The. Carhullan Army - Sarah Hall

 The Carhullan Army won the 2007 John Llewellyn-Rhys Memorial Prize and was shortlisted for the 2008 Arthur C Clarke Award for Best Science Fiction. Described as dystopian which I would agree with more than science fiction, (although utopian and dystopian fiction are seen to be sub genres of science fiction) and compared with Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale which I feel is a tenuous comparison, Atwood preferred the term speculative fiction for her 1985 novel, I think The Carhullan Army fits this genre best of all.

Much dystopian fiction creates a stylised and futuristic landscape which seems far removed, though not impossible, from current regimes but there are those which present as just one step removed from the climate we are navigating currently. These are by far the most chilling because such a reality seems possible. Such is the case with Sarah Hall’s novel. 

What also seems to set Hall apart from other dystopian writers is her penchant for the literary. The prose is sublime. The atmosphere is sustained throughout and the bleak, harsh Cumbrian landscape can be felt and smelt almost, the writing is so tight. You sense that the evocative descriptions of the landscape serve as  metaphor for the regime being lived in.

Unashamedly feminist in its intent the story is offered in the form of a report and statement from an unnamed female prisoner ‘ Detained under Section 4 (b) of the Insurgency Prevention (Unrestricted Powers) Act’ from the English Authority Penal System archive. The sections of the book are described as Files that are partially or wholly recovered. 

The prisoner in question is never known by any name other than Sister. She leaves a dominating regime which includes the most horrifying, compulsory contraception and a crushing marriage to seek out a secluded  assembly of women in a distant farm in Cumbria which she learned of some years previously. She  seems to have put the leader of the group, Jackie Nixon, on an indestructible pedestal.

But her arrival at the encampment could be seen as less than welcoming! In an incredible paradox of her initial incarceration which is harrowing to read, she’s released into a kind of  Arcadia comparatively. It is these paradoxes that also render the novel so compelling;  paradoxes of nature, character, preference. 

There’s also much physical suffering throughout the book frequently described in painful detail. Emotional suffering, too, is never far from the surface. But the story is one of a journey for Sister. As she changes physically - the shaven head, the muscular body - you sense she’s changing cerebrally and emotionally too. Throughout, she never seems to lose her admiration and desire to impress Jackie Nixon. Nixon is a wonderful creation, so focused, so strong, but also so remorseless.

It’s not a feel good read by any means and that’s putting it mildly. And there’s a kind of hopelessness that pervades the latter stages of the book. Because you sense that what the Carhullan Army is up against is impenetrable. And yet the very fact that there are people, women, who are prepared to put up the fight, to say no we’re not putting up with this has a curious kind of hope all of its own. 

What is also impressive is that although published  in 2007 it presents as very current, very immediate,  very fresh. it’s a book that will stay with you long after you finish it. There’s plenty to think about and plenty to admire regarding its concept and execution.

The Old Woman with the Knife - Gu Byeong-Mo translated by Chi-Young-Kim

Don’t you just love it when the main protagonist of the novel you’re reading is a 65 year old, female assassin contemplating retirement? Admittedly, this is the first novel I’ve ever read where the key player has such attributes but, hey, I’m all for senior power!

Strangest of all though, is how you’re rooting for Hornclaw [that’s her name] even though she’s responsible for brutal and savage murders. Thou shalt not kill? But here I am chuckling away at the arthritic antics of this gruesome granny. What is going on?!

Gu Byeong-Mo is what’s going on!  A Korean novelist with a dark and delicious sense of humour. This is the first of her novels to be translated into English and translated very well. I might add. But I’m hoping it won’t be the last.

With an energetic and lively narrative, the story drives itself along with a diverse cast of characters, many of them who work for a ‘vermin control company’ the employees of which go by codenames to evade identity. Others not involved in the nefarious task of eliminating others, allow us a glimpse of life in the city of Seoul. 

Hornclaw is a wonderful character and ably demonstrates what it is to age, and to find the activities you used to do with ease becoming harder and harder. Despite her dubious profession, she’s not without heart but it’s nuanced - I mean who would call their dog Deadweight?! There are some dreadful things that happen in the story but they are described in such a way that they’re not as horrific as they might be. The descriptions of the violence are stylized, not overly graphic. 

But ultimately, it’s a tale of revenge and I’m not going to spoil it by giving any more details but it’s a good plot and a very entertaining read that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

My thanks to Canongate books for a copy and a place in the readalong..

Word Petals - Carla L. Ibanzo

 

Many people perceive poetry as slightly inaccessible due to difficulty in grasping the concept of metre, metaphor, hyperbole, assonance and so on. Not to mention the complexities of the language. And so perhaps they shy away. As a poetry lover even I continue to grapple sometimes with embracing the full intent of someone like Sylvia Plath’s poetry.

But from the very title of this collection “Word Petals“ we have some poetry for the people. It’s direct, relatable and in readily accessible language, embracing ideas of simplicity and complexity alike. The backbone throughout the entire collection is the poet’s deep and defining faith in God.

As in most poetry collections, any reader will have their favourite poems, their favourite lines. I particularly enjoyed Sunlight Sunset, a simple, three stanza poem celebrating the natural progress through the day – morning, evening, and night. I also very much enjoyed Unsung urging us not to be “un“ but to – “BE “!

There are also some empowering epigrams to urge us forward in this game of life.

“…… Pull up your bootstraps

And press on, press on, you’re well on the way.

Keep the goal in sight

Fight for freedom, keep going to the end……“

So, if poetry isn’t usually your bag, give this collection a try and I’m sure you’ll find something to relate to.

My thanks to Library thing and the author for sending me a copy.

Shrines of Gaiety - Kate Atkinson

As I was reading this I experienced a kind of Atkinson fusion of past books, crime and historical fiction but I think the Guardian summed it up perfectly by calling the novel, ‘a witty ensemble tale’.

Habitual readers of Ms. Atkinson will easily identify themes and styles that reoccur from previous stories. It’s a between the wars tale of a seedy Soho nightlife. The writer cites in her Author’s Notes that Kate Meyrick and her daughters were the inspiration for the story of the indomitable Nellie Coker freshly released from prison at the book’s start. A perfect foil to her character is the policeman, Frobisher. Seemingly trapped in a static marriage he devotes his energies to trying to bring down the Coker empire. Nellie and her children run a series of nightclubs facing opposition and desires of takeovers. Another twist in the tale is Gwendoline Telling’s search for two missing girls. Not a native Londoner Gwendoline is feisty and fearless. Concerned by a friend’s news that her young sister is missing in London. Gwendoline decides to travel to London to find Freda and her friend. The two girls have their story to tell too.  With all the skill of the consummate story teller that Kate Atkinson is these characters’ paths cross and weave as the novel unfolds. Although the action and the themes that develop in the book are not always pleasant there is something more light hearted in the execution than say ‘Life After Life’, it’s less serious. The times and locations are palpably depicted, convincing and evocative. It’s an entertaining read and if I have any criticism at all, it’s that the ending seemed to come very suddenly and left me a little wanting.

Study for Obedience - Sarah Bernstein

 Longlisted for the Booker Prize 2023 Study for Obedience is a startling work. It presents almost as a stream of consciousness, more structured  perhaps than say, Kerouac,  there is an underlying precision cementing the narrative, but it is as if you can barely take a breath as you read.

A strangely offkilter tale that reminded me of a modern day parable with no small debt to Kafka. Set in a nameless land, in an almost nameless country but it could be Scotland? No, it could be anywhere. Anywhere you don’t belong. The narrator and all the characters remain nameless. And the narrator seems to remain disconnected from what’s going on no matter how much she strives to be a part of it. There’s an attempt at some backstory. The narrator has become a housekeeper to her brother, whose wife has left him. He seems to have some issues, but we only have the narrator’s word for that. The childhood of the siblings seems troubled or at least that’s what’s hinted at. Some strange events occur that seem to be attributed in some way to the narrator’s presence in the area and gives rise to quite considerable hostility towards her.

Thematically the novella explores xenophobia and disconnection, but also endurance - cerebral and emotional as well as physical with a smattering of guilt. It’s a perturbing tale and made me feel uncomfortable, yet not much really happens! It is not a story of action, but rather benign inaction on some levels. And yet I felt there was a degree of doubt regarding the reliability of our narrator. Everything is told through her eyes.

Much is hinted at implied, encouraging the reader to make up their own mind and draw their own conclusions and inferences. But there’s something quite mesmerizing and beautiful about this prose.  I borrowed this book from my local library.

The Pit - Peter Papathanasiou

 I’ve read all of Peter Papathanasiou’s George Manolis books and I love the fact that  the characters are constant yet the location and stories are so diverse. There’s never any sense of the formulaic about his work. In his latest story, The Pit, DS George Manolis doesn’t make an appearance. When I realised he wasn’t around, I felt a surge of disappointment initially, but once I got into the story and reacquainted myself with Andrew Sparrow, well, I’m sorry to say, I forgot all about George!

The Pit sees a return to the Australian outback palpably described in all its unforgiving, desert ways. It becomes almost another character that is being battled against. The human characters in this story might surprise you. Bob is in the 60s and in a nursing home in Western Australia, but his past story unfolds throughout the course of the novel. He’s joined by Luke who is in his 30s and is wheelchair-bound because of a motorcycle accident. Bob admits to a murder he committed 30 years ago and he offers to tell Sparrow where the body is but Sparrow has to travel north with Bob and pretend to be a carer.

What follows is more than a crime story,  it’s a wonderful road trip story and it wouldn’t be Papathanasiou if there wasn’t some kind of political or social comment. The brutality of life in the mining industry, the gay community in Australia, racism and the treatment of the country’s indigenous people are all issues contained within the story.

It’s a tight plot with Bob’s backstory interspersed within the narrative. We learn a great deal about him more than we do about the other characters. Luke is permanently foulmouthed and angry and causes problems from time to time and his lack of perception and compassion brings about the ultimate twist at the end of the book. And there were times when I found both Bob and Luke irritating. But that kinda made them all the more real because people can be irritating, can’t they?! Andrew is challenged in his role as a police officer and his desire to prove himself in that role that causes him, perhaps, to take actions that may or may not be altogether legal. Situations and characters that we meet along the way are vibrant, and there is an element of humour at times, although overall the story is no laughing matter.

It’s a compelling story that you can’t necessarily second-guess, or I couldn’t anyway. I never had any sense of the predictable which made it such an enjoyable read. And I will continue to read the work of this exciting Australian writer.

My thanks to Corinna Zifko at MacLehose Press for a gifted copy of the book.

The Naming of Moths - Tracy Fells

 I often feel that the short story is an underrated genre. But for me it’s a very satisfying one. The comparative brevity of a story gives you an assurance that you will finish it sooner rather than later whereas with a novel you know that you’ve several hours, at the very least, before you reach a conclusion. I also enjoy the fact that even the most complex of ideas can be concentrated into a story that can sometimes offer a more intense experience than if it was spread out over an entire novel.

Which brings me to this intriguing collection of short stories by Tracy Fells. There’s an almost ethereal quality running through these tales which seem to be part myth, part fairytale, part magic but I guess a unifying theme is that of transformation in the broadest of senses. Some stories had  a contemporary setting and others were set in an alternative reality like  a fairytale and I chuckled at one of the stories called Gretel and the Chocolate Wolf. 

There is a darkness riddling through the stories with subtle implications that give the reader plenty to think about. But there’s also beauty and a degree of humour. I think this author is a practised observer of human behaviour, interaction and reaction.

As with all story collections, there are favourites, I particularly enjoyed the opening story, Ten Good Reasons, which gives a whole new dimension to the ubiquitous bucket list! Another favourite was Ancient Wing a transformation tale with an exquisite conclusion. Coping Mechanism was like one of those psychological thrillers all condensed into one compact tale! 

I enjoyed the writing style, very much in the tradition of story telling with flowing narratives that lead the reader willingly to the stories’ conclusions. There was an otherworldly feel to many of the stories, no matter if the setting was contemporary there was often a sense of being off kilter. 

As a collection I found the stories immersive and captivating. Threads ran though the stories and some even had the same characters which gave a cohesive feel to the book as a whole. And that doesn’t always happen in a short story collection.

My thanks to Isabelle Kenyon at Fly on the Wall Press for a gifted copy.

The Swallowed Man - Edward Carey

 This book has been on my TBR shelf for months. It was one of those books that I felt I needed the time to be right before I read it. That time is now! I can identify with the sensation of being swallowed up by the madness in the world today.

The Swallowed Man is ostensibly a retelling of the Carlo Collodi fairytale, Pinocchio. Dear to my heart, as it was one of the earliest childhood books I read which was followed by a trip to the cinema to see the Disney interpretation of the book. Pinocchio has remained one of my favourite characters. I remember shaking hands with him at Disneyland, Paris was a great thrill! 🤣

Specifically this fiction looks at the time when Geppetto was swallowed by a sea creature, it seems to be a shark here rather than the Disney whale. Incarcerated within the belly of this creature, Geppetto, as he utilizes whatever he can find from the ship Maria that he finds swallowed up as well, reflects on his life and his losses, his “son“ Pinocchio , his lovers and his desire to recount his life, “I’m writing this account in another man’s book……” 

The author has somehow captured the essence of Collodi’s original tale yet imbued it with his own unique style and nuances. It’s enthralling prose and together with the contemplative and deep musings on what it is to be a father, how the creative spirit drives throughout the most dire of circumstances and what effect protracted isolation can have on the mind and spirit the novel impresses as a work of substance in quality rather than quantity since it weighs in at under 200 pages. 

Whilst it may seem as if it is a dark and unrelenting tale, there is something quite moving and beautiful about the story. I found it almost mesmerizing and it’s one of those books where I feel a strong desire to simply return to the beginning and read it all over again because I sense something profound within its pages. 

The Secret Diaries of Charles Ignatius Sancho - Paterson Joseph

 

I get a curious kind of knee-jerk reaction when I come across a work of fiction by someone who possesses a degree of celebrity status through another discipline. And that reaction is a disbelief that the work could be any good because the author is a - comedian, actor, musician, sportsperson etc. It’s irrational, I realize. And it does hint of negativity. But when I read the story I am sometimes disproportionately pleased to find out how good it is!! 

However, there was no disproportionate pleasure from reading The Secret Diary of Charles Ignatius Sancho, by the actor Patterson Joseph. Long listed for the Walter Scott Historical Fiction Prize, and for the Historical Writers Association Award for best debut novel it was a delight to read.

Ambitious perhaps in intent with a meandering narrative, that uses Sancho’s dialogue with his son, his prolific diary and the exchange of correspondence between Sancho and his future wife to tell the tale. Charles Ignatius Sancho was born on a slave ship in the 18th century, and brought to Britain which is where Joseph’s fiction really begins. The 46 year old Sancho addresses his son and offer to tell the story his life through his abundant journals.

And what a life that is! Doubtless this book plays an important part in Black history. And since October is Black History Month it feels very fitting that I should read and review this book now.

I think the story also has a lot to say about freedom, about persistence and determination and it  is a tale of compassion too.

Sancho leaps off the page at you much as Mr. Joseph does when he is acting! And the reader is rooting for him right from the start. The life of the black man in Georgian England was fraught with peril. A one-way ticket on a slave ship seemed to be lurking around every corner in the shape of one of the book’s villains, Jonathan Sill. You wouldn’t want to meet him in broad daylight, let alone on a dark night. But part of what makes Sancho so endearing is his agility in evading capture, resolving his many dilemmas and overcoming obstacles that must have seemed insurmountable at times. It’s uplifting; although as a reader, you do go through the mill with Sancho to emerge at the other end, not unscathed exactly for there are some challenging and heartbreaking moments.

This is as accomplished a debut as you are likely to find. The writing is substantial, vibrant yet very authentic to the historical period it recreates. In turn, the historical detail is extensive and the research is impressive.

But also what Paterson Joseph has achieved is a balance between the harsh aspects of Sancho‘s life and the uplifting moments as he rub shoulders with luminaries, such as David Garrick, Gainsborough, Dr. Johnson, even King George to name a few.

It’s a thoroughly entertaining story that will educate subliminally and prompt the reader to think and question some of the values in our society.

My fingers are crossed for the HWA Prize. I won my copy in a giveaway run by the Walter Scott Historical Fiction Prize.