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)