"My Revolutions" (2007) by Hari Kunzru
Nigel explained how his "nu-lad" theme (see June 2015 discussion) was a goodie but the associated choices (Keith Nixon - The Fix/Iggy/A Prophet) were let down by the book and he wanted to put that right, whilst still retaining a coherent overarching theme that effectively linked the choices together
Various other excellent books had led to Nigel's book choice for this month...
- Jake Arnott - Johnny Come Home
- Stuart Christie - Granny Made me an Anarchist
- Francis Wheen book - Strange Days Indeed: The Golden Age of Paranoia
So, this era has inspired some great writing, but how would "My Revolutions" fare...?
Nigel primarily hoped to evoke the era, including the paranoia, revolutionary fervour etc - a time when some people really cared about radical politics, and the possibility of a socialist world felt more tangible
Also, by happy coincidence, this was a good follow on from "The Bottle Factory Outing" (see last month) as we were in a similar era
Nigel liked the different concurrent plot lines, which cleverly intertwine various aspects of Mike/Chris life and which primarily focus on his quiet, present day life as a middle class house husband in Chichester, and his former life as an ex-student who drifts into a hardline revolutionary group in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Other plot lines include Chris’s childhood, a few years recovering from addiction in Thailand, and a few more - all are absorbing.
The present day story gradually comes more and more to the fore and this is what drives the slow burn narrative. Nigel was captivated by both primary plot lines, but especially the descriptions of squats, political meetings in various London locations and beyond, demonstrations, bombings, safe houses, encounter groups, festivals, discussions etc. Mike finally realises the dreams of liberation he'd fought for were illusory, and impossible.
The novel’s elegiac tone perfectly celebrates the era of armed revolutionary struggle, whilst also exploring the madness of extremism, personal identity, relationships, radical politics, violence, gender politics, family, and today’s political landscape. It’s an incredible achievement, brilliantly written and, if you have any interest in the revolutionary armed struggle of the 1970s, you will find much to enjoy.
Cleverly Kunru convinces us that (like all gang members?) Mike/Chris is looking for a new family or somewhere to fit in and thus is very suggestive e.g. Anna at the party encouraging him to call guests pigs, or the transgressive sex. Mike is always, right until the very end, working to someone else’s agenda - even as a househusband in his modern incarnation - and even more so with Miles using him for his own ends.
Where this book really scores - and what Nigel was hoping for - was in its credible evocation of the era and the revolutionary milieu
The elegiac tone encapsulated by this aside from Miles to Chris when discussing radical politics…
"You were irrelevant, don't you get that? History doesn't care about what you did. Who's even heard of you? Ideology is dead now. Everyone pretty much agrees on how to run things”
Tristan was very enthusiastic about this book lavishing it with fulsome praise.
Keith raced through the book but struggled to retain much about it
Nick would have enjoyed it much more if he had read it 15 years ago when he lapped up books about the 1970s.
Hamish loved the revolutionary theme but felt the book was the least good selection of the three choices we discussed.
Scores on the doors...
Nigel 8/10
Tristan 9/10
Keith 8/10
Nick 6/10
Hamish 7/10
MUSIC: Hazy Cosmic Jive presents "Something in the Air”
"Because the revolution's here, and you know it's right…"
This mix aims for an early 70s, mournful, melancholy, wistful, post-hippy comedown vibe. I’m hoping you’ll be able to smell the unmistakeable tang of a wet Afghan goat, partially masked by patchouli and joss sticks, whilst a news bulletin reports the latest activity of urban guerilla’s The Angry Brigade.
Tracklist:
Thunderclap Newman - Something In The Air
Brian Protheroe - Pinball
Faces - Glad and Sorry
David Bowie - Eight Line Poem
Bread - The Guitar Man
Roxy Music - Chance Meeting
America - A Horse With No Name
The Rolling Stones - Coming Down Again
Elton John - Goodbye Yellow Brick Road
Faces - Debris
Lesley Duncan - Everything Changes
Cat Stevens - Where Do The Children Play?
Jonathan Kelly - Madelaine
The Rolling Stones - Wild Horses
Mott The Hoople - All The Young Dudes
David Bowie - Quicksand
Faces - If I’m On The Late Side
Slade - Everyday
Nigel explained he was hoping to create a movie type soundtrack to a book he hadn’t read. If he was doing it again, having read the book, he would have thrown in a few more 60s tracks - didn’t realise so much was in the 60s - however he still felt it worked well with its post-hippy comedown vibe. Key track is - Thunderclap Newman - Something In The Air - though it is all fukkin ace. Obvs.
Fortunately everyone was of the same mind: a great musical accompaniment to the book
FILM: One Day In September (1999) directed by Kevin Macdonald
Nigel was looking for a coherent choice to complement the book and the music.
The consensus was that this documentary was a direct hit. A balanced film that brought home the tragedy and the politics. The mix of footage from the olympics and more recent interviews was great. Michael Douglas narration worked well and the music was very effective. The gross incompetence of the Germans has to be seen to be believed. Perhaps understandable given their desire to reinvent themselves after Nazism, plusthis was a relatively early example of this type of terrorism.
ENDORSE IT
Tristan: Wild Tales (Argentinian film)
Keith: The Rat Pack (iPlayer)
Nick: What we do in the Shadows (film - on Netflix)
Hamish: Perdido Street Station - novel by China Miéville
Nigel: Creed (film directed by Ryan Coogler) - spin-off and sequel to the Rocky series
