuck in my mind: a US serviceman seeks revenge on an aircraft carrier in the Pacific; a schoolboy’s first date, the plans shared in the dorm, has a lot of to live up to; a diplomat’s last night in the tropics provides a long awaited opportunity for sex with a colleague’s wife, but there is an impediment; a man’s obsession for a girl has an unusual genesis and a tragic end; and student affairs at an international school in Nice create tensions and torments.

Stylistically Boyd experiments in some stories, which adds to the variety, but for me he is best when he tells it straight – good characters, intriguing situations, a dilemma to resolve.

Resolution doesn’t always come, not all endings are neat, but most stories say something interesting about men and women and how they relate. And it is not a bad thing sometimes to be left wondering…

Personally I prefer his full length novels but this collection provides a more-than-readable, bedtime-story length assortment of tales; some will resonate, some may jar, but none will put you off the next.

Review of 2016

The move to fortnightly reviews reduced the number of books read in the year to twenty-six, though these included (as planned) some hefty tomes from favourite authors. As a result the overall standard was high and restricting my books of the year to eight was tricky. However from the titles reviewed the following are picked out as the books of my reading year and so are particularly recommended (full review in bracketed month).

Books for serious readers:

The Goldfinch – Donna Tartt (Jun) – A traumatic childhood event leaves Theo Decker bereft of family but in possession of a secret treasure; both consequences shape his future in this fine depiction of a developing young man surrounded by richly drawn characters.

Life After Life – Kate Atkinson (Jul) – Time-looping depiction of a 20^th century life, lived over again in an attempt to get things right – the author at her mischievous best.

White Teeth – Zadie Smith (Dec) – Multicultural, multi-generational tale of the intertwined lives of a group of working class London folk; full of comedy, irony and pathos.

The Bone Clocks – David Mitchell (Dec) – Six differently narrated episodes provide a snapshot every decade or so between 1984 and 2043 (with perceptive views of the past and perceptive visions of the future); each a good story, the combination linked by recurring characters and an age old mystic battle between good and evil.

General fiction:

The Journal of Dora Damage – Belinda Starling (Apr) – Unusual in its conception and physical presentation, which both factor into a story that sees representatives of some oppressed minorities rise and take control of their lives via an unconventional bookbinding business, against the odds, in 19^th century London.

Joyland – Stephen King (Jul) – Fine, quick paced and nostalgic yarn of a young man’s 60’s summer working on a run-down amusement park; a fun job that turns darkly serious.

The Girl on the Train – Paula Hawkins (Nov) – Cleverly crafted and unusually constructed modern murder mystery that works to perfection.

Nonfiction:

Manhood for Amateurs – Michael Chabon (Mar) – Short essays from a wise man and a gifted writer who here turns his attention to the male zeitgeist based on his experiences as a son, lover, husband and father.