Books do furnish a room

Trout Fishing in America by Richard Brautigan. Short and completely off the wall; published in 1967 and immediately a success with the counterculture. The favourite book of a number of ageing hippies I have known! It has been compared to Kerouac and Burroughs, but I think that is mistaken; it is a different type of approach to the world. The chapters are short and informal. Trout Fishing in America appears as a person/persons throughout and has spawned at last one modern band and several sets of parenst naming their unfortunate offspring Trout Fishing in America. Regarded as a 60s classic, it was actually written in 1961 and I think it has more of a 50s feel to it. Brautigan wrote much of it on a camping holiday with his wife and daughter. That for me is the key, some of the flights of imagination (going to the garden centre to pick up trout streams by the foot with waterfalls, flowers, insects as extras) and the odd names feel like something that a parent might make up for a child; almost a bed time story. Some of the more adult parts seem like later add ons and parts are certainly Brautigan's reflections on life in his America. On the whole it is entertaining and odd, but I think it is as much a story for a child as anything else. 7 and a half out of 10 Starting The Master by Colm Toibin

Frankie; the boring bit was at the circus, not in my teens!! Pleasant memories though. Higher Ground by Caryl Phillips This is a powerful and heart-rending book about racism and being an outsider. I'm baffled that it appears to be so little known because it is a truly great book. There are three parts. The first takes place at the height of the slave trade and is set in a fort in Africa. A black man (unnamed throughout) is providing involuntary assistance to the soldiers at the fort. He translates, provides information and generally does as ordered. The story outlines his relationship with the authority figures at the fort, the reluctant white soldiery who are homesick and the local village who regard him as a traitor. Various events relating to day to day life and an incident with a young girl serve to iilustrate the psyche of those involved and how they feel about each other. The second story is set in 1967/1968 at the time of Vietnam, civil rights and black power. The protagonist, Rudi, a follower of Malcolm X is in jail and is writing to various members of his family. This is about idealism, the desire for an African homeland and a gradual grinding down of hope; the onset of despair. The letters, all one way are alternately comic, poignant and challenging. The third story is set in Britain in the 40s and 50s and concerns a polish refugee who ends up alone in Britain after the war. She encounters ignorance and some unfriendliness and feels very alone and alien. Shafts of light are received from some people, but these are brief. Higher Ground is beautifully written, a powerful indictment of racism and man's inhumanity to man. Highly recommended. 9 out of 10 Starting The Palace of the Peacock by Wilson Harris

The illumination by Kevin Brockmeier This was an odd one and I have mixed feelings, I found it difficult to score. The idea is a good one; one day, very suddenly everyones pain is illuminated; shines in the form of light. Cuts and bruises, cancer, arthritis etc all shine from peoples bodies. The story revolves around a journal put together by a wife whose husband left her a note on the fridge every day. These notes started "I love the way you...." The notes have been pasted in a journal. This journal travels between six people, each of whom have a different relationship with pain and with the journal. Brilliant idea with lots of possibilities, but I feel that idea loses its way in the book. the stories are tremendously sad and some might say the book is over sentimental. The characters are all very isolated and interrelationships are not very well explored in the second half of the book. Much more could have ben done with the idea and the book begins brilliantly; the second story concerning self harm is very thought provoking; I also liked the construction of the story about the missionary struggling with faith. But having thought about what I felt was missing; it's hope, there isn't a great deal and the ending is rather bleak. One plus point; I got the hardback edition and as I was reading this in bed; when the light was off I noticed the white dots on the cover glowed in the dark!! 6 and a half out of 10. Starting The Tin-Kin by Eleanor Thom

Thanks for the comments Frankie. I was in my early teens (possibly14), during a boring bit! Sadly it didn't last; she lives in New Zealand now; hopefully these two facts aren't linked!! Finished Phineas Redux by Anthony Trollope The fourth of the six Palliser novels revisits Phineas Finn and looks at the political stage in Victorian England. It is wide ranging and Trollope is at his best. He had recently stood for Parliament (unsuccessfully) and his disenchantment with politics shines through. The is a level of cynicism here not present in the first outing of Phineas Finn. Trollope dwells on the intricacies of elections and the party system and the towering political figure, Daubeney is clearly based on Disraeli. Our hero goes through the mill a bit, with a trial for murder, the death of his wife at the very beginning and two women in love with him. There are some wonderful hunting types and well crafted sub plots to divert and entertain. Trollope ties up the loose ends neatly, well almost. As one reviewer points out one character dissents form the general happiness (like Festse and Malvolio in Twelfth Night). Trollope at his best; if you like him you'll love this. 8 and a half out of 10 Starting The Prime Minister; Palliser number 5

Dissolution by C J Sansom Reasonably good crime thriller set in Tudor England at the time of the dissolution of the monasteries (1537). Matthew Shardlake is one of Thomas Cromwell's commissioners who is charged with investigating the death of another commissioner at Scarnsea, a Benedictine Monastery on the south coast. Shardlake is a hunchback and physically weak; another addition to the detectives with imperfections genre. It is pretty well written, a bit flowery at times, but an easy read and not too demanding. I found it interesting to contrast the character of Cromwell as he is portrayed here with the account in Wolf Hall, but few other historical characters popped up. There are good descriptions of daily life, smells and all. There is an good can you spot the killer out of the line up build up, and before our detective does; a vital element in all decent detective stories. The story has mad monks, torture, lust, avarice, plenty of religiuos zeal (both Catholic and Protestant), blasphemy, murder and a good deal of English weather. This was one of my bed time reads; I enjoyed it and it was not too taxing; if you like detective stories this may be for you; reminded me a little of Cadfael 7 out of 10 Starting Trout Fishing in America by Richard Brautigan

Finished The Drop Edge of Yonder by Rudolph Wurlitzer. This is a western, but High Noon or John Wayne it is not. It is much more in the mould of Clint Eastwood's more mystical offerings and it did not surprise me to read that Wurlitzer had started it in the 70s and intended it to be a film; it almost reads like a film script with lots of short scenarios or action sequences. One reviewer has described it as "Sam Beckett with a six-gun and a sack of rattlesnakes". Not sure I would go that far, but it is mystical and it times almost poetic with some good descriptive passages. It is the story of Zebulon Shook set at the time of the California gold rush; he is a mountain man with some rather complex family relationships and there is a bit of searching for dad in this. He is also an outlaw, lover, killer and saviour at various times. There is plenty of violence, card sharpery, sex. mystic religious mumbe-jumbo and general chicanery enough for about three books. There are also comic moments which really should not be funny, but are. Another reviewer has described it as a combination of William Burroughs and Mel Brooks and this is closer to the truth. The bad guys are suitably bad, but the good guys are a lot worse. This is not a calm and sedate read, if you like thrills, spills and excitement this may be for you. On the whole I really enjoyed it, or part of me did; the bit the enjoys the old shoot em up westerns with added spice when the mood takes me. 7 and a half out of 10 Starting Higher Ground by Caryl Phillips

First book of 2012; finished today. Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen I think everyone knows this one now following the film. It is a love story set in a circus. The plot uses the now common device of the protagonist in great old age looking back at his youth (from a care home), so the narrative jumps between past and present. Set in 1930s America there is murder, love, obsession, lots of animals, friendship, devotion and madness. Not a bad story, a bit formulaic, but designed to leave the reader with a warm feeling. I tend to read this sort of book late at night to send me to sleep and it did the job. Normally this would have been five or six ot of ten, but my first kiss was at the circus (many years ago now) and so nostalgia bumped up the rating! I think I'm getting sentimental in my old age. 7 out of 10 Starting The Illumination by Kevin Brockmeier

Bloomsday; the Bostoniad by David Lentz This novel was a delight and I didn't want it to end. It is of course a modern rendering of Homer's Odyssey and Joyce's Ulysses and is set on June 14 1974 in Boston. The characters are descended from the original characters in Ulysses; the central actors are Rudy Bloom and Thomas Dedalus. The links with Joyce's book are striking, but so are the differences. The story flows through a day when Bloom and Dedalus both lose their jobs and Dedalus finds himself being offered Bloom's old job. They meet at a wake and there follows much eating, drinking, philosophising and wandering through the streets and bars of Boston. Of course there is much more to it than that, but you should read it. Ulysses is a masterpiece, but I enjoyed reading this book much more than Ulysses. I realised that fairly early in the book, but it took me a while to work out why. I grew to like the characters, to care about them and it was their plain humanity that I loved. I would happily go out for a drink with either or both of them! There are some thought provoking reflections on the meaning of life, love and religion, especially as it is intimated that Bloom may be terminally ill and is thinking about his end. Mr Lentz has produced a book that works on many different levels; a literary masterpiece with enough references to the the two classics it springs from; certainly. A profound reflection on life and love, especially pertinent as one reaches a certain age; definitely. But there is much more; laugh out loud comic moments, moments of touching tenderness and the language is a delight. You must read it! 9 out of 10 Starting The Drop Edge of Yonder by Rudolph Wurlitzer

I loved the passion in both novels. I read Jane Eyre in my early teens and just enjoyed the story. I read Wuthering Heights later and the Gothic element appealed; I read it Just before Kate Bush did Wuthering Heights. That helped!!

There's at least two!!

A pleasure Frankie; love that hat! Duma Key by Stephen King Too long and completely bonkers. I will admit that King is a good tale teller and the book reads easily, but this is a novella turned into 700 pages!! A mixture of rehashed folklore and Greek myth with a strong dose of Pirates of the Caribbean. Some of it is laugh out loud funny, but not purposely. Edgar Freemantle has an accident, loses an arm and acquires a brain injury. His marraige falls apart and being wealthy moves alone to a Florida Key to paint. Something has awoken and drawn him there; his paintings develop real power. Some of the other characters feel like they have been borrowed from Fitzgerald. King also provides his own spoilers and on at least two occasions he gives away vital plot lines; losing the impact of what is supposed to be a thriller/horror. King has also designed a new way of managing the judicial system; forget the electric chair, death by painting is so much easier! It's all a bit mad and doesn't have the edge of his early stuff. 4 out of 10 Starting Dissolution ny C J Sansom

The Standing Pool by Adam Thorpe I had some problems deciding how I felt about this one, possibly because the author didn't really make his mind up what it was. It is the story of a family (the Mallinsons) who decide to take a six month sabbatical in France. Nick is a 50 something university lecturer with a wife (Sarah) 20 years younger (an ex-pupil) and three young girls. They are liberal, tolerant and care about the environment). They rent a remote cottage from the Sandlers who are not liberal or tolerant and very un-pc. The house is sort of looked after by Jean-Luc a single thirty something who lives with his mother in the nearby village and talks to his dead uncle Fernand. Add to the above a dirty swimming pool, a mud patch which Jean Luc is supposed to be turning into a lawn, a pack of wild boars, uncommunicative locals, a bunch of hunters and Nick's son from his first marraige (a stroppy teenager of 24) and the mix is rather rich. Actually most of the time nothing happens; there is a beautifully built sense of unease, even menace and the reader becomes aware of lots of possible looming disasters. What also develops is an interesting study of family life and the internal workings of a relationship; along with an examination of the outsider in society. The tentacles of the war still spread throughout the village and its consequences affect the characters in different ways. In the end Thorpe cannot decide whether this is approaching menace or real horror and there are two endings (sort of). I just wish he had decided one way or the other. 7 out of 10 Starting Water for Elephants by Sarah Gruen

Finished Maybe This Time by Alois Hotschnig Nine excellent and rather unsettling short stories. Difficult to pin down; there are strong shades of Kafka here. The narrators are all men and very few people in the stories are named. The stories are about identity and its loss. They appear mundane and everyday, but there are very many layers of meaning. In "Then a Door Opens and Swings Shut" a man is visiting an old schoolfriend when a woman motions him into her house. Inside the house there are hundreds of dolls in different shades of repair and neatness. The woman brings down a doll that looks exactly like him and has his name and says she has been waiting for him ... Not a horror story, but very creepy. In "The Beginning of Something" a man looks out of the window and realises he is in an unfamiliar country, looking in the mirror he does not recognize the person he sees there. He then wakes up relieved, but discovers the dream has come true. This one was scary, more for what was not said. The last story, "You Don't Know Them, They're Strangers", is the most unsettling. A man returns home after an evening with the neighbours and notes the name on his door is different; his flat is familiar, but different. He goes to his office, it is in an area he has never visited before with people he does not know. They know him and he knows the job, returning home the name on the door has changed again, but the flat is still his; the pace of change quickens. This collection is well worth reading. I must admit I had not heard of Alois Hotschnig before picking up this book. He has won literary awards in his native Austria and international honours like the Italo-Svevo award. I will look for more! 9 out of 10 Starting another collection of short stories "The Start of the End of it All" by Carol Emshwiller

It is worth reading Ooshie. Just finished Interpreter of Maladies by Jhumpa lahiri A mixed buch of stories; some better than others. They centre on Indians in exile, usually in the US and issues relating to homesickness, alienation, getting used to a new culture, misunderstaning and the strange intricacies of relationships. Some of the stories are very good, others much less memorable. I liked the first and last stories especially; about married couples negotiating the rapids of married life with varying success. I struggled to be held by some of the stories, hence the score. On the whole though an enjoyable read; not sure how it won the Pulitzer Prize though. 6 and a half out of 10 Starting Maybe This Time by Alois Hotschnig

As I lay Dying I suspect you either love Faulkner or hate him. The novel is described as stream of consciousness, but I am not so sure; it read very easily. The story revolves around the death of Addie Bundren and is written in multiple narrator form (including the deceased). As she is dying, one son is making the coffin outside the bedroom window (no doubt a great comfort). Addie has made her husband promise to have her buried in a local town and the book revolves around the journey. As Addie dies there are also floods making the journey more difficult. Pretty much everything that can go wrong does go wrong and the whole journey is a catalogue of disasters. Tragedy and comedy mix well here and this a wonderful book. The multiple narrators do add a great deal to the story as the reader approaches it from various angles. Happy families this is not and the story is a simple one. However I loved it and read over half of it in one sitting. Nine out of ten Starting Bloomsday by David Lentz

Bright Young People by D J Taylor An interesting book about the 1920s bright young things. Full of upper class aesthetes and their hangers on, it charts the parties, frivolities, attempts at doing a proper job, attempts at literature, hedonism, excess and general silliness of this group. You sense the lack of direction, too young for the war and therefore lacking a certain cachet. Some names stand out, as they went on to greater things; Evelyn Waugh, John Betjeman, Cecil Beaton, Nancy Mitford to name a few. Others had less spectacular careers. Yet more were casualties, Elizabeth Ponsonby and Brenda Dean Paul. The book doesn't always flow and tends to concentrate on a small number of the group. Brian Howard, Evelyn Waugh and Elizabeth Ponsonby are prominent. There are lives cut short by the next war and quite a few lives wasted. There is an intersting analysis of the direction taken politically in the 1930s. Some like Diana Guiness (nee Mitford and soon to be Mosley) became fascists others like Tom Driberg and Brian Howard moved to the left. If, like me, you are fascinated by this period of history and the "Bright Young Things" then this book is a good starting point. 7 and a half out of 10 Following this theme; Starting Brian Howard: Portrait of a Failure by Marie-Jacqueline Lancaster

The Rock Pool by Cyril Connolly An interesting novel with some rather unlikeable characters. It is set in the south of France in the 1930s in the fictional Trou-sur-mer (based on Cagnes). Living there are a bunch of disparate and rather bohemian characters of varying nationalities. They are all fairly dissolute and for the time was considered shocking. It was initially published in France because no publisher in England would touch it. It was not published in Britain until 1947. The descriptions of lesbians and homosexuals as functioning members of society and living openly with human strengths and weaknesses were unacceptable to the English publishers who looked at it in the 1930s. The Narrator, Naylor was a particular type of Englishman, public school and Oxbridge, a little money, no real occupation and no real purpose. He is also rather unpleasant. He sees Trou-sur-mere as a rock pool whose inhabitants he can study. Inevitably he becomes part of the "pool" and the story charts his decline. Connolly took his characters from real life and in the early 1930s he and his wife had lived and travelled in the south of France. The origin for the Naylor character was apparently killed in the war flying for the RAF. Racasse, the artist, survived and Connolly had a picture of Connolly and his wife painted by the artist the character is based on. The Rock Pool is basically an attack on the English social system and charts the downfall of some of the "bright young things" of the late 20s. Naylor is a passive character and Peter Quennell has likened him to Frederic in Flaubert's Sentimental Education. There are some marvellous comic moments and the middle class Englishman is shown up for what he is. There is also the sense of of something coming to an end, no more innocence. A brief book, an easy read, but don't expect to like the characters. 7 out of 10 starting As I Lay Dying by William Faulkner

Best new novelist I've read this year is Sunjeev Sahota. The novel is called Ours are the Streets and is about home grown terrorism. It's set in Sheffield.

Under the Frangipani by Mia Couto A good dose of magic realism African style, set in post colonial Mozambique. A police inspector is sent to investigate a murder at a remote fort used as a hospital/refuge. Whilst he is there he is also inhabited by the shade/ghost of a worker buried under the frangipani tree in the fort (unknown to him). The residents of the fort are a group of older people waiting for death, their nurse, an elderly witch and the wife of the deceased (who ran the fort). They all readily confess to the crime. There is magic, talking animals, the dead are all around and the whole story is rather surreal and chronology is pleasingly loose. It is a pleasing mix of thriller and parable which explores the spirit world and old beliefs and traditions. There is a message to the old colonial masters in the frontnote; "You will never rule this land". Short, sharp and remarkable. 8 out of 10 Starting The Rock Pool by Cyril Connolly

If you haven't read any of Susan Hill's ghost stories I would recommend them. Also viago have a couple of excellent collections of ghost stories written by women.

The Imposter by Damon Galgut A well written novel about modern South Africa. Adam Napier loses his job and home. He moves to a run down house in the country owned by his brother to clean it up and write poetry. He runs across someone he was at school with. Adam doesn't remember him but Canning remembers Adam with great affection. Canning has inherited his father's estate and Adam spends weekends there with Canning and his wife. Canning intends to turn it into a golf course. At times this is rather bleak and has a touch of the noir about it; none of the characters are particularly likeable and it is difficult to care about what happens to them. It's a good story about the oddities of memory, how the past can haunt the present, disillusionment (the old regime has gone but some of the old problems remain) friendship and betrayal. Add a spot of organised crime and gardening and it makes for a pretty good mix. I thought the last chapter was unnecessary but others may disagree. The title does sum up the novel; people are not always what or who they seem. 7 and a half out of 10 Starting 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami

I read Dark Matter earlier this year, here is what I thought: Atmospheric ghost story about a fictional expedition to the arctic in 1937. The main part of the book is the journal of one of the men on the expedition. Five men plan to go to the arctic to monitor weather, wildlife, geology. Two are forced to drop out before they arrive and the other two have to leave temporarily following an accident. Jack is left with the huskies as the winter draws in and permanent night sets in. In the darkness he realises he is not alone. Has some similarities to M R James. The landscape is at the centre and is well described and there is a good build up of tension. It is not a substantial book and the very beginning does not work well for me. However, that said I enjoyed it and read it in three sittings. A good account of our fear of isolation and the dark combined cleverly together. Any fans of a good ghost story will enjoy this. Not a classic, but not bad.