The Favourite - S.V. Berlin

Who’d be a writer, eh? You pour your heart and soul, every fibre of your being into a book. Writing one is achievement enough, but getting it published must be a supreme accomplishment. Then some smart ass reviewer comes along  with something akin to a metaphoric teacher’s red pen and almost tells that you could do better. Well, S.V. Berlin, you couldn’t have done any better! But……. you could have done less.

This debut novel is intriguing in that there is little in the way of action. It is an observational novel with perceptions and insights into relationships. Precipitated by the death of their mother, siblings Edward and Isobel are forced together after a lengthy estrangement. Forming an uncomfortable threesome is Edward’s partner, Julie. What follows is the thoughts, feelings and responses of these three individuals to the experience of Mary’s death and their own relationships with each other and their families. Several situations are seen from each of their individual viewpoints and interpretations. 

Much of the writing is stylish and mature, eloquent and flowing. And there are few who read this who will not identify with some of the human dynamics in the story. There is a sensitive understanding of what grief and bereavement does to you. And there is also an understanding of what people do to one another when they are unable to communicate effectively.

The problem I had with this book is that it is over long. I believe I coined the phrase ‘debut novel exuberance syndrome’ a while ago and it seems very apt here. Each character does a great deal of soul searching in this book and it seemed that every thought was expressed in minute detail. In my opinion that wasn’t always necessary as the points had been well made and sometimes you have to credit your reader with an ability to understand what you are trying to express. 

I found the latter stages of the book less verbose and I found myself reading eagerly to see how situations progressed. The ending was enigmatic. The reader is left wondering what might happen. That kind of conclusion can appeal to many readers who enjoy allowing a book to stay with them long after they finish reading. Others prefer everything neatly tied up. Well you won’t get that here but I’d say don’t be put off. And don’t be put off by my comments about the book’s length. I’m just a smart ass reviewer, remember. This is an intelligent piece of work and this writer deserves a lot of credit.

The Monster's Daughter - Michelle Pretorious

There’s much to commend this book but there is a little of the curate’s egg about it. Undeniably it is well written with an understanding of language. Quality writing with evocative. descriptive passages. The characterisations are perceptive and engaging. But the plot and sub plots present as confused to a certain degree. I’m all for genre fusion but some of the fusion was lacking for me.

I freely admit that I do not understand politics. It leaves me cold, national and international. Along with religion it seems to be responsible for the majority of ills in the world. And there was a great deal of South African politics in this story. But it wasn’t a wholly political novel.

This fiction has tentacles in both the past and the present. But some of the past narrative seems to be more entrenched  in a futuristic, sci fi dystopia than Boer war atrocities. It is not a wholly dystopian, sci fi or war novel.

Alet Berg is a substantial characters; a resourceful and likeable policewoman with a history and a crime to solve against all the odds. I probably enjoyed this aspect of the book the most. It was an intriguing crime but this is not wholly a crime thriller.

All the strands do interweave and link up and when you reach the conclusion of the book the ends are more or less tied up. This is an ambitious piece of work. There is nothing wrong with ambition but I feel here that too much material has diluted the impact of each strand. It is as if the writer has thrown everything they ever wanted to write about in this one book. The reader is given plenty to think about and plenty to try and figure out.

Nevertheless I found it a worthwhile read and the quality of writing suggests that Ms. Pretorious is a name to keep an eye on.

The Last Hours - Minette Walters

Spooky; last month for some reason unbeknown to myself I decided to reread The Chameleon’s Shadow. A peculiar decision given my TBR shelves. Maybe it was some weird, karmic, sixth sense thing because at that time I was totally ignorant of the imminent publication of The Last Hours.

Way back in the nineties and the noughties my Mum and I had this unspoken kind of competition as to who could get a hold of a copy of the new Minette Walters first. Who ever did read it then lent it to the other. Oh, would that she were here still, for me to gloatingly pass on this copy of Ms. Walters first full length novel for a decade. 

The worst, most cruel thing about this book was to get to the end and find that the next volume will not be available until October 2018. 2018!? I might be dead by then! From that you will gather that I enjoyed this novel. Yes. I did.

I began it with trepidation. The queen of the psychological thriller had changed genres! Mad or unswervingly courageous? And she has switched to historical fiction. Could two genres be more diametrically opposed? No, I don’t think so. I think history throws up a wealth of criminals and psychos! And I enjoy historical fiction very much so I was excited.

And I really didn’t want to put this down. It’s a lengthy tome and at times I thought it was overlong. But that was my only reservation. There were a couple of lapses into a more contemporary vernacular but that’s me nit picking. It’s gripping, so well written and researched that you are drawn into the medieval era from the first few lines. The sights and sounds are palpable. So, too, is the fear of contracting the plague. The mark of a good historical fiction writer is where you leave behind this modern, digital world and become completely enveloped in a different lifestyle. You almost start thinking medievally!

But despite switching genres the essence of Minette Walter’s writing endures. The style is recognisable as are the characterisations. A wealth of diverse characters that are quite simply believable. Thaddeus Thurkell is the new Jon Snow! And you find yourself seeking the wisdom of Lady Anne as you read.  People with secrets, people with jealousies, people seeking vengeance. All against the backdrop of the Black Death in Dorset and how one demesne protects themselves against this scourge with one aim - to survive. But the survival of all is broader than merely staying healthy in body. Surviving life itself is the ultimate aim.

It’s an epic novel and in no way is it concluded here. It ends at a reasonably comfortable place but, oh, there’s so much more I want to know!  Is there such a thing as an advance, advance reading copy? If so, may I have one. NOW!

An Honourable Man - Paul Vidich

I had no great expectations of this book. In truth I acquired it from a book swapping website. I had heard the author and title on a book review site I follow and I think that’s why I chose it to swap. I was pleasantly surprised when I read it. I found it concise, slow but nevertheless gripping. I thought it was very visual and can see it translating well to maybe the small screen rather than the the big. I was reminded both of John Le Carre and Len Deighton as i read. I don’t know whether that is a criticism or not! I suspect that those two writers did rather set the benchmark for spy material.

A US, Cold War spy fiction sounds almost clichéd but as Karen Joy Fowler says if we didn’t have cliches there would be no need for the word at all! Maybe this is more old fashioned than clichéd. Or maybe the writer very skilfully recreated that sinister atmosphere of constantly looking over your shoulder during that era in America.  That subtle unease of everyday normality exploding into anything but. The constant mistrust of everyone including our, somewhat detached protagonist, George Mueller.

It is somewhat formulaic and characters seemed to be functional and lacked depth but that seemed to work within the intentions of this novel. It’s the Cold War, these are spies, maybe depth of a character is a luxury that cannot be afforded when you’re suspicious of everyone. 

My understanding is there is an imminent further publication featuring Mueller again. I won’t rush to read it but I won’t pass the opportunity by should the book pass my way.