Room by Emma Donoghue

Read as part of the World Book Night 2012 reading journey

Room is where Jack and Ma live; live as in exist. It is their whole world, and for Jack it is the one he was born into and the only one he has known.  His windows on the universe are a skylight and a television.  One shows only the time of day and the weather; the other, his Ma purports, shows happenings on other planets.  In this way she seeks to protect him from the reality of his confinement’

They are imprisoned by “Old Nick” during whose visits Jack retires to the wardrobe, out of sight, but unfortunately not out of hearing.  However Jack is turning 5 and, benefitting from Ma’s 24/7 attention, is becoming harder to keep both literally and metaphorically in the dark. And with Old Nick under external pressures something will have to be done.

Narrated by Jack with the clarity of his uncluttered perspective, we move from their physically constrained daily routine, through a period of revelation for Jack, to the question of possible escape.  But will escape simply exchange one set of known dangers for a whole new set of unknown ones.  Is Jack safer closeted in Room than exposed to crime, drugs, traffic, bullies, deep water and all the other suburban parental fears that surface when a child innocently asks “can I play out”.

The Room concept is wholly believable and without resorting to explicit detail is emotionally harrowing.  Real tension builds as escape is considered, planned and rehearsed.  Do they go through with it, can it succeed, or would they just swap the frying pan for the fire?

It’s a good read finding out.

Can You Forgive Her? – Anthony Trollope

Reputably re-titled by Stephen King as “Can You Possibly Finish It?” due to its length (he’s one to talk), but for me it wears its 800 pages lightly.

Originally published in instalments in 1864-65 it’s a soap opera of its day around a cast including the aristocratic Plantagenet Palliser and Lady Glencora, the merely well to do Vivasor cousins – flighty Alice, stirrer Kate & villainous George – and the smooth but onomatopoeic Mr Grey.

I’m afraid that Alice’s romantic ditherings cause shock waves in society, evidenced by severely raised eyebrows. As she digs herself deeper into dis-renown, others in her social circle have their own relationship issues to deal with, related by Trollope with relish, wisdom, sly humour and humanity.

In this, the first of his “political” novels, the parliamentary setting is very much in the background, mainly occupying the men while the women get on with the real intrigue of love, life and society. There is much hand wringing and soul searching, attempts at honourable behaviour, some skulduggery and a little violence before the titular question can be answered.

I like Trollope’s easy style and enjoy his asides to the reader, which may not be to everyone’s taste. Having meandered through his Barchester Chronicles over a twelve year period will I have the inclination, stamina or indeed longevity to get through the Palliser books?

We have the technology - with all six books loaded onto the Kindle for just £1.29 - but to paraphrase Stephen King, can I possibly finish it?

WBN 2012 Books 1 to 9

At the start the World Book Night 2012 reading journey I have read 9 of the 25 choices and these are my brief comments based on my recollections. As some go back a few years no responsibility is accepted for any inaccuracies of plot, character or spelling.

Pride & Prejudice by Jane Austen

A classic that easily justifies its status. Although the sentences seem long to the modern reader, they are perfectly formed and if read at a leisurely pace transport the reader to the outwardly genteel 19^th century, only to reveal, with legendary wit, the same human foibles that abound in the 21^st.

A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens

Not his best in my view, but one of his shorter works – and a popular re-introduction to Dickens for those scarred for life by enforced school helpings of David Copperfield that rarely got beyond “Chapter 1 - I Am Born”. It is quicker moving than most, but at the expense of the usual extensive cast of peripheral characters.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

A pleasant enough read. I recall it being mystical and allegorical in nature but not sufficiently memorable to me to enable more to be said.

The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

Beautifully written, evocative novel that intertwines inter-war politics and social history with personal conflicts of loyalties as upper class Britain, and their retainers, slide into war, dabble with fascism and face up to the decline of the world as they know it.

Misery by Stephen King

Nothing supernatural here, just old fashioned psychological thriller as Annie Wilkes rescues her favourite author from a car crash and “nurses” him according to her own agenda. Genuinely nerve jangling and an all round good read.

Small Island by Andrea Levy

I found this an eye-opening and moving account of West Indian immigration in the 1940s. The culture shock of the “Windrush” generation arriving in post war London, and their ignorant reception by most of the indigenous citizens is related without rancour and is all the more effective for that.

The Road by Cormac McCarthy

Bleak, post apocalyptical, tale written in McCarthy’s economical style that dispenses with superfluous punctuation such as inverted comma for speech. I read the journey by man and boy along the eponymous thoroughfare, confronting hidden dangers in search of a safe haven, as a powerful allegory. A father’s purpose to navigate the perils of raising his son and deliver him safely and soundly to adulthood.

The Damned Utd by David Peace

As a football person, of an age to remember the Brian Clough 44 days as Leeds United manager, I enjoyed this thoroughly. If I was neither of those I’m not sure what I would have made of it. Peace’s style is direct and pays no heed to readers sensitivities as far as language is concerned so be warned and be careful who you pass this one on to.

The Book Thief by Markus Zuzak

A great book, especially for bibliophiles. Set in Nazi Germany, the gripping story unfolds, told by the young narrator as an adjunct to her career as a stealer (out of penniless necessity) of books (out of compulsion). We have all been there (the compulsion for books that is, not the stealing)!

The Sisters Brothers by Patrick DeWitt

The journey

Part of the America 1850 reading journey

How it got on the shelf

My sister and I have this unspoken 20 year tradition whereby when December comes the question is not what to buy him/her for Christmas, but which book should I buy him/her.  The difficulty is choosing one unlikely to have been read previously, and so one way to go is for a recently published paperback and hope you are one step ahead of your sibling.  The minor miracle is that we have so far avoided in any year swapping the very same book.

The 2011 arrival was The Sisters Brothers.  Intriguingly titled with an eye catching cover (two gunmen silhouetted against a rising moon - but symbolic to me of a skull) I had fondled it once or twice in Waterstones, so was very pleased to unwrap it on Christmas morning.

The Review

Starting in Oregon City in 1851, two hired gunslingers Eli and Charlie Sisters, set off on their latest assignment, requiring a journey to California in pursuit of their mark.

Their mission is narrated by Eli, in language that has a period feel and displays a sensitivity that belies his profession.  In truth it is his brother who is the natural born killer, and Eli is constantly torn between his own sensibilities and his loyalty to the hard as nails Charlie.

The brothers’ complex relationship is splendidly explored and the pioneer west is vividly depicted showing a bizarre mixture of brutality, comedy and humanity. Episodes along the way are described with cinematic clarity, whether in a saloon cum whorehouse, in gold crazy San Francisco, or at the final showdown.

The setting is fascinating, and the story is engaging, but it is the contrasting characters of Eli & Charlie and their complex, changing relationship that gives the book its tremendous appeal.  You have to feel for Eli and through him you grow to care for his brother, so that eventually you find yourself rooting happily for what is, at the end of the day, a murderous gang.

A must read.