A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry

Robin’s choices

Theme: Ireland

READ: A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry 

On Thursday 10th October 2024 @ 7:45 pm we met at our old stamping ground, the Poets, to discuss Robin's Ireland themed choices

A Long Long Way by Sebastian Barry is a heartbreaking and depressing novel about the futility of war. In this instance made doubly futile as young Willie Dunne, who is Irish, is fighting for the British in WW1 as Ireland fights for its own independence. 

It's a powerful read, full of memorable scenes, and yet many of us remained somewhat detached throughout and were never wholly convinced by it.

Roland, our resident maverick, was far more fulsome in his praise and lauded an intensely poignant and beautifully written novel that delves into the complexities of identity, loyalty, and the human cost of war.

That said, we all found plenty to enjoy in our second foray into Sebastian Barry’s work.

Nick 6.5 / Tristan 7.5 / Nigel 6 / Keith 7 / Roland 9 / Robin 8 / Hamish 6.5

LISTEN: Robin’s Irish Rebellion playlist

Playlists are bullshit as HBG know more than most however most of us found something to enjoy, indeed some found plenty to enjoy.

Roland, our resident maverick, was deeply unimpressed and lambasted the “plinky plinky music” of the Emerald Isle. Oooof. Take that Eire.

Nick - / Tristan - / Nigel 7 / Keith - / Roland - / Robin 10 / Hamish -

WATCH: The Wind That Shakes The Barley dir by Ken Loach 

Roland was unsatisfied. The rest of us were more favourably disposed towards this powerful film that was a surprise hit in Ireland. A surprise given Ken Loach’s status as a niche director.

Bleak and uncompromising it may be, however it also features gorgeous cinematography, is tightly paced, and includes a fine performance from Cillian Murphy.

Nick - / Tristan 7 / Nigel 8 / Keith - / Roland 5 / Robin 7 / Hamish -

HBG endorse it: 26th July 2024 - 5 September 2024

Lee (Film)

Marc Almond live

The Outrun (Film)

LPO @ The Dome live

Boat Story (BBC iPlayer)

Northern Soul (BBC iPlayer)

Nilufer Yanya (Musical artist)

A Very Royal Scandal (Prime)

Bowie in Berlin (BBC Sounds)

The Zelensky Story (BBC iPlayer)

The French Connection (BBC iPlayer)

The Buddha of Suburbia (1990) by Hanif Kureishi

 Nigel’s choices

Theme: England in the Seventies

READ: The Buddha of Suburbia (1990) by Hanif Kureishi 

On Thursday 5th September 2024 @ 7:45 pm we met at the Stirling Arms to discuss Nigel’s England In The Seventies themed choices

In July,  whilst discussing Time Shelter (2020) by Georgi Gospodino, Nigel mentioned he would go back to live in the 1970s and so it was HBG was invited to retreat back into the uncomplicated world of the 1970s

We all enjoyed The Buddha of Suburbia, indeed most of us absolutely loved it. Roland shocked the group by exclaiming that he “hasn’t enjoyed an HBG book in a long time” but enjoyed this one immensely.

The only slight note of dissension was from Hamish who was less convinced by the portrait of a mixed race teenager as he would have experienced even more racism than was depicted.

Through the protagonist, Karim Amir, Hanif Kureishi delves into the complexities of identity, race, and class in 1970s Britain. Karim's voice is candid and full of life, capturing the confusion and excitement of being a teenager trying to navigate two worlds: the traditional South Asian culture of his family and the freer, more chaotic British society.

We were hooked by the humour and sharp observations. Karim’s narration is engaging, his wit blending with an undercurrent of frustration. He’s a mixed-race kid in the suburbs, neither fully accepted by the white English nor fully comfortable in the Indian identity his father embraces. The way Kureishi handles this duality resonated deeply with us. We laughed at the absurdity of Karim's situations, but there were also times when we felt the weight of his alienation.

The novel doesn't shy away from depicting the messiness of life. Karim’s journey is full of contradictions—his desire for both acceptance and rebellion, his yearning for adventure, and his uncertainty about who he really is. Through his relationships, whether with his father Haroon (the self-proclaimed "Buddha of Suburbia") or his friends and lovers, Karim's world is laid bare. The shifting dynamics and the often awkward, sometimes painful interactions paint a vivid picture of the cultural and personal upheavals of the time.

Kureishi uses Karim's story to explore broader themes of displacement and belonging. The novel's backdrop, the post-colonial Britain of the 70s, with its simmering racial tensions and social changes, adds depth to Karim's internal struggles.

Kureishi's writing is sharp and unflinching. His ability to blend humour with poignant social commentary is one of the novel's greatest strengths. There’s an energy to his prose that kept us turning the pages, even during the slower parts of the narrative.

Kureishi’s exploration of identity, race, and social change through Karim's eyes is both entertaining and insightful. For anyone interested in a nuanced portrayal of 1970s Britain, infused with humour and heart, this book is a must-read.

Nick 9.75 / Tristan 9 / Nigel 9 / Keith 9 / Roland 10 / Robin 8 / Hamish 7

LISTEN: Jackie The Album compilation (2007) by Various Artists

Tristan described this as a bag of shite, Nick thought it was lazy, however the rest of us found plenty to enjoy. Roland was pleasantly surprised, Robin thought it was good fun, Hamish loved it, and Nigel revelled in it.

Nick - / Tristan 0 / Nigel 10 / Keith 9 / Roland 8 / Robin 5.5 / Hamish 8

WATCH: Clockwork Orange (1971) directed by Stanley Kubrick

The film, directed by Stanley Kubrick, takes you on a disturbing journey through the mind of Alex DeLarge, a young man who revels in violence and mayhem. What struck us most was the stark contrast between the grotesque acts of violence and the strangely beautiful, almost surreal, visual style that Kubrick employs. The juxtaposition of the classical music score, particularly Beethoven, with the brutality on screen, left us feeling a mix of revulsion and fascination.

Kubrick’s use of wide-angle shots and vivid, almost theatrical sets made the film feel like a twisted art piece, one that you can’t quite look away from even when you want to. The performances, especially Malcolm McDowell as Alex, are haunting. McDowell brings a sinister charm to Alex that makes him compelling, despite his despicable actions. This duality—where you’re repulsed by his actions but still drawn to his character—is something that lingers long after the credits roll.

The themes of free will, control, and the nature of evil are presented in a way that challenges you to think about society and the individual’s place within it. Watching *A Clockwork Orange* is like staring into the abyss and having it stare back at you

Nick 6 / Tristan 8 / Nigel 10 / Keith 8 / Roland 8 / Robin 6 / Hamish 7

HBG endorse it: 26th July 2024 - 5 September 2024

No Fit State Circus 

Dawn Penn (live music)

Arrested Development (live music) Taylor Swift (live music)

Damnation (Hungarian film)

Eric (Netflix)

Colin From Accounts 2nd series (BBC)

Brian and Charles (Netflix)

Kneecap film (Cinemas)

Age Against The Machine daytime club (Various venues)

Riders of Justice (Film - Channel 4)

Lullaby (2002) by Chuck Palahniuk

 Keith’s choices

Theme: Spellbound

On Thursday 25th July 2024 @ 7:45 pm we met at the Stirling Arms to discuss Keith’s Spellbound themed choices

READ: Lullaby (2002) by Chuck Palahniuk

Some of us had read other books by Chuck Palahniuk  mainly inspired by, and including, Fight Club.

In the main Lullaby reminded us that Chuck Palahniuk is a writer who makes interesting, provocative and amusing points about modern life through his fiction. Roland was the only person who out and out hated it.

In Lullaby, a culling song, a rhyme with the power to kill, is responsible for a spate of infant deaths. Carl Streator, a reporter, is inspired to write an article on this sudden infant death syndrome. Ultimately this leads to a road trip with three other suitably weird, distinctive and idiosyncratic companions who attempt to destroy all copies of the culling song and who constantly bicker.

Lullaby is less about the plot, which veers all over the place, and more about Chuck Palahniuk's dissections of the ills of the modern world. The variety of responses within HBG suggests that tolerance levels for this kind of book vary considerably. There's a great little twist at the end too which concludes the story on a fun note.

Nick 6 / Tristan 6.5 / Nigel 8 / Keith 6 / Roland 3 / Robin 6 / Hamish 7.5

LISTEN: Spellbound: The Collection (2015) by Siouxsie & the Banshees

Yet another Siouxsie and the Banshees compilation, of which there has been quite a few. But unlike previous compilations, which concentrated on either singles, B sides, or radio and chart hits, this collection is a surprisingly good cross-section of select singles, deep album cuts, and a couple of B sides in what's is described as an "introduction" to Siouxsie and the Banshees. We all were pretty enthused except Tristan who felt it hadn’t aged well. Nick did not review it.

Tristan - / Nigel 8 / Keith 9 / Roland 8 / Robin 5.5 / Hamish 5

WATCH: The Babadook (2014) dir by Jennifer Kent

Robin’s favourite ever HBG film. We all agreed it’s powerful and atmospheric, and pretty flipping scary, except Keith who wouldn’t even describe it as Horror. There’s echoes of Polanski’s Repulsion and The Tenant and for most of us it packed a mighty punch.

Nick - / Tristan 7 / Nigel 7 / Keith - / Roland - / Robin 9 

ENDORSE IT 

HBG endorse it: 4 July 2024 - 25th July 2024

Olivia Dean live

Alma’s Not Normal (BBC iPlayer)

The Guardian Long Read (esp 22 July 2024 on libraries)

The Romantic by William Boyd

Past Lives (Netflix)

Joe Biden’s resignation

Gareth Southgate’s tenure as England manager

Time Shelter (2020) by Georgi Gospodinov

Hamish’s choices

It being the closest meeting to the Summer solstice we enjoyed our annual cycle to Devil's Dyke to discuss Hamish's retro-memory infused choices. 

READ: Time Shelter (2020) by Georgi Gospodinov

The thought of regressing into the past was one that generally appeals to the senior infused HBG. Hamish thought the artifice was sustained throughout, as did Nick. Roland thought it was a weak and missing something. Tristan thought it was unconvincing and hard going. Nigel was all in but felt it couldn't sustain the early promise and petered out. Keith and Robin both enjoyed it.

Nick 8.5 / Tristan 5 / Nigel 7 / Keith 8 / Roland 6 / Robin 7 / Hamish 8.5

LISTEN: The British Stereo Collective - Iniquitous (2024)

Hamish felt it didn’t quite deliver. Tristan thought it was genuinely an old album - job done. Roland dubbed it a formulaic return to 1980s synth pop and not a shade on the greats of the age. Nigel is a fan

WATCH: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004) dir by Michel Gondry

Robin didn’t know what he thought of it. Hamish liked it and was satisfied with a coherent set of choices. Nick and Nigel think it’s a great film. Tristan loves it. Roland, ever the contrarian, slammed it as incoherent, rambling and lacking in direction

HBG endorse it: 23 May 2024 - 3 July 2024

Nils Frahm live

Patti Smith live

Robin Hood’s Bay, North Yorkshire 

Imposter: The Man Who Came Back from the Dead (Channel 4) - true crime documentary 

This Is Lady Parts - series 2 (Channel 4)