How Late It Was, How Late by James Kelman (Jackie's Review)

How Late It Was, How Late is set in Glasgow and follows Sammy, who wakes up in the gutter after a night of heavy drinking to discover that his shoes have been stolen. He gets into a fight with some plainclothes policemen (“sodjers”) and ends up in a police cell. Badly beaten, he wakes to discover that he is blind and so begins the difficult task of learning to live without his sight whilst also trying to avoid being blamed for a crime he knows nothing about.

I started off hating this book. The stream of consciousness writing style combined with frequent swearing and the Glaswegian dialect meant that I had trouble connecting with it, but I persevered and slowly became used to the writing style. I found that if I read it in large chunks then I could immerse myself in the Glaswegian dialect and the bad language became a natural part of the conversation.

Plus ye couldnay quite predict what they were up to, the sodjers. So he was
gony have to go careful. So fuck the drink there was nay time, nay time, he had
to be compos mentis. Whatever brains he had man he had to use them. Nay
fuck-ups. The things in yer control and the things out yer control. Ye watch the
detail. Nay bolts-from-the-blue. Nayn of these flukey things ye never think
about. Total concentration.

After about 50 pages I was amazed to find that I started to like Sammy - I began to feel sorry for him and even found some of the book funny.

It wasn’t an easy read – the book flipped forwards and backwards in time and sentences were often left without an end. It took me a long time to read this book and there were several points at which I nearly gave up. Very little happens and the middle dragged. I think that if the book had been 200 pages shorter then I’d have appreciated it a lot more.

This book is packed with symbolism and I’m sure it could benefit from multiple re-reads. I’m glad I glimpsed Sammy’s life, but I’m not sure I’d want to read about him again.

Recommended to fans of literary fiction who enjoy reading about the darker areas of society.

3.5/5 stars

Originally reviewed here.

The Children’s Book – A. S. Byatt (Jackie's review)

I had a love-hate relationship with this book and have to admit that there were several points, especially in the middle, where I nearly gave up on it.

The Children’s Book is set in England in the last few years of the 19th Century and ends in during the first world war. The book follows a vast number of characters, mainly children, as they grow up in this often forgotten period of history.

The book is packed with detail about the news events of the period and the lifestyles they led, but it’s richness was also it’s downfall for me. The book was very long (the hardback I read was 600+ pages of tiny type) and the descriptions so detailed that it lacked momentum. I had to become immersed in the beautiful writing of each paragraph and try to forget that I still had 400+ pages to go, and I didn’t really know where the story was going. It focused on the minute details of their lives, which although interesting, often failed to engage me and led to my mind wandering. I’m still not sure whether I made the right choice in finishing this book. It took a very long time to read, and although I now know a lot more about that period in history I do not feel I have gained much. It didn’t really entertain me, and the ending didn’t merit the build-up.

I’m sure that lots of people will love this book, but although I enjoy a bit of detail this went a bit far for my tastes. It is a beautifully crafted book though, and will probably win this year’s Booker prize. So if you fancy being transported back to the early part of the 20th century – give it a go.

3.5/5

Originally reviewed here.

The Quickening Maze – Adam Foulds (Jackie's Review)

The Quickening Maze was shortlisted for the Booker prize, and having read the entire longlist this year I have to say I was very surprised to see it there. I can only assume that this book improves on re-reading – it’s poetic words making much more sense second time round.

The book is set the mid 19th century and centres on a mental asylum in Epping Forest. The two poets, John Clare and Alfred Tennyson, have a strong presence in the book and the historical details of their lives are described as accurately as possible.

I was really looking forward to reading it as I used to live very close to Epping Forest, enjoy historical fiction and find madness a great addition to any story! Unfortunately I was a little bit disappointed, as although the writing was beautiful and individual scenes were captivating, the book failed to fully engage me. The plot had no real forward momentum and the interesting episodes in the book didn’t feel entirely linked.

The large number of characters added to my sense of confusion, perhaps they emphasised the madness present in the mental asylum, but there were so many people fighting for my attention that in the end they just washed past me.

The author is a talented poet, but I’m afraid I’m not a big fan of poetry and so I think much of the beauty of this book was lost on me – it was too quiet.

The wind separated into thumps, into wing beats. An angel. An angel sat there in
front of her. Tears fell like petals from her face. It stopped in front of her.
Settling, it’s wings made a chittering sound. It paced back and forth, a
strange, soft, curving walk that was almost like dancing.

The book was well researched and I loved some of the snippets of historical information. The desire to bury everyone in consecrated ground, leading to sneaking a dead baby into the coffin of a rich gentleman was one such revelation for me. I also loved the descriptions of the forest. The trees seemed to play a more important part in the book than the people.

There was a lot to like in The Quickening Maze, but it didn’t really work as a novel first time round – perhaps a second reading would reveal many more of the subtle layers.

Recommended to poetry lovers or anyone who enjoys quiet pieces of historical fiction.

3.5/5

The Bone People - Jackie's Review

The Bone People won the Booker Prize in 1985. It is set on the South Island of New Zealand, and centres around three characters. The first, Kerewin, is a painter, who having won the lottery builds herself a tower by the sea and lives as a virtual recluse. One day, Simon, a young, mute boy turns up at her tower and they begin a strange friendship. Simon's foster father, Joe, is then drawn towards Kerewin and the three characters begin to discover secrets lurking in each of their pasts.

The book deals with many difficult issues, but domestic violence is the most dominant. Joe beats his foster son, and the delicate line between punishment and cruelty if seen to be very hazy at times. The characters are all really well developed, deeply flawed and incredibly interesting!

The book is very well written, and the writing is almost poetic at times, but at other times it was a 'stream of conciousness' and, particularly in the beginning, was very confusing. I fluctuated between loving it, and being irritated by it!

The book was filled with Maori myths and symbolism, some of which went over my head. I think that this book is one which needs to be read several times, in order to appreicate it's many layers. In many ways it is very similar to Beloved - difficult to understand at first, complex, moving and full of symbolism.

I'm not sure I'd ever recommend this book to anyone, but I'm glad that I read it.

Originally reviewed here.

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha - Jackie's Review

Paddy Clarke Ha Ha Ha won the Booker Prize in 1993. It is the first Roddy Doyle book I have read, so I didn’t really know what to expect.

It follows Paddy Clarke, as he grows up in 1960’s Dublin, witnessing the break down of his parent’s marriage

He has a real talent for being able to describe the thoughts and feelings of a ten year old boy:

I prefer magnifying glasses to matches. We spent afternoons burning little piles of cut grass. I loved watching the grass change colour. I loved it when the flame began to race through the grass. You had more control with a magnifying glass. It was easier but it took more skill.

I found some scenes touching, and I managed to read the whole book fairly quickly, but the plot meandered about a bit too much for me, so I didn’t get drawn into it fully. His childhood had very little in common with mine, so this may be another reason I was not as enthralled with this book as others seem to be. I was only born in 1978, so have no nostalgia for the 60s, and I was never a little boy, who had fights and played jokes on my teachers!

It was OK, but I think I’d only recommend it to older people, who would be able to fully appreciate the nostalgia this book has to offer.

Originally reviewed here.

The White Tiger - Aravind Adiga (Jackie's Review)

'The White Tiger’ won the Booker Prize earlier this year (2008). It is a tale of two very different Indias - Balram is a poor, former teashop employee, who lands a job as a chauffeur to a rich landlord. The differences between the two lives are revealed, as Balram’s aim to become as rich as his employer take shape.

I was interested to see if it could live up to all the hype. Unfortunately it didn’t. The book started off badly, with a letter from Balram, to the Chinese Premier. The informal, chatty tone grated on me, and the letter (which lasted for the majority of the book) seemed unrealistic and distracted from the real story that was being told. On a positive note, I liked the suspense of how Balram’s crime was gradually revealed to the reader.

The plot was fairly average - nothing stood out as being particularly clever, or insightful. The characters lacked any depth or personality, and as a result I felt no compassion for their situation.

It was a reasonable read, but instantly forgettable. I wouldn’t recommend it, and it’s certainly not worthy of a Booker Prize.




Originally posted here.

Amsterdam by Ian McEwan - Jackie's Review

‘Amsterdam’ by Ian McEwan won the Booker prize in 1998. It begins at Molly’s funeral, which is attended by her husband George, and three of her previous lovers: Vernon, Clive, and Julian. In the days after her funeral Clive and Vernon make a pact that binds them together forever.

I read it in one sitting, but this was more due to the fact it was such a short book, rather than because it was any good. It was fairly well written, but the characters failed to engage me. I found many sections quite dull, and started to wish the book would end, so I wouldn’t have to endure them any more. I’m sure there was a lot of humour and irony in there, but it’s not that not the sort of thing that I find amusing.

The ending was a big disappointment. I could see it coming a mile off - even the cover illustration seems to give it away! The whole plot just seemed a bit child-like in it’s simplicity.

Overall, I was yet again disappointed by a Booker winner.

7/10

Originally posted here.

The Blind Assassin - Atwood, Jackie's Review

This is the first book by Margaret Atwood that I have read. Reviews of her books always seem to be very positive, so I was expecting a good book. Unfortunately I was very disappointed. The plot was predictable and uninspiring. The characters had no special qualities, and came across as boring people. The writing was OK, but not particularly atmospheric. I was expecting much more, from a prize winning book by a critically acclaimed author.


Many reviews state that this is a hard book to get into, and confusing, as it skips around so much. I didn’t find this to be a problem, as there was a good read before the book skipped time frames. I also found it quite easy to get into. The book flowed along well throughout it’s 600+ pages, but at the end I felt let down. I’ll have forgotten about this book in a few days, as there was nothing special about it.

Very average.

5 out of 10 stars

'A Fine Balance' by Rohinton Mistry - Jackie's Review

‘A Fine Balance’ was short listed for the Booker prize in 1996, and I cannot understand why it did not win this, or even ‘The Booker of Bookers’ - it is that good!

It is hard to explain the plot, as it is so rich and complex, but basically it follows the lives of four strangers, from different sections of the Indian caste systems as they deal with life during the state of emergency in 1970’s India. The political situation is explained, so that even an outsider can understand the corruption and turmoil going on in the country. Each character is built up so well, that we feel we know them, and the surroundings are described in such a way that I imagine I’ve been there. It is not an easy read, in that many of the scenes described are disturbing, but the hardship is not dwelt upon, and it is amazing what positives can be made out of so little.

At over 600 pages long, it is not a short book, and I was originally going to criticise it for not being a page turner. I now realise that this would be the wrong thing to do. Although it is not a fast paced book, I was gripped the whole way through. If it had been a quicker read it would have lost the rich detail I loved it for.

This book changed the way I viewed many aspects of Indian society, particularly the street beggars, and I now have a greater understanding of life in India during the 1970s.

This is one of the best books I have ever read. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

10 out of 10 stars.

'Flying to Nowhere' by John Fuller - Jackie's review

‘Flying to Nowhere’ is set on a Welsh island, and is centred around a monastery. A church agent comes to the island to investigate the disappearance of pilgrims visiting a sacred well, while the local abbot is at his dissection table searching for the location of the soul.

I have no idea why this book was short listed for the Booker prize in 1983 – it is so dull!

At only 88 pages long it was a very quick read, but it seemed to take ages, as there was nothing in the book that captivated me. The plot was very basic, the characters failed to engage me, and there was too much rumination on life, death, the spirit and the soul.

1 ½ stars out of 5

'G' by John Berger - Jackie's Review

‘G’ is about the life of a privileged family, living in Italy, at the turn of the century.

The majority of the book was the fairly boring story of ‘G’. I felt very little empathy for his character, and got more disinterested in his life as the book went on.

Very early into the book a few graphic sex scenes are thrown in. I say thrown, as there seems to be no real reason for their presence. They do not add anything to the story line, and seem only to be there to shock the reader. I was not shocked, but this along with the childish drawing of penises make parts of this book feel as though they are written by a teenage boy.

There are a few more sex scenes later on in the book, which at least seem to be part of the story, but again brought the book down to a much lower level. It then deteriorated into inane ramblings by the author, about the quality of sexual experiences.

There were a few interesting historical pieces in the book, but it wasn’t worth having to read the rest of the book, just for these few, short paragraphs.

Overall, the book felt very disjointed. The characters were shallow, and I would only recommend this book to teenage boys in need of a bit of sexual education!

1 ½ stars out of 5.

Jackie's review of 'The Accidental' by Ali Smith

The book started off quite promisingly, with the meandering thoughts of a 12 year old girl. The writing style was very unusual, but I found it amusing, and although some of the thoughts were a bit too profound for a 12 year old, overall I found it quite convincing. The book continued quite well, with the guilty thoughts of her older brother, but then it went downhill with the introduction of Amber, a stranger introduced into the household. I found her character extremely annoying, and ultimately pointless.

The reader is then confronted with several chapters of poetry. This is just weird, unnecessary, and it feels as though the author is just trying to be too clever.

It doesn’t improve. The plot just disappears, the characters become more annoying, and the stream of conscious thought becomes monotonous and dull.

Avoid it if you can.

2 out of 5 stars

Jackie's review of Master Georgie

Master Georgie was short listed for the Booker prize in 1998, and is the first book I have read by Beryl Bainbridge. It is about a group of 3 people who set out from Victorian Liverpool to the Crimean war.

I found the book relatively easy to read, but the plot moved very slowly. The characters did not engage me, and the whole book seemed to lack the depth required for a decent read. The last 20 pages of the book were the only ones with any substance. Unfortunately these are the ones where the characters finally get to the Crimean war, and so are very disturbing. I was torn between wanting the action to have happened earlier, therefore getting a longer period of action; and wanting them never to get to the war, leaving a very boring book, but without the gruesome images I now have in my head.

I’m not looking forward to reading other books by Beryl Bainbridge and I’d avoid this book if you can.

2 out of 5 stars

Jackie's Review of 'The Famished Road'

'The Famished Road' is the moving story of African, the spirit child, who is constantly jumping between the two worlds. The spirit world is described so vividly that I was almost convinced it exists!

I know very little about African mythology, and so was worried that I would become lost in this book. There were probably lots of references that I did not pick up on, but at no point did I feel overwhelmed by the plot. In fact I found it very easy to read. Even though it was nearly 600 pages long, it felt like a much shorter book. That said, it is probably not a book to be dipped into casually over a period of time. I think that you need to devote a few large amounts of time, in a short period, in order to immerse yourself in the world.

The characters were well drawn, and I felt real empathy for their plight by the end. The plot was also very well planned, and the moral of the book became hard to ignore as the book came to a close. I loved the book and recommend it to anyone with a large amount of free time on their hands!

4 out of 5 stars

Headlong by Michael Frayn (Jackie)

Headlong by Michael Frayn was shortlisted for the Booker prize in 1999.

Headlong is the story an art historian who spots a lost painting by Breugal in his neighbour’s house. He sets out to obtain the painting by any means possible, in order to bring himself fame and fortune.

As I know next to nothing about art, I was worried that I would find this book difficult to read, but the technical terms are explained simply and the descriptions of the paintings are so wonderful that I almost felt I knew what they looked like.

The plot is fairly fast paced, and I love the many moral dilemmas concerning the value of love, friendship, trust and wealth. I got slightly bored by the sections on the history of Breugal, but the rest of the book made up for these, and I loved the ending.

As so much of the plots hinges on parts of Breugal’s paintings I feel that it would have been beneficial to have some pictures of the paintings in the book. I ended up looking for them on the internet, and as a result of seeing the pictures I felt I had a much better understanding of what was going on.

It’s a great book, with well researched content and realistic characters. I recommend it, as long as you can put up with the history!

3.5 out of 5 stars

Jackie's review of 'The Gathering'

This book is completely different from anything I have read before. Not much happens, but it is strangely gripping. In the past I have tried to read a couple of books which were not plot driven, and have found myself giving up on them a few chapters in. This book is different. The quality of the writing is amazing - such simple things were made really interesting, and I found myself drawn totally into Veronica’s world. There were parts where I laughed out loud, and parts that were quite disturbing.

I was slightly disappointed by the ending, as many questions were left unanswered. I wouldn't recommend it to everyone, but I am glad I read it.

3.5 out of 5 stars

Review of "The Elected Member" by Bernice Rubens

“The Elected Member” is the story of one man’s battle with drugs, and how his family cope with having a drug addict as part of the family. Norman is a bright, young Jewish boy living in a tight knit family in London’s East end. He has a promising law career ahead of him, but when a tragic event occurs Norman’s life begins to fall apart. His family struggle to deal with the series of events that follow. The story is told from each member of the family’s point of view. It is very moving, and although I have no personal experience of drug abuse it all seems very vivid and realistic. The drug taking is not glorified, as it can be in some books, and although Norman comes across as a deeply troubled man, you feel great sympathy for his situation.

I was totally gripped by this book. My only criticism is that there is no joy to be found anywhere. It leaves you feeling quite deflated and depressed. The writing is very accomplished, and even though you don’t necessarily want to be there, you are transported into the world completely. The descriptions of Norman’s hallucinations were particularly realistic.

Highly recommended – but have a box of tissues handy!!
4 out of 5 (point removed because it was so depressing!)

Oscar and Lucinda - Farm Lane Book's Review

This book started off really well. The characters were well drawn, and I felt an emotional attachment to them from the beginning. The plot flowed smoothly until about Oscar's arrival in Australia, when I found it lost it's pace and grip on me. I think that without the tension between Oscar and Lucinda this part of the book was lacking that magic spark. I ploughed on through these lifeless, boring pages and was grateful when it improved in the last 50 pages - I loved the shocking ending. Overall it was very good, but could do with being a slightly shorter.
Rated: 3.5 out of 5

Farm Lane Books - Introduction

Hi! So far I have only read 5 of the Booker prize winners (Oscar and Lucinda, The Life of Pi, Vernon God Little, The Line of Beauty and The Sea) but I've read quite a few of the short listed books. I decided last month that I was going to make the effort to read more of them, as they seem to be consistently good, and many of them are up there in my favourite books. I stumbled across this site while looking for reviews of Oscar and Lucinda (which I finished reading last week). So I am now going to make the effort to read the entire list as soon as possible!

My favourite authors are David Mitchell and Andrew Miller (Ingenious Pain by Andrew Miller is probably my number 1 book, and I recommend it to everyone!) The best Booker winner I have read to date is The Life of Pi.

I already have several of the list in my "to read pile", but I thought I'd start off with an early one, so the next book I am going to read is Elected Member by Bernice Rubens.

I look forward to comparing notes with you all!

Jackie