Days Without End (2016) by Sebastian Barry

Thumbs up to America

After our seasonal recess, and having been plunged back into lockdown for the third time, we assembled via Zoom for our first gathering of 2021 to discuss Hamish’s ‘Thumbs up to America’ themed selections

Reading: Days Without End (2016) by Sebastian Barry

Hamish's blatant attempt to scoop book of the year prize

Hamish made his choices after the US Election and wanted something that would chime with the sense of hope after Joe Biden’s success.

To varying degrees we all loved Days Without End which is a stunning, page turner of a book. Thomas McNulty’s simple, engrossing narration informs a convincing, beguiling, atmospheric and poignant tale of credible and sympathetic characters which takes place during key moments in 19th century American history.

It's a masterpiece which also has an unusual and interesting take on gender identity and sexuality during the 19th century.

With our first choice of the year Hamish has set the bar incredibly high in a blatant attempt to scoop the coveted and increasingly competitive HBG book of the year award. He’s red hot favourite already

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

More about Days Without End...

Twice Booker-shortlisted author Sebastian Barry returns with a sensational new novel set in mid-19th Century America, an intensely poignant story of two men and the lives they are dealt.

'Time was not something then we thought of as an item that possessed an ending, but something that would go on for ever, all rested and stopped in that moment. Hard to say what I mean by that. You look back at all the endless years when you never had that thought. I am doing that now as I write these words in Tennessee. I am thinking of the days without end of my life. And it is not like that now...'

Having signed up for the US army in the 1850s, aged barely seventeen, Thomas McNulty and his brother-in-arms, John Cole, go on to fight in the Indian wars and, ultimately, the Civil War.

Listening: Hamish’s Playlist - Is The Comma Important?

We love a cover version and most of these versions were both new and pleasing to many of us. Taylor Swift’s cover of September is gorgeous. The cover versions we knew (e.g. Hallelujah by Jeff Buckley) are superb examples of how to do a great cover version. Bravo Sir. 

But what connected the songs? Apparently Trump had used them at rallies and was asked to stop by the artists

Nick 6 / Tristan 5 / Nigel 8 / Keith 6 / Roland 8 / Robin 8 / Hamish -

Watching: Brooklyn (2015) dir by John Crowley 

Hamish had no preconceptions about the film and admitted it was a bit of a rush job based on Olga’s advice. He liked it and felt it was a good accompaniment with the book. 

Roland had already watched it and loved it. He watched it again, loved it again, and appreciated the many details. Perhaps this is Roland’s favourite film of all time, that was the suggestion from another HBGer. 

Saoirse Ronan is undeniably amazing in Brooklyn and only a complete curmudgeon would fail to be both touched and charmed by the story of Eilis. The contrast between buttoned up, small town Enniscorthy, County Wexford and Brooklyn, NYC could not be sharper. I genuinely didn’t know which way Eilis would jump when it came to answering the question, “Should I stay or should I go?”

Nick felt it was a bit light despite Saoirse Ronan’s electrifying performance. Keith felt the film lost its way when she fell for the second person in Ireland. 

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

Endorse it

Carcassonne (Game)

French Exit by Patrick deWitt (Book) 

Bridgerton (Netflix)

The Serpent (iPlayer)

Amazing Grace - Aretha Franklin concert (iPlayer/Prime)

Industry (iPlayer)

Chubby Funny (Prime)

Staged (iPlayer)

The Spy (Netflix)

Sometimes Always Never (Prime)

1917 dir by Sam Mendes (Film) (Amazon Prime)

Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (2018) (Film) (Netflix)

Cabaret Voltaire - Shadow of Fear (2020) (Music)

The Hijacker Who Vanished: The Mystery of DB Cooper (Documentary) (iPlayer) (BBC Four)

Adam Buxton podcast with Paul McCartney (Podcast)

Small Axe films (2020) directed by Steve McQueen (Film series on iPlayer):

- Mangrove

- Lover’s Rock

- Red, White and Blue

- Alex Wheatle

- Education

Parasite (2019) directed by Bong Joon-ho (Film - Amazon Prime)

Marvellous (2014) directed by Julian Farino (Film - Amazon Prime)

The Personal History of David Copperfield (2019) directed by Armando Iannucci (Film - Amazon Prime)

Death to 2020 (Netflix)

Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017) (Film)

Motherland Xmas Special (iPlayer)

Spiral (Season Eight) (TV Series) BBCFour iPlayer

Brian and Roger (Podcast)

Spiral - The Guardian’s Episode-by-Episode guide 

Next time out it’s Keith’s choices…

*Theme: Power Corruption and Lies*

Reading: How to rule the world by Tibor Fischer

Listening: Power Corruption and Lies (1983) by New Order

Watching: Deep Fakes: Can You Trust Your Eyes? - All 4

Thursday 11th February 2021